So, you wanted something to read... Something to remind you of days gone by... Something to bring back those old feelings... I hope this will suffice...
It's the same old crowd in the same old bar. Nothing really changes round here, the same people, the same attitudes, the same dramas. So boring. I came here tonight looking for something different, but that's the very definition of madness isn't it? Doing the same things over and over and expecting a different outcome...
Tonight was different though, I could feel it. There was stranger in the bar, drawing glances and sideways looks, it seemed like people were afraid to spend too long looking at him in case they drew his attention. I like attention though, even the wrong kind - does that make me a bad person? A slut? Probably, but I made my peace with that the second time my heart got broke. So now, no strings. No attachments. Just fun. He looked like fun, in a dangerous way.
He wouldn't ordinarily stand out in a crowd, I'm pretty sure he could melt into obscurity if someone was looking for him. There was something about him though, I would say an aura if I believed in that sort of bullshit. He sort of stood out in this crowd of go-nowhere-do-nothings. Like one of those pictures where if you stare long enough the image magically appears, everyone else was just background. There was a sort of a quiet space around him, an empty bar stool either side of him. This was weird, seating in this bar cum hovel was notoriously lacking so usually all the perches were taken. I began to wonder if he smelled bad or something, time to find out...
I slid through the crowd, nodding and saying hi to the familiar faces as I passed. It took a couple of minutes to get to the empty bar stool on his right, I had to swipe away one or two grabby hands on the way. Just because I fucked them doesn't mean they have the right to manhandle - or in one case womanhandle - me (unless I wanted them to, of course).
I stood by the stool for a few seconds trying to catch his eye in the mirror behind the bar. No luck... it was like I wasn't there. Hmm. I'd made an effort tonight too. I wasn't going to let that go to waste. I'd straighted my unruly hair and applied just enough make up to walk the line between nice girl and dirty whore - eyes done in a sexy smoky palette but lips in a demure pink. A cute white off the shoulder top, my favourite jeans and some high heeled boots finished my throwback to the 80s look. I didn't care if it was retro, it suited me.
I'd like to say I mounted that empty bar stool with grace and elegance, but no such luck. I caught my heel on one of the warped floorboards and pretty much threw myself onto it. In the process I managed to nudge the stranger's arm, just enough to slop some of his drink over his hand and the bar. Not a good first impression.
I apologised and offered to wipe it up and get him another drink. Finally he seemed to realise I was there and looked at me for the first time. Nice eyes, but clouded with some emotion that I couldn't quite identify. He gave me a half smile and said it was ok, no use wasting good vodka. I watched as he brought his fingers to his lips and sucked off the spilled liquid. The sight of him doing that made me shiver a little, there's something about a man who knows how to lick and suck just right that gets me every time. I felt a flush coming to my face as I watched but I couldn't seem to turn away.
He delicately licked the top of his index finger and half smiled at me again. Oh boy. I wanted to throw another drink over him just so I could watch him do that again. I shook myself and called out to Ed behind the bar to bring me my usual and to get the stranger another vodka. Ed sauntered over in his own sweet time, the place wasn't renowned for its speedy service after all.
Drinks dispensed and received I turned to the stranger again and apologised once more. I got the feeling he only spoke to me to be polite. He didn't seem interested in me at all, which only made me more interested in him. I tried all my usual techniques, the head tilt, the playing with the hair, the pouting and licking my lips, the open body language facing his way... Nothing. He was just unflinchingly polite in his answers, which were all pretty generic and didn't really reveal anything about him. He smiled in the right places but I felt like his heart wasn't in the conversation.
I started to excuse myself, saying I had to go find my friend, wishing him a good evening. I swivelled on the stool to make my exit when he placed his hand on my thigh. God, his hand was so hot, it felt like it was branding me through the fabric of my jeans. He said two words: "Don't go".
These two words had more emotion in them than all the others he'd uttered put together. Pinned in place by both his hand and his words I stayed still, waiting for his next move. Now this was different..
My reaction was different too. Normally I'm the one giving the orders, commanding the situation. Now I was startled to find myself obeying. Normally if a guy put his hands on me before I was ready I'd cut him down to size with a look and a comment. If that didn't work a slap or a punch usually did. I didn't do any of these things. He didn't frighten me, I wasn't scared of him, I just felt ... compelled ... to stay. Definitely unusual behaviour for me.
It wasn't as if there'd been scintillating conversation, just some pleasantries and generalities, nothing deep. So why did I stay still? Novelty. The sheer novelty of the situation kept me sitting there, the stranger's hand burning on my thigh, his eyes looking deep into mine - felt like he was searching for something in me. I let him rummage in my soul for a while (I found it difficult to stop him, to be honest) then managed to tear my gaze away from his.
I shifted a little, trying to get back my normal equanimity. It worked to some extent, but there was still the hand on my thigh. I knew Ed would throw him out if I asked (Ed has had a crush on me since I was legal... Well, probably before that, but he used to let me drink in the bar underage so who am I to complain?), but I didn't want the stranger gone. I wanted to understand what was happening to me.
Turning to face the stranger again I murmured that I would stay if he would kindly take his paw off me. He waited a few seconds, damn him, then gave me that half smile again and took his hand away. I felt... what's the word... bereft when his hand moved, it felt so cold now his heat was gone. I had to stifle an indrawn breath, I was trying not to show how he affected me.
He offered me another drink, gosh he looked sexy when he smiled. I'm not a gooey romantic type, but he could have melted the pants off my old mother with that smile. I couldn't help but think he should use it more often. On me.