This charming companion, witty and engaging, managed to occupy all my thoughts and help me relax. I surrendered to the sweet moments of oblivion and dove headfirst into a world of adventure. It was just us—him, me, and our wild, fleeting moment together. For the first time, I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to search for reasons, overthink, or predict the future. I knew there was no future for us, and there were a million reasons why, but I wanted to trust this stranger and tell him everything. Or maybe it was just the alcohol and bitterness talking?
While my thoughts tangled with the voice of reason, my body melted into his strong embrace. The dark-haired man held me tightly, spinning me in a dance. A passionate, intimate dance. It felt like every move he made was designed to seduce, enchant, and provoke me into action. What kind of action? Oh, there were no limits to the imagination. Nor to the dormant desires within me. Fueled by a few cocktails, they clawed their way to the surface, anticipating a spectacular end to the evening.
— Want another cocktail, or should we take a walk? — The stranger’s voice was so gentle it almost lulled me into a trance.
— I don’t know, — I murmured as the music faded. The couples around us dispersed. The tender, melodic tune switched to a rhythmic beat, and no one felt like dancing anymore.
— Decide, before I decide for you.
I lifted my head and finally saw him. He was just as I’d imagined. A straight nose, dark pupils, and a smile that could warm any broken woman’s heart. And his gaze… it captivated me, piercing straight into my soul and making it tremble. Even with Alessio, I’d never felt this nervous. But I chalked it up to the alcohol and the unexpected stress. It’s not like I’d never seen a man before, right?
— Alright, let’s go for a walk, — I said, hardly believing the words coming out of my mouth, and offered a restrained smile. — I just need to pop into the ladies’ room first.
— Then I’ll settle the tab and wait for you.
— Deal.
Turning a few degrees to the left, I headed toward the restroom. Finding the right door, I stepped into a stall. Only then could I take a deep breath. It seemed that near this stranger, I’d lost control over my body and thoughts. And it wasn’t just because he was an attractive man who knew how to listen—not at all. He radiated calm, warmth, and a blend of mint and citrus. And, surprisingly, I adored those scents.
I closed my eyes and recalled how good it felt in his arms. A shiver ran through my body. It was the one rebelling the most as I debated whether to go with him or flee like a coward.
Without a clear answer, I pulled out my phone to text my friend. Steph, more than anyone, would understand and advise me on what to do. Without guidance, I really wouldn’t be able to make the decision to… Ugh! Honestly, I didn’t even know what this man wanted. What if he was a creep? Even if he was, he was an incredibly attractive one—my tipsy mind chimed in.
After the third ring, Stephanie didn’t pick up and simply rejected the call. Unbelievable! She didn’t reply to my messages either, leaving me face-to-face with my own fears and doubts. But all of that was buried and slowly faded under the ashes of desire. My body craved adventure. And my heart supported it, yearning for revenge. Sweet revenge.
In the end, not getting a response from Steph, I tossed my phone into my purse and left the restroom. I hadn’t even taken a step when I found myself submerged in the dark waters of an unknown ocean. Its waves rolled toward me relentlessly, threatening to be my undoing.
— Shall we? — His full lips parted seductively. I froze, staring at them. Because I already knew “what” I wanted and with whom. And I didn’t care what tomorrow would bring.
— Yes. Let’s go, — I placed my hand in his outstretched one. My skin burned at the touch. A fire of desire ignited in my chest. And the most unexpected, staggering realization for me was that I already wanted this madness. The longer he held my hand in his, the stronger I was drawn to him. It was as if an invisible force of gravity coiled around our hands like a serpent, binding us into one.
— Have you been in this town long? — A simple question snapped me out of the hypnosis I’d willingly fallen into.
We headed toward the exit, walking side by side, holding hands, dodging the curious glances of strangers.
— What makes you think I’m not a local? Are you a cop? — I tried to joke.
The man smiled.
— No, I’m not a cop, — he answered clearly. But was he being honest? — This town is small. I know most of the people here. I’ve never seen you before, so I figured you’re not from around here. You just confirmed the rest.
— Oh, really?
— Yep. So, what have you seen so far?
Question, answer. A conversation about nothing and everything at once. I was starting to like that this encounter wasn’t turning into something serious with hints of a future.
