Ivy And Wine Ch 04

Author's Note: this story is posted to Literotica for the purpose of entertainment and feedback. I do not give content or trigger warnings, proceed at your own risk. Anything that has more than one chapter will be considered slow burn by this site's standards, but I usually post quickly.

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I don't recognize the woman in the mirror, pampered, powdered, and polished to a sheen. Damien smirks, smoothing one of the long, loose curls he's put into my hair, and licks his thumb to tidy up the edge of my eyeliner.

"Good enough to eat, Henny Penny." He steps back and gives me another once over, looking incredibly pleased with himself. "I just need to dress you all the time."

The electric blue of the fitted club dress glows against my skin, lending color to my eyes. The smoky eyeliner and subtle shimmer of copper in the eyeshadow makes me feel glamorous, and I still can't believe what he's done to my hair, turning the unruly dirty blonde mop into a shining fall of waves and curls. I turn to the side, expecting to see bulges, but all I can see is how the lacing on the side of the ruched skirt draws the eye up, making my legs look longer. I bend down to adjust the ankle strap on the low heels, and Damien pauses in applying his own eyeliner in the vanity mirror.

"Oh, sweetheart. Don't do that in public, okay?"

I follow his gaze to my butt in the mirror, and realize the lacy black edge of my undies are showing. Color floods my cheeks and I hurry to tug down the skirt. Damien just snickers and finishes his makeup. His own pants look like they've been painted on, shiny black leather tucked into massive boots covered in buckles and spikes. He ruffles his long fringe of bangs and slips a pendant on a black thong over his head. It slips below the open collar of his black dress shirt, and he turns to catch my wrist, tugging at my black sports watch.

"Last touch. This ugly thing is killing the whole vibe. Divas don't wear ugly watches."

"Oh, no, Damien-"

He drops the wide band on the sink beside us and my hand instantly covers the tattoo on my wrist. He smiles, lifting my arm and turning it until the tiny spray of flowers comes into view.

"I love that you hide this, Pen. It's such an innocent secret." He lifts my skin to his lips and brushes them across the little patch of black and pink ink. "But you don't have to hide anything from us, you know."

He gives me a quick hug before dragging me out of the bathroom, leaving me no time to answer.

Dave's appreciative whistle as he joins us in the hallway pumps more blood into my cheeks. He's gorgeous in a white tee and blue jeans, casual to Damien's chic.

"You look stunning, sunshine." He loops a friendly arm over my shoulder. "Ready to go dancing?"

I nod. I can't dance, but they don't need to know that. My plan is to sit at the bar, have a soda, and watch them dance. I look around as we reach the front door.

"Is Darren staying home?" I don't want to sound hopeful, but I'm unsettled by the moody Brit. His rapid attitude changes make me wonder from moment to moment if he hates me.

"He went to get the car," Damien says. Dave's hand spans my lower back and he urges me gently through the door and down the steps as a shiny silver Land Rover sweeps around the house. I can't help feeling a little like Cinderella as I'm handed into my modern day pumpkin, my fairy godfather sliding in beside me.

I giggle, trying to picture Darren and Dave as the mice- there's no way I could ever manage it. Damien's hand lands on my bare knee and he gives me a quick squeeze of reassurance. There's some quiet conversation up front, but I'm content to just sit back and watch the city lights. My dim reflection in the window wears an unfamiliar smile, and I make a silent pact with myself to just enjoy the night. Tomorrow I'll be back to my boring sneakers and bun, shelving books, but tonight- well, tonight, I'll try to live in a fairytale.

There's a line outside the club when we pull up, but Darren passes his keys off to the valet and strides towards the bouncer guarding the velvet ropes of the VIP entrance. I stumble a little in my heels trying to keep up, but Dave and Damien are on either side ready to rescue me from my own clumsy feet. I smooth a hand down my dress and shake my hair off my face, pretending I belong with these beautiful men.

The bouncer's wide smile when he sees Darren is genuine, reaching all the way to his eyes, and he actually inclines his body in a sort of bow as he unclips the rope and steps aside to let us pass. I grab Damien's arm, pressing against him as a wall of bass and brilliant strobe lights stops me cold in the doorway. I blink against the onslaught, until I see Darren's silhouette pause and turn back towards us. I catch a glimpse of his frown as he stands there waiting.

