Chapter 26

Lorali

I leave work with pep in my step. I can’t remember the last time I felt this…happy? Just thinking that makes me question my mental health. I haven’t been unhappy, but the idea of spending more time with Ian makes me giddy. I laugh to myself when I realize that we just scheduled cunnilingus over the phone like it was the same as grabbing a drink after dinner.

I still have a stupid grin on my face when I make it home from work which does not go unnoticed by Alexa who’s standing vigil over a bottle of wine in the kitchen.

“Starting kind of early aren’t we?” I giggle, shrugging and grabbing a glass of my own.

“Never too early on a girl’s night! You’re still going, right?” The look on her face is cautious. I can tell she’s wondering if my horrible mood from this morning will cause me to cancel our plans. “I mean you seem to be in a better place than when you left this morning.”

“I’m in a better place and yes I fully intend to go and have a wonderful time!” I keep grinning, waiting for her to ask me about my sudden mood change, knowing she’s itching to know.

“So?” she prompts.

“So, what?” I chirp playing dense. She gets smug when she’s right so I’m going to make her work at my acknowledgment that she was in fact right.

“Why is your face about to crack from a smile?” She brings her glass to her mouth for another sip, grinning.

“I spoke to Ian at work today,” I say calmly even though I’m about to explode. Why do I feel like a school girl who just got asked out by her lifelong crush?

“You called him!?” Her eyes are wide; she’s surprised that I would be brave enough to call him. She knows me very well.

“He called me actually. Well, he texted then called.” I explained. My elation is starting to seep into her. “We have dinner plans on Saturday. I hate to admit it, but you may be right.” I cave, telling her what she’s wanted to hear from the beginning.

“About which part?” She inquires, my grin now reflected on her face. I know she wants me to expand on my admission.

“That he may like me a little bit.” I wink at her, knowing she’s basking in my acknowledgement.

“And after dinner?” She demands.

I shrug and put my glass in the sink. “Dessert.” I answer walking past her to my room. I hear her squeal as I close my door to get ready for the club opening.

***

Several hours later we’re stepping out into the cold Denver night, ready to start our evening. I opted for the blue dress I bought last weekend, but question my sanity when the cold Denver Winter creeps under my coat to my bare back. I shiver and bounce from one foot to the other, waiting for the cab to arrive.

Josie and Alexa are talking animatedly about what they plan to drink tonight. Alexa, seeming to have forgotten her demands for a calmer life from last weekend, is thinking out loud, wondering what lucky man may take her home tonight. Josie is more excited about people watching, and doesn’t even consider the possibility of a hook-up. I, personally, am excited about tonight simply because the end of this night brings me one night closer to seeing Ian again.

The cab arrives and we stuff ourselves into the back and Alexa provides the address for the club in LoDo.

“Ready for Ampere ladies?” Alexa implores. We both nod our heads excitedly.

Before long we’re shuffling out of the car as gracefully as you can in mini dresses and stilettos. Alexa produces the VIP access passes and gives them to the security guard that’s manning the entrance. People lined up on the other side of the velvet rope groan, but make no move to verbalize their displeasure. They’ve apparently seen loads of people produce these passes, and realize the more they see the less likely they’ll be getting in tonight.

Inside the club it’s dark, music pulsing all around, and first glance tells me why the people outside are upset; it’s packed. A flash to the right catches my eye. Tesla coils are positioned close to the ceiling, sporadically placed all around the interior of the club and they’re firing off in rhythm to the beat that’s raging through hidden speakers. I fully understand now the correlation with the name Ampere.

A hostess glances at our passes and directs us to a pub table near the dance floor. Our access pass apparently allows for bottle service because a full bottle of Hpnotiq is peeking out of a bucket of ice in the center of the table.

“Ladies, if you need anything else, just type it into the screen there on the table, and it’ll be here within minutes. Enjoy yourselves and welcome to Club Ampere.” She smiles at us and makes her way back to the entrance to help the next group of people.

“This is ridiculous!” Josie yells over the bass of the music, looking around at all the people. She must be in hog heaven!

“Shall we?” I inquire, pouring generous amounts of the bright blue liquid into the glasses provided at the table.

“YES!” They both yell in unison.

We clink our glasses together and toss back the drinks, the fruity flavor a compliment to the heat inside of the club.

We stand at the table taking in the atmosphere, letting it sink into our bones. I’m swaying my hips while standing at the table, anxious to get to the dance floor.

Alexa is watching me. I can tell my good mood makes her happy. I hitch my head towards the dance floor. “You wanna?” I smile at her reaction. She’s surprised I asked, knowing full well every other time we’ve been out they’ve had to practically drag me out on the dance floor.

She’s steadily typing something into the order tablet connected to the table top. “I just ordered a few more drinks, let’s dance after those get here.”

