Two

The club was alive on a Friday night, with the line wrapping around the block full of fabulous scantily clad people.

Remember girl, confidence is key here. Act like you own the world, and everyone will think you do.

Her cab pulled to the front of the building, not to the back of the line. She all but kicked the door open, and slid from the seat like a goddess.

Raven's boots clacked defiently as she strutted up to the bouncer. He eyed her and remained firmly in front of the door. With a grunt, he stepped aside, the door opening spraying the outside world with pulsing music and scent of incense.

This was the newest and most successful club in central London to date. The outside was made of solid foreboding black cement that shone almost like it was wet.

Delirium.

The name itself implied a den of sin and pleasure. It was exactly what she needed right now. She wanted to dance with a stranger and drink until she forgot her own name.

She stepped inside, the dark entryway lighting up with pulsing flashing lights that thrummed to the music, the base so loud, it changed your heart beat. The music was aggressive and fast, the throngs of club goers thrashing against each other like the turbulent sea.

The energy was palpable, alive and thriving. She felt it against her skin, like electricity making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

Fog machines kept the dance floor murky, the lights dancing across the storm that raged as people through themselves into the music.

Raven had never been here before, but the way the room felt, definitely meant she would be here again. "Raven!!"

Maybe she would head to the bar, start with a fruity drink that would taste like sugar and shame. "Raven, here!!!" Then, she should probably try to find her work mates who had invited her here. Or not. It made no difference to her when a handsome stranger lounged at the bar, and shot her pointed looks.

The little black dress strikes again, and another helpless man falls victim to her feminine whiles.

"I've been waiting for you." Raven jumps when a males voice shouts into her ear. "Jesus, you scared me Dorian! The hell is wrong with you?? Sneaking up on a lady trying to order herself a drink?" Laughing, Raven turns to eye her co-workers.

Dorian was tall, with piercing amber eyes and mussed reddish-brown hair. He looked completely different here than at the office. His hair was styled fetchingly and he rocked faded well worn jeans. His shirt was a deep burgundy with the top left open to show a dusting of hair on his muscled body.

Huh, she had never looked at him like he was a man before. While in the office, you don't treat co-workers like this. There has to be standards. But maybe out in the real world?

Maya, a short firery blonde, another fellow secretary, shouldered a stranger a bit aside, shouting and motioning the bartender her way.

The handsome stranger stood, and worked his way to them, catching Raven by the arm, "Here, I ordered you a drink! I've got a booth in the back, so let's go." He set a tumbler down, the liquor bubbling inside.

"Listen buddy, she's not interested. She didn't come here for you." Dorian removed the strangers hold on her arm, pulling Raven closer to him, and shoved the drink back toward the angry man.

"Excuse me?" The stranger squared up, his eyes flashing. "Nope, not today hunny. Just go find another girl. We didn't come here looking for love, so head off. There's more ladies around with lower standards then ours." Maya gave the man a hard turn and a gentle shove. Confused, he just walked off.

Awe. Raven might have been looking for love. A woman does have needs, you know.

Dorian slowly leaned into Raven, his body dwarfing her much smaller frame. His cologne smelled of thunder and silk sheets. A deep shiver raced down her spine.

Man, what was happening to her lately?? She was a ball of nerves and needs. This was getting ridiculous. Raven was a grown woman, not even two weeks away from turning 25. She wasn't some randy teenager trying to tame her hormone monster.

Raven breathed through the wave of lust that crashed over her, and forced herself to focus on the conversation being had around her and not the man leaning into her person space, "I don't know Maya, maybe you're coming down with that sickness that's going around?"

Dorian reached around Raven, grabbing the drink she stood in front of, and turned away from her, oblivious to her physical reaction to him as he leaned his elbows casually on the bar to scan the dance floor.

Sighing, the young woman also turned to lean her back against the hard wood bar, "Can you cough for me?"

Without missing a beat Maya barked, "Oh-wah ah-ah-ah." and nearly choked on her drink from her own humor.

"Hmm, you've definitely come down with the sickness." Raven quipped. Both girls spuealed with laughter as Dorian stared on completely confused. So the girls laughed harder, this time at their friend.

"Barkeep! I need six shots of tequila!!" Raven shouted over the music, waving excitedly to get the hassled man's attention. Maya slapped the bar and howled, "Hell yah! Let's start this off right!"

Raven slipped her leather coat off, tossing it at Dorian, "Oh, did you want some?"