Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Curiosities
The girls and I are at "Cabinet of Curiosities", it's a goth beach club. The pool water looks red, black plants all around, spooky bare branch trees in the middle island of the pool. There is a long lazy river, some girls floating around on bat shaped pool donuts. The cabanas are black and red. Black lounge chairs surround the area, smoke covers the ground loosely. Dim lighting sets the mood. Taylor looks around wide eyed. Gemma comes back cradling four goblets full of something lime green, glitter swirls around inside the glass, the bottom is full of gummy worms.
"Don't ask!!! I asked for something sweet, I don't know what he made us!" she laughs as we all take a glass from her.
We are in a cabana, it has fake candle light inside and a u-shaped couch, a rectangular coffee table in front of it. The sheer fabric that covers the tent-like structure is beautiful. The place is enchanting. Dragon picked it, I called and asked him out, he hesitated at first but then he agreed. We are just hanging out, he said he will bring his friends.
They are late.
I have a white bikini on, Gemma is loving my piercings. I have the coolest chain thing that connects everything, I am saving that for my revenge dress for Illia Sr's birthday. I have never been so excited to wear something. I balance the goblet in my hand and take a sip. WOW! This drink is yummy. My girls are wearing black bikinis. Gemma has her hair braided, her braid rests over her chest. Erika's curly hair rests over her shoulders, Tish and I have our hair down just over one shoulder.
"Who are you going to bring to your sister's wedding?" Tish asks rolling her eyes. "Now that you have to attend."
"Who ever will piss them off more. The guest list is long." I take another sip. "The Pavlovs will be there!" I whisper, all heads turn toward me.
Every European politician, gangster and celebrity is invited. That includes the Fedorov twins. I look out to the pool and spot Dragon and his friends walking toward us. They are not our usual clean cut type, they look more like Ivan. Tattooed, pierced, wearing all black. One of the guys with him has his hair in large long spikes.
"Is that them?" asks Erika, she is the only one who doesn't know him.
"Sorry we took so long, Lucas took a while doing his hair!" smiles Dragon teasing his friend.
"It's fine, we are finishing up round one!" I smile and hug him.
His cold hand slides on my lower back making my skin pebble. He smells so good, his shirt is soft. Dragon introduces his friends. Black spikes is Lucas, dimple piercings is Josh and blue hair is Dorian. We order more drinks, their shirts come off, the sun is setting. Dragon is next to me his arm resting behind me, we are catching up after he asks how my new jewelry is working out.
"So....we have a bet!" says Lucas interrupting our conversation."You heard him, right?"
I take a sip of my drink, is he asking what I think he is asking? I smirk as the goblet leaves my lips. They all smirk and hand Lucas money. I am trying to hard to keep the grin off of my face but it's proving more difficult than I thought.
"Is that why you asked him out?" asks Dorian.
Dragon shifts in his seat, the look on his face says "I am going to kill you guys!". I take another sip.
"She said she wants a test drive!" says Gemma.
"Gemma!!!"
"Still stirring shit up huh, Gemma?" Dragon asks grinning.
"What? She announced it in front of the three guys she is seeing!"
"I am not seeing three guys. Now you are making shit up."
"Cat fight!" smirks Josh.
"Sorry sleeping with!" she is trying to correct herself.
"Still a lie Gemma!!! I am not dating, seeing or sleeping with anyone. Shut up!"
Tish asks Josh about his dimple piercings, everyone goes back into their own conversations again. I ask Dragon about his work, we go back and forth talking and flirting a little. I watch his eyes light up as he tells me about the dog he adopted. Him and the guys all rent a house together, they are all single. I like how he snuck that in. I have been observing each tattoo I can see, he has a few small ones on his face, his neck is covered with roses. A phoenix on his chest it's coming out of a firepit, one arm is black and white skulls the other one is realistic bones. It stretches from the fingers to the shoulder. Last time I saw him he had only one tattoo but it looks like he has covered it up.
Dragon's hand slides down the couch and rests on my lower back.
"Come with me to grab the next round?" I nod and we leave the cabana to grab a round at the bar.
He finds us a spot and leans over the bar to flag the bartender.
A gorgeous redhead comes between us. "I'm Natalie! You are?" she flips her hair back almost hitting me in the face.
"Not interested!" says Dragon irritated still looking toward the bartender.
"I can make you interested, really quick!"
I roll my eyes at her attempts to flirt. Once again he tells her that he is not interested. She can't get a clue. Natalie touches his arm and Dragon snaps.
"I said I am not interested. Don't touch me." he pauses like he is contemplating his next words."You are blocking my view of my girlfriend!"
People turn to look at the altercation, she turns towards me and scoffs then storms away back to her group of friends.
"Does that happen a lot?" I hold back a smile.
"More than I would like to admit. Sorry!" his arm slides around my waist and he pulls me flush on him. His hands are cold but his body is warm. "There, I fixed it. No one is coming between us!"
After we get drinks from the bar, I notice how many girls stare at him. In the short distance back to our friends at least ten girls turned their heads as he walked by. I have dated some beautiful men but never one that gets this much attention.
I take a sip of my drink, he sat down closer to me, our legs are brushing against each other. His hand slides to my hip, my breath gets caught in my lungs. Dragon twirls my bikini strings with his fingers. He is setting me on fire, I blow the air out before I set my glass down, foging it all up. I am so lost in his touch I don't hear him ask me a question.
"Elle? Do you work?"
"Sorry! Sort of, I sell stock photography. It covers my bills!"
Dragon's full hand rest on my hip, my pulse quickens. Gemma elbows Dorian, he smiles when he sees where Dragon's hand is.
"That's cool!" he says, squeezing me.