Page 81 of Sardonic Burn

“It’s cowardly.”

“I don’t care.” I offer her a grin.

She sighs and snaps her fingers. A waiter is immediately next to her as she’s ordering, while I’m too busy scanning the crowd. It’s a sex club, but I definitely didn’t expect it to be this…straightforward.

Is this even legal?

People are kissing aggressively, and half of them have completely removed their clothes. I’m wearing a leather skirt with a corset, and I’m still the person with the most clothes on, despite the revealed skin.

It’s uncomfortable to watch.

The drinks arrive, the bottle closed. It’s whiskey, old and cold. As soon as it slides down my throat, the burning sensation causes my muscles to relax. I drink glass after glass and before I know it, half of the bottle is gone.

“There he is,” Cecilia all but yells, and it gives us unwanted attention, even more than we had until this point.

I slap her thigh, and she hisses in pain.

Then, I turn to look at the man Cecilia’s been waiting for.

Oh, wow.

He’s tall. He definitely looks like a giant compared to her, and she’s five foot nine. His hair is messy in a deep shade of blonde, and he has piercing, blue eyes. And he’s staring right at Cecilia with a clenched jaw and a pissed-off look.

My heart flutters.

Jesus Christ, the tension could be cut with a knife.

“Cec,” I whisper-yell. “He looks ready to devour you.”

“I know,” she whisper-yells back. “Do I let him or not?”

“Didn’t we come here so you’d be able to persuade him not to marry you?”

“Yes.” For some reason, we’re still whispering. “But he’s great eye candy.”

“You knew that before we came here. So tell me, what’s the actual reason we are here?”

“I told you the real reason! But… Should I just go along with it? Like, he’s really good-looking. I mean, he has no personality, but I can probably overlook that, right?”

I shrug. “Don’t know, don’t care. I’ll leave it to you.”

With a swift motion, I gulp down another two glasses and hop off the high stool. I’m on the dance floor while Cecilia is scowling at me, pissed that she’s left alone.

A man approaches me and starts dancing with me.

I’m not looking for anything, but dancing freely like this truly makes me feel alive. The music is blasting, and I forget about all of my problems. My hips sway to the rhythm, my face covered in sweat.

Before I know it, time passes by, and I don’t know any of the people I’m dancing with. A couple of girls, a few younger guys, and everyone is having a good time. People are full-on fucking in the corner of the club, though it only adds to the appeal.

Cecilia is at the bar with her husband-to-be and even from across the room, I see the scowl on her face. She yells something, and he grabs her wrist.

I’m ready to pounce, but I’m stumbling.

Fuck.

I had too much to drink, and now I’m truly useless to her.

Cecilia’s sharp senses notice me, and she raises her free palm up. She doesn’t need me and doesn’t want me to be there. I listen, knowing better than to come in between a possible couple.

---