lupinegrant

[lupinegrant]

God, would this week never end. I looked up at the clock, it had moved a whole three minutes from the last time I looked. Time just seemed to be dragging so much this week.

I mean the work was never really inspiring, but normally it was enough to be engaging, but this week, this morning, I just couldn't seem to get into it, couldn't seem to focus. I guess I should be glad to still have a job in this economy, things were tight everywhere, but this wasn't exactly my dream job.

Not that I knew what my dream job was, what I really wanted in life, I think by now I just hoped it would be something more than being the paperwork monkey for an printer company. I mean, people needed printers, but it was hardly fulfilling work. Mostly it was just making sure the numbers added up and the accounts were properly settled.

But lots of people had jobs that were just jobs, not inspiring, not life changing, just a paycheck, a way to fund their life so they could do what they were really passionate about in their own time. Now if only I knew what that was.

Looking at the clock again, another two minutes, just slowly ticking down to the lunch break. I think I need to get out of the office, get away from my desk. Standing I felt my back creak, I really needed to stop hunching over my desk while I stared at he screen.

There should be a group going for lunch I could join, it was a Friday after all, so just stood and took a few deep breaths while I looked around.

[lupinegrant]

Siobhan looked up as her chair was suddenly propelled backwards from her desk.

"You were doing that thing again!"

She looked up at Jace, her mind taking a moment to refocus. She had been very intense editing this latest lot of photos that had come through for the campaign. The lighting was terrible but she was sure she could save them. She realised it had been three hours since she had started working on them, not just a couple of minutes.

"Sorry, I was focused."

"No shit, Shiv, I was trying to talk to you."

"I told you not to call me that," Siobhan replied half heartedly, to be honest it had kind of grown on her even if it did sound like a prison nickname. And yeah, true, she probably would be the kind to stab someone. She had poked Jace with a ruler just yesterday. She hadn't been trying to draw blood though.

"What about?"

"The fact that we have that meeting in twenty minutes and are you ready?"

"Meeting? Meeting. Right."

She was not ready but she could be, thankfully it was just a lunch meeting, discussing options for an old client but a new campaign. She kind of knew how it would go down. But this was for Jace as well as he learned the craft better. She knew he was just doing this because his last career had fizzled so he'd done the study and followed in Liam's footsteps. It had always been the agreement if things didn't work out.

She was always very aware of the fact that she and Jace were basically being set up by his dad. It was working well enough, and neither of them had been lucky in love, they got on well, always had, maybe it might work better starting as friends. They had flirted for years, maybe it could be something more, Siobhan was willing to see what happened. But for now they needed to focus on this meeting.

She reached down to do up the straps on her heels and then stopped. "If you're going to just stand there, be useful, do up my shoes for me so we're not here another 5 minutes while I try to work out where the holes are."

"You just want me on my knees before you, admit it."

He flashed her that cheeky grin of his and she laughed. "Stop projecting, and I don't really think it would involve your Dad watching from his office."

Jace shuddered. "Good call, we're not that kind of family."

[lupinegrant]

Turning from the bar I saw Siobhan wasn't alone any longer, I felt a growl rise in my throat as I saw another man touching her, not the same as Mason, but then we had history, but still, she was mine. I mean, she wasn't where did that come from, but she would be.

But as I approached I sensed something again, a gut feeling, an instinct, I don't know, but whatever it was, I knew this wasn't someone to mess with, but still, it was Siobhan, and she'd been dancing with me, the way I'd dreamed.

I came up just as Siobhan's bestie finished spinning her, saw her giggle as the blonde stepped back and swayed, I felt a push of energy flow through me as the music picked up, demanded the movement, but Siobhan was right there, moving and dancing, perhaps I couldn't have her all to myself, but perhaps she still wanted me near.

I brushed past until I could be in front of Siobhan, start to move with her, dance with her, perhaps less intense, less intimate, but still close, god her scent was intoxicating. I saw her eyes flutter open as I took her hand, dancing between me and the other guy.

