The thumping music, clouds of cheap cologne, and a dance floor packed with sweaty people didn't have the same draw that it used to. For some strange reason, she thought this night out was what she needed to lift her mood.
Daphne observed the shabby looking bar with a judgemental eye, noting that it was pretty unimpressive as far as clubs go.
Maybe this one is just particularly shady…
Daphne considered quietly sneaking out, but Maxine's reassuring hand on her shoulder changed her mind.
It was her new producer's birthday, and all Maxine wanted was a good time. With her friend being fresh to the area, Daphne offered to show her some fun times. An offer that she is starting to regret making.
Within moments of hitting the floor, Maxine was already jiving to the music. Daphne tried to get in tune with the vibe, but she just wasn't feeling it. Perhaps they should have brought dates? Being lonely sucks eggs, especially when you've already got an aching heart.
Well, she supposed, it shouldn't be too difficult to conjure up a guy to dance with. In her teenage years, all she had to do was make eye contact with the lucky fellow and the smitten person would waste no time asking for a dance. Although out of practice, her old charms could still work.
She glimpsed a small group clustered around the bar, sipping drinks, and engaged in coversation. Honestly, to her, the calmness that they exuded looked really inviting.
Or maybe I'm getting old...
Talking in a noisy dance club was near useless. Going the non-verbal route, she nudged Maxine lightly, gesturing towards the bar crowd. Her friend gave her a smile and a thumbs up in return. She had been encouraging Daphne for weeks to get out and meet some new people.
Scanning the cluster as she got closer, she noticed a few handsome faces, some of which were also observing her with keen interest. One gentlemen in particular caught her attention. His back was to her, and she couldn't see his face, but she could tell he was toned and muscular, tall but not too imposing. And to sweeten the deal, he even had blonde hair.
If things went well tonight, she could easily pretend it was someone else. Someone else that she desperately wanted. Hopefully, this guy doesn't have any facial hair…
As she approached, she caught a hint of the man's voice. And it sounded oddly familiar. Too familiar.
The blonde gentleman laughed out loud, freezing Daphne in her tracks, her blood running ice cold.
The stranger doesn't just look and sound like Fred.
The person is Fred.
Her Fred.
Daphne's mind whirls seventy thoughts a minute, each more stressing than the last.
Why is he here? Why would he come to this bar on this particular night? Who are those people he's with? Is he seeing anyone? Has he seen me? What should I do? Do I even want him to notice me? What would I even say? Am I ready for this? Will I ever be ready?
No. I just can't do this. Not yet.
She turns on her heel as sharp as a soldier, and pushes her way through the throng of dancers. Maxine's birthday be damned, she had to get out of this place.
Bursting through the exit door, Daphne collapses against the wall, sobs rocking her petite frame.
Oh Freddie, what have I done?
XXXXXX
Daphne pulled Fred along with her through a side door of a bar and into a dark and empty alleyway. The air inside had been so thick with cigarette smoke that she just needed a minute to breathe in some oxygen that wasn't toxic.
Tapping the beer bottle against her lips, she smiled, "Thanks for coming with me, Freddie. I know this place is a little out of our show's element, but this shindig is an annual event here. It brings in tons of people and you'll never know what we'll find."
Fred downed the last of his own drink, tossing the bottle into a nearby dumpster before winking in her direction.
"Any event that lets me spend more time with you, especially in that dress, is okay in my book."
Blushing a deep crimson, her grin grew wider at his compliment. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, or the long work day, or being alone in a dark alley with her long-time crush, but she suddenly felt an intense flicker of courage and the desire to say something…something honest. Damn the consequences for once.
"I really am a lucky woman to have a friend like you, Fred. I couldn't imagine being here with anyone else but you."
A suprised look crossed his attractive face and Daphne quickly regretted voicing her thoughts. She opened her mouth, about to apologize, when he took a step closer. His eyes locked on hers and held there, his gaze piercing all the way to her heart.
"It can be like that, Daph. All the time. Just us."
He took another step forward, directly in front of her now, his chest just barely touching hers. He was so warm, his body heat permeating through her thin dress. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way his subtle masculine scent was making her flush hot all over, particularly to her center.
Was he aware of what he does to her? Does he have any idea how just his voice alone can raise her blood pressure?
