Smoldering Nights by Lisa Carlisle

Their strict dress code at Vamps warned curious passersby away: “No jeans, no sneakers, no baseball caps. Leather, vinyl and fetish wear highly encouraged. If in doubt, wear black.”

I looked at the stone gargoyles that flanked the entrance as if they were old friends. Perhaps they were hung there to appear creepy and warn visitors away from this underground club. I preferred to think they signaled protection for whoever entered.

Maya pulled the aged-bronze door handle.

“Ladies, you look ravishing as always,” Byron, the bouncer/ID screener, said. “Like you’re ready to break some hearts.”

“That’s the plan,” I said.

“Except yours,” Maya said, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“You’re such a flirt,” Byron said. “Go on in.”

“This is going to be a great night,” Maya said, grabbing my arm and pulling me along. “I can feel it.”

“The only thing I feel right now is your death grip.”

“Sorry,” she said, letting go. “Maybe we’ll meet someone special.”

“Ha! In a fetish club?” I answered. “Come on. I’m only here to dance, not date. You wouldn’t seriously date some guy you met while wearing a tiny schoolgirl outfit, would you?”

I followed her down the dark tunnel lit by candelabra attached to the stone walls. The flames were powered by electricity so as not to violate any fire codes, yet they still emanated a fiery glow.

“No. Ugh. Do I ever?” she asked, giving me her incredulous look. “Doesn’t mean we can’t meet interesting people,” she said. “Remember those guys from England we met a few months ago?”

I nodded.

“They were a blast.”

I shrugged. “They were okay,” I said. “I don’t know how they found out about this club. All I know is I’m hoping for a good night. It was such a shitty week at the firehouse and I’m more than ready to let off some steam.”

“And it’s not often we get a Saturday night off. Definitely the best night of the week here.”

The general public would consider Vamps freaky Thursday and Friday as well, the other two nights it was open. For some reason, Saturday was extra special. Maybe it was DJ Mistress Mona putting on faster, more exciting music that worked the crowd up to a dancing frenzy on the three platform stages and dance floor. Maybe the bartenders put an extra kick in their smoky concoctions. Or maybe it was the Saturday night regulars, decked out in their most outrageous and scanty outfits, who made Vamps their own.

When we made it to the main dance area, the floor was packed. People appeared free to be themselves, wearing whatever suited them—from fishnets and corsets to kinky cowgirl, from steampunk to punk rock—in an environment where they could be uninhibited and unjudged. And they wore black—lots of it.

I often asked where the regulars came from. Vamps seemed like it would fit better in downtown Boston or at least eclectic Salem rather than this little artists’ village tucked in the North Shore. Most of the regulars came from Gloucester, Salem, Portsmouth, and some even drove up from Boston. They attributed it to a more authentic local flavor than the city clubs often frequented by gawking tourists looking for a freak show.

Maya and I slinked our way through the dance floor. The crowd pulsated around us in an orgy of black, leather and skintight vinyl while gargoyle statues looked down

upon them from their protective perches on the walls. Maya and I maneuvered into an empty space and quickly were entranced by the crowd’s energy, dancing to the beat.

A remix of Rob Zombie’s Living Dead Girl came on. Even though I didn’t have a drink, I lost myself in the music, trying to shake off work-mode Nike. When a couple guys started to dance with us, I barely noticed and I didn’t mind.

Maya and I would dance with them, maybe have a drink, but we’d never give out our numbers. Besides, how do you interact over coffee with some guy you met who had been wearing leather pants, chains and boots that gave a new definition to the word stomp?

After a few more songs, I said, “Come on, Maya, let’s get a drink.”

“Hey, where are you ladies going?”

“Maybe we’ll see you later,” Maya said, and she grabbed my hand to try to move our way off the dance floor.

The guys weren’t usually pushy here so we got away without protest. Unlike some of the other clubs on the North Shore or Boston where you’d be hit on repeatedly by drunk townies or college jocks, here you didn’t have to worry about that.

We squeezed through dancers to make our way to the darkly lit bar guarded by more stone gargoyles on each end. Just as we made it to the other side of the dance floor, I felt someone watching me.

