Over time, the air becomes thick with humidity as the mass of bodies amalgamate. Sweat glistens my skin and my lips are parched even with downing fruity cocktails like they are cans of soda. For the past hour, the bar staff have kept mine and Hugo’s supply of alcohol flowing like water from a tap.
Before my body even has the chance to announce its thirst, a waitress arrives with a thirst-quenching drink. I feel like a celebrity attending a ritzy after party. My every whim is being taken care of without a single word needing to seep from my lips. Blood is teeming through my veins at a rapid pace, and my head is fuzzy with both the infusion of alcohol and adrenaline. Even with a horde of people bumping into me, I can’t wipe the huge smile off my face. I’m loving every single moment of my new-found freedom.
A grin spreads across my face when my eyes open and lock with Hugo. His hair is messy and wet from the dampness suffocating the air; his eyes are snapped shut, his plump lips parted. It’s a sexually gratifying visual that causes a slickness to form between my legs. As a crackling of energy sparks my womb, I’m unexpectedly grasped around the waist and yanked deeper into the dense crowd.
The heat of a warm body envelops my back and the roll of a man’s hips has my eyes widening. Panicked over a stranger suddenly being plastered to my back, my body stiffens, and my pupils dilate. My fretful eyes arrow down when my dance partner’s hands slither along my stomach before inching towards my erratically beating chest.
I clutch his wrists, securing them onto my hips before he has the chance to grope my breasts. The thickness of his alcohol-fueled breath hammers my senses when he slurs, “You’re so fucking beautiful,” into my ear. The thick stubble on his jaw scratches my neckline.
“T-t-thank you,” I stutter while attempting to move out of his firm clutch.
Bile forms in the back of my throat when the sting of his fingers dig into my right hip as he strengthens his hold. Dizziness plagues my head when his erection pokes the curve of my backside, and his hand begins to wander back towards my chest. My stomach swirls from the excessive sways as he grinds against me. I stab my nails into his hands, clawing to get away from him. When my attack fails to stop his unwanted groping, my unnerved gaze lifts to seek assistance.
My breathing becomes labored when I spot Hugo furiously side-stepping numerous club goers as he rushes towards me. His fists are clenched; his face is taut with anger and his steps, urgent. Relief engulfs me when one of his large hands pulls me into his chest while the other peels the unnamed dance partner off my back. His stealth movements have my feet leaving the ground and my assailant landing on his ass in the middle of the dance floor with an almighty thump.
The ear-splitting music blaring out of the speakers is unable to drown out the mad beat of Hugo’s heart when he lays a boot into my accoster. The blood roaring through his body is so thick, the veins in his neck bulge as he steps over the man lying on the ground cradling his stomach.
Hugo’s fast and furious steps don’t falter until we reach a hidden nook between a mirrored wall and an office door at the side of the club. I lift my head off his chest, wanting to express my gratitude for his assistance. My words stay entombed in my throat. His gaze is predatory and full to the brim with silent rage.
My eyes rocket to the side when a deep, manly voice asks, “Is she okay?”
My brows stitch as my eyes roam over the face of a man I swear I’ve seen before. Although he is not as built as Hugo, his impressive frame fills his tailored suit fittingly. His hair is dark and well-kept; his face is clean-shaven, and he has charmingly handsome good looks that would set most girls’ hearts racing. But the angry scowl on his face and his unapproachable demeanor have my inside quaking more with fear than sexual interest.
“She will be,” Hugo says, placing me down onto my feet. The strobing lights of the club flicker in his eyes as his narrowed gaze dances between mine. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a minute.”
A thick blast of air whips the hair off my neck when Hugo abruptly spins on his heels. Suddenly, the suit-clad gentleman’s hand darts out to seize Hugo’s elbow. The sound of knuckles popping resonate in the eerie quietness of the alcove when Hugo clenches his fists. The veins on his exposed biceps throb when he turns to glare at the unnamed man.
“Look after her; I’ll take out the trash,” the suit-clad man says, his tone stern and authoritative.
Not waiting for Hugo to reply, he relinquishes Hugo’s elbow and ambles in the direction we just left. Sensing his unnerving composure, the crowd parts like the red sea. The last thing I see before my vision is filled with Hugo’s fury-riddled face is the suit-wearing gentleman yanking my assailant off the ground by the scruff of his rumpled shirt.
Tucking a stray tress of my hair behind my ear, Hugo’s eyes run over my face and body, vigorously assessing every inch of my sweat-slicked skin.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his tone quickly changing from angry to concerned.
I nod my head. “Yes, thank you.”
My words come out breathless. My breathlessness isn’t caused by my near attack, it’s from having Hugo standing so close to me. We’re standing so close to each other, the heavy pants of my breath rebound off his stern mouth, blasting my lips with a fruity cocktail scent.
“Did he hurt you? Are you injured?” he questions.
I shake my head. “No. You got there before he had the chance.”
“I should have gotten there faster,” he mutters quietly.
My heart pains from the guilt clouding his eyes. The muscle in his jaw quivers when I run my thumb over the heavy groove indented in the middle of his eyes, futilely trying to smooth the regret dampening the spark of mischievousness that typically fires his vibrant eyes.
“I’m fine, Hugo; truly I am.” I keep my tone spirited, desperately trying to lighten the mood.
I bunch the waist of his long-sleeve shirt in my hand and stare into his eyes. “I’ve never been better,” I say truthfully.
I stare into his eyes so he can see the openness being relayed by mine. Tonight is the first time I’ve ever truly let go. The awkward teenage girl who used to sit in the corner and watch everyone else have fun would have never gotten up and shook her tuchus in front of hundreds of people.
I’ve never danced like there would be no repercussion in the morning, because normally there would’ve been. Not from my peers, but from my father. It wouldn’t matter if I forgot to say “thank you” after already saying “please” he would have heard about it, and I would’ve been reprimanded for it. Everything I did, no matter how minute, was monitored and reported back to him. But tonight – tonight I was free. I could finally fully extend my wings.
Noticing Hugo’s demeanor slipping back into common ground, I continue with my ploy of easing his uncalled-for guilt. “I guess these are the consequences of impersonating your stripper moves.”
His lips curve into an unsure grin. It isn’t his usual large smile, but I’ll take anything I can get.
