Trina. “Trin,” I call her like I used to. “Hi. No, actually… “ I stall. “I’m only looking for the head. Gotta take a leak.”

My voice is gruff: clipped. I’m not looking to be near her any longer than I have to. I pull slyly out of her grasp, taking a step in the opposite direction.

“No way, handsome,” she coos, tugging me full-circle back into her body. “I deserve a dance. It’s the least you can give me, don’t you think?”

I stiffen.

I don’t know what to say to that. It’s been over for Trina and me for a long time, but I guess I always knew that she got the shitty end of the stick.

I knew I wasn’t ready to be in a relationship when we first hooked up; I told her so right away.

When she got too clingy, I ended it as amicably as anybody really could in those circumstances, but she never really got the picture, no matter how clear I’d been.

I scan the dance floor for Elena again, but she’s gone, those long legs and blonde hair missing from the spot that she once occupied.

I turn back to Trina, swallowing a lump in my throat.

I’ve dumped a lot of girls in my time, but this is the only one that I feel guilty about. Trina used to be a nice girl; I should’ve never gotten involved with her.

“Ok,” I relent with a nod. “One dance won’t kill me.”

She grabs onto my palms, wrapping my arms around her. “I make no promises, Mr. Griffin.” And then we start to move.

The band starts to play “The Girl from Ipanema” and Trina begins to sway seductively. I’m no slouch on the dance floor. I lead, spinning her skillfully as we swing on the beat.

But she’s clutching me just a bit too tight and sliding just a tad too close. I back up by a step.

“Watch it, Trina. You’re going to get us in trouble.” I smile, trying to thwart her unwanted advances.

She gives a high-pitched giggle, grabbing onto me. She brings her face close to mine, whispering. “Oh, Griff. I am the trouble.”

I stare into her eyes, mesmerized. Those wide, green irises. They aren’t just wide. They’re dilated: unnaturally and inexplicably large.

She’s as high as a kite.

I grab her shoulders. “Trina…”

She digs her nails into my arms, standing on her tiptoes to try to kiss me. I dodge her lips.

“Trina,” I grab her harder. “Listen to me…”

But she doesn’t. She puts a finger on my lips, nearly into my mouth. “You’ve been avoiding me all night, Griff…”

I snatch her finger. “I haven’t even seen you all night, but I would have avoided you because of...”

“Me.” The voice over my shoulder startles me, and I turn to find piercing blue eyes staring back at me.

Elena reaches out, prying Trina’s small fingers from around my stiffened arm.

“I’m his girlfriend… Trina,” she spouts mockingly. “And I’d appreciate it if you’d give him some air to breathe and some space to dance with his actual partner.

“And might I suggest you hit the ladies’ room while you give us room? You’ve got a little snow under your nose there.”

Trina scowls, stepping away from the both of us with a heated glance. Elena slips into the circle of my arms where Trina just was.

She dips a few fingers into her cleavage, tossing a handkerchief at Trina, which she catches.

“Probably would be a good idea to wipe that look off of your face as well. Your desperation is seeping through your pores.”

Ouch. Even I feel the sting of that one.

I stand still, waiting for a comeback from Trina, but it doesn’t happen. She takes what shreds of dignity she still has left and hightails it towards the hallway where the restrooms lie, the golden tail of her dress dragging as she scurries away.

Elena and I continue dancing as part of the ruse. Mm, this feels good.

“Wow,” I say to her. “You’re a natural.”

“At dancing?”

“No. At making people cry.”

She laughs, bowing her head to cover up a small smile. Her soft blonde hair smells fragrant, like vanilla. She raises her face towards mine again.

“She didn’t cry,” she remarks. “Not yet…” She shrugs absently, moving slowly to the music.

My hands squeeze gently on Elena’s hips, and I realize that we still haven’t stopped dancing…

“Uh huh, Miss Lexington,” I tease. “Nice cover-up… but you get what you give.”

“Oh, you mean karma?” she asks. I nod slowly. “Don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t cry easily…”

“You might be surprised.” My eyes shoot to her lips. “You know… when some women experience intense orgasms… instead of moaning or screaming, they cry… “

She snorts softly. “Cry?”

“Uh huh. Full-blown boo-hoos. Sometimes, the pleasure is just too much, and the tears just overflow. The intensity is just too overwhelming, and their eyes start to water from an overload of sensation.”

Her expression tightens. “Thank you for that interesting and unwelcome lesson, Lukas,” she quips, deadpan. “Like, I said… I am not a crier.”

I shake my head at her response. Goddamn, she’s so stubborn. And I usually can’t fucking stand it, but tonight—tonight feels different…

“I don’t know. I’ve seen some… interesting things happen,” I continue to press. “It seems like one of the rare nights, doesn’t it? Where the unexpected just… takes place…”

I can tell that she’s intrigued. She cocks an ash-blonde eyebrow, causing her blue eyes to twinkle.

“The unexpected? What unexpected stuff? Enlighten me…”

I shrug casually. “Like you… coming over here, getting rid of Trina, dancing with me… That’s all pretty unexpected, wouldn’t you say?”

I tighten my hold on her ever so slightly, using my thumbs to caress the silk at her sides.

Her lips are bright red, as red as her dress. They’re slightly parted and all of a sudden, all I can think about is putting my tongue between them.

The thought makes me grow hard. Irrationally and undeniably hard.

I’m close to Elena, but not close enough for her to feel it.

If I step one millimeter nearer, I’ll be skimming the “v” of her thighs with an erection that could hammer nails.

She starts speaking, and I have to look away from her lips and concentrate back on her eyes. Those amazing, light blue eyes.

“It’s really not unexpected,” she declares. “After what you did earlier, I owed you one. And now… the favor’s returned. Have a good evening, Lukas.”

She extracts herself from my arms, turning away without a backward glance. She walks in the direction of the ladies’ room, and I am confused about what to do next.

Damn.

My cock tells me to follow, but my pride just plants my feet. The latter wins the battle this time, but then again… he always does.

I’ve never been one to chase after a woman. Never had to… until now. Sigh. This is going to be harder than I thought.

I need another drink.

Double or Nothing

 

“When you see a good move, look for a better one.”  -  Emanuel Lasker

 

 

ELENA

I act as if I’m going to the bathroom in case Lukas follows. When I’m sure that he isn’t, I make a detour, heading for the preparatory kitchen.

Cake. Cake. Cake.

I need some cake. Something to calm me down.

Sweets were always a go-to in our household growing up. My mother always said, “There was no illness that sugar couldn’t cure.” If we hadn’t gone to the dentist regularly, our teeth would’ve rotted right out of our heads.

Luckily, we made it into adulthood with our original bicuspids in tact, but that crazy sweet tooth hasn’t escaped a single one of us.