Mady's words continuously replayed in my head. "Our first double date!" She squealed over and over again. No matter how much I protested, I knew she was right. How did I go from "I don't date" and deciding it would be better to put some distance between me and everyone, to going on a double date? And add in I told myself from the first time I met Dmitri that I had to stay away from him. I did a bang up job of that so far. I was totally asking for a world of hurt. Not to mention the half a dozen times I picked up the phone to cancel but chickened out right before I hit the send button.

Pulling into a parking space across the street, still debating if I should turn around and go home for the millionth time since I started getting ready two hours ago. Biting the bullet, I turned off the engine than climbed out of the car. Ok that was the first step now for the second, taking a deep breath before ordering my legs to move forward.

The patio was full of people having a good time, laughing, drinking, while the sound of the bass from the band poured out onto the street. The bar seemed to be hopping for only being 10 pm. Looking up I saw the sign. "B.B.W. Huh I wonder what that stands for?"

"Pardon?" A gentleman on the sidewalk passing by asked.

Jumping, startled by the man's voice, I was confused for a brief second before coming to the conclusion that yes, once again, I was talking out loud. "Ah, sorry just talking to myself," I said, embarrassed.

Giving him a pleasant smile which he returned then he continued on his way. Doing one last adjustment to my clothes as the man kept on walked. Making sure my bra was not showing with my very low cut black wrap shirt, wiping away the nonexistent wrinkles out of the white straight leg slacks then finally swinging my lime green bag over my shoulder. Looking down to make sure my matching coloured 3 inch pointy toe heels had nothing tuck to the bottom of them. Inventory done, I walked across the street.

I saw a few familiar faces and with a smile and a wave I headed towards the very large bouncer standing at the door. Squeezing past the 250 lb. bouncer he had to steady me as the once again assault of the feeling of ants crawling up my skin, shiver racing down back, followed by goose bumps and breath stolen for the briefest of moments.

"Are you OK, Sam?" the bouncer, who I was pretty sure I have not met before, asked. He must have seen the stunned looked on my face. "Small town remember," he smiled, "I'm J.J., Dmitri's head bouncer," he added holding out his hand.

A shock surged up my arm when I took his hand. It was not as strong as before but still enough that had me fighting not to pull away from his touch. "Nice to meet J.J." I said, smiling before I headed further into the bar.

Looking around for any site of Mady and Nate who said they would be here first. Instead my eyes landed on Dmitri right away, taking a step in his direction, only to stop midway due the intense looking conversation he was having with someone I could not see. Dmitri took a small step back to reveal who he was talking too. A possessive instinct to run over grab that bitch, Alexis, away from him was instant and powerful.. The intensity of that unfamiliar feeling was the only thing that stopped me dead in my tracks. Deciding to look for Mady, I went in the opposite direction. Catching a glimpse of Dmitri forcefully removing Alexis' hands that were fondling his chest put a smile on my face.

Making it about halfway through the bar looking for Mady I practically jumped out of my skin as two thick tanned arms snaked around my waist. Warm breath trickled across my neck as his velvet voice encased me.

"I can't decide if you smell as good as you look," he whispered, lips grazing the top off my ear sending a shiver down my spine,. "And you do like good," he purred.

Dmitri tightened his grip giving me an up and close feel of his chest to his growing arousal state that was set firmly against my lower back. Fighting the impulse to do a little rubbing of my own, I found my voice. "Thank you." Patting his arms so he would loosen his grip, I turned around to face him. The loss of physical contact didn't last long as he took my hand in his.

Without hesitation, I closed my hand around his. Meeting those beautiful warm, caring, lust filled eyes; the background noise faded to nothingness, while the other bar takers disappeared. Standing here in front Dmitri, as if we were the only two people left in the place. If the world ended at that very moment all would be fantastic.

"Hey there," I broke the silence.

"Hey yourself. You look absolutely amazing," he replied.

Taking a half step back, starting at his eyes, travelling down his chest, wondering what it would look like without that form fitting white ribbed shirt, eyes still moving down to his snug dark jeans to notice I was not mistaken before. Stifling a laugh, eyebrow raised, "So do you. Pants feeling a little snug?" Looking back down to his thickening bulge.

Closing the distance, bending down to whisper in my ear, "This seems to be my natural state when you are around," he informed me.

Grateful the place was dark as the heat rose from my chest giving me a nice shade of pink from his confession. "Do I apologize for that?" I let out an awkward laugh. Before he could answer someone bumped into me, breaking our private bubble. The music and customers, that were forgotten as we took up valuable space in the middle of the dance floor, seemed so much louder then when I first walked in.

Still hand in hand, Dmitri led the way to a couch in the far corner. Sinking in the black plush leather couch, the waitress comes by handing over drinks we never ordered. Giving him a questioning look he just smiled and winked.

Finally giving myself time to look around as Dmitri talked to the waitress, I noticed that there were couch's placed all along the walls with red sheer curtains as dividers. A stage sat in the corner with a dance floor that took up about a third of the bar. The place was busy, almost too busy for my liking. Bar height, tables and chairs took up most of the rest of the floor. Windows all blacked out with a few neon signs. Tables, chairs, and even the bar was black with red table clothes and leather padded seats. The floors looked like black glass and the walls were also painted black. It had almost a Goth feel to it but the clientele that ranged from casual to business attire said different.

