Slip of the Tongue

Chapter 1                  

Orlando sat back in his chair, following the flowing moves of the woman he watched on the dance floor as she partied with her friends.  Her long, untamed hair swung wildly around her as she moved in time to the pulsing beat of the music.  His eyes settled on her body-hugging black mini, picturing how he would take it off later when they got home, slowly moving it down her body as he followed his hands with his mouth.

 “I hope you’re looking at the right one out there otherwise you and I are going to have to have a serious talk,” the voice came behind him out of the blue, startling Orlando out of his daydream.  He looked back to Viggo who stood behind him nursing his whiskey as he also watched the girls.

“What do you mean? Oh, of course I’m looking at her, after all the time I’ve waited do you honestly think I would even look at another bird?” Orlando asked as he continued to watch Tess with Mel, Carrie and a number of cast and crew dancing together.

“Good, didn’t want all my hard work to go to waste,” Viggo slipped into the cubicle seat opposite him as he returned his gaze to the dance floor, appreciating the sultry moves of all the women in front of him.  He looked back at Orlando who was watching him, a frown creasing his brow as he tilted his head slightly to one side.

“You haven’t been watching her too, have you?” he asked as his male hormones started to kick in.  He wasn’t too sure he liked the idea of Viggo or any of the guys looking at Tess in that way.

“Why, what would you do about it anyway?” Viggo raised his eyebrows as he lifted his drink and took a sip so Orlando could not see the smile that played across his lips.

“I would…” Orlando stopped as he looked at the tough, modern clothed ranger who sat before him, “…nothing.  Just beg you to stop and hope like hell you wouldn’t try anything.”

“Relax, elfboy, if I was, you would never know,” he answered laconically as he put his drink back on the table.

His interests in Tess were purely platonic but there was no harm in playing with his new young friend.  He smiled as he watched the looks that passed over Orlando’s face while he processed what Viggo had just not said.  Orlando opened his mouth to ask something, then quickly closed it again, slumping his shoulders as he realised no matter what he was told he would still be mystified.  The sound of laughter broke through his confusion and he turned to see Tess and the others weaving their way through the tables towards them. 

Tess slid into the seat next to him, moving in close as he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her in even closer.  She placed her hand on his thigh and smiled up at him as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her gently.  Orlando turned his head slightly and leaned forward, placing his lips against her ear.

“Can we leave soon, I want to take you home,” he told her quietly.

Tess laughed softly as she looked up at him shyly biting her lip. 

 “Soon,” she whispered.

 “Move over you two lovebirds, make some space for everyone else.” Carrie planted her butt on the edge of the seat next to Tess and bumped her.  Orlando and Tess shuffled around the seat as Carrie, Dom and Billy in turn took their place.  Viggo continued to look at his drink, a tiny smile creasing his lips as he pretended to not see Mel standing next him, her arms crossed as she looked down at the top of his head.

“Are you going to move or keep a lady standing?” she asked him sarcastically.

“The only two ladies here already have seats so, no,” he answered as he casually turned his head to smile up at his friend.

 “Move your ass, Morty, before I beat you,” Mel’s reply came quickly as she shoved him making him move across the seat so she could slide in next to him with her drink.  Viggo allowed his smile to break through as he looked at Mel before leaning over and kissing her cheek.  He turned back around and looked at Orlando who was sitting less than a foot from him.

“You keep your hands to yourself, Bloom,” he told him with a serious look.

“Aw, but Viggo, I thought you liked it when I put my hands on you.” Orlando played up to him putting his head on Viggo’s shoulder and batting his long lashes.  Viggo reached up and pushed his head off his shoulder, telling him to go away with a laugh. 

“So, are we all packed and ready for Queenstown tomorrow?” Billy asked as he looked around the table.

“Not me, I won’t even think about it till tomorrow when I wake up,” Carrie answered as she took a beer from the centre of the table. 

“Me too, I’ll just grab my toothbrush and some clean underpants then I’m ready to go,” Dom added with his cheeky grin as he picked up a beer and tossed it to Elijah who had just joined the group after spending the last hour chatting up a very pretty young lady at the bar.  “Bomb-out did we, Elwood?”

“No I didn’t, she gave me her number.  She’s actually here on a date, I think I pissed him off talking to her for so long,” he giggled and pulled up a chair to the edge of the table.  “So what are we all talking about?”

“If we’re ready to go tomorrow, which I think most of us aren’t,” Carrie answered.  She turned around and looked at Tess before she continued the conversation. “You must be panicking by now?”

“Me, why do you say that?” Tess felt Orlando’s fingers entwine in hers before he began stroking his thumb across the back of her hand.

“Well, the night before we go away and you haven’t started packing.  You haven’t been home long enough to pack.”

“You know I don’t pack until the day.” Tess replied sarcastically.

“Yeah, but you’re normally so organised you know exactly what you’re taking and there’s no way you’ve done that…” she stopped speaking as she noticed the mocking look on Tess’ face. “…and you have a list of exactly what you’re taking, don’t you?”

“Down to the last pair of knickers,” Tess laughed, “I just need to come back to the flat in the morning and pack.  So my bed better not have a ton of your clothes and junk on it like it did this morning.”

“Hey, not your bed anymore, mine now.  Anyway, you got a new one and it comes with its own bed warmer.” Carrie grinned at her friend. 

“Does she do the list thing a lot?” Billy asked Carrie.

“All the time, drives me crazy.  Watch out, Orli, she may have one on you,” Carrie leaned across Tess waving her finger at Orlando.

“What sort of list could you possibly make about me,” he asked pulling her in close as he squeezed her waist.

“Oh, she could come up with all sorts of lists on you, darling,” she replied as held up her hand pretending to take a measurement with her fingers.

“I haven’t done anything of the sort.” Tess demanded, feeling the colour rise in her cheeks as she stole a glimpse at Orlando.  The look on his face said it all; with a raised eyebrow and a sideways glance towards her Orlando knew she spent at least some time making a list.

“We can discuss your list when we get home if you like,” he told her playfully as he nuzzled her ear.  Tess turned and buried her face in his shoulder, hiding her embarrassment from the rest of her laughing friends.  

CHAPTER 2            FEEDBACK                BACK