Once Rejected, Twice Denied.

Chapter Twenty-Five

TESSA POV:

My eyes light up as Ray and Lili pull me into the club. At first it seems like I am squinting into a massive strobe light as it moves across a dark shadow of mist. At first glance it would seem there is no life in here, but my eyes widen and my heart rate increases as the light starts to touch the swaying heads of other people dancing on an enormous open floor. I couldn't even begin to count how many people are here.

"It's packed tonight!"

Lili squeals and then grabs my hand to drag me with her to the bar. I squeeze past other bodies. They are all so sweaty!

"Three tequila shots!"

Ray whistles at the bar tender and he nods with a wink. Despite the club being full of sweaty people, it is really smart. The bar tender and all the waiters are wearing black suits. Lili passes me a small glass with golden liquid inside and I give her a "not happening" type of look.

"Oh, don't give me that look. You can't come to a club like this and not have one drink!"

"Besides, Brett is here with Nick and a few others and you might need the liquid courage if you are going to be facing him in THAT dress."

My eyes widen now at what Ray says. She is wearing an evil smile and her eyes have a playful glint in them. Lili is also giving me a weird look and a cheeky grin. They knew the guys were going to be here and they didn't tell me! All of a sudden the room feels even hotter as I realize I will be seeing Brett for the first time IN THIS. My cheeks become hot as I look down at the silver-beaded dress I managed to squeeze into before coming here. Lili convinced me and told me it is a "clubbing killer!" before buying it for me awhile back. The little beads are like tiny drops of rain that shimmer under the strobe lights of the club. Its ivory edges only cover my ass, but the beads have little tassels that dangle a little further down my leg. The girls giggled in the room and told me I mustn't bend down too much as they threw a thong at me. Ray borrowed me a pair of her white heals and Lili curled my hair loosely. I wanted to wear some of her accessories, but Lili convinced me to not and said that the dress on me is an accessory in itself. So the only thing accompanying me tonight is the winged eyeliner and bright red lips they skillfully painted onto my face. I wanted to pack my new, black, leather jacket to keep warm, but Ray threw it back in my cupboard saying that it will get in the way at the club and that I will won't be anything but hot by the time I leave. Her and Lili had weird, sneaky looks on their faces then too. Now that I look around, everyone chose dark colors and I look like a beacon standing out. This makes me panic a bit.

"Fine."

I pour the little shot into my mouth and squeeze my eyes shut before coughing.

"s**t!"

Ray laughs.

"So, my girl does swear!"

I give her a pointed look and Lili laughs. Ray is busy ordering more drinks and Lili links her arm with mine.

"It's really great to be here with you, Tessa. I know you might have your reservations about us and I know you aren't used to the whole friendship or family thing, but Ray and I couldn't be happier to have someone in our girl gang."

Lili's words touch me.

"Besides, it gets a little lonely in the girl corner with all the guys goofing around. Goddess knows having two brothers wasn't always the easiest."

Ray huffs and I smile at this. We all share a moment of laughter and for the first time in forever, I feel myself feeling GENUINLY happy. Sure, I think I may have a long way to go before I actually trust anybody, but Ray and Lili have been with me ever since I arrived and they have been really kind to me.

"Come on, let's go find the guys."

I take a small sip of the white drink Ray got me and pull a face. It's a little too sweet for my taste, but I am grateful anyway. We start squeezing our way through the crowd again and I really have to try not drop my drink on anyone. I smile though. Everyone looks so carefree and the music really is excellent. I have never heard music like this before, but it's giving me an energy I never knew existed inside me.

"TESS!"

I turn my gaze and just as the strobe hits, I see Taz smiling and waving at me from a spot on the dance floor. She got here a little earlier than us. Typical Taz.

"TAZ!"

Lili and Ray look at me and I smile. Just then, a song comes on that has my heart starting to beat fast. Taz calls me again from the dancefloor and Ray laughs now.

"Give me your drink and come find us when you are done dancing it up? We just up there."

I laugh and give them the drink. Just then, I hear the DJ announcing the song and my feet start to move to the rhythm as I collide into a hug with Taz.

"GET YOURSELF READY FOR AVA MAX'S NEW TUNE CALLED DANCING'S DONE!"

