Language of Love

Chapter 17 - Icebergs

Laughter and loud music filtered out of the Icebergs as Troy held the door open for her. She'd barely stepped into the bar before Caitlinn and Sam pounced on her. Caitlinn had changed into a figure hugging red dress and Sam was in a navy blue maxi dress with killer heels.
"Sorry Gonz, we're stealing Abi for a bit."

They each grabbed one of her hands and dragged her away. She looked back to see Troy watching her and a large gathering of lifeguards around several tables and at the bar. Waving, Troy turned to join his colleagues.

The girls dragged Abi out of the bar and towards the swimming pool changing rooms.
"Where are we going?"
"Abi we love you, but only you would happily go out to a bar full of fit men and not care that you are still wearing the slightly sandy sundress you've had on all afternoon." Caitlinn told her.
"We've got you a dress. It's a thank you for covering all my classes the other week." Sam said.
Caitlinn shoved her into a changing cubicle then threw a bag at her.
"Change quick. I've got makeup here too."
Abi opened the bag and found a black A-line dress in a beautiful lightweight material with simple lace trim round the waist and a v cut neckline and back, with scalloped lace on the edge. There was also a pair of low black heels and lacey black underwear.
"Sam, this is beautiful. You shouldn't have."
"Hurry up and get it all on." Caitlinn said. "I wanna see Gonzos face when he sees you in it."
Caitlinn wanted to go full makeover, but Sam managed to convince her to let Abi do her own makeup. Minimal mascara and a little lip gloss later, Caitlinn stuffed all Abi's things into the shopping bag and shoved it in 1 of the lockers, putting the key in her bag.
"We can grab that tomorrow."

The young women entered the bar. Caitlinn dragged Abi towards a table at the opposite side from the lifeguards where several of the language school staff were gathered. She passed her a flute of champagne.

Sat at a table with Maxi, Mouse, Jake, Bacon, Beardy, Chappo and Whippet Troy sipped his beer whilst scanning the bar to try to find out where Caitlinn had dragged Abi off to.

Mouse nudged him and pointed towards the other side of the bar with a shit eating grin. Troy turned and saw Abi talking with her friends. She was always beautiful but now she was in a black dress with a plunging neckline and she looked stunning. All he could do was stare as she scanned the room, spotting them and beginning to head towards them. Whippet reached across the table and waved his hand in front of Troy's stunned face, laughing.
"Damn!" Said Bacon, eyeing up Abi as she came closer. Troy had risen from his seat and was heading to meet her.
"You're way too late to have a hope there, mate. Those 2 are totally gone for each other." Whippet said.
"Yeah, Whips predicting marriage in their future. He's practically adopted Bambi as a little sister already." Chappo put in.
Beardy laughed. "She's a darl."

"Hey." Troy said, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck as was his habit when nervous. His eyes roamed over her hungrily. "You look amazing Abs. I'm gonna have to forgive Fangirl for stealing you away."
Abi blushed.
"Not sure I should take you over to the guys. They might want to steal you away, too." He said, drawing her in close. But despite that statement, he placed his hand gently on her lower back and guided her towards the table he'd just left.

"Bambi!" Whippet shouted in welcome.
"You look hot!" Maxi exclaimed as he jumped up to hug her, squashing Bacon and Chappo as he reached across the booth from his seat at the back.
"See." Troy whispered into her ear, but his tone was good-natured.
Maxi scrambled over the others, who protested loudly, and shoved Chappo to move up and make more room.
"Take a seat, lovebirds." He gestured grandly at the space he'd created. "Beer?" He asked. There was a chorus of yeses and Maxi disappeared off to the bar.
Abi slid into the booth, and Troy sat beside her, pulling her close to his side again.
"Where's Gina?" Abi asked Whippet, then looked around and realised for the first time that none of the lifeguards had wives or partners with them. "Oh!" She looked uncomfortable.
"You didn't gatecrash Bambi. Partners are always welcome. Just think they get sick of us and prefer some peace and quiet for a bit." Whippet reassured her. "Gina will probably turn up later with a few of her workmates."
"Plus, if you weren't here, we'd just have to put up with Gonz pining over you." Jake laughed, then winced as Troy kicked him under the table.

