Keep Your Friends Close & Your Enemies Closer

“Elvira!” You yelled at your friend.”Maybe I shouldn’t go with you to that club”.

Elvira emerged from the bathroom, a vision in her electric blue dress.

“What are you talking about, Julia? her blue eyes shot back at you angrily.”You are definitely going with me there!.No excuses!.You only dated that one guy for so long. That stuffy—“.

“It just seems too soon to start dating again” You said, still lounging around in your pajamas.

“It’s never too soon, honey.Now put this dress on” she commanded, tossing an emerald green dress on the worn down leather sofa.

As you picked up the dress to examine it, you noticed a slit at the hip of the dress.You also noticed the plunging neckline and how the dress was without sleeves.

“What?” Elvira prodded.

“I wish it were a little less revealing.I don’t think I’ve worn anything like this before”.

“Julia, come on.There’s a first time for everything.Now ,wear the dress” she commanded again, her eyes not leaving you until you picked the dress and rose from your seat.

“Okay.I’m only doing this for you, Elvira” you said, pointing at her with the dress in your hand.

After about half an hour, you walked out of the bathroom, your eyes glued to the wooden floor as you did.You wore your hair down for the first time that night, your wavy tresses caressing your shoulders.Your red lipstick, though a bold look for a natural beauty like yourself, accentuated your lips.The emerald green dress cinching at the waist made your green and gold eyeshadow pop.Elvira’s mouth was agape.

“Julia…you look stunning!” she exclaimed, hand on chest.

“Why, thank you, Elvira” you jested.

The two of you arrived at the Babylon club.The place was teeming with people and the music was so loud you could feel your organs vibrate.You spotted three men in a booth, one was much older, looking to be in his late fifties, the second mustachioed gentleman to the far right was also a much older man, and sitting between the two older men was a much younger gentleman, donning a striped, dark blue suit.

Elvira took your hand, probably wanting to introduce you to these men.

“Elvira, what are you doing?” you asked, scowling.

“I’m introducing you to Frank, Julia”.

Before you could protest, you were standing before the three men in the booth.Elvira had said her ‘hellos’ to them all.She gestured towards you.

“Frank, Tony,Omar.I’d like you to meet my friend Julia”.

All three of the men stared at you, but the most intense gaze perhaps was that of the younger man.His eyes, dark as onyx, bore into you.You felt hypnotized.It was as though you felt compelled to look back into them.Obligated, even, to return his intense gaze with that of your own; meek and innocuous.

“Okay, I’m going to dance now.Come dance with me, Julia” Elvira said, grabbing your arm, and taking you down to where everybody else was dancing too.

You almost felt dizzy, seeing all the women around sway their hips, their bodies in tandem with the rhythm of the music that was playing.

“Oh, look” Elvira said, her eyes darting between Tony and you.”I think somebody likes what he sees”.

He made his way down to the dance floor, gazing at you.A shiver ran down your spine.

“Hey, chica.You wanna dance?” he said, standing right in front of you, his dark eyes expectant.

You hesitated for a few seconds, then eventually surrendered to his advances.

“Sure…” you said, with not much enthusiasm.

He continued to stare at you.You, not being much of a dancer, were just swaying your head from side to side, and shrugging your shoulders.A wicked yet playful smile cut across his face as you attempted to keep up with the rhythm of the music.

“I gotta teach you to dance sometime, huh?” he said, his dark eyes scouring your body.

You were so nervous you were barely able to say anything.A slight nod, you thought, would suffice.

“Where you from?” he asked, getting closer to you now.

“I’m from Baltimore”.

“Balti-more?.That’s where Elvira’s from.How long you and her been friends?”.

“Since we were teenagers, really” you responded politely, avoiding his charged gaze.

“Hey, look at me when I talk to you” he demanded, causing you to look right back at him.

“Pretty girl” he said, his expression softening for a few moments.”I ain’t meet no one like you”.

You felt as though your insides were burning at the compliments he directed your way.

“What do you mean?” you lightly scoffed.”You’ve known me all of two seconds”.

