3

She had been drinking, of course. Maybe a little more than usual, but it wasn't the alcohol that made her feel this way. It was him. He was there, so close to her, and she couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull. He had a way of speaking that captured her attention, and although his arrogance remained palpable, there was something about him that she couldn't ignore.

"Another drink? » he suggested, waving his hand lightly to attract the bartender's attention.

Sarah hesitated. She already felt her head light, her thoughts a little fuzzy. But before she could refuse, the glass was already placed in front of her. The man raised his, a smirk, his eyes still fixed on her. He seemed to be sizing her up, as if waiting to see how far she would be willing to go tonight.

"Come on, let's celebrate your graduation, right? » he said with a falsely innocent look.

She raised her glass reluctantly, but a thin smile eventually stretched across her lips. "When I graduate, then," she murmured before taking a sip.

The alcohol slid down her throat, a little too hard this time, but she said nothing. She felt heat fill her body, her cheeks turning redder. She should have felt uncomfortable, even disturbed, by the way he stared at her, as if he saw her as a game, a challenge to take on. But on the contrary, part of her loved this feeling of danger, this feeling that she was walking on a tightrope between seduction and caution.

"So, tell me, Sarah," he began after a moment of silence, his voice as calm and controlled as ever. "What attracts you to me? »

The question took her by surprise. She looked at him, a little disconcerted. His arrogance showed in his every word, but there was no aggression, just this assurance that he had everything under control. She sat up slightly, trying to hide the confusion that was rising inside her.

"Who says I'm attracted to you? » she replied, feigning a casualness that she didn't really feel.

His smile widens, the smile of a predator, satisfied with his prey. "You're not a very good liar," he said, looking at her intently. "I can see it in your eyes. »

Sarah's heart raced. How could he be so sure of himself? She hadn't even had time to recover from his response before he was already disarming her with his words. She bit her lip nervously, trying to figure out what to say. But deep down, she knew he was right. There was something about him that attracted her, despite everything. Perhaps it was precisely this arrogance, this way he had of never doubting, of acting as if the world belonged to him. It was irritating, yes, but it was also haunting.

She sighed, taking a deep breath before launching herself. "It's not you in particular. Maybe it's your... attitude. She chose her words carefully, hoping he wouldn't see how unsettled she felt.

He nodded slightly, as if expecting that answer. "My attitude, huh? » he said, leaning a little closer towards her. "And what do you like about my attitude? The fact that I'm confident? That I never doubt what I want? »

His eyes were still staring at her, piercing, as if trying to read her. Sarah looked away, feeling her face flush. The alcohol, combined with the intensity of the conversation, made each word more difficult to pronounce. She didn't want to admit that he was right. However, she felt more and more helpless in front of him.

"Maybe," she finally said under her breath. "But I also find that..."

"Irritating? » he finished for her, a smile still on his lips.

She laughed despite herself, surprised that he had guessed so correctly. "Yes, there you go. Irritant. You know you're insufferable, right? »

"I realize that," he replied without the slightest trace of shame. "But you're still here, aren't you? So I must be doing something right. »

His confidence knew no bounds, and yet Sarah couldn't help but appreciate this raw honesty. He wasn't pretending, he was just being himself, unapologetically. She, for her part, continued to play the game, although her reason was screaming at her to turn around. But it was too late. She was caught up in the whirlwind of this evening, in the attraction he had on her.

Time passed, and the drinks kept coming. She felt lighter and lighter, her thoughts becoming blurred, as if lulled by intoxication. Every smile he gave her, every burning look he gave her, made her shiver. Part of her knew she shouldn't let herself get carried away, that he probably wasn't the man she was hoping to meet. But right now, she didn't care.

"You know, you're a lot more interesting than most people I meet," he said, staring at her, his eyes lingering on her lips.

Sarah raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by this statement. " Really ? And what makes you say that? »

He paused, as if considering his answer. Then he turned slightly towards her, further reducing the distance between them. "You are different. You don't get impressed easily. »

She gave a little laugh. "Oh, I'm not that impressed, believe me. »

"That's what I like," he murmured, his eyes shining mischievously.

She felt her heart speed up again. His words, the way he looked at her, everything pushed her to get closer to him, to give in to this irresistible attraction. But despite the alcohol clouding her thoughts, she knew she had to maintain a modicum of control.

"Maybe I'm just good at hiding how I feel," she said, trying to deflect the conversation.

