“Hey, you two,” I say, loud enough to cut through their laughter. “There’s an after-party starting at Eclipse Lounge, ten minutes from here. We’re going.”
Lincoln blinks, the grin still lingering on his face, but his eyes immediately start scanning the crowd over my shoulder. He’s looking for Gabrielle without even realizing he’s doing it.
I glance back and spot Gabby a few steps away, hugging her coat closed against the cold, watching us. The second Lincoln finds her, his whole expression softens, like someone turned down the volume on everything else around him. She gives him this small, knowing smile, the kind that doesn’t need words, and he smiles back the same way at her.
Ugh God, it’s almost sweet. Almost.
But I want to throw up in my mouth.
“Tom, you should come too,” I add, turning to him.
"No, I got to get home to my wife," he says, sounding drunk himself.
"Awww, really? A bunch of the other coworkers are going. Why didn't she come with you?"
"Doesn't like all the noise," he says.
His wife honestly sounds like a fucking killjoy. Not unlike Gabrielle over here.
Tom waves us off with a sloppy grin and stumbles toward the street, disappearing into the swirl of New Year's stragglers.
Lincoln and Gabrielle trail behind me as I lead them the few blocks to Eclipse Lounge, the bass from inside already thrumming through the pavement like a second heartbeat.
At the door, I flash my membership pass to the bouncer, matte black card, silver lettering, and lean in close enough for him to hear me over the noise. "Me plus two guests," I say, nodding back at them.
He scans my card, checks the list, and unhooks the velvet rope without a word. Perks of being a regular: two guests max, no cover, no questions.
Inside, the air is thick with heat and perfume and the sharp bite of expensive liquor. We shed our coats at the check near the entrance, trading winter layers for the humid pulse of the club.
The bartender spots me immediately, I've tipped well enough times for that, and slides three drinks our way without me even ordering.
"These are better, right?" I ask Gabby, who now is loosening up a bit.
"Yeah, way better. Bet they cost a bitch too," Gabby replies.
"I'm paying for them. Don't worry about it," I scream over the music.
A song comes on, one that I had danced with Lincoln to a while back when I had taken him to another club: a mashup of "Love in This Club" by Usher and "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown and Taylor Swift. An oldie but still a bump which spurs on the excitement of everyone in the club.
I dance with Lincoln, something that I notice Gabby does not like, so let's make her feel a little included, shall we?
I ease out of Lincoln's grip, my breasts no longer pressed up against him, and pivot toward Gabby instead.
My arms slip around her waist with grace, fingers splaying across the small of her back as I draw her in close.
And even closer until our bodies align and the space between us vanishes.
Then… I kiss her.
My tongue ventures down Gabby's throat, and at first, Gabby seems a little confused, but the alcohol makes her a lot more pliable to my gesture.
Stealing a peek at Lincoln, who is almost standing right between us, I notice his mouth open wide, just gawking at us.
This is actually hilarious but also hot. The poor man isutterlytransfixed, watching the side profile of our faces right in front of him, making out.
Smiling, I continue sensually kissing Gabby, who kisses me back.
Lincoln isdefinitelyinto this. If Gabby hadn't been as drunk as she is right now, she definitely wouldn't be doing this, but when opportunity presents itself…