“What?” he asked.

“Look, I just got out a relationship not too long ago and—”.

Elvira pinched your back.

“Excuse me” you said to Tony, throwing your head back, your back against Elvira’s.”What the fuck was that for?”.

“Get over the guy already.It’s been six months” she said, continuing to dance as if she did nothing.

“I-I can’t.It’s just too soon”.

“Oh come on, move the fuck on.Let loose” she said, swaying her hips.

“Oh as if you didn’t give him the old heave-ho not so long ago” you scrunched your nose at her.

“You haven’t seen a man for months”.

“Who says I have to, Elvira?.

It had been a few more months of you pining over David, trying to get over him. Then there came a day when you actually had. Whenever you’d see Elvira at the Babylon club almost every weekend, Tony was there as well. He’d often flirt with you, calling you gorgeous, whispering sweet things in your ear, staring at you for hours on end.He didn’t ask you out, though. He had been waiting for the right moment, the moment he was positive you wouldn’t turn him down.

You supposed it had been time to move on. If it hadn’t been for the move to England for his work, the two of you would still be together.

After a few moments, you returned to the booth, with none of the three men seated there.

“It was time you moved on, honey” Elvira chimed in unexpectedly.

“Yeah, I suppose” you glanced at and then at Frank.”Oh, Frank’s here?” You teased, spotting Frank by the dance floor.

“Yeah” Elvira told you.

To your delight, Frank had been quite amiable, inviting you to his home whenever you’d see him. The three of you chatted and spoke for so long that it didn’t even occur to you to check the time.

2.00 AM.

“I really should get going, Elvira” you said, making eye contact with your friend.”it’s getting late and I have to be up early”.

“Oh, you aren’t going in a taxi, are you?” Frank chimed in, swiveling his glass of martini.

“Yes. I am ” you said, hiccuping a little from all the drinks Frank kept ordering for you.”Is that a problem?”.

“It isn’t exactly safe for a lone woman on the streets at this hour. I’ll have someone drop you home” he turned his head.”Ah yes!. Tony!” he clapped his back.”Will you take Julia here home?”.

“Elvira..” you said, catching Tony staring at you, He had been standing outside the booth, his eyes refusing to leave your face.

“Of course” he smirked. “Anything for a friend of Elvira’s”.

Your gaze shifted away from Tony and onto Elvira.

“Shouldn’t you be getting home?.Maybe you and Frank could—“ you leaned in.

“Frank’s not gonna be leaving anytime soon and neither am I” she whispered. “Go with him”.

You got up from your seat, albeit reluctantly.

“Bye, guys” you waved at Elvira and Frank before heading out with Tony.

You could feel his heavy gaze on you again.

“Get in, chica” he opened the door of his bright yellow Cadillac for you, eyeing you still.

Once the two of you got in the car, there were times when his eyes would be on you and not on the road.

“Eyes on the road” you said to him with a giggle.

All he did was chuckle.

“I can’t help it” he said, bringing the car to a stop at a red light. “Not when you’re looking the way you are” he stared at you for a while before winking.

You smiled.

Though you and David had a great deal in common, he would never dole out compliments like this. Usually, he was quite straitlaced in such matters.

You couldn’t help admitting it felt nice to be the object of a man’s desire for a change, to be wanted so much by one.

His right hand left the steering wheel and grazed against yours, about to hold it.

You withdrew it, looking out the window.

For the remainder of the journey, you both rode in silence, not saying a single word to one another.

You finally reached your home, which was a small, quaint house that your grandmother left in her will for you.

His eyes met yours again as he switched off the engine.

Tony’s eyes appeared lust-filled and hawk-like, even more so now that the area was engulfed in darkness.

“Would you like…” you said, his gaze making you stutter. “..t-to come inside for a bit?.I could fix you a drink or something to eat”.

He scanned your face, parting his lips.

“Of course” he said rather sooner than you thought he would.

The two of you got out of the car, making your way inside the house.

“Here’s the living room” you led him in there, waving your hands around. “Make yourself at home”.