And then, without a second thought, he turns the volume up and I find myself getting sucked into the moment. The lights shine on me and as I close my eyes, my body starts to move in ways I never knew possible. With so many people around me, I don't even feel weird about how I am moving. Everybody is doing their own thing. Everybody is lost in the moment. And for the first time ever, I give myself the permission to have fun, let loose and just dance.

_________________________________________________________

BRETT POV:

"Here's the drinks."

I look up and see my sister putting a bunch of cocktails on the table. I won't be having any of those. I am a whiskey, beer and wine type of guy. My whole persona perks up as I look behind Ray, knowing all too well that she came here with Lili. Taz and Tessa. It's been two weeks without her and, f**k me, I am excited to see her sweet little face and smell her intoxicating scent. Lili has already disappeared from behind my sister and is sitting on Nick's lap in the booth and now that I look closer, there is no sign of Tessa anywhere. What the f**k? The only reason I agreed to come here tonight was because Tessa was going to be here and there is no way in f*****g hell I would let her walk around here with all these unmated and horny wolves around. This place is a breeding ground for bad decisions. I would know.

"Calm down, you big dog. Tessa is here."

Ray teases me and I give her a warning growl. My eyes search around a little and now my i***t sister is laughing at me. I keep my cool though and take a sip of the expensive shiraz I ordered not too long ago.

"I don't care, Ray, but I do need to make sure she is fine. You said you would look after her tonight AND I haven't seen her in forever."

I remind Ray and she gives me a sickeningly sweet smile perfect sitting down next to me. Nick and Lili have also honed into the conversation now.

"You don't care, do you?"

I give Ray a stiff look.

"I haven't seen her in a long time."

I don't answer her question. Ray is a clever girl and surely she can pick up the shift in my feelings for Tessa.

"Then I suppose you don't care that she is on the dancefloor right now?"

Ray's smile has become broader and I feel pissed off. I give her one of those questioning looks. Tessa is dancing? Tessa, the same girl who is shy, sweet, doesn't speak much and keeps to herself, is dancing? Ray must pick up on my look of confusion because she laughs now then points her finger towards the dance floor just slightly below us. I have a perfect view of everyone and my eyes follow my sisters nail to the middle of the dance floor. My eyes widen and my heart feels like it has stopped.

"OH s**t, DUDE!"

Nick laughs now and smacks my shoulder, but I don't respond because right now I have no words.

Standing in amongst the sea of dark, bobbing heads is a thick mop of shining, blonde curls and they are moving from side to side as Tessa sways to the catchy tune. Is it the way her dress lights up and makes her look like a goddess in between everyone? Is it the way she is biting her bottom lip or the fact that her lips are a bright and dangerous red? Tess smiles and I feel my jaw twitch. Is it the way her dress is skin tight and squeezing at her cleavage absolutely perfectly or is it that the end of her dress hardly covers that perfect ass of hers? Under the light, I see the tassels moving and to my surprise, I see a little flash of her bum cheek. Is Tessa in a thong? The music dips and Tess bends over, running a hand up her leg to the seductive lyrics of the music. I gulp down the lump in my throat. Yes, she is in a thong.

"f**k!"

Nick curses now and laughs, throwing a pillow at my lap. I still don't move an inch. I am fixed.

Is it the little tassels flicking from side to side as she moves her hips in delicious rhythms? A sweat forms on my forehead. I manage to look away now at my friend, who is in hysterics watching me suffer. I pull the pillow onto my lap a little tighter and Nick gives Lili a kiss on her cheek. I snap my eyes back to the dancefloor. Tessa is absolutely stunning right now, but it is none of those things that have me acting like a horny teenager with a pillow between my legs.

She smiles as though it were her happiest moment. I can smell the magnitude of this moment for her. Tessa is enjoying herself and she looks like a girl who is carefree and here just to have fun. Gone are the walls she has built. Gone is the pain, the hiccups, the hard undertones, the denial and the isolation. She lights up the whole room around her. She makes me feel things inside that I never thought were possible. I've had these feelings before. Iv'e felt this sort of pull and I know how it all works, but she just...

"Fuck."

