beats per minute by Alex Mae Read Free Book Online

how
gorgeous they were. Though one was tall and dark, and the other fair and small,
everything about them was fine: from the curtains of their hair, gleaming under
the multicoloured lights, to their delicate features, which would not have been
out of place in the classical artworks Raegan had never appreciated. Here, in
breathing flesh and bone, the sight was amazing. They had to be the
best-looking men Raegan had ever seen.
    Marie took the lead. ‘Don’t I know you from somewhere?’ she
asked, smiling coyly. ‘Oh yeah, you were down the docks today, right? I wanted
to introduce myself but was in a mad rush, just couldn’t stop, you know.’
    ‘How fortuitous that we should meet
again.’ The taller gentleman took Marie’s proffered hand. At first,
Raegan thought he was going to kiss it, because there was something old
fashioned about him; instead, he clasped her palm for a brief spell, and then
shook it gently. Raegan was glad – the moment would have been ruined by a
cheesy gesture. ‘My name is Philip.’
    ‘Marie,’ Her friend giggled, then
turned her flirtatious brown eyes to Philip’s companion, sliding them over to
Raegan momentarily and back again. ‘And this is Raegan. Pleased
to meet you both.’
    Raegan nodded at Philip and turned to his companion, who was
looking at her lazily. ‘I’m Raegan,’ she began, her mouth suddenly dry.
    ‘Christian.’ He did not offer his hand. Instead, his eyes,
which were the cold blue of the morning sea, continued to study her, a smile
tugging at the corners of his lips.
    ‘We have reserved one of the VIP tables,’ she heard Philip
say. Her eyes were still locked with Christian’s. The pounding beat of the
music was originating from inside of her, quite without warning. ‘We’d be
delighted if you could join us.’
    She couldn’t tell if it was attraction, or the heady mix of
the alcohol, but it was overwhelming: so sudden and so strange. She could only
nod dumbly in response to Philip’s request, and, accepting the pressure of
Christian’s arm on her back, follow.
    ***
    They sat pressed together in a shadowy alcove. For how long,
she could not remember afterwards. She was left only with a faint imprint of
registering that her body did not belong to her anymore. It moved sluggishly,
and actions felt unconnected to thoughts. The movements at the table washed
over her, like a dream.
    And then, without warning, she was suddenly in the here and
now – where she had been in those lost seconds, she could not tell - and the
world slammed back into misty focus. Feeling a bit queasy, she looked around
for Marie. She was not there.
    ‘Where’s Marie?’ The words seemed to take a long time to
emerge.
    ‘Dancing with Philip.’ Christian
moved closer to her. ‘Just over there, look.’ Raegan didn’t dare move her head;
the room was starting to spin. He laughed. ‘Oh dear. Too much to drink?’
    Raegan, still focusing on the table top, nodded. ‘Please,
don’t tell anyone.’
    ‘Oh, do not be embarrassed.’ Christian’s arm felt heavy
around her shoulder. How long had it been there? ‘It happens to us all.’
    ‘No, it’s not that.’ He was stroking her shoulder now, the
long, elegant fingers brushing the neck of her dress. ‘Marie bought the drinks.
I don’t want to get her in trouble.’
    ‘Never fear. I have no wish to upset my beautiful companion.
You are no trouble at all.’
    ‘You don’t understand. I’m only fifteen. I’m not allowed to
drink.’
    The coolness of her skin alerted her that the stroking had
now ceased, as had the pressure of his arm around her neck. A hazy sense of
embarrassment flooded through her, and her dress had slid revealingly off her
shoulder; she pulled it up.
     When her eyes found him, Christian was further away
than she had expected. His face was impassive.
    ‘The diner will be closing soon. It is best that you leave
before then.’
    His words rang alarm bells in her head. Closing soon? But
that would mean it was