Where My Demons Hide

Chapter Five - Star

Another club night, another night I get that new feeling in the pit of my chest. It was the one that told me I wasn't enjoying the party lifestyle like I used to. I'd been trying to push it away, to fight it ever since meeting Dragon that night.

He didn't sit with me at the club. Instead, he sat at a table close to mine. Other men were walking up to him, no doubt chatting him up. He didn't dance with any of them though. I'd never been brave enough to dance with another man. I wasn't sure why that was. I tossed back another shot and set the class down. For some reason, it wasn't having the effect I wanted, the one that left me numb to the fact there was a man whispering in Dragon's ear with his palm against Dragon's chest and I hated that sight.

"Can I buy you a drink?" Someone spoke close to me.

I made a face. "No, thank you."

"Are you sure?" The man asked, sitting across from me and sliding around in the booth to be closer. "I mean, you'd be so lucky to have my company."

He reached up to touch my shoulder then screamed in pain. I blinked and turned my head and Dragon was there with the man's hand twisted painfully in a weird direction.

"He said no." Dragon growled.

He tugged the man over the table and dropped him on the floor. But like most people when loaded with alcohol, the fool didn't take the hint and Dragon wound up taking him down again—hard. This time, limp and no doubt in pain, the man took off.

Dragon sat at the far end of the booth and went back to his phone. When I peeked, he was reading an ebook. Sighing, I went back to drinking until I wasn't sure which way was up. Eventually, he's had enough and dragged me out of the bar and down the street to a noodle stand. He ordered me coffee and water and when my head was beginning to clear again, he ordered me Bha Mhee Moo Daeng.

As he focused on his plate, I couldn't help smiling. No other man had done anything like this for me before. I stared at him as he slurped noodles into his mouth and couldn't help how full he made my heart. Maybe it was the alcohol, but I wanted him. At nights I lay awake thinking of what it would feel like to have his large hands on me—dragging up the outside of my thighs, my side, cradling my neck. I imagined those palms framing my face, pulling me forward for his kiss. Sometimes imagining him left me hard and panting as my entire frame burst into heat.

I lifted some food to my lips and chewed.

"What?" Dragon asked.

"I didn't say anything."

"You're staring," Dragon said.

"I was?" I sipped some water. "Sorry, khrap."

Dragon tilted his head to stare at me. He set his chopsticks across his bowl and leaned back to keep his gaze on my face. "You're still drunk, aren't you?"

"What makes you ask that?"

"You're being polite." He replied.

I cleared my throat and bowed my head to shove food into my mouth. Having his brown eyes on me was enough to send my body into a gush of flames. This was ridiculous! I'd never been shy around a guy before. Even with the thought Dragon hated me, I still wanted him. Having him smile at me still sent my heart racing—having him be nice to me, still made me giddy.

"You're older than me, khrap." I reminded him.

Dragon laughed softly. "That didn't matter before."

"Well, my father told me I had to be nice." I grumbled while picking up my water for a drink.

Dragon went back to his meal, but he didn't take his eyes off me. His gaze was like a caress and I was pretty sure the moment there wasn't any booze in me, I'd go crazy.