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Two. A delicious piece of ass

Vera

S tanding outside, heart racing, I’m amused at how my night has turned out. I’m consciously ignoring the sweltering heat, because it should be illegal to be this hot at this time of night. Instead, I focus on my evening.

Should have known meeting my date at a sports bar was a dumb idea, but my dry spell has left my body and soul dehydrated. I wanted someone to fuck me hard and make me come until I saw stars. Instead, I was surrounded by idiots shouting at TVs, getting agitated as the cricket game—sorry, match —continued.

Then I met Elias.

Despite all the things he didn’t say, I could tell that he was hiding. Nobody wears a cap that low and sits hunched over like they’re trying to vanish into the woodwork if they’re not hiding. I know next to nothing about Indian celebrities and I honestly don’t care. Which is why I’m convinced he’s trying to stay lowkey with his whole outfit. My curiosity usually gets me in trouble and I’m pretty sure googling his name might disappoint me.

Instead, I text my cousin-slash-best friend.

Date ditched me. Got stuck with obnoxious cricket fans. Going bar hopping with a handsome stranger.

Tamara

SHOW ME THE HANDSOME STRANGER!

Driver’s licence, preferably. Those pictures are the worst. Kabir’s making me watch cricket, so I feel your pain

Can’t you distract him with your boobs or something?

Tamara

I tried, but he was so stressed about the Renegades losing

Men.

Tamara

Does your stranger not care for cricket?

Didn’t ask.

Tamara

How handsome is handsome?

SO FUCKING HANDSOME, TAM

He’s got the whole square jaw with scruff

Like fucking carved from marble

Bet he’s like that everywhere

Tamara

Pictures or he’s not real

I laugh at the string of emojis that follow and start to send back a bunch of my favourite ones when the door to the bar opens and Elias steps out.

“What’s so funny?”

“My cousin needs proof that you’re hot.”

He smiles and adjusts his cap, one arm sliding around my waist. “How can we prove that?”

I purse my lips and lean back into his chest. His chin rests against the side of my head as I take a couple of pictures. Then a video, because there’s something in the way his lips twitch mid-smile Tamara needs to see.

“Tam, meet Elias. He’s my handsome stranger for the night.”

“Hi, Tam. I promise to get her home in one piece,” he adds before burying his face into my neck, scruff and lips brushing against my skin. I wiggle my eyebrows at the camera and sink into Elias as he says, “What if I wanted to keep you for more than one night?”

You won’t, because you’ll get tired of me after twenty-four hours.

I’m hot and a good time, but I also have a tendency to be too much for most people to handle. He nuzzles along my neck as I text Tamara the pictures and video. Stuffing my phone into my bag, I turn and capture his mouth. He growls into the kiss, hands tightening around my waist as his tongue probes my lips. I part for him, fingers brushing up his shoulders to grip the back of his neck.

A throat clearing breaks us apart and I’m tempted to tell the person off. Until a rough accented voice says, “Are we ready, Mr. Joseph?”

“Yes, sorry. Kuriakose, this is Vera.” My date wipes his mouth and gestures to me.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Vera.” He offers me a small smile and gestures to the dark car idling beside us.

“You too.” His name has me itching to speak the words Malayalis ask each other when we meet in public: where’s your hometown? But I resist and glance at Elias to find a blush spreading across his cheeks. Kuriakose opens the door and I slide in, Elias climbing in after me. I survey the car—taking in the expensive leather and high end technology—and whistle when I see the Audi logo on the steering wheel.

“Home?” Kuriakose asks, seatbelt clicking into place.

“No, we’re going to…” Elias arches an eyebrow at me.

I want to see his home, to strip him out of his grey long sleeved v-neck T-shirt and jeans. Find out if the rest of his body is as strong and tight as his jaw. I never have trouble asking for what I want when it comes to sex, but something about this man stops me.

“Miss Vera?”

“There’s a place in Nungambakkam we can go,” I answer, staring at Elias. Kuriakose says something, but I don’t hear it. I’m too curious about my companion. “Who are you, Mr. Joseph ?”

Kuriakose tuts and in Malayalam? 1 says, “She doesn’t know who you are?”

“I wanted a night to be unknown,” Elias replies as I bite my lip.

