Strangers At A Bar

One

Friday May 12th

Having just finished a week of overtime at her monotonous office job Lily headed to The Breakers hotel, her favourite spot for a well deserved night cap. It was one of Londons most prestigious hotels; its usual guests including celebrities, billionaires and Middle Eastern sheiks. Lily didn't run with those crowds and she could certainly never afford to stay there, but their dimly lit public bar served her favourite kind of imported gin and the staff were well versed at keeping to themselves.

Two hours and 3 gins in and Lily was finally starting to feel the tension of work leave her shoulders. As she swirled the remainder of the drink in her glass, preparing to leave, a towering figure took a seat on the stool beside her.

"You know what they say about drinking alone right?" His accent was familiar, but not one Lily could immediately put her finger on.

"That it generally means strangers aren't welcome?" She downed her drink and clinked her glass down on the bar, causing the man to chuckle.

"I suppose you're right, I'm sorry for intruding." He stood to leave and Lily sighed waving her hand at the seat.

"It's been a long day, sorry."

"Sounds like you could do with something stronger." He signalled to the bartender who without prompting immediately made up two drinks and placed them gently onto napkins in front of the pair. He must be a regular she thought.

Lily turned to look at the stranger next to her for the first time and couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. He was older, by at least 20 years, but undeniably attractive. He had a strong, chiseled jaw and deep brown eyes which were framed by gentle smile lines. He was wearing a white button down shirt with the sleeves folded up displaying his muscular forearms and smart black dress pants. His clothes were purposely a smidge too small and clung to his frame just enough to let Lily know that he was incredibly toned underneath.

"You know it's rude to stare." He teased and Lily quickly looked down at her drink, her cheeks flushing hot. "How charming." He mused. "It's been a long time since anyone's looked at me like that."

"How do people usually look at you?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow.

He drew a breath. "My work is... high intensity. A lot of pressure to get things right. I take my role very seriously, I suppose to some I'm the devil."

"You can't please everyone." Lily replied, noticing his gaze flicker between her eyes and lips as she spoke, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

"Such wisdom from such a young one." He tipped his glass towards her and took a swig, pausing for a moment. "What brings you here schatzi?" Lily had heard that word spoken to her before as a child, it was a German term of endearment.

"Just blowing off steam, my work is pretty high intensity too." She smiled and he nodded slowly.

"This is how you like to blow off steam?" He murmured, his voice low as he tested the waters by placing his large hand softly on Lily's thigh. Her body flinched slightly, not because she didn't like it, quite the opposite. His touch sent electric through her body and all the hairs on her arms stood up. "With strangers at a bar?" His fingers gently tightening as his expression grew dark and hungry.

"Usually alone." Lily managed to mutter, her breath catching as he traced his way up her thigh towards the hemline of her underwear. "But I suppose I can make an exception."

The man took his hand away quickly, leaving Lily's body aching for more. He swallowed the rest of his drink and stood up.

"Room 306." He said as he disappeared out of the bar and towards the lobby. Lily watched him go, trying to slow the whirring thoughts in her head. She'd never had a one night stand before, and she'd certainly never been with anyone much older either. It went against every fibre in her body yet before she realised, she found herself downing the remainder of her drink for some Dutch courage and heading to the elevators. Her legs trembled beneath her as she knocked on his door. No turning back now she thought.