In contrast to when I first came here, Paradise Avenue Nightclub is frantic tonight. A long line of people is forming outside the club.
“Would you look at that?” Lora says as she tries to glimpse the entrance.
I grab her by the arm. “This isn’t a good idea. Let’s just go to Caleb’s.”
“Hush! Let’s wait for him here. We wouldn’t have to wait in line. He’s a VIP.”
“His brother owns the club,” I inform her. “What if he doesn’t show up?”
There’s no way he would. Why would he accompany two girls, let alone his students, into a nightclub? Someone from Whitlock might see us here.
“He said he would. I have a feeling he’ll be here.”
I’m sometimes envious of her audacity. I would never have the nerve to call my professors as she did.
We wait for the next five minutes, watching every car that pulls into the driveway to see if Julian is in one of them. But he doesn’t show until a black Rolls-Royce pulls up in front of us.
The professor steps out of the car in front of us, radiating virility. People are staring as if he were a famous person walking down the red carpet. He is wearing a black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and a pair of black military boots, a far cry from what he usually wore as a professor. There’s something insanely beautiful about the way he presents masculinity. He’s revealed many facets of his personality in a fairly short amount of time.
“Thank you for coming here for us, professor,” Lora says warmly.
“Evening, ladies. You two are radiant tonight.” He smiles broadly, but his eyes never leave mine.
“Good evening, professor,” I say, but I can barely get the words out. I just can’t take my eyes off him. It’s as if I’ve been completely enchanted by a magic spell.
“Hello, Anya. I’ll ask this since I’m wondering. I’m impressed by how you directly asked me here, but please fill me in on the backstory.”
He walks towards the entrance of the club, and we follow him. He approaches the bald bouncer with an expression hidden behind a pair of dark ray bans.
“Mr. Sebastian, sir,” the bouncer addresses him formally.
“Danny. The ladies are with me.” Julian motions to us, and the bouncer moves aside to let us in.
Although I’m familiar with the club’s layout, Julian takes us to an exclusive area that I’ve dubbed the ‘Classy Lounge’ because of its plush flooring instead of the bar. We sink cozily into the plush cushion on the black leather banquette, where we have a good view of the dance floor and the other VIP.
“Well, what else is there to say? I’m glad we invited you here, professor,” Lora says as she scans the place. “This club is on fire!”
Julian leans against the seat across from us, his ankle on his knee. “What about you, Anya?” His sapphire eyes meet mine as he cocks his head.
“What about me?”
His eyes sparkle. “What’s your reason?”
“I told you it wasn’t my idea.” I swallow the emotions that threaten to spill onto my face. I can’t tell him I’d like to see him tonight, either.
Lora slaps my arm like she always does.
“Ouch! Please stop doing that.”
“Come on. We both know it’s more than that.” She leans in closer, her hand covering her mouth. “Do you think I’m not aware of what’s going on between you two? I’m not oblivious.”
“It’s not like that!” I exclaim, blushing. I glance at Julian, who is peering at us with a ghostly smile on his lips.
“Fine. I asked her to invite you because she told me about this club,” Lora tells the professor. “Did we answer the question?”
“Fair enough,” Julian says simply, but he sounds disappointed. At the same time, I’m distracted by the contours of his mouth. It is so red and moist. I’m immediately reminded of our accidental kiss, which I haven’t told Lora about. It’ll give her more reasons to tease me.
“Hey, Mr. Sebastian!” Finally, a waitress in a very short black ruffled pinafore comes over to serve us. She leans down, showing off the tip of her cleavage through the top of her low-necked uniform. She runs her manicured finger over his shoulder, but he immediately catches her wrist.
“Not tonight,” he says tersely.
The waitress moves away, pouting in disappointment. “I’m serving you this evening. What would you like to get?”
“Scotch. Single-malt. Neat.” Julian hands her a folded bill that appears to be a tip.
She smiles broadly and pushes the cash into her bra. “And for the ladies?” she asks, her eyes fixed on him.
“Cosmo, please,” Lora requests.
I was going to say a mudslide, but I’m in the mood for something different. “The same with her.”
“Two cosmos then,” the waitress confirms before leaving.
I must admit that I’m relieved that Julian doesn’t allow anyone to touch him. But judging by how sweet she sounded and how Julian reacted, she had probably done it before.
I shake the thought away.
“I guess we’ll have to wait for the drink,” Lora declares. “Let’s go dancing! Please excuse us, Professor.”
