Page 23 of Thirst

“Well …” I start, but I stop myself before I say something I shouldn't. “It’s just best that they don't.”

“Ah. I didn't know you were the protective type.”

“I didn't know you were either. I saw the look on your face when you came up to the bar. You looked ready to snap. You feeling protective of me?”

She shrugs, playing nonchalant. “Maybe. I just knew what they were doing, and I didn't like it.”

“I like that,” I say with a smirk. “You can rest assured that my interest here is singular. I don't care about anybody else in this building.”

“Just me, huh?”

“Just you.”

“Well, I like that,” she says, copying me playfully.

“I'm proud to say it. Now, you should dance so that I don't have to worry about him saying anything to you. I'm sure they're still looking since I turned them down.”

“I'm sure you're right,” she says as she stands. “You want me just in front?” A devilish smile is my only answer, and she smiles back. “Okay.”

As “Rock the Boat” by Aaliyah begins to play, my Aaliyah doesn't waste any time. She straddles me and pushes her breasts into my face, letting me smell her perfume as she starts to grind her hips. We move together to the beat, our bodies heating up the more we get into it. I look at her body from bottom to top, and when I reach her neck, I see a thin vein protruding from her skin. I sense her pulse in it, and it makes my mouth water. I sharpen my hearing and listen to her blood flowing. It calls to me like a siren on the ocean.

I want to do it. Right now, I want to grab her and sink my teeth in—to feel the warm gush of her blood splatter against my tongue. The thought provokes me, and I feel my fangs elongate and sharpen in my mouth as I struggle to keep it closed. I clench my jaw, fighting the urge, and just as I lose the battle and my lips part, the sound of Von’s voice breaks through.

“Hey. Yo, excuse me.”

I force my mouth closed and turn around to find Von standing outside the booth, a canyon in his brow as he watches us. “Look, I can't have this tonight. You got the whole place thinkin’ that lap dances come with dry humpin’, and that’s not how we get down. So, y’all can either go upstairs, or wrap this up right now. You're doin’ too much.”

“What the hell, Von?” Aaliyah snips. “You didn’t have a problem taking my money, though.”

“Yeah, well, I'm gettin’ complaints.”

I look behind Von and see Shay staring directly at us from the bar, her thoughts revealing her true feelings.

“I'm sick of this bitch. Her bougie ass always thinks the world revolves around her. Now she’s got a rich regular, and she’s rubbin’ it all in my face. I want her outta here.”

A hater, just like Aaliyah said.

“Complaints from Shay?” Aaliyah asks, perplexity on her face. “You can't be serious.”

Von points a finger. “Hey, don't say nothin’ about Shay. It’s my decision, and I say y’all are doin’ too much. So the choice is yours.”

Aaliyah inhales, preparing to snap back, but I raise a hand, signaling for her to stop. I can't let her do it, because if he responds to her again, I’m going to lose control, and if I do that, nobody in here will survive besides me and Aaliyah.

“Alright,” I say. “You want us to go upstairs. Fine. We’ll go upstairs.”

“What?” Aaliyah says with a gasp, but I throw a look with a head nod to let her know to just trust me, and she stops talking.

“Oh for real?” Von says excitedly. “You know it’s five hundred minimum for a room, right? Two-fifty just to walk up the stairs.”

“I'm not worried about that,” I say as I take Aaliyah by the hand to help her climb off of me. I stand, smoothing out my button-up with my free hand before I look at Von again. “Whatever it takes to get you to shut the fuck up.”

Von gasps as I lead Aaliyah by the hand out of the booth. As we go, I hear the sound of her heart rate revving up. We walk past Von as he fumes, furious about being talked to in a way he's not used to. The toddler in him is stepping to the forefront just like back at the casino, and he's going to do whatever he can to save face, especially in front of the people who work for him.

“Hey,” he says, his voice loud and intimidating to everyone but me. “What’d you just say to me? Who the fuck do you think you're talkin’ to?”

When I turn around, my temper ignites like a solar flare. I can't stand it anymore. I've wanted this man dead for too long to just keep taking it. Having to look at his ugly face over and over, hearing his grating voice and seeing his dumb ass outfits has pushed me to the edge. I want to lunge for his throat right now, but I have Aaliyah’s hand in mine and, well, she might notice. I can't let my rage out the way I want to, so I have to resort to secondary measures.

With Aaliyah’s eyes on me, wondering what is going to happen now that her boss looks ready to turn up, I close my eyes. I let out a deep breath and focus, listening to the heartbeats of every person in the room. I hear the ticking of clocks nearby and the monotonous breathing of lungs. I hear the world moving around me … and I make it all stop.