Dance For Me Ch. 12

Chapter Twelve: Amateur Night

Sada stopped to study herself in the mirror. Gina, Farah, and Heather had taken her shopping the day before for this "date". I don't know why I agreed to this, she thought, leaning close to the mirror to apply Loreal Lash-Out mascara to her lashes. Alastair had invited her to "Amateur Night" at the club where he danced. Both men and women were welcome to get up on stage and strip, at least down to their underwear. It should at least be entertaining, Sada thought, putting the mascara away and grabbing a lipstick. Oh, and god bless Cover Girl for these lipsticks that don't wear off.

Sada wasn't much of a party girl; the leather pants and small, close fitted emerald green t-shirt she'd bought were as close as she got. The rich red lipstick brought out the paleness of her skin, making her look like a china doll. I hope Alastair doesn't think I look silly, she thought, brushing her hair out of her face. She jumped when the doorbell rang and dashed out of the bathroom to answer it.

"Cute," Alastair teased her, grinning.

She glowered at him. Damn him for looking so good, she thought, studying him. Somehow he was managing to keep up with his busy schedule and he didn't look any worse for wear. His hair was left to hang free down over his shoulders. He wore leather pants, like her, but his shirt was dark blue sheer mesh and he wore a long coat over it of some light, tough material. Sada grabbed her jacket and pulled it on; the end of March was warmer than the end of Feburary, but not by much.

Alastair paused in front of his bike for a moment and studied her. She raised her eyebrows, and squeaked when he lifted her up by the waist, depositing her on the bike seat. Sada clung to the handlebars instinctively and glared at him.

"You look cute like that," Alastair told her, grinning. "You'd make a hot biker chick."

"No way," Sada said, shaking her head and scooting back on bike seat to allow Alastair to get on. "I don't even like being on here with you."

"No worries, baby," Alastair assured her, handing her his helmet. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Grinning, Sada closed her arms around Alastair and clung to him as they drove away from her apartment. Yeah, the motorcycle scared the hell out of her, but she always felt safe with him. I'm a slave to love, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself. Otherwise I would never agree to go to this "Amateur Night" thing. Sada had no intention of getting up on stage, of course. That would never happen in a million years.

She was surprised to be met at the club by not only Heather, Farah, and Gina, but Alanna, too. Alastair's sister looked adorable, although he looked perturbed; she'd dressed in leather pants and a dark blue sheer mesh shirt, like his, although she wore a black camisole beneath hers. She even had a similar long coat.

"You know, Lonnie," Alastair said, sliding an arm around Sada's waist as they headed into the club. "It was bad enough when mom was dressing me and Quinn alike when we were babies."

"I couldn't help it, Ally," Alanna retorted. "You have such brilliant fashion sense, I just had to copy you."

"Quinn put you up to this, didn't he?" Alastair demanded.

Alanna grinned brightly. "Mom and dad, actually. You know Quinn doesn't come down off his cloud anymore these days."

Sorrow flickered across Alastair's face at this, and Sada bit her lip, worried. He shrugged it off quickly, though, and began talking animatedly about last year's Amateur Night. This should prove entertaining, at least, she thought, clinging to Alastair as they wended their way through the crowded tables. I mean, I'd never get up their but maybe Heather or Gina or...or...aw, hell. Sada stared at the table where Andre and Melissa were sitting.

"Alastair!" Melissa called, her honeyed voice grating on Sada's nerves. "A friend told me...I couldn't believe it...you work here? I just had to come see this."

Alastair gritted his teeth and Sada noticed Alanna doing the same. She drew herself up and responded to Melissa before anyone else could. "Not tonight, Lis. Can't you read? Amateur Night...but you can get up there if you want, we know how much you love being the center of attention."

"Maybe you should go up there, Sada," Melissa retorted, smiling sweetly. "A twenty-one-year-old virgin is quite a treat for these folks, isn't it?"

Sada bit her lip, feeling her cheeks heat up. Goddamnit, she thought, sitting down unceremoniously in the chair Alastair pulled out for her. Why did I have to be such a wimp growing up? Glancing sideways at Alastair, she grinned slightly. Why should she want a first kiss or first time from some clumsy boy when she had sexy Alastair?

"You know," Alastair said, leaning forward slightly. "Maybe you should go up there. Don't care about everyone else, but it would be quite a treat for me!"

Alastair grinned lasciviously at her and she glowered at him. Laughing, he put an arm around her shoulders, keeping hold of her throughout the MC's announcements and there first few dancers. Sada watched, sometimes embarrassed and sometimes laughing herself silly, as men and women attempted to dance on the stage. Alastair eventually ended up in conversations with some of the people he knew who worked there, but she, Heather, Gina, Farah, and Alanna had fun watching.

