Ragged Company

Closer - Nine Inch Nails

You can have my isolation, you can have the hate that it brings

You can have my absence of faith, you can have my everything

A/N: Thank you for the reviews and follows and favourites. Hope this does justice for the wait that I put you through.

I held out hope that I would see her again but the following dances were done by other girls. All who were trying to get my attention but somehow, I wasn't feeling it.

After two hours, she still didn't make an appearance and I had finished two bottles of brandy as well as half of what they said was their best bottle of Highland Parks Whiskey. However, I didn't feel close to being drunk – just a little bit buzzed but even that seemed to be fading, slowly being empowered with my boredom.

I don't even know why I was staying here – I could just get up and go home and even have a real drink.

With that final and decisive thought, I stood up, ready to just leave it all behind. I would get someone else to eat night but probably end up drinking from a blood bag.

"Leaving already?" her voice had lowered an octave, sultry and seductive as she drawled out each syllable.

I inclined my head to the side, so I could look at her. She had changed into a white button up shirt but first few buttons popped open, revealing her lace black bra. On top was a black waistcoat but she had kept the black leather shorts. Sadly, she still had her hair hidden under the short black wig.

She placed her hands on her hips and stared at me, quirking up an eyebrow as she waited for an answer.

I stretched my arm along the back of the seat and made an obvious once over at her attire and deliberately licked my lips. "Maybe you can convince me to stay?"

She finally smirked, "And how would I do that?"

"I'm sure you can think of something"

Her hands left her hips and were then placed on the table as she leaned in towards me, "Just tell me what you want" she purred seductively.

I crossed my arms over the table so I was now inches apart from her lips. She breathed and I could feel her warmth on my tongue. "And you'll make it happen?" I inquired with a silent challenge.

"Sure" she shrugged and sadly moved back.

I could think of all the possibilities. Having her legs around me as I sank my teeth into her neck and indulged on her sweet scent. The thought was enough to have the fangs prick my bottom lip but I took a deep breath to calm me.

I gestured towards the empty seat opposite me. "Sit with me"

"What?" she blinked, surprised by my offer.

"Sit with me" I repeated calmly.

She lowered her head and muttered to herself, "Well that was unexpected"

"Why?"

Before she could reply, there was a loud and boisterous voice that yelled for her, "Oy, Bell!"

We turned to find a guy, probably in his mid thirties that was obviously drunk, sway from side to side as he placed a hand on his chest and called for her, "I miss you baby! I need you baby" he pointed to Bell and I raised an eyebrow at his strange behaviour, briefly wondering if he had slept with the brunette stripper.

I was surprised when she stood up, one hand on her hip as she scolded, "What you need is to get back home to your wife" she couldn't help the amused laugh that escaped her.

"Baby, y-you know you're the only girl for me" he slurred, stumbling towards us and then taking faltering steps next to Bell. He slung his arm over her shoulders and she rolled her eyes but still held on to him. "I luuurrrrvvvveee you – and only you"

"Sit down before you hurt yourself" she tried to lead him but he pulled away from her and then grabbed her shoulders.

"But I love you. I l-love, love you because you understand dear" he hiccuped and lazily peeked up at her through droopy eyes. He then stumbled back and began to sing in his best Elvis impression, "Every single thing I try to doooooo. I love you most of all because you're you" he faltered back to her and she easily caught him.

"You're getting married tomorrow" she murmured in his ear.

He raised his head and hiccupped again when he foolishly asked, "To you?"

"No, to Stacey" she laughed half-heartedly.

"Oh yeah, Stacey" he murmured and slumped back to an empty table, clutching his head. "I miss Stacey" he slurred and then reached up to grab her hands. "I'm sorry Bell but I love Stacey. She my lady"

"It's alright" she shook here head.

"See, you understand..." he trailed off when his eyes finally closed.

Humans...and their low tolerance for alcohol. It was sad and pathetic really.

The stripper then snapped her fingers to gain one of the bartender's attention. "Marc, call a cab for Ray here please" she winked at him and I was certain that was all it would make for any man to fall at her feet.

