Consumed (7 page)

“You look amazing!” She squeals. “I knew this dress would look good on you.”

I walk over to my mirror and I’m absolutely floored by how good it looks on me. Red is definitely my color.

“Now sit.” Selena demands and I take few steps back to sit on the edge of my bed. She pulls a large metal box from her suitcase and opens it. I’m amazed by how much make-up she has. She immediately gets to work with her foundations and powders and pink things and black things. I’m sure they have proper names, but they were lost on me. I have no idea.

When Selena is done creating her masterpiece she steps away from me, giving me full view of myself in the mirror. I don’t recognize myself. My creamy skin is flawless and my green eyes are brought out by a black color Selena refers to as ‘shimmering onyx’. My lips are glossy and my long, chocolate hair cascades in a straight line down my back.

“Whoa.” Is all I can say.

“I know. I’m good.”

I find a pair of white stilettos in my wardrobe and I slip them on. I’m not one to compliment myself, but damn I look sexy. In fact I’m feeling so good about myself I might even entertain the idea of bringing a stranger home with me.

Or not.

Most likely not.

Selena spends almost two hours doing herself up and if I looked like a supermodel when she was done with me, she looked like a
super
-supermodel. Her dark, violet dress has a strapless, sweetheart cut and it cuts off mid-thigh. Her long, blonde ringlets are straightened against her back and she flicks her hair to either side as she clips in two golden hoops.

“I scheduled a taxi to come get us at nine p.m.”

I look at the clock. “That’s now.”

Sure enough a honk sounds outside and Selena takes me by the elbow. She eagerly drags me from the house before I get a chance to change my mind about tonight.

We’re in the taxi and the further I get from home the stronger the unsettling feeling in my stomach grows. Now that I’m out and on my way to a club, I really wish I didn’t text Selena and suggest it.

***

We arrive at Lux’s Lounge Bar and the security guard lets us straight in because he and Selena are friends.
Of course they are.
She’s probably friends with all of the staff inside. I’ve never been to Lux’s before and as we step into the club I’m blown away. It’s not like the other clubs I’ve been to. Upscale is an understatement. People litter the surrounding couches and the floor is illumined by blue L.E.D lights that lead the way to the bar directly in front of us. It’s impossible to miss. It’s huge, white and shiny. Five bartenders man the bar and they’re surrounded by people shouting orders at them. Not once do the smiles leave their faces.

This place oozes sterile elegance and maybe I’ll enjoy myself after all. Selena entwines her fingers in mine and pulls me along beside her to the bar. We spend a long while there, receiving free drinks from boys who want to dance. Some were hot and some were...not. Either way, we promised them we’ll dance later. I just hope they pass out before then. When I’ve probably had too much to drink, we leave the bar and head to the dance floor. We dance hard and fast, we sway our hips and only dance with each other. I notice that Selena is really trying to show me a good time. Not once has she batted an eyelid at a guy even though loads of them have given her attention. She wants me to see that tonight is about me, her and our friendship. It’s exactly what I need.

I spoke too soon as hands seize my waist pulling me away from Selena.

“Dance with me.” He mutters into my ear.

I stare at her wide eyed as the guy grinds me. ‘Help me’ I mouth to Selena, but she raises her eyebrows and shrugs, signaling for me to turn around. Reluctantly, I turn around and the guy that’s practically groping me isn’t that bad. He has dark, longish hair that curls under his chin and his eyes are a beautiful blue that reflect the glowing floor beneath us. Under his business outfit, I feel his rock hard body. My head swims with alcohol and my usual careful self doesn’t really care. Screw it. I’m going to go along with it. I dance with him, letting his hands roam all over me. It doesn’t provoke a thrilling feeling in my stomach like Seth’s eyes do, but he’s gentleman enough not to dive into my bra or my panties and I appreciate that. The stranger pulls me around so I’m facing the other direction and my ass presses against his...you know. Suddenly I’m uncomfortable and I manage to sober up just a little. This isn’t me. I try to step away from the man, but his hands hold me firmly in place. I eagerly search the crowd for Selena, but I can’t see her. Lights flicker above me, catching my attention. It’s the VIP area. A fair few people are leaning against the railing watching the dancers beneath them. Others are lounging around on couches laughing underneath immaculate chandeliers. I survey them with blurry vision until I catch a familiar pair of eyes, instantly stopping me in my tracks.

