5. Fallon

“Did it turn out?” the dark-haired stranger asks, glancing at my phone.

I flip to the recent picture that shows the back of his head and a dozen strangers in the background, leaving out every trace of me and our kiss.

“I think we can do better than that,” he says. “Mind if I…?” He reaches for my phone, and I can’t remember how to speak.

I pass it to him.

He lifts my phone, and holy mother of mercy, my stomach dips as his biceps flex against his tee. “There,” he says.

I glance at my phone, where our faces are centered on the screen, and watch as he slides his hand across my jaw, somehow managing to graze that empty space in my chest. I don’t miss Tobias, but I miss the familiarity of having someone I care about—someone who cares about me.

Thoughts of Tobias are charred to ashes that blow away as the stranger strokes his thumb across my cheek like he knows how starved I am for the contact with confidence as though he knows me. Knows how I want to be touched—need to be touched.

And holy heat, it feels amazing.

I force my eyes to remain open and not lean into his hand, the experience feeling more intense as I watch him touch me on my phone screen while feeling the pressure, warmth, and slight roughness of his thumb. My knees feel like cooked spaghetti noodles, and my spine aches, wishing to arch against him, though my body remains locked and still.

I slowly turn to face him, and his gaze shifts to meet mine. I feel lightheaded, as though everything about him is too much, and I will combust if I remain this close to him.

His palm glides along my jaw, and his fingers thread into my hair. I forget where we are and who I am as his lips ghost across mine, so light and gentle I barely feel their outline.

Panic and desperation blare in my chest, fearing I may never experience this feeling again. I don’t want to miss it, don’t want to forfeit perfection when it’s a breath away. I want to feel him, want to see if this kiss can surpass every other kiss I’ve had.

I want to know if he can kiss me as well as he can touch me.

I grant myself permission, and without thought, my spine silently sighs as I arch into him. My lungs inflate as I breathe him in, and my skin celebrates as I place a hand on his chest and kiss him without an ounce of abandon.

His mouth moves over mine, and when his tongue tickles the seal of my lips, I invite him to invade another part of me.

And invade me he does. His tongue expertly lashes mine, consuming every thought and ounce of hesitation. He angles my head, kissing me deeper, consuming me completely, and all I want is for him to take more.

He moans softly, appreciatively, as his fingers lock in my hair, pulling me closer to him. His signature is on my tongue, and I don’t know his name, but it doesn’t matter because all I care about is how damn good—perfect—he feels.

I don’t want to miss out on him—on more.

His breath is strained as I slowly pull away, and my lungs are already protesting as too much oxygen slips through my lips.

His soft brown eyes are nearly eclipsed by his dilated pupils that are fixed on me, undressing me, wanting me just as badly as I want him.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

It’s not the question I was expecting, which was something along the lines of whether I’m on birth control, or if he can do something filthy to me.

I regret the time spent avoiding him even more than the months I wasted trying to salvage my relationship with Tobias. Lexie’s words of a one-night stand suddenly feel like a premonition as I stare at this ridiculously hot guy who is being a gentleman when I want him to be anything but.

“I’ve never done this before, but I… and you’re…” I struggle to find words or even swallow. “It’s been a really strange year and I’m never going to see you again, so what if we spend tonight together? Not the whole night, but you know…” I shake my head and continue. “No personal details, no exchanges, and then, we move on with our lives.”

His eyes shift between mine.

I continue, “We’ll be safe, use protection, and stay at a hotel, so we’re on mutual ground.”

His lips twitch with a smile. “Any other rules?”

“Probably,” I admit nervously. I glance toward the bar in the direction Lexie had disappeared. I spot her almost immediately, her eyes honed in on me as she smiles knowingly. ‘Go,’ she mouths.

I swallow. I’m not sure what I’m doing, but before I can overthink this and walk away, I turn back to the gorgeous stranger. “Are you interested?”