I sipped my whiskey, feeling the amber liquid burn its way down my throat as I scanned the Amsterdam club. The sign above the entrance read "Nyx" in bold letters, and the crowd inside lived up to its promise of a sultry, seductive 'gay night.' I ended up here out of the blue. Curiosity got the best of me as I explored the city's canals on my day off.
Nyx was a mix of old and new, I guess, rustic but modern strobing lights pulsing in time with the music. The smell was a wild combo of sex and smoke, making me all woozy. I had been to my fair share of dives back in the States, but there was something uniquely Dutch about this place–the way the patrons seemed to own the space, their confidence and comfort with each other radiating like a warm glow.
As I nursed my drink, a few girls caught my eye, their interest in me written all over their faces. One, a striking brunette with a tiny nose ring, sidled up to me, launching into a rapid-fire Dutch conversation that left me baffled. I shook my head, a polite smile plastered on my face.
"Sorry, geen Nederlands," I said, trying to convey that I could not understand her. The brunette pouted, undeterred, but another girl, a petite blonde with a sly grin, edged in beside her.
"Je spreekt geen Nederlands?" the blonde asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I shook my head again, and she launched into a second attempt at conversation, this time slower and more deliberate. I shrugged, holding up my hands in a "sorry nada" gesture. The blonde laughed, undaunted, and I found myself smiling back at her.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, her Dutch accent thick and seductive.
"No," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest. "Just passing through."
The blonde's eyes narrowed, her gaze roaming over me with a practiced air. "What brings you to Amsterdam, then?"
The woman's gaze made me feel like a specimen under a microscope, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Just on leave from the Navy," I said, trying to brush off the attention. "Stationed here for a bit."
The blonde's eyes lit up, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Ah, a sailor! I love the uniform." She reached out, running a finger over the collar of my jacket, and I felt goosebumps forming at her touch.
I pulled back, trying to keep some distance between us. "I'm not in uniform tonight," I said, laughing it off. "I'm just... looking, I guess."
The blonde pouted, but she didn't back off. "Looking, huh? What do you do when you're not on leave?" She seemed to be probing for something, but I wasn't sure what.
I shrugged, trying to keep the conversation light. "Just the usual... Patrols, training exercises...you know."
The blonde leaned in closer, her breath hot against my ear. "I'm Sabine," she whispered, her name rolling off her tongue like honey.
I took a step back, trying to get a better look at her in the dim light of the club. She was shorter than me, her blonde hair cropped close to her head in a messy pixie cut that suited her angular features. Her eyes were a bright, startling green, framed by long lashes that seemed to flutter with every blink. She had a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, giving her a youthful, almost innocent look that was at odds with the challenging glint in her eye.
She wore a tight black tank top that hugged her lean frame, showing off the toned muscles of her arms and shoulders. Her jeans ripped at the knees and slung low on her hips, a pair of scuffed black boots on her feet. She looked like she'd just stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad, all sharp edges and androgynous appeal.
I felt a tug of attraction low in my gut, something I hadn't felt in a long time. It was a strange sensation, one I wasn't quite sure what to do with. I had a boyfriend for years and I loved him very much, but Sabine... Sabine was something else entirely, a forbidden treat for lack of a better word.
Realizing I had been staring, I glanced away, clearing my throat. "I'm Danni," I said, offering her my hand. "Nice to meet you."
Sabine took my hand in hers, her grip firm and warm. Her fingers were calloused as if she worked with her hands, making me wonder what she did for a living. She held onto me for a beat too long, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand in a way that sent shivers up my spine.
"Daniela," she repeated, guessing my full name, sounding like music in her accented English. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Raising an eyebrow as Sabine chatted with me, her words dripping with flirty undertones. I couldn't help but think she was way too young for my 35-year-old self. I had always been into older people in general, but there was something about Sabine's spunky energy that made me feel like I was stuck in a time warp.
As we bantered back and forth, Sabine leaned in closer, her hazel eyes sparkling with something else. I felt a flutter in my chest, but I tried to brush it off as a mere curiosity. After all, I had seen my fair share of charming women on leave.
Just as I was starting to feel like I was getting into the zone, Sabine's words caught me off guard. "Let's get some fresh air," she said, her voice husky and inviting.
I hesitated for a split second, unsure of what to do. And then, stupidly, I opened my mouth and said, "Oh, no, I don't smoke."
Sabine laughed a throaty sound that made my heart skip a beat. "Me neither. Let's go," she said, already standing up and gesturing for me to follow her.
I looked around the crowded club, feeling a bit self-conscious about making a scene. But Sabine's relaxed enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself nodding along, willing to follow her out into the night.
I stepped out of the club with Sabine, the cool night air a welcome respite from the sweltering heat inside. We crossed the street, the very few overhead lights casting a warm glow over the paved ground. I felt a bit self-conscious about leaving the club with a girl I'd just met, but Sabine seemed to know exactly where she was going.
As we turned the corner, I let Sabine lead me through the narrow sidestreet, the graffiti-covered walls blurring together as we walked.
Sabine's grip on my hand tightened, her fingers intertwining with mine in a way that felt almost possessive. I felt a flutter in my chest as she pulled me toward a metal door to a small courtyard or something. The door was old and rusty, with a sort of stop sign at the bottom, heavily graffitied.
We stopped in front of the door, Sabine's hand still wrapped around mine. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling in the faint light of a flickering headlamp over our heads.
Sabine sidled up close to me, her hip brushing against mine. I didn't move, unsure of what to do. And then, before I could react, her lips were on mine.
The kiss was brief, but her intention was clear. She pulled back, a wanting glint in her eye. "Hmm, just as I thought," she said, her voice husky.
I was speechless, my mind racing with a jumble of emotions. I had expected her to be confident, but this was a whole different level. Surprised, my usual cool exterior abandoned me in the face of her boldness.
Sabine's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed up at me, her hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair out of my face. Her touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my heart rate pick up.
And then, without warning, her hand was on my hip, her fingers digging gently into the fabric of my jacket. I felt my body responding in a completely involuntary way.
I was frozen, unsure of what to do. But Sabine just smiled, her eyes never leaving mine.
"You are so cute," she whispered, before kissing me. This time, it was softer, more gentle. I couldn't help but smile, my defenses melting away.
As we broke apart for air, Sabine leaned in. Her eyes were already teasing me, without me knowing what she was about to say.
"Want me to go down on you?" she asked.
I was shocked, to say the least. Never had I ever moved at a speed like this, not with a girl at least. I had always been the one to take things slow, to get to know someone before things got too intense. But Sabine was different. She was like a whirlwind, sweeping me up in her wake.