It was him.

Oh my God. He was here.

In all the times I’d come here, dressed in all kinds of tight, miniscule outfits, never had I felt so exposed. I wished I wasn’t wearing a laced-up black leather dress that exposed a lot of cleavage and was tight enough to show a pimple on my ass.

He was sitting on one of the dark-red leather stools, facing the crowd. I looked up at him twice and caught his eye quickly both times before I looked away. Those ice-blue

eyes were so penetrating. Each time I’d caught his eye at the rock climbing gym, I’d have the same reaction—I’d look away quickly.

Why didn’t I have the guts to say hi? He was just another guy. So why did he have that effect upon me? There were tons of hot guys with jacked bodies at the gym. This one—only this one—made me react this way, like a zombie unable to speak.

My palms were beginning to heat up and I was painfully aware of the sound of my heartbeat despite the reverberation of the pounding bass around us.

“I know you from the gym, don’t I?”

Oh God. He was speaking to me. Whenever I heard that sultry voice and the French accent, I trembled slightly inside. Was there anything sexier than a French accent? During my brief semester in the south of France my junior year of college, I was in a constant state of sexual arousal with sounds of the French language all around me. Especially when purred by hot French men.

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Maya elbowed me.

“Ye-yes,” I stammered, trying to sound nonchalant. “I go to Rock Hard Climbing.” That’s where he worked. “I’ve, uh, seen you there.”

Maya said, “I’ll catch up with you later.”

He nodded at her before she moved down to an empty spot at the other end of the red-and-black-marbled bar.

Damn it. How could she leave me alone with him? She must have figured out he was the guy I often drooled about, when she saw me clam up like an idiot.

I stared at Maya as she scanned the crowd on the dance floor, shooting invisible daggers at her back. I’m going to kill her later.

In all those months fantasizing about this guy, never did I think it would start as awkward as this. Perhaps he’d smile at me first or nod hello at the gym. Then one day he’d ask if I needed a hand with something. Maybe compliment me somehow. I would

appear a bit aloof. Each time I went to the gym after that, things would progress nice and slow. We’d gradually talk a bit more until he finally asked me out.

He snapped me out of my thoughts when he said, “I thought I recognized you. You look,” he paused, “different.”

Never, NEVER, did I think our first conversation would be in some underground club with my breasts pushed up against a leather laced-up bodice, accentuated by a brooch with a silhouetted skull.

“Um, yeah.” I peered up at him. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt that enhanced rather than hid all those hours he put in rock climbing. His black jeans were tight and I didn’t dare look to see if they enhanced certain areas as well. “You look different too, out of gym clothes.”

He chuckled. Did I say something funny? I didn’t think so.

“I only wear my gym clothes while I’m working. But I guess that’s the only time you’d see me,” he said.

I smiled. If only there were other times.

“I’m Michel,” he said, pronouncing it with French accentuation on the syllables. Damn, that was hot. He put out his hand.

“Mee-shell,” I repeated softly the way he had said it, letting his name roll over my tongue like a smooth whiskey. “I’m Nike,” I answered, shaking his hand.

The touch of his skin arrested me and I hoped he didn’t catch my quick intake of breath.

“Like the goddess of victory,” he said. “Fitting. I’ve seen you conquer many tough climbs.”

He held on to my hand for a few seconds longer than what was customary and lightly ran his thumb across my knuckles. My skin felt electrified where he touched it and I resisted closing my eyes to revel in the sensation. I tried not to let his remark go to my head and set my fantasies in motion again, but that slight caress made it inevitable.

I pushed away a vision of us in bed together, rolling in satin sheets as I whispered his name through hot, passionate kisses. He’s just being polite, I told myself. He’d do the same to any other person he recognized from the gym.

“Yes. Thank you. Most people say, ‘Like the sneaker?’ My mother was into Greek mythology.”

“I see,” he said. “Ni-kee,” he drew out the syllables in a low rasp.

Hearing him say my name with his French accent excited me in ways I couldn’t understand.

“Can I get you a drink?”

My heart began beating faster again as I realized a drink meant I would be talking to him a bit longer. This was better—and faster—than any fantasy I had concocted on my own slow timeline.

