Kissed by a stranger Marked forever

Felicia sat alone at a corner of a dimly lit bar, surrounded by four bottles of vodka. Her hands trembled as she poured another shot but her eyes though glossy and red refused to shed tears. She wouldn't give herself that chance, not tonight. The sting in her eyes worsened as her mind replayed today's events Just a few hours ago she had been smiling her arms carefully cradling a cake she baked with love. A red velvet cake with the inscription "happy birthday, Jaden" with silver icing on it Her fiancé was the man she had planned to marry in two months.

The CEO of Novalex Industries and the heir to the third richest family in New York. She had tried to call him several times, but was sent to voicemail. Her heart thudded with unease. Maybe he's asleep.... perhaps he's in a meeting... But on his birthday? The day I planned to surprise him? Unable to shake the feeling of unease building in her chest, Felicia rushed home. She took a quick shower applied some light makeup and pulled on her favorite maroon color dress. She checked herself in the mirror nodded in satisfaction and headed out. "He's probably just busy," she consoled herself. "Don't overthink, things Felicia". She whispered. She doesn't feel like driving, so she flagged down a cab and headed straight to Jaden's mansion. The house stood still large and quiet as she approached clutching the cake to her chest like her life depended on it. But just as she reached the door, her heart dropped. A red heel sat neatly on the welcome mat. Her stomach churned. That heel. She would recognize it anywhere, even if it's in a dream. Her best friend Emily Whitmore's shoe. "No, calm down". Felicia whispered. "I won't jump into conclusions". She pushed the door and stepped inside slowly. The hallway was quiet, except for the faint sound of music playing somewhere upstairs. With trembling hands, she climbed the stairs one step, at a time till she reached the bedroom door. Then she heard it. A moan. Her grip on the cake box tightened. Her knees nearly gave out. "Ohh Jaden..... ahh... ahh... I love it," Emily's voice rang out. Felicia's body moved before her mind could catch up. She opened the door stealthily. There they were Emily and Jaden, her beloved fiancé and best friend tangled in sheets. They didn't even notice her presence until the cake landed on the floor with a thud. Jaden's head snapped towards her he scrambled off the bed panic flashing across his face. But Emily didn't flinch. She locked gaze with Felicia a slow smug smirk grazing her face like she had won. "I....Felicia... It's not what you think I swear" Jaden stammered. "It.. it.. just... happened... It's not like that..." But Felicia wasn't listening. Emily's moan kept ringing in her ears like the church bell down the street and that's all she could hear as she stood. Her heart sank into her shoes, too shattered to scream or speak. She gave them one last long look, then turned around and walked away. No tears no words, just deafening silence. ___ Now she laughed into her drink bitterly. So this was it? Her best friend and her fiancé fucking each other under her nose? Her wedding dress is still waiting in her closet. She rehearsed her wedding vows with Emily two days ago. What a joke. She didn't take a cab after leaving the mansion. She had walked for hours, letting the hot sun burn through her skin, hoping the heat would burn away the wound in her chest. And here she was in this rundown bar surrounded by cheap vodka and a mind full of hell. "You are a damn joke, Felicia" she muttered, chuckling darkly to herself. Her fingers reached for the next bottle but a large firm hand closed rounder hers preventing her from lifting it. "Let go!" She snapped pulling her hand away. "Go away! I hate you all! Just stay away from me!" Heads turned. The bartender paused midstep. But the man didn't flinch. "No matter what you're going through, I doubt it's worth dying for" he said, his voice deep calm and unshaken. Felicia's breath froze her breath caught in her throat. She looked up to behold a very beautiful man, his deep set eyes could make a lady wet down there, his sharp jawline made him look like he had seen it all his messy black hair looked too perfect to be an accident. His expensive suit screamed power, but it was his presence solid, steady, and commanding that rattled her. Without thinking she reached out grabbed his tie and kissed him Zachary Bennett didn't move at first. His brow knitted in surprise, but he didn't stop her. Instead, something flickered in his eyes..., curiosity? Sympathy? Hunger he couldn't fathom. Then he kissed back softly slowly and then like he initiated it. And for a moment, Felicia forgot her worries. Forgot Jaden and Emily. There was only the taste of this strangers mouth, his cologne filled her nostrils and she felt comfort in the arms of someone who didn't yet know her pains. Her arms were all over him now tracing every line of his chest, memorizing the warmth of someone who wasn't Jaden, someone who doesn't reek of betrayal. Zachary stood still for a moment letting her do her thing. Letting him feel something he hadn't felt for years. She was soft and trembling but not fragile. And for some reason, he couldn't understand, she was the first woman who had ever touched him without the triggering instinct to pull away. He pulled her up gently, his hand cradling her back as he led her to the guest room. It was the room he usually stayed in when he wanted to run from work, when he wanted some time alone to himself. But tonight isn't about him. it's about this strange woman. About the way her voice cracked when she said "Make me forget this pain... please ". Zachary froze for half a second. Her eyes... God, her eyes held something that twisted inside him She wasn't drunk on liquor but she was drunk on heartbreak. He brushed a strand of hair from her face "Are you sure about this? " he asked. Felicia didn't hesitate. She held his face her touch burning and certain "I need this, please... I need something that isn't betrayal." And that was all it took Their mouths crashed against each other and everything else disappeared. Clothes flew in every direction Her body pressed against his warm and eager. Zachary lifted her effortlessly and laid her down, he planted a soft kiss on her neck and then trailed it to her collarbone. He took her nipple in his mouth, and she let out a soft moan that made his grip on her tightenned. "God... handsome...." Her voice was shaky broken but honest. He kissed her belly button, tracing the kisses back to her chest, inhaling every fiber of her being Her soft lavender scent is doing things he can't understand to him, The scent is so intoxicating making him wanna do things to her, he kissed her inner thighs taking in every reaction every twitch, and gasp. He parted her legs went down and slid his tongue into her wetness. Felicia arched her back, one hand tangled in his hair the other gripping the sheet like it could solve her problems. She had never felt this wanted this seen not even when she was with Jaden. Thinking of Jaden she sighed. He rose above her She parted her legs without fear, her body warming up with need. His eyes met hers asking one final time if she was sure and she nodded. Then he inserted his crotch slowly inch by inch. She gasped and he paused allowing her breath and adjusting to his size, his jaw clenched tight. When she wrapped her legs around him he began to move. Each thrust was deliberate not rushed, but gradual like he was claiming every broken piece of her. The room was filled with the sound of skin against skin her soft cries and his low grunts. "Just... like that," she whimpered. "Ohh... don't... stop" He didn't instead he kissed her as he moved deeper, harder matching her every breath. Her nails scraped his back and he welcomed the sting. It reminded him that this was real not fantasy. And he didn't know that she was everything he was waiting for. Her moan rose louder and rawer Her body trembled as pleasure rippled through her. She came calling his name like a prayer that had never been answered until now. He followed moments later, burying his face in her neck as his release tore through him like a storm. For a long moment they lay tangled together, body sticky with sweat and heart beating faster. And in that heavy silence, it dawned on both of them this wasn't just sex This was the beginning of something else, something neither of them expected.