An excerpt from - ONE NIGHT STAND – by Mukul Deva

Though it was just a few minutes past eleven the club was already full, packed to capacity. But Sayan knew the crowd would grow denser as the night deepened. It was Friday after all. Party night. And this was Singapore. Party Central.

He surveyed the scene. Barring the spotlight on the band, the lighting was dim. Running in a small arc around the bandstand, about eight feet wide, was the wooden dance floor. Circling it was a wooden railing with a long sunmica topped counter. Along the counter was an array of bar stools. On either side of the bandstand were small enclosures… for those who ordered a stipulated minimum. Two of them were still empty. The other two held a gaggle of girls. The girls had several things in common. They were all young. Their dresses were provocative. They were all smiling, broad, air-hostessy smiles. And they were all continually surveying the crowd, ever watchful, looking out for a mark to score with.

Threading his way through the crowd Sayan managed to get to the bar. He knew the wine would be cheesy, it always was in such places, so ordered a beer. The cold Hoegarden slithered down his throat. It made him feel good. Turning away he was looking for a spot to park himself, when he felt the tap on his arm. He turned.

She was standing right up to him, her face tilted up. Lips pouting; half-smile, half-kiss. Wide generous teeth. A pink tongue forayed out intermittently. Filipina. Early twenties, Sayan guessed. Very low cut, blood red dress, displaying large, milky white breasts. The dress ended high on the thigh. Sayan couldn’t see her legs though; she was too close.

‘You alone handsome?’ A sexy, throaty voice.

‘Aren’t we all?’ Sayan automatically smiled back; his trademark, slightly twisted, very naughty smile. He knew it was good, more than enough women had told him that.

‘Looking for company then?’ She moved in even closer. The pout-kiss deeper now. 

‘Who isn’t honey?’ He leaned in too, their lips almost touching. The touch on his arm was now a distinct caress. The press of her tits now distinct on his chest. And nice.

‘Just three hundred bucks killer,’ the caress was stronger now, longer, more sensual, shifting slowly to his chest. He could feel it through the thin linen standing sentinel between her fingers and his skin. It felt good. ‘And we can be together the whole night.’ Her lips were right there, just a sliver of air away from his. Her eyes asked the question. Yes?

‘Great idea gorgeous,’ Sayan whispered back, his tongue casually flicking over her lips, meeting hers as it slithered out in a well-practised, automatic response. Her smile was wider now, as she closed in for the kill. Then he added. ‘But tonight I am charging more.’

A shimmer of confusion. The smile faltered. Briefly. Then she laughed. A throaty, sexy laugh. Very sexy. Her fingers closed in on his shirtfront and pulled him closer. ‘Nice one, handsome.’ 

The kiss this time was way real. Lips meshed together. Tongues caressed. Sayan felt the hardness between his legs enhance. He palmed the back of her head, drawing her in closer. By now her tongue was swirling in his mouth. Goading him.

A sudden, ungainly clash of cymbals. The music wavered abruptly. A loud, shrill scream shocked them apart. Without knowing why, Sayan knew it was the female crooner even before he looked up. 

It was.

She was crouched at the far end of the bandstand, her gaze riveted on the drummer. Horror marring her pretty face. 

The drummer had fallen forward. His face awkwardly balanced against the drums. Despite the erratically dancing strobe lights the blood dribbling down the side of his mouth was evident. Foam bubbled out of his lips, acquiring grotesque hues as the lights changed colour randomly. His left hand had collapsed to his side. The right was still balancing tenuously on one of the side drums.

As Sayan watched the hand slid off the drums and fell limply by his side. As the balance shifted, the drummer slowly toppled sideways and collapsed in a heap to the floor. Dead.

The screaming intensified.

Then people ran for the door.

But the bouncers were faster.

 Planned for release in end 2013 - watch this space