Page 71 of Take My Breath Away
“Oh my God, she’s incredible.”
In the shadows, James chuckles and picks up one of the drinks I never saw arrive.
I know nothing about jazz, absolutely nothing, but I’m mesmerised, hooked and completely sucked in as the band move from one number to the next.
“We’re just going to take a short break,” Mabel says, after yet another round of frantic applause, this time accompanied not just by cheers and whistles, but by the fast stomp of feet, too. “But when we’re back, we want you guys on the dance floor.”
“That was amazing. How come I never knew music like this existed?”
“Because you’re far too young, and in need of a proper education.”
“Yeah? You offering to teach me?”
“Oh, I could teach you all kinds of things.”
I swallow hard. He could, of that I’ve no doubt, but I don’t reckon much of it would be to do with jazz. I go to open my mouth, but I’m saved from whatever answer I’m about to give by the arrival of a couple of guys, a little older than me, stopping by our table. They greet James with enthusiasm.
One of them is big and muscular, his hair bright blond and spiky. The other’s shorter and slighter in build, with dark curls. Both of them are hot enough to boil water. James introduces them and the blond, Archie, gives me a wide, open smile. Zack’s smile is darker, more guarded, and I can feel his assessment of me.
The three chat for a minute or two, before hugging goodbye. Zack hugs a little too long, and a little too hard, and I want to rip him away from James. A laughing Archie gets there first, though not before Zack whispers something to James, who smiles as he throws me a quick, unreadable glance.
“I’ve not seen those two for ages,” James says, beckoning one of the roving waitresses to replenish our drinks.
“How do you know them?”
“Oh, just from around. We’ve been to some of the same parties. They got married not so long ago and now they only have eyes for each other.” His words seem to hang in the air, and I’ve a feeling I’m meant to fill in the gaps.
And I do.
“Oh. Oh, I see.”
The three of them.
I swig back what’s left of my orange juice just as another appears. It’s a shame it doesn’t contain a slug of vodka. Jealousy, as sharp as a razor, cuts me. It’s the drink, it’s the day’s events, it’s that James is being so damn good to me.
“Oh, Perry,” he says, laughter bubbling behind his words. “That was all a while ago, now, and I’ve not the slightest interest in rekindling the past. The present is much more to my liking.”
And there it is, that purr in his voice, that classic car purr that sends a tremor through me.
I twist around to look at him. In the low lights I can’t see his eyes but I don’t need to, to know his gaze is fixed on me. I feel their laser intensity like a flame held too close to skin. He’s still, everything about him is still and watchful. I want to ask what he means, I want him to tell me, to spell it out, but the burst of applause explodes the strange little bubble we’ve found ourselves in.
“Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys. We’ve got some super sultry numbers coming up, and that means audience participation.”
The band starts to play, and Mabel’s rich voice fills the air, as all around us people are getting up and making their way to the dance floor
“Ready?”
“Oh, you want to go?”
“No, I don’t want to go. I’m asking you to dance, you wally.”
Before I can answer, James tugs at my hand and leads me towards the dance floor which is already heaving, every single body swaying in time to Mabel’s honey-rich voice. We find a space, to the far side, where the shadows are.
James slides his arms around me, and pulls me close, our bodies fitting together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. My heart’s beating thirteen to the dozen. I’m sharing this man’s bed, I’ve discovered his body as he’s discovered mine but this, encased in his arms as we sway in time to the music together, feels more intimate than anything we’ve shared so far. I close my eyes, giving myself up to the here and now, because that’s all there is.
James sighs as he pulls me in closer. Holdng me tight, it’s as though we’ve fused together. I’m hard, but so is he, and with every sway, each and every tiny movement, the friction on my cock is the sweetest agony.
“Hmm, this is nice. I think we should dance together more often, don’t you?” James whispers into my ear, his lips brushing my lobe, sending a shiver all the way down into the pit of my belly.
