The night glows around us, and the atmosphere sends electrified thoughts racing through my mind. I'm not sure if it's the food, the drink, or the man sitting in front of me. I think about the possibility of love at first sight—turns out it might truly exist.
"Was the food to your liking?" Lukas asks. I glance at my plate before looking back at him with a smile. "It was delicious. I'm just a picky eater, that's why you see a little left." He takes a sip of his drink, still watching me. His gaze studies my face, then wanders down to my shoulders. I catch the way he hesitates, as if he's fighting the urge not to let his eyes go any lower. He stops himself just before his stare lands on my chest. I take another sip of my drink, pretending I didn't notice.
"Tell me more about yourself," Luke says, maintaining steady eye contact. I'm not sure what to say to that. This goes deeper than the surface, but maybe tonight I'll keep things light and save the rest for later. "What do you want to know?" I ask carefully. He pauses for a moment before boldly replying, "Can I meddle a little and ask about your past relationships?" His voice echoes in the quiet space of my mind.
"Hmmm… my last relationship was last year. It went by like a flash."
"How long were you together? And why did you break up?" he continues. I don't hesitate. "Three months. He was immature and impatient. He always made me feel uncomfortable—like he was trying to break through my body instead of reaching my heart. So I ended it." Hesitation would only spark doubt, and if my heart is already leaning toward his, I don't want uncertainty to push him away. In the middle of the expectations stirring quietly inside me, I take another sip of my drink before throwing the question back at him.
He shifts in his seat, leaning back. The smile on his face looks certain as he answers, "You're my first."
First… he says. With his looks and demeanor, I never expected to be his first. My overthinking mind quiets for a moment, and suddenly I feel lighter. Just then, live music begins to play, giving me the perfect topic to drift into—music. We talk for what feels like forever. And even if forever doesn't truly exist, it feels timeless when I'm with him. I love this—this moment with him, his voice slowly dissolving the uncertainty in my chest.
He gently places his hand over mine. "Should we get going?" he asks softly. "I have one more place to take you, if that's okay." Maybe I'm tipsy, because he looks even better this close. I smile and intertwine my fingers with his. "You can take me anywhere tonight." I think I notice a slight twitch on his face—or maybe I'm just drunk on the feeling of this night.
We leave the restaurant, and I sway slightly as I walk, feeling light on my feet. He steadies me with a hand on my shoulder and helps me into the car. As he drives, I can't stop staring at him. 'He looks majestic… it's almost unfair for my heart,' I think while studying his face. His nose—so straight. His jawline—sharp enough to cut. And his lips—not too full, not too thin. Just perfect.
"Why is it unfair?" he suddenly asks, pulling me from my thoughts. I blink at him, confused. "You said it's unfair to look this good for your heart," he repeats. I silently pray the road will split open and swallow me whole. I stay quiet, feeling my cheeks heat and my chest tighten. "You did say it out loud Aria" he laughs, gently patting my head. 'Unbelievable. Now he'll think I'm easy.'
The car finally stops. "We're here," he says with a smile before stepping out and opening my door. I take his hand as I step outside, immediately absorbing the breathtaking view around us. He interlocks his fingers with mine and guides me toward the edge of what seems to be a hill. I take a deep breath, drinking in the scene before me. The stars shine brilliantly above us, the breeze cool against my skin, and far below, the city lights shimmer in the distance.
"Do you like it?" he asks, his thumb brushing softly against my hand.
I turn to him, smiling. "I love it."
He smiles back and gently turns me toward him, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders. "I want to be majestic to you only," he says quietly. "I want you to enjoy it, so your heart never feels burdened." He pauses, watching my reaction carefully.
"I could be yours, Aria."
My heartbeat roared, Maybe he isn't being careful with my emotions after all. I try to process what he just said, but my dizzy head isn't helping. Why does he suddenly look so… nervous? "Sorry. Forget what I just said. Let's head back," he says reluctantly. I noticed the faint sheen of sweat forming on his forehead and saw something flicker in his expression—a raw, unexpected vulnerability. His smile wavered, his confidence cracking just slightly, and his eyes, so sure a moment ago, now held a fragile hope. I realized then that this wasn't just a passing flirtation; he was baring a piece of himself, afraid of how I might react.
And so, even with the swirl of dizziness, I leaned in—not just because I was caught in the moment, but because this was what I'd imagined for days, what I'd always wanted—to finally feel his lips, not just in a dream, but here, with my real heartbeat pounding against his.
Before he can turn away, I stop him and without thinking, I cup his face in my hands. His forest-green eyes… his soft pink lips. I rise onto my toes and press my lips against his.
I must still be tipsy, because they taste unbelievably sweet—like my favorite comfort dessert.
'I kissed him. I finally tasted his lips'. The realization crashes over me as I pull back suddenly, gasping. "Sorry… I'm sorry. I think I'm still drunk," I mutter, avoiding his eyes. When he says nothing, panic creeps in. "I'm sorry," I repeat softly. I can't read his expression, and the silence makes me think I've crossed a line. "S-should we go?" I stammer, turning toward the car. He stops me and turns me back toward him—this time not so gently. His face is flushed, the color reaching all the way to his ears. "I'm sorry," he says quickly before cupping my face and crashing his lips against mine.
His kiss is intense, almost desperate. His tongue slips into my mouth as I struggle not to moan, welcoming the warmth of him. He pushes forward and I instinctively lean back, his arm wrapping around my back to support me as he deepens the kiss.
He kisses me as if he's been waiting for this moment forever. I don't pull away. Instead, I wrap my arms around his neck and let myself fall deeper into the feeling.
Time seems to dissolve as we lose ourselves in each other, until eventually we pull apart, breathing heavily. Our eyes meet again—filled with longing, something darker, something undeniable.
And me, Aria…
I might have liked that more than I will ever admit.