Lora grabs my hand and drags me with her toward the dance floor. I feel a bit weird because I’ve lost interest in dancing with random guys since I started dating Kristoff. Furthermore, I feel vulnerable knowing that Julian is close and probably observing me.
I refuse to look at him to calm my nerves and instead start dancing with my best friend. Lora sways her body in sync with the DJ’s eclectic mix of music. I find myself wanting to follow her movements. Once the music possesses me, I close my eyes and dance passionately. It’s an incredible feeling. Music has always been a haven for me.
“Isn’t this fun?” Lora yells, grabbing both of my hands and swinging them together.
We continue jigging around to the pulsing rhythm, giggling to ourselves.
Suddenly, Lora bumps into a fairly cute, tall guy. He turns around with a boyish grin to apologize, but Lora dances with him instead.
I close my eyes again, lift my arms into the air, and continue on my own. I can feel the bodies bouncing off each other, arms to arms, chest to chest. Sweat, smoke, and alcohol odors are mixing, but I don’t mind.
“Hey,” a stranger whispers in my ear from behind me. “I’ve never seen you here before.”
“Yeah, nice pickup line. Very original.” I groan and move away, but he pivots to face me.
“Let’s dance.” He takes my hand in his and spins me around.
“Hey!”
He leans forward, his ear rubbing against my cheek. “I’m Prince. What’s your name?”
What the fuck? “Seriously? Don’t touch me!” I push him away, but he glares back at me, furious.
He yanks me back into his arms, his hands around my waist. In a panic, I cast a glance in Lora’s direction, which is a huge mistake because it allows him to get even closer access to me.
Suddenly, a powerful hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me backward, causing me to collide with a hard surface.
“Get your filthy hands off her! She’s taken,” he bellows at the stranger.
I immediately recognize that defined jaw and melodic voice when I look up.
“Julian!”
Prince’s smug smile fades. He retreats after raising his hands in surrender.
“Are you okay?” he mutters, his thumb brushing against my cheek. His eyes are filled with unfathomable rage.
“Did he hurt you?” He strokes my hair fondly as if he were a worried lover of his girlfriend.
“No, but thanks for that.”
“Come.” Julian gently takes my hand and leads me back to our lounge. Our drinks have already arrived. I sit down and settle in while I take my Cosmo.
I try to make sense of what just happened. The stranger was dancing with me for a minute when Julian appeared near me to stop him as if he were watching us. I take a sip of my drink, almost emptying it.
“Be careful around here,” he warns as if I’m a kid. “Not everyone in places like these is nice.”
“I’m aware, thank you. I’ve danced with the likes of him before,” I sardonically say.
He raises an eyebrow. “Is that so, Ms. Scott?”
“Why did you say I was taken?”
“Are you not?”
“Right now? I’m not sure. Kristoff is in Los Angeles with someone else.”
“I’m not talking about Kristoff. And you’re doing that because you’re upset.”
“Perhaps.” I shrug. “Does it matter?” I’m even more upset now that I remember seeing Kristoff and Candice on that stupid news again. I was supposed to have fun tonight.
“That scumbag had his hand on you without your permission. I had to do something.”
“You had your hand on me too! Did you come here so you could watch me?”
Julian tenses up, and his chest vibrates with a groan. “You asked me to come!”
I finish my cosmopolitan and set it down. “Forget about it, professor. I’m going to dance again.”
I leap to my feet, but he grabs my hand. “Sit down, Anya.”
I wiggle away.
The tension between us rises. I quietly comply.
He props his elbows on his knees and then rubs his face down to his chin. “We’re not getting away from this again. Let’s talk.”
“What talk?” I react wildly, raising my voice to two notes.
“I’m sure you’re not completely oblivious. It’s what’s going on between us. This can’t go on with both of us fleeing every time we have to face this. I’ve tried to let this go, waiting for the right time, but I can’t.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.
My palms begin to sweat, and my heartbeat becomes audible over the beat of the music. This is what I’m afraid of.
“What are you expecting me to say?”
He exhales forcibly. “Tell me this isn’t just me...”
My shoulders slump. I didn’t want to say anything until Kristoff confirmed I’d lost him. I wanted to wait until he said it himself. But then, there’s Julian. He’s confusing me and making me feel things I shouldn’t.
“Tell me,” he whispers, “that I’m not the only one who feels something...”