Red

Chapter One

       Cheers erupt around me, the sound overwhelming to my eardrums as loud music pounds with a volume that shakes the ground beneath my stiletto clad feet. I push, shove and force my way through the nearly impenetrable crush of overly excited people. A layer of sweat coats my body from the extreme heat that is produced from the overpopulated room, and I'm gasping for air as I get a full body workout in my valiant attempts to get to my premeditated destination. I suddenly regret wearing my waist length, dark red tresses down as they only serve to make my body overheat even further. Unexpected pain lances through me as someone trods harshly on my foot causing me to curse loudly, the sound inaudible to my own ears. I cringe as the volume of the already deafening music suddenly gets impossibly louder, and at this point you can't even tell what the music is supposed to be as it just sounds like blaring noise. I catch a glimpse of the bar and a frisson of excitement lances through me when I see that there are far less people crowded over there. I break through the last of the mob panting heavily, strands of hair sticking to my face as if I had just climbed out of a sauna, which doesn't really feel all that out of the question at this point.

I trudge towards the bar and dash the last few steps when one of the stools is vacated just as I arrive. I take a moment to collect myself before catching the eye of the bartender. He saunters over with a grin, "And what can I do for this beautiful goddess of a woman I see before me?", he flirts outrageously. I grin as I restrain my ridiculous urge to burst out laughing. "Could I get a whisky on the rocks?", I ask with a smile. "You most certainly can", he says with a heated smirk as his eyes drop to my exposed cleavage. He stares for a brief moment before stepping away and preparing my drink. I glance around the crowded club in search of my friends that had come with me, however, taking into consideration the fact that we're only here for them to get laid, I highly doubt I'll be catching sight of them anytime soon.

I came with my two best friends and several of their close friends as well, the group ending up being quite large once everything was done being planned out. I still don't quite remember how I ended up alone, but I'm not complaining. It would have been quite the nuisance to keep ahold of whomever I'd been with whilst attempting to make it through that crowd. Plus, I really didn't want to be third wheeling anybody. I shudder in disgust. "Cold?", a strangely flat voice asks right before a hand settles on my shoulder. I stiffen and twist around, the man standing behind me appearing quite attractive actually. Smoking hot if I'm being honest. He has dark red, almost black hair, a lip piercing on the right side of his lower lip, and his tall frame is extremely muscular, but not distastefully so. His full lips are pressed together, and he's quite poorly trying to hide his dispassionate indifference. I'll admit, I'm somewhat intrigued, however, I prefer looking and not touching, especially with men like him. "I'm okay", I reply confidently before shrugging his hand off my shoulder. "Your drink", the bartender says setting it down in front of me. He holds his hand out, and I place my hand in his, the chip imbedded in the fleshy skin between my thumb and forefinger interacting with his as the money for my drink is transferred from my account to his. I quickly snatch up the glass and slide off my seat an uncomfortable feeling slithering through my body as I try to hide the brief moment of panic I feel inside due to his persistence.

"I could keep you warm", he flirts in a way that doesn't seem to suit him at all as he sidesteps me and blocks my attempted escape. I narrow my eyes. "No, thank you, I'm not interested", I bite out feeling cornered. His eyebrows shoot up as his face lowers to mine. "Come with me", he intones, his voice sounding dark and malicious. I instantly react, throwing my drink straight into his face, glass and all. "Get away from me you creep!", I screech as fear lances through my body. My instincts are never wrong. The cup hits him right above his eye, somehow shattering against his skin as the drink spills all the way down his front. He licks his lips of the liquid spilled there and gives me a brief astonished glance before his facial features smooth back out into that cold mask from before. "I didn't take you for a whiskey drinking kind of woman", he says almost curiously as he takes a step back from me. I gape at him, his face as perfect and unblemished as it had been before I threw my drink. "And I didn't take you for a creepy asshole, but here we are!", I retort harshly, recovering quickly.