Of course, the bartender was already by her side and taking the drunkard off her shoulders.

Bell never got to see the flirtatious smile he sent her as she had turned back to me.

"So, do I get to be the centre of your attention now?"

"Someone's needy" she accused but complied and dropped back to straddle the hair opposite me. "I saw you before" she pointed out with a certain wariness.

"Yes you did" I nodded, seeing no point in making an excuse. While she continued to study me, I took a sip of my drink and n a gentlemanly manner, reached over to pour her some. "I followed you here" I stated, looking back up a her.

"Why?" she questioned, frowning visibly but then took the drink, gulping it down which surprised me but I didn't comment.

Seeing as I couldn't tell her truth, I made up the first thing that would be a lie and would probably make the girl want me more, "You intrigued me" my reply was met with a pregnant silence so I jumped straight to the point.

"Let me take you out - after work"

I wanted her.

She was my chosen prey and I would be an idiot to pass up her blood. Who knew if I would ever get a chance to find another human with such a sweet and tempting smell.

She shook her head and moved back slightly, "I don't date or do the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing"

I simply smiled at her withdrawal but wasn't willing to give up. "So what do you do?"

"Question is, what do you want me to do?"

There was a challenge in her brightened brown eyes and I wondered if she thought I was going to cower from her. Maybe she thought she could intimidate me.

Not me.

I was Damon Salvatore - irresistible lady-killer.

Like the rest, she would be the one begging for me.

Leaning closer to her, I locked gazes with her and felt her breath hitch when I trailed my fingers up her arm. "I want to take you to my hotel room...and I want to take off that skimpy little outfit with my teeth..." I recalled my previous fantasies. "...before I make you scream my name over and over again"

It took her a few seconds to collect herself and then blink away the glazed look that had darkened her eyes. "Confident" she gulped and inched further away from me. I then felt the tip of her heel stroke up my leg as she tried to regain control over me, "What about the heels?"

"Oh no, you can keep those on" I smirked and moved my fingers down to stroke up her bare calf, loving how soft her skin was. "So pick you up after...work?" I flickered my eyes back to her.

Again, she had to blink and remember how to breathe.

Like I said, irresistible.

"I bet that smile is all it takes for the girls to drop their pants for you" she piped up and dropped her leg back down.

I smirked again, just to prove my point. "Well, I don't like to brag"

Mirroring my previous actions, she crossed her arms on the table and stared straight at me with a new edge in her demeanour. "Well it takes a bit more than a bit of charm for me to jump in a guys bed" she snapped.

Anger flared in me and I couldn't help but mock her, "Oh? So what $300?"

Her own rage was ignited as she whipped out to slap my face, the shock was enough for my head to fall to the side. It was when she then shot up from the seat that I recovered, only to hear her voiced fury. "Fuck you" she growled and spun around, allowing one of the girls to pull her back on the stage.

Like nothing had happened, her features were now composed, masked for the show.

Again, the guys erupted in loud cheers when the music started again and she had fallen back

I didn't like how insignificant I felt.

Why should I care?

Why was I even angrier when she decided to not look my way again.

She was an enigma...a challenge...

Obviously compulsion didn't work so maybe she had vervain in her. Maybe in the silver necklace she wore but I shouldn't have to compel my meal.

No girl has ever truly denied me and if they did, it was because they were playing hard to get.

Well...challenge accepted.

A/N: Can't be compelled? What's your theory? Like Bella's fierceness or was it completely stupid to turn down a night with Damon?

I can tell you that it will soon catch up to Mystic Falls and Twilight drama - be patient with me.

Oh and if you aren't sick of me and want to read more, why not give my 100 theme Fanfiction challenge. Did the first challenge of one shots - using people's suggestions, I have pairing one shots with BellaxTyler, BellaxJeremy, EdwardxKatherine, KlausxBella, BellaxMason, BellaxStefan. Fun so far because I've done pairings I didn't expect to do and its nice to hear the ideas people want me to manifest.

Until next time...