Chapter 18: 17

Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]Words: 11084

Music blared from the speakers and bodies gyrated to the beat of it on the dance floor.

Neither of them were drinking that night. Thelonious because he didn't drink that much as it was, and Darcy because she did not enjoy the light hangover that she had woken up to that morning.

Darcy had a firm grip on Thelonious' hand as she led him onto the dance floor. Once she had found a somewhat empty spot, she turned around and threw him a wide smile.

"Dance with me?" She turned around once they had found a spot small enough for them, her lips upturned into a flirty smile. She wasn't drinking but the music and environment was definitely giving her some confidence.

Thelonious looked uncomfortable, which was quite foreign. For the few weeks that she had known him, she had always thought that he was a pretty confident guy.

"I'm not much of a dancer." He admitted, squirming slightly at his confession. He didn't want Darcy to laugh at him.

She shrugged. "Neither is anybody else here." She gestured to the people around them. "I'm not very good either."

He took a moment to look around; really look. It seemed that she was correct. Apart from a few select people that could actually dance quiet well, most others were either were just swaying around or grinding on those around them. And then there were the few that were going all out under the impression that they danced quite well.

Thelonious winced at the sight. It was painful to watch.

"It seems like I'll fit right in." He mused aloud, muttering under his breath.

Darcy smirked and pulled him closer, moving her body to the beat of the music. Dipping and shimmying, going with whatever felt natural.

Thelonious was not wrong when he said that he couldn't dance, but she didn't mind when he stepped on her feet. He just followed her lead. It felt good to be able to help him, more with feeling comfortable with himself rather than actually teaching him proper dance moves.

It wasn't the case that Darcy was great either. She just enjoyed dancing.

"Are you sure you don't want a drink?" He whispered against her ear, his tongue licking along the outer edge of it tantalisingly.

It appeared his confidence had returned.

Her brain couldn't process any coherent thoughts, let alone a rational response.

"I'm going to get myself a coke." He added.

She pulled away and turned around in his arms so she was facing him now. Looping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down slightly, mouthing her response against his sharp jaw. "Could you get me a lemonade?" She smiled up at him sweetly.

He opted to whisper his response against her lips. "Anything for you."

Her breath hitched and eyes fluttered closed. Her mouth parted just slightly and his tongue dipped in for a quick taste before he pulled away, his lips lifting into a lopsided grin.

Once she had opened her eyes, he winked at her before heading off to get their drinks.

Darcy watched him walk away. She was only annoyed for a brief second before breaking out into a large grin.

He sure did always leave her wanting more.

Thelonious wasn't even gone for a minute before a predator arrived, striking her from behind.

The coward's choice.

When Darcy had first felt the arms around her, she had thought that Thelonious had returned. However, one glance over her shoulder and she knew she was mistaken. Thelonious was not a dirty blonde. "Excuse me?" Her words were polite but her voice was filled with venom as she attempted to get his hands off of her.

She didn't like being touched by a stranger. She didn't know anything about him, nor where his hands had been.

The man completely ignored her as he continued to slide his hands down her waist to her hips. Spinning around, she threw his hands off her, enraged that he believed it completely acceptable to put his hands on her body without her permission.

She hated entitled scum bags like him.

The sleazy blonde just grinned in response, not at all fazed that she had all but thrown him off of her. He clearly did not receive the message as he reached out for her again. His grin only widened when she slapped his hands away. "Don't be like that," he grinned confidently, a stark contrast to the barely coherent mumble that he had produced; his words having slurred together into one big word.

He was standing so close now that she could smell the stench of the alcohol on his breath. He definitely had thrown back a little more than just a few drinks.

She was surprised that he was even able to stand with his level of intoxication. Learning when to stop would be crucial for his health, especially if he wanted to live past forty.

There wasn't really anywhere for Darcy to escape to as she was encaged with people dancing all around her, leaving her to fend off blondie by herself.

"You looked lonely dancing here all by yourself." His words slurred together, and Darcy found herself scrunching up her face in disgust at the pungent smell of his breath.

"I'm not by myself."

"Sure," he dragged out the word, adding a hiccup at the end. Reaching out, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him. Even when drunk, he was physically stronger than her. That irked her immensely.

She hated being manhandled.

He made sure to wrap his arms over hers, minimising her movement as he breathed down her neck. She was completely repulsed. And a little bit scared.

"What's going on here?" A voice sounded behind them, the words sharp and forceful.

"Nothing, man." The man slurred, manoeuvring his body so he now had his back turned to the intruder. He didn't even bother to look up at him.

