seduced into submission

2. can't wait to see you again

"Where have you been, Lily?" asked one of her friends, a bottle of beer already in her hand. "We've been waiting for you for ages!"
"Oh, sorry," she replied, trying to steady her breath. "I got caught up in a deep conversation with someone." She forced a laugh, hoping it would sound convincing. "You know how it is."
Her friends exchanged glances, not quite buying her story. They knew she had been acting different all night, her attention drifting away from their group and towards the quiet man in the corner. But they let it go, deciding not to push her. After all, they had all been there before; they knew the thrill of meeting someone new, the way it could consume your every thought.

As the night wore on, Lily found it difficult to focus on the party. Her mind kept wandering back to John, to the way his eyes had lit up when she talked about her favorite books, to the gentle way he had held her hand. She felt a pang of regret for not having kissed him, but at the same time, she knew it was for the best. They had just met, and she didn't want to rush things.

Finally, after promising her friends she would be okay, she slipped away from the bar and made her way home. The quiet streets were a stark contrast to the chaos of the nightlife she had just left behind. She walked slowly, enjoying the fresh air after having spent almost the entire evening in the sticky bar.

When she finally arrived at her apartment, she tossed her keys onto the entryway table and collapsed onto her bed, her thoughts still fixated on John. She closed her eyes, trying to picture his face, the way he looked at her with those deep grey eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what he was doing at that moment, if he was thinking about her too.

As she lay there, her phone buzzed with a new message. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly checked the screen, half-expecting to see John's name.
It was from her friend. The message simply read: "He's really cute. You should definitely see where things go with him."

Lily rolled over, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach whenever she thought about him. A smile crept onto her face as she remembered their conversation about books and travel.
He seemed genuinely interested in her, which was a refreshing change from the typical bar scene.
Her phone, still clutched in her hand, vibrated against the bedside table with another message from her friend. She looked at the screen, his number saved as 'John from the Coffee Shop'. She felt a warmth spread through her chest. It was a strange feeling, one she hadn't felt in a long time. With trembling fingers, she typed out a message, trying to play it cool. "Had a great time tonight. Thanks for the walk."

After hitting send, she lay back down, her mind racing with thoughts of their conversation. His gentle touch, the way he made her feel heard and understood. It had been so long since someone had truly listened to her, and she craved more of it. She stared at the ceiling, the patterns of light from the street outside playing across it like a silent movie.

Her phone buzzed again, and she sat up eagerly, her heart racing. It was John. "I had a wonderful time as well," his message read. "Looking forward to our walk on the beach. How about tomorrow early afternoon?"
Lily's stomach did a little flip. "That sounds perfect," she replied, trying to keep her excitement in check. She didn't want to seem too eager. But the truth was, she couldn't wait to see him again.

John responded almost immediately. "Great. I know this amazing spot near the beach that does the best brunch in town. It's a bit of a hidden gem, but trust me, it's worth it."

Lily's mind raced with excitement. She had never felt this way about someone she had just met. The anticipation of seeing him again was almost too much to handle. She decided to take a risk and sent a flirty text back.
"Can't wait to see if the food lives up to your charming company."
John's response made her cheeks flush. "Challenge accepted," he wrote, with a winking emoji.
They texted back and forth for a few more minutes, sharing stories and laughter before finally wishing each other a good night and turning off their phones.

Her thoughts swirling with the promise of their date, Lily slipped into her pajamas and climbed into bed. She could feel the weight of the day's events pressing down on her eyelids, making them grow heavy. As Lily drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but smile, thinking of the wonderful night she had shared with John. She knew that tomorrow would be even better.

She fell asleep quickly and found herself in a dream where she and John were the only two people.
They were walking hand in hand along a deserted beach, the waves crashing against the shore, the moon casting a silver path before them.
In her dream, they talked and laughed, sharing stories and secrets as if they had known each other for a lifetime. The wind played with her hair, and she felt his warm breath on her neck as he leaned in closer to hear her words. The salty breeze mingled with the scent of his cologne, sending her senses into overdrive. Every step they took brought them closer to a future filled with love and adventure.

The dream felt so real, so vivid, that she could almost feel the softness of his hand in hers, the warmth of his smile.