I hadn’t danced in forever, so when the music started, I felt a bit stiff. But the alcohol kicked in quickly, and with a bit of liquid courage, my body relaxed, and I gradually found my rhythm.
Someone tossed me a rose, which I caught with a flourish. Encouraged by the cheering crowd, I rolled up my sweater, tucking it under my bra to reveal a sliver of my slim, white waist. I tucked the rose into my jeans, its fiery red color standing out against my skin. It was a tempting sight that got the guys all excited.
I reveled in the attention, the thrill of it all. Plus, with the alcohol still flowing through me, I was ready to roll up my sweater even more. Stella and the girls were shocked, rushing towards me. But then, all the lights went out, and suddenly I couldn't see anything.
I stopped, a shadow coming towards me. It was Neil, cursing at me through gritted teeth, "For fuck's sake, Irene, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
It was he who had ordered the bar's power cut. Wasn't Bonnie supposed to be watching me? Why didn't she try to stop him?
"Neil!" I heard Bonnie's voice coming from the crowd. Someone turned on a flashlight, but they weren't pointing it at the stage. They were heading out. So it was still pitch black around me.
Neil grabbed my arm, a look of pure fury on his face. But as soon as he heard Bonnie's voice, he started to reply, "I…"
I tipped onto my toes, hooked my arm around Neil's neck, and silenced him with a kiss. He tried to push me away, but thanks to the booze, I boldly grabbed his hand and placed it on my chest.
If anyone pointed a flashlight in our direction, they'd see this steamy scene. In this thrilling environment, Neil didn't push me away again. Instead, he tightened his grip on me and deepened our kiss.
"Neil, can we go home?" I asked breathlessly.
"Okay." Neil's voice was a bit hoarse as he suddenly picked me up and carried me off the stage. In the chaos of the dim flashlight beams, we left the bar and sped back to Sterling Estates.
As soon as we entered the bedroom, things heated up.
But then Neil's phone rang. It was Bonnie. He was about to answer it, but I stopped him.
"Neil, you're acting like we're having an affair, and she's the wife checking up on us." I sat on top of him, grabbing his hand.
"Do you even understand your position?" Neil clenched his teeth, his jaw muscles twitching, anger flashing across his face. "You dare to dance provocatively in a bar? You've got some nerve."
"And you're not drinking with other people?" I was a bit dizzy, but seeing that Neil didn't answer the call, I let go of his hand and laid down on his chest. "Pot calling the kettle black."
Neil pinched my waist, his chest vibrating as he spoke, "Don't compare apples to oranges! Were you really about to do a striptease if I hadn't had the power cut?"
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