Garter

I swallowed hard as I watched Nicholai strode towards my direction. He stared at me intently while carrying the garter. I just forced a smile because everyone was focused on me.

"Hi," Nicholai said when he got in front of me. I cleared my throat and looked at him.

"It’s not obvious that you took the game so seriously," I told him to ease the tension between the two of us.

I heard him chuckle from what I said. I stared at his face and saw the bead of sweat on his forehead. I took my handkerchief and handed it to him so he could wipe it.

"Here. Your forehead is sweating."

"Thanks," he said after reaching for the handkerchief. He immediately wiped his forehead without taking his eyes off me.

"Okay! Let's start cheering Nicholai while placing the garter to the leg of the bouquet catcher!"

We immediately turned our attention to Angel when she suddenly spoke into the microphone.

I made a face. Bouquet catcher? It was as if I really caught it, when in fact I did not. The newlyweds' trip was also very different.

The crowd suddenly became rowdy. And Nicholai’s group was the one who was the rowdiest. Her friends were very supportive.

"Put it on right away so it will be over fast,” I said to Nicholai who was still standing in front of me.

He raised an eyebrow at me. He kneeled his knee and bended the other one.

I tried to remain calm when he took off my stiletto and pushed my gown up. He pushed it just right to the middle of my thigh. His fingers touched my leg and I almost flinched. I feel like I was electrified. I moved my head sideways and tried to calm my senses when he started to put the garter on my feet.

I could hardly imagine why his hand seemed to have a different effect on my skin. I took a deep breath and the others shuddered when Nicholai suddenly moved his head down. He used his mouth and bit the garter as he slowly lifted it upon my leg.

"Fuck! Faster!" I whispered to him.

His mouth released the garter and looked up at me. He was staring at me intently.

"What?" I asked in astonishment because he was just staring at me. "I said please faster!"

“You are still talking about the garter, right?

"Are we talking about anything else?" I asked, frowning.

"I don't know. But the way you said it, it's like we are having sex—"

"What the fuck, Nic?" I said with wide eyes as I covered his mouth. "Your mouth is really nasty!"

"Hey! What's that?" Angel reprimanded so I immediately removed my hand from Nicholai's mouth.

"Hey, Acosta! What's that?" Nicholai’s friend, Hale shouted.

Nicholai just gave them a bored look and then raised his middle finger to them.

I looked at Nicholai with bulging eyes because of what he did.

"You started it," Nicholai scoffed and then continued what he was doing with the garter until he was done putting it on my thigh.

I glared at him. Did he just blame me? He was so green minded!

***

Suddenly my head hurt because of Philip’s wedding. The party was over. Some guests were staying in the hotel and I was one of them. The newlyweds already left for their honeymoon.

I was walking towards the elevator to go to my room. I wanted to get dressed and go down again for a drink. I heard that the Salon de Ning was a fancy nightclub and the bar features Art Deco objets d’art and four-themed, semi-private rooms, inspired by the imagined life of Madame Ning’s fanciful socialite. I would surely try their drinks.

I entered the lift right away when it stopped and opened in front of me. I was about to close it when someone stopped it midway.

My eyes widened when I saw Nicholai in front of me. He entered the elevator once pressing the close button and leaned to the side while facing me.

We were the only people inside the elevator. I was rooted to where I stood while just looking in front of me. I just had to ignore him until I arrived at the floor of my room.

"Are you staying for the night?" He cracked in silence. I looked at his side and smiled at him sparingly.

"Yeah. You too?"

"Yeah," he replied. I saw him licked her lower lip before giving me a smile.

I averted my eyes and the elevator rang just in time.

The elevator stopped at the fifth floor where my room was. I bid Nicholai a goodbye and he just gave me a nod before I left the elevator.

I took a shower as soon as I got inside my room. I dried my hair after and then changed. I wore a maroon sleeveless bodycon dress that hugged my curves. Its length was above my knees. I got my black pumps and wore them too. I put on light makeup, took my purse after, and then checked myself again in the mirror before I left my room.

The live music welcomed me when I arrived at the nightclub. I roamed my eyes around and saw some familiar faces. Some of them were guests from the wedding.

I immediately walked over to the bar counter and sat down on an empty stool. I called the bartender and ordered. I tried their Let it Loose drink. It was a combination of Cazadores Reposado Tequila, Japanese Cucumber, Celery, Granny Smith Apple, and Fresh Lime.

Someone suddenly sat beside me while I was still waiting for my drink. I turned to my side and Nicholai's smiling face appeared on me.

"You're here. Are you alone?" Nicholai asked, as if he was happy when he saw me.

In the elevator earlier, and now here at the bar too? Seriously? Why is Nicholai like a mushroom now? Wherever I am, he will suddenly appear.

My mind said that it was just a coincidence but half of it said that it was not and Nicholai might be following me. But the latter was really impossible. So I just shook it away.

"Yeah. I just want to drink a little. To let me sleep," I replied while turning in front of the counter.

"Here's your drink, ma'am. Let it loose! Enjoy your drink!" the bartender said and then winked after.

I heard a snort beside me that made me turn my head. Nicholai's serious face was what I saw. He was staring at the bartender. Or I may say, he was glaring at the bartender.

I raised an eyebrow. I shrugged and just ignored Nicholai's behavoir and then drank my drink.

I heard him also order a drink while I was just quietly drinking.

"Are you free tomorrow?" he suddenly asked, which made me choke on my drink. "Shit! Are you okay?" he asked, sounding worried. He stood up and gently patted my back as I coughed steadily.

"I'm okay," I said and moved away from him. He was too close and his hand behind my back was not helping. He was kinda making me uncomfortable.

He returned to his seat and I sat in my seat as well. I cleared my throat before I spoke again.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm asking if you are free tomorrow."

"I'm not sure. Why?"

He suddenly touched his neck and averted his gaze before speaking.

"It's been a while since we visit Denierys. Would you like to visit her together?" He gazed at me as if waiting for me to answer him.

Denierys ... My baby girl. I missed her.

I smiled at Nicholai and nodded. "Sure. I would love to."