Consumed (7 page)

Sam follows me and inserts twenty into his machine as well. I hit the Wheel of Fortune bonus almost instantly and scream out in delight. “Whoops, sorry.” I say to a startled Sam next to me.

After thirty minutes I have turned my twenty into one hundred and fifty and thanks to the very attentive waitress, am now on my third martini. I have never gambled before and must say I love the rush. It's so exciting with every button push that I could win. Of course my martini's probably play a huge part in why I am enjoying myself so much. Sam has pretty much stayed quiet beside me other than little chit chat here and there, and for that I am grateful. I'm rather liking being lost to my own excitement and not having to entertain someone.

“I gotta hit the ladies.” I say to him as the urge to use the bathroom comes on strong.

“Breaking the seal already?” He laughs when I stick my tongue out at him. “Go, I'll hold your machine.” He says smiling widely.

It takes me about ten minutes to find the bathroom. I swear I looped the floor twice over before seeing the neon sign that reads
Restrooms
not twenty feet from where my machine sits. Sam probably thinks I fell in.

I enter and exit the ladies quickly, trying to make up for the wasted time looking for it to begin with. I pull my phone out on my way out the door to shoot the girls a quick text and see how their luck is going. Unfortunately that means I wasn't paying much attention to where I was walking and almost instantly collide with someone just feet from the exit.

“Crap.” I say when my phone slips from my hand and takes a hard bounce on the red carpeted floor. I reach down to retrieve it and then stand back up to apologize to whoever I ran into, but the moment I look up words fail me.

Are you kidding me? Standing in front of me with a very pleased look on his face is of course the one person I wanted more than anything to avoid. “Are you stalking me?” I ask without really thinking it through.

“Considering this is my place of employment I would say that it is you stalking me.” Liam retorts on a small laugh.

“I am in the casino, not the bar. So this makes it equal territory.” I can't believe I am standing here joking with this man when I should be heading for the hills. The alcohol blinding my ability to think clearly.

“Fair enough. How about we chalk it up to a chance encounter? Although I must say, I am growing rather fond of you running into me all the time.” My cheeks burn and I know I must be blushing crimson. What the hell is wrong with me?

He looks even better than earlier today, if that's possible. Loose fitting jeans that hang on his hips partnered with a black collared shirt with gray stripes left unbuttoned revealing a tight black undershirt. Everything about this man makes my insides clench in a way that I need them not to. I have to get away from him or I might just jump him right here in front of everyone on the casino floor.

“Well it was nice seeing you again Liam but if you will excuse me, I have a someone who is probably wondering where I am.” I say not waiting for a reply. I chance a glance behind me before turning the corner and regret it instantly. He hasn’t moved from where I left him, instead he's watching me walk away. I try not to linger but it takes everything I have to turn away. I refocus and within a minute locate Sam in the same place I left him.

“I was about to send out a search party.” He jokes as I take my seat next to him.

“Sorry, took me forever to find the bathroom.” I laugh. A young red headed waitress approaches and hands me another martini.

“Hope you don’t mind that I ordered you another.” Sam says, taking his beer from the waitress.

“Thank you.” I say draining half the contents in one drink. The coolness soothes the heat threatening to tear my body apart. I go for another sip and almost choke on my drink when I see Liam approaching.

I don’t have time to react otherwise I would be panicked, instead I just sit there looking like a love sick school girl that gets all tongue tied when the boy she's crushing on actually talks to her.

“Addison, You dropped this.” He says holding out my drivers license that must have fallen out of my purse when I pulled my cell phone out.

“Thank you.” I manage to get out. Relieved that he found it but now fully aware that he knows where I live. Why do I have to be so on top of things? I updated my address and had a new license made a week ago. Had I waited I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Then again, do I really think that he would just show up at my house? I am certain that I am not as irresistible to him as he is to me.

