Natasha placed her hand over her mouth and stifled a burp. There was so much fizz in the Alco-pops Nadine had been continually supplying her with.
"What about him?" Nadine asked leaning forward in her chair and nodding towards a group of men standing at the bar.
"Which one?" Natasha asked in reply.
"Tony." Nadine said, rising to her feet. "Come on. I'll introduce you."
She was at the bar almost before Natasha had risen to her feet. Nat followed, conscious of the eyes of at least half a dozen men on her.
"Nat. This is Tony," Nadine made the introductions, "and this is Mike and Jem."
Nat noticed Jem's hand was on Nadine hip then it moved behind her back out of sight. Nadine smiled.
"Do you want to dance?" Tony suddenly asked, placing his bottle of beer on the bar.
Nat handed her bag to Nadine and found herself following him onto the area below where the MC's were playing the tunes. It was crowded with gyrating bodies. Tony was moving in front of her and she automatically began her own steps. The tune ended and she stood still for a moment listening to the announcer and his friend discuss what they were going to do in bed later. Then the next tune started. It was a slow one. Tony's hands were on her, pulling her towards him. He was moving his hips, grinding himself against her hips and pubic area. He was nuzzling her hair with his face. She could feel him becoming hard. His hands were moving on her back. One was moving down to one of her buttocks. She reached behind her back and pulled his hand away.
"Let's go back to the others." She said, stepping back from him.
Without waiting for a reply she turned and left the dance area not really caring if he followed or not.
"We're all going to Jem's flat for a drink." Nadine told her as she got back to where they were standing at the bar.
"Not for me." Nat replied, picking up her bag from the counter.
"Come on." Nadine urged. "It will be fun."
"No." Nat shook her head. Suddenly the room was stiflingly hot. She needed some air. "I think I'll go home. I'll give you a ring next week."
Nadine's reply was lost in a sudden increase of sound as the music changed again. Nat made her away to where they had been sitting and picked up her coat then made her way to the entrance. The bouncer opened the door for her and she was outside. She suddenly felt cold and quickly put on her coat. It was starting to rain. She needed a taxi.
"Nat?" A voice behind her made her jump. "Is that you?"
She looked over her shoulder. An old Land Rover had pulled into the kerb-side. Trevor Watkins' head half protruded from the open window.
"Hello." She said, pulling her coat tightly about herself.
It was staring to rain in earnest.
"Where are you going?" Trevor asked.
"Home." Nat replied. "If I can get a Taxi."
"I'm going out on a call." Trevor said. "I can take you home afterwards. It's on Lord Lucktails estate."
"If you wouldn't mind." Nat brushed the rain off the top of her head with her hand. "I'm getting drenched."
"Climb in." Trevor told her, reaching across and opening the passenger door.
Nat stepped out into the road and got in. She pulled the door shut.
"That's better." She said, stifling a burp. "Thank you."
"That's ok." Trevor put the vehicle into gear and pulled away. "I'm not sure how long I'll be mind."
"I don't mind."
"Weren't you enjoying your evening?"
Nat opened the front of her coat and shook some raindrops from it.
"It was all right." She said, catching Trevor's quick glance down at her thighs.
She pulled the hem of her dress down before continuing.
"A friend talked me into going out. She was looking for a man."
"You weren't?"
"Not at the moment."
"I read about what happened in Holland and Germany last summer."
"A year last summer."
"Was it that long?"
"Yes."
It was that long. Nat peered out of the front windscreen. The wipers didn't seem to be making any impression against the rain.
