BANGING AROUND BANGKOK

The feel of her breath on my skin caused goose bumps to rise and I felt my nipples stiffen against the fabric of my blouse, and then, that familiar weakness came to my knees. She tenderly put her lips to my breast and I could feel her tongue as she slowly licked the salt from my skin. She then drew her head back, looked deep into my eyes, smiled a smile I knew was infected with lust, and shot the Tequila down, never breaking eye contact.

It took me a second to regain my composure enough to follow suit. I somehow managed to raise my glass to my lips; pour the sweet sticky liquor into my mouth and swallow, despite the lump in my throat. Noi peevishly changed tack and asked me what I was drinking, so I explained it was a favorite party drink from my private school days in America, Jaegermiester, known for its tranquilizing drug-like effects. She suggested we join her friends and continue the getting to know each other bit. Grasping my hand in hers I again felt the electricity that I had felt when she kissed my breast moments before. She led us to her friend’s table and began to introduce me to them all.

But that was over two years ago, and I’m getting ahead of my little reminiscence of last night. As the song came to an end so did Noi’s turn on the stage and she rushed to get down and come over to where I was seated. Pursing her typically Thai puffy lips, she planted a bright red lipstick mark on my cheek and started to talk at the excessive rate she’s known for when she’s excited about something.

“Can you please pay the bar fine and get me out of her tonight, tilak ja?” she asked. A friend working in another bar down the street, Khun Sai, was celebrating her birthday and she wanted to break the monotony of the season with some fun and games. I knew it would be just the thing to kick-start our evening, so I quickly called the mamasan over, paid for the cocktail and the 500 Baht bar fine and then told Noi to change back into her street clothes. She kissed me again, said thanks and trotted off to change.