Chapter 3
The night air felt sharp as Frank helped Emma out of the club, the cool breeze hitting her face, waking her up from the fog of alcohol clouding her senses. She staggered slightly as she took each step, trying to regain her balance, but her body betrayed her.
Frank was there to steady her, his arm around her waist, guiding her carefully toward the exit. He had expected the night to be just another escape, a brief detour from the demands of his life. But what he hadn't expected was the pull he felt toward Emma. Her vulnerability, her independence it was intoxicating.
He had no intention of getting involved with anyone tonight. In fact, he had told himself over and over again that he was fine on his own. Yet, as they walked out into the street, her presence consumed him, and before he knew it, he was offering her his help, despite knowing it was the last thing he should do.
"Where are we going?" Emma slurred, her voice soft but tinged with a strange mixture of uncertainty and curiosity.
Frank's voice was low, a little hesitant, but it felt right. "We're getting you somewhere safe. Don't worry."
But Emma wasn't worried. She didn't know where she was, or what she was doing, or even why she felt so lost but she didn't care. Tonight was a blur, but there was something about Frank's presence that made her feel more alive than she had in weeks.
They reached Frank's car, a sleek black vehicle that screamed wealth and elegance. Emma barely noticed the luxury of it; she was too caught up in the strange intimacy of being so close to him.
Once inside, Frank started the engine, the hum of the car mingling with the tension building between them. He kept his eyes on the road, but his mind was elsewhere, replaying the moments with Emma.
She had been so different from anyone he'd met before. There was something magnetic about her, something that made him feel like he couldn't just let her slip away, even though he knew he should.
His fingers gripped the steering wheel, trying to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to her. Her laughter, her eyes, the way she seemed to unravel with each passing drink. He couldn't help but wonder what was it about her that made him feel like he'd known her for much longer than a few hours?
Emma's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're not like them, are you?"
Frank frowned, unsure what she meant. "Like who?"
"Like the others… the guys who always expect something from me," she said, her words slow and heavy. "You don't seem to want anything."
He glanced at her, seeing the slight frown on her face as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She was right, in a way. He didn't want anything from her, not in the way most people did. He wasn't interested in her because of her looks or her status or maybe it was because he couldn't figure her out.
"No, I don't want anything," Frank replied, his voice more sincere than he intended. "I just don't want to leave you alone tonight."
Emma chuckled softly. "You're a good guy, Frank. But I can't promise that I'm not a mess."
"I'm not looking for promises."
The car slowed to a stop in front of his building, and Frank turned off the engine. He helped Emma out of the car, and they made their way to the elevator. There was an undeniable tension between them, an invisible force pulling them closer with each step.
When they reached his penthouse, Frank led Emma inside, careful not to let her stumble too much. He walked her into the living room, offering her a seat on the plush sofa.
She collapsed onto the cushions, letting out a soft sigh. Frank stood for a moment, watching her, trying to make sense of the situation. This wasn't him. This wasn't the man who spent his nights working, his days managing a billion-dollar company.
Emma's voice cut through the silence. "What now?" she asked, her words barely above a whisper.
He hesitated. There was a pull inside him a desire to just be with her, to forget everything else and lose himself in the moment. Frank knew he shouldn't let it happen. He had never let himself get this close to anyone. Not like this.
But Emma was different. She wasn't asking for anything. She was just… there. And for the first time in a long while, Frank found himself willing to take the leap.
He knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and something else something he couldn't place.
"Emma…" His voice was thick with tension, his breath coming a little quicker.
Before he could finish, she reached up and pulled him toward her. The kiss was unexpected, yet it felt like a long-buried need coming to life. The passion was raw, urgent. Neither of them cared that they were strangers to one another, that they didn't know where this would lead. In that moment, it was just them, caught in a whirlwind of desire.
Frank's hands were all over her, his fingers grazing her skin, pulling her closer. He could feel her heartbeat, erratic but alive. He needed this, needed her.
Emma responded in kind, her hands tangled in his shirt, pulling him deeper into the kiss. She wasn't thinking about the consequences, wasn't thinking about anything except the connection between them.
Before long, they were tangled in sheets, their bodies intertwined in the heat of the moment. There were no words just the frantic movements of two people caught up in a moment of vulnerability and need.
By the time the sun started to rise, painting the room with soft golden light, Frank lay beside her, his mind racing. He hadn't planned for this. He hadn't planned for anything beyond the escape. But now, as he lay there next to Emma, his thoughts were swirling.
What had they done? What would tomorrow bring?
But those questions would have to wait. For now, Frank let himself fall into a fitful sleep, knowing that everything had changed in a way he could never take back.