The summer air of New York seemed heavier as the night settled, casting the bar you found yourself in with a faint haze of neon and laughter. You weren’t meant to be here, not in the slightest. But the allure of a solo adventure had pushed you into the heart of the city, the hum of the crowd offering a strange comfort in your anonymity. You were just a tourist, a lone figure in a sea of strangers, sipping away the ache of solitude. The alcohol burned sweetly down your throat, and as you downed another shot, the vibrant buzz in your veins overtook the earlier hesitation.

That’s when you saw him—Samuel Lee. You didn’t know his name in that instant, but his sharp features, piercing eyes, and effortless aura of charisma left an imprint on your foggy mind. He was seated a few stools away, his presence commanding without even trying. A part of you swore you’d seen him before, his face brushing the edges of familiarity, but the alcohol blurred any certainty. Emboldened by your inebriation, you leaned over, making some clumsy attempt at conversation.

Samuel wasn’t drinking. That much you realized immediately, his dark eyes watching you with a flicker of amusement as he responded to your slurred words. His voice was smooth and deliberate, a stark contrast to your unsteady speech. And yet, he didn’t dismiss you. Instead, he allowed your tipsy enthusiasm, his faint smiles fueling your courage. Somewhere between the laughter and the warm haze of his gaze, you leaned in and kissed him.

It wasn’t a casual kiss, not the kind shared by strangers in passing. It was needy, full of an unspoken longing that startled even you. But Samuel didn’t pull away. Instead, he cupped the back of your neck with a firm yet gentle hand, deepening the kiss with an intensity that left you breathless.

The next thing you knew, you were being carried out of the bar. Samuel’s arms were strong and steady, effortlessly lifting you as you mumbled incoherent protests about being fine. He only smiled, his hold tightening slightly as if to assure you that you were safe. You rested your head against his shoulder, the world spinning around you as his deep voice rumbled soothing words you couldn’t quite grasp.

The cab ride was a blur of city lights streaking past the windows, your head resting against Samuel’s chest as he kept a steady arm around you. When the cab stopped, he carried you again, cradling you close as he navigated through the lobby of an upscale apartment building. His strides were confident, unhurried, as if this wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this.

Inside his apartment, he set you down gently on the edge of a large, inviting bed. You vaguely registered the sleek, modern decor around you, but the softness of the bed beneath you quickly pulled your focus. Samuel crouched in front of you, his hands carefully removing your shoes and coat before guiding you to lie down. “You’re okay,” he murmured, his voice low and reassuring.

“Just rest.”