Page 10 of Comforting the Grump

Xtra was a gay club I’d visited twice before. It was big, noisy, and sweaty, but I’d had a great time.

Marnin’s eyes locked on mine with an intensity that felt like he was peering straight into my anxious soul. “Xtra?” His face was etched with lines of concern. “Be careful, Ennio. That club can be unpredictable. I’ve witnessed some unsavory things there.”

“It’s not my first rodeo.” I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to dispel the shadow of worry creasing his brow, though his concern was touching. “And I’m a grown-ass man, remember? No need for babysitting.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt.”

“I’ll be careful, Dad.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His eyes lingered a moment longer before he returned to his book. “Have fun.”

“Always do!” I turned on my heel and sashayed out the door, leaving Marnin’s unspoken fears hanging in the air behind me.

The crisp night air nipped at my exposed skin as I waited for the Uber. The car pulled up, and I slid in. As we pulled away, I looked up at Marnin’s apartment. He stood in front of the window, a lonely silhouette. I’d never known him to be so concerned. It was sweet.

Anticipation buzzed beneath my skin, electric and alive, as we approached my destination. This was my escape, my playground where I could be unapologetically me in all my glittery glory.

The Uber slowed to a stop outside the club, and my pulse matched the rhythm of the thumping bass that spilled out from the entrance. I stepped out, tossing a thanks to the driver before my boots hit the sidewalk.

The bouncer nodded me through with barely a glance, and I was immediately swallowed by the cacophony of sights and sounds. Neon strobes painted my skin in flashes of color, and the scent of sweat and perfume mingled in the charged air. Bodies moved around me, a sea of freedom and desire, and I let it energize me.

“Showtime,” I whispered, feeling my nervous energy transmute into exhilaration as I melded into the crowd, ready to lose myself in the club’s embrace.

I got a Coke at the bar—no alcohol for me tonight as I wasn’t taking any chances—then headed to the crowded dancefloor. The rhythm took me, a pulsing heartbeat that echoed through the throng of bodies. I swayed and spun, my laughter mingling with the throb of the music as colors from the strobe lightsrefracted off my glitter-dusted cheeks. Men glanced my way, their eyes tracing the curve of my smile, the sway of my hips, the roundness of my ass.

“Love the sparkle, honey,” a man with a neon-pink tank top shouted over the music, his grin contagious.

“Thanks! You’re pretty radiant yourself!” I beamed back, throwing a wink his way before twirling into another’s arms. Different hands found mine, each dance a fleeting connection, a shared moment of liberation under the pulsating glow.

And then he was there, emerging from the crowd as if conjured by my own yearning—a magnetic pull of confidence and age-worn charm. Cool blue eyes, angular features, well-manicured hands, and hair styled to a T. Early fifties, probably?

“Mind if I cut in?” His voice was smooth, an undercurrent of strength amid the chaos.

“Only if you can keep up.” My heart skipped a beat as I took his outstretched hand. His fingers were warm, secure, and for a moment, the room seemed to go still around us.

We moved together, our bodies close, finding a rhythm all our own amid the sea of dancers. His steps were sure, guiding without overpowering, as if he were attuned to my every move.

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” he breathed into my ear.

“Ennio.”

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Ennio. I’m Declan.”

His warm breath on my ear made me shiver. Declan. I even liked his name.

“Quite the showstopper, aren’t you?” Declan’s eyes were intense as he looked down on me, practically undressing me.

“You think so?” I spun out and then back into his embrace.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off you from the moment you walked in the door. You’re new here, right?”

I nodded. “Sort of. I’ve been here before, but it’s been a while.”

“Mmm, I’m glad I spotted you first.” He pulled me closer, pressing me against his hard cock. Subtle it wasn’t, but then again, neither was I.

Marnin’s question popped into my head.You really think you’re going to find Mr. Right in a sea of sweaty bodies, groping hands, and strobe lights?I pushed it aside. Maybe not, but at least I’d have some fun and, if I played my cards right, some great sex. I pressed myself against him, and he hummed in appreciation, squeezing my ass with both hands.

“You have a perfect ass, gorgeous.” He squeezed it again as if to underscore his words. “But I like your lips even more.”

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