I shake my head as I curse under my breath. She is doing things to me that I never thought anybody ever could. The pull with her is something else. SHE is something else. My wolf feels it. The bond feels it. I feel it. I look at Nick, Lili and Ray now, who are all wearing enormous smirks on their faces and I down the rest of my wine before ordering another one. It doesn't take long for another glass to arrive in front of me. Good. I am going to need a lot of it with her in that dress.

"You are ENORMOUSLY f****d, my friend."

Nick says as he leans in. I look now at my friend. He knows what I have been through. He knows how hard this is for me.

"She is beautiful, Brett. Inside and out and it IS okay to admit that."

Nick pulls away now and puts an arm around Lili as a laughing Tessa arrives at the table with an equally happy looking Taz. Up close she is even more exquisite. I can't believe my sister let her come here in that outfit. It fits her body way too perfectly and it should be illegal. I look now at Ray and she shrugs and smiles. Sneaky minx! My eyes go back to Tessa now and she has a little sheen over her face from the dancing. I can smell her sweet vanilla from where I am sitting and it's just itching for me to lean closer and slide my tongue over her silky skin. She looks over at the table now for her drink, which I know must be the only available white one there. She doesn't take it though and frowns instead. Does she not like Pina Colada's? I slide my wine glass closer to her now and her bright, blue eyes watch my hand before finally looking up at me. It is the first time she has looked at me tonight. It is the first look we have shared in two weeks since she decided we needed to be "friends" and my mind runs wild with dirty thoughts. Did she miss me like I missed her? Her shining orbs drink all of me in, from the top of my head to the dip of my shirt, hovering over the open buttons at the top and then stopping where the table begins. I feel my skin prickling with anticipation for her approval and the way she bites her bottom lip is all my wolf needs to start howling in my head. Yes, Tessa. Look at me all you want. Look at me in all the dirty ways I looked at you tonight. In all the dirty ways I will look at you moment after moment after...

"Thank you. What is it?"

She lifts the glass up and tilts a small sip into her mouth. I have never been more jealous of a flimsy glass before. Her red, plump lips finally release the edge and Tessa smiles.

"Mmm. That is definitely better than that."

She points now to the cocktail. Nick and Lili are grinning at me. All these people seated at the table know me better than anyone.

"You aren't a Pina Colada girl. I got it!"

Ray huffs now and Tessa giggles at her remark. Goddess, that sound.

"What type of girl am I then?"

Tessa asks and everyone looks at me now. Tessa's little joking question was very flirtatious, even though she is too innocent to know it. I decide to play a little game with her and Ray lifts her eyebrow at me as I lean back in the chair. I allow myself to undress Tessa inch by inch with my eyes, taking my time to fully scan over every detail of her body as her breathing just about stops and her skin turns a little pink. When I look up, I see she has become very flustered and this makes me smirk.

"Well, Tessa..."

I begin.

"There is a scent that is rich, earthy, bitter and sweet all in one. It is an absolute delight to the palate."

A glint of mischief and now Tessa is biting her lip again.

"Versatility is a strong point, you see, I like to wet my palate at both dinner and dessert."

"And..."

She looks at me again and I do another short scan over her delicious little outfit.

"Yip. As I thought. The best part is a full body."

She is a melted puddle in front of me. Lili giggles now and Ray has wide eyes. I love the fact that Tessa doesn't know where to look. Instead, she tries to lift the wine up again. I stop her this time and she gives me a questioning gaze.

"Only if you come sit here."

I tap my lap now, throwing the pillow to my side even though I still have a raging hard on for the glittering goddess in front of me. I have already gone down the path of hell with her tonight, so I may as well continue. She hesitates for a second, but I grab her hand and pull her onto me. A little, surprised gasp leaves her lips as I feel her round ass rubbing up against my hardness. I have to stop myself from moaning out in pleasure myself.

"Well, look at that! Finally!"

Ray beams next to us.

"MORE SHOTS?"

She squeals and then starts to call the waiter again. Tessa is still squirming on me and she has no idea how her wiggling ass is making me lose control right now.

"If I were you, I would keep still, Tessa. It's been a rough two weeks away and you are making it very difficult for me to remain appropriate right now with you."

That is all I have to say to make her go completely still on top of me. I smile at this and then give her the glass of wine before ordering another just like it.

Thats MY girl.