One Night, Forever Change

the sting of humiliation had begun to settle somewhere deep behind her ribs. The bar's dim lighting made it

the tinkling of glasses and the muted chatter of the city's elite. It was the kind

le. Today had been hell. She had spent months preparing the marketing pitch of her life, only to have her idea shot down in front of a full boardroom by a junior exec who c

iskey in a bar she couldn't really afford, i

deep, with the kind of confidenc

y tailored navy suit that hugged broad shoulders and a trim waist. His tie was loosened, and the top two buttons of

smoke-gray with an edge of steel-and the

ng the glass down. "Let

eside her uninvited. "But I've had my share of rough days

be I

s it w

ring him. "That depends. Are yo

not b

n how to flirt-how to feel anything that wasn't strategic or guarded. But something about him-his unshakabl

ur name?"

d. "Let's not do

flag. An exit sign. But inst

na

No baggage. J

etween them, bol

arely did dating. Her last relationship had left scars that hadn't fully healed, and she'd burie

ice low. "You always prop

o look like they need to rem

was like gravity, drawing her in until logic blurred and heat replac

ht now," she said, mor

in, brushing his fingers lightly o

s breat

sting lightly on her thigh, the city's lights a blur outside the window. Neither

reathless. She leaned against the wall, and he caged

ill change

't wan

he doors slid open, he grabbed

arble, plush furniture and dim lighting that set th

wed by his tie, his shirt, her blouse. Their kisses were wild, frenzied, filled with everything unspoken and unme

d. Every touch was an unspoken command. Every gasp, a surrender. His body covered hers on the bed

t want to. In that moment, he w

aises and curses, his voice rough with hunger. And when she came undone beneath him, her fingers d

flicker across the ceiling, she realized she hadn't jus

one in the soft dawn li

-"Thanks for the distraction. No regrets."-and