“Liam Mason.” He says turning his attention to Sam. He extends his hand and Sam takes it. Both men sizing each other up as they shake.

“Sam Anderson.”

“Sorry to interrupt your date but I thought you might need that.” Liam says turning his position to face me again.

“It's not a date.” I blurt regretting it instantly when I catch sight of Sam. I realize right there that this was all part of the plan. He was hoping to get a few drinks in me, loosen me up, and then what? I would change my mind about dating him? Not a chance.

“We work together.” Sam says clearing his throat. “Just good friends.” He says giving me a small grin. Relief floods through me. Perhaps I am running away with things again and Sam never expected this night to turn into anything other than what it is at the current moment.

“Well it was nice to meet you Sam. Addison.” He says giving me a wink before walking away.

“Who was that?” Sam asks before I have even processed the encounter. He was curious about Sam, that much was clear. Why would he care if I was on a date and yet he made it a point to call it out as one.

“He's one of the bartenders at Serendipity.” I say casually as if it's not big deal.

“Uh huh..” He draws out slowly.

“Don't be that way. We have already established that a relationship is not in my near future.” I say turning my attention back to my slot machine.

The conversation dies and we don't speak again until forty five minutes later when Dana shows up with Charlie. “We are gonna hit the bar. Kristina disappeared in there about an hour ago. No telling what shes gotten herself into.” She laughs but I know she means it seriously. Kristina has a way of getting herself into trouble when left to her own devices. Just ask the handful of men she has picked up in the last six months. Or you could ask them, if she had any idea who they were.

She's not what you would label as a slut. She doesn’t sleep around all the time but she gets herself way too drunk, makes bad choices, and then ends up regretting it the next day. I guess that's what happens when you spend years in a controlling relationship. Once free she just went wild. Thank god I have more self control otherwise I could be in the same position.

As much as I don't want to go to Serendipity's, I also don't want my very best friend and roommate making another bad decision and then beating herself up for it for days after. I hit the cash out button on my machine and collect the ticket from the machine. Considering I played the same machine for two hours on twenty dollars and am walking away with almost two hundred, I would say I had a pretty successful first trip to the casino.

Sam cashes out his machine too and the four of us head to the escalators. Just a quick visit. Get in, find Kristina, get out. How hard could it be?

––––––––

G
iven the line that is waiting outside of Serendipity, I would say there is about a two hour wait. Deciding to just explain the situation to the bouncer in hopes that he will just let us in to find our friend, I head over to where a giant man with dark skin and even darker hair is standing next to the rope that chains off the entry.

“We just need to find our friend. Can I just run in for a minute?” I ask the rather intimidating looking man.

“No can do.” He huffs in a deep baritone voice. “Back of the line.” I falter, not having really expected to just be told no.

“It's okay Dave, she's with me.” I hear the familiar rasp come from behind me. You have got to be kidding me. I turn to glance at Liam who doesn't look at me and then back to the bouncer who simply nods his head and unlatches the rope gesturing for us to enter.

I nod in Liam's direction not saying anything and then gesture for Dana and the others to follow me in. Once inside I lose sight of Liam instantly. I have no idea where he went and the sea of people crowding the establishment make it impossible to look very far. Deciding to find Kristina and get the hell out of here, I make my way towards the dance floor.

“We're gonna grab a drink.” Dana yells behind me over the roaring music. I turn to protest but she's already headed in the direction of the bar and that is one place I certainly must avoid.

I push forward onto the crowded dance floor and proceed to search for Kristina. She's in a tight red mini and should be easy to find, or at least that was my original thought until I realize just how many women in here are dressed in very similar attire. I excuse my way through the couples pressed tightly together and continue my search but once I reach the stage area where the D.J. Is set up I have all but given up hope.

I turn and head back in the direction of the table area but just as I reach the end of the dance floor my feet quit working. Perched on a stool not three feet in front of me is Grayson and his new girlfriend. Could this day get any worse? I mean seriously the heavens must really have it out for me. How much can one girl take?

