Another update. One reviewer requested longer chapters but for the moment I'm going to stick with the chapter breaks where they've been lined up and try to post a little more regularly. It was nice to get a couple of new reviews for the last chapter. Any other feedback would be equally appreciated!
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As they made their way towards the bar, Red took in their surroundings: the booths positioned around the dance floor, a slight platform to one end where people could spy on the revelers from a height, and a stairway in the far corner leading to what looked like a gangway and private area. Red couldn't see up into that area but he expected it was where Khalil Khan would be. With a hand at the small of her back, he pushed Sophie towards the bar. She looked at him curiously.
"I need a drink," he said firmly and she nodded, sidling through the crowd to the bar.
She ordered. A scotch for him, and a mojito for herself. Red reached past her with cash when the bartender returned. She turned to face him and held up her glass.
"To a successful..." she held her hands up in consternation.
"...wild goose chase," Red quipped and she chuckled as they tapped glasses and drank. Red took a good mouthful of the scotch. He didn't usually get flustered but he was out of his comfort zone here. He usually walked into rooms knowing everything and sometimes more than what his opponent did. It was the first time he'd flown somewhat blind in a long time.
"We need to blend in," Red muttered in her ear, making it again look like the lingering contact between an enamored couple.
"Is that why your hand is on my ass?" she asked pointedly and he caught her eye with a smirk.
"Oh that's just for me," he smirked, "Guards can't see through crowds," he added smugly and she stifled a disbelieving laugh.
"Isn't being undercover fun?" he quipped with a wicked smile, before picking up his glass and taking her hand. He picked his way through the crowd, coming to a stop at the bottom of the prominent stairway. Another beefy guard stood, looking mean and dangerous at the foot of the stairs.
"Need to speak to Khalil Khan," Red said with a tone of authority. The guard looked at him as if he were something he might scrape off his shoe.
"You cops?" he spat and Red raised an eyebrow.
"Do I look like a cop?" he replied indignantly but when he saw the guard considering his answer, he added: "Don't answer that. I'm not a cop. I've got a business proposition for your boss."
The guard raised his eyebrows and pulled a walkie from the back of his pants. Without taking his eyes off Red and Sophie, he walked up a few steps and spoke in Arabic to whoever was on comms upstairs. He listened and stepped back down.
"Mr Khan is not accepting visitors," he said firmly. Red held the guard's gaze. He hadn't wanted to play this card but had expected to have to do so.
"Not even if it's Raymond Reddington who wants to do business?"
"Who's Raymond Reddington?" the guard shrugged.
"Mr Khan will know who I am," Red said, still holding the guard's gaze. The guard pulled the walkie again and spoke into it. He listened and nodded to nobody in particular.
"Mr Khan is with a guest at the moment. He will see you after. I will send someone to the bar for you when he is available."
Red nodded and thanked the guard, finding Sophie's hand and pulling her towards the bar. She still had half of her drink left but knew that it was more important than ever to play the part now. She stepped in front of Red and found a spot at the bar. She didn't flinch when she felt his body slot into the back of hers.
"I really think you're taking advantage of this situation," she said jokingly and he chuckled, unable to resist bringing a hand up to pull back her hair and nip at her earlobe.
"They've got to believe we're cool and aloof, that this is no big deal, we do it all the time... What better way to prove that than by making it look like I'm just achingto fuck you right here and now against this bar..." he murmured in her ear. She took a breath at the sound of his words. The tone of his voice, hell just his voice in general, wrapping around such a vivid image caused a gush of heat between her legs.
He was definitely taking advantage but she was finding more and more that she didn't care.
"You're enjoying this," she accused, taking the decision, despite her better judgment, to subtly push her ass back against his groin. The music was loud but she still managed to hear his sharp intake of breath and a short, low moan as he exhaled.
"This exact moment? Yes, very much so. The whole process, maybe a little, but I'm usually more prepared for any meetings I attend. Cold-calling is something I try to avoid," he said, lowering his mouth to the spot where her neck met her shoulder and kissing it. She handed him a fresh scotch which drew his mouth away from her skin.
They stood like that for a moment before Sophie twisted in his hold to face him, eyes glinting with something promising.
"You're an incredible story-teller," she said finally and he grinned, stepping closer to her again, their breaths mingling in proximity.
"Mmm hmm," he muttered as his eyes wandered along her form again, "It's all about illusion. For instance, those guards right now believe that I'm standing here whispering all the filthy and, in this country, probably illegal things I want to do with and to you when we get home tonight...They're noticing the way your whole body has tensed up with want, the way my fingers are stroking the skin of your lower back, the shallowness of both our breathing. To any onlooker, we look like we might spontaneously combust at any given moment. Which begs one question..." he trailed off, feeling his own breath come in gulps, the skin of her back warm under his hand as he trailed his fingers back and forth.
"Which is?" she asked breathlessly, her eyes closed as she tried to calm her raging body.
"Exactly how much of this is an act," he stated confidently. Her eyes opened and locked with his. His mouth was open, his tongue prodding against the back of his top teeth. Her mouth opened but she failed to find words. He smirked and was leaning in towards her when there was a harsh, unceremonious tap on his shoulder. He startled, his arm stretching around her waist as he turned towards the offending hand.
"Mr Khan will see you now," yet another guard told him, pointing towards the stairs and Red nodded, saying it had been quick. He took a breath and guided Sophie along with him. The guard stopped them again.
"Just you, not her," he said with the hint of a lascivious smirk. Red shook his head.
"She's key to my operation and proposal. She comes with me or I go elsewhere."
The guard seemed to think about it for a minute, then stepped aside. It obviously wasn't something that needed clearing from above. Red grasped Sophie's hand and began to climb the stairs.
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