Every now and then Sada glanced sideways to the table where Melissa and Andre sat. They spent a lot of time laughing and whispering to each other, and at one point Melissa left the table. Ignore them, she told herself, staring hard at a skinny white boy on stage who looked like he was having a coniption fit. Ignore them, watch the...eww, stare at the tabletop, don't watch the ugly skinny white boy.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the MC said. "Melissa Hartley!"

Sada looked up sharply and Alastair did the same. I didn't think she'd do it! she thought, blinking in surprise. A second later she found out what Melissa was up to, as Madonna's "Like A Virgin" played while she danced. A sharp pain in her hand, she realized, was her nails pressing into her palm, she had clenched her fingers so tightly. Alastair was expressionless; she couldn't tell if he was angry or not.

"Ignore her," Alastair muttered.

"No," Sada said.

She had an idea. It made her stomach roll to think about, but she was going to do it. Sada stood and left the table, to find the DJ. She explained quickly that she was Alastair's girlfriend, and the DJ and MC agreed to let her go on next. Taking a deep breath, she approached the side of the stage and waited until Melissa finished. I'm losing my mind, she thought, as she stepped up onto the stage. I'm losing my mind, I'm losing my mind, I'm losing my mind...

"Ladies and gentlemen, Sada Scarlett!"

Everyone was staring at her, and she knew it. A small glance at her table revealed five shocked pairs of eyes, although she suspected she saw a hint of curiosity in Alastair's gaze. Sada poised herself in a slightly altered third position as she waited for the music, and began to sway nervously when it came on.

"I've been a bad, bad girl...I've been careless with a delicate man...and it's a sad, sad world...when a girl will break a boy, just because she can..."

Melissa looked outraged. Alastair was grinning, his pale blue eyes glowing in appreciation. Alanna, Heather, Farah, and Gina hooted wildly with the rest of the crowd, cheering her on. This is kind of fun, Sada thought, fighting a smile. She loosened up, allowing the music to infect her. It was a very sexy beat and she moved sinuously to it, swaying her hips slowly, arching her back and tossing her head.

Though she normally would never consider it, she slowly stripped off her t-shirt. Sada had no intention of taking off more than that, although Alastair's whistling made her consider it briefly. She tossed her t-shirt to Farah for safe-keeping and continued to dance, dropping down to her knees. She stretched and arched on the floor, rolled and pushed herself back up onto her knees. Sada scooted close to the edge of the stage and beckoned to Alastair.

He was out of his chair in a second. She reached out for him as he approached the stage, tangling her fingers in his hair. His mouth blazed a trail of fiery kisses down her neck, over her collarbone, down between her breasts, and down her stomach as she arched her back again. Sada shivered, amazed at her own boldness, and gently pushed Alastair away. She stood up to finish her dance; by the time she was done the crowd was cheering, although Melissa looked pissed...especially since Andre was cheering too.

"Thanks," Sada said breathlessly, taking her t-shirt back from Farah.

"You go, chica!" Gina crowed, grinning. "I can't believe you did that."

"Neither can I!" Alastair said.

He hooked an arm around her and dragged her down into his lap. Laughing, Sada wound her arms around him. She was feeling oddly bold tonight and she leaned over, her teeth nipping at his earlobe.

"Let's go home," Sada murmured.

"Home?" Alastair asked, his eyebrows lifting.

Sada grinned. "Your place."

Alastair swallowed. "You sure?"

"I'm very sure," Sada purred. "Let's go."

"Well," Alastair cleared his throat and stood up. His fingers curled around her wrist. "Don't have to tell me twice."

They paused only long enough to grab their coats and, laughing, fled out into the night.

*****

Alastair pushed open the door of his apartment, then automatically shifted his hands beneath Sada's thighs; she was riding piggy-back. He pushed the door closed with his foot and set her down gently, turning around the grab her and pull her into his arms. She moaned softly as he ravished her mouth with his, stealing her breath. Alastair kept his hold on her tight, slowly pulling her toward the bedroom.

His hands traveled beneath her shirt, warming her slightly chilled skin. He was so busy fondling her that Sada, laughing, had to open the bedroom door for him. Her laughter faded into a soft moan as he wiggled his fingers beneath her bra and cupped her breasts, feathering his thumbs lightly over her nipples. Alastair again pushed the door closed with his foot, and backed her toward the bed.

Despite her reassurances, Sada trembled in his arms. She squeaked softly, the sound muffled against Alastair's mouth, as they tumbled to the bed. He pulled back, drawing in a deep breath, and gazed down at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair toussled, and her eyelids heavy. She's beautiful, he thought.

"Sada," Alastair murmured. "You have to be sure. I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself once..."

"I...I'm scared..." Sada admitted quietly. Her cheeks were bright red and her eyes glittered. "But I want...I want to..."

"Sweet Sada," Alastair whispered, finding her hand with his. He lifted her fingertips to his mouth and kissed them tenderly. "Don't be scared."

