“I think there’s a lot more than meets the eye going on, John,” Brian says mischievously, looking at Elsie and causing a blush to spread across her face and up under her mask.
“I would definitely have to agree with you, Bri,” John says as his gaze holds onto Elsie a heartbeat too long. Elizabeth looks between the three of them. There is definitely something more going on than what Elsie told her, she can just feel it, the vibes coursing between all three of them are blatantly obvious.
Iggy Azalea fills the air with her popping sexy lyrics in Beg For It. Elsie jumps up from her position against the bar shouting, “Come on, we’re all dancing!” grabbing Elizabeth and the guys at the same time.
“We can’t, Elsie, we’re working, but you two go ahead and we’ll be there in spirit.”
Elsie is jerked back like a rubber band, John and Brian didn’t budge when she pulled on their hands to drag them towards the dance floor.
“Yeah Cat Woman, you go ahead, we’ll have fun watching,” Brian says with a wicked smirk on his face. Leaving no doubt as to what he’ll be watching as his gaze flickers along Elsie’s black vinyl encased body.
Elsie and Elizabeth are out on the dancefloor popping and grinding, laughing and moving when Damien, one of the camera guys they worked with, joins them. He’s the cutest grunge guy, with tattoos and gauges, and he’s dressed like a doctor tonight. He was in love with Elizabeth during the filming of Safe Haven but nothing ever happened between them. It appears he is still carrying a torch for her. It looks like more than one person noticed that fact, Marco has suddenly appeared at the edge of the dance floor and he isn’t looking too happy. When he finally catches Elizabeth’s attention he motions her over to him.
“I’ll be back in a little bit. Apparently Mr. Grumpy Pants wants me for something,” Elizabeth shouts over the pounding music.
Elizabeth turns to go to Marco and Damien looks over at Elsie asking with a look, Who the hell is that?
“Boyfriend!” Elsie yells to Damien in answer to his silent question.
Elsie happens to glance up and she sees John. For just a moment there’s frustration, anger, and pain etched across his features. But in the next breath it’s gone so quickly Elsie thinks she might have imagined it. His face is the same reserved picture of control she’s used to.
I should just leave her alone, John thinks to himself. I am too fucked up to offer her anything besides sex. And even then I won’t allow myself to give her all of me, I will always hold myself back. While the fight within him is raging, there’s no hint of it on the outside. He is, as always, the expert at control. I won’t allow myself to get in too deep. I’ll just dip my toes in that sweet pool of hers, just get a little taste, just enough to show her how beautiful she is. Then I’ll leave her alone. I’ve just got to taste her. John knows he’s kidding himself thinking he’ll be satisfied with just a taste of Elsie.
Elsie chooses to ignore the two hulking men lurking just out of reach on the perimeters of the room. They always know exactly where she is and who she’s with. John especially, could not for a moment ignore Elsie’s powerful pull on him. This big controlling man was reduced to a quivering puddle with just the smile from her. She is his Kryptonite and his fire, with the power to turn him into a blazing inferno and in the next moment crush him to dust. He is so fucked.
“Come on, Elsie, let’s get a drink,” Damien says and leads her from the dance floor to the bar.
“What would you like,” Damien asks turning to her.
“Just a Michelob Ultra, I’ve already had a couple of shots of Jäger and I don’t want to push it.”
Damien turns to the bartender, “Make it two Mich Ultra’s.”
The bartender hands them their beers as the DJ announces last call.
“I guess we got them just in time, party’s ending,” Damien raises his beer to Elsie in a toast.
“It appears you did,” John’s voice interrupts their conversation.
Elsie’s head quickly turns from the bottle she was lifting to her lips to see John standing directly behind her.
“And your point, Mountain Man?” she snaps at him.
He quirks an eyebrow at Elsie’s comment, smirking, before turning to Damien, “Hi, I’m John,” he extends his hand to introduces himself.
Damien’s jaw hit the floor upon seeing John and hearing Elsie’s snide remark to him. John’s large frame and imposing presence make him feel like a boy standing next to John.
“Um, hi, I’m Damien, I used to work with Elsie and Elizabeth. Camera.”
John gives Damien a questioning look, not quite understanding what he means.
“Movies, I’m a camera guy,” Damien explains shaking himself out of his sense of being flustered, realizing he probably sounded like an idiot with his one word statement.
“Excellent, I work personal security for the cast. Maybe I’ll see you on set sometime.”
“Yeah, that would be cool, can never have too many friends like you,” Damien nervously laughs.
John turns his attention to the woman who’s making him crazy, “I’m going to give you a ride home Elsie. Elizabeth told me you ladies took a cab.”
“Listen, Big Fella, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. I don’t need you or anyone else to look after me,” Elsie snaps at him.
He just smiles at her. “Elsie, it has nothing to do with your capabilities. I’m taking you home, there are a lot of drunk people out there tonight who might not see you, since you’re dressed like that, or worse, see you in this getup