Seth
.

His appearance hits me like a ton of bricks and I sober up even more. Suddenly, I’m embarrassed for grinding with the stranger. The stranger doesn’t notice I no longer want to dance and he pulls me even closer to him. His head angles and his warm tongue travels down the side of my neck before pressing his lips eagerly against my skin. I feel like I’m going to heave. My head spins and my legs wobble. Seth’s eyes remain on me the entire time and his friend, the one that was wearing a red cap at the steakhouse, walks over to chat to him. His gaze is intimidating and once again I can’t look away from him. He looks positively amazing in a long black sleeved shirt that’s folded up to his elbows, exposing his thick forearms. He brings his beer bottle to his lips and takes a sip.
I wish I was that beer bottle
. A warm hand wraps harshly around my arm, yanking me from the stranger’s grasp and away from Seth’s face. I stumble through the crowd, letting whoever is pulling me drag me away from the dance floor. When we break away from the dancers, I’m amazed I didn’t trip in my ridiculously high heels. The person dragging me turns to face me.

“Blade?” I ask, confused that he’s here.

He never comes here. He’s wearing his usual club get up—a weird t-shirt with random naked girls on it and a pair of loose jeans. His lips move quickly, but I can’t hear anything. The music is drowning him out. “What?”

He takes me by the arm again and pulls me from the club via a side door. I stumble into an empty alleyway that smells like booze, piss and vomit.

His eyes narrow in on me, his nostrils flaring. Wow, you’d think I just cheated on him. “What the hell are you doing, Olivia?”

“I was dancing.”

“That wasn’t dancing. He had his mouth all over you!”

Is it disgusting of me to feel a little happy that Blade’s so pissed off?

“So? I can do whatever I want. I’m single.”

“No, you’re not. You’re mine!”

I step toward him, pointing my finger less than an inch from his nose. He grabs at my hand, pressing it against his chest. His body feels completely different now that I’ve had them on Seth’s large chest. Blade feels like a child under my knuckles.

“I’m not yours. I’m not something that can be owned.” I try to step away from him, but his free hand takes a hold of my hips and he pulls me into him.

“Baby, please. I’m sorry... seeing you with that guy hurt me. You’re hurting me.”

I clench my fists until the skin over my knuckles turns white. How dare he say a thing like that? I shove him hard and he stumbles enough to let me go.

“I’m hurting you? What about me?” I’m shouting and I don’t even care. Tears pool in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “
You
hurt
me
! That’s why we’re in this mess. You don’t care about me. You’re just comfortable—stuck in a routine.”

“Olly, baby...”

I have to get him to see that I’m not playing this time. I have to hit him where it hurts. “I don’t love you and I haven’t for a long time. It just took me this long to realize it.”

I go to walk away but he grabs at me again, holding me tightly against him. “I’m not letting you go back in there.”

“Last I checked this is still a free country.” Seth’s deep voice rings throughout the alleyway. Blade releases me and I stumble backwards as warm, feminine hands wrap around my shoulders.

“You okay?” Selena whispers, pulling me into her and I nod my head.

She tugs me back until I’m standing safely beside Seth.

“I forgot you had a boyfriend.” Blade states, spitting on the floor.

Shit
.

Seth looks down at me, his eyebrow raised. Thank God the alleyway isn’t lit up otherwise everyone will see my undoubtedly scarlet face. I nod my head quickly, pleadingly. The last thing I want is to look stupid in front of Blade. I’ve looked stupid enough because of him.

“She does.” Seth’s large, calloused hand wraps around my wrist and he pulls me slightly behind him. I gasp at the contact of our flesh.

