The bouncer nods to me with recognition. He lets us into the club, and points us to the VIP area, without checking our IDs.
Bella's eyes go wide. "I don't belong here."
"You don't want to dance with me?"
"I mean—"
"If you want to dance, and you're here, you belong here."
She nods. "This is a strange Christmas Eve celebration."
"You don't like it?"
She looks around. "I don't know. I was ready to collapse at the studio. But with the music and the lights." She looks to me. "The only time I've ever had fun at a club was our wedding night."
"That's why I'm here."
Her eyes light up. "Yeah?"
I nod. "And I'm thinking about a repeat of what made that night especially fun."
Her pupils dilate. "Oh."
"You game?"
She nods. "Very."
I slide my arm around her waist and pull her closer. This is a nice club. It's not a busy night, but the room is still pounding with house music. If anything, the less than packed dance floor makes this more difficult.
But I don't mind.
"You want a gin and tonic?" I lead Bella towards the bar.
She presses her lips together. "Just one."
Just enough to lower her inhibitions so she's not nervous about fucking me in public. It's in her eyes, in the way she's pressing her palms into her quads and biting her lip.
She looks so fucking good in that dress, all prim and proper.
She does seem like she has everything together.
I'm the only person who gets to know how dirty she is.
I'm the only person who knows how deeply she hurts.
Fuck, the responsibility of that fills me with pride. But it is a responsibility.
She's letting me in.
I have to do the same to her.
I want to do the same to her.
But we still have that divorce date looming. It's only three days away now.
I lean against the bar, hail the bartender, and order drinks.
Bella holds onto my waist, resting her head on my shoulder.