5. Meiko

As the final chords of the song fade into silence, I find myself standing alone in the center of the dance floor. My chest rises and falls rapidly, each breath pulling in the heady air that hangs heavy with heat, perfume, and possibility. But it is not only the exertion of dancing that has left me so breathless.

My mind races with flickering images and sensations from my encounter earlier – deep brown eyes catching mine from across the room, a smile like the edge of a blade, the electric shock of lips meeting in a moment of uncaged longing. These memories swirl within me, stirring feelings I do not yet have words to name.

My tongue slides along my lips, savoring the aftertaste of his whiskey-infused kiss.

Sandra emerges from the throng, a smile playing at the corners of her crimson lips. "Still thinking of your handsome stranger?" she teases, pressing close to be heard above the din.

I attempt a careless shrug but can feel the color rising in my cheeks, betraying my tumult of emotions. "Don"t deny it, we all saw your tonsil hockey," she continues, dark eyes glittering. "That's what I like to see!"

Shifting my gaze across the sea of swirling bodies, I find him once more where he leans against the bar, long fingers curled around his drink. His pale eyes catch and hold me fast, their keen scrutiny stirring my pulse anew though we stand worlds apart.

His lingering gaze beckons to me, a silent invitation to experience the rush all over again.

I murmur some flimsy excuse but know the true source of my hesitation runs deeper. To abandon safety and convention for an orc is a plunge into uncharted waters, yet to ignore the summons of raw attraction would be to deny the wilder part of my typically inhibited self. As the memory of his kiss sparks along my skin, I don't know which path to choose at this moment, suspended between possibility and doubt.

Sandra shakes her head impatiently. "So go talk to him, silly! That"s generally how conversations work."

Her pragmatic words ring with truth, but actually approaching him again seems an insurmountable challenge at that moment. Luckily, our other friends swoop in before Sandra can needle me further, dragging us both back out to dance some more.

I lose myself in the carefree rhythms, letting the music sweep away my turbulent thoughts. But every time I risk a glance towards the bar, his eyes are already finding me in the crowd, his gaze holding a promise that sets my pulse racing. What more could that promise entail, if only I had the nerve to seek him out again?

As the night wears on in a hazy blur of drink and dance, I start to wonder if this will be yet another "what if" to haunt my memories – a glimpse of possibility, snuffed out by cowardice before it ever truly began.

The anticipation swirling between the orc and I seems to wind tighter with each passing song, yet neither of us makes a move. Are we both too afraid of shattering the tension, only to find we"ve built this attraction up to more than it truly is?

Glancing over, I watch him say something to the bartender with a grin before tossing back the last of his drink. Will this be my final chance to steal more than fleeting glances with the mysterious orc?

As the final notes fade, I"m unsure what to do until he catches my eye from across the room. Emboldened, I wind my way through the crowd to where he stands, leaning against the bar.

His eyes widen slightly at my approach. "Not leaving so soon, I hope?" His voice is a low rumble that sets my nerves alight.

"Not without finishing what we started," I reply, trying to match his steadfast gaze though my heart stamps a wild rhythm.

He grins, pointed teeth flashing in the colored lights. "By all means, let"s continue our talk."

My pulse quickens at the insinuation in his tone. Hesitating, I say, "I'd like to get to know you first."

He inclines his head. "What more would you know?"

I sigh, searching for the right words. "This is new for me."

He nods slowly. "I understand your hesitation. But you have no reason to fear me, unless you want to." His hand reaches out to brush my hair back, sending shivers through me. "Let me ease your mind."

His heated gaze and implication ignite both fear and longing within me. What am I so afraid of wanting in this moment?

His words and touch awakened something bold and reckless within me. Leaning into his caress, I see his gaze steadily burning through me. He curls a finger under my chin, tilting my face up to his.

Every warning bell in my mind is clanging, yet how can I deny the wild longing his nearness stirs? Taking a steadying breath, I lay my hand over his where it rests against my cheek.

My face fits perfectly into the curve of his palm as if I were made for him, and he for me.

Just one dance.

