The Fang was quiet, relatively speaking for a Monday night. Most of the crowd was young, and on the dance floors moving to the trance and house mixes. Deke sat on a barstool, sipping occasionally from a vodka martini, dirty. It fit his mood as he tapped the keys on the tablet in his hands.
?Can I get you another?? Yul, the bartender inquired as he noticed the glass was nearly empty. Yul wasn?t his name, it was just one that Deke had hung on him due to the resemblance of an old, Russian actor.

Deke nodded and went back to work. Numbers, letters and words flowed easily. He looked for any distraction to take his mind off the hectic week, and the turn of events with Caitlin. Most people would have been overwhelmed, but Deacon always worked well under pressure.

Thoughts drifted to Cait and how things had been going. She was young, and na?ve, but she tried, when she wasn?t running off to try to save the world. He wondered again if he was the type for any kind of serious relationship. Sarah had been somewhat serious at first, and then it crumbled into friends with benefits sort of thing, and then finally dissolved into hatred on both their parts. There?d been no break up, only threats, and she?d seen Kyle kill a man that looked like her boyfriend of the time. Deke shook his head, knowing that sort of message wouldn?t work for Caitlin.

After Sarah there had been a string of meaningless dates and awkward nights in his off world home, and hotels with anonymous whores or debutante want to bes. They lent his body to him, and he used them up before casting them aside.

?You aren?t meant for a serious relationship, Deacon.? Again King?s words echoed through his mind.

?Fuck you, Old Man.? Deke said as he lifted the martini glass and drained it.

He didn?t regret the time spent in those encounters, but like most other things in his life at the time, they were pointless and other than getting a nut, a waste of his time.

Kyle had told him about his girlfriend, and how they were committed to one another. A tinge of jealousy gnawed at Deke. Kyle sounded happy, and even mentioned that they?d talked about having kids. Deke could hear the happiness his friend had while he struggled with a restless spirit, as his mother called it. Deacon found himself all too often, sitting at a bar, working, or in an overstuffed lounge chair, trying to work while being chatted up by a needed distraction.

Deke lifted his eyes and looked around again. The place was starting to quiet down as people left for their homes, hotels or wherever they crashed for the night. He checked his watch, and shook his head at the late hour. It was then that his eyes fell on the blonde at the bar. From the angle she stood, and where he sat, he couldn?t see her face, but that body type was unmistakable. Athletic, but curved in the right places. Leather skirt that accented those curves, shoes that matched the look, lean toned arms adorned with tattoos at her shoulders, and a long, thin neck. She looked like Sarah. Her hair was pulled back away from her face, and hung in damp ringlets where it had fallen against her skin while she danced. She turned to look at Deacon, as if feeling his gaze and her blue eyes were wide and sparkled in the dim light of the bar.

Deke heard her as she ordered a glass of Johnny Walker Blue, straight up. He knew those drinks were about thirty-five a glass. Clearly the girl had expensive taste. As she spoke he felt a bit of an attraction. A pull from his need, a deep desire and want. She spoke with an accent that he couldn?t quite place, either Australian or perhaps New Zealander. It lent her a more exotic appeal that made Deacon want to hear more.

They moved to the floor, bodies swaying and grinding around them. Brandy leaned close, pressing her body into Deke?s.

?I have a confession,? She said.

?Do I look like a priest?? Deke?s arm moved around her pulling her closer to him while they moved.

?When I suggested that I dance,? she smiled nervously, ?I meant alone. Naked in my living room under the influence of a few glasses of wine.?

?I?d pay to see that,? Deke said in a gravely voice as he slipped his hand down the gentle curve of her backside and beneath the hem of her skirt.

She pushed his hand back down with a knowing smile and as the song ended, took that same hand and lead him back to the bar, motioning the bartender over.

?I?m not sure another drink is a good idea.? Deke lied. ?I tend to get a bit reckless after awhile.?

?Then it?s definitely a good idea.? Her grin was absolutely devilish.
?Tell me Deke, are you a bad boy??

Brandy, you have no idea.

?Do you want me to be?? He queried. ?It?s all relative anyway, isn?t it? I mean, what do you consider bad??

She pulled him closer, until her breasts were flattened against his chest.
?If you?re willing to let me, I?ll show you things you?ve never seen. Then you could judge for yourself.?

Oh, this sounds promising, Deke thought.
?I think I could do that,? He replied as he drained the martini.

They collected our drinks and Deacon followed her through the deserted service corridor. Brandy peeked into the women?s room to assure that it was unoccupied and when she was satisfied, she pulled him inside, and locked the door.

?What are you doing?? He asked, somewhat tentatively, trying to sound almost afraid of her answer. It wasn?t the first time he?d been pulled into the women?s room of the Fang.

?Trust me,? She said, pushing him up against the counter.

Deke set his martini glass beside her scotch and turned to lift her up onto the counter. Her legs wrapped around his thin waist and her arms found their way around his neck as their lips met for the first time. The taste of scotch on her mouth was delicious and inviting. His head was swimming now, perhaps under the influence of the drink, perhaps under the weight of growing desire.