You know when you just listen to a song and it makes you think of a whole story? That's what happened here. I don't like songfics so I didn't write this like one but it's certainly inspired by the song "Saboteur" by Courteeners, so I'd suggest you have a listen on youtube if you don't know it :)
Otherwise enjoy! Let me know what you think. I might go for a second part of this, not sure yet :)
"I'm not so sure this was a good idea, Dom." Zosia March looked at the double vodka lemonade in her hand feeling uneasy.
"Yeah, me neither." Arthur Digby agreed, his housemate had managed to talk him around to a beer but he had no intention of going any further than that.
"Look, I know you're both super involved with work and everything but every now and then you need to just let go and relax. Now, we all have the day off tomorrow, tonight we drink." Dominic Copeland instructed as they made their way to a table. He had dragged his housemates to a new and shiny bar and intended to make the most of it. The three of them slid into a booth from which they could observe everything going on in the bar. It was actually a really nice establishment, quite elegant and much more sophisticated than the student bars around town.
"I'm guessing you're hoping to pull a handsome lawyer or something then?" Zosia observed looking around the room.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt." Dom answered having a look around as well.
"So we're here as your wingmen." Zosia clarified with a chuckle.
"If that's what you want to call it." He shrugged taking a sip of his drink.
"Right, see anyone you like?" She retorted. Arthur just shook his head at the very idea but started looking around as well.
"Oh God." He said and both his roommates looked at him confused and worried.
"What's wrong?" Zosia frowned.
"Not an ex, is it?" Dom asked and Arthur shook his head.
"Am I imagining things or is that Jac Naylor by the bar?" He said trying to point her out without being too obvious. Both Dom and Zosia followed his indication immediately. Dom raised his eyebrows approvingly while Zosia chocked on her drink ever so slightly.
"Well, you've got to hand it to her, she can pull of those shoes." Dominic observed taking a sip of his drink. He was right. The woman stood at the bar was definitely Jac Naylor even though she was facing away from them. Her ginger hair was unmistakable and distinct against the black dress she was wearing. Zosia couldn't help but notice said dress was rather short and clingy. And yes, Dom certainly had a point about the shoes, they were red and very high showing off her legs. That woman had legs for days. "You should give that look a go sometime, Zosia. Zosia?" He looked at her when she didn't respond. "Zosia?!" He almost had to shout to pull her out of her trance. She hadn't been able to tear her eyes away from the consultant. That woman, those shoes. Shit. She hadn't even realised she was starring. She blushed and tried to hide it by having a sip of her drink.
"Were you just checking out Jac Naylor?" Arthur asked. His tone was somewhere between amusement and concern.
"No, don't be ridiculous, I mean…" She glanced back at Jac who was now talking to a man at the bar. It was hard to tell if she had arrived with him or they were just meeting for the first time. In any case, Jac seemed to decide to stick around, she climbed onto a bar stood facing towards the man next to her and she crossed her legs elegantly. Zosia almost winced audibly and forced herself to look away. If they weren't careful, she'd be able to spot them out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, I mean, if I liked woman I'd see the appeal." Dom said looking more closely now.
"Stop starring, Dom, she will see us!" Zosia slapped his arm.
"Did I miss something? When did this happen? Zosia? Since when do you like women?" Arthur was utterly confused.
"I'm not, I mean, I don't. God. This drink is really going to my head." She took a big gulp as her throat was starting to feel very dry.
"It's not the drink and it's not your head it's gone to." Dom replied dryly.
"Dom, stop it!" She exclaimed slapping his arm again to shut him up.
"Will you stop slapping me? Maybe you're into that kind of thing, if you're into Jac Naylor that might come in handy, but I can do without it." He retorted.
"Oh God, can you please stop talking, I don't need these images in my head!" Arthur cut in.
"Shit, I think she may have seen us…" Dom realised and Zosia couldn't help but look over to her. Her eyes locked with Jac's immediately and she didn't know what to do, she wanted to just look away but that would be like admitting defeat and giving in. Two things she knew the consultant hated. Jac's lips morphed into faint smile, almost smirk and then she looked away, back at the man she was talking to who didn't seem to have noticed he had lost her attention for a time.
"We should probably go." Zosia said, she let go of the leather seat she had just realised she had subconsciously held on to for support.
"Why? We have every right to be here, she didn't seem bothered." Dom retorted.
