The Heart Of You ♚ Jim Moriarty

One

Their bodies moved in an erotic wave. Hands squeezing, groins thrusting. Sweat pooled on the edge of their brows and their lips connected with animalistic passion. Tonight they entertained the animal part of themselves, the part that only cared about skin on skin. They could deal with any consequences tomorrow.

Alaina watched her best friend dance with a man she had met not even an hour before. Pushing herself against him, his hands running over any exposed skin. Alaina sipped her drink and stared in astonishment. Kenna was an oddity to her, she always had been. Her confidence seeped from her pores, pulsing into the room around them. Alaina sank deeper into her booth and finished her drink. How much longer until it was socially acceptable to go home? She could only stand to watch so much of a strange man shoving his tongue down Kenna's throat before it was disturbing.

Alaina had been looking forward to this night since Kenna suggested it, and although she should have expected it, she was hurt at how quickly Kenna was willing to ditch her for a piece of fresh meat. Tomorrow she was sure she would call to apologize for leaving her alone, and then describe her late night adventure in vivid imagery. Alaina tapped her fingers against the table— one more drink, she thought. One more, and then I'll say goodnight to Kenna and her pet and be on my way.

She grabbed her purse and scooted to the edge of her seat to walk towards the bar. A towering figure sauntered to the table.

"You're not leaving so soon are you?" The man winked a bright blue eye at Alaina and scratched at the small scar below his chin.

"I'm sorry?" She said raising her voice over the music.

The man took this as an opportunity to slide in next to her, his long arms snaking around her shoulders as he leaned towards her ear.

"You look like you could do with a good time." Alaina tensed at his unfamiliar touch. She wasn't like Kenna. "I'm Travis. What's your name?"

Alaina's nose crinkled and she balled her fists as she tried to scoot away. Every time she moved Travis would close the space between them. When he opened his mouth a sour smell made her eyes water.

"I'm with my friend," she said scooting further.

"That's an interesting name. Is it Italian?" When he smiled at her she found the root of the smell. His top teeth were black around the gums, like he had brushed with tar, and his bottom row seemed to be following suit. Alaina shot up and began to make her way to the bar. If she could lose him in the crowd she would slip out the front doors and go home, but if he came after her she wouldn't risk this man following her outside.

"Lemme buy you a drink," he offered grabbing her wrist before she got away. His skin was sandpaper and he used his nails to keep hold of her.

Alaina took in a small breath and tried to pull her wrist from him. She peeked at the dance floor to find that Kenna was nowhere to be seen. Her heart was pounding in her ears and the air around her became stiff. She forced herself through a sea of intoxicated bodies, Travis still hanging on to her like a hair on her back she couldn't quite swipe off.

"Please let go of me. I need to find my friend," she whispered more to herself than to the flea behind her.

"I'll be your friend," he said with a twisted laugh.

The man had no problem tightening himself around her wrist. To him he was a proud boa and Alaina was a garden mouse, ready to nourish him. Alaina's mouth went dry noticing how comfortable he was with his actions. He wasted no time grabbing her, almost like he had done this dance before and knew exactly when to turn his unwilling partner and lead.