Reidy and Maxi arrived with the beers and Maxi placed one in front of Abi.
"I can get you another fancy champagne flute if you prefer?" He offered in a terrible English accent. Abi flicked beer at him and happily took a sip.

Maxi soon decided it was time to dance.
"Come dance Bambi." He whined, pouting.
"Enough of the puppy dog eyes. I'll dance." She laughed and squeezed across Troy's lap. He settled his hands on her hips and stopped her continuing.
"Told you they'd steal you." He said. She rested back against his chest and twisted to look round at him. "You could dance too." She suggested.
"Might need a few more beers first." He said. She wiggled teasingly in his lap then slipped from his grasp to join Maxi on the slowly filling dance floor.

Maxi pranced around like an idiot and Abi laughed at him, then threw herself into imitating his crazy dance moves. Harries whooped from the bar and abandoned his drink to join them. Jake jumped over the back of the booth to escape his seat and followed Harries to the dance floor. The 3 lifeguards and Abi jumped around, competing to come up with the stupidest moves.
Beardy laughed. "And I was thinking she might be a sensible influence."
Mouse jumped the booth as well and joined the dance floor, lifting Abi above his head. She shrieked, giggling hysterically in protest, as she held her dress down with one hand and swiped at Mouses head with her other.
"Oh fuck it." Troy sighed and slipped out of his seat to join them. He rescued Abi from Mouse, who released her willingly and grinned at Troy.
"Knew that'd get ya out here." He laughed.
Abi had hold of Troy's hand and he spun her around then joined in with the silly dancing.

Eventually Troy pulled her back to the booth. Abi was greeted by Gina who gave her a hug before dragging Whippet onto the dancefloor. Chappo was talking with Reidy and Tom. Beardy had disappeared off somewhere.

Troy slid back into the booth and pulled Abi down onto his lap. She scanned the room and spotted Caitlinn dancing with Bacon.
"Should we warn him." She laughed, pointing them out to Troy. He rested his chin on her shoulder and she barely suppressed a shiver as he rested a hand on her thigh.
"Nah. Adriel can handle himself."

Jake arrived with Maxi in tow.
"Shots!" They announced.
Whippet and Gina also reappeared.
"Bambi's a lightweight." He warned.
She stuck her tongue out at him, grabbed a shot and downed it, barely wincing as the strong alcohol burnt her throat.
"Yeah!" Yelled Maxi, downing his own shot then coughing and spluttering. Troy reached around her and knocked back his own shot as if it was water and Whippet and Jake did the same. Gina sniffed it cautiously before knocking it back.

Soon more beers were being consumed. Chappo, Whippet and Reidy chugging theirs in a race. Abi remained snuggled on Troy's lap trying to focus on the conversations around her, but very distracted by Troy's fingers drawing patterns on her outer thigh, over her dress.

She dragged him off to the busy dancefloor again, where she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself close. He gripped her hips lightly and pulled her even closer before sliding 1 hand up her back between her shoulder blades to the bare skin exposed there. She pressed her lips to his. His hand gripped her hip tighter as he kissed her.
"Can we get out of here?" He asked.

Dodging the crowds, Troy kept a tight hold of Abi's hand as he led her outside. They paused on the walkway to lean on the white wooden railing and look out to the dark ocean. Abi shivered in the cool night air, and Troy wrapped her tightly in his arms, pulling her back into his chest. He swept her hair to the side and placed kisses down her neck. This time, she shivered for a different reason.
"Yours or mine?" He asked, lips by her ear.
"Mines closer." She replied.

Fumbling for her key to the apartment building Abi tried to concentrate on getting the door open. A difficult task with Troy's hands running over her body and his lips on her pulse point. Finally opening the door she glanced back at him then giggled and made a dash for the stairs. He chased after her, catching her hand on the last flight of stairs. She kept moving, pulling him up with her and through the door to her floor and into her apartment.

He trapped her gently between his body and the wall and toed the door shut. She kissed him as he continued exploring with his hands before lifting her. She straddled his waist and he carried her through the living room and into her bedroom.