"Please, Dom, let's just go home." She pleaded, she didn't like this situation at all, she could feel her body slowly starting to react to the alcohol and she feared she might to something stupid.
"What are you so afraid of? You're out of work, it's a perfectly acceptable situation. If you like her, why don't you go and talk to her?"
"I don't like her!" Zosia insisted and Dominic laughed.
"Yeah, right. Let me tell you, the places your eyes lingered on tell a different story. I don't see what the big deal is."
"The big deal is that she's your boss so yes, maybe it would be a good idea to go home." Arthur tried to intervene.
"I can be your wingman if you like. I don't have to work with her." Dom suggested amused at the whole situation.
"Don't. That's a terrible idea." Arthur cut in again. They were interrupted by the fact that Jac got to her feet.
"Oh please no." Zosia breathed hoping she wouldn't come over. She didn't trust herself around the consultant right now and she highly doubted she ever would do again. Not after seeing her like this, the image would forever be embossed onto her brain, she already dreaded her next shift with her. Jac didn't walk up to them, instead she walked across the room to what they could only guess would be the restroom. She did, however, glance over to them briefly and Zosia felt the sting, the pull, she couldn't tell what the glance meant but it set her insides on fire.
"Well, if that's not a come on I don't know what is." Dom raised his eyebrows and Arthur buried his face in his hands.
"You should go after her!" Dominic suggested and Arthur immediately countered:
"Absolutely not!"
"Of course I'm not!" Zosia could't believe they even thought she would. This was awkward enough as it was.
"Let me get you another drink." Dom offered. "You know, for the shock."
"I thought we were leaving." Arthur said but their friend shook his head.
"No, Zosia insists she has no interest in Ms Naylor so surely it shouldn't matter she's here, should it?" He got to his feet.
"Well of course I'm interested Dom, stop being such a dick!" She growled. "But that doesn't mean it's okay."
"Come on, relax, it'll be fine if you don't want to act on it. Just think of her as some eye candy then, get another drink down you and we'll find you another pretty red-head." Before she could protest, he was off to the bar.
"He better not try and talk to…" Zosia began to say but before she could finish the sentence, Dom had turned to the man Jac had been talking to and started speaking. They were too far away to hear what he was saying and Zosia couldn't watch, she buried her face in her hands. The evening was not going according to script at all.
"She's coming back." Arthur said and she looked around spotting her immediately. Their eyes met again and Zosia wished she had had the sense to walk out. She could tell in that moment that Jac had every intention of walking up to her, she could see it in her eyes. The consultant looked utterly intrigued. Zosia realised the inevitability of the situation and felt sick with nerves. She was sure Jac was enjoying this immensely. She watched her cross the bar, only to see her stop to talk to a couple of men at a table. She was doing it intentionally, there was no doubt about that, she was making her wait. Zosia couldn't look away as she tried to suppress a wave of jealousy. Her eyes rested on Jac's lips as she spoke, she tried to read them but without success. She wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips, bite and pull them. The very idea left her flushed and breathless. The alcohol in her system was making her lose her inhibitions and she watched the consultant with unmasked desire. It seemed like an eternity until Jac continued on her way.
"Here we go." Dom returned with three shot glasses and blocked her view.
"I'd better not." Zosia protested half-heartedly, she was already feeling too tipsy for a liking and the kinds of thoughts she was having made it obvious she shouldn't have any more if she wanted to remain in control of her actions.
"Nonsense, you'll feel better for it, you might need the liquid courage."
"She needs to not have liquid courage, she needs to snap out of it." Arthur interjected and Dom sighed.
"Listen, Diggers, there is nothing wrong with a bit of office romance…"
"Dom." Arthur tried to interrupt him but without success.
"Maybe you just need to get it out of your system. We're not talking forever, maybe one wild ride and…"
"Dom, shut up." Zosia tried to shush him.
"I mean, I doubt anyone could stay in a relationship with her for long anyway, just imagine…"
"What are we imagining?" Jac asked with a smirk as she came to a halt right behind Dominic who closed his eyes wishing he was somewhere far away. He saw the colour drain from Zosia's face and took a deep breath before turning around to greet her.
"Ms Naylor, we had no idea…" Dom started speaking but she raised eyebrows, there was no point in bullshitting her so he course-corrected halfway through the sentence. "Those shoes are amazing."
