Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
We get downstairs and two yellow cabs are lined up, waiting for us.
I hop in with Merida and Floyd, while the other three girls get in the other one.
I slide across the seat. We make our way across the City toward our destination.
Getting out, Floyd pays the cab driver and hooks his arm through mine.
Looks like he is going to be my babysitter for the evening.
“You stay within my sights at all times, understood?” Yep, babysitter confirmed. Still, it it’s better than having to be stuck with Tobias or Theo, especially with the mood they put me in.
I nod, not feeling like getting into an argument with anyone. I just want to have fun and do things people my own age do. Trotting up the steps, we are greeted by the bouncer. Floyd nods to him, and the bouncer lets us straight in, ignoring the crowd that is lined up and booing loudly at our group.
Merida tugs my arm, pulling me forward and dragging me toward the bar.
She orders drinks while I peer around. There is a huge dance floor in the center, and tables and chairs lined randomly around the room, which was dark.
The only lights come from the disco style lights flickering on and off.
Music blares and we have to yell to hear each other.
I’ve never been in a nightclub before. The few times I had been out had only been to small bars with not so many people.
This place is very lively, and I can tell it is a huge attraction in the city.
The dance floor is just a sea of people jumping and moving in rhythm to the music.
Merida passes me a pink cocktail. I’m not sure what it was, but it smells like regret.
I sip it and I taste guava; it; s sweet and smooth.
When we finish our drinks, Merida and the girls pull me onto the dance floor while Floyd chats to another man, who I have no doubt is another werewolf.
I have learned to be able to tell the difference between humans and supernatural’s.
There is something with the way they carry themselves, the look in their eyes, and also the way their eyes dart around watching nothing in particular yet watching everything.
I shiver when they both glance in my direction.
I quickly looked away. The biggest give away is the fact that most werewolves are all brawn and muscle and otherworldly gorgeousness in one package.
After dancing for a while, I go and sit down.
Tammy brings me over another drink as well as two shots, thrusting them in my hand, before grabbing two of her own.
One in each hand, holding them up. Tammy is the sort of woman you can tell lives on the wild side and knows how to have fun, I envy her and her carefree ways.
“One, two THREE!” she screams, clinking the little glasses to mine.
I can't help but laugh at her face. Her excitement is contagious. I swallow the first one down and then the second. I’m at that point in intoxication, where it is like drinking water.
I sip at the purple drink she got me. I peer around and Merida waves for me to come back to the dance floor.
I shake my head no longer trusting my ability to walk now that I have sat.
The room spins around me in a happy sort of way, whirling with the lights and music.
She pouts before turning and dancing with the girls.
I glance around and people-watch, Floyd is talking happily with his friend. Something crawls up the back of my neck, and I glance over. Shit. Mark is here, and I really hope he hasn't seen me. But judging from the broad smile, I have no luck.
He walks over, placing his hands on my shoulders from behind me. I repress the urge to shudder at his touch. He is going to make everything awful again, but it’s my fault for making him think he had a chance yesterday. Jesus, had it only been yesterday when I tried my escape plan?
“Hey, what are you doing here?” he asks. I can tell he is drunk, his words slurring slightly. He is wearing jeans and a button up shirt quite different to his usual business attire. “Come dance with me,” he says, tugging on my hand softly.
I shake my head. “No, I’m good, I just sat down,” I tell him trying to yell over the top of the music.
Mark leans in closer, trying to hear me over the music. I’m very aware of all the eyes on me, watching me, judging me. Floyd leans across the table grabbing Mark’s attention. Mark smiles before holding his hand out to him. “I’m Mark,” he says.
Floyd has a sly smile on his face but shakes his hand, anyway. “Floyd,” he says with a nod.
Mark turns back to me, his eyes crawling over my very short dress and he grins.
“Are you here with anyone besides him?” Just as he asks, Merida saunters over and sits on my lap, throwing her arms around my neck.
Mark looks stunned for a second. “Oh, you’re with Merida?
” He looks confused for a second, he obviously knows Merida is gay.
Maybe I’m the only one who hadn’t realized?
I don’t know if it is because she is drunk or she is trying to chase Mark away, but I’m just as shocked when she kisses me.
Her soft lips are scented with her drinks, and they part mine, her tongue tracing the seams of my lips.
From beside us I distinctly hear Floyd choking on his drink.