He stepped toward the leather sofa, choosing to sit there.

“Now, what would you like?” you asked, rubbing your hands together.

Though the man didn’t say much, he could certainly say a great deal with those large, dark eyes of his.

Boring into yours.

Asking for something.

From the look in his eyes, one could have said you were what he wanted in that precise moment.

But he knew better than to say that aloud.

“A glass of water would be just fine” he cracked a smile.

In a short while, you joined him with your own glass of water, taking your place right next to him on the sofa.

“Thank you” he took a sip.

You felt as though your insides were on fire, not immune to his charged gaze.

There he was surveying you again

With that same darned look on his face.

“The way you look at me…” you broke the surmounting silence between the two of you.”..it’s just—“.

“How do I look at you?” he asked, setting his glass of water aside.

“Like you’re gonna…” you paused, not sure whether you should use the word.

He got closer, his knee rubbing against your bare one.

You looked up, his face a mere few inches from your face.

“Like I’m gonna what?” he spoke with an amused smirk, the vibration of his voice only amplifying your desire for him.

“Like you’re gonna fuck me” you said, instantly regretting your words.

He eyed you, an amused grin gracing his features.

“And what if I do?” he said, his finger lightly gazing your uncovered shin.”Would that be so bad?”.

“I beg your pardon?” you asked, moving your face closer to his.

“What if I fuck you, make love to you” he said.”Call it whatever you like”.

You considered for a moment the thrill of what was to happen, what was happening, it made you feel alive.

To hell with waiting.

To hell with everything.

You wanted this man.

And he wanted you.

“All I can tell you is…” you said, feeling your chest tighten and your heart thundering therein.”..that I wouldn’t have an issue with it”.

It only took him a moment to crash his lips against your own, his tongue intertwined with yours, the two of you fighting for dominance.

His hand was snaking up your thigh, the warmth of his touch causing your skin to crawl in delight.

His other hand sought your marble-like nipples, gently squeezing one of them till he succeeded in eliciting a moan out of you.

The kiss grew folds more passionate, with Tony’s head lurching forward, pushing you against the edge of the sofa.

Before he could continue his ministrations and before he would have you all to himself, he pulled away.

His hands cupped your face, searching your face for a reaction.

You could see a mischievous glint in his eyes,

The eyes don’t lie, Chico.

Once Maya landed in Caladan, far away from her planet, she took a deep breath, taking in the beautiful place, considering just how serene and tranquil it had been. Her brother had arranged this match for her. He had chosen her fate to be the future wife of Leto Atreides.

“The smile on your face suggests you have taken a liking to this little slice of heaven, my dear Maya”.

Adjusting the turquoise chiffon scarf on her head, she nodded.

“I’m glad ,for this shall be what you call home soon. Not so many are fortunate. Have you seen the conditions on Arrakis?. Of course you haven’t so perhaps you are not familiar with what I am saying—“.

“Brother, I understand that I am fortunate. I know” she said to get him to be quiet. “I don’t need to be reminded”.

Her brother—Phillip—touched her hand.

“As beautiful as this place is, dear sister, I know it must be difficult for you to be parted from the only home you’ve ever known, but I had to secure this match for you. The Duke wished for his only son to be wed. The matter reached me and what choice did I have but to give you away?. You know you can’t pine after him for the rest of your life. You have to move on. It’s for the best”.

“Move on”. “Can’t pine after him”. The words stung and hurt Maya.

“It seems we have arrived” Phillip had a satisfied smirk on his face. The heir-apparent of the Duke—Leto Atreides—stood at the entrance to welcome his brother-in-law and bride to be. The Duke’s son appeared to be much more handsome than Maya had thought he would be. With eyes as dark as onyx, complexion the color of wheat, and a smile that could make any woman blush, he was the epitome of perfection; of beauty.

“Maya. I shall not stay here with you. You do know I won’t even go inside with you. My child, from here on out, you are on your own. I wish you every happiness” Philip kissed his sister on the forehead.Parting from her, he let her exit the Frigate, her robes flowing behind her. With one last solemn look back at her brother, she had gone from his sight.