— Practically nothing. I’ve been… — I bit my tongue, holding back. Why bore a stranger with mundane facts about my life and work? — busy.
— Perfect. That means I’ve got something to impress you with, — he winked. — I bet no one’s shown you anything like this before.
I let out a small huff and rolled my eyes. What was he talking about?
— Don’t believe me?
— Nope.
I shook my head, showing my skepticism. But the stranger wasn’t offended. On the contrary, a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.
— Well, hold on tight.
Luckily, we didn’t have to walk far (plus, we took a cable car). Because my poor feet would never have survived a multi-mile trek in the heels I’d foolishly chosen to wear. I’d wanted to look stunning and unforgettable, to turn every man’s head as they looked at me. I think I achieved that goal—and even exceeded it.
— We’re here, — the timbre of his voice was seductive. It seeped into every cell of my body, making it vibrate. I was melting into a puddle at his feet without even realizing it.
— And-? — I tilted my chin up, looking at my tempter. He slightly lifted the corner of his lips—lips I so desperately wanted to kiss.
— Don’t look at me, look there, — he grabbed my shoulders and turned me around, pressing my back against his chest. I fell silent, taking in the breathtaking panorama.
From this height, I could see the entire town nestled among mountains that embraced it on three sides, while a lake enveloped it on the fourth. Countless tiny lights twinkled, illuminating the paths of wanderers and creating the illusion of a constellation.
— Beautiful… — I whispered, breathing in the cool night air. I tilted my head back and gazed dreamily into the distance.
— I agree. This is one of my secret spots, — he shared, wrapping his arms around me from behind. It felt so warm and cozy. My heart started racing.
— I often bring girls here to lower their guard… — the stranger suddenly continued, sending shivers down my spine, — And then I take advantage of their weakness for beautiful scenery and make them pay for the tour.
— What? — I spun around in his arms, startled. I wasn’t exactly scared, but who knows with these weirdos? They can be incredibly convincing and act in ways you’d never suspect. That’s what makes them crazy, after all.
The stranger’s smile lit up his face. Then came his laughter.
— You should’ve seen your face, — he said, still grinning.
— You’re insane! — I smacked his shoulder with my hand. — I actually believed you! And…
— Got scared? — His gaze roamed over my face, making my heart flutter.
— More like concerned.
— I’d say disappointed.
— Why’s that?
— Because then kissing wouldn’t be as sweet, knowing you’ve fallen into the trap of a madman, — with that, he leaned down and pressed his long-awaited kiss to my lips. Every muscle in my body tensed, stretched like a bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.
He kissed me slowly, savoring one lip, then the other. His tongue caressed mine, delving deep, exploring every corner of my mouth, turning my soul inside out. I felt like I was burning, melting, and igniting all over again as he kissed me. And surprisingly, it felt so natural, as if this wasn’t our first kiss. These lips—full and hungry for mine—weren’t something new and unknown, but old and achingly familiar.
Speaking of ache, it had been living in my body for the last few seconds. It wandered through every cell, spreading like poison through my veins. It called to me, lured me, and made me tremble from tender touches, suffocating embraces, and a racing heartbeat. Then the ache grew into desire, desire into passion, and passion had only one goal—to explode like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Passion didn’t listen to anyone, didn’t ask, and didn’t spare. It came and took what it wanted, burning down all boundaries.
That night, it burned me on its pyre of pleasure. And my charred soul remained forever on the peak of that mountain.
Morning came abruptly. It barged into my wild dream without compromise, echoing with pain at every movement. My body ached and begged for mercy, but the damned alarm wouldn’t stop ringing. I had to pry my eyelids open and search for it with a blurry gaze.
What I saw startled me. A pristine white ceiling with intricate patterns, an odd chandelier, and walls painted in different colors—all of it told me I wasn’t in my hotel room. A double bed, no wardrobe, and a large flat-screen TV across from me confirmed my suspicions. And the panoramic window, barely curtained, assured me this wasn’t a dream.
I propped myself up on my elbows and scanned the room again. Then I looked at myself in the bed. Lifting the blanket, I gasped. Looks like my revenge on Alessio was a success! If I tell Steph, she won’t believe me! What have I done?
