by R. F. Allie
I didn't know who he was supposed to be.
"Pleasure to meet you too Mr. Davis."
She finally said then looked between us
"How do you two know each other?"
She was eyeing me curiously and I could tell she was secretly blaming me for hiding it from her.
I knew that look all too well.
"Miss Dane and I met in Paris, during her stay there." He looked at me and smiled from the corner of his mouth
"And I was looking forward to meeting her again." His smile turned to a defying expression and it reminded me of what he'd said to me when he came out there.
"Paris huh?"
She eyed me suspiciously and I grew uncomfortable.
"Yes. Mr. Davis and I met in Paris.”
I said dryly
“And he coincidently happened to be here tonight. Now how about we let him get back to his friends and we do the same?"
I spoke quickly hoping that Faith would take a hint and just let go.
I turned my back to him and grabbed my friend
"Goodnight Mr. Davis." I yelled walking towards the entry.
He didn't follow us; which was a blessing relief. Faith kept silent. I left her at the table and made my way to the ladies room. I needed a moment to compose myself and process what'd just happened. Pushing through the swinging doors, I was thankful for the empty cabinet.
"What just happened?" I mumbled to myself
I sat on the toilet and tried to make sense of what had just happened with Landon Davis.
He was the stranger from Paris for me. A rude asshole who had me somewhat spellbound and triggered some inner needs I never knew existed just by standing in front of me.
I'd never felt that way around someone, anyone.
He made me lose all ability to think or rationalize like a normal human being.
When I was close to him, I was a bundle of lust and endless need; which was ironic for the unconverted virgin I was. He had some kind of a hold on me from the moment I'd fell into his arms, and I had no freaking idea how it happened.
And that kiss. It felt like heaven. Truth was, I did think about him since that first encounter. Especially about his lips. They'd haunted me just by looking at them. How was I going to get past kissing them then? It was a total mystery to me. I was surprised by their softness and firmness, how his gentleness got to an intense exertion of violent avidity.
Two giggling female voices cut on my course of thoughts.
"Did you see how gorgeous he is? Those tabloids photos don't do him any justice."
One of the girls said.
"I know, right?"
The other responded with another fits of giggle.
I peered from behind the cabinet door.
"I wonder if he's staying in New York. Doesn't hurt to try and tap that." First blond said.
"Yeah right. Like you'd be able to compete with holy Evelyn Crawley and all the others he'd dated." Second blond snarled.
"Why not. It won't hurt to try."
"Wishful thinking honey. But lurking doesn't hurt. Are you done?"
"Yes. Let's go lurk around."
I heard the swing of the doors and another crowd came in. I had no idea who he was. They said Crawley. Faith mentioned the same last name. I searched through my head for the name. I watched some television shows and I was up to date with movies. He was no actor. I wouldn't forget that face.
I snapped myself out of my confusion and decided to push the matter to another day. I even fought my need to get online and search for him on Google.
I returned to the bar and ordered two Jet 27 and a tequila shot. Then ordered a round of tequila to be brought to our table. I needed to be drunk again and finish celebrating. I gathered my courage and walked to my friends.
They were all eyeing each other. I had no other choice then to cut it short.
"Yes I know Landon Davis. No I'm not talking about it. Rain check."
I slipped onto Jude's lap and raised my glass to my stunned-faced friends.
"This conversation isn't over." Jude warned me discreetly and I nodded my agreement.
The live jazz singer was wearing a beautiful scarlet dress, much like my own. She had way more curves to show for, and a golden skin that glowed smoothly. Her voice felt like an angel-calling and in one beat she switched to 'Little Willie Jones' 'Fever'
"Great."
I scolded under my breath. It was just what I needed. Music had a way with situations.
I was feeling a little less anxious by the sip. Each drink brought me back to a relaxed state. I pushed to my feet and beamed at Jude.
"Will you sway with your boo?"
He returned one of his drop-dead-smile and took my hand. "I can't think of anything better."
We had moves together. Dancing was our best escape back in the day and we never missed on an occasion to learn a new dance. Girls used to get jealous.
Before Jude's big coming out, people used to think we were an item. When he'd came out, I became the poor fag-hag. I thought it was funny. I was the only person he'd confided in and it made the perfect cover around his very conservative family. We started moving to 'Frank Sinatra' 'That's life'. The male singer added his own beat to the song. Jude and I made a show out of it. We brushed and flexed with some sexy moves. We guided each other in our own bubble moving to the melody and reminisced about how we used to be maladroit around each other when we'd first partnered up, but still made people jealous of our intimacy. He finished with a dramatic move arching me and pulling me in an embrace.
Soon we were joined by Jenna and Ryan. We switched partners and I got to dance with Ryan to 'Valerie'. It was as fun as it was with Jude. He was on full mode.
"You know. I used to get jealous of these moments between the two of you."
He confessed, referring to Jude and me.
"Oh honey. You never told me that. Does it still bother you?"
"Err, nonsense. I get it, and cherish it. Plus, I have my own with you now. So he gets to be jealous." Ryan said with a full on grin and a wink. I couldn't help the urge to hug him fiercely. I really loved him, very much.
