5

His gaze was fixated on me, eyeing me up and down with a predatory regard, that caused me to feel a little uncomfortable about my spot.

“No, I don’t think that will be necessary-” I began, ready to kindly turn down the drink.

“We’d love to! Don’t be silly, Amber,” Isha interjected. “We’re getting a free drink!”

I rolled my eyes, exasperated, not happy that Isha agreed to everything.

But she was the life of the party, after all.

“Awesome,” Baldie grinned, but his eyes never left mine once.

“A vodka for both of these beautiful girls, please,” he grinned to the barman.

“Of course! Coming right up,” the barman replied, and after a few moments, he slammed the drinks down on the table.

I turned around to speak to Isha alone, gritting my teeth.

“I’ve had enough to drink,” I hissed. “Why did you have to agree to another?”

“Stop being such a party pooper!” Isha hissed back. “The guy is lovely, and he’s buying us a drink! Appreciate the gesture, this is what happens on a normal night out to clubbing!”

I rolled my eyes, feeling like if I rolled them anymore, they would pop out of my head.

“You really need to come out more often. You haven’t got the faintest idea how the world works!” Isha shot at me.

“Fine,” I sighed, and we both turned back to the man at the bar.

He brought his drink up to his mouth, which was sparkling amber liquid, just like my name, and he was drinking from it, still staring at me.

“Everything okay, ladies?” he asked, shrugging.

“Yes, absolutely fine,” Isha reassured him.

“Drink up,” he grinned.

I reached for my glass hesitatingly, before bringing it up to my lips.

And just as I did…

Somebody from behind me knocked the glass straight out of my hands.

CHAPTER 4

AMBER

I jolted backwards, not expecting this sudden reaction.

I turned around, and could feel my heart thump against my chest, as the most attractive man I’d ever seen in my life stood behind me.

He was about six foot four inches tall. He was wearing tight black trousers, paired with a tight black three-quarter length sleeve shirt, that emphasized his well-built body and muscles. The quarter of his arm that wasn’t covered by his sleeves revealed beautiful black ink tattoos.

And then my eyes darted towards his face. He had a serpent tattoo on his neck, neat, thick eyebrows, a rugged beard, a scar across his nose, pale, captivating hazel brown eyes that I could get lost in all day.

Scruffy black hair, a chiseled jawline. He was walking perfection. My heart was pounding so loudly against my chest, that it felt like it might explode.

I coughed loudly, willing myself to snap out of my trance, and focus on the here and now, instead of getting distracted. I found myself furrowing my eyebrows, wondering what his deal was.

 “What did you do that for?” I muttered bitterly. “Now I have a stain on my dress!”

He gritted his teeth, not replying to me. Isha shifted about uncomfortably beside me. The man strode straight over to the man Baldie who bought us the drinks, and swung at his jaw, punching him, hard, across the face.

“Hey man, what the fuck are you doing?!” Baldie screamed.

The man punched him again. Baldie doubled over and hurled at him, and I could feel myself clap my hands to my face in dismay. The man kicked Baldie down to the floor, knocking him unconscious.

“What are you doing?” I cried out desperately, as I watched the horror unfold before my eyes.

“This man…” he heaved. “Spiked your drink while you turned around to speak to your friend.”

I could feel my eyes well with tears, my windpipes constrict, unable to believe what I was hearing.

I had a bad idea about Baldie from the minute he laid eyes on me and Isha.

My gut instinct had never failed me before…

He turned to the barman, who was sweating profusely, as he watched the situation unfold.

“Have the bodyguards escort this bastard out. I’ll make sure that he never steps foot in another club again,” he gritted.