"They have the desire effect." Jac mused. "I take it you're enjoying a well deserved break?"
"Yes, day off tomorrow." He responded quickly.
"Ah yes, I thought it was." The consultant replied looking at Zosia as if to say she knew her shift pattern. The junior remained silent and very still waiting to see what would happen next.
"We were just going to have some shots." Dom continued not sure what else to say.
"I don't want that." Arthur replied immediately and Jac smiled.
"Well, then, if you're sure." She said and picked up the shot glass intended for him. Zosia just stared at her, she didn't know what to say or do.
"Sure, well, cheers then." Dom tried to make the best of the situation and they emptied their glasses. Zosia struggled to hide her grimace, she didn't like the taste one bit but she did enjoy the burning sensation afterwards. She looked at Jac who hadn't even flinched. She was very adapt at keeping her emotions in check. The tension between them was becoming unbearable. Zosia was embarrassed at how obvious her interest in the consultant had become. Everything about her behaviour practically screamed for her whereas Jac remained unreadable, enigmatic and untouchable. It only added to the thrill.
"Why don't you excuse us?" Jac asked without averting her eyes from Zosia. She noticed her sharp intake of air with great satisfaction. Even Dom wasn't prepared for that direct request.
"Oh uhm, yeah sure okay." When neither Jac nor Zosia moved he pulled Arthur to his feet who was in shock at the sudden turn of events.
"What? We're going?" Arthur couldn't believe this was actually happening. Dom pulled him away towards the bar while Jac took a seat next to Zosia who instinctively moved over to make room. The consultant crossed her legs and Zosia forced herself to focus on her drink which was almost empty. Being close to her was more intoxicating than the drinks she'd had. She looked over at her unnerved by the silence and expectation between them. Jac just looked at her, a faint smile on her lips, she was daring Zosia to make the next move.
"You have sabotaged a perfectly good night out with my friends." Zosia burst out at last when she couldn't take the pressure anymore.
"Sabotaged?" She repeated with a sly grin.
"Yes! From the moment I saw you…"
"You stopped functioning from what I could tell." She observed with a smirk. "Or is that a bit harsh to say? How about you couldn't stop starring at me?" The junior didn't know how to defend herself. As usual, Jac's words cut like a knife. "It's okay, Zosia, I'm flattered, really." She continued in a sultry tone that made her feel even more helpless. It was utterly frustrating how she just seemed to know which buttons to push. "You interest is certainly… appreciated." She reached out and tucked a strand of Zosia's hair behind her ear. The junior felt unable to move, she flinched when Jac's fingertips brushed against her cheek. The consultant chuckled. "I'm just not sure what you expect from me." Zosia tired to say something, anything but she couldn't form any words. She starred at Jac's slightly parted lips and bit her own willing Jac to just make a move. In that moment, she would have let her do anything to her. "Courage, Zosia, those who don't ask don't get." The consultant smirked and casually picked up the junior's drink, she had to reach past her to do so and Zosia held her breath. Jac slowly finished the drink watching her expectantly. She ran her index finger along the edge of the glass as she placed it back on the table. Her eyes never left Zosia's. "Is that a no then?" Jac raised her eyebrows and when Zosia didn't respond she sighed. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, Doctor March." She got to her feet which was finally enough to force Zosia into action.
"No, please stop." She grabbed hold of Jac's wrist and pulled her back down more forcefully than she had intended.
"Yes?" The consultant smiled coyly, she didn't seem to mind her sudden force or the fact that her hand remained wrapped firmly around her wrist. Zosia knew what she wanted and expected from her and yet she struggled to deliver. She placed a shaky hand on the consultant's cheek and ran her fingertips over her pale skin. Jac smirked suggestively and Zosia wanted nothing more than to wipe the self-satisfied grin off her face. She leaned in and kissed her gingerly, she couldn't take anymore of her provocations. "That's more like it." Jac whispered against her lips and returned the kiss immediately seizing control. She pushed her tongue inside her mouth forcefully and Zosia moaned as she completely took over her senses. The smell of her perfume, her feeling of her hands in her hair and on her thigh, the taste of the drink they had shared. When Jac broke the kiss Zosia was lost for a moment. "Now you have two choices, Doctor March, you can either go back to your friends or you can try to summon some more of that courage." Jac ran her hand further up her thigh and Zosia blushed more deeply. "I don't think I have to tell you which is my preferred option."