The Duke strode towards her

“Greetings to you, our dearest Maya” he said warmly. “This is my son—the future Duke of Caladan—Leto Atreides”.

The son of the Duke nodded his head, not meeting her gaze. This confused Maya. She was afraid he might not have liked her.

“It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, my lord” she dipped her head.

“Likewise, my lady” he said, lifting his chin to meet her gaze this time. Oh how it burned her insides—that he was looking at her, his dark eyes piercing her soul.

“The wedding ceremony shall be a simple one. It’s unfortunate your brother couldn’t be here with us. A shame, really, but no matter. With his daughter sick and your father frail, I understand” the Duke said leading her down the hallway.

Every now and then, Maya snuck a glance or two at the Duke’s son. He kept his gaze ahead, not even looking side ways. She began to wonder whether he even consented to this match, whether he too—much like her— pines after someone.

“Please” said the Duke guiding her into a small but tastefully decorated room.

The wedding ceremony had taken place. It was quick and simple just like the Duke had said. The son failed to pay his bride any attention even when he said “yes” to marrying him.

It dawned on her when she and her fiancé consented to this marriage that it would be one of convenience. She believed she would forget the man that she loved—the man she wanted to wed—but in these moments, all she wanted was to return to her planet, and be with him again, and forget about all else. To be held by him. To be kissed by him. Nobody quite looked into her eyes as deeply and intently as he did. Nobody quite adored her as he did. It was love and infatuation that the two felt towards one another.

“Dearest Maya, go in peace with my son. May the two of you be content with each other. I wish you both a lifetime of joy and happiness” her father-in-law said, interrupting her train of thought.

She nodded, eyeing her new husband who just walked ahead of Maya, with her having to follow him.

It was a short walk from the room where the wedding ceremony had taken place to Leto’s bed chamber.

He opened the door, waiting for her to join him.

“Will you please come inside, my lady?” he looked at her.

She complied, letting him shut the door behind them.

“Are you not happy, my lord?” she blurted out, clenching her fists.

He stared at her, not sure why she’d say a thing like that. Though he loved Jessica, he was not entirely displeased with the idea that Maya would become his wife. He just was not sure how to break it to her that he would continue to see Jessica and that made him nervous. Surely, Phillip must have told her, he assumed as much.

“No, my lady. I am content” he said, smiling at her. “Perfectly content”.

“It’s just that..” she started but then thought it unwise to bring up how he did not so much as throw a glance her way until now.

“What?” he said, looking away again.

“You haven’t looked at me once, my lord—“

“Don’t address me so, please. Call me Leto” a ghost of a smile dancing across his lips. “I have looked upon your portrait a great number of times, Maya. I find you attractive. I believe you’re pretty. Now is that what you wished to hear?”.

Taken aback, she blushed, refusing to let herself smile. At least not at this moment and not while he was looking at her now.

“That is what every lady wishes to hear, I would imagine. It makes one feel nice about oneself”.

“If that is the case, then why don’t you make me feel nice about myself?” he said, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips.

She took a few steps back as he stalked towards her, her back meeting the cold wall, his mouth so close to her face that it triggered butterflies in her stomach.

“Is there not a kind remark that you wish to make about me, Maya?. Am I so awful?” he smirked, his eyes darkening.

“N-no, Leto. No” she stuttered, her cheeks stinging with blush. “Y-you are wonderful. When I heard I was being wed to you, I-I thought you w-w-were an old and horrible man with a wife and child, and now I see that you are far from the things i imagined you to be”.

He suddenly stiffened up. He did have a concubine that he loved and a child by her.

“Actually, Maya, there is someone in my life—her name is Jessica and I have a son by her whose name is Paul—“.

“What?” she was baffled, unprepared to receive this sort of information, especially not after she signed herself away to him.

“Listen to me” he held her hands, not allowing her to get up. “I will continue to see her. That doesn’t mean I won’t love you, but I need you to know that she is very dear to me. She and I—we have a son together—“.

