As I found myself entranced by the gaze of the man before me, a strange thrill tickled my senses. His dark, silver-speckled hair and weathered leather jacket stirred an unexpected curiosity within me. There he was, slowly maneuvering through the crowd, his eyes never leaving mine, drawing closer with each passing second. My heart fluttered as he finally stood before me, our eyes once again locked in a silent exchange. He seemed intrigued, unafraid of the silent challenge posed, standing before me with a quiet confidence that stirred my interest.
When he finally spoke, his voice was as captivating as his eyes.
"The city in summer can be overwhelming, wouldn't you agree?" he initiated, his voice a soothing baritone.
Deciding to match his playfulness, I retorted, "And what makes you think I find it overwhelming?" I allowed my words to hang in the air, a challenge and an invitation wrapped in a question.
"Your eyes," he replied almost instantly, "They look like they're searching for something beyond the obvious chaos."
His observation surprised me, coaxing a laugh out of me. "Or perhaps they're just fascinated by the chaos," I offered, a playful twist to our growing banter.
The smile that broke on his face was unexpected yet genuine. "Ah, then we share something in common," he said, and I couldn't help but wonder what other similarities this intriguing stranger and I might discover.
Suddenly, the air around us seemed to tighten, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of concern in his eyes. He glanced around the train, a subtlety that didn't escape my notice. I followed his gaze, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
"Our common interest in chaos," he began, a more serious tone seeping into his voice, "might serve us well soon."
The carriage had slowly emptied, people trickling out as we neared the last few stops on the line. Now it lurched forward, a mechanical beast carrying us away from the belly of the city. Our bodies swayed in the back of the last carriage, a dance choreographed by the jostling train, the tracks blurring behind us. My shoulder brushed against his arm, an intimate connection that sent a thrill through me.. A brief touch, an exchange of glances, a shared smile - the chemistry understood between us then.
I was wearing a summer dress and it whispered against my skin in soft rustles.
"Has a strange effect, doesn't it?" He leaned in and mused, his voice dropping to a quieter, lower tone.
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in energy, I simply nodded, entranced by the glint in his eyes and the magnetic attraction between us.
"Chaos can be... addictive, don't you agree?" His words were barely above a whisper now, laced with an intoxicating promise of things to come. I found myself nodding again, my heartbeat syncing with the pulse of the city around us.
As the silence between us trailed on, I felt the train come to a halt again. The noise of the city's veins faded into an unusual silence, turning my attention to the sudden stop. Looking around, I realized the carriage had fully emptied out at some point during our exchange, leaving just the two of us alone in the unexpected stillness.
"It seems we've been granted an unexpected privilege," he murmured, his face returning to look at me.
The spark of intrigue flashed and burned hot inside of me. It was then, as we were encased in this sudden and sunny quiet, that I felt a ripple of danger... and excitement in my lower half. I took a breath to calm myself. We were two strangers, at least in the physical world. This could happen at any time, in any which way, I reasoned.
Amidst these thoughts, David gently reached out, tracing a finger along the back of my hand. His touch ignited a ripple of electricity, and I found myself with a flash of understanding that swept across me as I turned back to him.
His composure remained unruffled, a small grin adorning his face, and his eyes hinted at a secret he had yet to reveal.
"Is this too forward?" he asked, his tone holding a hint of amusement. His gaze locked onto mine, a silent request for permission lingering in his question, but he didn't stop speaking to let me answer.
"Yet, here you are, Cat. Not running away."
His words rang true, making me chuckle nervously.
"There's nowhere to run to right now", I managed to get out, followed by "You do seem quite sure of yourself".
His hand moved up and started tracing the line of my neck. "Only when the occasion calls for it."
"And does it?" I daringly challenged, my breath hitching more as his touch continued to explore.
"Every moment with you is an occasion." He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin, each of his firm words spoken like a confession.
"Hush now, Cat," he whispered next, his voice filled with a husky quality that had my heart pounding against my chest. His lips brushed lightly against my earlobe, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine..
The scent of his skin, warm and comforting, filled my senses. I felt an intoxicating thrill, inhaling the essence of the man before me. Every gasp and inhalation was a tiny plea to the ether now.
His grip on my hand tightened, a new intensity building quickly. Before I could react, his hands found my shoulders, grasping them firmly as he spun me around to face away from him. I could feel the heat of his palms, the strength in his fingers, as he held me there, his grip unyielding.
"David," I murmured, unable to hide the tremor in my voice.
His hands moved to cradle my face, his thumb and forefinger guided my chin, a silent assertion of the control he held. His next grip I felt on both sides of my neck, his thumb reaching to press down firmly into the center hollow of my collarbone.
Suddenly, he withdrew his hand, leaving a trail of cool air on my skin where his fingers had just been. Anticipation was making my breath hitch as his hand returned slipping lower, tracing the bottom curve of my collarbone before resting against my chest, playfully cupping my chest on both sides.
All of the sudden he broke this trance and spun me around to face him again, the movement causing me to stumble into his waiting arms. His grip was steady, preventing me from falling.
As I looked up at him, I saw a strange gleam in his eyes.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. "You could say that I've waited for you to step into my reality."
I knew exactly who he was then, confirming in my mind that this had to be.. that "David".
"Indeed," he breathed as if reading my mind, his fingers tracing patterns on my arm, his touch electrifying. "..everyone but a click away. A world where you never truly meet, yet know each other so intimately."
My heart pounded in my chest. The indirectness of his words was beginning to crystallize. "So you are talking about... you found me online, and now..?" I trailed off.
He laughed softly, a sound I found both intimidating and endearing. "Could be," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Wouldn't that be something?"
"Anyway, I said you can hush now, Cat."
"Wow" I accidentally said out loud. His eyes had darkened, and I could see his body tense and feel a tangible energy rise over me.
"You already know almost exactly what is about to happen to you. You can tell anyone you want about it. Here, I want you to take out your phone and call or text whoever you would like. I want to be sure that you can look in the mirror tomorrow and know you received the consequences of your own actions, on your own free will. I mean, as free as possible anyway, knowing your filthy fucking mind".
I handed him my cell phone from my purse.
"Done? So quickly? Ok. Then I need you to stay quiet for me now". He tucked the phone into his jacket pocket and I made no comment.