KISS ME

ARIANA'S POV

I didn't stop running until I was out on the streets. The evening breeze blew steadily against my face, a perfect contrast to the chaos inside my head.

I hailed a cab and got in without a destination in mind.

“Where are you going, ma'am?” the middle-aged driver asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

“Just drive,” I murmured. He nodded and pulled away from the curb. I quickly pulled out a handkerchief from my handbag and wiped my face.

So the reason he texted me to come over was because he wanted me to see it for myself. He was tired of pretending.

I was just a toy to him. The moments we shared were all fake.

Fuck.

My chest ached.

And Tania?

She was definitely not his cousin.

Scott was really a jerk. He lied to me. He betrayed me. He used me. And now he had dumped me like I meant nothing.

The tears came again no matter how hard I tried to stop them.

I turned toward the window, keeping my face away from the driver as I stared at the city lights rushing past.

Funny enough?

One minute I had been dressing up and smiling excitedly at the mirror. The next, my face was swollen with tears from heartbreak.

Scott was my first boyfriend, the only guy I had ever loved.

Maybe he didn't mean what he said. Maybe this was some sick prank.

Scott loved me, I was sure of it. He couldn't just do this to me.

My lips parted. I almost told the driver to turn around and take me back to Scott's apartment.

But then his voice echoed in my head.

"You were just a toy to me, Ariana."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

No.

I couldn't think about him anymore.

I needed a distraction. A few drinks or maybe a lot of drinks. Maybe if I got drunk enough, I wouldn't have to think about Scott.

Even if it was just for tonight.

“Stop here,” I muttered as the driver pulled over. I paid him and stepped out.

A glittering nightclub stood before me. Even from outside, the music was loud enough to shake the ground beneath my feet.

Perfect.

I walked inside, as the music instantly became louder. Neon lights flashed across the crowded room while bodies moved together on the dance floor.

People raised their glasses over their heads as they hooted loudly to the music. It felt like nobody in the world had a broken heart except me.

I headed straight for the counter. “Two bottles,” I said.

The bartender handed them over.

I didn't even bother with a glass. I just drank straight from the bottles, one after the other.

The burning sensation in my throat barely registered.

Soon, I ordered more.

I sat there silently, watching strangers dance while I drank, bottle after bottle.

By the time I got to the fifth one, my head felt light, and my thoughts were beginning to blur around the edges.

But I still didn't stop. Infact, I wanted more drinks.

I blinked several times as the floor seemed unusually unstable.

Why was it moving?

I frowned at it, then laughed. Maybe the floor was drunk too.

I slowly pushed myself off the stool. Immediately, my knees wobbled.

Whoa! Okay.

I think I've had enough.

My vision blurred slightly, my  head felt fuzzy, and standing suddenly seemed like a terrible idea. I rubbed my eyes and started walking or at least attempted to walk.

Finding the exit felt like solving a puzzle. People cursed when I bumped into them.

I ignored all of them.

Eventually, I spotted the exit as a triumphant grin spread across my face.

“Ha!” I pointed at it. “There you are.”

A satisfied drunken laugh escaped my lips. “Fuck you, Scott,” I giggled.

Then I stumbled forward. Unfortunately, my head crashed into something solid.

“Ouch.” I whined.

Stupid wall.

For a moment, I just stood there, trying to regain my balance.

Then I blinked.

Wait.

Since when did walls smell this good?

My brows pulled together in a deep frown.

Curious, I leaned closer as the scent grew stronger. It was warm, clean and dangerously intoxicating.

My eyes widened.

Wow.

The club was really investing in their walls. I smiled to myself and leaned in even more.

Maybe I should just sleep here. This wall was surprisingly comfortable and very warm.

I giggled and snuggled closer. This was definitely the nicest wall I'd ever met.

“Are you planning on sleeping there all night?” A deep voice suddenly rumbled above me.

My entire body went still as my eyes widened very slowly.

Hold on.

Since when did walls start talking?

My drunken brain struggled to process that information. A few seconds passed, then another as realization finally hit me.

Wait.

Except this wasn't a wall.

I immediately stumbled backwards. My eyes widened so much they almost popped out of its sockets.

What the fuck!!!

The blurry haze clouding my vision seemed to clear slightly.

Standing in front of me was a man, not a wall.

A very dangerously hot man. Dark hair framed his face, while piercing blue eyes watched me with a calm intensity that made my stomach flip.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharp jaw line. His black shirt hugged his muscular chest, and the rolled-up sleeves revealed strong, veiny forearms that flexed with every movement.

Holy shit.

How can a human be as hot as this?

“Uhh...” I blinked rapidly. “Sorry.” A giggle escaped my lips. “I thought you were a wall.” My words sounded ridiculous.

For a second, he simply stared at me, then the corner of his lips twitched.

Was that amusement?

“Have you been drinking?”

God.

Even his voice was attractive.

I gasped dramatically. “What gave me away?”

The man glanced at the empty expression on my face and the way I struggled to stand upright. “Several things.”

I nodded thoughtfully.

A moment of silence passed, then his gaze softened slightly. “Do you have someone picking you up?”

I opened my mouth but paused as I thought about it. There was no way I could call Maya right now. She was going to bug me with questions I didn't have answers to.

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“Can you get home by yourself?”

I pointed at the floor. “The floor is spinning.” I pouted as the world seemed to shift beneath my feet. I swayed, letting out a loud gasp.

He reached forward just in time, his hands curling around my waist and holding me firmly in place.

My eyes widened slightly as I stared up at him.

Wow.

Upclose, he looked even more handsome.

He sighed quietly. “What's your address?”

I frowned suspiciously. “Why?”

“So I can get you home.” The calmness in his tone  made me want to trust him.

“What if you're a serial killer?” I asked suddenly.

One of his brows lifted. “Do I look like one?”

I looked him over carefully. “No. You look too handsome to be a serial killer.”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face before disappearing just as quickly. “What's your address?” he asked again.

I opened my mouth, then forgot what I wanted to say. Instead, I found myself staring at his eyes. “Why are they so blue?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “That's not an address.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

The world tilted beneath my feet again. I swayed, and his grip immediately tightened around my waist, holding me steady.

My breath caught.

“You are too drunk.” He sighed quietly and began guiding me toward a black car parked nearby.

I followed without protest as everything around me kept spinning except him. He felt strangely steady and safe.

Just as we reached the passenger door, my heel caught against the pavement.

A gasp escaped me as I stumbled.

His strong arms wrapped around me before I could fall. My hands instinctively grabbed the front of his shirt.

For a brief moment, we both stayed still.

His arm was locked firmly around my waist while my fingers remained curled in his shirt.

We were suddenly too close that I could feel his soft breaths. His gaze briefly dropped to my lips before returning to my eyes.

My heart skipped.

Maybe the alcohol was making me to imagine things.

“Be careful,” he said quietly as he opened the passenger door and gently guided me inside.

Then he leaned over to fasten my seatbelt. The scent of his cologne wrapped around me instantly. 

My gaze remained fixed on him. 

Suddenly, I found myself not wanting him to move away. I didn’t know if it was because of the alcohol or the heartbreak.

Without thinking, I grabbed the front of his shirt.

He froze as his eyes slowly lifted to mine.

Scott's words echoed painfully inside my head. “You were just a toy to me.”

My chest tightened. “Why wasn't I enough?” I whispered.

His expression changed slightly.

I laughed shakily and looked away. “Forget it.”

Silence stretched between us.

The seatbelt remained forgotten in his hand as I finally looked back at him.

Our faces were only inches apart. Then before I could stop myself—

“Kiss me.”

My words slipped out softly.