“You will ‘continue to see her?’. You think this is some sort of joke, don’t you?“ she snapped at him, swatting his hands off her own. Pacing the room angrily, she toyed with the idea of telling him about the man that she loves—the one she couldn’t be with. She slowly turned around to face him.

“Since you have confessed, I’m thinking there’s a secret of my own that I wouldn’t mind divulging. Why don’t I just tell you?” she said, looking him squarely in the eye.” And be done with it?”.

Leto looked up, rage simmering in his heavenly dark eyes, his expression that of envy. He supposed he had some idea of what she was going to tell him; a past riddled with romance and intimacy with a man who had not been him. He braced himself for what he was about to hear.

“I too loved someone. Correction; love, if I may be so brash, do forgive me, your graaaace” she dipped her head in sarcasm. “I couldn’t marry him because—our families loathed each other. Now, I don’t care which of these two parties might have been in the right or at fault, but I loved him. I hoped everyday that my father would accept his proposal to marry me, but every time he arrived at our home, my father—he would dismiss him, not caring that I loved him. Despite the enmity shared between our families for each other, despite the fact that their hatred for one another grew, the love between him and I—it blossomed and bloomed, and then one fine day, my father and brother decided it would be best if I was to be wed to you. Will I ever have a person who loves me whole and not in the way you propose to? Not whole-heartedly, not completely?. I have but one life, Leto, I will not spend it this way. I can’t” she shuddered, her voice cracking between the words that barely escaped her quivering lips.

The Duke’s son was jealous, make no mistake, but he could not help but feel pity towards this new wife of his.

“What do you want to me to do, Maya?” he shrugged defeatedly.”Hmm? Just what should I do?. Leave the mother of my child? O-of my heir?. The only woman I have loved these past few years?”.

“Elvira!” You yelled at your friend.”Maybe I shouldn’t go with you to that club”.

Elvira emerged from the bathroom, a vision in her electric blue dress.

“What are you talking about, Julia? her blue eyes shot back at you angrily.”You are definitely going with me there!.No excuses!.You only dated that one guy for so long. That stuffy—“.

“It just seems too soon to start dating again” You said, still lounging around in your pajamas.

“It’s never too soon, honey.Now put this dress on” she commanded, tossing an emerald green dress on the worn down leather sofa.

As you picked up the dress to examine it, you noticed a slit at the hip of the dress.You also noticed the plunging neckline and how the dress was without sleeves.

“What?” Elvira prodded.

“I wish it were a little less revealing.I don’t think I’ve worn anything like this before”.

“Julia, come on.There’s a first time for everything.Now ,wear the dress” she commanded again, her eyes not leaving you until you picked the dress and rose from your seat.

“Okay.I’m only doing this for you, Elvira” you said, pointing at her with the dress in your hand.

After about half an hour, you walked out of the bathroom, your eyes glued to the wooden floor as you did.You wore your hair down for the first time that night, your wavy tresses caressing your shoulders.Your red lipstick, though a bold look for a natural beauty like yourself, accentuated your lips.The emerald green dress cinching at the waist made your green and gold eyeshadow pop.Elvira’s mouth was agape.

“Julia…you look stunning!” she exclaimed, hand on chest.

“Why, thank you, Elvira” you jested.

The two of you arrived at the Babylon club.The place was teeming with people and the music was so loud you could feel your organs vibrate.You spotted three men in a booth, one was much older, looking to be in his late fifties, the second mustachioed gentleman to the far right was also a much older man, and sitting between the two older men was a much younger gentleman, donning a striped, dark blue suit.

Elvira took your hand, probably wanting to introduce you to these men.

“Elvira, what are you doing?” you asked, scowling.

“I’m introducing you to Frank, Julia”.

Before you could protest, you were standing before the three men in the booth.Elvira had said her ‘hellos’ to them all.She gestured towards you.

“Frank, Tony,Omar.I’d like you to meet my friend Julia”.

