I had waited in nervous anticipation all day. Edward and his family had done plenty to keep me entertained, I just couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting. I was almost relieved when Alice pulled me away to start the primping for our outing tonight. Now we were finally here.
Emmett pulled the car up to the front of the club. I could hear the bass before we opened the car doors. Waiting behind red velvet cordons were masses of scantily clad, beautiful people waiting to get into the club. The line stretched down the street. Their chatting and idle laughter died as we exited the car.
Emmett gave the valet the keys to the car and opened the front door for Rosalie. She gracefully exited the car in her mile high stilettos. Alice followed on Jaspers arm. Sensing my nervousness, Edward gave my hand an encouraging squeeze. I tugged on my way too short skirt, trying to keep from exposing myself as I exited the car. Alice had pulled out every trick in the book to get me to wear it. I mentally cursed her puppy dog eyes. I executed a less than graceful exit from the car, maintaining a death grip on Edward's elbow. It was the best I could manage under the circumstances and I felt proud I hadn't actually fallen.
A hundred pairs of eyes watched our entourage. I'm sure we were quite the sight. Rosalie and Emmett strutted past it all to the club door. A word with the bouncer, his appreciative once over of Rosalie and a quick hand shake from Emmett got us past the line of waiting people. I didn't actually see, but I assumed the bouncer had been tipped generously. Alice and Jasper followed with just as much grace and beauty. We followed after them. I blushed as the bouncer's appreciative looks on my way too short skirt caused Edward to place his arm around my waist protectively.
The music had been loud outside the club, but it was a physical presence inside. I walked from the night, into the even darker club with its added confusion of music, strobe lights and masses of moving bodies. I hung onto Edward until we made it to a booth off the dance floor. Although we could still watch the dance floor, the volume of the music was much more tolerable. The bass still thumped heavily in my chest, but at least I could hear people talking again. The VIP sign on the table disappeared with the waitress who took our drink orders.
She returned quickly with six drinks smelling strongly of alcohol. The drink placed in front of Alice looked pretty and was garnished with fruit. She beamed. I have to admit, it looked pretty yummy. But obviously they wouldn't be drinking anything here. I gave Edward a confused look. He leaned in and tried not to shout in my ear to explain.
"It would bring more attention not to order drinks. And of course Alice likes to get creative with her orders." He rolled his eyes. "I also got you a water." He slid a glass of clear liquid over to me.
"What about IDs?" I asked. No one had asked for our IDs. Not at the door or even when we ordered our drinks. And while my vampires were all technically much older than the legal drinking age, they didn't look like they were any older than eighteen, maybe twenty at the most. And I certainly didn't look twenty one by a long shot.
He shrugged. "Another perk of being a VIP. No one asks questions if you grease the right palms." This whole money thing was going to take some getting used to. Edward had tried explaining it to me before. How the casual show of wealth prevented people from questioning some of their more odd behavior. It was just part of 'playing human' for them. It was all so foreign to me, the actual human.
Alice slid her fruity drink in front of me. Edward frowned at her, but he didn't touch the glass. I didn't either.
"Don't give me that look, Edward." Alice chastised. I stared between the two of them. His frown had turned into a glare, but Alice seemed unperturbed. "It's not like you never had alcohol when you were human."
Surprised, I looked at Edward's face. He wasn't denying it. He did glance at me out of the corner of his eye. "It wasn't illegal for me to drink." What an interesting revelation.
"Whatever," Alice countered oh so eloquently. "She's going to be one of us in less than a month and it's not like a few years makes any difference. There are plenty of other laws we break all the time. "
Edward shook his head, no longer glaring, but not agreeing either. Rosalie, Emmett and I all watched this exchange raptly.
Alice continued, "You should be encouraging her to have this human experience. I promise not to let her get out of control." Edward rolled his eyes and sat back in his seat.
"It's not my decision. Bella can make her own choices," he countered. Alice looked at me, then back at Edward. Her eyes glazed over for a second and she pouted.
"No fair, Edward." He smiled smugly. I was getting whiplash looking back and forth between the two of them. Alice changed tactics and turned on me.
"Bella. Come on." I shook my head. I wasn't about to get drunk at a dance club. I was sure to trip in these ridiculous heels and break something. Alice continued working on me. "I promise not to let you drink too much or do anything embarrassing." I was about to shake my head again when she leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"It will help with the thing we talked about earlier." I looked into her eyes for confirmation. Was she talking about our desensitizing therapy? I wasn't sure if the vampire super hearing could pick up our whispers over the music, so I didn't want to risk asking any questions.
Besides, Edward could hear all of Alice's thoughts anyway. I looked at him to see if he was picking up anything from Alice on our conversation about him wanting to slow things down. He looked curious, but nothing else.