“He’s going for her again.” Mason growled low in his throat as he looked across to where Grant was moving toward the two dancing girls.

Jace rubbed his fingertips across the bridge of his nose. “Is there anyway this doesn’t end in bloodshed?”

“He’s not even a real fucking wolf, what makes him think he’s worthy of her?”

“Because you are?” Jace asked and immediately regretted his words with the dagger star Mason turned on him.

“I was once.”

And how did that work out? This time Jace played it safe and kept his thoughts to himself.

“I don’t think that’s relevant now, they aren’t actually why we are here are we? This is abut something bigger than us, the Clans need the strength, they need to become bigger and better. She’s not worth losing the power of this time, is she?”

Mason was not thinking rationally. He wasn’t going to agree with that. Not even remotely.

Jace growled this time and it was a warning. He was the second in their pack, and Mason would regret clashing with him if it came to that. Jace didn’t want it to come to that.

Having said what he ahd said, he did wonder about Siobhan. They had pegged her as someone with potential. What Liam had thought was a wolf but now Jace wasn’t so sure. There was something though…

He also knew the energies were growing. The sun storm was intensifying and Jace could feel it running through him. He could only think of one thing right now that was going to stop this party turning into a brawl.

He fixed his eyes on Mason. “I am going to dance with her. Not that guy, not you. Me. And you are going to accept it. I don’t want anything going wrong tonight.”

Jace gave Mason a look that meant he should no dispute this, hell he shouldn’t say anything at all.

Jace then moved through the crowd to the two girls dancing. He came in behind Siobhan and slid a hand over her hip as he matched her motions. His eyes met Brooke’s and he recognised what was already awake in her. He nodded and she nodded back. Maybe she understood the assignment tonight, maybe she didn’t, but she at least recognised he wasn’t a threat to her friend.

*

I didn’t know who was behind me but the energy felt safe and so I didn’t react when he started to dance with me. It was a guy, definitely a guy. I decided I didn’t want to know if it was Mason or Grant or anyone else. I was just going to enjoy dancing and not thinking.

Not thinking was good, just let go, just feel, just be.

I closed my eyes and just let my body go. I leaned back in against my partner and moved to the music. He wasn’t trying to cop a feel or whatever else Liam had been trying to do or that other dude. He wasn’t talking or bringing up thoughts or feelings. We were just dancing and I liked it. My hands remained in Brooke’s and I could feel her moving with us too. It felt wild and something else, something I couldn’t put my finger on.

*

Brooke kept her eyes on Jace as he danced on the other side of Siobhan. There was something in his eyes, something in the way he touched Siobhan, she trusted him to keep going. She could also tell he was a wolf, and not just a wolf but someone powerful. Brooke pulled Siobhan and dropped one hand, making her spin. Jace’s hands smoothed around her waist helping her turn and Brooke spun her around a few times until Siobhan stumbled slightly, giggling as she leaned against Jace again. She looked so relaxed, but there was something else coming off her in her energy.

No, it wasn’t just Siobhan….

Brooke suddenly felt like something washed through her and she just sort of swayed as the energy rolled down her body. She felt powerful in that moment and…zen? Was that the world. For a moment everything else just faded away and it was just her in the universe, just her and her energy. If she could have looked around she might have noticed for those minutes everyone was in a trance like state, almost oblivious to the party around them.

[lupinegrant]

Turning from the bar I saw Siobhan wasn't alone any longer, I felt a growl rise in my throat as I saw another man touching her, not the same as Mason, but then we had history, but still, she was mine. I mean, she wasn't where did that come from, but she would be.

But as I approached I sensed something again, a gut feeling, an instinct, I don't know, but whatever it was, I knew two things deep in my core, Siobhan was safe, and this wasn't someone to mess me. The desire was still there, the aggression, but balanced by some instinct perhaps, cooled enough to keep my head.

Just as I thought I was myself again, the music raised to a crescendo, or something did, the music was the same, but suddenly it just demanded movement again, my mind blanked as something pulsed through me.