People who weren't into PDA might've thought we were some kind of a sect. But I didn't care much. It was the French way to show affection. We kissed and hugged a lot, which was a foreign concept between friends in this country. Ryan grew comfortable to embrace it, just like Jude, Jenna and I'd started out.
"I'm sorry to cut on your fun."
Mr. Dark and mysterious Landon Davis stood next to us.
"Can I steal a dance with Miss Dane?" He asked with one of those smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Ryan eyed me with a questioning look. He didn't understand anything that was happening, and it frustrated him. His look was also intended to ask whether I wanted to dance with our intruder or not.
I'd felt confident enough, courtesy of a cranberry colored Russian drinking juice that'd managed to recover my fried brain cells and give me some resolve to accept his offer. Ryan nodded and gave me a feathered kiss on the cheek before turning to Landon. Surprisingly, he seemed to be sizing up my friend; which I found both absurd and hilarious.
"Excuse me." Ryan walked back to our table and Landon Davis stood there, in front of me, watching me with darkness in his piercing eyes.
It took me a moment to gather up my thoughts again and accept the hand he'd offered me. When I took it, Landon Davis pulled me hastily to him and gripped the small of my back to press me further against him.
I was both angered and delighted by the way he did it. I was confused by the statement it made.
Landon Davis was definitely a skilled dancer. He knew how to lead with grace. He kept watching me silently. I didn't want to speak, I found myself cherishing the moment as much as I did the kiss.
He had the strongest arms I'd ever been wrapped in. I found myself unconsciously gliding my palm down his arm.
It should've been illegal to look like that. He was no man, he was a walking eye-gasm.
Felt like one too.
"Enjoying yourself Miss Dane?" He asked mildly.
"I have no idea what gave you that impression."
I said tartly.
"I don't know. Might be the groping that seems to put this smile on your face." He brushed the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
I hadn’t realize I was smiling. I was thinking about the way he'd lifted me in his arms back in Paris. He'd done it effortlessly and with so much grace.
"My smile has nothing to do with you. And I wasn't groping you." I said dryly.
"If you say so."
I nodded.
"So tell me Miss Dane."
He said rounding me in a swift pirouette and grabbing me just as expeditiously.
"Do you have some sort of arrangement with your friends over there?" He cocked his head gesturing to Ryan and Jude.
They were fixing us, seemingly amused; but mostly dying with curiosity.
Landon carried an unreadable expression; which added to my confusion as to what he'd meant.
"I don't understand. Arrangement?" I asked disconcerted.
He took a hard breath in. He examined me and seemed annoyed by my ignorance.
"Don't be coy Miss Dane. Just tell me what I'm dealing with here. Are you fucking them?"
I froze. Suddenly turned to stone.
I wasn't expecting that, or was I. After his statement in Paris, he'd shown me how crude and impolite he could be.
I blinked at him and slapped him.
Sadly, he stopped me by grabbing my wrist. I tried to get out of his grip, but he'd managed to hold me in place.
"Just answer me Miss Dane."
Landon Davis wasn't the least disturbed by the situation. As if he'd expected me to react the way I did. I grew all the more annoyed by his temper.
"That is none of your business. Let go of me you asshole." I bit at him furious.
"The hell it isn't. I've been looking for you, so I need to know what I'm dealing with here." I was taken aback, but he continued.
"I need to know if you're having a three-way relationship with those two men."
There it was again. I was nauseated by the suggestion, and furthermore by his boorish audacity.
"What is your problem you bastard." I rasped at him trying to get out of his grip again, and failing miserably, again.
He didn't budge.
His expression sobered
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."
"That's an understatement." I responded dryly.
"I just saw you flirting with them. And quite frankly, they both looked very fond of you. They also didn't seem to mind sharing you in a very public display, as you didn't seem bothered by it either"
He paused, and focused on his next words.
"Just answer me as truthfully as you can. Please Miss Dane." I detected a silent beg in his tone.
Frankly, the whole situation was hard to process. He acted like a jealous boyfriend and I couldn't understand why, I didn't know the man. Yet, he was intensely inquisitive. I remembered the kiss, it was possessive. The tension on his features when he'd asked me about my relation with Ryan and Jude was transparent.
Also he'd said he had been looking for me.
It was too much to wrap my brain around. We were standing still in the middle of the dance floor, the crowd didn't seem to notice anything over the noise. I looked to where my two 'fuck-buddies' were standing. They were still watching us, Jude had a quizzical frown. I shook my head to reassure him, suck in a breath and resolved myself to calm down.
I decided that the best way to deal with the situation was to do it his way. I needed to get some answers, so I had to let go of my fury and try to carry a normal conversation without giving in to his barbaric ways.
I toned down my annoyance.
"Why do you need to know? And most importantly what do you mean you've been looking for me?"
He began leading a dance again.
"What do you think it means?"
There you go, with the mystery solving again.
"I don't know. Have you tried to check on me at Cour Napoleon when we'd met in Paris and couldn't find me?"
