Surrender 01 - Surrender by Melody Anne

order more if we want later, but that will be a good start.”
    “See you gorgeous ladies soon,” Chandler said with a wink sent Ari’s way, causing her face to heat as she looked quickly down at her drink.
    “All right, girls, let’s get this night started in style,” Amber said as she licked her wrist and shook some salt onto the wet skin. Ari was lost. The other two women followed Amber’s lead, but Ari watched cautiously, trying to figure out what they were doing.
    “You don’t like tequila shots?”
    “I don’t know what they are.”
    “Oh, you poor, poor, sheltered girl.”
    “Miley, don’t be so hard on her. We’ll just have to teach her,” Shelly scolded. “OK, Ari, lick your wrist—yeah, like that. Now, shake some salt on it. Good job. Finally, you just lick the salt off and then throw back the tequila . Watch and learn, sister. ”
    All four of them did it at once, then her co-workers began laughing at the stricken look on Ari’s face. She knew she was scowling, but the amber liquid was burning a hole in her throat, and the salt seemed only to intensify the flavor.
    “OK, now grab the lime and bite into it like this.”
    Ari couldn’t believe people put themselves through this torture. Her throat was on fire and her taste buds stinging as she reached for her glass of water. At least the lime helped a bit with the overwhelming flavor of the tequila .
    “You just have to dive back in for round two and then it’s time to dance,” Amber announced. With a reluctant sigh, Ari licked her wrist and grabbed the salt shaker. The sad thing was that round two went down a little easier.
    Chandler was quick to bring them more shots along with the apple martinis, and soon Ari didn’t know how much she’d consumed . But it was enough that her head was getting quite foggy. In between rounds, the women made their way to the dance floor to sweat out some of the alcohol.
    At first, Ari was horrified by the men grinding up against her, but by her fifth round of shots, she barely even noticed the packed club — though s he found herself smiling so much, her cheeks hurt.
    The women continued drinking, dancing and laughing, and soon a couple of hours had passed. Ari was starting to fall to the other side of drunken bliss — the not-feeling-so-great side.
    “Ladies, it’s been a pleasure serving you tonight, but now I’m off shift. I was hoping to steal you for a dance, Ari,” Chandler said as he sat down next to her at the crowded bar.
    “Yes!” Shelly, Amber and Miley answered in unison.
    Ari was feeling so light-headed that she didn’t even think about fighting Chandler as he took her hand and pulled her into his arms. His head descended as he locked his lips on hers and his hands roamed over her backside. She knew she should pull away — knew this was moving far too fast, but her muddled head was preventing her from resisting.
    “No need to stick around if you have to go. I’ll make sure she gets home safe and sound,” Chandler said. To Ari’s amazement the women giggled and then waved their hands as if it were perfectly OK that their waiter was dragging her off to who knew where. She wanted to protest but couldn’t seem to get any words past her throat.
    He wrapped his arm around her waist and practically carried her to the dance floor, where he placed both arms around her and started grinding his hips into hers.
    “Um, I don’t feel too well. Maybe you should take me back to my friends,” Ari slurred , surprised by how difficult it was to force the words out.
    “Shh, you’re fine, sugar. Let’s just have a dance or two and then I’ll take you somewhere you can lie down,” he replied before his lips captured hers, preventing her from protesting any further. With her last bit of energy she tried pulling away, but it was useless. The world was starting to blacken, and she slumped in his arms as she began to pass out.
    “That’s right. Don’t fight it…” were the last words she