Joining the group, moving behind the blonde, Brooke I heard someone call her, I danced, moving with her. Not touching not like with Siobhan, I sensed a man could lose a hand that way, just moving in time with her moving to the music with the group.

“He’s going for her again.” Mason growled low in his throat as he looked across to where Grant was moving toward the two dancing girls.

Jace rubbed his fingertips across the bridge of his nose. “Is there anyway this doesn’t end in bloodshed?”

“He’s not even a real fucking wolf, what makes him think he’s worthy of her?”

“Because you are?” Jace asked and immediately regretted his words with the dagger star Mason turned on him.

“I was once.”

And how did that work out? This time Jace played it safe and kept his thoughts to himself.

“I don’t think that’s relevant now, they aren’t actually why we are here are we? This is abut something bigger than us, the Clans need the strength, they need to become bigger and better. She’s not worth losing the power of this time, is she?”

Mason was not thinking rationally. He wasn’t going to agree with that. Not even remotely.

Jace growled this time and it was a warning. He was the second in their pack, and Mason would regret clashing with him if it came to that. Jace didn’t want it to come to that.

Having said what he ahd said, he did wonder about Siobhan. They had pegged her as someone with potential. What Liam had thought was a wolf but now Jace wasn’t so sure. There was something though…

He also knew the energies were growing. The sun storm was intensifying and Jace could feel it running through him. He could only think of one thing right now that was going to stop this party turning into a brawl.

He fixed his eyes on Mason. “I am going to dance with her. Not that guy, not you. Me. And you are going to accept it. I don’t want anything going wrong tonight.”

Jace gave Mason a look that meant he should no dispute this, hell he shouldn’t say anything at all.

Jace then moved through the crowd to the two girls dancing. He came in behind Siobhan and slid a hand over her hip as he matched her motions. His eyes met Brooke’s and he recognised what was already awake in her. He nodded and she nodded back. Maybe she understood the assignment tonight, maybe she didn’t, but she at least recognised he wasn’t a threat to her friend.

*

I didn’t know who was behind me but the energy felt safe and so I didn’t react when he started to dance with me. It was a guy, definitely a guy. I decided I didn’t want to know if it was Mason or Grant or anyone else. I was just going to enjoy dancing and not thinking.

Not thinking was good, just let go, just feel, just be.

I closed my eyes and just let my body go. I leaned back in against my partner and moved to the music. He wasn’t trying to cop a feel or whatever else Liam had been trying to do or that other dude. He wasn’t talking or bringing up thoughts or feelings. We were just dancing and I liked it. My hands remained in Brooke’s and I could feel her moving with us too. It felt wild and something else, something I couldn’t put my finger on.

*

Brooke kept her eyes on Jace as he danced on the other side of Siobhan. There was something in his eyes, something in the way he touched Siobhan, she trusted him to keep going. She could also tell he was a wolf, and not just a wolf but someone powerful. Brooke pulled Siobhan and dropped one hand, making her spin. Jace’s hands smoothed around her waist helping her turn and Brooke spun her around a few times until Siobhan stumbled slightly, giggling as she leaned against Jace again. She looked so relaxed, but there was something else coming off her in her energy.

No, it wasn’t just Siobhan….

Brooke suddenly felt like something washed through her and she just sort of swayed as the energy rolled down her body. She felt powerful in that moment and…zen? Was that the world. For a moment everything else just faded away and it was just her in the universe, just her and her energy. If she could have looked around she might have noticed for those minutes everyone was in a trance like state, almost oblivious to the party around them.

[lupinegrant]

The fresh air was good, a few deep breaths and just standing in the cool breeze and my head felt a little clearer. I don't know what it was about her, Siobhan was always someone special, but tonight it was like she was just turned up to 11.

She probably didn't even remember that night, or at least remember i was there, what was I thinking bringing it up again. The shocked look on her face when I mentioned it, the more I cooled the more I realised i was making a fool of myself again, like I did that night.

