Irresistible Compulsions

||Chp. Seventeen|| "It appears so."

We join the group at a stand up table, sizing up the drinks in front of us.

Everyone has their own array of alcoholic beverages whilst we've each been given a tall glass of coke.

One by one, each member of the group downs a shot, chanting encouragement at one another.

It's not long before fifty percent of us are completely smashed, unsurprisingly it's the blokes who have gone too hard too fast. The girls giggling along at their jokes as they slur their speech.

Dylan laughs along, egging on his mates as he films them making a dick of themselves.

It's the first opportunity I have tonight to really take him in without having his eyes on me.

He's got on a khaki pair of trouser shorts, complimented by a dark grey polo shirt that hugs his chest and arms perfectly.

His hair is combed back and face is freshly shaven which in my opinion always makes a bloke look twice as handsome. Never having been one for beards.

His laughter causes a familiar dimple to appear on his right cheek. I can't help but admire his smile, canines slightly pointier and more pronounced than the rest of his teeth.

He's buckled over, holding onto his stomach as he laughs hysterically at Danny who's taken his shoe off and filled it full of beer, about to skull it.

The rest of the table cackles along, Brooke scrunching up her nose in disgust and embarrassment at the sight before her.

I excuse myself despite nobody paying attention and head off to the bathroom, down a long dimly lit corridor.

Surprisingly my makeup has held up pretty well, minimal lipstick smudging from dinner as I stare into the mirror.

Rinsing off my hands, I dry them on some paper towel before opening the door.

I fall back slightly, stumbling as my body collides with a boulder on my way out, looking up to find a 5 foot 9 tall ex con.

"Shit sorry, guess I wasn't watching where I was going." His words lack sincerity, not quite convincing me it was an accident as he grabs hold of me before I have time to fall back, steadying me with his hands on my hips.

I open my mouth to respond but it shuts again on impulse as I notice how close we are to one another.

He seems to realise this too but does little to resolve it as his hands stay fixed to my sides almost like this is exactly what he followed me down here to do.

Our bodies are flush against one another and thanks to my heels, our faces are a hair's breadth away.

"Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?" He breathes quietly against me, our lips almost touching.

My head shakes slightly, not trusting myself to manage words right now as I try to register what exactly is going on here.

"Well I haven't been able to keep my eyes off you in this hot little dress." His voice comes out sincere though slightly huskier than usual.

The logical half of my brain is screaming at me to step aside and walk away, to stop whatever this is before it's gone too far. However, there's an even louder voice internally shouting 'well then take me right here against the wall.'.

Unsure which voice I want to prevail, I decide on a third option: be a tease and leave him with blue balls. Serves the bastard right.

What I say next feels wrong on so many levels yet gets my blood pumping faster than I imagined possible, my heart beating out of my chest.