Chapter 1 Two Strangers and a Bar:

Laramie:

The college bar was dimly lit. But not in a weird or creepy way - rather in a way that suggested romance and mystery. A sweet scent hung heavy in the air. Soft slow music pulsed somewhere in the distance. It was the kind of atmosphere that made you feel like anything could happen.

The place was mostly empty, except for a barkeep, lazily wiping down the counter, a couple sitting in the far corner, deeply staring into each other's eyes and whispering sweet nothings, and a man sitting alone by the bar.

He had his back to me, so I couldn't see his face, but something about the way he sat there, isolated and silent drew me in - made me curious. About what he would look like if he turned around. What would his voice sound like? What did he smell like? Maybe even what it would feel like if his fingers were to graze the delicate skin of my inner thighs.

I walked into the room fully and headed over to the bar. No one seemed to notice me and if they did, they didn't seem to care. I had just finished moving into my new dorm room and had some time to kill while I waited for my dad - he was in a meeting with the Dean about his new job as the head of the English department.

I was excited about college. It would be different than high school in the way that no one cared who you were or where you came from. Everyone seemed too busy minding their own business to pay any real attention to anyone else.

College would be a place where I could get lost and eventually find the me I wanted to be. I could be anyone here. Do anything. I could be reckless and wild. Or I could simply disappear completely. Both would be fine. Both would be acceptable.

"A beer, please?" My voice sounded a little uncertain as I sat down on one of the empty stools.

The barkeep looked up from his labouring, regarded me with vague interest before shrugging. "Sure. Coming right up." He turned and a few seconds later, put an ice cold beer down in front of me.

"Thanks," I sounded a little more confident after clearing my throat.

He gave me a tight nod and returned to his work as if our encounter never happened.

I glanced over my shoulder at the couple in the corner - their mouths were devouring each other, their bodies twisted together in passion, hands exploring eagerly. Like they had somehow completely forgotten that they were in public. What it must feel like to be that free... After watching them for a few seconds, I began to feel awkward, so I slowly turned my head back toward the lonely stranger sitting by the bar.

He had shifted on his stool - enough for me to see his profile. God, he was gorgeous: broad shoulders, strong hands, dark hair. His sharp features softened slightly by the glint of his glasses and the sensual curve of his full lips. He was older - not by much, but enough to make him forbidden. A hot sensation began to swirl between my thighs. I pushed them together and took a sip of my beer, trying to calm the unexplainable ache rising from between my legs.

I almost choked when the stranger spoke to me.

"You okay down there?"

His voice was deep, sultry. Like velvet. When I looked at him again, he was staring at me - his eyes dark, hungry. As if they were stripping me naked, memorizing every curve of my face. His stare pinned me to the spot.

I couldn't move - wasn't sure that I wanted to.

Maybe I should have minded, looked away even. But I enjoyed the way he was looking at me. I liked seeing the desire on his face - the need in his eyes. I relished in the fact that I was the reason for it.

"Fine, thanks," the words came out in a seductive sort of whisper that made them sound more like an invitation than an answer.

A slow smirk crept across his face as he stood, slowly, and made his way over to me. He sat down on the stool next to me, moving closer than he needed to be, his drink in his hand. I caught his scent - it was even better than I imagined: strong, masculine, sensual.

The flood of desire I felt almost made me slip off the stool.

"You look nervous. Is this your first time in a bar?" He drawled in an effortlessly sexy way.

"No... I... no," I tried to sound sophisticated - grown-up, but he made me feel nervous instead.

He smiled. "Okay."

"It's the truth," I could feel the colour rushing to my cheeks. Why was I defending myself to this stranger? Why did it matter so much what he thought of me?

He kept his eyes on me. His hand was so close to mine on the bar that his fingers brushed mine slightly. A moment of silence fell between us - the air grew thick with anticipation. I had to swallow hard.

"You're kind of adorable."

"Gee thanks," a different kind of heat was rising inside me then.

"I meant it as a compliment," his eyes still lingered on my face, the smirk still on his lips.

"That's something you say to a puppy, or a baby."

"Or something innocent... pure."

"What makes you think that I'm innocent?"

His face grew serious then. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch was electric.

"Aren't you?" The question felt loaded.

I had to look away then - I suddenly felt vulnerable beneath his intense stare.

My fingers twitched slightly, and when he lay his hand on top of mine it felt so natural - so right. My skin tingled beneath his. Images of his naked, sweaty body rubbing up against mine found their way into my mind.

He looked at me, his eyes searched mine, patiently waiting. I could feel my nipples harden as they strained against the lace of my bra. My heart raced, blood rushed - my breath hitched. I wanted this man. And I was sure that he wanted me too.

After a beat, he turned in his stool and began to swirl his drink in his hand. He sighed -

"Do you ever wish that you could just be someone else for a while?"

The question caught me off guard, and for a moment I couldn't answer. It's exactly what I've been thinking.

"Yes," I said finally. "All the time."

His eyes found mine again. He looked pleased with my answer. Like I had somehow just given him permission.

"Then come with me,"

He stood up, pulling me to my feet as well, and led me to the back of the bar. I stopped and hesitated for a second. He never took his eyes off me as he stepped closer, putting his mouth next to my ear. The rasp of his breath was hot and slightly wet against my skin - it sent a delicious shiver down my spine.

"Be someone else with me for a while."

I remained frozen. A part of me was screaming at me to turn around and leave - that there was something dangerous happening here. But another part of me, a much louder part, was urging me to surrender to this handsome stranger.

I wanted to be reckless and wild. I wanted to follow him - not just to the back of the bar, but to the end of the earth if he allowed me to.

I wanted to lose myself in this man. But somehow I knew that I would never be the same if I did... nothing would be.

I turned my head toward the door - walking away was the easy, obvious choice. Or at least it should have been.