Hoping to catch a break, I turn to the right, praying he doesn't spot me. Just as I think I'm in the clear, his voice rings out clear. “Addison?” His tone is questioning and once again my feet stop working. I stand rooted to the spot. I can feel him behind me but I can't force myself to turn around. I have to face him, I know I do, but right now I can't help but feel like it would be easier to not.

“Addison.” His voice is more commanding this time. Old habits die hard and I find myself turning to face him without really intending to.

“Grayson, what a surprise.” I try to play it cool but I can't disguise the disgust in my voice.

“Hey, about earlier...” I cut him off without hesitation, something I would have never done before.

“Just stop. I don't want to talk to you Grayson, really, if after everything we have been through the only thing you care about is whether or not you have all your possessions in tact then I really have nothing more to say to you.” I bite out feeling confident and ready to stand my ground.

After years of just sucking it up and keeping my mouth shut, I am done. I am done letting people walk all over me and I most certainly am done dealing with the bull shit that Grayson brings to the table.

He takes a step back, clearly surprised by my outburst. Just when I think he's really about to give it to me, his girlfriend saves the day, approaching quietly to stand by his side. He glances down to her, his face riddled with unease.

“I'm Addison.” I say stretching my hand out to take hers. To my surprise she lifts her hand to meet mine and gives it a weak clammy shake.

“Katie.” She replies weakly looking to Grayson for some sort of explanation. That's when it hits me, she has no idea who I am. I burst out into a fit of laughter, unable to contain myself with all the emotion and alcohol running through me.

“You didn't tell her about me?” I question Grayson not missing the warning in his eyes. “Priceless.”

If the bar wasn't so loud and it wasn't so hard to hear I would give her all the dirt here and now but knowing my limits and knowing that none of this is her fault I decide to back down. I have done enough to raise some questions that good ole Grayson will have to answer for later.

I give Grayson a devilish smile and with a dramatic spin and hair flip, I stomp off to the bar. It feels good to be the one whose walking away. I realize quickly that Dana, Charlie, and Sam are no where to be found so I turn back and scan the table area hoping to catch sight of them.

“They are all on the dance floor.” Liam says behind me, causing me to jump.

“My god you're everywhere aren't you?” I say turning to give him an award winning smile. If I can't beat them might as well join them and have a little fun in the process. Knowing I will regret it but not caring at this moment, I grab his hand and without a word drag him to the dance floor.

I spot the girls almost instantly and can't help the smile that crosses my face at the sight of Kristina and Sam getting pretty freaky on the dance floor. Kristina has had a crush on Sam for a while now. Maybe tonight she will finally get to make her move.

I stop, turning to face Liam who is staring at me with both amusement and confusion. I pull him in close and move my body against his. It's a seductive tease that makes me fully aware that I am walking a thin line. He wastes no time wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me even tighter to his hard muscular body. We don't talk, for the entirety of the song we simply lose ourselves in the moment.

His hands travel up my sides and back down to rest on my hips causing my body to involuntarily jerk. Another reaction that I know he hasn't missed. As the song winds down to something a little slower and more seductive, Liam leans down to speak.

“You are driving me absolutely mad woman.” He hisses in my ear causing my lower belly to clench something fierce. He pulls back to stare into my eyes. The same undeniable pull and tension returns from earlier today. In this moment everyone else seems to melt away until the only two people that remain are us.

I relish in the moment, even if I know it can't last, I just want to enjoy what it feels like to be here with him like this. He lowers his face slowly, so slowly that I feel like I might burst apart from the anticipation. Deciding not to let him have all the power, I push to my tip toes and meet him half way, crushing my lips to his, everything around me falling silent.

He consumes me instantly. My body, in flames, burning deep in my belly and spreading throughout the rest of me. This is bad, so bad, and yet it is so very good. So good in fact that I think I could stay this way forever.