The music was blaring from the speakers, deafening yet exciting in the tempo of the beat, the synchrony of the sound, the alluring melody of the vocals. All around him were bodies in motion, caught up in the story the music demanded they play out. The alcohol coursing throughout their systems no doubt lending a helping hand.
"Where is she?"
Bill asked a disinclined Justin who had been roped into being present for this, even more perturbed because Bill had refused to give him an out despite the plans he had with a certain Logan for the night. All his reactions were amusing to Bill.
Justin head began to scan the crowd, having already flipped through the dossier that Bill had had him prepare, and one he had not had a chance to look at.
He had been a little bit...
Distracted...
Preoccupied by thoughts...
Overtaken by alien sensations...
Sensations he had never felt before, not even then.
Intense in their existence...
They demanded of him what he was not willing to give...
They bedeviled him unceasingly...
Unabashed in their pursuit they...
"Bill!" Justin shook his shoulder to get his attention.
"Yes?" His voice sounded marginally annoyed. Justin looked at him questioningly.
"She's over there."
Bill's eyesight followed the direction in which Justin had pointed, and was met by the sight of a stunning flaxen haired vision of beauty, sensuality. Dressed in blue one arm dress that complemented her hair, accentuated with partings down the right side of her rib cage that showed the male population the delectable skin underneath, she was quite the image. However she had accessorized had the effect of providing her with the aura of authority. She was surrounded by a bevy of admirers as her body moved in an alluring motion that left the audience hoping, dreaming, and waiting for more.
"Man, being in a place like this makes me feel old."
"Maybe you need to reconnect with your youth Justin. I'll be the first to admit it, you need to loosen up a little bit."
"Whatever." He abruptly answered walking away slightly miffed. Such a delicate flower he was.
Justin started in the direction of their target, but the beast within him didn't share the same objective. It had been pacing inside its cage, frazzled. Bill's eyes continued to scan the crowd, the beast snarling for the only thing that seemed to have a soothing effect on it these days. What didn't help matters was that this state had been existent for longer than he would have preferred. Weeks, months it seemed.
The beast reared its head as his eyes passed over a section of the oval bar in front of him. Eyes scanning back, the beast reared its head and then he saw his vision of ethereal beauty. She was dressed in a simple black dress that came up to her mid-thigh. Seated with the length of her slim leg on display, her feet adorned with high heels, the vultures circled nearby no doubt captivated by the manner in which her head was thrown back, hair falling down her back, eyes closed, and the dim lights above her casting her face in a tantalizing shadow. Ecstasy raced across her features as she downed the shot in her hand, as if waves of pleasure were coursing through her at that very moment. He felt something tug inside him. He knew every man around her wished he was the reason for that pleasure. Shot finished, she placed the glass back on the bar top. A smile broke out on her face as she opened out her eyes, the euphoria on her face a sight to behold.
His feet began their movement before his consciousness realized the act, cutting the distance between him, his savage nature hankering to...
Having rounded the bar he was greeted by the sight of her bare back, the dress cutting out until above her hip bone, mesh straps draped across the expanse, revealing skin that any man would run his hands across.
Damn that was sexy.
Her back stiffened when he was but a few meters of her, her head tilting to the side as if she had sensed the awareness that existed whenever he was near, whenever she was near.
Her eyes locked with his...
Awareness climbed...
Her smile widened...
His beast purred...
"Bill."
"Steffy."
"Are you here to join me?" She indicated to the liquor in front of her.
Before he had a chance to give her his denial she added, her voice laced with decadent temptation
"Impress me Dollar Bill Spencer."
The competitive nature in him perked up at her challenge, his hand moving towards the shots that had been placed in front of them.
Standing next to her, a bit closer than he probably should have, a little farther than he found he wanted to, he let the bitterness of the tequila wash down his alcohol burned a path down his throat as it made its way. He tasted the tartness of the liquor; he smelled nothing but jasmine and honey... that had nothing to do with the alcohol.
Perhaps five rounds, the alcohol coursing through her veins had her leaning somewhat towards him. He repudiated his reasoning of another possibility beyond this action. Their forearms barely separated, the energy between them pulsated.
Neither of them had spoken.
Neither of them needed to.
He knew she could feel it...
The way her hand rubbed across her forearm...
His hand curled into a fist at his side.
The way she would slant her head sideways, peeking at him through long eyelashes...
His breath deepened...
The blush that stole across her cheek when he caught her...
The beast insisted he indulge...
The vixen smile on her lips...
He contemplated turning...
"Ma Cherie," the blonde beauty from the dance floor came to stand next to Steffy, an arm around her shoulders, the other turning Steffy's face away from him to place a quick peck on her cheeks.
"Genevieve,' Steffy admonished her, laughing as she did. Genevieve looked unrepentant.
Turning towards him, she introduced her as Genevieve Badeaux. A fellow designer she had met on the streets of Paris at an underground fashion show. It had been a friendship at first sight and they had taken the city of love by storm.
