The next few days passed in a blur. Amelia couldn't shake the memory of Dominic's presence on the pier, the way his words lingered in her mind, like an uninvited guest.
She found herself replaying the moment over and over again, trying to decipher the strange mixture of desire and danger that clung to him. She couldn't understand it, but she also couldn't deny that there was something about him—something magnetic—that made her want to know more.
Despite her best efforts to distract herself with work, the memory of his dark eyes and the way his voice had caressed her name kept creeping into her thoughts. She hadn't expected the encounter to affect her so deeply, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she couldn't push it away.
It wasn't just his appearance—tall, dark, mysterious—but the way he seemed to see straight through her, into places she had locked away for years. The vulnerability he had spoken of, the way he made her feel both exposed and alive at the same time, was something she hadn't felt in a long time.
But despite the pull she felt toward him, Amelia knew better than to get too close. The danger was palpable, a heavy undercurrent that she couldn't ignore. He was a stranger, someone who had shown up out of nowhere, and that alone made him a risk. And yet, there was a part of her that wanted to take that risk.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden chime of her phone. She glanced at the screen—an unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat as she hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Amelia," the voice on the other end of the line sent a shiver down her spine. It was Dominic.
"Dominic?" she breathed, her pulse
quickening. "How did you get my number?"
"Does it matter?" His voice was low, almost a growl, and the way he said her name sent a jolt of excitement through her. "I've been thinking about you."
Her breath caught in her throat, the sudden warmth in her chest making it hard to focus. "What do you want from me?"
There was a pause, the silence on the other end almost suffocating. Then, softly, he replied, "I want to see you again. Meet me at the same pier. Tonight. Midnight."
She opened her mouth to protest, to tell him it was a bad idea, but the words caught in her throat. Her mind screamed at her to say no, but her body—her heart—was already pulling her toward him. "Why tonight?" she managed to ask, her voice shaky.
"Because," he said, his tone almost teasing, "I think tonight is the night we begin."
Amelia's heart raced. She didn't know what he meant by that, but she felt an overwhelming need to find out. The pull was irresistible, and despite her instincts telling her to stay away, she couldn't bring herself to decline.
"I'll be there," she whispered before hanging up the phone.
The evening passed in a blur as Amelia tried to distract herself with various tasks—getting dressed, making herself dinner, checking emails—but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. The excitement coursing through her veins was undeniable, and yet, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered warnings she couldn't ignore. What did Dominic want from her?
What game was he playing?
By the time the clock struck eleven, she found herself standing in front of the mirror, adjusting her coat and staring at her reflection. She looked calm, collected—someone who had her life together. But inside, her heart was pounding. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this way about someone. It was unsettling, yet thrilling.
The pier was only a short drive from her apartment. Amelia knew the area well—its quietness at night, the soothing rhythm of the ocean crashing against the shore, the way the wind swept through the air, cooling her skin. It had always been a place of refuge for her, a place where she could breathe and think. Tonight, though, it felt different.
As she parked her car and stepped out, the familiar sounds of the ocean greeted her. The night was cooler than usual, the breeze cutting through her coat, but it didn't matter. She was focused on one thing: Dominic.
He was already there, standing by the edge of the pier, his silhouette outlined by the faint glow of the moon. He looked even more striking under the dim light, his features sharp, his posture relaxed but confident. His gaze met hers before she had even taken a step forward, and for a moment, it felt like the world stood still. His eyes were filled with something unreadable, something dark and intense.
"You came," he said, his voice smooth as silk.
"I told you I would," Amelia replied, trying to sound unaffected, but the tension between them was palpable. She could feel her pulse quicken as she moved closer.
Dominic stepped toward her, his movements deliberate, predatory even. "I've been waiting for you," he said, his breath warm against her skin. "I knew you'd come."
She swallowed hard, trying to mask the growing anticipation inside her. "What do you want from me, Dominic?" she asked again, this time her voice barely more than a whisper.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, sending a ripple of electricity through her body. "I want you, Amelia," he said, his words low and husky. "I want to know everything about you. All your secrets, all your fears, all your desires. I want to see who you really are."
His words were like a magnet, pulling her in despite every warning she had. She didn't know why, but she felt like she couldn't fight it. She wanted to give in to whatever this was. The danger, the intensity, the connection—everything about him felt like it was leading her down a path she didn't quite understand, but she was willing to follow.
Dominic stepped closer, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered, "Tonight, you'll see a side of me you didn't expect. And maybe... you'll want more."
Amelia's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling under his touch. This wasn't just an encounter anymore. It was something more dangerous, more seductive. She didn't know where it would lead, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn't sure if she cared.