Page 2 of Ascension
I thank her, and she nods. “Of course, please let me know if there’s anything else I can get for you.” I barely catch the quizzical look she shoots towards Nelle before quickly retreating.
Turning to Nelle, I notice her glaring at the orange juice as though its mere existence has personally affronted her. “No orange juice!” She warns, scolding me as we take our seats. She pours us both flutes of champagne, the bubbles rushing up in the glass, stopping just short of the edge.
“Cheers to my bestie on her twentieth birthday! Here’s to your crazy ass and many more shenanigans to come.”
I clink my glass to hers, smiling at my best friend. Her head tilts back, downing her drink, her black waves bouncing around her. I follow her lead, letting the delicious bubbly slide down my throat.
“Love you, boo,” I purr, looking adoringly at my glass.
“Are you talking to me or the champs?”
“Both.” I shrug gleefully. “Pour em’ up girly! This birthday girl ’bout to get tipsy.”
* * *
The drinks keep pouring.The warm haze of alcohol settles over me as I sip my vodka cranberry. I dance in my seat, the alcohol starting to loosen me up just as the DJ starts mixing in Body by Megan Thee Stallion.
“It’s our song!” I announce loudly, pulling Nelle out of her chair. Her drink sloshes on the table as she scrambles to put it down.
“Slow down!” she chastises, struggling to steady herself on her silver heels as they twist under her. Trusting she can right herself, I head to the edge of the dance floor, swinging my hips to the beat as I walk, and dragging Nelle behind me.
The dance floor starts to fill, couples and groups of girls, all in their swimwear, sway to the music. Most of the guys are still sticking to the sidelines, waiting for their liquid courage to kick in. Nelle and I sing along to the words, moving our hips to the beat. I lift my arms and sway my hips, getting into it and losing myself to the song. Bodies move in around us, hips and arms brush against me as the dance floor begins to bustle. I close my eyes, surrendering to the rush and the slight haze of alcohol racing through my body.
A rough pair of masculine hands slide across my waist, coming to rest on my hips. They pull me back against a thin frame. The man clumsily sways his hips, trying but failing to match mine as the DJ transitions to a new track.
My eyes snap open, searching for Nelle, pleading with my eyes for her to save me. Without a moment’s hesitation, she grabs my hand, spinning me closer to her and moving further into the throng of dancing patrons. I glance back, seeing a lanky blonde man looking confused after us.
“Hey, where are you going?” He moves to follow us.
“Get lost, creep,” Nelle scowls. I match her glare, daring him to take another step. He holds up his hands in surrender, retreating slowly, before shaking his head and walking in the opposite direction.
We head further into the crowd, bodies pressing in on us, dancing our way through them as we attempt to find the perfect spot. Nelle twirls me around to a small clearing, and we claim the new spot as ours. Her hips are shimmying to the beat in an over-the-top move, and she shakes her breasts like she’s about to motorboat me. I can’t help but release a giggle of amusement, her awkward movement giving the desired effect of shaking off the interaction—the DJ transitions to a remix of 34+35 by Ariana Grande. We start singing horribly again, making over-the-top fake sex faces as we butcher the notes, which garners us more than a few confused glances.
A niggling sensation at my center beckons me to move my gaze. Slowly glancing up, I let my eyes rove around, confused at the feeling. Suddenly, as though finding the force attracting them, I lock on to the most gorgeous blue eyes and sexy, playful smirk I have ever seen. His eyes are already locked on to me. Not even interested in anything else going on around him. Waiting for me to finally turn my attention to him.
I smile teasingly, not breaking eye contact with him, as I move my hips to the sexual words. As he takes a sharp breath, his sculpted chest flexes, on full display through his opened shirt. His red swim trunks cling in all the right places. He runs his thick fingers through his golden-brown hair, pushing it back, and his eyes trail down my body, drinking in every inch.
Noticing the shift from our previous goofiness, Nelle follows my eyes to the sexy stranger.
“Dang girl, he’s fine. You better lock that up before I steal him.” She winks at me. Dragging my gaze back to her and rolling my eyes, I attempt to hide the fact I was just eye-fucking a stranger. Never one to be dissuaded, she proceeds to curl her hand into a fist beside her face, miming giving a blow job.
I quickly smack her as I notice him moving toward us and silently plead with my eyes not to mess shit up for me. She just starts singing along with the song again, aggressively thrusting her hips towards me while belting out the lyrics.
I move my finger across my neck in a wordless threat and silently mouth ‘knock it off,’ throwing daggers at her from my eyes, before quickly scanning the crowd again. My eyes snap back to Nelle as she doubles over, my silent threats not swaying her whatsoever.
“It seems like this is where the real party’s at,” a deep voice sounds behind me. His amusement is evident in his tone.
“Definitely,” I start, twirling around to face him. Momentarily stunned, my mouth falls open as his eyes catch and bore into mine, entrancing me like a moth to a flame. Caught off guard, I forget how to speak as I gaze at him. Crystal blue eyes sparkling, his lips inch up into a teasing smile as he stares back at me, his eyes never leaving mine.
Blinking, I mentally shake myself, pulling my mouth shut as I take in a deep breath through my nose. My exhale allows me to find my composure once more. “However, we are pretty selective with the guest list.” I smile seductively, my hand sliding to rest on my hip. His eyes follow my gesture, raking down my body as he slowly bites his lip, hunger evident in his gaze.
My mouth quirks up, catching his eyes. Two could play this game, I think, smugly. His hand raises to rub his chiseled jaw in thought as his eyes lock on mine unflinchingly.
“I guess you’ll just have to let me prove my worth.” He leans forward, lips softly brushing my ear. His large hand rests possessively on my opposite shoulder, thumb swirling in delicious circles across the sensitive skin of my collarbone. “Let me show you why I’m the only man you’ll ever need on your guest list.”
I bite my lip, my skin tingling where his soft breath wisped across my ear, sending a pleasant shiver all the way down my body. I feel his lips pull up into a smile before he slowly leans back, eyes meeting mine once more. My body screams at me to follow, to melt into his warm touch. I slowly start to give in, leaning forward before I catch myself.
“Will you let me buy you a drink?” he asks softly, still close enough that he can be heard over the pounding of the bass. The lyrics and beat escape my notice as we continue gazing at each other. I inhale, taking in his scent of citrus and peppercorn, my mind hazing over at the alluring smell.