REBECCA’S POV
It took until after my fourth drink and spending about 10 minutes on the dance floor to realize that the art of seducing wasn’t really an art after all. I hadn’t bought a drink since I arrived and as I swayed my hips to the beat of the music, I could feel hard muscles almost smothering me. It made me uncomfortable but I was self-aware enough to know that I wouldn’t pop my cherry by sitting at the bar and giving men sleepy eyes. Or maybe I would.
Jamie was somewhere, but I wasn’t really interested in her. I forced myself to stop thinking and instead just feel the buzz from the drinks I’d had. The music was also making me feel better. When I wasn’t planning to ruin my own impending marriage, I was actually more of an introvert. But I had a love and passion for anything music-related. I anonymously composed songs on the internet, played instruments and took dance classes whenever I was feeling particularly overwhelmed.
A hand ran slowly from my shoulder to the front of my dress and I turned to face the person. I realized the flaw in my plan at that moment. There was no way anyone would take me seriously if I suddenly announced that I couldn’t go through with the wedding because I was either in love or pregnant with some of the men that filled the dance floor. Most of them looked desperate. If my plan was to work, I’d need the person to look respectable enough. It wasn’t until the man’s hands tightened at my waist that I realized that I was backing away from him. I came to a stop and he moved close until his lips were at my ear.
“Are you shy, scared?” he whispered, licking my ear, and the tell-tale movement of something under his trousers let me know he found that prospect a good one.
I swallowed nervously. I no longer wanted to be here. I had bitten more than what I could chew. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed anything, but even on the dance floor, the guys were much too interested in other things. I strained my eyes and saw a woman throwing a bra into the crowd of hungry men. I’d somehow come to a strip club and was only just finding out.
“I need to use the restroom.” I said in a low voice, and he laughed into my ear.
“Sure. I have access to a private room, but if you prefer the bathroom…” he started pulling me away from the floor and I could see my chances of escape dimming to zero.
“Wait, wait.” I said quickly and he looked at me with something akin to annoyance.
“What is it?”
I raised up my phone and waved it. “I have an urgent call, I’ll be back soon.”
He dragged me back before I could take one more step.
“What the hell?” he growled. “I didn’t tell the f*****g bartender to keep your drinks going so you could tease me at the end. You’ll take your call after you’ve taken care of this.” he shifted against me and I tried to flinch back.
“I’ll pay you.” I said desperately, but he just laughed, pulling me.
My brain rushed to catch up. I could scream, but what was that going to do? There were no bouncers that I could see, and the noise of the music coupled with the excited crowd wasn’t going to do anything. I opened my mouth to scream anyway, but he covered my mouth with his hand.
He was panting now. “Oh, this is going to be fun,” he whispered. “I was hoping I’d find someone who was going to fight me. You’re a dream come true, little girl.”
I bit his palm, but he only laughed. If he was pulling me before, he was dragging me now. I could feel bruises on my wrist from the force of his palm on mine.
I screamed from behind his palm, and just as I guessed, it did nothing.
I looked around. Jamie was still nowhere to be found. I hoped she had gone home. If I was going to get r***d that night, my best friend didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve it either, and I was going to fight tto my last to make sure it didn’t happen. At least the beast hadn’t had the foresight to drug me, so I was still iin control of my faculties.
Screaming hadn’t worked, so I stepped on his foot with force. Unlike Jamie, I was wearing a high heeled boot and it did the work. The man shouted and his two hands loosened on me. I took off immediately. But if I’d thought it would be easy to reach the front door, I was sorely mistaken. The crowd was at its apex, and getting through them was a strugggle.
“Move, move,” I screamed as I pushed and elbowed people but it didn’t last. I screamed as I felt hands grab my hair and my brief pause was enough for him to get the upper hand again.
People were staring now as I screamed and struggled, but no one moved to help.
“She’s my girlfriend.” the guy said. “It’s part of the agreement.” I shook my head, feeling tears in my eyes from the pain but they just nodded and turned their head. The most anyone did was glance back at me uncomfortably but no one moved a muscle.
He successfully dragged me to the door and I stopped screaming. I needed to coonserve my strength, I’d get my opportunity again later. When we got to the door, there was a man standing there just staring at the both of them.
“Move,” my handler grunted out, but he just stared back. I started struggling anew, but like the others, the man’s eyes turned away from me. He turned back to the man.
“Can I see an ID?”
“What the f**k?” he replied, looking around. In his brief moment of doubt, the man nodded at me and punched him in the jaw. Understanding was slow to come, but it did. I stepped on his foot again and he released me with a shout. I ran out, vaguely noticing the man who had saved me beside me. I headed out to the road, but he pulled me back.
I was gearing up to shout again, but I heard his calm voice say, “I have a car.”
I looked at him as he took me in the direction of a small black camry.
“Get in,” he said calmly when he’d opened the door and I was still staring.
“You b***h, I’ll kill you.” The angry shout of my would-be r****t jerked me out of my reverie and I entered and slammed the door behind me. The car started moving immediately and he zoomed off.