I nod. More drinks are good, and they may even help with my dancing! Within minutes our drinks have arrived. My eyes dart to Alexa after the waitress drops our order off. “Shots! Those aren’t drinks, that’s stupid in a small glass!” She knows I don’t handle hard liquor well.

“Calm down, Lorali! Just a few, no one is forcing you to drink the whole bottle!” She’s grinning from ear to ear. I know she’s taking advantage of my good mood.

I shrug, thinking why not. I’ve never had vanilla flavored vodka before. I slam my shot back, waiting for the burn in my throat that never comes. I look down at the empty shot glass and smile. I don’t have time to think before Josie and Alexa are tugging me out onto the dance floor.

The dance floor is situated in the center of the club, sunken down at least a foot from the surround area. The floor is made of glass and bright, pulsing electrical currents are raging under our feet.

The dance floor is packed, but we manage to squeeze into the middle of the crowd, and form a triangle of swaying hips. I close my eyes and let the rhythmic beat carry me away, the warmth of the alcohol having a mild sedative effect.

One song fades into the next, changing the tempo only slightly. I open my eyes to make sure Alexa and Josie are close by. They’re equally as relaxed and having a good time. Alexa has already backed herself against the front of a stranger, swaying her hips seductively. So much for a change of pace I think with a chuckle, knowing by the look in her eye that she’s assessing the possibility of allowing him to take her home by the way he’s moving against her.

Suddenly her eyes go wide, and right before I take a step towards her a huge smile floats across her face. Simultaneously, I feel a warm hand reach around my stomach and a large male form ease in behind me. The feeling is very familiar but I’m not one to allow people I don’t know touch me. Before I can turn around to politely disengage from the man behind me I feel a hot breath by my ear. My knees go weak, my body understanding the familiarity a few seconds before my mind does.

Ian.

It takes all of my willpower not to turn around and look in his magnificent hazel eyes but his broad hand spread across my stomach and his gyrating hips against my ass are incentive enough to prolong seeing his face.

Alexa must have seen him walk up behind me, causing her reaction. I look across at her and take in her shit-eating grin. I steal a glance over at Josie who’s so shocked at the appearance of this sex god that she’s stopped dancing all together and is just standing there staring at me with her mouth open.

The talented sway of Ian’s body against mine makes me lose all interest in Josie’s reaction. I close my eyes and allow my body to be led by the movement of his. My eyes close of their own volition. I bring my arm up, same as I did last night at the art show and wrap it around the back of his head. He sweeps his hand down my exposed side, grazing my breast before resting it on my hip.

All shyness has left my body, everyone else in the club fades away and I sway my hips and rub my body against his at every point of contact I can manage. I feel his grip tighten on my hip and I’m forcefully swung around in his arms. The look in his eyes is not what I expect. Anger rather than lust and happiness are apparent in his gaze. I attempt to take a step back, unsure of why he’s upset. His grip on my hip and around my back doesn’t allow for much movement. He doesn’t say a word before crushing my mouth with his, bruising my lips.

My foggy mind tries to process the emotions and anger he’s displaying, but it’s unsuccessful because his lips have marginally relaxed and he’s ravishing my mouth with his. My arms wrap around his neck as I stand on the tips of my toes trying to get as close to his level as possible. His hand on my back is burning a fire through my body, my skin begging it to spread everywhere.

Suddenly his touch is gone, and he’s gently pushing me away. The look on his face is murderous. He looks into my eyes briefly before giving his head a marginal shake, his eyes having now gone from anger to disappointment.

What the fuck?

He backs up a few steps before turning entirely around, disappearing into the crowd. I’m left standing there, bereft. I’ve no clue what the hell just happened. I turn back around and look at Alexa. She’s processed the scene that just took place and can tell by the look on my face that I’m about to lose it. She grabs my hand, deserting her dance companion and shoves our way through the throng of dancers and leads me off the dance floor.

She only lets go of my hand once we’re safely in the ladies restroom at the back of the club. I look at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and the look of confusion is still in my eyes.

“What the fuck was that?” Alexa booms.

“I have no idea!” I’m almost hysterical. “We were dancing and suddenly he flings me around and he had a look of pure fury in his eyes. He kissed me and when he pulled away the rage was still in his eyes, then he turned around and left! I have no fucking clue what just happened!” My hands are shaking and I’m turned inside out.

“Well, let’s go grab Josie and we’ll head home, no way are you going to be up for anything else tonight.” She rubs my back as I hang my head and take a few calming breaths.

She leads me out of the restroom. Not realizing that she’s stopped suddenly, I run right into her back. “What the hell, Alexa?” I snap, looking over at her. Her eyes are wide open and I follow her gaze.

Ian is standing against the wall opposite of the bathroom door. Again.