Should I admit I know the language? But decide that if he can keep secrets, so can I. His hand cups my jaw, thumb grazing over my mouth until I release the bottom lip. His attention is fixed where his finger moves and I have to remind myself to breathe normally.

“I’m sure getting into the cars of handsome strangers is not advisable,” he teases.

“You’ve had your tongue in my mouth, we can skip the strangers part. Besides, I can google you now.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. Tonight we’re just Vera and Elias.”

“Tomorrow?” I ask, nipping at his thumb.

“Anything you want to be.”

I hum softly and wrap my hand around his wrist, scooting closer to him. As I lean in, Kuriakose announces that we’ve arrived. Elias huffs, his breath warm against my skin and steals a quick kiss before sliding away. I’ve been horny for strangers before, but whatever Elias is making me feel? It’s new and unsettling.

As someone who spends close to ten hours in an office five days a week, I crave the chance to get out and do things as often as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a homebody. Spending late nights wandering the city doesn’t happen too often, so I’m making the most of it. Especially since I’ve got great company.

It’s closing in on midnight and in the hours since we met, we’ve been to four different bars. Cricket followed us to the first two places and Elias flinched every time the fans got rowdy. He stayed close the whole time, an arm around my waist or a hand on my hip. Like he was claiming me for the world to see and I’m all about it. Goodbye feminism . He’s worn his cap the whole time too, dipping his head whenever it seems like someone is getting too close to us.

I’ve lost track of the drinks we’ve had, but I made sure to swipe my card whenever I could. I might have joked when I said not all of us are rolling around in money, because I can afford to pay for everything we’ve consumed tonight. Since he’s being so silent about who he really is, I haven’t divulged anything either. All my past hook-ups and relationships know who I am, which instantly puts them on alert. It’s clear to me that men still don’t know how to respond when they’re with a powerful woman who can look after herself. Which is partly why I like this anonymity.

Tonight, we’re two random people connecting over our mutual attraction and nothing else.

When we stumble out of the last bar and into the car, Elias asks if I know any good clubs—“I feel like dancing”. I give Kuriakose directions and lean back as we stare at each other. I’m curious what it would be like to fuck him, to have those big, capable hands mapping my body. He’s not burly, but I can tell he’d be able to handle me the way I like. Down, girl.

Since most clubs in the city are connected to hotels, I picked a five-star location in hopes of there being good music. I don’t go clubbing anymore, but I know my way around the city. Kuriakose pulls up in the portico of the Grand Bay and we slide out of the car. The lobby is packed with folks taking group pictures and sweaty, happy people leaving after a night of partying. The clubs don’t stay open too late, but if my mysterious stranger wants to dance, who am I to deny him that?

Especially when it means I’ll get to have his hands on me again.

We ride the elevator fourteen stories for the club housed on the top floor and Elias chuckles when he sees the name: Underworld. I thought the hotel was really smart to not have it in the basement, like most do, and to name it something so obvious makes sense. We move with the horde until I feel a tug on my hand. Elias is frozen in the middle of the hallway, shoulders pressed against his ears as his eyes dart around before landing on me.

I pull him to the side, and he takes it as an invitation to back me up against the wall. “Something tells me you’re not really ready for this.”

He exhales loudly as his hands land beside my head. “I hate crowds, but I like being with you.”

I noticed his dislike for crowds during our bar hopping; he was stiff and non-verbal most of the time. Assuming it was his personality, I didn’t say anything. Now his behaviour makes sense.

“You know,” I whisper, fingers hooking into the loops of his jeans to bring him closer, “I was joking about not fucking you.”

“I was joking about not fucking you too. But I do wanna dance.”

I slide off his cap. “Will you be okay without your security blanket?”

He grunts and presses our hips together. “I’ve got you, don’t I?”

One hand cups my jaw and a whimper escapes before he swallows it with a kiss. My fingers tunnel through his hair and I moan as his tongue dances with mine, our bodies lined up perfectly. Some asshole clears their throat and Elias breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine. I steal a kiss and slip his cap into my bag as he steps away. He rolls his shoulders back and straightens up, body seeming looser than it was before. Without the shadow of his brim and his hair mussed up thanks to my fingers, he’s one of the handsomest men I’ve ever seen.

“You’re a delicious piece of ass, Elias Joseph.”