Leaning back against the railing I just watched the floor for a bit, letting myself cool, and yet I couldn't relax, I could still feel my pulse raising, feel the beat of the music. Calling to me, drawing me back in. There were always people lost in the music but there was something in the faces tonight, more than just the ecstasy of the music and movement, and well yes, ecstasy. I mean, all of that was normal, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it's like they were all more intense, dancing like they were possessed.

"Wow Grant, a few drinks and a little dance and suddenly you're a poet of a philosopher or something" I chuckled at myself, just starting to relax, enjoying my usual comfort spot, out of the spotlight, on the fringes.

Then suddenly a surge of adrenaline, desire and something else, animal need, to possess, to claim, I was moving before i even knew why, Siobhan was on the floor again, dancing with that blonde, I started to cut through the floor towards them seeing nothing but Siobhan, then the blonde caught my eye, there was something predatory in her eye, something feral, something not to be messed with, something in me knew she was dangerous and I cooled again a bit.

Deciding I shouldn't show up empty handed, I grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the bar and went to say hello to Siobhan again, knowing that whatever else I did, keeping on the good side of her bestie might be wise.

"Girl, I know I said let loose but dayum," Brooke teased as we stood by the mirror in the bathroom, "I need some of that and maybe I need some of that..."

I giggled as Brooke looked me up and down suggestively. "Oh, so now you want a piece of this."

"Maaaaaybe."

We giggled and she nudged me with her shoulder. "But come on, spill you have got the hotties all over you tonight. And that dude with the hair. God can you imagine a fist full of that as he-"

"Brooke!"

"What?"

"That's Grant and well, I mean, you're not wrong. Jesus, the amount of times I imagined that back in the day but the fucker just told me that he wished I'd danced with him that night. i know just the one, and he was the one who didn't want to dance with me and now acts like I missed a chance...like what the fuck." The words seemingly tumbled out on a breath. I didn't know what was going on in my head but I knew I was both happy and pissed off by his comment. He'd had so many opportunities to make a move and he never had, he had never wanted to.

And was he meaning it now or was this some kind of power play. I'd looked back as we went for the bathroom and saw him glaring at Mason. Then saw Mason glaring his way.

Were they glaring because of me or was I some kind of delayed pissing match. Lord knew they had nearly gotten into things a few things at work back in the day. Especially when Grant had gotten the promotion over Mason.

"Boys are dumb. Maybe you should just shag your bosses son."

"Jace?" I thought about it and then giggled. "I mean, he is hot. Did you see Liam dance with me though? I thought he was going to get his hand up under my dress at one point."

"I'd hit that."

"You probably could, I'm pretty sure you're his type."

"And Jace?"

"His type? I have no idea what his type is, Liam is proud of his kid but he's not been talking lots about who his son shags."

Brooke let out a high pitched giggle. "That's probably a good thing."

"Incest, a game the whole family can play."

"I mean I'd let them sammich me."

"You're so bad, Brookey."

"You wouldn't? Or any of that other guys here tonight?"

"Well..." I replied and giggled. "I do feel like I could go all night with anyone who pushed the right buttons."

"We should get back out there and dance. But if anyone tries to go agro and not seductive, they get my fist in their crotch."

I knew Brooke would mean it too.

"Deal. I don't want trouble, I just want to dance and feel good and maybe have some fun."

"We are going to have so much fun," Brooke said and waggled her brows. I giggled as she wrapped an arm around me and drew me out of the bathroom and back onto the floor to dance with me.

[lupinegrant]

Timing, it was always just the way of things, timing had to be right and when it wasn't the universe always got in the way. Today it got in the way in the form of that blonde chick Siobhan had been dancing with earlier, her bestie I assumed.

Still, I wasn't exactly going to make it easy, she had to pull herself from my arms, but dancing with me was never going to beat the needs of a bestie in the club, it might not be my scene, but even I knew that much.

I couldn't hear her over the crowd, but I thought she mouthed that she was coming back, or wished it, either way I chose to believe for now.

