Robin

×××

I should've known better than to come here tonight.

The bar is way too loud, the drinks too expensive, and my life a mess.

Yet, here I am, sitting at a sticky table with a glass of gin and tonic in front of me, scrolling through a hook-up app that Kevin recommended. According to him, my life is dry sexually and mentally.

But I'm not looking for anything serious, of course. My life is already complicated enough without adding another person to the mix.

But tonight, I just want a distraction. Something easy. Something mindless.

The app's interface is annoyingly simple. A few photos, some clever bio lines, and a quick swipe left or right--no thinking, no complications.

It's not a long-term solution. Hell, it's not even a short-term one.

I've convinced myself I'm not here for anything except a quick orgasms.

My finger hovers over the screen, swiping without real thought. Left. Left.

Left.

Right.

Wait.

I stop mid-swipe, the photo catching my attention.

It's not the typical "here's my abs and a drink in hand" kind of profile. This one is unique.

The woman is standing in front of a brick wall, arms folded across her chest. Her dark hair falls just a bit past her shoulders, and her lips are painted a deep, alluring red.

She's looking off to the side, like she's aware of the camera but not interested in it. There's something a little mysterious about her that my eyes won't look away.

I pause for a second, then swipe right.

To my surprise, we match almost immediately. My heart skips a beat, but I shake it off.

What am I doing?

I'm 36, and this feels like something I should've done when I was 26, not in my mid-thirties when I've already had enough life experience to know better.

But the thought of doing something reckless and spontaneous is exhilarating.

The message notification pings, and I glance at my screen immediately.

HEATHER🌺: Hey there. I see you like a good drink and bad decisions. You're in the right place.

I chuckle to myself. Bold.

Definitely not the usual pickup line.

I type back.

Robin: Maybe. But I'm more of a bad decisions kind of person.

The next message comes quickly.

HEATHER🌺: I think I could get on board with that. What's your poison?

I almost type back, "Gin and tonic," but then I stop. That's not interesting enough. I'm bored of myself, of my routine. So I change it.

Robin: Tequila. Neat.

There's a pause. Then, HEATHER🌺: I like how you think. Do you stay around like your address says or you're a catfish?

I chuckle. Who has time for that anymore?

I send a thumbs up and her reply is direct.

HEATHER🌺:Meet me by Axis in 30 minutes. It's my kind of place."

Axis, of course it's a cool place. I've heard of it--a dimly lit speakeasy hidden behind an old record shop downtown.

Not the kind of place you go for casual drinks with coworkers. But for tonight? Perfect.

I want to say something witty, but instead, I just type: See you soon.

What are the odds this stupid app actually works? Should I be scared by Heather's directness? Is this a trap? Is this real?

I close the app, and look at the clock. I have time to prepare, but there's no time for overthinking.

If this is as bad or as good as it seems, there's only one way to find out.

I finish my gin and tonic in one long gulp and head out.

×××

When I walk into Axis, the dim lights hit me like a velvet fog. The air smells of aged whiskey and candle wax.

There's jazz playing softly in the background along with murmurs of conversations around me.

It feels secretive, like if you're here great, but no one else has to know.

I look around, scanning the crowd. The place is busy, but not packed, the perfect level of intimacy.

It doesn't take long to spot her.

She's standing at the bar, looking exactly like her picture. The same dark hair, same bold lips, but now I can see the full picture.

She's wearing a fitted leather jacket and a black skirt that's just short enough to tease. She's tall, but not intimidatingly so--just the right amount of it.

She's even more stunning in person.

I stand there for a second.

She's waiting for me, and I can't figure out if she's nervous or just indifferent.

I take a deep breath and walk toward her, the heels of my boots clicking against the floor.

She notices me before I say anything, her eyes flicking to mine with that same mix of confidence and curiosity.

"Robin?" she asks, her voice sultry.

"That's me," I say, feeling oddly shy, which is stupid because I've done this before.

Met people, had my fun, fucked and forgot. But there's something about her that throws me off.

She gives me a small, crooked smile.

"I'm Heather." She holds out her hand, but I don't shake it. Instead, I lean in slightly, and brush my lips against her cheek in a soft kiss.

It's the kind of move I trust to work when I'm too nervous to talk.

Her breath hitches. She doesn't pull away. It's working.

"Well," she says with a laugh, "that's a pretty good start."

I smile, and something inside me shifts. Maybe it's the alcohol but I can feel a spark between us already.

"I'm all about making a good impression," I reply, my voice husky.

The bartender arrives with a drink for me, and I take it without thinking. The glass is cool in my hand, and the burn of tequila hits me instantly.

"To bad decisions," I say, raising my glass toward her.

Heather chuckles, clinking her glass against mine. "To bad decisions," she repeats.

We both take a sip, and that's when the chemistry between us explodes. It's like we both realize, at the same time, that there's no turning back from this.

We know what we want. We're just here for the drinks and fun.

We find a spot in a lounge area and sit.

Heather is making small talk and I'm responding with a nod and a smile because I know there's no reason to talk about my life. I'm here to get fucked and it ends there.

At some point, we stop talking and just look at each other. The silence says more than words could ever.

I'm no stranger to dangerous attraction and this is exactly what we both need.

I lean in. Her lips meet mine in a kiss that's full of heat and desperation.

Her hands find their way to my hips, and I don't resist. I never even consider pulling away.

After what feels like minutes of nonstop kissing, she pulls away, her dark eyes dancing with want and her lips are swollen.

"Wanna get out of here?"

I nod.

We leave the bar together. We don't talk much as we walk down the dark streets.

There's something urgent between us, like we're racing against time.

I suggest getting a hotel but she says she knows a friend's apartment nearby.

We reach the place quickly--an old building with exposed brick and tall windows that let in too much light.

She unlocks the door, and I'm guessing the friend is close enough or trusts her to give her a key.

Before she can even step inside, I'm on her, pushing her back against the door with a kiss that's all urgency.

"Easy there," she mumbles, pulling away to close the door.

"You, me, naked," I mutter. I don't know what I'm saying but I know she understands.

××××

Hello lovely people. Thank you for reading and if you enjoying this chapter, don't forget to leave a pretty star for me by voting!