It's called Second skin. I know it before she even says the name. It's the same place that caught my eye the first night I arrived.
After the spa session, I stepped out to pay not before I took her phone gently from her hand, punching in my number, and saving it under my name.
By the time the sun dipped low, I stood in front of the full length mirror in the penthouse suite, one earring in, one still waiting on the counter. Gemma by the dresser, still on her phone. She stands up, "They're here," walking towards me, she links her arms through mine. "You look great An, I picked good" she smiles resting her head on my arm. I have to admit, the tan leather mini skirt and the jet black long sleeve asymmetrical crop top, with one side cut open that leaves just enough space for my tattoo to peak out from my shoulders, paired with a black platform ankle boots made me look nothing like the woman who lands corporate deals back home.
And exactly like the woman I don't let out enough.
Music spills into my ears the moment we enter. It's a ginormous old colonial opium den themed bar hidden behind a secret curtain in a tiny inconspicuous bar. In short, it's unreal. When we first walk in, it looks like a small bar then we walk in further through the corner, opening the curtain to find a gorgeous giant nightclub.
We settle into an open lounge space just off the dance floor, filled with other people on the seats. The couple shake hands with some other guys, saying some words in Thai and some language I guessed, Chinese. "So what do you guys drink" the redhead guy turns to ask. The music shifts into something slower. I don't say much, just sink into the couch, crossing my leg over the other. I feel their gaze on me so I turn back to them. "Magarita." I say while I drape my arms lazily on either side. "What do handsome men like you guys usually drink, hmm?" Gemma laughs leaning towards the redhead. The guy across from her with a sharp jawline, wearing a dangling crystal earring grins. He flicks a glance at the redhead before answering. "Depends on your poison," he says, amused.
"Surprise me then, she purrs with her face turned towards the red head, leaning just a bit closer. "Okay gemgem" The redhead rubs her head while smiling but his smile falters when his boyfriend, dressed in crisp all black locks eyes with him across the table. I catch the moment he straightens up instantly, slowing shifting away from her like he remembered he has a death wish.
"I'll order you something strong then," he says before standing up to disappear towards the bar.
Gemma rolls her eyes dramatically leaning her head on my arms. "Killjoys, all of them" but I don't answer because my gaze is elsewhere. At the far end of the room, half cast in neon haze. My eyes follow her movement, the way her eyes widens, and her smile spreads, makes me wonder what kind of joke she heard. Her little movement seem to know it doesn't do much help holding in place her oversized white button-down that barely reached her thighs. "Ohhh, you have good taste." Gemma purs giving me a slight peck. I frown, wiping the lip stain off my cheek. "I don't know what you're talking about," I turn to look at gemma, pulling on her cheeks. "Don't kiss me like that."
"Oww, oww, alright, alright. I won't do that" I let go of her cheek, looking elsewhere. "But I caught you watching her like that" She grins, her voice low and slow. "I wasn't watching" I lie. The drinks arrive saving me just in time.
"House signature," the redhead says, setting one in front of me and handling the other to Gemma. "A little sweet, a little fire." Before I can thank him, he glances at his boyfriend and vanishes. Smart man.
I stretch my hand towards the table, taking a sip from the drink. Spicy margarita, maybe definitely with mezcal. My eyes drift again and this time my eyes meets hers. I break the moment, dropping my glass half empty on the table.
"I'll be back." I tell gemma who nods. Standing, I walk towards the bar. I need something colder, stronger.
"Vodka" I say "on the rocks with a twist of lime" I ask the hot bartender, he winks at me flashing a dazzlingly smile. I smile back, turning around to lean back when I see her, right in front of me. My eyes narrow, up close, she's even more arresting. Her shirt's still half buttoned, revealing the smooth, tan dip of her collarbone and the edges of ink curling down into God knows where, making me anxious to know what kind of tattoo is deep down there.
"New here?" she asks in fluent English, her voice velvet with a rasp. My eyes moves back up to hers. I take the glass, raise it slowly to my lips while I stare at her. I look away in search of a certain light bulb, I see her across the lounge, tossing me a wink and a wild thumbs up like this is a damn rom com. I shake my head at her, laughing under my breath.
Turning back, I meet her brown eyes. "Something like that." She leans her hip against the bar, studying me. "You always this quiet?"
"Only when I'm deciding"
"Deciding what?" For a while I stare at her.
I lift my glass again, tilting it toward the bar. "If you want a drink, that's where to get one."
Her lips tug into something half amused, half hungry. "You offering?" I meet her gaze, cool and levelled. "I'll pay."
Her eyes spark but she doesn't turn to order. Instead, she steps closer, reaching gently for the glass in my hand. I let her take it but I don't move.
She turns the glass and sips slow, wrapping her lips around the same spot mine did. "I was drinking that," I murmur swallowing a saliva.
But instead of apologizing, she places the glass aside, steps in, and kisses me.
Soft.
She parts my lips, passing the rest of the drink into my mouth, vodka and heat sliding down my throat as I take it without flinching. She pulls away slowly, not fully, I still feel her breath on my face. She moves back in and her lips brush mine again. "There" she says moving back further but closer than before. I don't move, I barely blink.
The intensity and hunger I see in her eyes makes me move a little, inching closer and she leans in again, barely whispering, "A little topping." And just as our lips meet again, a loud shout cuts through the music.
"Are you insane?!" We both turn. I spot the redhead trying to hold back his boyfriend who is standing over the guy with the dangling earring from before, on the floor with a bloody lip. The boyfriend punches the guy again but before he could land another, the redhead manages to pull him off him.
"Stop! Naht, what are you doing?" The redhead stands in between the two and I catch the fleeting smirk on the guy face, guess he still wants to be punched. And the boyfriend, Naht, rushes towards him in anger landing a punch or two.
"How dare you touch him, you bastard?" Fuming, he pushes aside his boyfriend holding onto him, he falls to the floor, hitting his arm by the chair. Realizing this, he rushes towards the redhead.
In frustration, the redhead screams while holding onto his arm, now sprained, still on the floor. "What's wrong with you?! Weren't we just playing the dare, why are you making it a big deal?!"
Fuming, he points at him in anger. "You were grinding on him in front of me! And he didn't have to kiss you!! You dare tell me it's just a dare?!!"
"I didn't even know Soong…"
"Save it. I deal with you at home."
He pulls the redhead up, grabbing him by his arm. The redhead tries to pull away, but his grips only tightens. Soong stands up wiping his lips, "Let him go, Naht"
"Soong don't worry about….."
"Wanna get out of here?" The woman beside me says casually, obviously turned off by the situation. I hesitate, eyes scanning the room. "I came with her," I say, nodding toward Gemma, who now seems to be laughing it off with someone.
"She's fine," she says. "She's with Teena, my friend." I don't move still staring at Gemma. Perhaps feeling my gaze, she looks up to me, winks and mouths something along the line "…I'm good, have fun."
I feel her wrap her hands around mine, inching closer, "Please, please, please, come on." She whispers, each word, soft and sweet.
I laugh under my breath, my shoulders relaxing. "Alright," I say, finally. "Let's go."