One Night Stand With a Stranger

was in full swing, guests mingling inside under crystal chandeliers, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. But out here, with the cool night breeze brushing aga

ice behind her, smooth and

ildhood, sharing secrets, dreams, and late-night talks. Mara, with her dark hair and sharp features, had always been the

asked, tilting her head with a smi

laugh. "Just... taking a mo

re engaged to Lucas Thorne. Every woman in that

couldn't quite find. For a moment, a shadow of something-doubt, perhaps-flickered in her gaze, but she pushed it away.

ng that moment of hesitation.

ly. "I think I'm just... n

erthink it. Sometimes, we need to take what we can get in this world

ara was right. She was probably just feeling the weight of the co

too long before she released Elara's arm. "Exactly. N

with a group of guests, his blond hair catching the light, his blue eyes bright and warm as he

over. He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling

urmured, leaning into him, th

into the warmth of his embrace. But something-some small voice in the back of her min

doll in a glass case, everyone's eyes on her, waiting for her to perform. She laughed at jokes she didn't

rely noticed, until later that night when Lucas whispered, "I'll be right back, dar

put her finger on it. Maybe it was just the champagne-or the weight of the evening itself. Deciding sh

owed, and she paused by the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She shouldn't eavesdrop. It wasn

she inched the door open, pee

h. Too close. His hand rested on Mara's waist, their heads bent together

er fingers tightening on the doorknob as she watched, frozen,

make sense of what she'd just seen. But the tru

. Her fiancé.

nd thought, she turned and fled down the hallway, pushing open the doors and stepping out into the cool

al that now clung to her skin like poison. Her heels clacked against the pavement as s

, the kind of place she rarely visited. But tonight, she didn't care. She w

noticing the people around her as she ordered a drink. Her fingers trembled

deep voice aske

confidence. Dark hair, piercing eyes, and a smile that was equal parts char

replied, surprised at the

t it?" he asked, h

er head. "N

a flicker of something dangerous in his ey

pulsed around them, drowning out everything else as he pulled her close. His hands reste

betrayal waiting for her back at the engagement party. She let herself get lost in the

ng together in a rhythm that felt both natural and electric. His hand moved up to he

, his voice barely a

rtled. "How do y

l smile tugging at his lip

place it. And right now, she didn't care. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his, soft and hesitant at

ments urgent and hungry. For one night, she let herself forget everything, losing her

ashed back in. Her head pounded, memories of the previous night a hazy blur. But as she

ply: Until w

eeling an ache in her ch