He blushes and holds out his hand. I take it and we head towards the door of the club. The bouncer slaps bands around our wrists, takes Elias’s card for our cover charge and waves us inside. The music is way too loud and it’s teeming with people. His hand tightens in mine and after a quick nod of acknowledgement that he’s going to be okay, we make a beeline to the bar.

Everyone standing at the counter has drinks, but they refuse to move. It takes some pushing and shoving, and some apologising from Elias, before we’re close enough to order. With a flash of our wristbands, we get two beers and step away. I truly believe people in nightclubs can’t actually dance, but if you’re in a crowd that’s grooving and you move with them, it all seems to work.

He tugs me back against his chest as we sway to the music and I can feel him relax. The hand not holding his drink is wrapped around my waist, the bottom half of my dress riding up enough and I can feel the cool air brushing against my thighs. Elias hums in my ear and I smile, trying my best to ignore how hard he is against my ass.

I’m not one for PDA, but ever since we met, displaying my sexual desire and affection for this man is all I’ve been thinking about. His mouth wanders down my neck, I tilt my head and gather my hair out of the way as my eyes close. He nips and sucks on my skin; he could leave all the marks he wants and I wouldn’t complain. The song changes to something faster and I spin to look up at Elias. He smirks, eyes twinkling as he takes a sip of his drink. I do the same, our gazes locked as we finish our beers.

“I’ve known you only a few hours and it feels like this is where I’m meant to be,” he whispers, leaning in slightly.

“Pressed up against me while we’re surrounded by stinky people in an expensive club?”

“Exactly.”

I know what you mean . I don’t believe in love at first sight or fate. And I no longer trust my gut when it comes to romance and relationships. Elias might tick all the boxes in my mind, but I could never give myself over to him completely.

“What’s wrong?”

I’m surprised to hear him over the loud, heart-thumping music or that he can read me so well already. Forcing a smile, I pat his chest. “Promise not to fall in love with me, okay?”

He looks startled, eyes searching mine before he nods slowly. “I promise.”

I take his empty bottle along with mine and head to the bar to return them. And to catch my breath. The bartender slides over a glass of water and I turn around to find Elias watching me, hands on his hips. Fucking hell, he’s breathtaking . Even under the strobe lights of this crowded club, with the worst Bollywood remixes playing, he makes every inch of me come alive.

I made him promise not to fall in love with me, but who is holding me accountable for the butterflies in my stomach and the throbbing in my core?

His head tips to the side, mouth curving into a smile and my heart thunders. I finish my water as Elias lifts a hand and hooks a finger, calling me to him. Flashes go off around us and I’m drawn to the man like a moth to a flame. I’d be absolutely okay being burned by him, the hotter the better. When our bodies are inches apart, his arm slides around my waist, hauling me closer. My softness presses against his firm body and I melt a little.

“Wanna get out of here?”

“Is this because of the fucking comment?”

He chuckles, the sound rumbling through his body and into mine. “Yes. I’m also starving and I don’t feel like spending thousands on finger food.”

My brain automatically sorts through my rolodex of late night restaurants as I nod. “I know a couple of places we could check out.”

“Lead the way,” he whispers and his mouth covers mine. I moan into the kiss, arms winding around his neck. I should be moving, but in his embrace, with his tongue teasing mine, I can’t bring myself to care.

Until someone bumps into us and slurs out an apology.

Elias growls at the intruder, who apologises again and freezes. I notice my companion go still, then we’re moving. So fast, it’s almost like he’s carrying me out of the club.

“Someone’s in a hurry.”

“Need food and you alone,” he mumbles, but I catch him looking over his shoulder as we step into the elevator. He doesn’t speak as we hit the lobby and push through the main doors of the hotel. Kuriakose is already waiting for us and I’m tempted to ask how he knew we were ready, but I’m being gently guided into the car. Elias looks frustrated as we start moving and I scoot closer to make sure he’s okay, one hand on his jaw, turning his face to mine.

“Home?” Kuriakose asks in Malayalam.

I don’t hesitate when I reply in the same language, “Can we go to T. Nagar? There’s a place that’s open late and won’t be too crowded.”

They look at me in shock, because they definitely weren’t expecting me to speak in Malayalam. I shrug and stroke Elias’ jaw, smiling when his eyes drop to my bare thighs now that my dress has ridden up.

“Are you okay?”

“I am now,” he mumbles, leaning in to press his forehead against mine.