"I want you."
The words settled between them.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Whatever calm had been in his eyes gave way to something quieter... heavier.
He studied her in silence, as though weighing every possibility.
"Is this what you really want?"
Lucy nodded in response.
"How much have you had to drink?" he asked.
The question stole the warmth from her face.
"You think I’m drunk?" she asked softly.
"You think I’m making a mistake?"
"Do you also think I’m a prude?" She questioned quietly.
He didn’t answer her, which caused tears to well up in her eyes.
"I should leave," she murmured.
She tried to slide off his lap.
His hand tightened gently around her waist.
"You’re not a prude."
She looked back at him, relief dancing in her eyes.
"Stand up."
Lucy immediately obeys.
He rose to his feet, still holding her hand.
"Not here."
Before she could ask what he meant, he guided her through the crowd and toward one of the club’s private lounges, where the music softened into a distant pulse.
Once in, Lucy let out a deep breath.
"You’re shaking."
Her brows furrowed as she looked down. He was telling the truth.
"Scared?" He asked.
She swallowed. "Terrified."
"Then why are you here?"
She closes her eyes as she responds. "Because if I go home tonight... I’ll think about him again."
That earned a slight crease of his brows. "Him?" he echoed.
Lucy sat on the edge of the leather sofa, drawing her knees to her chest.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
Lucy breathed out through her nose.
"Today’s my birthday."
"Happy birthday."
She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
"It’d have been a happy one if I didn’t walk in to find my boyfriend cheating on me."
He was caught off-guard.
"He made you believe there was something wrong with you."
Lucy looked away.
"One man’s stupidity doesn’t define your worth."
"You don’t even know me," she whispered.
"I don’t have to." He simply replied.
He crossed the room before lowering himself onto the sofa beside her, leaving enough space that she wouldn’t feel cornered.
For a moment, silence reigned between them.
That was until Lucy moved closer towards him. He turned to her just as she cupped his cheeks.
"I don’t know your name," she whispered, her fingers still resting against his face.
He searched her eyes.
"Lucy."
The corners of his mouth softened. "That’s your name."
She nodded. "And yours?"
He held her gaze for another beat.
"Kane."
His name settled softly between them.
Lucy repeated it under her breath, as though testing how it felt.
"Kane."
Something in his expression shifted.
"You say it like you’ve known it for years."
A shy smile tugged at her lips.
"I just wanted to know what to call the man I kissed."
His gaze dropped briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes.
"And now you do."
Silence settled over them again, comfortable this time.
Lucy couldn’t explain what drew her closer. Perhaps it was the kindness in his eyes. Perhaps it was the way he hadn’t rushed her or laughed at her.
She closed the distance first.
Their lips met gently, almost cautiously, as though both of them were learning the other.
This kiss was nothing like the first. The desperation had faded. In its place was curiosity.
Kane’s hand found hers where it rested on the sofa, his fingers threading through hers without breaking the kiss. His touch was warm, steady, and grounding.
The knot that had lived in her chest since that morning loosened a little.
When they finally drew apart, they remained close enough that each breath brushed against the other.
"You’ve stopped shaking," Kane murmured.
She blinked before looking down at their joined hands.
"I didn’t even notice."
"You don’t have to think so much right now."
A soft laugh escaped her.
"I’ve never been good at not thinking."
"I noticed."
She laughed again, this time without forcing it.
The sound lingered between them.
Kane lifted a hand and gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
His fingertips barely grazed her temple before falling away again.
The gesture was so unexpectedly gentle that Lucy found herself leaning into it before she realized what she was doing.
Their eyes met.
Slowly, almost instinctively, she leaned forward once more.
This time neither of them hesitated.
Their lips found each other again, unhurried, each kiss lingering a heartbeat longer than the last.
Outside the lounge, the bass continued to pulse through the walls, but inside, the world had narrowed to quiet breaths, fleeting smiles, and the impossible warmth of being seen.
A sharp vibration broke the moment.
Kane’s phone.
Neither of them moved, unwilling to break what was growing between them.
It rang again.
His jaw tightened. He didn’t want this moment to be destroyed.
Lucy felt it before she saw it—the subtle change in him. The softness disappeared behind a carefully controlled expression.
"I’m sorry," he said quietly.
The phone rang a third time.
He closed his eyes for the briefest moment before reaching into his pocket.
"I have to take this."
Disappointment flickered across Lucy’s face, though she tried to hide it.
But it was too late. Kane saw it anyway.
He slipped the phone from his pocket, his thumb hovering over the screen.
Lucy saw it before he spoke.
Whatever was on the screen had stolen the warmth from his expression, replacing it with something distant.
"I’m sorry," he said quietly.
The words landed heavier than she expected.
The phone rang again.
Kane closed his eyes for the briefest moment before answering it.
"Give me a minute."
He ended the call almost immediately and looked back at her.
"I really am sorry."
Lucy forced a smile.
"It’s okay."
It wasn’t. Nothing felt okay.
He took a step toward the door before stopping.
For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke.
"Happy birthday, Lucy."
Her breath hitched.
"Thank you."
His gaze lingered on her for one final moment before he turned and walked away.
The door clicked shut behind him as silence settled over the lounge.
Lucy remained exactly where she was, unable to move.
Slowly, almost absentmindedly, she lifted her fingers to her lips.
They still tingled.
A smile threatened to appear before she quickly shook her head.
What are you smiling about?
She had kissed a complete stranger.
She didn’t know anything about him.
And yet...
She couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Drawing in a slow breath, she left the lounge.
She saw Chelsea who was standing towards the exit with her arms folded across her chest.
The moment Chelsea spotted Lucy, she hurried over.
"There you are!" she exclaimed. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you."
Her eyes narrowed. Then they widened.
"Oh my God..."
She grabbed Lucy by both shoulders.
"You kissed him, didn’t you?"
Lucy blinked.
Chelsea gasped.
"I knew it!"
"What happened?"
"Who is he?"
"What did he say?"
"Did you sleep with him?"
"Chel."
Lucy’s quiet voice cut through the stream of questions.
"I just want to go home."
Chelsea searched her face for a long moment.
Whatever she saw made her swallow the rest of her questions.
She simply nodded. "Okay. I’ve ordered an Uber. The driver should be waiting outside."
Lucy nodded as they both walked out of the club.
Neither of them spoke during the ride home.
...
Sleep refused to come.
Lucy lay on her back, staring at the ceiling as the events of the night replayed over and over again in her mind.
Kane.
The way he’d looked at her.
The way he’d held her without rushing her.
The way he’d wished her a happy birthday before walking away.
Her fingers drifted to her lips once more.
They still remembered him.
She let out a soft laugh. "This is ridiculous."
She didn’t know his last name.
She didn’t know where he lived.
She didn’t even know if she’d ever see him again.
Yet somehow... she hoped she would.