Slowly, I pushed the blanket aside and got up, searching the room for my things. My companion wasn’t there, which made the task easier. It seemed he was in the bathroom, as I could hear the sound of running water from behind the adjacent wall. That meant I had time to… what? Run away? That would be childish!
I shook my head and dismissed the silly thought. I wouldn’t run. We’re adults. That would be ridiculous. Besides, the night was wild, beautiful… incredible! I hadn’t felt such pleasure in a long time, though I knew it was mostly due to the thrill of the situation. We were strangers, free to act however we wanted. No need to impress, no plans for a future together. It was all for mutual physical satisfaction.
After getting dressed, I decided to explore the stranger’s place. And find the kitchen. The knight of my nocturnal adventure deserved breakfast. And I was a bit hungry myself. A cup of my favorite coffee wouldn’t hurt either. Plus, we could get to know each other. Because I still didn’t know the name of my seductive stranger. Or did I just not remember?
Exploring the apartment—it turned out to be just that—took me no more than a couple of minutes. I quickly found the kitchen and everything I needed to whip up a hearty breakfast. That was incredibly pleasing. It seemed my stranger wasn’t just a skilled seducer but also a capable host. He knew how to cook, or at least tried to, judging by the stocked fridge.
When breakfast was nearly ready, the doorbell rang. Without thinking, I went to answer it. Though, obviously, I should’ve waited for the owner of the place. But I’m a naive fool who never learns from life’s lessons.
Opening the door, I froze. A young woman stood there. In her right hand, she held a bag of fruit, and with her left, she rubbed her noticeably pregnant belly. My heart plummeted, crashing down like a hammer. I even forgot how to breathe. Was I even breathing?
— Who are you? — the girl asked, clearly frightened. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
— I… uh, I’m… well… — No good answers came to mind, and I mumbled something incoherent. I stared at the stranger’s pregnant girlfriend and couldn’t believe he’d done this. Despicable! Cruel! What a scumbag!
— Did he… cheat on me? — she wailed immediately. — With you? — Tears were already streaming down her face.
I felt sorry for the girl. And unbearably sorry for myself. I also felt disgusted by the memories and the realization of what this night truly was. A strange sense of suffocation slowly rose from deep within, stirring my blood and creeping up to my throat, lodging there like a massive chunk of poisoned apple. Of course, I hadn’t eaten any apple, and I was hardly a fair Snow White, but at that moment, it felt like our fates were quite similar. We’d both been deceived, tricked into biting into a sweet fruit and poisoned by it. Only, in the Disney princess’s case, it was an evil stepmother who poisoned her. For me, it was the prince himself, who turned out to be even more treacherous than my ex. And he knew about betrayal. On the taxi ride to his place, I’d spilled so much. Naive and trusting. But was there any point in regretting it now? What’s done is done.
— No, no, you’ve got it wrong, — I said, snapping out of it. — I’m a neighbor. I live two floors up.
The girl blinked rapidly and wiped her cheek with her hand.
— Really?
— Yes. Of course, — I stepped aside to let her into the apartment and moved toward the exit. — I left a spare set of keys here with you guys. You know, just in case I lose mine. I have a bit of a problem with that, so I try to make life easier for myself.
— Oh… — Her gaze scanned my figure and my outfit, which wasn’t exactly typical for early morning.
— Yeah, I just got back from a club. And I lost my keys, — I hurried to explain. — So, I came by to grab the spare set. Because Aunt Maria, who lives a floor below and also has a copy of my keys, is away looking after her granddaughter.
— Oh, I thought for a moment… — The girl stopped crying and set the bag on the floor.
— No, not at all! He loves you! I’m sure of it.
The girl smiled, wiping away the last traces of tears. A spark of hope flickered in her eyes. Mine, it seemed, had died before it even had a chance to ignite.
— Alright, I’ll head out. I don’t want to be late for work, — I said as calmly as I could. — And sorry for the misunderstanding.
Without waiting for a response from the pregnant stranger, I bolted for the exit, closing the door behind me. I raced down the stairs as fast as I could. Good thing I’d thought to grab my purse when I left the bedroom and kept it with me the whole time. It was like I’d sensed something!