Everything You Want: Everything For You Trilogy 2 (10 page)

He stands, holds out his hand and I take it so he can lead me from the booth. He walks me to the floor and I trail unsteadily in his wake. I look about me, to fix the position of Laurent and the others but already they’re lost behind the crowd.

Loud music pulsates through my body and I feel the heavy throb of amplifiers vibrating the sprung wooden floorboards beneath me. It matches the pounding beginning in my head and body. I’m warm and very, very light-headed.

I knew Luc would rock. He spins me out and pulls me into his body again and I laugh as I twirl. He isn’t too careful with me so I bump into people but he keeps a tight hold of my hand. This is nothing like dancing with Jack. With Jack I feel safe and in danger all at the same time. Here, there is only threat yet I don’t care. It deadens a worse pain.

I jerk to a halt when the room spins and Luc tugs me against him. He leans in to kiss my mouth but I turn my head aside. He stills for a moment, like he didn’t expect it, then gives a tight laugh before placing a virtuous kiss on my cheek.

“I ought to find Laurent,” I tell him.

His eyes constrict a moment before he relaxes. I kind of wish I hadn’t asked him to pay my way into the nightclub. If I can find Laurent, I’ll borrow the money and pay Luc straight back.

“Then we will find him.” He pulls me through the heaving crowd over to the bar.

“I don’t think he’s here.” I know he isn’t. I try to keep walking forward but Luc has my wrist held tightly.

“We’ll just get another drink and then we’ll search.”

I don’t want to make a scene. I’d rather drink with Laurent and the boys but it seems so ungrateful to abandon Luc now. He’s just being friendly. He helped me out.

“Okay. Just one more though.”

“Of course.”

He orders more Cognac Sours. They come in tall glasses this time with a little ice. He hands me one and holds his glass up to chink against mine.

“
Santé
.” He wishes me good health.

I’m foolish to fret. I’m surrounded by lots of people and Laurent will make sure I get home in one piece when I eventually find him. “
Santé
.”

I think of home. I can’t go back to Lassec now. Jack has spoiled even that for me. I recall how angry I felt when I heard him tell Amanda I was some little problem he’d come to sort out. I remind myself I came out to enjoy myself for once and I will.

I drink.

“All of it, Cherie.”

What the hell. I throw it back. The warmth creeps down inside me until I don’t feel so bothered by everything. I hold up my empty glass in triumph. He grins at me and winks. I see the way girls look at him. He’s very handsome.

Luc takes my glass. All that’s left is the crushed ice settling in the bottom and melting slowly. I’m melting slowly too. I find Luc’s full glass in my hand and mine in his. Even at my worst I’ve never drunk so much so fast and feel a little strange but not entirely bothered. It’s good being out. I haven’t partied like the world revolved around me for ages.

My concerns disappear as fast as the new drink in my hand. Have I finished that one too? Luc takes the empty glass away and feeds me another. He leads me back onto the dance floor. If he wants to dance, well that’s what we came to do.

The room revolves, or I do. Luc supports my body against his, close up behind me and the floor moves as his body undulates repeatedly against mine. His arms trap me close inside them and his hands move up and down all over my body, seeking out uncovered skin wherever he can find it. I can’t seem to speak. Or to think.

My throat suddenly goes dry but my body turns chill and moist. The Sirocco.

“Take your fucking hands off her.”

As my neck loosely swirls around, I imagine I see Jack but he’s out of focus. He’s furious and shouting although it sounds like it’s coming from a long distance. People step back. I look down to see Luc’s hand splayed across my lower abdomen, pressing me back into his groin. Jack won’t like that, I think. I giggle. I’m somewhere far away watching what is happening to me.

“Piss off. We’re dancing.” Luc grinds his body so hard into mine, my knees bend. My hips thrust forward under his. Jack won’t be happy with that either, I think.

“I told you to take – your – fucking – hands – off her!”