“Yes, please. I’d love the Sepulchre by the Sea.” Many of Vamps’ specialty drinks gave a nod to classic literature, especially Edgar Allan Poe.

“Nice choice,” he said. “I’m keen on the Dorian Gray.”

“Well then, may you never age.”

He looked off into the distance with an odd smile. “Yet his soul paid the price.”

As he turned to the bartender, I stole a glance at his profile. His features were so chiseled, as if carved from granite. His sandy-brown hair fell slightly past his chin. Not quite long, yet long enough to give him a devil-may-care look. I admired the tapered cheekbones, the strong jawline, and the rough stubble.

How many times had I imagined myself reaching out and stroking his jawline, feeling the rough stubble lightly caress against my fingertips. Feeling the contrast of the stubble against the sensitive skin as he kissed my lips. As he kissed down my neck, down to my breasts, tickling and teasing my nipples, kissing down the front of my body, driving me wild with soft kisses and the rough feel of his cheek against my skin.

I hadn’t known his name so I would make one up in my fantasies of the two of us together. Johnny, maybe. Jake. Names from the hot guys in the eighties movies I loved. But Michel was even better. So French. So cool. Michel.

He handed me my drink. Now at least I would have something to do with my hands. The bartender lingered in front of Michel although she had plenty of customers vying to get her attention, waving twenties. With her tight red leather corset and pink bob, she was definitely dressed to be noticed.

He wasn’t paying any attention to this scarlet vixen’s embellished assets. He was looking at me with those eyes. Those eyes. So intense I could barely breathe.

“Do you need anything else, Michel?” she interrupted, leaning forward to display her breasts even more advantageously, if that was possible.

“Thank you, Tracy. That’ll be all,” he said.

Tracy retreated her twin girls off the bar, pouted slightly and went back to tend to other customers.

“Do you know her?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

That was it? I didn’t want to pry, but didn’t want to flirt with some girl’s honey right in front of her either.

When he didn’t elaborate, I asked, I hoped sounding nonchalant, “Are you two involved?”

“With Tracy?” he answered right away. “Mon dieu, no.”

I hid a smile of relief by taking a sip of my drink. Why did I ask that anyway? She was a bartender and they knew each other’s names—big deal. But there was definitely some sort of familiarity between them.

“So, Nike, what else do you do besides rock climb and dance at Vamps? I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you in a club like this.”

What did he mean by that? I didn’t seem like the Vamps type? He probably thought I was too prudish to come here since I was so shy around him at the gym.

“I’m a firefighter,” I answered, noticing he bristled almost imperceptibly.

Yes, you’re a tough chick, I reminded myself. A tough, independent woman who would not be intimidated in this situation. Sure, he’s starred in a number of your fantasies, but that’s just it—a fantasy. Maybe he’s a jerk in real life. Get a grip.

“A firefighter?” he asked, stroking his chin stubble. “Interesting.” He smiled slightly as if at his own private joke. “So are you here looking to put out some fires?”

“Off-duty,” I answered. “Maya and I worked a long shift earlier. Dancing is a good way to get rid of the excess energy. Otherwise I’d just toss and turn in bed all night no matter how tired I was.”

Stop babbling, Nike! Time to shut up.

He reached out and brushed his fingertips across the top of my hand. “Tossing and turning in bed isn’t so bad,” he said, “if you’re with the right person.”

Before I could censor myself, I blurted, “I guess I haven’t found the right person, but maybe my luck will change.” I dared looking in those cool blue eyes and raised an eyebrow. What the heck am I doing? Flirting with him?

“Nike, I’ve often wondered about you. You’re in the gym all the time, but you’ve never spoken to me. So many people go there to socialize first and work out second. I tried to get your attention and say hi a couple of times, but you looked away so quickly. You’re always so focused on what you’re doing that you don’t talk to anyone.”

Uh-oh, did he think I was some freak? Did he think I was rude for never once saying hi? He didn’t realize one of the reasons I was there so often was once I knew he was in the vicinity, I found it hard to leave.