"You okay Penny?" Dave leans down to shout in my ear. I shake my head, then nod, and I can feel his breath against my shoulder as he sighs. His cologne is something fresh and sweet smelling, and I take a greedy whiff as he slips me out of Damien's protection and tugs me forward. I can feel the play of muscles in his forearm under my hand, and he guides me towards the stairs that lead to the reserved section above the dance floor.

"Hey, guys!" The waitress who meets us at the top already has a wine bottle wrapped in a black cloth open. She smiles widely at my companions as she leads us to a curved couch next to the glass balcony. Dave gives her a lazy grin and plucks the bottle from her hand, leaning over to put it on the low table.

"How are you, beautiful?"

She flutters her eyelashes at him and cuts her gaze sideways at me. I tell myself I'm imagining the hostility coming from that stare, and tug self consciously at the skirt of my dress.

"The usual for everyone?"

"That's fine." Darren dismisses her with a curt nod and Dave snorts.

"Rude ass. Penny, do you want a cocktail? Beer?"

"Uhm, just a Coke, maybe?" I have to lean into him to be heard over the music and my ankle tries to roll. I catch myself on Darren's arm, feeling him stiffen under my touch. I snatch my hand away as Dave charms the girl.

"Coke for the lady, Bella. Beer for me. Everyone else can fend for themselves." She smiles at him again and heads for the bar as Damien pats the cushioned seat beside him. I sink down next to him and look around, my hands folded nervously in my lap. I haven't been to a bar since college, and this is an entirely different world than the cheap dives with two for one shots and a crappy cover band blaring out bad renditions of the Top 40.

"Relax."

Damien's lips skim my ear, his tone teasing. "This is supposed to be fun."

"Maybe for you," I whisper back. "Darren's not glaring at you. I don't think he likes me."

Damien's eyes dance with mischief and he pulls me back against the cushions, rearranging my posture until I'm practically draped over him, my legs over his thigh, my heels practically in Darren's lap.

"He likes you, Penny. We all like you. You're a likable person. Now, relax!" He hands me my soda and accepts a glass of wine from Dave. It's too loud for casual group conversation, so I settle for crowd watching while Damien tells me salacious gossip tidbits about the people around us.

"Bella, our bottle girl? She's having an affair with that guy." He jerks his chin towards a handsome black man, lounging in an oversized chair with a stunning woman on his lap. I recognize him as a popular player for some local sports team, although I couldn't tell you which one.

"That's his wife. What he doesn't know is she and Bella are having a thing too, have been for years. They just bought a condo together. With his money." He chuckles at my scandalized expression, and moves on to telling me other shocking things.

My muscles unwind slowly, but by the time Dave leans over to talk to us, I've taken Damien's words to heart and I'm enjoying myself.

"I'm having a shot, since Darren's being such a dick. Anyone else?"

"Yes!" Damien's enthusiasm is contagious, and I nod. Dave turns to signal Bella, and in moments he's handing me something pink rimmed in sugar.

"To us!" He lifts his shot glass and the three of us touch them lightly. "And to the first of hopefully many nights with our lovely Penny."

I blush and lift my glass, taking a deep breath. The shot goes down surprisingly smooth, sweet with a sour bite, and I feel the burn of it in my throat, spreading into my stomach. I lean forward to put my glass on the table and catch Darren's eyes on me, pools of darkness in his still face. His lips curve slightly and he tilts his wine glass in my direction. His gaze dips towards my chest, and he looks away, his face once again tight and unreadable.

I sit back quickly, my face hot. A hand appears in front of me, holding another shot glass.

"Oh, no, I shouldn't-"

"One for the road," Damien shouts over the music. "I'm tired of sitting. Let's go dance!"

I shake my head, but he presses the glass into my hand. Dave is throwing back his second shot and getting to his feet. Laughing, I follow suit, allowing them to pull me to my feet and towards the dance floor. They immediately lead me to the center of the floor full of writhing bodies, Damien's hand on my hips as he guides them to the rhythm.

"I don't dance!" I protest, but Dave slides up against my back, his long arm reaching forward to drag Damien right up against me.

"Sure you do, darling. Just let us do the work."

Sandwiched between the two of them, I give up fighting it, and let them move me with the music. Damien's thigh slides in between mine, not pressing, but occasionally brushing against me in a way that makes me shiver against Dave. He pulls my arms up over my head, looping them around his neck, and pulls my weight back against him. This is the dirtiest dancing I've ever done, and when Damien tightens his fingers on my hip, my knees turn to water. My head is a little light, and my limbs feel loose and heavy at the same time.