Away from her my head felt clearer, I was definitely still buzzed, relaxed, feeling the music, but she really was intoxicating. I can't believe I said that, touched her like that. Though she didn't entirely seem to mind.

I grabbed some water from the bar and stepped out onto the balcony, some cool air to clear my head but I could still see if she came back.

Scanning the floor again I saw Mason and his mate at a table, I growled involuntarily and saw a flash of of ripping his throat out. Whoa, what was that, not entirely a measured response, he was her ex after all.

“What?”

Did he? Had he? Did I hear that right? How did he even know I was thinking about that night? How did he even remember? Why would he remember?

Did he mean it?

I looked up at him as he moved back to look at me, he had to see the surprise on my face, even as our hips continued to move together.

*

Jace looked across the floor and saw a look on Mason’s face he knew all too well. “Fuck.” He put his drink down and barrelled across the dance floor as his pack mate went toward his ex looking like he was going to start another fight. Jace really wished Mason had agreed to come backpacking with him, it would have done the hot-head a world of good.

Mason was just putting his hands on Siobhan as Jace reached them, he got in front of Mason and pushed him away, long strides pushing him through the crowd.

“Fucking settle, mate, are you trying to start a brawl tonight when you know how important it is?” Jace glared and Mason had the good sense to not try to punch Jace out for it. Jace was senior to him and he was stronger, it wouldn’t go well and Mason knew that from experience.

*

Brooke saw it a moment before it happened and was about act but suddenly hottie the son of was there manhandling his friend out of the fray. She wasn’t sure if anyone else had noticed but maybe it was time for the girls to go powder their nose and just take a breath.

She came in beside Siobhan and slid her hands over her upper arms. “I gotta pee!”

Siobhan dragged her attention from Grant and giggled at her best friend. “Your timing girl.”

She had thought she felt someone touch her a few moments ago, it must have been Brooke, maybe the throngs of people had pulled her away again for a moment. Siobhan looked back at Grant and hoped he could hear her or at least read her lips. “I’ll be back.”

She felt like he was reluctant to let her go, or maybe that was just what she wanted him to be. She let Brooke pull her away, Brooke linking arms with her as they headed from the toilets to the side of the bar.

[lupinegrant]

There was something in this music, something in the air, it just seemed to be so natural to just move, or maybe it was having Siobhan so close to me. Perhaps if I'd told her how I felt that night things would have been different, but tonight, tonight I knew she would be mine.

I felt her shiver as I growled in her ear, she was intoxicating, pulling back slightly so I could see her, drink her in, moving in sync with her, my hand sliding down, caressing her ass as we moved together.

I could sense Mason's glare as we danced, but I didn't care, Siobhan was finally in my arms and this time it would end differently. I leaned back in again, brushing my lips over her jaw, perhaps an accident, but tasting her, so sweet before growling again "I wish it had been me you'd danced with that night"

I let out a giggle at Grant’s words, very aware of the way his fingers were sliding a little further south down my lower back. He had gotten bold and flirty, I assumed it was flirty. The way he said it, or rather growled it, well, that made me shiver. I wasn’t sure if he was serious or not about back then, he had never taken the chance to hear all the ways I could say his name but I had sure imagined a lot of them.

Our bodies moved together too the music and I remembered one night I had wanted to dance with him but he hadn’t really wanted to dance with me. He had made it clear he wasn’t really into it, come to think of it that was the first night that Mason and I got to together. I had danced with Mason to try and show Grant what he was missing, unfortunately he hadn’t felt he was missing out an anything at all. I had wondered if he was gay, but he wasn’t dancing with me now like he was. Bi maybe?

He pulled back and his smile, it had the same impact on me that it had back in the day.

What was with tonight and bring people of my past back into my life?

*

Jace watched from the edge of the dance floor. He knew tonight would kick up big energies, with the solar storms going on and then an eclipse in the mix. He knew when he had been recruited to help out tonight things might get intense. He had not expected things to be getting this intense this quickly. His father was a write off already, as were most of the others. But Jace had spent the last 5 years learning better control over his body and his other side. He seemed one of the only ones seemingly in control in the place. Well, other than the normal humans but they’d all leave soon enough, the rising energy would drive them off as their survival instincts kicked in.