On impulse I hold out my hand, feeling wanton. There is a flash of surprise, and then he takes my hand and follows me out amongst the thrashing bodies. Turning to face him, I slide both hands up his powerful arms as we find our rhythm.

We say nothing for what feels like forever, losing ourselves in the music and each other"s movements until the floor falls away. His skilled hands guide my hips, his proximity intoxicating. Our earlier kiss seems a lifetime ago now.

As the beat builds, so do we, spinning and circling in an intimate call and response. Breathless, I can feel the thundering beat of my heart, even over the pulsing music.

Lost in sensation, I crush my lips to his in a searing kiss that speaks of all the wild desires I dare not name. In his embrace the world falls silent, there is only this thrumming now between our entangled bodies. Never have I felt more alive.

Lost in the kiss, time loses all meaning. There is only the rush of adrenaline through my veins, the points where our bodies meet feeling electrified. His lips move from mine, trailing hot open-mouthed kisses along my jaw until I gasp. My fingers tighten in his thick hair, holding him close as desire blazes through my core.

I breathe in the aroma of his body, my primal senses invigorated by his scent and driving me to kiss up along the side of his neck.

When he pulls back to meet my eyes, the sheer intensity of want reflected there steals my breath. Heat pools low in my belly to see such open hunger and fascination focused entirely on me. I am awash in sensation and longing, uncertainty burning away in the fire of newfound craving.

A flash of teeth as he smiles, taking my hand to lead me back into the pulsing throng. This time when he pulls me close, I melt against the hard planes of his body without hesitation.

We move as one, his eyes never leaving mine, stripping me bare to my core with how plainly he sees all I feel but dare not say. By the time the final chords fade, my blood sings with wanting. Breaking away just enough to breathe, I stare defiantly into his eyes.

A jostle of a partygoer brings me back and I realize it is all my overactive imagination. He still stands at the bar, and I have been daydreaming about this man for well over a minute now.

A ghostly feeling of his hand comes up to cup my cheek, callused thumb stroking gently in a surprisingly tender gesture amidst our fevered contact. I can barely draw myself out of the fantasy, the vapid pulse of the lights sending my imagination spiraling.

The promise of his low rumble sends fresh shivers down my spine. Eyes locked with mine, he watches as I leave the heaving dance floor. My heart hammers as I wind a path toward the bar, every inch of skin tingling in our shared electricity.

Reaching the bar, I take an easy seat, crossing one leg over the other and leaning on the cool countertop for stability. "A whiskey, please. And make it strong,"

The next time I glance over, a woman sits close to him. She brushes his shoulder, but as soon as our eyes meet, he's waving her off, before turning his attention fully back on me. The intensity of his gaze raises goosebumps along my arms. His gaze feels so intimate, like a hundred wisps of his hands on my body, each exploring their own area and claiming it.

And it feels so right. Gone at this moment is my promise to tend only to myself. I want this orc to do what he pleases, to pleasure me and blaze the already burning desire I possess for him.

What fresh mysteries will this stranger continue to uncover in me this thrilling night? I can only surrender to the pull of attraction and adventure, and see where this whirlwind encounter may lead us next.

All too soon, Sandra"s voice cuts through the haze of wanting that has clouded my mind. "Meiko, it"s time to call it a night."

I glance up reluctantly to see her and our other friends gathering their things, clearly ready to leave. With a sigh, I turn back to him.

His eyes gleam with mirth as he watches me leave.

Rising unsteadily on legs turned to jelly, I allow Sandra to lead me towards the exit on unsteady feet. At the door, I glance back to see him still watching me, lips quirked in a knowing smile.

Out in the cool night air, Sandra links her arm through mine. "Come on, dreamer, let"s get you home." But my thoughts remain inside with the mysterious orc who has awakened desires I never knew I possessed.

As we make our way down the dark street, I can"t stop replaying my charged fantasy in my mind. His eyes, his touch, his whispered promises – they have burrowed deep under my skin. I find myself aching with longing for what more this unexpected attraction may yet reveal. Our paths have crossed, but I feel instinctively it will not be the last time. The journey has only just begun.