CHAPTER TEN

"Earth to Cassandra..", The voice of my best friend came over the thumping beat of the music, her hands occupying a tray of drinks. I was starting to regret taking the wad of cash that Martin had forced upon me when leaving the house, as Charlie thrusted four different cocktails into my view.

"Sorry, Charlie", I shrugged as I looked at the gathering of glasses, my eyes flicking through them all as my lips were undecided in which one, "I was just thinkin-".

"Thinking about Jordan.. I know", Charlie mimicked as she began to suck on a straw. I tried to relax into the leather fabric of the booth we had occupied, my eyes locking on the cocktail I had picked out.

"I can't help it, babe", I shrugged again, "Those rampant rabbits are growing ever increasingly tempting..".

"Right, can we think about your sexual frustration later and think about our girls night, now? Enjoy the night, baby", I hated it when she was right. I'd made the effort to actually go out, right? So, the least I could do was make the effort to enjoy myself?

"I think you better get a round of shots in…", The stubborn side of me was holding back on the smile as I suggested it to her.

"Now this is the side to Cassie that I love…", Charlie beamed as she removed herself from the booth, "Be back in a second".

I knew as soon as she was gone he'd begin flooding my mind. He'd been stuck there for the majority of the day; my legs being forced to cross over, stopping any blood from rushing to that area and making the situation worse. I hadn't realised just how bad it was becoming until the day before whilst we were laying in bed and soaking up the chemistry. I wanted to ravish him; completely tear his clothes from his body, and have him right there and then. And whilst I knew it was wrong considering we weren't dating, I still couldn't help but put the thought of how wrong it was to the back of my mind everytime I thought about sex with him.

"The chick at the bar said she'd bring them over…", Charlie beamed as she shuffled into the seat.

"How many did you order?", My eyes lit up as I realised the only time we got service like that was when there was in fact, too much to carry.

"A few..", Charlie shrugged as she thrusted the straw back into her mouth.

"So.. I reckon we act as if Jordan doesn-", Charlie's eyes averted from me, to something at my side. Turning my head instantly, I was met with the face of a stranger.

"Can we help you?", I muttered as I began to sip on the strawberry flavoured beverage, his eyes watching my every move. I tried not to stare at him; his eyes a sparkling brown under the party lights, his dark hair extremely short against his head as he leant back against the leather.

"Yeah actually…", I'd always been a bit of a sucker for the scouse accent, and I'd always found myself going weak at the knees for the wit and charm they were so famous for, "I, erm, was gonna ask if I could get ye' a drink.. but now I'm looking at all of those you've got there and I'm rethinking it".

I couldn't help but laugh at his remark; the situation funnier when it was said with a scouse accent.

"Haha, that's nice", I grinned, my attention turning to the brunette bartender that began to slip the tray of shots onto our table.

"You have a really gorgeous smile, y'know?", He beamed, my cheeks turning an ever increasingly brighter shade of red as I tried to think of a decent response to his compliment.

"And you're really sweet..", Really? Really?

Placing the now empty cocktail glass down onto the table, I picked up two shots of what I presumed was Sambuca, and put them down on the table in front of me.

"Do you want one?", I questioned as I pointed at the seemingly never ending supply of shots on the tray.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?", He bit his bottom lip as he reached over to the trap, clasping a shot before holding it in his hand.

"1..2..3", Charlie called as we all threw back the aniceed flavouried liquid; the alcohol content burning my throat as I tried to rid my throat of the sensation.

"So, do you both live in the city or..?", He questioned, his quilted jacket creasing as he rested his arm on the table.

"I do, Charlie here is visiting from university..", I answered audibly, the music seemingly getting louder the longer we sat there.

"And will I get to learn your name or is that something that I'll get after you dance with me?", The cockiness and confidence in his words were wooing me, forcing me to cave in to his scouse wit and charm just like I thought I always would.

"I'm Cassie..", I grinned as I thrusted my hand out in front of him. He grasped it immediately, turning it palm down before planting a kiss on the back.

"That's a gorgeous dress you're wearing, Cassie", His eyes dropped to the lace body-con number that I was occupying.

"Thank you", There was something enjoyable about his compliments; whether it was the alcohol taking effect or the fact I appreciated his words, I was loving the attention. I was loving his attention.

"So.. that dance, Cassie.. ", He removed himself from the leather, standing tall over the table as he stared down at me. I looked at Charlie as she thrusted pointing fingers into the air, gesturing for me to go with him.

"One dance..", I caved, "And you haven't told me your name yet".

"I'm Conor".