Hunters

 The bar was filled with potential. They sat together, laughing, drinking, and always watching for the next one.  They pointed out possibilities to the others in hopes of approval. Then they would move out; split up and "hunt" outright. The weaker sex was so much fun.

The men sized up competition and felt there was little. This made them bold and aggressive.  Mark was feeling powerful, invincible as he stepped up to buy the first girl a drink.  She was less than impressed with his corny jokes, his speaking a little too softly so she would have to lean in to him. This allowed him to make another move and put his arm around her casually. Finding him tedious, she excused herself after only a few minutes to go to the ladies' room and did not return.  He wasn't upset. There were plenty more that would love a shot with him. He went and sat back down with his buddies who flipped the usual barrage insults. He didn't hear them for in the quiet corner of the club sat the one he wanted. She was perfect.  Giving his best friends the single-finger salute, he adjusted his "junk" at them, dipped his tongue to his chin and announced he would be busy for the rest of the night. 

"Miss Right?"

"Miss Right-now" they all laughed. "We'll be here to catch you when you fall King Douche"

"I'll lay five down he doesn't get out of the bar--"

"That five is the ONLY thing layin down for him-"

"I'll see your five and raise you two."

The bills began to stack up.

"Two? Who the Hell puts in two?"

"Dude, I'm no endless ATM like Markie. I need the cash to buy these chicks drinks. I'm not givin it to YOU"

"You just want the money for the hooker outside once we are all outta here."

Mark swiped up the money and counted it. "Keep goin boys, this isn't enough for her cab ride." He plopped it down, winked, blew them all a kiss and announced he had someone to see.

Danni sat watching the people attempt to dance and grind on each other to the beat of  a raspy, thumping song. She bounced lightly in her seat and poked at her ice cubes.  She saw the man coming across the bar and sighed.

"May I join you?" he mouthed and set down two drinks. She rolled her hand back and shrugged lightly.  

"Suit yourself." she smiled.

"I'm Mark."

"Danni" 

They shook hands. 

"I haven't seen you here before. My friends and I hang out here sometimes"

"Oh I've seen you."She replied stirring her drink. "You are usually otherwise occupied." she smirked and raised her eyebrows.  "So tonight it's my turn to be graced by the gift of your manly attention?"

He wrapped his hands around his drink. "I guess you think I'm a player? One of THOSE guys?" his shoulders shrunk a little; hurt.

"I think YOU think you are."

"And you?"

"You're just a man." she said over her ice.  She took a long drink from her cup and waited.

"I'm really not such a bad boy."

"Okay."

"I'm kind of fun and I'm nice. I'm employed..."

"Always a bonus. I'd hate to have to pay for this drink you bought me."

He smiled and nodded sheepishly. "I've done that."

"Lovely. It doesn't help your case. "but her smile was warmer. Mark was making headway.

"And how do you spend your days?" she asked simply. "Please do not tell me you are a doctor, lawyer or astronaut."

"Nah. Nothing so glamorous. I'm a forensic accountant."

"Oh? That actually sounds rather interesting." 

And so began their evening. She found him nice, just as he said.  Danni let him buy her a couple more drinks. Her guard came down. Mark was not too eager but hungry and buzzed enough to slide next to her, lay his hand on her knee and begin to kiss and whisper in her ear.  Danni did not pull away; giggling and allowing him to coax her out the door. He caught his buddies' eyes as they headed out. 

"Oh wait right here Gorgeous." He pouted between tiny kisses on her lips. "I need to tell the guys I'm leaving."

"So sweet." she purred and snuggled inside her coat.

Mark swept up on the table, took the pile of money. "Thanks. See you later." and sauntered out.

Danni was on her phone busily texting when he slid up beside her. "Let's unplug and pay attention to more important things." and plucked it from her hands, kissing her lightly. She giggled as he ushered her out the door.  They walked quickly to his car.

 "Where would you like to go?" He began to grope her and tug at her clothes.

"That's so cliche'" she laughed pushing him away. "I live about forty minutes from here." 

Mark frowned.

"My place was just painted and still has some fumes lingering.  I would hate for you to get a headache.."

