Lauren stepped nervously into the club.
She seldom went to clubs, as a rule. The mindless mass of bodies and throbbing music did nothing for her. Still, she was there with her friend Jess, who insisted on bringing her in an attempt to inject normalcy in her life.
Normalcy. Lauren snorted. She took the martini that Jess offered her and leaned against the bar, watching the people milling about. The heavy thud of the music beat incessantly in her head. Jess took her arm.
"Come on Lauren we Have to dance!"
She grimaced.
"You go ahead, I'll join you later," she shouted over the din. Jess pursed her mouth then turned to join the heaving crowd.
Lauren let her eyes glaze over as her mind stilled amidst the loudness. Finally she picked up her clutch and made her way to the door.
A strong chest clad in a black long-sleeved shirt blocked her way. Lauren frowned and tried to step around the person blocking her but he mimicked her movements. Frustrated she glared up into his face.
Her mouth went dry.
"Jack? Wha-"
"What's wrong, Jack," a sultry voice followed by a dark-haired woman emerged from behind Jack. Lauren stared at her, forgetting to shut her mouth until Jack motioned at her.
"This is Lauren. One of my..acquaintances." His eyes met Lauren's and she flushed.
"Oh. Well. Hello." The woman had full lips, pursed in indignance at the moment, and her brows were beautifully sculpted and arched high on her forehead as she surveyed Lauren. Lauren felt suddenly small in her tight white dress.
"If you'll excuse us," Jack said coolly. He stepped past Lauren, leading the woman with him by the hand.
Lauren gaped after them.
She stood at the side watching in a mixture of disbelief and sheer shock as Jack led his partner on the dance floor and began moving to the music. The woman was gorgeous. Her hair was thick and sinful as chocolate, spilling in soft waves down her black. The straps criss-crossing her back brought out the smoothness of her skin as she danced sensually, moving her body against Jack.
Jack. Tall and handsome on the dance floor. Jack. His sleek body concealed under crisp clothes, just a hint of his dark hair peeking out of the vee of his shirt, left casually unbuttoned at the top. His eyes exuding heat in the dark.
Lauren struggled to look away but her eyes were fastened on the couple dancing. Jack turned the brunette around and she pressed her flesh against the front of his body. He leaned in and licked her ear as he slid a hand around to hold her close. Lauren shivered as she remembered how his mouth had felt. When she saw Jack's hand move up the woman's thigh she snapped out of her trance and set her mouth in a grim line.
Turning on her heel she walked out of the club.
Jack looked up from his escort's neck. He took a step away from her.
"That will be all." He turned and left the brunette standing on the dance floor, smirking.
Lauren went clacking down the street in her high heels. Irked, she paused to slip them off and held them by their straps. She muttered angrily to herself as she walked down the path, the night dark around her, broken only by the faint yellow light of dull street lamps.
Her cellphone vibrated in her bag and she fished for it irritably.
"Hello? Yes, I left. No, I'm not disturbed or anything. I'll see you tomorrow, Jess," sighing, Lauren slipped her cell back into her bag.
She turned a corner and a strong arm pulled her into the alley.
"Let go!" Lauren screamed. The fear that had once filled her back in the warehouse with Chuck and Wayne came flooding back and she struggled against her captor's arm. "Let go of me!!" She reached down and sank her teeth in his arm. His grip loosened and she wriggled out.
"FUCK. What the hell did you do that for?"
Lauren stepped away and stared into the shadows.
"Jack??" His familiar face emerged into the dim light, that lock of hair falling over his eyes, which were edged with fury.
Suddenly irrational anger filled Lauren.
"What in fuck were you doing??" She raised her clutch and smacked at him hard. Shocked, Jack took a step back. "Why did you follow me? Stay there with that skank! I don't care what you do!" Her face was flushed and her eyes bright with indignation. Jack looked at her. A wry smile spread on his lips and Lauren gasped at him.
"You stupid asshole." She shot him a chilly look and turned to go. He reached out and grabbed her as he always did.
"Will you fucking stop that!" Lauren yelled into his face. Jack stilled. "What are you doing here? Why are you following me??" Jack cast his eyes down for a minute, then looked back at her. The look in his eyes made her freeze.
"I had to see you. I didn't know how else to get your attention. You left me. Nobody does that." Jack tightened his jaw as he spoke. "I just wanted to see you."
"And the girl?"
"She's nobody. Just someone I paid." He ran his hand over his chin. Lauren looked at him incredulously.
"Okay. So what do you want?"
Jack stepped closer to her and took her hands in his. "I want a chance. Just one chance, that you'll see me as a man and not..not. Anything else." He leaned down and lowered his head to hers, just looking at her.
Lauren returned his look, with hesitation. She watched him for a long time, trying to read his eyes. Finally she sighed and dropped her hands from his.
"I don't know what to do. You exasperate me. And yet I keep thinking about you." She turned away and studied the moths flitting around the street lamp a few paces away.
Jack stepped up behind her and drew her back with him. He pressed her gently against the wall and looked at her.
"Don't think about anything else," he said softly. She looked into his dark eyes, and down at his lips. He moved closer and she could feel his clothes shift against her. His thighs, strong against hers and his heart beating slowly. She kept her eyes open as he moved his mouth nearer to hers. He paused, then coaxed her lips open with his tongue. A small shudder ran through her as he swept his tongue inside her mouth slowly. She took his mouth and clutched at his shirt as he pressed his hips against hers. Already she could feel the swell of him against her stomach.
"Jack," she breathed. Jack tilted his head against hers and she turned as he pressed his mouth to the curve of her neck. The delicious slide of his tongue on her skin had her eyes fluttering shut as his hands moved to the crest of her breasts. They felt heavy and ached in his palm. Lifting his head Jack looked at her. He pulled the fabric of the white cotton tube dress down and watched her as he laved his tongue over her nipple.