Why is Jack shouting? The music pulses, the floor vibrates. The crowd surges. I’m moving and not under my own steam. Jack tugs me towards him but Luc is not letting go. I’m being torn in two. It’s so hysterical I snigger.

Jack glares at me and tightens his grip. I watch him as if I’m someone else. What strikes me as even funnier is thinking he’s come to sort out his problem. I laugh out loud. Voices elevate around me. Jack and Luc shout bad things at each other. I had no idea they knew one another. The air is thick with testosterone. I hear lots of bad language in English and even more profanities in French. I can’t be the only one laughing at this multi-lingual joke-fest.

“Get your own woman to
dance
with.” Luc lays claim. “She’s
dancing
with me.”

I open my mouth to mention the fact that Jack’s
dancing
with Amanda but shut it when Jack turns his fierce expression on me. This is not the first time my hallucination ever did that.

“No she isn’t. This is the last time I’m asking nicely. Let her go, or you’re a dead man.” Jack isn’t shouting now. He’s horribly quiet.

There’s going to be a fight. I hate fighting. I step back, stumble and Jack makes a grab for me. I find that funny too and snort. Jack’s hands are about my waist and I’m relocated like I’ve had my molecules transported. I find myself staggering about behind him. Where is Luc? His hands have gone. He squares up to Jack. I can’t see properly as Jack’s bulk is between me and Luc.

“You want to fuck her?” Luc speaks. His tone isn’t friendly. “Look around my friend then join the queue.”

“Bastard.” Jack’s fist arcs forward in a blur.

Everything happens in slow motion. I hear the crack of bone on bone and a dull thud as someone falls. Is it me? I seem to be on the floor anyway. I look up. Jack reaches down but I slap his hand away. I don’t want to be his problem anymore. His mess to clear up.

Although I seem to find being a messy problem funny for some reason.

I stumble to my feet not entirely under my own steam. “Get off me. I can walk by myself.” It’s not true. I can’t walk. I find myself sailing through the air sniggering. When I see Laurent I call out his name. One of us is upside down. I stretch my hands out towards him. “Where were you, Laurent?”

Jack hisses at him. “Yeah. Where the fuck were you?”

“I phoned you, no?” Laurent hangs back.

He is very wise to. Jack is snarling like a pit bull.

“Don’t worry,” I call. “I’m his problem now.” I find this so hilarious I can hardly breathe for laughing.

I feel myself heaved upwards and fall heavily against something that is hard and moving fast. The whole room moves too. I pass lots of people. Why are they all looking at me? I wave to them. How can I pass them when I’m not walking anywhere?

I recognise the door security men. “Didn’t disappear,” I tell them. I try to be serious but it’s not working. When it’s funny, it’s funny. They don’t think it’s funny. They scowl at me and shake their heads. The nice one holds a car door open for Jack and I’m dropped inside.

When the world turns itself right side up again that quickly it’s very disorientating. My head keeps right on spinning.

“Don’t throw up, it’s a hire car.” Jack’s voice, I think. “You’re a bloody nuisance, you know that.” He doesn’t sound too happy.

Where is Laurent? Where is Luc? Where am I?

I hear the car door slam and the engine start. I smell Clive Christian when Jack leans over me so I bite his earlobe but he shakes me off. The car moves. I move too. I remove my seat belt and start to climb out. I feel a sharp jerk as the car brakes violently. I wish he would make his mind up if he’s coming or going.

“For God’s sake, Tabitha.”

I’m yanked back into the seat again and tied down. I don’t want to be tied down. I fight his hands off.

“I’m going to be sick.” It’s a lie. But it’s a good one. Jack stops tying me down and I grin in triumph.

He runs round to my side, untangles me and pulls me out into the air. It hits me like a sledgehammer.

“I’m going to be sick.” It’s not a lie. My head swims.

“You said.”

He sounds pissed. But Jack’s usually pissed at me. I’m a problem. A mess. He’s said so umpteen times. I don’t know why he bothers to come find me when he’s always mad anyway. I throw my arms round his neck.

