Aftershock

I expected awkwardness, maybe even coldness now that the heat of the moment had passed. Instead, he surprised me by pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" he murmured.

I laughed, the sound slightly hysterical. "You have no idea."

He chuckled. "You are something incredibly stupid and incredibly hot."

I couldn't help but laugh. "That's one hell of a way to describe me."

He set me down gently, steadying me when my legs wobbled. 

"You okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. 

He lowered me gently to my feet, his softening d*ck slipping out of me. The cool tile beneath my feet was a stark contrast to the heat still radiating from my body.

My legs trembled still weak from the intensity of our lovemaking. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I was more than okay. I was... transformed.

He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Good," he murmured.

As we dressed, his fingers lingered on my skin, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I caught sight of myself in the cracked mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back. My lips were swollen, my eyes bright with a wild sort of joy.

Suddenly, a voice crackled through what I now realized was an earpiece in the stranger's ear.

"Boss, the coast is clear. But we need to move. Now."

I froze, my post-coital haze evaporating instantly. Boss?

"Who are you?" I whispered, a tendril of fear curling in my stomach.

He hesitated, his hand on the door. For a moment, I thought he might answer. Instead, he cupped my face, kissing me with a desperation that left me breathless.

"I'm sorry," he murmured against my lips. And then he was gone, slipping out the door like a shadow.

I stood there, stunned, staring at the space he'd occupied just moments ago. The reality of what had just happened began to sink in, bringing with it a wave of conflicting emotions.

As I turned back to the mirror, something caught my eye. There, on the floor where we had stood, lay a small foil packet. Untorn. Unused.

My heart stopped.

With shaking hands, I picked up the condom, shoving it into my purse. Evidence of my recklessness, of a moment that had spiraled far beyond my control.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I muttered, smoothing down my dress and trying to tame my wild hair.

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. One problem at a time, Emilia. First, find Mary. Then... well, I'd figure out the rest later.

...

The chaos outside the bathroom had died down, replaced by the wail of distant sirens. I pushed through the thinning crowd, scanning frantically for any sign of Mary.

"Em! Thank God!" 

Mary's voice cut through the din, shrill with relief. She grabbed my arm, already pulling me towards the exit.

"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere! We need to go, now. The cops are—" She paused, taking in my disheveled appearance. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God. Did you...?"

I allowed myself one last glance over my shoulder, searching the shadows for any sign of him. Finding none, I let Mary drag me into the night.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I said, a secret smile playing at my lips.

We burst out onto the street, the cool night air a shock against my flushed skin. Mary was still talking, her words tumbling out in a panicked rush.

"—may have accidentally started that fight, and—Em, are you even listening?"

I wasn't. My mind was reeling, caught between the lingering heat of passion and the surreal reality of the present moment.

"Car's here," Mary announced, pulling me towards a sleek black sedan idling at the curb.

As we approached, the back door opened, and a man stepped out. Even with half his face hidden behind a mask, there was something familiar about him. My heart leapt, thinking for a wild moment it might be my mystery lover.

But no. This man was shorter, his build leaner. He smelled of expensive cologne and... something else. Danger, maybe?

"Ladies," he purred, his voice smooth as silk. "Shall we?"

Mary giggled, already sliding into the backseat. 

I hesitated, every instinct screaming at me to run.

"Em, come on!" Mary hissed, tugging at my hand.

I glanced back at the club one last time, half-hoping to see my stranger emerge from the shadows. But there was nothing. Just flashing police lights and the fading echo of sirens.

With a sigh, I climbed into the car, wedging myself between Mary and the door. 

As we pulled away from the curb, I caught sight of my reflection in the window. The woman staring back at me was a stranger – wild-eyed, disheveled, reckless.

"So," the masked man drawled, breaking the tense silence. "Eventful night, huh?"

Mary launched into a breathless recounting of the evening, but I tuned her out. My mind was racing, jumping from one question to the next. 

Who was my mystery lover? Why had he run? And more pressingly... who were those men looking for me?

"Em? Earth to Emilia!" Mary's voice cut through my reverie, sharp with concern.

I turned to face her, blinking away the lingering fog of... what? Lust? Fear? Both?

"Sorry, what?" I mumbled.

Mary's perfectly plucked eyebrows arched skyward. "I asked if you were okay. You look like you've seen a ghost. Or, you know, had mind-blowing sex in a bathroom."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks, confirming her suspicions before I could even open my mouth.

"Oh. My. God." Mary's eyes widened, a mix of shock and glee dancing across her features. 

"You actually did it! Little Miss Play-It-Safe got down and dirty in a club bathroom. I'm so proud!"

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Can we not—"

"Oh no, honey. We are absolutely talking about this," Mary interrupted, her voice dripping with mischief. "I want all the dirty details. Was he hot? Big? Did he—"

"Mary!" I hissed, my embarrassment warring with a strange sense of pride. "I don't kiss and tell."

The man in the backseat – I still hadn't caught his name – let out a low whistle. "Sounds like you did a hell of a lot more than kissing, sweetheart."

I whipped around, ready to unleash a scathing retort, when the driver's gruff voice cut through the tension.

"We're here," he grunted, pulling up to the curb outside my apartment building.

I scrambled out of the car, desperate for escape, but Mary was hot on my heels.

"Oh no, you don't," she said, grabbing my arm. "We're not done here."

I sighed, knowing resistance was futile. "Fine. You can come up. But I'm not promising any juicy details.”