Merida’s lips are soft. I can taste her lip balm and the strawberry taste of the last drink she drank, vastly different from kissing Theo and Tobias.
I’m surprised to find it actually turns me on.
She is gentle, her tongue brushing mine softly before she pulls away and winks at me.
If the room hadn't been spinning quite so much, I would have to have explored that more.
“Yep, Imogen is with me,” she says to Mark. He stands there awkwardly, staring from one of us to the other.
“Maybe I will see you later, Imogen," he mutters before staggering off. The man doesn't know how to process this. Hell, I’m not sure how to process this. I’m kind of hoping it all hadn't been a ploy to chase off Mark. I was interested to see where the night would take us.
Merida bursts out laughing. “Did you see his face?” She snorts while laughing and I can’t help but laugh with her. Well at least he is gone.
“You might regret that, though, Merida,” Floyd says, nodding up to the VIP lounge upstairs.
The laugh died on my lips, and I slowly followed his line of sight. Standing above us, directly so was Tobias and Theo with matching glares. I groan, really this shit can’t be happening. They do not look impressed and are eyeing Merida with disapproval. They should be grateful she helped.
“It was harmless, come on, Merida,” I say, pulling her onto the dance floor, hoping to blend into the rest of the people dancing. “Why are they here?” I scream over the music.
“They own the place. Tobias bought it, so shifters had a safe place to go where we are all in one place. Man I am going to be in so much shit for kissing you,” she giggles, pulling me closer as we dance. I enjoy the different feel or her compared to the hard bodies I was used to.
I grin at her, threading my arms around her neck.
"If we're going to get in trouble, anyway, might as well make it worth it.
" I pull her down to me, kissing her hard, tongue tangling with hers.
She smiles against my lips, laughing at me before kissing me back, grinding against my body as we dance, her hands framing my face so the kiss can intensify.
I won't deny, I’m fantasizing about grabbing her hand and going back to her place. Maybe it’s curiosity, or maybe it is just her, but I want to explore Merida thoroughly; I want to see just how talented that tongue of hers can truly be.
When we pull apart, we are both laughing and make our way through the crowd back toward the bar.
I order more drinks and we sit on the stools at the bar.
I don’t bother to see if they are still watching and quite frankly don’t give a shit after a few more drinks and God knows how many shots; I’m completely wasted.
My surroundings spin as we leave the club. The crisp air is refreshing, making me realize how stuffy the club actually had been. I’m not even sure how we are still upright as we all cling to each other trying to walk toward the taxi stop.
When we arrive, all six of us girls slump on the bench. There isn’t enough room, so I sit across them, nuzzling against a grinning Merida. We are a giggling mess. When a car pulls up, I peer up, thinking it is the taxi only it isn’t. I groan loudly. Fuckers.
“Imogen, Merida, and Alicia in, Theo will take the rest of you back. He will be here in a minute," Tobias orders.
Merida kisses my forehead before untangling us, and pulling me along with her. I climb in the front on auto pilot, Alicia and Merida crawling into the back. Floyd comes over and speaks to Tobias through the window.
“Traitor,” I call out giggling. I know it was him who told them where we were.
“Night, Imogen,” he says with a cheeky grin.
Tobias rolls the window up and pulls away from the curb, the car ride is silent from Tobias who barely utters a word.
I’m not conscious enough to focus on his emotions right now.
Everything is pleasantly numb. The girls are chatting happily in the back.
I lean over the seat, joining in the conversation, until Tobias slaps my ass and tells me to sit properly.
When we arrive, the girls jump out. I go to get out too and follow Merida home, when Tobias grabs my hand. “Nope you’re coming home with us.” I pout, folding my arms across my chest, but I’m much too drunk to really be mad. And honestly, I’m exhausted.
Theo pulls up behind us and tosses the keys to the valet before hopping in the car with us.
“What the hell are you wearing Imogen?” he scold.
“Clothes, I can take them off if they bother you so much, Theo.”
He shakes his head annoyed. “You might as well be wearing nothing with how tight and short that dress is.”
I roll my eyes and rest my head on the window. I’m half asleep by the time we got home. Theo opens the car door I was leaning on, only just managing to catch me in time as I fell out. He scoops me up and heads inside, taking me upstairs and placing me on the bed.
I felt them tug my clothes off, and shoes. I don't care about anything but the warm numbness I haven't got to embrace in so long.