No Strings Attached

Chapter Six

She stopped as she turned into the busier part of town – with the incessant chatter of clubs and bars, and the happier souls than her that were coming out of them rowdily.

Until she found herself at the foot of steps that led up to Asylum.

It was relatively inconspicuous, cream solid brickwork; the dark tinted windows lined with thin silver tube lights at the edges, and a circular monochrome design grazed the glass front. It looked like it was maybe a converted bank or store, but now it looked slick, and understated – in a really edgy and cool way.

Why was she here?

She looked around her, not even really able to track the route from the bar to this place in her mind. It was like instinct had brought her here, she thought through the furred edges of her conscious mind, fate, destiny – whatever.

She still felt the same burning curiosity once she was inside.

It looked like a normal club downstairs, and she sat in one of the white leather booths clutching a bottle of Desperados, watching the bodies on the dance floor swaying to the heavy R ‘n’ B rhythm.

Closed off as she was in her slightly drunken haze, she never noticed the tall, slim blonde man that sat next to her until she felt his breath stir the ends of her hair against her chin, and she turned in surprise.

“Hello there Gorgeous,” he slurred, maybe a little worse for wear she assumed, but then, who was she to talk? “What’s a nice girl like you doing all alone in a place like this?”

His brown eyes were bright, and unfocused, and he’d definitely been hitting something recreational in the toilets, but it was more than that – he made her feel like prey.

When his hand touched her bare thigh, she scooted further into the booth, his touch leaving her ice cold – and full of fear.

“Come on now, darling, don’t be shy!” his voice was hard, frustrated, and her fingers trembled when they clutched her handbag closer to her waist – she was a fucking wreck! “A lady wouldn’t come here alone unless she was looking for a good, hard fuck – don’t pull away from me like some shy little schoolgirl!” His hand clenched around her thigh – the grip more punishing than arousing, and a gasp of pain fell from her lips as she looked down disgustedly at his pasty white skin against her own.

How couldn’t she have seen this coming? Going into a sex club ... alone. Great fucking idea, turned out fabulous last time!

Alcohol, that’s how, she thought amidst her internal panic attack. She had to get away from his menacing tirade, from the angry words spilling from his lips, before he leaned in and pressed against her – she knew he would – she could see it in his eyes - that gleam calculating the distance between them.

She had to get away, but her body was coiling up with frustration – her brain working far too slowly, clouded as it was with the alcohol she’d consumed on little to no food earlier in the day.

The man’s lecherous face twisted in pain with a grunt, and Shannon looked up to see Nate’s large hand gripped around the back of the other man’s throat, gripping his pulse points as he dragged him up and over the back of the white leather seating.

“Are you calling my woman a fucking whore?” he growled into the other man’s white face.

“No,” he shook his head, his feet kicking out against the seat next to Shannon, looking for some footing.

“And you know who I am?” Nate grunted, his spare hand fisting into the man’s green sports shirt, at the answering nod he continued, “So I think you know what’s happening next then?”

One thick, dark eyebrow raised above the slate grey storms in his eyes in question as two huge giants appeared on either side of him.

“No, please,” the young man begged, his hands trembling around Nate’s clenched fists and the menacing grip on the back of his neck.

With a sneer, Nate threw him across the floor in a graceless sprawl, just as the two huge boulders picked him up roughly and dragged him outside.

Taking a deep breath, he reached out a hand across the back of her seat, as she looked between his eyes and his offering, and she threw caution to the wind and followed him out of the club, stumbling slightly into the cold night.

Picking up a heavy black combat jacket from reception, he gently tucked it around her shoulders, lovingly pulling each strand of hair from beneath the collar and smoothing the back of his hand over her cheek softly.

“What are you doing here?” he asked sadly, resolutely, as though he finally realised the extent of the demons he was facing, “After last time?”

“I don’t know,” she slurred softly, tears breaking through the dams into his eyes, “I just want to feel something again Nate, I just want to be ...”

Pulling her pliant slender body into his strong arms, he cradled her against his broad chest, his hand running reverently over the smooth sleek hair as he laid soothing kisses on her brow.

“I know, shh, kitten, I know.”