Chapter XV

It was already past 6 pm and the sun was setting, they were walking on a small alley that was leading to a pub called La Rosa . Aelin was following Caib silently and quite mesmerized by the atmosphere. The dim lights, the lingering heat of the now setting sun, the people were dancing and chatting the night away . She felt so at ease walking around, in her flowy red dress, inhaling tradition and exhaling her worries away. Cuba was a wonderful place, it was a shame that they couldn't stay for long, she couldn't get enough of it . Caib on the other hand looked calm and relaxed, like he was not really impressed by all of it, like it was all too natural for him .

They soon reached the pub and Caib took a hold of her hand and spoke in a rush before entering the club .

- Don't let go and act like you're here for fun .

Aelin nodded and followed him inside. It was not much of a difference in terms of light, the pub was filled with dim lights that were almost reflecting the sunset . As they were making their way to the bar Aelin noticed the smells, sweat and tobacco, not the disturbing one but a rather fruity and floral kind . The bodies were swaying to the rhythm of the music, sensual, that is if she could portray it in one word . She squeezed her tiny body in the crowd trying to keep up with Caib's pace and as they reached the bar she already felt proud for finding an empty spot she could sit on . Caib called out to a guy and asked for 2 drinks . She wanted to refuse him but he ignored her and passed her her glass like it was her second or third . As soon as he saw her reaction he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer and spoke loud in her ear trying to overlap the loud music.

- Listen up, if we want this to go smooth you need to act like you're here for the love of it, the music, the drinks and the almighty sex. Got it ?

- Yeah but I'm not a good drinker and not that much into the sex either.

- That's too bad Mercer because my contact is running late so we must maintain the image of a random couple here for vacation, not for hunting down Mr. Bomb as I like to call him and you're kind of blowing up our cover, no puns intended ! Now drink up, people are staring .

He leaned back and placed his hand on her lower back trying to make it seem like a intimate gesture . Aelin stared at her glass filled with a yellow liqueur and thought to herself that if that's what it takes then so be it . She gulped down the drink like a pro although she was far from one . It was bitter, warm and quite hard to swallow but she managed. Her body reacted to the tingling sensation in her stomach and her flushed cheeks were the answer .

- Better have room for another one because here it comes!

Caib signaled the guy that gave them their glasses to fill them up again and here they were, drinking one after another . Caib finished like 5 of them, he didn't looked fazed at all, while Aelin after 3 was already leaning on him for balance.

- Although it is quite entertaining for me to watch you get drunk as hell from a few shots, we need to keep going with our act and that means we need to go on the dancefloor and blend with everyone else . Can you manage ?

- I think I can but for now it would be best if you would hold me steady . Do you mind ?

Caib chuckled at her stuttering, he new she was about to get wasted if she went for another glass so that's why he took her for a dance . He grabbed her small waist with both hands and lifted her up from the chair and placed her on her feet like she was a baby . Aelin felt his chest guarding her back while he was leading her on the dancefloor. He stopped in a small spot on the side of it and spun her around so they were facing each other . Aelin was quite stiff and trying to maintain a distance from him while he seemed to know what he was doing and given that, they looked like a broken pair, one that needed adjustment and he knew just what would fix it . So he suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her so close in his arms that they could almost feel each other's breathing, dirty move thought Caib, but necessary.

- Listen to me, just close your eyes and leave yourself to me, just listen to the music, I'll do the rest .

Aelin looked at him and searched for a hint of amusement on his face, she first thought he was pulling a joke on her but he was quite serious, he meant it .

- Ma.. make sure you don't make look bad !

Caib laughed when he heard her hiccup, she was truly a bad drinker but at least she was fun . He placed his hands on her hips and started to sway them slowly, creating small matching moves for them, he then grabbed her hand and balanced her frail body from one her side to the other . He then noticed something, she actually closed her eyes, she looked calm and poised, quite amusing if he may add with the flushed cheeks matching her red dress. He felt guilty for a moment for laughing in his thoughts but brushed it off quickly after reminding himself the purpose of it all. Aelin on the other hand was feeling warm and fuzzy, his body was holding hers giving her some sort of balance, the alcohol was keeping her mind at ease, the music fed her with tranquility and the darkness made her other senses tingle, they were dancing like real lovers, or at least that's how they were trying to look like; maybe that's why she blurted out something that could have been a good reason for a facepalm.

- I don't mind it ..

Caib laughed at her remark and spun her around so he could hold her from behind . She gasped for air and opened her eyes in awe of his sudden move. He leaned his lips close to her ear and spoke .

- Oh, you don't ?

They were still swaying, still suppose to act so she quickly regained her composure . Aelin tilted her head upwards to him as he was towering over her short figure even from behind. Her luck was that she was wearing heels, because if not, he would probably have to hunch over so he could dance with her. They were staring at each other, his smirk was contagious and her eyes were sparkling, she never done this before, she tried to smirk like him too, devilish as he usually did, but the attempt only lead her to a hazy smile. They were already sweating from the arising heat. Her strap fell of her shoulder like it gave up, like it was melting. Caib noticed.

- My lady, quite disheveled aren't we ?

- Fix it !

- Your wish is my command !

He slowly grabbed the small red string of material and brought it back in place. Aelin's skin felt his soft touch on it and reacted as its owner never wanted, or at least would never admit to have reacted like, goosebumps, all over the place . She wanted to hide it by parting her body from his but he was always way to quick in following her actions so he spun her around another time, this one brought them face to face again.

- I honestly don't know who's a better actress .

His voice was hoarse yet loud enough to hear .

- This one..

His forehead touched hers and his breath fanned against her cheeks like a summer breeze .

- Or this one .

His hands travelled her bare hands all the way to her shoulders . Her throat went dry at the sudden gesture and her cheeks flushed bright red like her blood was boiling . Aelin was in a trance, she could no longer hear the music, nor feel the presence of anyone else in the pub, she never felt so conscious yet so absent minded at the same in time in all her life .

- Good evening ladies and gentlemen ! La Rosa welcomes you for another endless night in the heart of Cuba and mine ! May we enjoy it for life again !

The whole dancing came to an end along with the music and as everyone's eyes followed the guy that spoke on stage so did Aelin's . A dark skinned man, dressed in black pants and a red loose shirt, he was wearing a small hat and many rings.

He was the owner and Caib's contact .