I'm not drunk, but this is the definition of "a good buzz." I have to admit, there's no hardship in enjoying the attention of two men, even if I'm the third, or maybe fourth, wheel. It's not their fault I'm having decidedly unclean thoughts about them, but that's a problem to take care of later, when I'm alone in my apartment. For now I just want to sink into the driving beat and candy colored lights and enjoy the moment.

When the music slows I push at Damien's shoulder, leaning into him so he can hear me.

"I need water! I'll be right back." He points in the direction of the bar and I nod, slipping out of their embrace and edging through the crowd.

***

The line for the restroom is mercifully short, so I duck in and tidy myself up, running cold water over my wrists and tugging my dress into place. I'm sliding a fresh coat of the peach colored gloss Damien tucked into my tiny purse on my lips when a stunning Latina woman in a red mini dress touches my shoulder.

"I love your dress," she says with a smile. "Damien picked it out?"

"Uh... yes. How did you know?"

"Half of us go to Damien for advice," someone else says from inside a stall. "He's a genius. But I've never seen him dance with anyone but the guys."

The Latina woman nods vigorously. "They never bring a woman with them to Vine. They invite us to their parties-"

"Girl." The woman who comes out of the stall and joins us at the sinks towers over me, probably close to seven feet tall in her heels. She washes her hands, heavy cocktail rings flashing on her fingers, and fluffs her breasts in her bustier. "You been to a party yet?"

"No, I mean, Damien's my friend from work. It's just a, well, a girl's night out thing. I just met his partners? I guess that's the right word? I just met them recently." My face is flaming, and the other women smile at me with genuine kindness.

"You're a lucky girl," Red Dress gives my hand a squeeze. "Damien's great. And you guys look seriously hot out there on the floor." She and her friend leave, and I unfold the piece of paper she crumpled into my hand.

Carmela. 404 555 6243. Call me!!

I laugh at my reflection, my wide eyes startled and amused as they look back at me. Me! Penny the drab. Penny the boring. Penny who just got hit on by a solid smoke show in the bathroom of one of the hottest clubs in the Metro area.

Bemused, I smooth my hands through my hair and head out in search of water. Slipping into a narrow space at the bar, I wait for the bartender to move down to my section.

"I haven't seen you here before," someone shouts in my ear. Startled, I turn to give a strained smile to the guy crowding into my personal space. He's tall and muscular but his muscles have the hard round look of weights, not manual labor, and I don't like the greedy way his eyes roam over my body.

"Not really my scene," I shout back, leaning over the bar and trying to get someone's attention. DudeBro leans over me, pressing his hips against my butt, and waves at the bartender.

"Yo, Jake! The lady needs a drink!"

"No, really, I just wanted some water," I protest. "I'm not drinking tonight."

"Just one won't hurt. C'mon, I'm buying!"

"No, thanks. I just need some water before I get back to my friends."

"If you insist, beautiful. Hey, Jake!" He slaps hands with the bartender in a familiar greeting and flashes overly bleached teeth at me. "The prettiest girl in the bar needs some water."

The bartender's lips curve in a sneering smile and he nods.

"Coming right up." A moment later he's back with a plastic cup full of ice water, garnished with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry. He passes it to me with a wink, and heads back to the group clamoring for tequila shots.

I reach for the glass and long fingers wrap around my wrist, halting my hand. Heat radiates against my back and the unmistakable scent of Darren's cologne fills my nostrils.

"Don't drink that," he growls. DudeBro glares at him, his chest puffing out like a toad's. I shrink back against Darren, grateful for his arm around my waist. A muscle twitches in his jawline as he rakes a disgusted look over the other man.

"Hey, man, back off. The lady and I were talking."

"The lady," Darren says darkly. "Is with me. And I saw everything." He flicks his eyes down the bar to the female bartender and calls her over with a jerk of his head. She turns away from her customers instantly and joins us.

"Vanessa."

"Whatcha need, darlin?'" The bouncy blonde pops her gum and gives him a big smile, the kind reserved for big tippers and potential bedmates.

"Dip your nails in my friend's drink, would you? I have a theory."

The blonde's face goes cold in the flick of an eyelash, and she drops two fingers into the icy liquid. Her bubblegum pink nails darken to maroon, and Darren growls.

