Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The male singer pulled her up onto the dance floor and they started to dance together. I watched them, and it hit me like icy water down my back that it was Effie. It had to be; the way she danced was unmistakable. I got up and moved to their side of the pub to have a better look. She was whirling across the floor with the singer, who only reluctantly handed her over to other dancers as they moved. She was lost in the music and seemed totally oblivious to the way he was clutching at her hips, sliding his hand up her back and dipping his head low to her neck when they were close.
An unapologetically jealous rage coursed through me. I was angry at her for not telling me that she was planning to go out, for simply slipping out of the hotel and into the Dublin night. I knew better than most that it wasn’t safe. And now this creep was all over her, and she was too immersed in the dance to even notice. I didn’t allow myself to think that maybe she knew what he was up to and didn’t care, or worse, was actively encouraging him. I set my glass down on the nearest table and edged onto the dance floor. I knew she wouldn’t see me; she was either moving too fast or she had her eyes closed, she wasn’t seeing anything. I got close and waited until she moved away from the singer, then stepped in. My plan was for her to open her eyes and find that she was dancing with me, and then I could tell her exactly what I thought about her taking herself off into the night to the roughest of pubs with no regard for her personal safety. I had a duty of care as her employer.
Instead, what happened was that she kept her eyes closed, and we spun around together, and then she stepped in close to me and I forgot any anger or jealousy. She was beautiful and vibrant. I kissed her. She kissed me back, and when she pulled back, she didn’t seem surprised to see me looking down at her. I had a hold of her wrist and pulled her gently away from the dense crowd of dancers towards the door. It had been warm in my spot against the bar, but among the dancers it had been hot, and with Effie in my arms it was becoming unbearable. I led her through the door to where the steep stone steps led down to the door of the building. The cool air hit us immediately, and when the heavy wooden door swung shut, the sounds of the pub became muffled. It was like we were suddenly underwater.
“Keegan…” she began, but I couldn’t bear to talk. I couldn’t risk analyzing what was happening, or how wise it was.
So, I kissed her again and this time she reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I pulled her to me, my hands reaching around her waist. Instinctively, she arched into me. My cock was already hard, and I wanted her more than I had ever wanted a woman. I broke the kiss to catch my breath, and she stood on tiptoe, trailing her lips over my jaw, leaving tiny kisses before moving down onto my neck. She was barely touching my skin, but it felt absolutely incredible. I had never felt so desperate to have any woman as I did in that moment with Effie, so when the door separating us from the pub creaked open, I actually cried out in frustration. Mick stepped through and sheepishly looked at the ground before glancing up at us.
“Ah, I didn’t know you were here. Uh, Effie, good to see ya! So, I’m going to catch a taxi and head home, I think,” he stammered, caught off guard and clearly assuming that I was with some random girl before he realized it was Effie.
“Sure,” I said, awkwardly.
“Goodnight,” Effie said quietly.
With one meaningful look at me, Mick disappeared into the darkness of the stairwell and left Effie and I standing staring at one another as though a spell had been broken.
“We could walk back, if you’d like?” I suggested, hoping the walk in the cool night air would be a better option than sitting tightly together in the back of a taxi.
“Sure,” she said, nodding. “I need to get my jacket and say goodbye to someone.”
“I’ll wait outside,” I said as politely as if she’d been my grandmother.
I waited for five minutes before she came down, and with her was the girl from the pub. Effie was wearing a soft leather jacket in purple and had pulled her hair to one side. I was struck again by how different she looked outside of work. It was like the further away from the office she got, the more personality she had. She hugged the girl, who also hugged me before getting into a waiting taxi.