Ah, what the hell.
As predicted, the alcohol is nasty, but everyone cheers and immediately grabs a second. River and Cheddar turn back to the blonde and her friend. Kit rolls her eyes but laughs along with Boot, who is making childish snogging motions.
Time for me to let loose. Signalling Kit, who is the only one paying attention, I let her know I’m heading for the dance floor.
It’s a writhing pit of sweaty bodies. I’m immediately pulled into the throng. My hands lift above my head and myhips sway. The song thumps and the people lose themselves, me included.
A pair of arms circle my waist. Tilting my head to the side, I spy a tall femme currently making her intentions known as she grinds my arse. I won’t let it go anywhere, but hell, I might as well enjoy a bit of bodily contact for the next few minutes.
We move together with fluid motions. Her lips ghost my neck as she pushes her chest into my back. I can’t help but bite my lip as heat pools low in my abdomen. Twirling around, my arms settle over her shoulders. She’s very nice to look at, and if I hadn’t promised myself to stay clear of women for a while, I’d certainly be taking her to bed.
She smiles down at me and moves in closer. Instead of kissing me, though, she brings her lips to my ear. “You’ve got an admirer. Over by the bar.”
My eyes move over her shoulder and lock onto the only woman looking my way. River. She’s got the busty blonde hanging off her arm, whispering something in her ear, but River’s attention is solely on me. Her expression is unreadable—not quite jealous, not quite interested. Just…watching.
My stomach does something complicated.
The second our eyes connect, she looks away.
I don’t want to read anything into it. We’re trying to start off on a clean slate, and nothing good will come of making something out of a bit of eye contact. Plus, she’s already got her tongue down the blonde’s throat, so there’s that.
“Nah, she’s just keeping an eye on me. I’m here with a group of friends,” I shout back to the tall femme.
“I could keep an eye on you for the night.” Her eyebrow lifts, and the smile she shoots me is pure sin.
Laughing at her forwardness, I shake my head and continue to dance. “I’m just here to let off some steam on the dance floor. Nothing more.”
She bites her lip. “That’s a crying shame.”
I shrug. “Maybe another time?”
“We can still dance though, right?”
Instead of answering, I let my body do the talking. We spend several more songs practically dry humping. It’s a safe bet I’ll need to take things into my own hands this evening, but at least I’ll have kept my word. No more one-night stands. Not until this job is over and I’m far away from anyone remotely connected to the Royal Navy.
Sweat pours from my face as tall femme and I make it back to the bar. Kit and Boot are still doing shots. Cheddar is on the periphery of the dance floor, receiving a lapdance from the busty blonde’s friend. Speaking of her, she’s leading River towards the toilets.
“I’m Laura, by the way,” the tall femme says.
“Cleo.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to have a little fun, Cleo?”
She’s gorgeous. Tall, confident, clearly interested. It would be easy. So easy. Go home with her, forget about River and the Navy and this whole complicated mess for a few hours.
But I made myself a promise.
“Sorry, I need to check in with my friends.It was nice dancing with you.” I rise to my tiptoes and give her a peck on the cheek. She smells nice. Damn it.
Taking a lung full of club air, I back away before I change my mind. Kit welcomes me with a well-defined arm over my shoulder. Her eyes are considerably glassier than earlier.
“There ya are! You taking that sexy tall drink of water home?”
Laughing, I sling my arm over her shoulder. “Nope. I’m here to get to know you guys. We’re going to be shipmates, after all.”
“Yeah,” Boot crows before necking another drink. “Here, get this down ya.”
Obliging Boot’s request, I sink the drink and settle in for the evening. We chat and laugh. I learn Kit has a very pregnant sister, and Boot loves old movies.