Blade crosses his arms over his chest not looking the slightest bit impressed. “Where were you when she was practically fucking a guy on the dance floor?”

Seth shrugs. “Around.” I can almost hear the smile on his lips. “I like to watch.”

Blade’s icy, blue eyes glower at Seth and then at me. “You sure know how to pick em’, Olivia.”

I manage a smile, inching closer to Seth—so close my breast rubs against his arm. “You’re proof of that.” I reply, remembering to breathe.

He steps closer and I stiffen. Seth would absolutely crush Blade and even though he’s a dick, I don’t want him to get hurt. A confident smile spreads over Seth’s lips, daring Blade to try something. Blade has his wits about him tonight because he doesn’t do anything to provoke Seth. Instead, he growls. “Don’t get too comfortable because we’re still together. We’re just having a disagreement.”

“No,” Selena interjects. “You’re finished.”

Blade storms away and we watch him until he disappears from the alleyway. Seth drops my wrist and I turn to Selena. She wraps her arms around my shoulders again, pulling me into her. She holds me for a little while. “Don’t worry about him.”

I withdrew from her and wipe my eyes.

“Do you want to go home?” She asks.

“Yes.” My night is ruined. There’s no coming back from this and more alcohol will only make it worse.

“I can take her.” Seth offers.

I open my mouth to protest, but Selena cuts me off. “How much have you had to drink?”

“One beer. I’m fine to drive. “

I step away from Selena and attempt to turn to Seth—attempt being the keyword. My shoe snags on something and I fall. I squeeze my eyes shut and brace for impact only it never comes. When I realize I haven’t hit the ground I become aware of Seth’s hand wrapped around my waist and the other that has a firm grip on my arm. He’s so close to me and his delicious scent makes my head even woozier. Selena is keeled over and laughing her ass off because I almost fell. Typical.

“...thanks.” I mumble as he helps me back to standing position. I look everywhere but at his face, which I’m sure is regarding me in amusement.

“You can take her. If she goes with me we’ll probably break both our necks before we get home.” Selena has a residual smile on her face and I widen my eyes at her, trying to hint that I don’t want to be alone with Seth. I can barely keep my shit together in public. If we’re in a car alone, God knows what I’ll do.

Selena rolls her eyes at me and kisses my cheek. “Thanks for coming out with me tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Selena, but—I—we—damn it!” She slips back through the club door and I’m stuck outside with Seth.

After a few seconds, I gain the courage to look at him. He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans as his dark eyes follow my every movement like I’m going to fall again.

“Well,” he begins. “Your ex-boyfriend is a dick.”

“That’s putting it nicely.” I groan, running my hands over my face. “Can we go? I’m not really in the mood to hang around here.”

He pulls a set of keys from his back pocket and gestures for me to follow him. Compared to the air in the club, outside is cool and it blows refreshingly across my skin. My feet ache in my shoes as I trail behind Seth down the street and to his car. Who drives to a club anyway? When Seth unlocks and approaches a big, white four-wheeled drive I have to say that I’m surprised. I imagined Seth to drive a motorcycle or a sports car, or something completely dangerous and unnecessary. Instead, he drives a beautiful Range Rover. It’s big, safe and totally not what I expected. He opens the door for me.

“Thank you.”

His lips twitch suddenly upward, molding his mouth into a breathtaking, slightly crooked smirk, and I feel my chest constrict as I unsuccessfully try to tear my eyes away from his full lips.

“Don’t thank me,” he says when I’m comfortable in my seat. “It’s what boyfriends do.” His smirk widens into a full blown, cocky smile and he closes the door. My hands automatically fly to my face to cover my embarrassment. I never should have tried to provoke Blade. Now I look like the weirdo who goes around telling people Seth is my boyfriend when realistically we’ve only spoken a handful of times. He opens the driver door and climbs in. I take my hands away from my face, but I don’t dare peek at him as he speeds away from the club.