The heat between my legs would suggest that his hands are doing exactly what they need to. It started off with him placing one gently on the small of my back, guiding my body towards his so we're pressed up against each other and I can feel his excitement.
His large hands cup my face, tilting my head upwards to meet his lips and I rest my hands on his tanned, strong forearms whilst he gently starts kissing down my neck and he's groaning MY name.
The heat is now an urge. I need him. His kisses are urgent now as he pulls at the zip of my jeans and I respond by trying to unbutton his shirt before just ripping at it for easy access.
"MOLLY?!"
I'm rudely and abruptly torn from my lust filled day dream by Chris who's looking at me like I'm some sort of bleedin' idiot.
"Georgie is having a dust up with some bloke over there"
I clap eyes on her just in time to see her swing for the other tall, dark handsome fella who seems to be with Charles and the pair of them look like they are about to shit their pants.
I've noticed that Georgie sounds considerably more Northern when she's angry.
"MOLLY!" He bellows again bringing me back from my mind wandering off anywhere but here and if he shouts at me one more time then the bouncers ain't gonna know what's hit 'em because I'll be in a fight too.
"Looks to me like she's handling it so fuck off" I snap and pretend not to notice the wounded expression he's now wearing.
Charles appears to have it under control or at least he did until I see a ball of dark, bouffant and gloriously shiny hair and fake tan make a lunge for it through the arms of the subject of my saucy daydream and he looks like he might gonna need some help.
I feel Chris' eyes burning holes in my back as I move towards to commotion to save him.
"Come on you" I say as jolly as possible in hopes to diffuse the bomb that is Georgie Lane but I'm too late, she slips past both me and Charles and even through the loud, thumping music I hear her hand connect with his cheek.
It's like a scene from a Wild West movie, they are having the stand off. Nobody moves. Nobody breaks eye contact.
The lack of any emotion in Georgie's eyes scares me so I place a gentle hand on her arm so as not to poke the bear and end up getting a slap myself.
"How could you?" She finally sobs, earth shattering sobs that she's held in for all these years have finally been released and its ugly and heart breaking.
"Georgie" Elvis tries but she raises her hand to stop him.
"There's nothing you can say. I just needed to do that"
I lead her by the hand into the fresh air and push the hair that's stuck to her tear drenched cheeks out of her pretty face.
"I'm sorry I've ruined your night Mol! I'm gonna head off but you stay. Please enjoy the rest if you can" she thrusts a £50 note into my hands "Get yourself whatever that will buy ya and drink and laugh and dance. You so deserve this"
"Let me come with you, please. I don't want you to be alone"
She smiles back at me "Don't worry, I've got Jamie... he's my happily ever after, now it's time for you to find yours and Chris isn't it"
I'm taken aback by her statement; it was the last place I expected this conversation to go.
"You've come so far from when we met, you've bettered yourself and you're making a great life for yourself, he's gonna hold you back"
She's not telling me anything I didn't already know deep down and I trust her judgement implicitly but all I can do nod to let her know I've understood. The thought of another relationship ending doesn't feel too good.
"You'll text me when you get home safe yeah?"
She nods and I watch my perfectly beautiful friend walk off and I take a moment to digest what she's said.
"Was wondering where you'd got too"
His hand closes around my upper arm causing me to jump.
"I think it's time we called it a night"
"Nah, don't be silly. The nights only just begun" I smile whilst flashing the £50 Georgie donated to the drunken cause but he doesn't return it.
"I don't think you heard me... it's time to go"
I attempt to push my way past him but he blocks the door way, determined that this night is finished. The uneasiness building in my chest feels all too familiar of a past toxic relationship and it would appear that Georgie was right. He is not for me.
"Let me at least say goodbye, then we need to talk"
Once again his hand tightens around my arm.
"Get off, you're hurting me" he doesn't listen and drags me towards the exit.
"I think you'll find Molly has asked you to take your hands off her, I suggest you comply"
My knight in shining armour appears just when things are a bit hairy and Chris immediately does as Charles instructs him.
"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice full of concern.
"You grab your stuff; I'll see that our friend here doesn't follow you"
I move as fast as I can through the club. What an absolute shitter of a night! After a brief explanation to rest of the group, I make our excuses and head back to make sure Charles and Chris aren't at it tooth and claw. Much to my horror it's Elvis who has taken a dislike to Chris in the few minutes I was gone and I'm the unlucky bystander who watches these two blokes attempt to beat each other to a pulp.
Post tear up, both Elvis and Chris are being carted off down the cop shop and poor Charles looks as confused as I am.
This is my chance to end this game of cat and mouse we've played over the years but he's gone before I could even think of what to say, he's escorted by a copper as he attempts to vouch for Elvis' good character. I watch as once again he slips away from me. Maybe this isn't Lady Luck intervening after all.
-OG-
As I come to the end of my placement at Catterick, I can't help but reflect on my own ability to adapt to whatever life throws at me.
Another break up of a toxic relationship with Chris, who I hadn't realised had been controlling and manipulative until I bumped into Charles and listened to Georgie's warning that night - he showed his true colours so I got my arse out of there pronto. Relocating to Catterick couldn't have happened at a better time.
A fresh start, where I've been learning and thriving everyday, leaving any thoughts of men or relationships behind me. Although that might not be strictly true, Charles James once again had gotten under my skin as quickly as he seems to keep slipping away - we'd been so close to having a moment.
I can almost feel his breath on my skin when I think of just how close we were. How his lips had nearly been on mine. Once again he'd been my white knight until he disappeared all over again. I've since heard he'd recently been posted back to Afghan and it was then I decided I have to push him out of my mind because I started to miss someone who was never mine to miss and now he's what feels like a world away.
Back to the real world now and I'm shaking as I make the long walk to the boss' office. I know I ain't fucked anything up so I can rule out a bollocking but I'm not sure what else it could be?
The door is open and he's waiting for me. I'm absolutely crapping my pants. In moments of uncertainty I have a tendency to slip back into the self deprecating ways of Molly Dawes of old. The one who never felt good enough and assumed the worst was always about to happen to me.
"At ease Dawes, no need to look like I'm about to shoot your puppy" he reassures, or tries to at least.
"Sir"
"I heard that you had expressed interest in taking your training as far as you possibly could? Well Dawes, an opportunity has arisen and it requires the best we've got. YOU are the best we've got! If you are serious about taking things to the next level, I'd like to offer your services to the field hospital in Bastian. It doesn't get anymore real than that"
I'm gobsmacked, how can I... Molly Dawes be the best they've got?
"I'll give you 24 hours to decide"
"I don't need 24 hours Sir. I want this, I want to make a difference where it matters the most"
His expression suggests I've said exactly what he wants to hear and just like that I'm off to Afghan in 72 hours to be the very best for our troops over there. And no, I am absolutely not dreaming of crossing paths with the handsome Charles James.