A/N: Alexis POV. Flashback is in italics.


Alexis Castle couldn't believe she was considering going through with it. When Taylor had first announced that her goal for the night was to find Alexis a one-night stand, she had scoffed at her less inhibited friend. Yet here Alexis found herself, heart pounding as she grabbed the outstretched hand of this handsome stranger. It had never occurred to her that they would meet someone that would have her entertaining the idea, but when he looked at her, she felt an electricity take root in her gut and spread tingling over her skin.

When she had first agreed to go clubbing with best friend and roommate, Taylor, on Halloween, she thought it would be a typical night out for her. At age 21, and in her senior year at Columbia, Alexis was still the responsible, rule-following girl she always had been. She expected to have a maximum of two drinks, watch her friends brazenly flirt with every guy they met, maybe dance a little, and then ensure everyone she came out with was safely shepherded home in their inebriated state. This night deviated from that pattern from the moment she went back to her apartment after her last class of the day.

Taylor was waiting for her in their living room and started bouncing on her feet excitedly the minute Alexis came through the door. She launched herself at the shorter, copper haired girl and started dragging her by the hand towards a bedroom.

"I have a surprise for you!" the willowy brunette squealed at her best friend without so much as a greeting first.

Alexis allowed herself to be led into the room where she saw two of the most scandalous Halloween costumes she'd ever laid eyes on laying out on Taylor's bed. "Ta da," Taylor gestured to the glorified lingerie and feathered accessories.

"You cannot be serious," Alexis turned to Taylor with a stern expression on her face, "Never going to happen. I told you I'm dressing up as Kim Possible."

"And as cute as that was when we were kids, I would be a terrible friend if I let you go clubbing in cargo pants," Taylor quipped back.

"I just want to be comfortable," Alexis whined, recognizing the determined glint in her friend's eyes that meant Alexis would be giving in.

"That's what tequila's for," Taylor giggled.

"I can't go out in public wearing that little. It's completely mortifying."

"Well duh. That's what the masks are for. No one will ever know it's you," the brunette reassured her, passing the ornate feathery face covering to Alexis, then she smirked which Alexis decided was the opposite of reassuring, "Besides it's not like we know anyone where we're going."

Hours spent on hair and makeup and a bottle of wine later, the duo had ended up in the nightclub Alexis's father was a partial investor in. Taylor had known about the connection and had dropped the name Richard Castle to ensure they received VIP treatment, ignoring Alexis's protests. As soon as they were ushered to a private table, a waitress arrived to take their order.

"We'll start with four tequila shots. Ooh and limes please," Taylor shouted over the loud music.

"Those better all be for you," Alexis said as their server made her way to the bar.

"Sorry, babe," Taylor said with a shake of her head, "You're going to need them for what I'm about to say…We're getting you laid tonight."

"Taylor, I am not going to just pick up some guy in a club!" Alexis exclaimed, "You know I've only ever been with Ashley and Pi, and they were my boyfriends."

"That's exactly my point. This is our last year of college. You're finally old enough to join us at bars since you refused to get a fake ID. This is the time in your life where you're supposed to run headfirst into mistakes and bad decisions. You need to be making memories. Need to be living young, and wild, and free."

"Do you really think you're going to convince me with lyrics from a Snoop Dogg song?"

"Okay maybe that wasn't the best tactic, but my point still stands. You need to let loose and have some fun or life is just going to pass you by. You don't want to be all old and sad looking back and regretting that you don't have crazy stories like everyone else in your nursing home."

Alexis rolled her eyes at her friend, before smiling at the waitress who was placing their shots on the table while Taylor continued her diatribe. "And that is why tonight we are going to find you a very sexy man, preferably with a very sexy friend, and you are going to do lots of dirty things with him and then never see him again," Taylor reached out and tapped Alexis on her nose as she finished her decree, "Now shots. You're going to need the liquid courage."

Taylor unceremoniously threw back her first shot of tequila and quickly bit into a lime wedge to mask the burn. Alexis followed her example, still processing all that her friend had just unloaded on her. She didn't think that she was letting her life pass her by, but she knew that she was more cautious than her peers. Maybe she did need to push herself out of her comfort zone a little more, but a random hookup was not how Alexis intended to start. She just couldn't fathom feeling comfortable enough with a stranger to want him to touch her so intimately.