"Jake poured that for my girl here. At this wanker's request."

"Hold up, man, it's not like that!" DudeBro lifts his hands to shoulder height, shaking his head. "I wasn't trying to hurt her! She just seemed a little, you know, uptight!"

"Explain it to my security. Vanessa?"

"They're already here. I'll deal with Jake myself." With an aggressive flick of her ponytail, she sweeps the drink off the bar and heads over to the other end of the service well.

Darren's arm tightens around my waist and he whisks me towards the dance floor as a wall of black clad men descend on the hapless bodybuilder. He crowds me against a wall, pinning me there with his body and his dark eyes meet mine, full of something hot and dangerous.

"Why were you alone?" He bites the words out.

"I just needed to get some water," I retort, pushing against his chest. I might as well be pushing on a wall covered with maroon silk. He drops his head, burying his nose in my hair, and sighs against my skin.

"You're too beautiful to be wandering around without protection in a place like this. Anything could happen, Penny. Anything at all."

"Like some jerk pushing me into a dark corner to order me around?" I shove at him again, trying to make my point, but he just laughs and moves his face from my hair to my neck, brushing his nose back and forth just below my ear.

"I haven't given you any orders, Penny. Yet."

"Darren," I start, but his lips feather along my pulse and I stutter to a stop. His lips curve against my skin and he hums a little sound of approval deep in his throat.

"This damn hair," he mutters, tunneling his fingers into my curls. "It's been driving me insane all night. Penny, love, you don't know what you're doing to us."

"Us?" My voice comes out high and squeaky just before his mouth comes down over mine. He tastes like rich red wine and the darkest chocolate, his tongue teasing mine until I go boneless against him, grabbing his biceps for balance.

"You. Are. Exquisite." He punctuates his words with butterfly soft brushes of his lips over my cheeks and forehead. I'm stunned to silence by his sudden change from stiff and silent to this impassioned creature with his roaming hands and pretty, pretty words. He pulls my face back up to kiss me breathless again, his fingers skating down my side and onto my bare thigh.

Shamelessly, I press against him when he pulls my leg up over his hip, grinding into the bulge behind his slacks. He groans, tightening his grip on my thigh, my hair. I should be embarrassed by this- dry humping in the corner of a nightclub where anyone could see, but those long fingers slide around to toy with the lacy edges of my underwear and all I can feel is heat. I'm halfway to climbing the walls already, and he hasn't even touched anything relevant.

"Do you want me to touch you?" His voice is low and silken, an echo of my thoughts. I gasp for enough air to form a coherent thought, and his gaze moves down to my breasts, pushed high by the tight dress and my labored breathing.

"Say yes," he growls, so deep in his chest I can feel it vibrate through me. "For fuck's sake, Penny. You're killing me."

"Yes." I can barely hear the words leave my lips, but his hands move under my ass instantly, lifting me until I have no choice but to cling to him with arms and legs, my back against the cool concrete wall, my front plastered against him. His mouth closes on my nipple through the thin fabric of my dress and tugs, the wet heat sending a sharp pulse of desire down to my core.

He slips a hand down, my skirt pushed up indecently, and strokes me through the soaked silk between us.

"Penny. You're going to come for me, aren't you?" He nips at my breasts lightly, licking a path back up my neck until he can claim my mouth again. He presses his fingers against me again, pinching, rubbing the fabric in torturous circles over my clit, until I whimper and writhe against him.

"I can't," I sob. "Darren-"

"You can." His fingers slide into my panties and plunge into me, curling hard and fast against the spot I've only ever had touched by plastic substitutes, and I come undone in his hands. He smothers my low cry with his mouth, kissing me to subdued moans and muffled curses while he relentlessly pushes me off the cliff of a climax that leaves me seeing stars and a mess of slack limbs in his embrace.

"Such a sweet girl." He holds me against him, his mouth brushing my skin between whispered endearments, soothing my trembling body even as he keeps awakening more of my nerve endings.

When he lifts his hand to my face, touching my lips with his slick fingers, I open my mouth without thinking, sucking them in and licking the taste of myself off his skin. I've never even considered doing something so wanton before, but I'm drunk on endorphins and the need for that dark, rich voice coaxing and praising me.

My greedy, treacherous body moves against him, my hips rolling, seeking out the friction of his arousal, and he chuckles, his voice coming out strained.