Obsessively Yours (Joe & Ella 1)

I looked down the bar and noticed a group of men shouting, laughing and hollering over the music. They sounded drunk, coarse and were American; tourists no doubt come to experience the English hospitality but failing magnificently to bring with them any hint of American class. One of them was falling around all over the place, spilling his drink as he held court telling his ape like friends about some conquest or story that had them all howling. A pretty dark haired girl walked past and he grabbed her ass. Ugh, what a prick. I made a note to myself to avoid them for the rest of the night or I might end up punching his lights out if he tried anything like that on me.

Chris grabbed my wrist in panicked urgency as I pulled myself up onto a chrome barstool and tried to catch the bar man’s eye for a top up.

“Fucking hell Elle! Mega hot guy at three o’clock babes and I hope it’s me he’s checking out and not you…sorry!” Chris smiled down at me, but I wasn’t going to look that way, that was where the apes were jumping around and marking their territory. Anyone who was with those idiots was a definite no on my flirt radar.

“If he’s with those goons at the end of the bar you’re welcome to him.” I said and Chris laughed. He wasn’t fussy. A sniff of action and he was off.

I ordered our drinks along with two shots of tequila which we downed in one, then I jumped down from the stool and gave Chris my best sexy come to bed eyes.

“Come on Romeo I haven’t finished with you yet.”

I pulled Chris back onto the dancefloor as Beyonce told us that girls run the world, and I danced like no one was watching. But someone was. I could feel it burning into my back, branding me where I stood, making me feel uneasy. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and shivers ran down my spine. Every time I looked around I couldn’t focus on anyone in particular but I could feel it, that tension, the intensity that one guy can bring. It was like I’d been chosen and I didn’t have a choice. Fate was in the room dancing with me and it had plans for me that were out of my control.

As the night wore on we got more drunk and our dance moves became decidedly more risqué and uncoordinated. We didn’t care though, we were having the time of our lives. That burn in my stomach didn’t leave me though, nor did the instinct of being watched.

“I need the ladies or I’m gonna pee myself.” I giggled into Chris’s ear hoping he’d come with me and wait outside. He wasn’t leaving this dancefloor anytime soon though, he had his eye on a skinny brunette guy throwing some very random shapes in the corner of the club.

“Over there baby girl.” Chris pointed and I realised then why the ape gang had chosen that exact spot to stand and bang their chests. It was right next to the ladies.

“Isn’t there another one somewhere less crowded?” I shouted over the music desperate to avoid walking past their grabby hands.

“Nope.” Chris smiled and danced away from me towards another unsuspecting victim he could shimmy up against.

Oh hell, I would have to run the gauntlet that was the Neanderthals to have a pee. I rolled my eyes at Chris, grabbed my wine from the table behind us and headed into the jungle. I could do this, if he touched me I would rip his hand off. I was Ella Reid and I had sass.

I walked towards the door of the ladies with blinkers on and my head held high. I made it through without incident.

‘Thank god!’ I said to myself, looking up at the ceiling in gratitude. I thought the worst was over but I was wrong. As I headed out of the ladies a few minutes later to walk past the gorilla group, the guy with the grabby hands fell back into me and knocked my entire wine glass onto the floor. Glass smashed everywhere, wine spilt all down my arm and all over the floor. Ugh! I’d spend the rest of the night stinking of booze, great.

He turned his podgy little body around and I looked straight into his flabby face with the fire of a thousand demons in my eyes. I already hated him with a vengeance before he’d come near me and now I was ready to release all hell on his sorry ass. I balled my fists and looked him square in the eyes.

“Watch what you’re doing shit head, you could have knocked me over.”

He just laughed and looked me up and down with his sleazy eyes making me feel so dirty I’d definitely need a shower when I got home before going to bed.

“Well aren’t you just an angel fallen straight from heaven into my lucky lap.” He sneered and licked his lips. He was so drunk he could hardly focus his eyes, and he swayed as he spoke to me. He smelt of alcohol and desperation but my feet seemed to be rooted to the spot not walking away even though my head was screaming ‘get away from this guy Ella’. What was I doing?

“I wouldn’t go anywhere near your lap even if you paid me.”

“Oh that can be arranged. I’d pay good money for a ride with you.” He laughed but the rest of his group had fallen silent, finding our little exchange somewhat embarrassing no doubt.

“You spilt my drink I want another one.”

“How about we find a quiet corner and I can buy you a drink and get to know you better huh?”

This guy took smarmy to a whole new level.

“No thanks, I just want my drink.” I was getting irritated now, why should I lose my drink just because this asshole couldn’t hold his and was falling all over the place knocking people over left right and centre.

“Hey baby calm down and relax, we have plenty of champagne here.”

“DRINK loser before I do something I won’t regret.” I shook my head, I was losing it.

Suddenly a deep, sexy American voice spoke out, sparking an instant reaction in my body. Goosebumps appeared on my arms and I had to stop myself from gasping out loud.

“Just replace the ladies drink and let her go. She’s getting high off your alcohol fumes Char

lie.”