He was about a foot taller than my five-foot-five frame, thin but not anorexic looking, with the paleness of a Spaniard who avoided the sun. He wore a deep burgundy shirt tucked into black slacks. His shirt was rolled up to perfectly display toned forearms. I found myself surprisingly attracted to him, although he was paler than I was used to. I looked back up to his face and he was smiling. Definitely a vamp wannabe with his fake incisors, but what a smile.
“My dear, I don’t think I have ever been so thoroughly checked out before.” He was holding back the laughter that danced in his silver eyes.
“You have amazing eyes,” I blurted, my cheeks flushing instantly. “I’m sure you get that a lot, sorry. I don’t usually dance; I tend to flail about a bit too much. If you’re willing to risk it, I’ll take you up on your offer, though.” I felt butterflies in my stomach as he grabbed my hand and led me to the floor.
Part of the reason I’d agreed to dance with him was because he appeared to be the sort of guy who was used to tripping over his own large feet. Much to my surprise, we glided to the center of the dance floor without a hitch. People parted very subtly for him without a word between them. We started dancing, moving together as if we’d been doing so our entire lives.
I was never given the opportunity to get nervous. Making eye contact with him, I sashayed to the bass. His hands slipped slowly against my hips—a firm, but gentle touch edging me on. A touch of pressure against my hip, and I spun in his arms. He pulled me close, my back against his chest. He mimicked my hip rolling, and my heart raced. He clutched my hand and I dipped down to the floor before writhing slowly up his body until I was in his arms again.
The music changed and I was an instrument to be strummed. He spun me around, caressing my lower back, grazing the area just above my ass. Shivers spiraled down my body. He tipped me back, bending me almost in half as I rode his thigh. I was on a high I’d never felt, my inhibitions were falling away and I was completely in the moment with this man, this stranger. The hand he used to tip me trailed a path of flames down my arm. He laced his fingers with mine and abruptly brought me up so we were once again staring into each other’s eyes.
The beat shifted again, and I lit up as I recognized it. I wriggled out of his grasp so I could jump up and down, thrashing my hair between raised arms. He laughed at me, and we began to do the robot, oblivious to our surroundings. We danced to four more songs before I practically collapsed in his arms.
“I have to get some water, join me?”
“Of course,” he said. He led me to a small table in a room adjoining the dance floor. It was dark, and the music was a muffled beat in here. The table had a little reserved sign on it.
“I don’t think we can sit here,” I objected as I collapsed into the booth.
He smiled and slid in next to me. Without needing to be summoned, a waiter appeared at my elbow.
“What can I get you two?” He asked. I was too busy trying to catch my breath to take proper notice of him.
“A tall glass of water for the lady and the usual for me. Thank you, George.”
“Come here often, I see.”
His mouth turned up at the corners. “I’m here every night to make sure my patrons have a nice time.”
“Your patrons? You mean you own this place?” I blushed as I heard what I’d said, humiliated that I could be so rude. “I mean, you just don’t seem the type to be a club owner. You look like you would fit in better in the lab. As a worker, I mean, not…not that you look like a lab geek…I mean guy. I work in a lab, and I’m so going to shut up now. Great club, by the way.” My cheeks were on fire.
“No, you are absolutely correct. I am not at all the typical bar owner, but I must tell you it is so much more fun than sitting behind a desk all day. It is rewarding to be able to help people relax, unwind, and enjoy themselves after a difficult day. I am able to sit back and enjoy the scenery while people do what it is that makes them happy. This bar was created to be non-threatening, and violence is not tolerated. I have yet to have the police visit my establishment, and I’ve been open fifteen years,” he explained with an air of pride.
“Wow. That’s very impressive. They’re thinking of passing a new law back home that after a certain number of visits from the cops, bar owners have to pay a huge fine every time the police are called.” I was taken aback that he had owned this place for so long, he didn’t seem any older than me. We sipped our drinks for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company. Before too long, he was called away to help at the bar. His drink was a very deep red color, he drained it before standing up to leave, and took the glass away with him. I stayed for a few more songs, and then made my way over to the bar to say goodbye to Stephan.
“You are leaving so soon?” Although he’d dropped the Dracula act, he did still have an accent I couldn’t quite place, and a glint of mischief in his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“Yeah, I have an early departure tomorrow. I’m going to Bermuda,