From the corner of her my eye I noticed a curtain closing around one of the couches. Looking up to see that all the areas holding a couch had tracks on the ceiling giving them their own privacy. The feeling of being watched pulled my attention back to Dmitri, where he sat patiently waiting for me to finish looking over his bar.

"I like it," I said impressed. Tilting my head in the direction of the now closed curtain, I added, "Who needs to run into the bathroom when all you have to do is a line on the table." I was not a fan of the drug scene at all. If he didn't know about that he did now.

"No," Dmitri said, looking disgusted that I could even think that never mind say it aloud. "No drugs. What people do outside my bar is not my concern but inside is my business...Trust me Sam, I do not allow drugs in here," he said with conviction.

Shocked by the stern of his voice, I sat up straighter and replied, "I didn't mean you...I didn't mean anything by that. How do you know what people are doing behind closed curtains in a loud bar? Do you have cameras or something?" I asked, and started to look for hidden cameras.

He laughed, more relaxed. "No cameras. My staff watches and pays attention to every detail. Not much gets past them. Plus I don't need cameras," he slid closer, "My imagination is vivid enough, I don't need to see anyone's slap and tickle routine to give me any ideas," he teased.

That comment alone was all it took for my imagination to run wild. Was it getting hot in here? Feeling his warm breath against my neck. Oh it sure was. My face reddens as flashes of X-rated imagines go through my mind. Dmitri eyes sparked with a mischievous glint. If I didn't know better he was reading my mind. Lust echoed from my eyes to his, the gap slowly closing between our lips, just about to touch then...

"Well isn't this cozy," the venom from Alexis' voice did more damage than a bucket of ice water dumped on our heads would have.

Head snapping around to see Alexis standing in front of us; arms crossed under her ample chest and hip cocked to the side tapping her foot. "Is this how you are running your bar these days Dmitri? Letting in any new trailer trash that rolls into town?" she hissed, staring daggers in my direction the whole time.

Dmitri jumped up so fast I barely seen him move. Hand wrapped around Alexis' arm before I had a chance to blink. Startle by Alexis' comment, the quickness of Dmitri's movements and the hatred that seeped out of his eyes as he stared at Alexis, had me immobilized. All I could manage to do was stare.

"That's enough Alexis. I thought you left?" he growled, tightening his grip around her arm.

Acting as if this conversation was boring, Alexis blew a strand of hair that fell on her face. "I wasn't done my drink yet," she said, nonchalantly, "Plus, I figure you will need a real woman when you're done with," sneering at me, "this," she spat.

"That's it, I'm done." With a wave of a hand, two bouncers started to move forward. "You're leaving now. For the record you will not be allowed back in my bar until I say other words." Turning to the men that just arrived, he told them, "Escort Alexis out of the bar. She is band until further notice. Make sure you tell J.J. and the rest of the staff. If anyone lets her in it will be immediate dismissal. Do you understand me?" Getting nods of acknowledgement, he released Alexis' arm.

Shock showed all over Alexis' face but quickly turned into disbelief then hate as she glared down at me, and then looked back to Dmitri. "You are kicking me out?" she screeched, "For her!"

Nodding to his men, ignoring her last question, I watched the bouncers take her by the arms and escorting her to the front door.

Sitting there feeling very uncomfortable of what I had witnessed. That was very clearly a lover's spat. Standing up quickly, I moved to the other side of the couch needing distance between us. Seeing the confusion on his face after I moved. I knew a quick get away without even a goodbye was not going to work, I stammered, "I...Uh...I'm going to go." Turning on my heels, I slid off the couch and started to leave. There was nothing I wanted her hear him say about what I just witnessed.

Not making it a step before an arm snaked around my waist, lifting me off the ground to be in midair tossed onto the couch before I knew what happened. Curtain closed, him straddling across my hips with my hands pinned against the couch above my head before I had a chance to move.

"You, listen to me Samantha. You are not going anywhere," he growled inches from my face.

My brain was still on, "What the fuck?" as I was flying through the air. Thankfully, my trusted old anger was quicker to respond. "I am not getting in the middle of you and Miss Psycho's lover's quarrel," I hissed, struggling to get out of his hold. I knew this thing between us would not last, but that still didn't make it hurt any less.

"No use fighting me Sam, I'm not letting you go," his grip tightened around my wrists, "You will hear me out. First of all, I don't want Alexis. We had a thing months ago and by that, I mean we slept together a couple of times and that was it. We have not slept together in months and I have no intentions on sleeping with her ever again no matter what happens in the future." He was pissed. "You, on the other hand. You I want. Badly. You are the only one I want Samantha McDowell." Lowering his forehead to mine, speaking softly, "I'm not saying that I want you naked under me now...That's a lie, but what I mean is that I want us to get to know each other even better. Go out and spend time with just the two of us."

I just laid there dumbfounded, completely speechless. A minute ago, I was so angry with myself for allowing feelings to grow for this man I knew I never had a chance with and know, he said all this.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he whispered against my lips. Those soft lips gently came down on mine and ended all too soon.

He released my hands and sat up still straddled across my hips. "Are we good?" he asked with a huge smile across his face.

Nodding yes, still in shock of what happened, never mind my lips tingled from that all too brief kiss. I watched him get up with so much grace that it still surprised me how a man of his size could move like that. He held out his hand to help me up.

Pulling back the curtain, he asked, "Would you like another drink?"

"Yes, please," I replied, still completely breathless. 

Dmitri disappeared through the crowd a moment later. I stood to adjust my clothing nonchalantly so people would not think we were just going at it behind the curtain.