Daphne isn't sure who closed the gap first, regardless of which one initiated the kiss, they both meet in the middle, lips syncing perfectly, as if they'd done this together forever.
So perfect.
She drops the beer bottle to the ground, not caring one bit that it shatters into a million pieces as she rakes both hands through his hair, pulling him fully against her body. His mouth claims hers, his tongue dominating, as if he didn't need air to survive, only this kiss.
Fred's hands are everywhere, groping her breasts, skimming down her waist, caressing her backside, and yet…not where she wants them to be. Not really. She growls her frustration, nipping at his bottom lip.
Releasing her hold on his hair, her fingers reach down to press against his bulge and is delighted to find him hard as a rock. No encouragement needed.
So perfect.
Pulling her mouth from his, she meets his eyes as she moves to his belt buckle and zipper, her unspoken intentions clear.
He says nothing, only quirking a blonde eyebrow, a knowing grin covering his face.
Daphne glanced around to confirm that they were still alone. As if the powers above approved of their activities, a nearby lamp light blew out, adding an extra layer of darkness to the already dim alleyway.
She leans back onto the coarse brick wall, pulling Fred with her. The material on her dress is unforgiving and snags easily. She doesn't give a damn right now, but later in the shower she will notice several red patches on her back where the bricks rubbed her raw.
Fred rucks her dress up around her hips, before lifting her up by her thighs. When Daphne wraps her legs around his waist, she help but think that his body fits flawlessly between her legs, he's neither too large or too small.
So perfect.
She breaks their kiss to whisper, "Don't you dare drop me, Fred Jones."
Nuzzling her hair aside with his nose, Fred's lips travel across her jaw and neck, "I would never drop you."
His efforts are rewarded by her moaning his name and he smirks into her skin, "Remember the case of the Moat Monster? I didn't let you fall then, did I?"
She feels Fred's hand move between them, adjusting his hardness. Despite the odd angle against the wall, he slips inside her without difficulty, gravity helping in this instant. Daphne whimpers as he fills her, suddenly so deep because of how she's perched. There is even a hint of pain at his depth, but the oncoming pleasure overrides it all.
So perfect.
Fred begins moving, thrusting upwards and just when Daphne thinks he couldn't possibly go deeper…he does. He's going fast, the alcohol fueling his pace.
She hears his loud moans echoing in the alleyway, and as much as Daphne enjoys hearing his sounds, she wishes he would hush so they don't get caught. That is, until she discovers those noises are actually coming from her own throat. And then she decides it doesn't matter. Not really. She should care; really, she should. The QUE network would love juicey gossip material like this….but honestly, she can't bring herself to give it a second thought. Not when he's buried so deeply, and pounding into her so hard, and loving her this way, because she's so close…
…love…
Without thinking about the potential outcome, she lets the words, "I love you," spill out when she comes, the galaxy exploding around her. The band inside is playing so loudly, however, that her admission, as well as the sounds of their lovemaking are easily drowned out.
Fred's movement against her body is becoming erratic, as well as his breathing. Moments later she feels him twitch inside, as well as the warm liquid rush that follows. She is suprised to find that she has grown to crave it.
He buries his face in her hair, as if hiding from the dangers of the world and nearly breathless mutters, "Daphne, there's no one on Earth I want to be with more."
XXXXXX
This dance joint is exactly what Fred expected it would be; loud, obnoxious, and definitely not his choice. He'd never been one to enjoy the club life, even in college. A nice, calm concert would suit him better. But his co-worker was getting married next weekend and several of Cosimo's crew had decided to treat the lucky man to a night on the town. Fred had agreed to go along, but only for appearances sake. He honestly barely knew any of these people, save for Tara.
He had just laughed out loud at some raunchy joke, trying not to sound too fake, when he felt it. An instincual knowledge that someome was watching him, a faint tingle crawling up his spine. Fred turned in the nick of time to see a flash of red hair jostling through people, seemingly desperate to get away.
Fred's heart leapt in his throat, "Daphne?"
Standing on his tiptoes, he scanned the room. Sighing to himself, he gives up, rationalizing to his sore heart that it wasn't her anyway. It couldn't possibly be. Besides, Daphne isn't the only person on this planet to have red hair.
She's just the prettiest.
Shrugging his shoulders in disappointment, he rejoined the group, this time even more dejected than before.
