We make our way in and there’s barely enough room to breathe. The place is packed to the rim with sweaty bodies, most grinding and gyrating to the loud music that pours from giant speakers parked on the floor like monoliths.
“Now this is more like it,” Beck says, bobbing her head and then executing a turn that doesn’t quite happen in the limited space.
The group heads upstairs again, and it’s a battle to find a table, but JR somehow secures one and we crowd around it while Beck volunteers to get the drinks. I go for another beer since I’m playing it safe.
We toast to better music and finish our drinks pretty fast so we can hit the dance floor. I’ve never danced like this with Saige, but I’m not worried. Dancing is one step away from sex and we work perfectly in that department.
Instead of moving back to front like a lot of dancers, we face each other. I place my hands on her hips and her arms go around my neck. This time I let her lead and match my movements to hers.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, FUCK.
This isn’t close to sex. It’s fucking without penetration. I’ve been wanting her all night and the second she grinds her hips into mine, I’m so fucking hard I can barely see straight. Saige notices and it seems to amuse her. She just smiles up at me and keeps dancing to the throbbing beat of the music. Gripping the back of my neck, she draws my head down to her mouth.
“Do you want me, Quinn Brand?” It doesn’t matter how loud the music is. She could whisper and I’d still hear her.
“What do you think?” I say, turning my head so my lips are nearly touching her earlobe as I thrust my hips into hers. I know she can feel me through my jeans.
“I think yes,” she says back. “Are you going to do something about it?”
I flirt briefly with the idea of somehow fucking her right here on this dance floor, but that might not endear me to her friends, so I pull back a little from her.
“I’m going to dance with you, Saige,” I say back.
She puts her arms up in the air and swivels her hips as if she’s telling me what I’m missing. Oh, Redhead, I know.
In return, I grab her hips, digging my fingers in and matching her movements. I want her as turned on as I am.
“Why don’t you just fuck each other and get it over with!” A voice yells nearby. I’ve completely forgotten that we’re in a roomful of other people.
Saige and I both turn our heads to find Lo scowling at us as she dances with a random guy who seems more interested in her ass than her face.
“Lo,” Saige says in a warning voice. They have a moment of silent conversation with their eyes that I’m not privy to and then Lo rolls her eyes and says “Whatever. Do what you want.”
But she’s sending a clear signal. She’s watching me and looking out for her friend. Fine. I actually respect her for doing that. Saige deserves a friend who will have her back no matter what.
The music pulses and our hips fuse and Saige and I dance until we’re both panting and our skin is shiny with sweat. It doesn’t help that everyone is pressed so close together that it’s impossible to take a deep breath.
Saige stands up on her tiptoes and tells me she needs some water. I nod and take her hand to lead her through the crowd. I part the way for her and it makes me feel good. I know I can be intimidating, so it’s easy to tow her along as people get out of my way. I find a tiny corner of the bar where we can stand and hear each other better than on the dance floor.
“Do you want another drink, or just the water?” I ask her as she fans herself and pulls her hair off her neck.
“Just water. I’d rather not be hung over tomorrow and I’m pretty sure I danced off all the other drinks.”
I get the bartender’s attention and order two bottles of water. I hand one to Saige and she puts it on the back of her neck and sighs in relief, her eyes closing.
“Aren’t you hot in that?” she asks, motioning to my shirt. I’m boiling, but I’m not taking this thing off.
“I’m fine.” She makes a face that communicates skepticism. “I don’t share my ink with just anyone. It’s… I only share it with people I trust.” I don’t know right now if this is a truth or a lie.
“Why do you have so many if you don’t want people to see them?”
“Because,” I say, leaning closer to her so I don’t have to yell. My voice is starting to get hoarse. “I didn’t get them for someone else. I got them for me. I guess… I had all this stuff inside me and I had to get it out. But I didn’t want to forget it, so I put it on my skin so I’ll remember.” This… this is a truth. She looks up at me, as if she’s a little stunned.
“That’s both heartbreaking and very beautiful, Quinn.” Not for the first time, I wish she would call me by my real name. I wish there were a way to tell her that it’s a nickname or something, but I can’t take the risk. I have to be Quinn with her. Letting her see my tattoos is as close as she’s ever going to get.
Tonight has taken a serious turn, and I don’t like it. But we’re saved by Amelia and Isla stumbling over, both laughing. They ask Saige if she wants to go with them to the bathroom. I feel better about having her out of my sight if she’s with her friends, and watch her weave her way through the crowd, the lights shining on her red curls.
I scan the crowd and catch Cash’s eyes from the shadows. Under other circumstances, he’d be in the middle of the dance floor, tearing it up. But not tonight. He has to babysit me tonight and I know I’m going to owe him for this, as well as so many other things. Without meeting my eyes, he tips his beer in my direction and I raise my water. All clear.
A drunk girl approaches me and fondles my arm, but I extract myself from her and push her back toward her friends, who are giggling so hard it’s clear they’re definitely all wasted. I hope they get home safe. I signal the bartender and he comes over.
“Might want to call a cab for those ladies so something doesn’t happen.”
“Roger that,” he says as the girls stumble toward the door.
“I saw that,” a voice says next to me as my arm is gripped again, but by familiar fingers.
“Saw what,” I say, feigning innocence.
“I saw you worrying about those drunk girls getting home. That was really nice. You can be really nice when you want to be.” I’m not nice, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“I don’t like to see women taken advantage of,” I say. Another truth.
“That’s good to know,” she says, leaning on me. “Oh my God.”
“What?” She points across the dance floor and there’s Lo, arms up and dancing with four guys. Two in the front and two in the back.
“That’s Lo,” Saige says with a shrug. “She’s balls to the wall. All in.”
“How long have you been friends?”
“A couple of years. But it feels like forever, you know? When you meet someone and you click so much it’s like you’ve been friends for your whole lives.” Yes. I do know exactly what she’s talking about.
“I do,” I say and she finishes her water.
“Come on, let’s get back out there.”
We don’t leave the club until two, and even then it’s a struggle to drag Amelia out.
“I’m going to take her home and get her into bed,” Isla says, tugging Amelia (who is now burbling in French and English). “It was nice to meet you, Quinn.” I wave goodbye to them as the rest of the group breaks off and heads to their respective vehicles.
“That went well,” Saige says as we walk back to where my car is parked.
“You think?”
“Definitely. You’re a good guy, Quinn.” No, I’m not. But I kiss the top of her head and say, “Don’t spread that around too much. I have a reputation to maintain.” She laughs and we slowly stroll to the car. The city is sleepy now, most of the bars having had last call and spitting out their contents on the street to stumble their way home, or wherever they’re headed.