All three of the men stared at you, but the most intense gaze perhaps was that of the younger man.His eyes, dark as onyx, bore into you.You felt hypnotized.It was as though you felt compelled to look back into them.Obligated, even, to return his intense gaze with that of your own; meek and innocuous.

“Okay, I’m going to dance now.Come dance with me, Julia” Elvira said, grabbing your arm, and taking you down to where everybody else was dancing too.

You almost felt dizzy, seeing all the women around sway their hips, their bodies in tandem with the rhythm of the music that was playing.

“Oh, look” Elvira said, her eyes darting between Tony and you.”I think somebody likes what he sees”.

He made his way down to the dance floor, gazing at you.A shiver ran down your spine.

“Hey, chica.You wanna dance?” he said, standing right in front of you, his dark eyes expectant.

You hesitated for a few seconds, then eventually surrendered to his advances.

“Sure…” you said, with not much enthusiasm.

He continued to stare at you.You, not being much of a dancer, were just swaying your head from side to side, and shrugging your shoulders.A wicked yet playful smile cut across his face as you attempted to keep up with the rhythm of the music.

“I gotta teach you to dance sometime, huh?” he said, his dark eyes scouring your body.

You were so nervous you were barely able to say anything.A slight nod, you thought, would suffice.

“Where you from?” he asked, getting closer to you now.

“I’m from Baltimore”.

“Balti-more?.That’s where Elvira’s from.How long you and her been friends?”.

“Since we were teenagers, really” you responded politely, avoiding his charged gaze.

“Hey, look at me when I talk to you” he demanded, causing you to look right back at him.

“Pretty girl” he said, his expression softening for a few moments.”I ain’t meet no one like you”.

You felt as though your insides were burning at the compliments he directed your way.

“What do you mean?” you lightly scoffed.”You’ve known me all of two seconds”.

“What?” he asked.

“Look, I just got out a relationship not too long ago and—”.

Elvira pinched your back.

“Excuse me” you said to Tony, throwing your head back, your back against Elvira’s.”What the fuck was that for?”.

“Get over the guy already.It’s been six months” she said, continuing to dance as if she did nothing.

“I-I can’t.It’s just too soon”.

“Oh come on, move the fuck on.Let loose” she said, swaying her hips.

“Oh as if you didn’t give him the old heave-ho not so long ago” you scrunched your nose at her.

“You haven’t seen a man for months”.

“Who says I have to, Elvira?.

It had been a few more months of you pining over David, trying to get over him. Then there came a day when you actually had. Whenever you’d see Elvira at the Babylon club almost every weekend, Tony was there as well. He’d often flirt with you, calling you gorgeous, whispering sweet things in your ear, staring at you for hours on end.He didn’t ask you out, though. He had been waiting for the right moment, the moment he was positive you wouldn’t turn him down.

You supposed it had been time to move on. If it hadn’t been for the move to England for his work, the two of you would still be together.

After a few moments, you returned to the booth, with none of the three men seated there.

“It was time you moved on, honey” Elvira chimed in unexpectedly.

“Yeah, I suppose” you glanced at and then at Frank.”Oh, Frank’s here?” You teased, spotting Frank by the dance floor.

“Yeah” Elvira told you.

To your delight, Frank had been quite amiable, inviting you to his home whenever you’d see him. The three of you chatted and spoke for so long that it didn’t even occur to you to check the time.

2.00 AM.

“I really should get going, Elvira” you said, making eye contact with your friend.”it’s getting late and I have to be up early”.

“Oh, you aren’t going in a taxi, are you?” Frank chimed in, swiveling his glass of martini.

“Yes. I am ” you said, hiccuping a little from all the drinks Frank kept ordering for you.”Is that a problem?”.

“It isn’t exactly safe for a lone woman on the streets at this hour. I’ll have someone drop you home” he turned his head.”Ah yes!. Tony!” he clapped his back.”Will you take Julia here home?”.

“Elvira..” you said, catching Tony staring at you, He had been standing outside the booth, his eyes refusing to leave your face.

“Of course” he smirked. “Anything for a friend of Elvira’s”.

