7 Trouble

The music thumped in my ears, and the first cocktail was starting to make itself known, spreading a pleasant warmth through my veins and lifting my mood.

We settled at a free table in the corner of the lounge area, not far from the dance floor. It was Sunday, so the crowd was sparse — tomorrow marked the start of the workweek.

Breeze was a great club, especially after the recent renovation. Mirrors lined the walls, and the floor was lit from within, reflecting multicolored spotlights that made the space feel like a surreal wonderland.

“Come on, confess — what made you suddenly decide to hit the club, and right before a workday?” Marina yelled over the booming music, trying to get into my head.

“Maybe I’ll tell you someday, but not today,” I waved her off, not wanting to dig into everything that had happened. “I just want to dance.”

Marina, sly as ever, knew when to back off, so she shifted the focus to herself. After finishing another drink, we were ready to really let loose.

Honestly, I’d probably needed this. I’d never been the clubbing type as a teenager, never rebelled against my parents, never ran off with boys. But now, I wanted to catch up on all that — to live a life filled with color, excitement, and vivid experiences.

At twenty-three, I still didn’t have a boyfriend! But I didn’t regret last night. There was no guarantee my supposed “first time” with anyone else would measure up to yesterday’s experience. The only challenge now: not comparing every future man to him.

An intriguing track started, and we jumped onto the dance floor. The place wasn’t packed, but more people were moving to the beat.

We started dancing, and it wasn’t hard to notice the guys at the tables across the dance floor checking us out. Of course, their eyes were mostly on Marina—she’s impossible to miss. She didn’t even try to play hard to get, smiling right back at them.

I, on the other hand, shut out all my problems and simply danced, noticing no one around me. The track shifted to a slow, hot rhythm—not the kind you dance to at prom, but perfect if you want to seduce.

I wasn’t planning to seduce anyone; I just surrendered to the dance and the mood it brought me. A little alcohol helped me relax, and I lost myself. Closing my eyes, I moved with the music, running my hands along my curves, savoring it, remembering how HE had touched me the same way.

The memory of the dark-haired man’s warm, commanding hands roaming over my body and igniting fire through my veins still felt fresh. My chest grew hot, and I realized I was aroused from just remembering.

At some point, I felt large, warm hands on my waist, pressing me slowly but firmly against a man’s chest from behind. I was so lost in my private world that I didn’t want to open my eyes to the unknown presence.

But all good things end, and the song changed again. Silly to keep hiding, I needed to face reality and the stranger still holding me.

I sighed and turned, meeting the brown eyes of a tall brunette. He grinned, and the smile suited him perfectly. He was quite handsome, though how he held me screamed overconfidence.

“Let’s introduce ourselves, beautiful,” he said, flashing perfect teeth that seemed to glow in the neon light.

“Orthodontist’s kid, obviously,” I thought, giggling, which didn’t go unnoticed.

“The dance is over, along with the mood. Maybe you’ll let go now?” I tried to slip away gently.

“Alright,” the brunette said teasingly. “In exchange for an introduction.”

“That’s blackmail,” I squinted.

“Exactly,” he laughed. “I’m Danil.”

“Victoria, you can just call me Vicky,” I smiled at the pretty girl, and he let me go, escorting me back to our table.

“Would you like to join our group?” the guy asked, his eyes burning into me, completely ignoring Marina.

Now that was unusual. Everyone flirts with Marina. It felt a little awkward in front of her, but at the same time, incredibly flattering.