Because Of Love

“I can’t believe you are here with me, again!” Carrie shouted over the loud music as she jumped around to the beat.

Talia nodded, amazed herself. She was more of a jazz lounge kind of girl, and yet here she was again, at a club, skimpily dressed again, hoping to get Rafael DeLuca out of her mind, again. What was wrong with her? He was just a man, and yet he had her doing things she normally wouldn’t, like having an orgasm on the boss’ office floor. Talia ran her hand down the single braid of her hair. She needed to figure her life out. She needed to get a grip on reality and her sanity. Nothing good could come of it.

“Instead of getting an ulcer over it, why don’t you just get it over with?!”

“Get what over with?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t act stupid. You know what I mean. Sleep with him.”

Talia glared at her friend, wondering again, how they became and remained friends for so long. Carrie was way too liberal when it came to sex and Talia was not. She still believed in the one and having her first being the only one. Granted, that hadn’t gone very well for her, but she was hoping it would with the second guy and it happening with her boss wasn’t what she’d imagined. Did she want to sleep with him? Hell yeah! Dreamt about it almost every night, came close to it twice and convinced herself that doing it once wouldn’t be so bad. The saying did go ‘third times the charm’, but still, it wouldn’t be so simple with Mr. Would-be-second. She liked him a lot. Like a teenage girl’s first crush a lot. Falling in love with DeLuca felt as simple as taking a breath and she’d taken several already. But nothing good ever came from falling in love with the boss, especially one of his caliber who was around temporarily, despite what all the romance novels ever written on the subject say.

“Or, get under him.” Carrie wiggled her eyebrows and with the jerk of her chin, pointed behind her.

Talia turned around to find a man seated on her bar stool, his eyes moving over her as he mentally undressed her of her short black halter dress. Did he not see my jacket and bag? She thought with a strained smile.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

“Let me buy you a drink,” he yelled over the music as she approached him.

“You’re in my seat,” she returned.

He nodded slowly, his lips pulling in what was meant to be a seductive smile and then he patted his thigh and said, “We can share.”

She snorted, shaking her head slowly. What happened to men being gentlemen? And here it was, in the flesh, the other reason why she avoided clubs.

****

Rafe entered the noisy dark club wishing he hadn’t listened to Angelo. This was the last thing he needed. What he needed was Talia, but for some reason, her phone was off. He rubbed his temple, a headache already coming in thanks to the loud pounding of the music beats. He hated clubs. The last time he’d been in one was in college, then thankfully he’d discovered bar lounges, his favorites were jazz lounges. Now that was therapy. When the music changed and the beats got more unbearable, Rafe’s feet stilled as he debated leaving all together. He hadn’t seen most of his college friends in years and they kept more in touch with Angelo than him. He wouldn’t be missed if he didn’t show up.

“Were you just about to flake on us?”

Rafe looked up to meet the owner of that voice. Standing a few steps up, drink in hand, suit a little disheveled and a Wall Street smile on his face, Rafe wondered who the hell he was.

“Your cousin was right to have me meet you at the door.”

He rushed down the remaining steps and came to a stop right in front of Rafe, holding his hand out. Rafe shook it, a tight smile on his face.

“It’s been a long time, DeLuca.”

Rafe just nodded. He didn’t have the right response for that. He couldn’t remember the man, not even a slight impression.

“How are you?” he asked instead to be polite.

“Great now that you’re here.”

The man stepped beside him, put an arm around Rafe’s shoulders and tugged him forward. Rafe’s fists tightened beside him at the contact as he reluctantly followed. He didn’t like being crowded.

“Angelo says you’re paying.”

“I bet he did.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t bankrupt you. If anyone could ever!” he added with a loud obnoxious laugh.

Rafe took in a deep draw and held it. Somehow, he had the feeling that this wasn’t going to be the harmless fun Angelo had planned it to be. But it may be better this way. Rafe wasn’t good at small talk and he couldn’t even remember the man next to him to reminisce. At the top of the steps they took a turn and, thankfully, the music wasn’t as loud.

“Gentlemen, look who’s here!” his companion announced stepping into the room.

The crowd of around ten men, each with a woman who looked hired next to him, stood with a cheer, all calling out his nickname as if he was their long lost best friend. As much as he didn’t like being called Rafael, he liked it even less when people he didn’t know called him Rafe.

“Where is Diggle?”

The man Rafe, yet to know his name, asked from where they still stood by the door. The men laughed and sniggered, then pointed out the large window at their backs.

“Trying to hit the chick in the little black dress,” one of the men answered, pointing out the window.

His companion rushed to it like a green teen and whistled loudly. “Damn, she’s hot. Look at that ass! Rafe, come see.”

Rafe pulled at the neck collar of his shirt, irritated and yet bemused at the idiocy of the situation he was in. He should probably leave before he said something to ruin this little party of theirs. Clearly, not reading his mood, the man came to him, grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the window.

“Look, there they are.”

The tightness in his neck told him it was time to leave. Just as he was about to excuse himself, something familiar caught his eye. He stared at the object of everyone’s fascination and his whole body went rigid. He recognized that body and he didn’t like how close that asshole was to it.

“Why don’t we go down for a closer look?”

They moved to a VIP section downstairs with a full view of the bar, no glass between. The rest of them were still giggling like school boys, taking bets on how long it would take that idiot – what was his name? What did he care! He was an asshole asking for a beating as far as Rafe was concerned and these other assholes were taking bets on how long it would take him to close the deal. What annoyed Rafe the most was that, from where he was seated, there was no reason whatsoever for her to not be able to see him. That asshole had turned around a few times to wink at the group of horny school boys!

One hour had gone by and Talia still hadn’t acknowledged his presence. She must be doing it on purpose. How interesting could that guy she was standing at the bar with be? Her friend, he’d noticed she was always with from the office had gone to the dance floor with someone else, leaving Talia alone with the idiot. Rafe felt all the muscles in his body clenched when the asshole got off the bar stool and stood close to her, whispering in her ear. Talia then leaned back against the bar, looking in his direction, in fact, she looked right at him, but she might as well be staring through him. Did she really not see him or was she trying to get on his nerves? Because it was working.

Yes, they kissed and dry humped to nirvana, but were they dating? No. They weren’t anything and she certainly wasn’t his. But was that going to stop him from putting his fist in that idiot’s face and claim her? No.

Just as he stood to do just that, Talia grabbed her purse and coat and walked towards the exit.

“Rafe, where are you going?” what’s-his-name called out to him, stopping his progress.

He shouldn’t follow her just yet. He needed to calm down first, and besides, he knew where she lived.