Their Beloved Mate.

Getting On The Dance Floor..

Tazanna glanced at Mr. Sanz’s house, not surprised when she saw him standing there. She waved at him. “Have a good night, Mr. Sanz!”

“You too, Anna,” he gave her a small bow before his gaze wandered to Kyle who was the driver. He gave Kyle a curt nod before walking back into his house.

“Your neighbor has always given me the creeps,” Amber stated as she turned back to look at Tazanna as she slid into the back seat.

“Mr. Sanz? Oh, he is harmless,” Tazanna told her friend. “He seems to like Kyle.” She teased as she caught the man’s eye in the mirror. “Or else he would have stared you down like he does when taxis or delivery people stop by at the house.”

“Seems to be overprotective of you and your mom,” Amber observed.

Tazanna shrugged, “he is all right. Where is Paul? Please tell me he decided not to come.”

Amber chuckled, “he is meeting us at the club. We are taking you for dinner first, then we are going to get you drunk! It’s your birthday at midnight!”

“Yes, it is,” Tazanna shook her head at her friend, readying herself for the night. She knew once Amber set her mind on it there was no way of backing out.

The restaurant that Amber and Kyle took her to was actually one of her favorites. The French restaurant was located right at the center of the city, catering to all those who wanted a bit of France. She had fallen in love with the restaurant when her mother brought her there for her sixteenth birthday. From then, she would visit alone or with her mother whenever she had time.

Amber knew about it because she had mentioned it a time or two, but they had never been there together.

“Oh, you guys!” Tazanna placed her hand on her heart, smiling at her friend and her partner. “This is so nice.” They were seated in the center, with candles lit and flowers by her chair.

Amber walked forward and placed her arm around her, resting her chin on Tazanna’s shoulder. “We called ahead and asked for them to do that. They know you are always coming through when you have the time, so they were happy to do so.”

Tazanna turned and hugged her friend, “thank you!” She turned to Kyle, who was standing behind Amber like a guardian, his eyes gazing at them. “Thank you, Kyle. This is really awesome.”

Kyle inclined his head, similar to what Maqual had done earlier.

Tazanna smiled at him, pushing away that act to examine later.

“Come, let’s sit,” Amber hooked her arm with Tazanna’s and led her to the chair. Kyle was already there, pulling first Tazanna’s chair and then Amber’s before he settled down.

Tazanna glanced at the man. He was very quiet, moved silently for such a big man. There was always something about him that seemed out of this world to Tazanna. She just wasn’t sure what it was. His eyes never seemed to miss anything, he seemed very poised, but he seemed to always be on alert.

“So?” Amber asked, her smile on her face as she looked at her friend.

Tazanna focused on her friend, her smile easy. “This is great, didn’t expect this.”

“Well, you know me!” Amber sat back, a smirk on her face.

Tazanna laughed, “that I do. Now I am hungry!”

As if reading her mind, a young waiter walked to their table. With a short introduction, they made their order and waited. Small talk flowed easily between Tazanna and Amber, Kyle keeping quiet, though his eyes kept moving around.

Dinner was wonderful and soon enough they were heading to the club. Amber was the first to spot Paul as he stood just on the side of the entrance, one of his legs bent backward and resting on the wall he was leaning on, his head bent over his phone.

“Lookie there, Taz,” Amber whistled softly. “Are you sure you don’t want a piece of him? He looks like a Men’s Health model.”

Kyle turned his head slowly at Amber, an eyebrow raised.

Tazanna chuckled. That was the most facial expression she had seen on his face.

Amber bit her lip, “you know you are the only one for me, babe,” she hooked her arm on his, batting her eyelashes at him.

Kyle only growled, keeping his steps slow.

“But seriously, Taz, are you lesbian maybe?” Amber asked as she turned to her friend. “Any straight woman would want to jump on his bones, especially with the way he fawns around you.”

Tazanna shrugged, “nope. I just don’t feel anything of that sort for him. To me, he is like a close friend that I can go out with and have fun with, but that’s where it ends.”

Amber sighed loudly, “y’all could have made some cute babies together.”

“Keep dreaming, babe,” Tazanna walked ahead, calling Paul’s name as they drew closer. The smile that broke on his face made Tazanna hesitate for half a second. Amber was right. Even a person who did not know them could see his pleasure at seeing her. She really needed to work harder at setting boundaries between them.

“Birthday girl!” Paul straightened to his full height.

Tazanna accepted his hug, stepping out of it as soon as it was acceptable. “Thanks for coming out to celebrate with me.”

Paul smiled, “I can’t let you be the only one without a partner. I know these two, they’d be all over each other and forget all about you.”

Tazanna turned to Amber and Kyle. She chuckled a bit when she noticed Kyle’s huge arm around Amber’s shoulders, already pulling her closer, though his eyes were still scanning the place.

“Come on,” Amber moved her arm around Kyle’s waist and pushed him towards the door which was open. A huge man who could rebel against Kyle’s height stood there, his arms crossed, his eyes hidden behind wrapped sunglasses. They led the way, leaving Tazanna and Paul to follow.

“Shall we?” Paul offered his arm, his cheeky smile making him cuter.

Tazanna shook her head, a smile firm on her face as she slipped her arm around the offered arm, “we shall.”