“Don’t go back to her.”

“What are you talking about? You’re drunk.”

“Yes. Drunk.” I’m amazed how truthful I’ve become all of a sudden. I cling on and inhale Clive Christian and Jack. It’s like a truth drug. “Stay with me.”

“I’m right beside you, Tabitha.”

“Take me home. I’m not going to be sick.” I’m not really sure if I am or I’m not anymore. I just want to go home.

I hear him sigh impatiently. He secures me back in the car and we drive all the way in silence. I have to concentrate not to slump over when the car corners. Jack even drives angry.

When I’m pitched out of the car again I droop like a rag doll so he hoists me over his shoulder. Someone is waiting at the front door.

“Madame!” I call to her. “He doesn’t want to dance with me, Madame.”

She clicks her tongue repeatedly and shakes her head.

“Go home. Get some sleep, Madame Chastain. She’s safe now.”

I don’t feel safe. I’m balanced precariously over the shoulder of a rampaging bull. I know this is not good. It’s not being dumped in the dirt that I’m worried about. “He’s going to kill me.”

“
La petite folle.
” I hear her mutter under her breath. I hear her say we are the two craziest people she has ever met. We must be made for each other. It makes me titter. She turns and walks away in her old slippers and bath robe mumbling to herself. I’m wearing a sundress in the dark. I have no idea what Jack is wearing. I twist to look but he pins me against him.

“Stop fidgeting.”

We are all crazy people.

Jack carries me upstairs and the bouncing motion feels very strange. It’s a bit like a ride at the fair so I whoop along. He lowers me onto my bed and another glass is held to my lips.

“No more,” I murmur. If I have another double Cognac Sour I’ll throw up for sure. No question about it. I attempt to bat him away.

His hand cups the back of my head because he’s going nowhere. He forces me to swallow.

“It’s a bit late to be setting limits.” His voice is cold. “This is water. Drink it.”

I do as I’m told. When I’m done I flop backwards to stare up at the ceiling. He sits on the bed beside me. The rage coming off him in pulsing waves of energy makes me feel seasick. I bob along with it for as long as I’m able. As I slowly lower my line of vision, it meets his. Uh oh.

“Why did you come to the club when you don’t want to dance, Jack?”

“Do you have any idea the danger you put yourself in?”

I scoff. “I was with friends.”

“That man is no friend of yours.”

“Luc?”

“Lecherous bastard.” Jack sits so close I feel the heat of his body through his clothing. His fists are bunched. I can see one knuckle all bust and bloody. “His hands were all over you.”

“Then be annoyed at him.” Better to know the worst now, I think. “Are you mad at me?”

“You have no fucking idea what I want to do to you right now.”

I find that funny for some reason and snort. “Are you going to
punish
me?” I sound all flirty and coy and laugh even more. I can’t help myself. I sit up and press my body against his. I nuzzle into his neck feeling his jaw muscle tic beneath my lips. He smells so good. Yet none of it feels real. I wonder if I’m having one of my happy dreams.

He pushes me onto my back again. “In the morning. You’d better believe it,” he threatens. Jack’s arms land on the pillow on either side of my head. He glares down at me. “I want his smell off you. I want mine all over you. To claim you. Mark you.”

I’m shocked at the power behind the words but not the intent. “Do it,” I whisper.

“I can’t.” He slams his fist into the headboard and I flinch. His teeth grind together. “I won’t. Go to sleep. You’re drunk.”

He still doesn’t want me even when I offer myself to him on a platter. I sag pathetically beneath him, my misery as acute as before. Then I get angry at him.

“Why didn’t you just leave me with Luc then?” I snap. “At least he wants me.”

“You stupid girl.” He paces the room turning at each wall. “That was some bed you were making for yourself. You may have ended up lying in it, if I hadn’t come for you when I did.”

Why is he talking about chores? “How did you know where to find me?” I’m so sleepy, I close my eyes waiting for his usual vague reply. When it doesn’t come, I know he’s really ticked off.