But what was perplexing Jace the most was Siobhan. He only knew her in passing, the occasional hellos as they passed when he went to see his father. He had been forbidden to take it beyond that by him. Now Jace wondered if it was because his Dad was holding a torch for her, he certainly had looked like he was trying to dry hump her on the dance floor before. And then he found out that it was Mason’s ex, which put her more off limits. Now Jace knew she was special, hence her being here. But just how special was she? The way she was drawing people into her, the energy coming off her. Even from the distance Jace could feel the pull and if he wasn’t in this much control he would be over there with the other girls and boys that were trying to get close to her, trying to get their hands… and other parts… on her.

He watched the new guy pawing at her. She seemed to know him, and from the dagger look that Mason was giving them he seemed to as well. Jace might need to intervene, it was way too earlier for things to turn violent. They needed too get everyone through the night. Maybe he should get a dance in, break the tension.  

[lupinegrant]

God she smelled good, I mean, she'd always smelled good, but it was so much more intense than I'd ever noticed, and there was something there that made me growl inside.

As she wrapped her arms around me I pulled her closer still, my hand moving a little lower, almost resting on that fine ass of hers, every instinct I have was screaming at me to grab her ass and press her to me, what was going on with me?

Siobhan just fitted against my chest, "where she belongs" whispered a voice in my head. As she looked up and our eyes finally met I felt her shiver slightly in my arms, there had just been joy in her eyes but now there was something else, something else that I liked.

Pressing her close I leaned down slowly, my nose touching hers, my stubble against her cheek until my lips brushed her ear growling softly "I always did like hearing you say my name Siobhan"

It had been years but it seemed Mason and I still knew how to move together, anticipate movement and fit together like we had. His grip on me was possessive, which was surprising given how we had ended things but in my mood I liked it. His hands slid over my curves as we dance and my breath hitched as his thumb brushed under my breast. He pulled me in close, leaning down as he ran his nose up my throat. He used to do that a lot, inhale my scent. He always said I smelled fantastic even when I didn’t have perfume on.

His lips followed the same trail and I let out a whimper that was lost in the sounds of the music. He leant back up and grinned at me and then as I turned in his arms I felt someone else grab me.

My eyes flew wide open from the half lidded state they had been in as someone spoke my name and said we should finally have our dance. I stared at him and it took me a moment to realise who I was looking at. The long scraggly hair, the beard…those eyes.

“Grant!!” I squealed his name excited to see my old friend. That was all we had ever been was friends, work mates. I had wanted more but he had never been interested. Damn, he had grown up as well as Mason had. He looked so good. I wrapped my arms around him as he pulled me close, dancing with me even as we hugged. I couldn’t think how long it had been since we had seen each other. I’d never forgotten him, Mason might have been my first real relationship but Grant had been the first guy to truly steal my heart. I didn’t hold it against him that he had never wanted it.

I looked into his eyes and I my breath caught again, that look was as intense as Mason’s, just as predatory and… could it be…wanting? No, that might have been my imagination. And yet, it still made something inside me react.

[lupinegrant]

A force of nature

There was defiantly an energy in the air, something in the water, whatever it was I was dancing and feeling it more than I had in years. As the music got louder, the dancing more frenetic I lost myself in it, the crowd becoming a blur. But i kept seeing flashes of her, Siobhan as she danced.

I turned and there she was again, grinding a back against some lad, I didn't see what he whispered, but he she shivered. I felt my face twist, an animal growl escaping my lips, how dare he, she's mine. Before i even knew what was happening I was moving towards her then my brain kicked in again.

Shaking my head and muttering under my breath "that ship sailed a long time ago". I turned again and that girl from the group, Lisa I think she'd said her name was was close again, moving with me, pressing close. Whatever was in the air was affecting us all, so I moved close again, dancing, trying to forget that flash of anger, but it was still there, simmering, I kept seeing her.

