Chapter 4: A wild night
"Is this seat taken?"
As my attention shifted towards the voice, I was immediately captivated by the sight before me.
The person who had occupied the seat beside me was undeniably attractive, exuding an aura of mystery that tugged at my curiosity.
His dark hair framed his face, and his eyes held a deep, enigmatic gray that seemed to conceal countless stories. My gaze followed the lines of a heart tattoo etched onto his arm, and the glint of an earring on his left ear caught my eye.
His shirt's top button was casually undone, revealing a glimpse of ink on his collarbone—a snake tattoo that had his teeth out.
His confidence radiated from him, and as our eyes met, a mixture of intrigue and a primal sensation stirred within me.
A nervous swallow caught in my throat, my heart racing as his intense gaze momentarily held me captive.
A faint smile graced his lips, a hint of mischievous charm in the curve of his mouth. His presence possessed a magnetic quality, drawing me in with an irresistible allure.
My words faltered, a touch of alcohol-induced haze mingling with the mesmerizing presence of the stranger before me. "Yeah, it's all yours," I managed, feeling a soft blush creep onto my cheeks, the result of both the wine and the attractive man in front of me.
"Whiskey on the rocks, please," he requested with an air of sophistication that intrigued me.
The bartender acknowledged his order, and I couldn't help but comment, "Whiskey, huh? A bold choice."
A smirk graced his lips as he leaned back, his gaze never leaving mine. "I like my drinks with character, Miss Runaway Bride"
I raised an eyebrow, "me? Runaway bride?"
He chuckled, "Yeah. You are, I assumed. "
"That's one big of an assumption don't you think?"
"I know...but am I wrong? You bumped into me earlier on your way out."
Realization hit me as I chuckled, "You were that stranger. Wow. How little the world is"
He nodded. "That's just the way things are"
He sipped his drink, twirling it and giving me a slight smirk.
I offered a slight smile, realizing that his drink preference was a reflection of his persona—a man who embraced life with a certain edge. "Well, the drink says something about you."
He chuckled. "I agree. What is your name by the way?"
"Oh right, I haven't introduced myself. The name is Emberline"
He leaned in slightly, the corners of his lips curling as he remarked, "Beautiful name for a beautiful lady," he whispered into my ear making me blush he then leaned back and added, "And what does the drink say, Emberline?"
Caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze, I felt a surge of heat rise to my cheeks. "Uh, you can just call me Em or Ember. That's what my friends call me and the drink shows that you are someone with a bad boy persona."
He laughed. "Well, you aren't wrong. I am bad after all" His hand extended toward me, his voice warm. "Zayn. Nice to meet you, Em or Ember."
I shook his hand, our palms connecting for the briefest moment, sending a curious jolt through me. "Likewise, Zayn."
A playful glint danced in his eyes as he arched an eyebrow. "So, are we friends now?"
I laughed, the tension easing as his demeanor put me at ease. "No, not quite."
He grinned, his gaze holding mine. "Ah, I see. So, you don't want to be my friend?"
The blush on my cheeks deepened, and I sputtered, "It's not that. Just... please, enough with the teasing."
His chuckle was low and captivating. "Alright, I'll tone it down... for now."
Zayn's gaze lingered on me, his curiosity evident. "What would a pretty girl like you be doing in a bar like this, with a tear-streaked face and slacks? Also, you ran away from the wedding center as if you had just stolen the bride's jewelry"
I laughed softly, a mixture of amusement and resignation in my voice. "Well, I got my heart broken."
His fingers toyed with the rim of his glass as he took a slow sip of his whiskey. "Oh?"
I nodded, the memory of the evening's events weighing on me. "Yeah. My fiancé abandoned me for my stepsister."
His reaction was visceral; a hiss of surprise escaped him. "Wow. That's... harsh. I recognize you…you were Jaxon's fianceé…does that mean your step-sister's wedding was the one I attended today and you were a runaway bride. Wow.."
I nodded in agreement, my heartache echoing in my gaze. "Agreed, that's me" I drank the whole glass before adding " It's been a hard and painful night."
I started at nothing in particular but I could feel the stranger's gaze on me.
As the rain continued to pour outside, I found solace in the presence of a man I didn't know than with my own family.
It was as if we were two souls seeking refuge from our respective storms, finding solace in each other's company.
Hours seemed to slip away unnoticed, the rain outside intensifying to the point where it was impossible to consider driving. With an understanding smile, Zane suggested, "Looks like we're stuck here for the night."
I glanced outside at the sheets of rain and nodded, a mixture of exhaustion and something else tugging at me. "Yeah, I don't think it's safe to drive in this."
Zane signaled the bartender to bring the cheque, and soon enough, I found myself faced with the reality of the situation. I had no place to go and no way to escape the rain.
I chuckled, grinning like a fool from the alcohol as I rested my head on his shoulder. "Indeed. But hey, at least we're stuck here together."
Zane's laughter resonated with mine, and his gaze held a glint of mischief. "True. And you know what they say about being stuck together in unexpected circumstances?"
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the hint of flirtation in his tone. "No, what do they say?"
His lips curled into a playful smile. "That it can lead to unexpected adventures."
I grinned, my gaze meeting Zane's with a playful glint. The alcohol had emboldened me, and his presence was like a tempting dare I couldn't resist.
"Well," I purred, my voice dripping with a hint of mischief, "I don't mind having that adventure."
I knew it was the alcohol speaking, as I would never have slept with a stranger.
Zane's smirk deepened, his eyes darkening with a mixture of desire and amusement. "I had a feeling you might say that."
With a subtle nod and a suggestive glance towards the bartender, he made his intentions clear.
Tonight I was going to tick the last quest on my bucket list. Losing my virginity before I did what I planned to do.
Even with a smiley face that showed happiness. My heart was bitter and once I set my mind on something, I would do it.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone