Anna stood hidden in a dark, empty corridor, observing the dancers twirling around the spacious hall. She loved to dance... but she shouldn't have been here. Not tonight, not when she knew that he would be here...
She did not hear the steps approaching her from the darkness, but she perceived his presence even before he said, "Dance with me."
Anna inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She replied without turning to him, taking a step away from his body, trying to resist the feeling of being pulled inexorably into him... "No..." she breathed out.
"Please," he whispered in her ear, making her breath hitch and her knees tremble even though he was not touching her.
Speechless, she shook her head, feeling her resistance crumble, too fast, too easily...
"Just one dance."
And as the music started to play again, its seductive notes made her forget that she was not supposed to dance with this man...
"Only one dance," she whispered, resigning.
It was destiny.
She did not understand it, the feelings this man was awakening in her, the places his looks and softly whispered words were taking her imagination to. She was not strong enough to fight it, she didn't want to, she yearned to yield...
Capturing his eyes with hers, she grasped his arm and let him take her to the brightly lit dance floor, trying to ignore all the shocked, appalled, judging looks. They were not supposed to be there together-- she, a married woman, he, as good as promised to another girl, her friend.
It was wrong, and maybe that's why it felt so good.
It didn't take long for the music, and his eyes never letting go of hers, to make her forget the cruel reality, to make her lose herself in him and live only for the moment, wishing it would last forever.
As his curious, exploring hands caressed her body, pulling her close to him, lifting her up-- their lips nearly touching-- as if she did not weigh more than a feather, then twirling her around, she imagined how it would be if they just could be together the way they both wished...
As the bewitching music continued to play, she pictured the two of them walking hand in hand, in a park or along a river, she saw them living together, travelling abroad, meeting their mutual friends like a couple... and more... She could almost feel the touch of those strong yet gentle hands against her bare skin, his lips at her ear whispering about endless love before his body pressed hers among the pillows...
Blushing for her scandalous thoughts, she gasped, coming to her senses, feeling ashamed as she remembered her son. And his father-- the man who never made her feel, during the many years of their marriage, what this man made her feel during this one dance.
It was... shocking, the depth of that forbidden feeling and the sudden insatiable longing to experience what she only read about in books until now. Infatuation, lust... Love.
She took a deep breath and pushed him away, looking around for someone, anyone to save her from herself.
"Anna!" she heard him call her name, voice breaking, when she left his side.
"Go to him!" she told the girl he was expected to marry as she ran past her, looking for the way out of the large room packed full with dancing couples, all enviably excited and happy.
If only she had met him before... If only she could start her life all over again...
The moment she reached the cold, dark corridor, she leaned against the wall, her legs threatening to give way.
In the large mirror hanging on the wall in front of her, its cool glass misting over quickly from her hot, rugged breath, Anna watched through tears as he danced with the other, who was free to give herself to him if he would accept her, to the sound of music she loved so much.
She would not meet him again, she promised to herself. She couldn't. Anna knew that she would allow him to ruin her if they ever met again.
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