Your gaze shifted away from Tony and onto Elvira.

“Shouldn’t you be getting home?.Maybe you and Frank could—“ you leaned in.

“Frank’s not gonna be leaving anytime soon and neither am I” she whispered. “Go with him”.

You got up from your seat, albeit reluctantly.

“Bye, guys” you waved at Elvira and Frank before heading out with Tony.

You could feel his heavy gaze on you again.

“Get in, chica” he opened the door of his bright yellow Cadillac for you, eyeing you still.

Once the two of you got in the car, there were times when his eyes would be on you and not on the road.

“Eyes on the road” you said to him with a giggle.

All he did was chuckle.

“I can’t help it” he said, bringing the car to a stop at a red light. “Not when you’re looking the way you are” he stared at you for a while before winking.

You smiled.

Though you and David had a great deal in common, he would never dole out compliments like this. Usually, he was quite straitlaced in such matters.

You couldn’t help admitting it felt nice to be the object of a man’s desire for a change, to be wanted so much by one.

His right hand left the steering wheel and grazed against yours, about to hold it.

You withdrew it, looking out the window.

For the remainder of the journey, you both rode in silence, not saying a single word to one another.

You finally reached your home, which was a small, quaint house that your grandmother left in her will for you.

His eyes met yours again as he switched off the engine.

Tony’s eyes appeared lust-filled and hawk-like, even more so now that the area was engulfed in darkness.

“Would you like…” you said, his gaze making you stutter. “..t-to come inside for a bit?.I could fix you a drink or something to eat”.

He scanned your face, parting his lips.

“Of course” he said rather sooner than you thought he would.

The two of you got out of the car, making your way inside the house.

“Here’s the living room” you led him in there, waving your hands around. “Make yourself at home”.

He stepped toward the leather sofa, choosing to sit there.

“Now, what would you like?” you asked, rubbing your hands together.

Though the man didn’t say much, he could certainly say a great deal with those large, dark eyes of his.

Boring into yours.

Asking for something.

From the look in his eyes, one could have said you were what he wanted in that precise moment.

But he knew better than to say that aloud.

“A glass of water would be just fine” he cracked a smile.

In a short while, you joined him with your own glass of water, taking your place right next to him on the sofa.

“Thank you” he took a sip.

You felt as though your insides were on fire, not immune to his charged gaze.

There he was surveying you again

With that same darned look on his face.

“The way you look at me…” you broke the surmounting silence between the two of you.”..it’s just—“.

“How do I look at you?” he asked, setting his glass of water aside.

“Like you’re gonna…” you paused, not sure whether you should use the word.

He got closer, his knee rubbing against your bare one.

You looked up, his face a mere few inches from your face.

“Like I’m gonna what?” he spoke with an amused smirk, the vibration of his voice only amplifying your desire for him.

“Like you’re gonna fuck me” you said, instantly regretting your words.

He eyed you, an amused grin gracing his features.

“And what if I do?” he said, his finger lightly gazing your uncovered shin.”Would that be so bad?”.

“I beg your pardon?” you asked, moving your face closer to his.

“What if I fuck you, make love to you” he said.”Call it whatever you like”.

You considered for a moment the thrill of what was to happen, what was happening, it made you feel alive.

To hell with waiting.

To hell with everything.

You wanted this man.

And he wanted you.

“All I can tell you is…” you said, feeling your chest tighten and your heart thundering therein.”..that I wouldn’t have an issue with it”.

It only took him a moment to crash his lips against your own, his tongue intertwined with yours, the two of you fighting for dominance.

His hand was snaking up your thigh, the warmth of his touch causing your skin to crawl in delight.

His other hand sought your marble-like nipples, gently squeezing one of them till he succeeded in eliciting a moan out of you.

The kiss grew folds more passionate, with Tony’s head lurching forward, pushing you against the edge of the sofa.

Before he could continue his ministrations and before he would have you all to himself, he pulled away.

His hands cupped your face, searching your face for a reaction.

You could see a mischievous glint in his eyes,

The eyes don’t lie, Chico.