She sighed softly, her eyelashes fluttering. Alastair lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her tenderly, then started to pull up her shirt. Sada lifted herself off the bed, helping him remove first the t-shirt, then her bra. She shivered and flushed beneath his gaze. Alastair pushed her down gently onto the bed and unfastened her pants. Sada lifted her hips, and he took her pants and panties off in one turn.

"You're so beautiful," Alastair murmured, trailing his fingertips along the inside of her thigh.

He kissed her again. Sada's fingers ran through his hair, down his back, and beneath his shirt. This time he was the one who aided her in getting his clothes off. Getting his pants off was particularily difficult, and both of them were snickering by the time they'd managed. Alastair sat back on his heels and grinned at her.

"If you thought that was funny, just wait," Alastair said, chuckling softly.

He leaned over her to his bedside table and opened the drawer. Sada stared at him, wide eyed, as he held up a condom. Just when her cheeks were returning to a normal color they turned bright red again. She sat up, watching him intently as he opened the package. Alastair raised his eyebrows at her, then handed it to her. Sada blinked.

"What am I supposed to do with it?" she asked.

Alastair laughed at her indignant tone. "Put it on me."

"I can't do that!" Sada said incredulously.

Alastair couldn't help himself; he cracked up. She glowered at him and it took him awhile to sober up. Leaning forward, he caught some of her hair in his hand, gently tugging her gaze upward.

"You are so cute," Alastair murmured, grinning brightly. "Here, little dancer, I'll help."

Fighting his laughter at her wide-eyed expression and the little squeaks she made, he showed her how to put the condom on him. Her innocence was so endearing and oddly arousing. Alastair pressed his mouth to hers and pushed her back down onto the bed once more, his hands finding hers.

"This part is going to hurt," Alastair whispered. "I'm sorry, baby."

He nudged her thighs opened gently. Her trembling was nerve-wracking, but he knew he couldn't stop himself now. Alastair was careful as he slid inside her; even with the condom on, she was so tight that he groaned softly. He closed his fingers tightly around hers and moved, in one stroke, all the way inside her. Sada's gasp of pain tore him apart, and the tears that ran down her cheeks made him feel helpless.

"Don't cry," Alastair murmured, kissing the tears away from her cheeks. "Don't cry, little dancer, please."

"I...I'm okay," Sada told him. "Really..."

He continued to kiss her, lying as still as he could to give her time to adjust. It was a form of torture, really. Alastair coaxed her mouth open with his, teasing her tongue and the inside of her lower lip. He thought he might go crazy, holding himself still inside her, until he felt the shy, experimental shift of her hips. Sada peered up at him, her green eyes watery and a wan smile on her lips.

He moved slowly, carefully inside her. Alastair couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this. There was a longing to please her, a longing stronger than any he'd had in so long. As she began to shift beneath him, making little noises in her throat and awkwardly meeting his hips with hers, he felt a strong pleasure completely different from that of her body tight around him. Alastair bent his head to kiss her again, teasing her lips with his.

He wouldn't have believed himself capable of such tenderness. He kissed her everywhere, finding sensitive places on her neck, her ears, and at the corners of her mouth. His fingertips stroked her palms and over her wrists, down her arms. Alastair was so busy focusing on her that her cries caught him by surprise. He felt her body tighten around his and groaned, burying his face against her neck. Her fingers wound tight in his hair and he couldn't hold himself back, listening to her cries as she came.

Sada's heartbeat fluttered wildly. He listened to the sound of her breathing as he caught his own breath. Sweat dripped down his back. Alastair lifted himself up off her and gazed down at her. She smiled and winced slightly as he pulled out of her. He stretched out next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Are you okay?" Alastair asked.

"It hurts a bit," Sada admitted. "But I don't mind."

She snuggled against his side and laid her head on his chest. Alastair ran his fingers through her sweat dampened hair. I thought this part of me was gone, he thought, but she makes me feel so...warm. Sada sighed heavily and closed her eyes, and he knew she was sleepy. Still, he had to know...

"Why did you do that?" Alastair asked. "Dance, I mean."

"That bitch," Sada murmured sleepily. "She deserved it. She was trying to jab at you, more than me, I know. That's how she is."

"Still," Alastair said. "She's not worth it."

"I won't let her hurt you..." Sada's voice faded as she drifted off. "You mean the world to me, Alastair."

Alastair sucked in his breath sharply, surprised. Sada was asleep; she didn't realize what she was saying. But it felt so good, he thought, gazing down at her in the dark. To be important to someone like that. Melissa had never made him feel like that. He'd loved her, but she'd never made him feel truly warm and wanted, made him feel like he was the center of the universe. I wish I knew how, little dancer, Alastair thought, closing his eyes. But I don't have the words to tell you how I feel.