Then I recognised who she was dancing with "Fucking Mason, not fucking again" i growled, bristling and making a beeline straight for her, everyone else faded into the background as all I could see was Siobhan dancing with Mason, well that was not fucking happening again.

I saw Siobhan turn as I came close, her eyes closing again as she moved with the music. My arm snaked around her back, pulling her close against me and starting to move with her, my voice husky, barely recognisable as my own voice

"Hello Siobhan, I think we should finally have that dance"

[lupinegrant]

The pull of the floor

I don't know what was in that last drink, it was just my usual whisky and coke, but it seemed to be hitting harder than it normally would. At least it was hitting mellow, I could feel the music starting to flow through me as I started to sway, move with the music.

Chill and relaxed, but it was starting to feel like I couldn't sit still, needed to move, to feel the rythm. It seemed i wasn't the only one, there seemed to be a general movement of people so I let the crowd just carry me onto the floor. Moving to the rythm I couldn't help wonder what it would be like to dance with Siobhan again.

"Grant.. Grant... I knew tonight was the night I'd get you on the floor", a familiar voice broke me out of my reverie. It was Hugh, he'd ended up dancing with a group it seemed. I could never tell if he realised that was a way the girls would let him down gently, but he seemed happy and care free.

"What can I say, the music's just hitting right tonight" I yelled about the music, and it really was, the the movement just came naturally, just seemed right. One of the girls from the group had moved a little closer , dancing with me, still the group, but definitely with me. I guess she just needed Hugh to see that she was dancing with everyone, not just him.

It seemed like a good group, good energy so I stayed, dancing and moving, just zoning out and feeling the music. Obviously I'd been dwelling on that night a bit too much, because there was no way Mason was here as well, no matter how much that guy looked like him, just too much of a coincidence, I must be seeing things.

As the floor got more crowded the inevitable bumps happened, I might be moving with the music, but I'm still me, a little clumsy, I turned to apologise to the girl I'd backed into, but the words died on my lips as I realised she was dancing with Siobhan, her eyes closed she hadn't seen me yet. I didn't want to interrupt her night so I mumbled an apology and turned away again.

[lupinegrant]

A surprise at the rave

Dance parties were never really my scene, just too many people and too much noise, but Hugh had been insistent, he'd somehow got and invite and didn't want to go alone. Of course we'd barely got here before he was out on the floor, making a fool of himself trying to dance with the girls that were clearly showing no interest. I gave it even odds I was going to have to get him away from a jealous boyfriend before the night was over. Well, looking at some of the girls he was hitting on it might be an irritated girlfriend. The man could not read body language. At least he was quick with a line and knew when not to push too far, so he was usually just a laugh and a story not a pest.

I might not be able to dance, but I did enjoy the music, so I leaned on my table, supped my drink and just enjoyed watching the crowd sway and move to the music. I might not be able to dance, but sometimes I could just let the music take me and get lost in it. Just let my eyes unfocus a bit and enjoy the music and the movement. The sight of a brunette flitting through the crowd across the room reminded me of another party, another dance.

So very long ago now, I'd thought I was all grown up, but just a kid really, and she'd asked me to take her to the rave. I guess going with someone was a good way to avoid unwanted attention, because Siobhan would always draw an eye whenever she went. It had been one of those few nights where I just let myself go, get lost in the music, I'd danced with her, she didn't want to dance alone so I'd just moved and let the music take me. I had such a crush on her in those days, but I was hardly the kind of guy she'd go for, dancing with her had been wonderful. Right up until Mason cut in. It was pretty clear that she wanted me to leave them to it after that, the way she danced with him, she seemed almost angry I was still there.

So maybe dance parties were my thing with the right partner. It was a very long time ago, but I still hadn't med anyone like her. That brunette really did look a lot like her, wait, that was Sibohan, I'm sure it was. Still, not like she'd remember me after all these years.