I looked into her sincere eyes, and decided to give it a try. A triumphant grin spread across her face a second before I reached for the glass and sucked down a long pull. I swallowed the delicious mixture as Emmett laughed and high fived Alice. It was fruity and really yummy. Edward's face was unreadable.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked.
"Of course not. Like I said, it's your choice," he said evenly. I frowned, assuming disapproval in his words. "Alice is right- it's not like I never had alcohol. And well before I was your age." He winked at me taking out any sting from his earlier words. I smiled. I appreciated his efforts to let me make my own decisions. I took another sip and placed the drink back on the table, determined not to overdo it.
When the song changed, Alice hopped up quickly and pulled Jasper onto the dance floor. I watched as the mass of people unconsciously shifted around them, giving them more space on the floor than anyone else. Barely enough room to breathe, but it was noticeable if you were looking. I watched as they moved in sync to the beat. With her usual grace, she moved with the music using her hips and butt in ways I would normally be too embarrassed to try in public. With her heels on, she was much closer to Jasper's height. They looked amazing together - coordinated.
I wasn't the only one watching Alice dance. Jasper especially seemed to be enjoying her dancing. I watched as he pulled her to him roughly. His leg slipped between her thighs and she moved her hands around his neck. His hands slid down onto her butt. Their bodies moved together to the beat, their eyes locked on each other. Their hips rocked as they moved together in a sensual display. I ripped my eyes away, feeling like a voyeur.
Rose and Alice hadn't quite showed me that during my lessons. I saw Edward watching me. He glanced out at the dance floor and then back to me. I couldn't read his expression. I tried to cover my over-reaction by sipping on my drink and looking anywhere but at him.
Rosalie and Emmett slipped away onto the dance floor and Edward took the opportunity to lift me into his lap. Since conversation was difficult, he put his lips to better use on my neck. As the songs became less sensual, I watched Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett on the dance floor while Edward lavished attention on my neck. A particularly strong beat came on and probably feeling the effects of the alcohol, I swayed to the music, tapping my fingers on the table.
I felt Edward's chest rumble against my back and realized he was laughing. He leaned into my ear. "Do you want to dance, Bella?"
I looked over the dance floor considering my options. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable being closer than he had to be to all those people. But everyone else seemed fine, even Jasper. I was also decidedly ungraceful and didn't want to make a fool of myself. But I felt more confident in my dancing after Alice's lessons. A rational part of me noted this was probably false liquid courage. But I knew Edward wouldn't let me fall.
No, it was too risky in these heels and ridiculous outfit Alice forced me into. I was about to turn him down when Alice popped up in front of us. She took the drink from my hands and set it on the table. I noted with alarm that it was almost gone. She started pulling me onto the dance floor. She danced backwards into the crowd, gently pulling on my one hand while I kept a death grip on Edward with my other. I wasn't going to go down alone.
All six of us formed a loose circle on the dance floor. I again noticed that we were getting more room than normal for such a packed space. Edward stayed close to me, helping me gain my confidence. I moved casually with the beat, mostly enjoying watching everyone else dance and enjoy themselves.
I was just thinking about taking a break when Alice and Rosalie moved in, spurred by some unseen signal. They danced over to me and effectively pulled me away from Edward into the center of our little circle. I laughed with protest, but there was no escape. Alice gave me a 'go with it' look and I decided to put her earlier lessons to use.
I purposefully turned my back on Edward, knowing I could never get over my own self consciousness if I saw him watching me dance. Just like Alice taught me, I starting by focusing on my hips and swaying them with the music. I softened my knees and let my body move with the beat. Alice smiled in encouragement. Even Rose was wearing an encouraging smile. I closed my eyes focusing on moving my body. It was easy to get lost in the crowd of people who were also all dancing. No one was going to laugh and point. I smiled, feeling good.
As Alice had embarrassingly suggested, I started thinking about sex. Sex with Edward. I allowed my body to move instinctually, trying not to over think anything. On instinct, I raised my arms up, crossing them slightly over my head, moving them back down over my hair, running my hands slowly around my stomach and then sliding down to my hips. All the while thinking about how it would feel if it were Edward touching me.
My eyes flew open in surprise as a hand grasped my hip from behind. My back landed against a rock hard chest. I relaxed, sensing and feeling a familiar body behind me.
Edward kept his hand on my hip, his fingers curled slightly around to the front as he gently pulled me closer toward him. His hand guided the movement of my hips and I could feel his corresponding movement behind me. I placed my right hand over his to keep it on my hip. Sensing my acceptance, his left hand gripped my other side, guiding my movements against him. I leaned back into his chest, enjoying the feel of his strong body supporting mine.
"You're going to be the death of me," he whispered in my ear. Tingles shot down my spine.
AN: The next chapter is REALLY the best chapter of the whole story. I'll make you all a deal- if I get ten reviews, I'll post it right away. And don't forget, I give out sneak peeks on the next chapter to everyone who reviews! Hope you're enjoying the story...