“You intrigue me,” he continued. He lifted his hand to my face and barely grazed his knuckles across my cheek. My skin burned again under his cool touch and I could feel my cheeks flush.

He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “I’d love to get to know you better.”

Parts of my body that had been dormant for many months suddenly reawakened at the feel of his warm breath caressing my ear.

“Would you like to talk somewhere where we can have a little more privacy? We can go to a room upstairs.”

Oh mama! All I wanted to do was jump into his lap right there and put my arms around his neck. At that moment, I didn’t care who else was around me. All I wanted was him.

I took a few deep yoga breaths to slow my raging heartbeat and regain my composure. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”

“Of course,” he said. “I hope you come right back.”

I smiled to indicate I planned on it and tried to walk slowly and seductively on my way to the ladies room. It wasn’t too difficult with the high-heeled lace-up boots. You either strutted sexily in them or you tripped and fell on your ass. No middle ground.

Luckily, I made it across the crowd without falling so I hope the sexy quotient was kicking up in high gear. When I turned back, he was still watching me. I gave what I hoped was a seductive be right back smile and then scanned the crowd for Maya.

She was wearing a schoolgirl outfit with a short blue plaid skirt and tight white tank top. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only naughty schoolgirl on the dance floor tonight, which made it more difficult. Since most of the crowd was wearing black, I only had to scan the more colorfully dressed woman.

Bingo. She was with some tall guy who looked an awful lot like Trent Reznor, the lead singer of the alternative rock band Nine Inch Nails. She seemed quite lost in the music, dancing seductively to Black No. 1 from Type O Negative, one of her favorite bands. She still hadn’t gotten over the singer’s death and regularly slept in a Type O shirt she had gotten from a concert.

Luckily, she looked over at Michel and when she noticed I wasn’t there, she looked around the room. Catching my eye as she saw me outside the ladies’ room, she whispered something to fake Trent and walked toward me.

In the ladies’ room, I waited. And breathed. I tried more deep yoga inhales through the nose and exhales through the mouth to try to slow my heartbeat.

Maya burst in. “That’s the guy, isn’t it? The one who looks like Bradley Cooper in The Hangover?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I knew it,” she hollered. “I could tell when he mentioned the gym and you turned into a blubbering idiot.”

“Thanks for noticing.”

“Man, I should go out there and tell him he’s the reason you look so slammin’ in that hoochie dress. Look at those shoulders,” she said. “Sexy as hell. I’d kill to have those. And I know one thing. You wouldn’t have spent so much time rock climbing without that eye candy to entertain you.” She walked toward the door.

“Maya!” I shouted. “DON’T!”

“I’m just kidding, Nike. So what the heck happened out there?” she asked.

“He asked me to go upstairs with him to a room. I’m debating what to do.”

Maya’s eyes widened in a look between shock and confusion. “What are you, nuts? The guy you’ve wanted for oh-I-don’t-know-how-long and have been too chicken-shit to talk to just happens to be here and just happens to ask you to be alone with him and you’re debating it in the ladies room with me?”

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do? Jump him like some slut? Which won’t be that difficult to imagine, by the way, considering my poor choice of outfit tonight.”

“Shut up, you look hot. Do whatever the hell you want,” Maya said. “God, Nike, for some kick-ass chick during the day, you sure are a freak when it comes to this guy. Since when do you care what some guy thinks of you? You work in a firehouse full of guys and stand your own.”

“He’s different,” I said.

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. But he’s not like the other guys I’ve known.”

“Have you ever talked to him before tonight?”

“No, but—”

“Come on. I’ve seen you take men and turn them into jelly before leaving them hanging with their mouths open. How can some guy you’ve never spoken to until tonight, I might add, suddenly leave you tongue-tied?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Listen to me, Nike. And listen good. You want this guy. You’ve wanted this guy for a long time. He wants you too, or he wouldn’t have asked you to go with him. I don’t know what you’re afraid of, but just go see what happens. Nobody’s saying you have to sleep with the guy. Nobody’s saying you’ll run off and marry him. Nobody even said that’s what he’s planning to do with you. Maybe he just wants to talk. Just go out there and see what the fuck happens.”