He leaned in further "Something like that."
He smiled as if cherishing the memory of that day.
"Can you give me a straight answer?"
His lips twitched "I have a proposition for you."
I cut him off "No. I'm not interested in fucking you."
I had no idea why I was swearing so much. He just pushed my buttons.
"See? Now I'm rethinking my fair suggestion. You are already lying to me."
He was such an ego-centrical bastard.
"Did not."
"Very bad liar Miss Dane. Anyhow. What I was going to suggest was a little game. Question for question, straight to the point. Fair?"
I considered his game. Frankly, how was I going to refuse with a smile like his? I nodded my agreement.
"I’ll go first." I started
"What do you mean looking for me?"
He grinned
"Wrong question, but fair enough. I looked for you in Paris. Didn't expect you were leaving so soon and it lead me all the way back to New York."
"So you're stalking me?"
He threw one of those sinful smile. I felt my knees weaken.
"Now now Miss Dane, don't be so eager. Our deal was question for question."
"Fine."
"Are you sleeping with those two men?"
I guess I should've known. At least he had the courtesy to choose a more adequate vocabulary.
I shook my head no "Those are my best friends. I must say Mr. Davis, you're not very perceptive, or you have a very bad gay-dar."
His face lit up. As if it was possible to look more radiant despite the smooth lightning.
The tension in his shoulders eased.
"Your turn." His gaze turned all hot and predatory.
He was such a mercurial man.
"What is the right question regarding you stalking me?"
He quirked his lips, "The right question is the reason I've been looking for you."
The man was seriously wearing me out. I needed some water, or another drink.
"I think I need to sit down if we're going to continue this charade."
"Please, lead the way Miss Dane."
He glided his fingers slowly down to the small of my back burning a path over my skin and tugged me out of the crowded dance floor.
We walked to the bar. I avoided glancing back at my table to bypass the inquisitive looks that must've been all over my friends’ faces.
Landon Davis lifted me on a barstool and ordered me a bottle of water and a single malt scotch for himself. I remembered the taste of caramel when we'd kissed. I was all flustered by the thought. I crossed my legs to calm my contractions and grabbed the bottle of water.
I took a long sip of the fresh pure liquid.
He was watching me intently holding his drink. He was truly handsome, I couldn't wrap my brain around so much charm and pure allure. He carried himself with so much confidence. He was aware of the attention he provoked from the females around the lounge. Yet he didn't care about it.
"I believe it's my turn now?" He stripped me out of my thoughts.
I acquiesced and acknowledged him to go ahead.
"So other than your two friends over there; are you involved with anyone?" He didn't know my answer, yet he was undressing me with his eyes in the most intimate way.
Landon Davis had no shame.
I shook my head to assert my answer "No."
"I'm not cut out for relationships." I responded truthfully.
Not from lack of trying. It seemed like I didn't fit in a couple dynamic. I'd always chosen the wrong men, I had some reticence about sex. Also, if my last failure was any suggestion, I should steer clear of any relationship.
He frowned, as if he couldn't understand my answer,
"What do you mean by that?"
I smiled and thought ab
out returning his sentence the way he did previously but refrained from it.
"To put it mildly. Bad experiences, disastrous relationships and lots of disappointment." I said trying to sound less pessimist then I actually was.
"I can understand that. But don't you regret it?"
"Regret what exactly? Haven't you heard Bad - Disastrous - Disappointment?" I explained quoting every word.
He beamed at me and my heart skipped a beat.
"Surely it wasn't all that bad. You must've had some good moments."
I searched my head for a way to answer it. «Nope. Bad ones trumps them all. So I'd rather focus on my career and get all the love I need from those two over there." I said gesturing to Jude and Ryan who were flirting lovingly.
"What about sex? Surely you have needs. You are a stunning woman and I have no doubt men would kneel to pleasure you."
I couldn't help to double over in laughter. He had no idea how absurd his statement sounded in my situation or how it was the reason of my demise.
I decided to play with him a little. He made me feel like a horny sixteen year old by standing there. He was also inquisitive about my love life. I realized he didn't even ask me about my age or my job. He seemed interested in the ways I pleasured myself and whether I was fucking my best friends.
"You know." I leaned further and closed the little distance between us.
"Funny you would mention my needs, because after we're finished here, I'm actually going to purchase a BoB."
I winked at him and took another sip of water.
He muttered something I couldn't hear but I was sure he'd swore.
He was composed when he leaned in closer to me and slipped his hand on my thigh.
"You're a real tease Miss Dane. Can't wait to show you how provoking I can be myself."
His words made me go blank for a beat. It felt like a promise and a threat. Something inside me felt like a burning explosion of wanton and excitement. I was experiencing some kind of a physiological disorder.
His eyes were dark and aglow when he pulled back and sipped the last of his drink.
I wanted to change the recurring subject. I wanted to get one last answer.
"What is it Miss Dane? I can see the wondering all over that beautiful face of yours."
Drop dead and die!
I didn't expect that but I cherished the way he'd said it.
