Guilty Pleasure

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna felt much more comfortable dancing with Markise this time. He wasn't some stranger like at the Bloody Mary, now he was just Markise, her friend. She tried to remember the pointers that he'd given her and raised her arms, moving with the feel of the music.

After her eyes wandered around the dance floor early on she kept her gaze focused on Markise, afraid that she might see something to cause her to rudely gawk in shock. Her tension slowly eased as they danced, and even though the thought of the club they were in was still on her mind, it wasn't as consuming as the time passed.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise forgot himself now and then, and his eyes would wander, pausing for a moment as they met someone else's. He wasn't used to watching himself and it was so difficult! Every time he caught himself, he'd turn his attention and energy fully back on Anna, checking his dancing to be sure it hadn't slipped as well. Despite the periodic checks, he was still having fun and the dancing was getting out a lot of the week's stress.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna couldn't help but notice Markise's wandering eyes, and how he would snap his attention back to her. She ignored it the first few times, but when he kept doing it, she started to feel guilty. She shifted closer to him as they danced, leaning in so her mouth was closer to his ear and he'd hear her over the music. "It's not like we're a couple, you're allowed to look! That's why you come here isn't it?!"

[Markise Sterling]

Markise blinked in surprise at being caught, and at Anna's question, heat spread from the back of his neck to his cheeks. "It's not looking that's the problem," he said, though his current problem was normally nonexistent. "Guys in these places don't have problems cutting in and eye contact's an invitation." It was everywhere. Well, either an invitation or a challenge, but Markise preferred not to challenge anyone.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's lips formed an Oh. that wasn't audible over the music. She knew she couldn't be selfish and keep him to herself all night, but she didn't think she was ready to brave the club alone if someone cut in on their dancing. "Well, they'll have to wait their turn tonight." Anna flashed him a hopeful smile, not wanting to ruin his entire night.

The dance floor was getting more crowded, and it was becoming increasingly hard to keep her eyes directly on Markise. As others moved in closer, she would look up, hoping they weren't about to cut her off from her lifeline. She would quickly avert her eyes after a glance, now afraid of innocently inviting someone to join in.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise hadn't started ogling or winking at guys just because Anna had reminded him of what he was here for. His eyes still strayed, but he still pulled them back to her before it got to the point where he'd find himself swept away. So there was no missing her nerves. "Anna, calm down," Markise said. "They're not going to eat you."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I'm not worried about them eating me." Anna commented, letting the emphasis express her real fear. She wasn't blind to how good Markise looked, and knew someone would eventually come along. She wouldn't expect Markise to turn anyone down, so she asked the question that worried her the most. "When someone cuts in, what do I do?" Was she supposed to keep dancing? Alone? Or would it be better to make her way off the floor to a booth or barstool?

[Markise Sterling]

Markise nearly laughed at the way Anna had said that; I'm not worried about them eating me. He was flattered, too. Friday was his night to preen and to throw all modesty aside. He knew that he was desirable in this world. Still, he wasn't worried.

"If someone cuts, in," Markise said, purposefully using the word if, "I'll ask for a raincheck." He intended to anyway, but he knew that if the right kind of guy came along, he'd have a hard time saying no. "If we get separated, I'll find you. Just try to stay close to the tables or a bar." He paused, glancing around again. "The guys were supposed to be here, I just haven't seen them yet..."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna nodded her acknowledgment at his advice, glad that she wasn't expected to try and dance without him. She glanced around when he did, even if it was pointless because she had never met the guys and had no clue what they would look like. After scanning the surroundings though, she went back to dancing and trying to ignore the people that occasionally bumped into her. The room was getting hotter, and she didn't know how much longer she would last on the dance floor but she wanted to stay as long as she could. She had no clue if she'd get another chance to come out and dance with him again tonight.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise could tell that Anna was beginning to slow down, and he'd just begun seriously considering calling a water break when the sudden heat of a tall male body at his back caught his attention. Before he could even register enough to lower his arms, other arms had wrapped around his body, and warm lips teased against the edge of his ear.

It was Robbie, 6'1" of mischief with fire-engine-red hair, tattooed sleeves, and various piercings. Markise didn't even need to think to recognize him. "Been lookin for you, Angel," Robbie murmured, and for a moment, Markise nearly melted. Then he remembered Anna.

"I'm not alone, Robbie," Markise said firmly. His hands caught at Robbie's arms and pushed as he slipped free, refusing to look directly at Annabelle right now.

Robbie let go, but stayed close, ready to resume the game the moment he thought he could get away with it. He looked past Markise, his eyes finding and settling on Anna, then giving a slow sweep over her. "Well, 'ello, there," he said, earning himself an elbow in the ribs that quietly screamed behave!

One of Markise's hands rose to toy with his hair, an unconscious gesture of flirtation, not to mention the tendency toward looking up at the man from beneath his lashes. He didn't do so now, but shifted toward Annabelle. "Anna, this is Robbie," he said.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna's eyes had widened at Robbie's approach and exchange with Markise. She wasn't aware she was staring until he addressed her, and she blinked at his open assessment of her. Markise's warning flashed through her head and it would have caused her to redden if she wasn't already flushed from dancing. Their interaction was too interesting to look away though, and her eyes remained on the pair, watching their familiarity with each other. Somehow she managed to get out a shy "hello" and a smile.

[Markise Sterling]

Robbie's lips curved into an almost wolfish smile that a hard look from Markise cut short. It was one thing not giving a jarvey's ass if Robbie went off and played with whoever he wanted, but quite another watching it happen in his presence. Markise wasn't entirely sure whether he was feeling protective of Anna, or jealous.

"This the bird you wanted me to dance with?" Robbie asked, crooking a thumb at Anna, then looking to Markise.

"She's not a bird," Markise argued, though it was a technicality. He had a fair enough idea what bird meant, and if it was as close to chick as he thought, he didn't want Anna being referred to as one.

Robbie's smile quirked. "Bird, lady, fruitfly, what's the difference, Angel?" Markise didn't know whether to give his next meaningful look to Robbie or Anna. Either way, he hoped that Anna thought Angel was a term of endearment, and he also hoped she didn't correct him.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna didn't think anything of Robbie using the name Angel, easily mistaking it for an endearment in it's context. She hadn't taken offense to being called a bird like Markise had, but after it was lumped in with fruitfly she wasn't sure what exactly Robbie had meant. She had no clue what the term was and looked between the two with a questioning expression. She had a feeling there was a whole other conversation going on that she wasn't privy to. "What's a fruitfly?"

[Markise Sterling]

Robbie answered before Markise could stop him. "Like a f~ hag but easy on the eyes." Markise swatted Robbie on the arm, but the ass only grinned further.

"Ignore him," Markise insisted, but anything else he might have said was cut off by Robbie's wandering hands. Markise looked up, shifting slightly and holding Robbie's hands from doing anything too bad.

"Dance with me," Robbie demanded. "I didn't come 'ere to talk." Markise looked at Anna almost helplessly. Robbie was wearing him down, and they had been talking for a while now, hadn't they?

[Annabelle Hennessy]

“You guys have fun. I need a drink anyways.” Anna smiled at Markise encouragingly, not wanting him to know she was disappointed to be abandoned. She looked around, standing on her tiptoes to try and see over the crowd but had no luck. She turned back to Markise and his friend, her facial expression and voice begging for their assistance. “Just point me in the direction of the nearest bar?”