ROWAN For a few seconds, I simply stared at him.
Had I heard him correctly?
A complete stranger had just invited me to his penthouse.
There had to be something wrong with this man.
This is too good to be true.
My eyes narrowed.
Something about him is suspicious.
I cleared my throat.
“Like I already said…” I forced a polite smile.
“I’m not interested.
I’m fine.” With that, I turned back to the bartender.
“Another.” The bartender poured another glass without saying a word.
I reached for it.
Just as my fingers wrapped around the glass… It disappeared.
I blinked.
The stranger had taken it again…
Without even asking.
He calmly lifted the glass and finished it in one smooth gulp.
I stared at him.
“…Seriously?” He placed the empty glass back on the counter as if nothing had happened.
That was it.
“Can you stop doing that?” I snapped.
“Those are my drinks.” A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“I don’t think you need another drink.” “Oh really?” I folded my arms.
“And what exactly do I need?” He looked at me for a long second.
His voice was calm.
“You just need to talk about it.
I’m here to give you listening ears.
I can be a shoulder for you to cry on…” He paused, eyes locking with mine.
“…and also a be a shoulder for you to raise your legs on.” I almost choked on absolutely nothing.
Every bit of alcohol in my system suddenly felt useless.
I was wide awake.
I stared at him in pure disgust.
Was he… I stared at him for a second before letting out a disbelieving laugh.
“Is this your hobby?” “What?” “Walking into bars every night and saying things like that to random men so you can have s*x with them?” He didn’t answer.
He simply tilted his head a little and nodded along to the background music, completely unbothered.” I couldn’t help wondering… Isn’t he scared?
How could someone be this comfortable talking to complete strangers about s*x?” For all he knew, I could be a criminal.
A scammer.
Or worse.
What if I were a hitman hired to kill him?
I turned back to the bartender.
“Another.” The glass was placed in front of me.
This time, I grabbed it before the stranger had the chance.
I shot him a warning look.
“Don’t even think about it.” He raised both hands innocently.
I emptied the drink in one gulp.
The liquor burned all the way down my throat.
I winced.
Maybe if I drank enough… I’d stop thinking about Kelvin and Jae.
About everything I’d lost today.
Then another thought quietly slipped into my mind.
What if I accepted his offer?
I frowned.
What if I just went with him to that penthouse What better way to get over heartbreak than making one reckless decision?
I rubbed my forehead.
“No.” I whispered to myself.
“I can’t.” I was still fighting with myself when the stranger suddenly stood up.
He pulled out his wallet, dropped a few bills on the counter, and looked at me with a calmer expression.
“I’m sorry for not being a gentleman and saying it that way to you,” he said.
“I’ll pay for the drinks and be on my way.” He turned around and started walking toward the exit.
Just let him go, Rowan, I told myself.
Let him leave.
You’re not that desperate.
You’re not that broken.
But my body refused to listen.
Before I could stop myself, my hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
He stopped immediately and looked back at me.
Those dark eyes settled on mine.
Suddenly… Every bit of confidence I’d gathered disappeared.
I swallowed.
“It’s…” I cleared my throat.
“It’s just…” Why was this so hard to say?
I looked away before forcing the words out.
“…is your offer…” I rubbed the back of my neck.
“…still on?” ….
.
.
.
.
.
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>>>>>> In Mr.
Stranger’s Penthouse<<<<<< We rode the elevator in silence.
My heart was already racing when the doors opened on the top floor.
He typed in a long pin and the heavy door clicked open.
He stepped aside and motioned for me to go first.
I swallowed hard and walked in.
The place was beautiful.
No—more than beautiful.
It looked like something out of a magazine.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, pointing to a big chair.
I nodded and sat down, still looking around in awe.
My hands were restless on my thighs.
“Would you want to shower?” he asked.
I nodded before I even thought about it.
“Follow me.” I stood and walked behind him down a short hallway.
He opened a door and pointed inside a large bathroom with a glass shower.
“Here.
You can freshen up.
Towels are on the shelf when you’re done.” “Thank you,” I mumbled and stepped inside, closing the door halfway.
I stripped and stepped under the water.
The moment the warm stream hit my skin, I closed my eyes and let out a long breath.
It felt really good.
The heat washed away some of the tightness in my chest.
I stayed like that for a long time, just standing still, letting the water run over my face and shoulders.
I lost track of how many minutes passed.
Then a deep voice spoke right outside the glass.
“How about we shower together?” My eyes flew open.
Water rushed straight into them and my nose.
I jerked back too fast.
My foot slipped on the wet floor.
“Ooh shit—!” I was falling.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist and another hand pressed flat against my back, stopping me before I hit the ground.
I blinked the water out of my eyes and looked up.
It was him.
Completely naked.
My face burned so hot I was sure it was redder than a tomato.
I couldn’t find any words.
I just nodded when he asked, “Are you okay?” He guided me back under the spray.
Now both of us were standing there, water pouring over our bodies.
He was so close.
I could feel the heat of his skin even through the water.
I stared up at him.
His eyes were dark and calm and way too beautiful.
Everything about him pulled me in.
He leaned down slowly.
His lips brushed mine first—soft.
Just a light press that made my breath hitch.
Then he came back firmer.
His mouth was warm.
He kissed me once, twice, slow and deep, like he was learning the shape of my lips.
I felt the slight drag of his bottom lip against mine before his tongue slid out and traced the seam of my mouth.
I opened for him.
The second our tongues touched, heat shot straight down my spine.
His tongue moved against mine—slow at first, then faster, curling and stroking, tasting every part of me.
I kissed him back harder.
He sucked gently on my tongue, then pushed deeper, filling my mouth until I had to tilt my head to take more.
One of his hands slid up into my wet hair, gripping just tight enough to hold me still while he claimed my mouth.
I felt the soft bite of his teeth on my lower lip.
He tugged it between them, then soothed the sting with a long, wet lick.
A small sound escaped my throat.
He answered by kissing me even deeper, tongues sliding and twisting together under the falling water.
I could taste the faint burn of liquor still on him.
My hands gripped his shoulders, fingers digging into hard muscle as the kiss grew messier and hungrier.
…..
We finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard.
My lips felt swollen and sensitive.
His eyes were darker than before.
He turned me around so my back faced his chest.
Before I could say anything, his hand came down hard on my ass.
The sharp smack echoed in the bathroom.
A moan slipped out of me.
I quickly clapped a hand over my mouth, embarrassed by how loud it was.
He leaned in close.
His hot breath brushed the shell of my ear and sent a shiver straight down my spine.
I could already feel myself getting hard.
Then he pushed his hips forward.
The thick length of his cock pressed against the small of my back.
He licked the tip of my ear slowly.
My eyes fluttered shut.
I tried to hold still, but it was almost impossible.
He kissed the same spot, soft and slowly, then whispered right against my skin.
“Do you want me inside of you?”