Darcy didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that it was Thelonious that had come to intercept. Instead, she pursed her lips before thrusting back her elbow with all the force she could possibly muster, jamming it into his stomach.

She must have done some real damage as the man doubled over, clutching his stomach in pain. "Fuck you, you stupid bitch!" He cursed at her, some drool trickling out the side of her mouth.

Darcy didn't retaliate.

The scum wasn't worth it.

When she made to grab her drink, Thelonious handed her both of them.

She watched in amusement as he crowded over the man, wrapping both his hands around the collar of his shirt. Lifting him to his feet again, Thelonious scowled at him menacingly.

It was wrong that Darcy was getting turned on by this.

The man wore anger well.

"Don't you dare call her a bitch!" He was visibly seething and from where she was stood, she could see that his knuckles were starting to whiten at how hard he was gripping the shirt.

The man must have had some common sense as he proceeded to apologise, the fear now evident in his eyes. "Sorry." He stuttered out, seemingly sobering up a little. When his captor still didn't release him, he started blubbering, choosing to turn to Darcy with his apology. "I'm really sorry. It won't ever happen again."

It annoyed her that he had given in so easily when physically threatened, though had persisted even when she had refused his attention.

Thelonious wasn't satisfied with the response, but he was not one to instigate a fight; especially since Darcy was watching. Plus, his opponent was not worthy. "It definitely won't happen again." And with that, he dropped the man like a sack of hot potatoes and watched him land in a pile at his feet.

Stepping over him without so much as a look back or down, he walked over to Darcy, grabbed his drink and threw an arm over her shoulder before leading her away from the dance floor and towards the bar.

He was still angry.

He asked, concerned. His eyes looked down her body, looking for any physical reason to go back and do some real damage to the guy. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

She shook her head.

When they finally reached the bar, there was only one bar stool left.

That natural gentleman that he was, Thelonious gestured for her to sit down. She shook her head. "You sit down." She instructed him, rolling her eyes when he refused.

Instead, she pushed him into it. Literally.

His confusion cleared when she seated herself on his lap, nursing the refreshing lemonade that he had promised her earlier.

Almost as if on instinct, he snaked his arm around her waist and rested it on her upper thigh, partly because he was worried that she would fall and partly because he just wanted to hold her close to him.

Throwing one arm around his neck, she pulled his face down so she could whisper in his ear.

The music had gotten louder and frankly, she wasn't in the mood to shout over it.

"I didn't need you to swoop in to save me." She began, nipping on his ear softly. "But it was really sexy watching you play the hero."

His jaw clenched tightly while the rest of his body relaxed as her lips trailed down the sharp cut of his jaw, her tongue sneaking out to making an appearance every so often.

A pleasurable shiver ran down his spine.

"I wonder if you're this much of a gentleman in bed." The words trailed off her tongue as she looked up at him, her thighs clenching together unconsciously, trying to relieve some of the tension.

Seeing all hot and bothered had affected her more than either of them had anticipated.

"Are you asking me?" He challenged her, quirking a brow.

She replied by pressing her lips against the corner of his lips, moving away when he turned his head in for a kiss. He watched her though hooded eyes, his arm pulling her body closer to his.

"Would you like to find out?" He asked with hooded eyes.

"Yes," she finally kissed him, her tongue immediately diving into his mouth, entwining with his. It was a battle for dominance and once Thelonious had exerted his power and position, he stood up from the bar stool, his arm still wrapped around her.

"We need to get back to the hotel," was all he said before he left their unfinished drinks on the bar counter, grabbed her hand and leaded her out of the night club.

They hadn't been at the club for more than an hour but it was definitely time to go home.

The sexual tension clouded them the whole ride home. Darcy had to physically open the window to escape it. If it hadn't been their first time together, Thelonious would have suggested a quickie in the car.

By the time they had entered the lift to go up to his room, Darcy felt like she couldn't breathe.

The need for him was far too great.

No words passed between them as he reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her into his room. He closed the door behind him and tore his jacket from his body, throwing it to the ground.

As he unbuckled his belt, a ghost of a smile played on his lips; the unsaid promise in his eyes was clear.

This would be a night to remember.

-

NOTE - not edited

The next chapter will be uploaded on 01/03/2020

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Chapters of Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1] will be uploaded on Inkitt a week earlier than on Wattpad as well as exclusive bonus chapters at the end of the story. So, be sure to check out Beating Hearts on Inkitt here: https://inkitt.app.link/RA__illuminating_

Chapter 18 is available on Inkitt NOW!

Layla Knight

13.09.19