"So why come out into the spotlight now?" Bill asked her, Justin having informed him that she had remained elusive, only deigning to design every three or so years.
"Because she asked me to," she stated, as if it was the most obvious reason and he was even a fool for asking.
Bill simply nodded his head.
"This way guys," Justin stated, having joined them.
They all stood following Justin to the elevator that led to the exclusive second floor adorned with private VIP rooms that had one way mirror glass. Along the edges of the room was an extended booth that left the middle of the room bare. The only table was located at the left corner of the room near the glass. The room was colored in hues of silver and black, tinges of blue light flickering through creating a seductive ambiance.
Walking over to the mirror, Steffy and Genevieve motioned for him and Justin to join them. Justin went to stand beside Steffy but Genevieve grabbed his arm at the last moment, bringing to her side. Leaving Bill to take up the space beside Steffy.
"Take a look out there and tell me what you see?"
Justin's head moved sideways, surveying the crowd, as did Bill's.
"Nothing but the usual. Alcoholics and closet nympho's" Justin replied. Bill couldn't but chuckle at the stick in the mud's comment.
"Ouvre tes yeux (open your eyes). How do you say in English? you best to look with your third eye and tell us what you see."
The sound of Beyoncé's Partition could be heard, the bass causing the ground to acquiesce in vibrations.
The men attempted again, Justin's eyes swiftly scanning the moving crowd.
"I see no..."
"Wait," Bill interrupted him.
Next to the DJ area stood a woman. It was impossible not to notice the way the men lingered around her as she moved, dressed in tight leather broken by a see though black lace top adorned with a belt on her midriff, a half Venetian mask on her face.
Bill's eyes scanned the room again, finding this time a woman near the bar, a dress disturbed with a mini leather corset around the midriff, strips of fabric branching out on her shoulders, caging them in, her hair moving with her as she danced. Again, men circled around her.
His next scan revealed a woman on the wall, seemingly lost in her own world as she pirouetted against it. Her dress, half leather, half chiffon, was adorned by shimmering metal spikes down the shoulder, leather strapped gloves covering her arms. As was the running theme, he noticed men around her turning to admire her as she moved.
"Desire..." Genevieve started, Bill looked over to see her pointing out the women to Justin.
"Wanting..." Steffy continued, her voice low, the timbre laced with seduction.
Bill's head turned to look at her.
Her eyes turned to him...
"Pleasure..." Genevieve continued,
"Ecstasy," Steffy's eyes hooded as she continued to stare into Bill's eyes, his beast rumbling inside him.
"Lust," Genevieve added her voice a tinge lower.
"Temptation," Steffy's matching voice held that tone of mischief. The warmth of her finger hit him before soft skin ran down his forearm, minute waves of electricity resulting.
Steffy brought up her hand, a single finger placed on the side of his jaw, heat seeping into his skin.
"Dominance," they both whispered, as Steffy tilted his head back to the dance floor.
At the entrance was a temptress. As she ambled forward in black bandage dress adorned with gold metal cut-outs across both sides of her ribs, the middle fashioned into a gold plated brass body harness running from a choker on her long neck to just above the cut-outs on her ribs, a pair of golden broken handcuffs on her wrists, auburn hair tied high with tendrils falling down her face, every male eye around her seemed to turn.
She walked slowly to the beat of the song to the center of the dance floor, the other models stopping their activities to join her. When all four congregated at the center, Bill scanned the crowd, and perhaps, if not all, the red blooded males in the club space had their eyes on them as they all moved in time with each other, as if sirens frolicking on a seashore.
"Damn." Justin's voice broke the silence that had reigned since Steffy and Genevieve had last spoke.
Steffy's finger, still on his jaw, ran a slow path down the side of his neck, past his pulse that jack-hammered at her touch...
Down his arm, the little explosions of heat her touch left behind rousing the beast furthermore...
Until it ran across his now clenched fist, his fingers began to relax as if on command, her finger slipping in between his...
His tightening naturally...
Her hand rested lightly atop his...
Warmth cascading from her hand to his...
Eyes still locked...
Passions intensifying...
"Some hell of a presentation," Justin commented, breaking the moment, "So what's your decision boss-man?" He asked, leaving Bill no option but to break eye contact to address him.
Facing Justin, hand still entwined with Steffy's he responded, "It was attention-grabbing, downright sexy, and just the right dose of provocative."
"So that's a yes?" Steffy asked him, excitement apparent, her hand lightly squeezing his.
Further heat pulsed in him.
"Yes. As long as everyone who needs to be informed is in the loop, I'd say you are good to go."
Genevieve jumped up and hugged Justin, who surprised, laughed as he returned it.
Bill turned to face Steffy.
"Congratulations, CEO."
"You won't regret this."
"I never thought that I would."
She smiled and moved in to give him a hug.
It was polite in its execution, enough distance to deem it decent.
The savage in him warred with his conscience, to pull her closer, remove the civility of that distance...
Genevieve, having walked around Justin, grabbed Steffy's arm, disengaging them.
"I have a surprise for you."