She kissed him back and unbuttoned his shirt.  Her lips were firm, her tongue warm and sweet inside his mouth. Her hand eagerly tracing his desire for her. She sighed against his neck. 

"My friend has a place near by.  Why don't we just go there?" 

He pawed at her and groaned against her touch. "Yeah..That sounds great. Let's go."

Their fingers entwined and gripped each other as Danni led the way. The conversation dried up, only their breath chugging in eager clouds drifted in the night air.

"Here." And she pulled at him to follow her up the stone steps to the charming building.  
"We can get in?"

"I have keys. No worries."

"It's late. Is she sleeping?"

"Not home. She is away."

"Oh. Nice." 

Once in the elevator, things began to heat up. The couple began to pull and yank at clothes while panting whispers of desire and want. The bell quietly interrupted them and they fumbled out the door, down the hall to the apartment.  Danni stuffed the key in the lock and they stumbled in to the foyer.  She kicked out of her shoes and yanked at her blouse and bra.  Mark began to knead her flesh and kiss her body.  He dropped to his knees to taste the flat of her belly. Danni raked his hair and moaned his name.  Desire raced under her skin causing goose bumps.

Mark paused and looked up at the woman he picked up at the bar.  "What was that?"

Danni gazed down at him with  soft eyes. "What lover?"

"Didn't you hear that?"

"I must have bumped the table. Don't stop. Please. You are so wonderful..." and she bit her lip, purring softly.

He smiled.

A soft thump came from down the hall.

"Danni. someone is here."

"You're being silly. Don't be scared. I will protect you.  Want me to turn on a light?"

Mildly aggravated and a little embarrassed, Mark became more physically aggressive.  His hands slipped her out of her skirt and panties.  She stood before him naked and beautiful. His fingers cloyed at her soft form. He stood and began to undress.

A floorboard creaked behind him.

He glanced over his shoulder nervously.

Danni took his chin in his hand and pulled him toward her.  Her mouth was hard. She bit his lip. He yanked away, touching his mouth. 

"Hey."

"Awww~ afraid of the dark AND a little love bite? You certainly ARE the weaker sex." and she giggled.

"What?"

"Let me turn on the lights for you, scaredy-cat" and she reached for the switch.

Mark was getting mad now. "Hey, I don't know who you think you are but ..."

"I know I know. You're all man." Danni walked away and down the hall. "Go ahead Mark. Show me who's boss."

"You bit..." and he started down after her.  She turned the corner and the lights went out.  There was a soft laugh.

"Danni. What are you doing? I thought we were having a good time. Why are you ruining this? "

"Oh it will be." she whispered from the dark.

He slowed his step and reached out, sensing shapes in the darkness. The carpet crinkled under his feet.  "C'mon Baby, let's have a good night. A happy ending.  Turn on the light so I can see you."

There was a sharp click as the light came on.  Mark stopped and stared.  Danni stood naked surrounded by four other women; also naked. The floor was covered with a tarp.  The women sighed and petted their best hunter. The prey was caught. 

"No." Mark said in a hushed, panicky tone.

Someone turned up the music.  The lights went out. The party had just begun.  

It was Saturday when the wolf pack of Mark's cronies sat a little lost and wounded, awaiting the arrival of their friend and the story he would surely and bawdily repeat. The evening continued and Mark did not show.  They sat and ordered their drinks. They did not prowl or make comments as they usually did. The table was quiet. As the night dragged on, the men remained at their table speaking in hushed tones. At last, the waitress whose behind had been the topic of discussion, lewd jokes, and much pinching, and slapping rushed up to the table with a round of drinks and an envelope. The men looked up meekly, a little lonely without their leader.  She did not speak, just put everything on the table and hustled off.  They looked surprised and searched the bar for their benefactor. No one stood out, no one waited or raised their glass.

The boys raised their glasses and toasted Mark who must surely still be in bed with the poor unsuspecting floozy he took home.  They opened the envelope that contained the money they had bet the night before and ordered another round. 

In the back quiet corner, they sat together, laughing, drinking, and always watching for the next one.  They pointed out possibilities to the others in hopes of approval. Then they would move out; split up and "hunt" outright. The weaker sex was so much fun.