Scarlett stood outside Calix's apartment, her heart racing with anticipation. She had been looking forward to this dinner all day, and she couldn't wait to see Calix again. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress, and rang the doorbell.
Calix answered, looking effortlessly handsome in a white shirt and black pants. "Hey," he said, smiling, and Scarlett's heart skipped a beat.
"Hey," she replied, smiling back, and Calix stepped aside to let her in.
The apartment was sleek and modern, with a stunning view of the city. Scarlett's eyes widened as she took it all in.
"Wow, this is amazing," she said, turning to Calix.
He smiled, pleased with himself. "Thanks. I just moved in a few months ago."
Scarlett nodded, taking a seat on the couch. Calix handed her a glass of wine, and they chatted for a while, laughing and joking like old friends.
As the night wore on, Scarlett found herself feeling more and more at ease. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed Calix's company.
And then, as they were finishing dinner, Calix reached across the table and took her hand.
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat as he pulled her to her feet. "Dance with me," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Scarlett nodded, feeling a little shy, but Calix just smiled and pulled her into his arms.
As they danced, Scarlett felt herself getting lost in the moment. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed being in Calix's arms.
The music was slow and sensual, and Scarlett could feel Calix's body pressed against hers. She felt a surge of desire, and she knew she was in trouble.
And then, as the music slowed, Calix leaned in and kissed her.
Scarlett's heart soared as she kissed him back. She couldn't believe how much she wanted him.
As they broke apart for air, Calix smiled and took her hand. "Let's go to bed," he said, his eyes sparkling with desire.
Scarlett nodded, feeling a little shy, but Calix just smiled and led her to the bedroom.
As they made love, Scarlett felt herself getting lost in the moment. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed being with Calix.
He was passionate and intense, and Scarlett felt like she was melting into his arms.
But as they lay there afterwards, Calix turned to her and said, "Scarlett, I need to talk to you about something."
Scarlett looked at him, feeling a little uncertain. "What is it?" she asked.
Calix sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea about us," he said. "This is just sex, Scarlett. We're not in a relationship."
Scarlett felt a pang of sadness, but she tried to push it aside. "Okay," she said, trying to sound casual.
But Calix must have seen something in her expression, because he reached out and took her hand. "Hey, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," he said. "But I think we could have something really great here. Just... no strings attached."
Scarlett looked at him, feeling torn. A part of her wanted to tell him to leave her alone, but another part of her wanted to stay with him.
And then Calix smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Come on, Scarlett," he said. "Let's just enjoy each other's company. No drama, no complications."
Scarlett felt herself getting pulled in by his charm. Maybe he was right, she thought. Maybe they could just enjoy each other's company without getting too serious.
"Okay," she said finally, smiling back at him. "No strings attached."
Calix grinned, pulling her into his arms. "That's the spirit," he said, kissing her.
As they made love again, Scarlett felt herself getting lost in the moment. She was determined to enjoy this friends-with-benefits relationship, no matter what.
But as she lay there afterwards, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was in over her head.
Over the next few weeks, Scarlett and Calix fell into a comfortable routine. They would meet up a few times a week, have dinner, and then spend the night together.
Scarlett tried to keep her feelings in check, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She was falling for Calix, hard.
But every time she tried to bring up the subject of their relationship, Calix would shut her down. "We're just friends, Scarlett," he would say. "Don't get too attached."
Scarlett tried to respect his boundaries, but it was getting harder and harder. She felt like she was stuck in limbo, unsure of what the future held.
And then, one night as they lay in bed, Calix turned to Scarlett and said, "You know, I've been thinking."
Scarlett looked at him warily. "Thinking about what?"
Calix shrugged. "About us. About this arrangement we have."
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. "What about it?"
Calix leaned in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think we should make it more official. You know, set some ground rules."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Ground rules?"
Calix nodded. "Yeah. Like, we don't get too attached. We don't start dating other people. That kind of thing."
Scarlett felt a pang of disappointment. She had been hoping that Calix would finally admit his feelings for her, but instead, he just wanted to make their arrangement more official.
"Okay," she said finally, trying to sound casual. "What are the rules?"
Calix grinned. "Well, first of all, we don't spend the night at each other's places too often. We don't want to get too comfortable."
Scarlett nodded, feeling a little hurt. "Okay. What else?"
Calix thought for a moment. "We don't go on dates. We don't do romantic things. We just keep it casual."
Scarlett felt a pang of sadness. She had been hoping for something more, something romantic. But instead, Calix just wanted to keep things casual.
"Okay," she said finally, trying to sound casual. "I can do that."
Calix grinned, pulling her into his arms. "Great. I knew you'd see things my way."
As they made love, Scarlett felt a little distant. She couldn't help but feel like she was just a convenience for Calix, someone to satisfy his physical needs.
But as they lay there afterwards, Calix turned to her and said, "You know, Scarlett. I really enjoy spending time with you."
Scarlett looked at him warily. "Yeah?"
Calix nodded. "Yeah. You're fun, you're smart, and you're beautiful. What more could a guy ask for?"
Scarlett felt a pang of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Calix was starting to develop feelings for her.
But then he said, "But let's not get too carried away here. We're just friends, Scarlett. Don't forget that."
Scarlett felt another pang of disappointment. She was just a friend to Calix, nothing more.
As the days turned into weeks, Scarlett found herself getting more and more attached to Calix. She couldn't help but feel like she was falling in love with him.
But every time she tried to bring up the subject of their relationship, Calix would shut her down. "We're just friends, Scarlett," he would say. "Don't get too attached."
Scarlett tried to respect his boundaries, but it was getting harder and harder. She felt like she was stuck in limbo, unsure of what the future held.