Steffy's face changed, a look of irritation replacing the joy.
"No, you didn't?"
"Come on," Genevieve evaded Steffy's inquiry, turning around to face them, "Business tomorrow gentleman. Tonight is for, well, other things."
Winking at Justin, she led them out of the room. Turning to Justin, Bill saw his eyes were still on the doorway, confusion on his face.
"You good?" Bill asked the only person he considered his best friend.
Shaking out of his contemplation, Justin responded, " Yeah, yeah. I'm good."
Bill helped himself to a scotch before returning to stand in front of the glass, the dance floor abuzz with happy patrons, the models from before nowhere to be seen.
"This fashion show will rival them all won't it?"
"Damn straight it will," Bill agreed, taking a swig of the liquor.
Justin's eyes were scanning the crowd rather intently, Bill noticed, and when they stopped, his demeanor shifted, stiffening slightly. Looking down at what had caught his eye, he saw Genevieve on he dance floor, hands seductively running along another man who seemed of European descent. Bill glanced back at his friend to find his eyes focused intently on them.
Interesting...
Looking back down, he felt his beast begin to gnarl, uneasy inside him. He ignored the beast. Eyes scanning the crowd, his heart jumped, hand tightening on the glass in his hand, the beast crouching inside him.
Eyes boring into what he was seeing, he saw as Steffy was bent backwards, a man's hands on her hips, lips on neck, her head thrown back laughing.
The beast in him roared loudly, the savage in him went feral, the alpha in him demanded retribution.
Mine...
"Bill, dude?"
Justin's voice was muzzled, all his efforts on trying to focus on breathing and calming down, and failing miserably.
"Bill?"
"Yes." His voice was monotone, the anger balancing the rage into a cold tone.
"Oh shit." He turned to see Justin was looking at what had put him in this mood. His friend looked back at him, understanding in his eyes, bewilderment as well.
"I'm going to leave now."
"Good idea."
"Their expenses?"
"Already covered," Justin added knowing Bill referred to the ladies that had been with them not long before.
Downing the rest of the liquor, he put down the glass, now sporting cracks from the pressure of his hand, and quickly exited the room, choosing only to pass by his office for a quick update. Being a silent owner had its perks. Having everyone who knew of his position sign non-disclosure statements did help.
A quick ten minutes later, and satisfied with the progress of one of the many investments he had procured in this sector, despite having perhaps scared the young man with his boorish voice and harsh mannerisms, Bill and his dark mood left the office, intending to use the back door to access his private garage.
"Bill?"
Her voice traveled across the empty corridor, bringing him to a halt. Breathing in, and hoping for patience, he turned around.
Her face showed concern the moment it landed on his livid features.
He had no right to feel the way he felt at that moment, to feel the jealousy at that man's hands on her, the possessiveness as he had seen him touch her skin, the ascendancy his beast was barking at him to enact.
He said nothing...
She walked closer towards him, stopping a few feet in front of him.
He clenched and unclenched his fists, his car keys jingling with the motion. She noticed the action.
She took a step closer...
"Not saying goodbye?"
He said nothing...
Another step closer...
The beast clawed at his chains.
She tilted her head to the side, saying nothing for a moment more.
Another step closer...
He took a step back...
The beast clawed the chains harder...
Her face became closed...
She began to take a step back...
The chains gave way...
He leapt...
Grabbing her waist, he turned, pushing her against the wall, closing the distance between their bodies, caging her.
Her breath hitched...
He pushed her further into the wall with his body, her breath becoming more staggered.
His heart hammered in his chest...
He gazed into her eyes, damn those beautiful eyes.
His head moved closer to hers, slanting, as he poured his breath into hers, before closing his lips over hers.
Fire engulfed him...
Soft, warm lips moved against his, her lavender scent seeping into his mouth, jasmine an aftertaste.
She whimpered, her arms coming to grasp his arms, pulling him closer.
Opening his mouth against hers, he deepened the kiss, waves of passion consuming him as he felt her hands dig into his hair and tug.
The beast growled, he growled, a hand moving across the skin of her exposed back to rest between her shoulder blades and nudge her forward so they were...
Chest to chest...
Hip to hip...
Mouth to mouth...
Her leg curled around his calf, bringing Bill closer to her body, hunger increasing...
He jerked away.
"Shit!" He shouted, running a hand through his hair, his breath still fast, the beast growling at him for stopping.
He looked at her as she leaned against the wall, eyes closed as she breathed in slowly, trying to catch her breath.
"That was a mistake." She stated her voice sultry low even then.
She took a deep breath in.
"Can never happen again."'
Inhaled another deep breath in.
"First time this happened didn't work out for me, what you being dedicated to your marriage and all."
She inhaled again.
"So I'm just going to walk back into the club, you're going to go home and this NEVER happened."
She inhaled again.
"Okay, I'll see you..."
"Shut up," he growled before he grabbed her face, burying his hands into her hair, pulling her face towards his, crashing their mouths together, bringing another whimper out of her, and indulging in the taste that he knew was already his addiction.