He looked at her for a long time, as if analyzing her every word. Then he leaned in a little closer, closing the distance between them to a handful of inches. " Maybe. But I doubt you can hide from me how you really feel. »

His warm breath brushed against Sarah's skin, causing a wave of heat to rise through her body. He was so close now. Her woody scent, mixed with the smell of alcohol, filled the air around her, enveloping her in a bubble where nothing else existed.

She didn't answer. She didn't know what to say. His lips were inches from hers, and she felt the inevitable coming closer. She could still step back, put an end to this dance of seduction. But instead, she gave in, abandoning all caution.

"Sarah," he whispered, his voice low and hoarse. "You want me, don't you? »

His words made her shiver. She didn't want to agree with him, but her body was betraying her. Her red cheeks, her shortness of breath, everything about her screamed what she didn't want to admit out loud. She closed her eyes for a second, as if to protect herself from the intensity of the situation. When she opened them again, he was still there, waiting for her response.

"Maybe," she whispered, almost inaudibly.

A victorious smile appeared on his lips, and before she could react, he closed the distance between them. His lips brushed hers, gently at first, then more firmly. The kiss was electric, a shock that made his heart beat wildly. Sarah is there

Issa carried away, responding to his kiss with a passion she didn't even suspect.

Time seemed to stand still. Nothing else mattered in that moment, not the bar, not the other customers, not even reason. It was just the two of them, plunged into a spiral of desire that they could no longer ignore.

When they finally broke apart, Sarah caught her breath, her mind still foggy from the alcohol and the kiss. He stared at her, a satisfied smile on his face.

"I knew you would give in eventually," he whispered, his voice full of confidence.

She should have been angry, responding to him with a scathing retort. But at that moment, she just smiled. Because, despite herself, she knew he was right.

The music still echoed softly in the bar, but to Sarah, everything seemed to fade. Her thoughts were muddled, partly because of the alcohol, but also because of the presence of this man beside her. The man who had captivated her from the first sight, despite his obvious arrogance. Every time he smiled, every time he spoke with that deep, confident voice, she felt a strange warmth invade her body.

They were still at the counter, their glasses almost empty, and the evening dragged on slowly. The conversation had evolved from playful lightness to something more intense, more personal. Their eyes often met, long moments of silence sometimes set in, as if words were no longer necessary. It was in these silences that she found herself wondering where this evening would take them.

She could no longer deny the obvious: she was attracted to him, irresistibly. Still, she knew it wasn't the best idea. He exuded the confidence of a man who never had to work hard to get what he wanted, and part of her was wary. But another part, more impulsive, more daring, wanted to see how far it would take her. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was just the thrill of the moment, but she had already made up her mind.

She stared at him, searching for words, her heart beating slightly faster than usual. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was soft, almost a whisper, as if she was afraid of breaking the moment. "How about... we go somewhere else? » she suggested, her gaze never leaving his.

He stared at her, slightly surprised, but the expression on his face betrayed nothing other than curiosity. " Elsewhere ? he asked, his voice slightly amused, but his gaze intense. He didn't need to ask any further questions; he already knew what she was implying.

Sarah felt her cheeks flush slightly, but she maintained her calm. She nodded, taking a small sip of her drink to mask her embarrassment. " Yes. I think we would be quieter in... my room. »

The silence that followed his words was heavy with innuendo. She was afraid he would burst out laughing or look down on her, as he seemed to do with others. But instead, he looked at her with a new intensity. The idea had visibly intrigued her, and she could sense that the situation was changing, that it was taking an unexpected turn.

"Your room, huh? » he replied, smirking, visibly amused by her proposal. But deep in his eyes, she could see that he was seriously interested. He paused, as if savoring this moment when she had taken the lead. Then he sat up slightly, crossing his arms as if sizing her up. "I suppose you have a good reason to invite me?" »

She looked down, a little nervous now that the moment was approaching. She didn't want to seem too desperate or easy, but the tension between them was becoming hard to ignore. She hadn't planned to make such a proposal earlier in the evening, but something in his behavior had pushed her out of her comfort zone.

"Maybe I just want to get to know you better," she said with an enigmatic smile, raising her eyes to look at him again.

He laughed softly, his gaze still fixed on her, analyzing her every move. "Is this really what you want? » he asked, knowing full well that their intentions went well beyond a simple conversation.