"I appreciate your suggestion, and I'm not rejecting it outright, but I wouldn't get your hopes up," Alexis responded to Taylor, hoping that would be enough to placate the girl.

"Fine. Fine. The night is young. I could still change your mind. Now drink up, I want to dance," with that both girls took their second shots and made their way to the dance floor for the first time that night.

Only an hour had passed since her conversation with Taylor, and Alexis was being led to the dance floor by a masked gangster to join their friends. She admired the way his costume flattered his lean body from behind, the zoot suit accentuating his shoulders and chest, then tapering in to show his narrow waist and hips. They made their way into the throng of people before he turned back to face her again.

Alexis gasped when he tugged on the hand he had in his grasp and wrapped his other arm around the small of her back, pulling her into him. Instinctually she pressed her hand against his chest to steady herself. For the second time she found herself lost in his gaze, until his hands found her hips and started swaying to the beat of the throbbing bassline that surrounded them. She broke out of her reverie and started moving with him, pressing closer as one of his thighs slipped between her legs. Alexis shivered as he gripped her hip tightly with one hand, lightly tracing his fingers up her spine with the other. She felt a charge everywhere his hands touched her bare skin.

Alexis was in for such a big 'I told you so' from Taylor after tonight. She hadn't thought it possible, but she wanted this complete stranger so badly. Her hands traveled over his chest and around the back of his neck, just wanting to feel more of him. She didn't know how much time passed, just lost in the sensation of his hands on her. Her chest pressed against his, looking up Alexis met his stare, his blue eyes so close to her own, close enough she could feel his breath on her face. She so badly wanted to push forward, close the slight gap, and touch her lips to his. There was nothing holding her back, no reason not to make her move. Slowly she drifted closer and just as she barely brushed against his lips a hand clamped on her shoulder, causing Alexis to jerk back.

Taylor had appeared right next to the dancing couple, her own gangster in tow and oblivious to the moment she had just interrupted. "It's time for another round. Bring your boy toy!" she shouted over the music before disappearing into the crowd in the direction of their table.

Alexis reached back to her dance partner and grabbed him by the lapel to drag him with her to the table. She wasn't about to risk losing track of him in the packed club. When they made it to the edge of the room that was sectioned off for VIPs, they were greeted with fresh shots of tequila and the sight of their bolder friends on one side of the booth, talking so closely they were nearly on top of each other. Alexis slid into the other side of the booth making room for her gangster next to her. He laid his arm over the back of the booth, hand skimming her shoulder and gently tugging on one of her curls. She leaned softly into his chest, tilting her head back to face him, flashed him a bright smile, and rested her hand on his knee.

"So, what are we toasting to?" Alexis turned and asked loudly, getting the attention of the pair on the other side of the table.

Taylor took in just how comfortable her best friend looked, cozied up to the sharp jawed man next to her. "To making memories. And to sexy new friends," replied Taylor smugly, unable to help herself she added, "And to me for making you wear that tonight."

Alexis blushed, cheering, "To sexy new friends!" and raising her shot glass.

"To sexy new friends!" the other three echoed, all clinking their glasses together.

Everyone downed their tequila and slammed their glasses back down on the table. Alexis inched her hand higher up her gangster's thigh, enjoying the way his posture stiffened and his breathing hitched. The heady combination of alcohol and lust was making her feel dazed, fantasies of getting him off right here under the table playing in her mind for just a moment. She had to get him out of here before she did something really crazy like let him take her in the middle of a nightclub.

She leaned up and huskily whispered in his ear, "Do you want to get out of here?"

He tensed, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "God, yes," he replied instantly, grabbing her hand where it rested on his thigh and already moving to slide out of the booth.

"We're heading out," he said, directed to his friend who nodded in return.

"Wait, babe!" Taylor shouted, fishing something small out of her garter belt.

She pressed the condom packet into Alexis's hand. "Just want to make sure you're prepared, girl scout. You can thank me tomorrow," Taylor said with a wink, and then she smacked Alexis's ass in goodbye and shouted, "Have fun!"

Alexis flushed in embarrassment, but pushed the feeling down as a strong arm wrapped around her waist and her masked gangster smiled at her. "Let's go," he said, and with that she let him lead her out of the club.


A/N: This chapter felt kind of rushed. If anyone reads this, I'd love to know what you think.