The man by the door did not even ask for their IDs nor ask who they were. Tazanna could hear a few disgruntled mumbles from some of the people who were standing outside waiting to be let in. She felt a little bad, that was until she stepped into the club.

“Oh, my word!” Tazanna breathed out. “This looks amazing!” She started bobbing her head to the music. The club was amazing, decorated in reds and blacks, it had blue lights on the ceiling, behind the huge bar that was located right in the center, the counter created in a circular shape.

“We are this way,” Amber turned back and held her hand out to Tazanna.

Kyle led them through to a room on the far left of the circular bar. He held a heavy-looking black door open for them, waiting until they were all inside before letting it go and walking behind them.

“Oh my!” Tazanna giggled, “I feel like a celeb tonight! It should be my birthday all year long.” She walked to one of the sofas and dropped down, moaning as she ran her hands on the soft lush material that covered them. “Oh, even the sofas feel like a million dollars!”

Amber rolled her eyes as she watched her friend, following her and sitting next to her. “You are right!” Amber let out a loud pleased moan as she wiggled a bit on the sofa. “Babe, you have to try these sofas. They are so good!” She winked at Kyle, who looked at her indulgently.

Paul shook his head as he walked in and sat down, frowning a little. “So, what’s the fuss with the sofas?”

Amber and Tazanna looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Tazanna stood up and walked to him, pushing aside his hand that was caressing the sofa as he tried to figure out what the fuss was about. “Oh Paul, you are so cute! Come with me to get some drinks and check out the bar and leave these two to get better acquainted with the sofas.” She stood up and held her hand out to the blushing Paul.

It has always been that way with Paul. He brightened up every time Tazanna gave him a bit of attention.

Standing, he claimed her hand, tugging it and placing it on his arm.

“Don’t wander too far,” Kyle told them as they approached him by the door, though they felt that statement was meant for Tazanna.

Tazanna threw her friend a quick look before turning to the towering man, “worry not. I will either be at the bar demanding birthday drinks or on the dance floor testing Paul’s dance moves.”

The club was packed. It felt as if a hundred people came in as soon as they did. Paul was being a gentleman, making a way for her to pass without the pressing of bodies on her.

“Oh, we made it!” Tazanna exclaimed excitedly as they finally made it to the bar. Even though the place was packed, they were able to get bar stools, sitting there while enjoying the first round of drinks.

“Ready to test my dance moves?” Paul asked as they drained their third round of shots.

Tazanna nodded, using the back of her hand to wipe away the few droplets of the shot that made it to her chin.

Paul held his hand out and pulled her to the dancefloor when she placed her hand on his. Tazanna could not stop the little giggle that escaped her, already the shots working on eliminating any shyness she might have. Not that she needed any liquid courage, she was known for her outspokenness and liveliness.

Paul wasn’t a bad dancer, actually, he was better than some of the people that she had ever danced with.

They lost the passage of time, enjoying the music and the flow of alcohol. At some point, Amber and Kyle joined them on the dance floor. Kyle danced close to Tazanna, his gaze seemed to scan the area. Tazanna had noticed this and mentioned it when they were taking a break from dancing.

“Kyle, do you ever shut down?” Tazanna asked as she took a sip from her drink.

Kyle turned to her, an eyebrow raised.

Tazanna shrugged, her gaze jumping to her friend’s before she turned back to Kyle. “Your eyes, keep looking around as if you are searching for something. You have been doing that all night. It reminds me of Mr. Sanz.”

“Your creepy neighbor?” Amber glanced at Kyle. They seemed to be having their own silent conversation.

“Mr. Sanz isn’t creepy,” Tazanna shook her head, then broke into a giggle, “well, maybe a little.”

Amber reached out and ran a finger over Kyle’s chiseled jawline, “he takes his job of keeping people safe very seriously.”

“He has to loosen up a bit though,” Tazanna made a face as she downed another shot. “Nothing is going to happen in here. Besides, have you seen the mountains of men that are the bouncers?” She looked around. “I want to go dance off these shots.” She groaned when she saw Paul was already passed out by the counter. “Shish, what a lightweight!”

She got off the stool and staggered towards the dancefloor.

Amber reached out and held her up, "yoh, girl! Are you sure you want to be on the dancefloor with all that alcohol in your head?”

Tazanna wrinkled her nose, “well, you could always hold me up. Kyle doesn’t mind, right? I need to dance it off, I have drunk too much.”

Amber shook her head and, holding Tazanna’s arm, they both made it onto the dancefloor.

“How come you never get drunk?” Tazanna asked as she placed her arms on Amber’s shoulders. “We’ve had the same amount of shots and only Paul and I seem to be drunk.”

“High alcohol tolerance,” Amber replied as she placed her arms on Tazanna’s waist, holding her close and keeping her away from other bodies on the floor.

Tazanna threw her head back and laughed before she let go of Amber and moved deeper into the dancefloor.

Tazanna let the music flow through her, her body in tune with the beats. She turned slowly, her moves teasing yet sensual. She was lost in the rhythm, taken to a world of her own.

As she turned to get back to Amber, she felt a shock going through her body. She gasped, reaching out a hand to Amber. She wanted to scream and call out to her friend but she could not catch her breath. She felt as if she was drowning, her ears pulsing. She let out a small moan in pain and suddenly Amber was there, holding her and leading her off the dance floor and back to the VIP room, not a word escaping.