More...

The night began like so many others, with cheap booze and good company. I sat on the couch with a bad beer, staring at an even worse movie. I was so lost in reliving the latest fight with my boyfriend I barely saw the movie. It hardly registered when Anthony sat down next to me.

Anthony was a regular at these gatherings, though we rarely talked. Beyond his preference in beer and cigarettes, I knew relatively little about the guy. As I turned toward him, I unexpectedly felt myself flush under his gaze. I inhaled sharply as his fingers grazed my hip. Accidentally? Had to be. He has a girlfriend. We're in a room full of people. He's not going to start groping me with all these witnesses...

It was around then that I realized his lips were moving. Those intense eyes burned into mine but I had no idea what he was saying. He reached out and laid his hand on mine, thumb running over my knuckles. "Where are you tonight?" My eyes remained on his hand. Flesh burned wherever he had touched me. And I couldn't help but imagine how amazing those hands would feel over the rest of my body.

I shook my head, forcing those thoughts from my head, raising my eyes to his. "I could use another drink. You?" I stood quickly, retreating to the kitchen, hoping to put some distance between the two of us. As I poured myself a very stiff drink, I watched Anthony step onto the balcony. He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, staring out into the darkness. I stepped out next to him, hoping to draw as little attention as possible from the rest of the apartment.

We stood beside each other wordlessly, the silence saying all the things we wanted to. I allowed myself to rub my leg against his, savoring the forbidden sensation of flesh on flesh. Watching him as he smoked, I knew Anthony would be trouble. And it was so fucking appealing.

I retreated inside and returned to pretending to watch the movie. In truth, Anthony had me captivated in a way that was both exciting and a little unnerving. He never returned to the couch, but I could feel his eyes on me. His gaze was a lover's caress along the length of my body. As the night wore on, and the drinks continued to flow, I kept searching for other opportunities to be alone with him, to find ourselves back out on the balcony.

That opportunity never presented itself. Too soon, he reached for his keys and began saying his goodbyes. When he got to me, he took in my glassy eyes and the bottle of vodka at my feet. "I'm taking you home. Don't even think about fighting me on this. You're in no condition to drive." He said.

He held out a hand to help me to my feet. I wobbled a bit and he slid an arm around my waist to steady me as we walked. I didn't really need the assist. I just wanted to feel his arms around me.

He eased his car into a spot across from my house. How had we gotten here so soon? He unfastened his seat belt and turned toward me.

You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you.

My heart skipped a beat before pounding wildly in my chest. I wanted desperately for him to kiss me. But what about his girlfriend? My boyfriend? Desire and loyalty began a furious war inside me... For once, I had no idea which side would win.

So... He began hesitantly. If I kissed you, would you slap me in the face? Kiss me back? Or continue to sit there with that shocked look on your face?

I didn't know. Still, a voice I hardly recognized challenged, "why don't you try it and see."

I can still close my eyes and savor every moment of that kiss. The feel of his lips. The musky scent of cologne. The look on his face when he finally pulled back, neither of us wanting that moment to end.

Soft and sweet. Heat sizzling just below the surface. It was the first of many and much more than just a kiss...