The First Goal

Dinner (Baris POV)

Baris

After we hung up, I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that crept in as I thought about seeing Amel tonight. 

I'd gone home after practice, but as I got ready, I found myself putting in a little extra effort—an all-black outfit, a bit of cologne. Not that I'd admit it, but something about tonight felt... different.

When I reached her door, she opened it, and damn. That dress of hers should come with a warning. 

It hugged her body in every way I hadn't allowed myself to imagine before, and I could feel myself struggling to keep it together. 

She was looking up at me, wide-eyed, soft, those eyes pulling me in like she had no idea just how damn good she looked. It made me want to pull her close right then and there, press her up against the wall, let her know exactly what her presence was doing to me. 

I let my eyes travel over her slowly, making sure she saw that I was looking, and a hint of a smile played on her lips as I watched her cheeks flush.

I tried to keep my focus as we headed to the car, but each time I glanced over, she was just... there. 

Her perfume lingered, a subtle sweetness mixed with something floral, drawing me in as I drove. A night out with Amel had my attention in ways I hadn't expected. I'd told her we were going to Mikla, one of my favorite places, where I could unwind, and tonight, it felt right to bring her there.

Once we arrived, she settled in, looking around the place with a small smile that told me she liked it. 

When she began explaining her idea, I found myself amused—this day-in-the-life thing could be a hell of a lot of fun. If she wanted to see behind the scenes, she'd get the whole Baris Alper Yilmaz experience. 

I couldn't help but smirk, thinking of all the ways I could make this interesting. After all, if she wanted "authentic," I'd show her what that meant.

When the bill came, she tried to pay, a gesture that, while considerate, was almost cute. Silly girl. If a man ever lets a woman pay, he's got no business being called a man. 

I told her firmly to put that card away, and by her quiet compliance, I knew she got the message.

I didn't want the night to end there. Her energy was captivating, like something magnetic that I couldn't ignore. I asked her if she wanted to take a walk, and she agreed, a soft smile lighting her face. 

As we strolled, I couldn't stop myself from looking into her eyes. They were doe-like, deep, full of life, and, damn, if they weren't pulling me in. There was something so naturally warm about her, something I hadn't felt in a long time. 

I knew it was a risk. There was her career, the lines between us that shouldn't blur, but here she was, looking like a dream, and suddenly nothing else mattered.

"Amel..." I said, stopping to face her.

"Yes, Baris?" she whispered, her voice softer, breathier than before.

"You look beautiful tonight. You always do, but tonight..." I trailed off, watching her reaction as she looked up at me. 

She returned the compliment shyly, and her words were enough to push me over the edge.

The pull between us felt too strong. "I'm going to regret this," I muttered, half regretting saying it, but not regretting the thought behind it. 

Then I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, soft at first, waiting to see if she'd pull away. But instead, she kissed me back, and suddenly, I was pulling her in closer, both hands moving instinctively—one to her cheek, one to her waist—as the kiss grew deeper.

She tasted sweet, warm, with a hint of peach. I wanted to keep going, to memorize every second, every sensation, because I knew it'd never be enough. 

Her soft, inviting lips, the way her body leaned into mine, the way she met me halfway—it was everything.

But then, all too suddenly, she pulled back. She looked flustered, her eyes darting away as she caught her breath.

"Baris... we have to go," she said, her voice low and strained. "I need to go home."

"Did I... did I do something wrong?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice. Stupid, stupid. I should've known better.

"No, no," she said quickly. "It's just... let's go."

The drive back was quiet, and I felt a gnawing sense of regret the entire way. What had I done? What if this ruined things between us? 

My mind kept circling back to her kiss, though, and the way it made me feel, like I'd finally found something I didn't even know I'd been searching for.

When we got to her apartment, she thanked me, and I told her I'd wait to hear from her about the project. 

I grabbed her hand before she got out, feeling a sudden need to say something, anything to smooth things over.

"Amel, I'm sorry," I murmured, feeling an odd pang in my chest. "I shouldn't have kissed you. It was... unprofessional."

"It's okay, Baris. We both got caught up. Nothing to worry about." She forced a smile, but her words stung, almost like she was brushing it off as if it didn't matter.

She left, and I watched her go, that familiar gnawing in my chest intensifying. I drove home, mind replaying the way her lips felt against mine, the way she'd looked at me just before I kissed her. 

I tried to reason with myself, telling myself it was just a kiss, a momentary lapse. But deep down, I knew better. I wanted more than just that kiss, more than I should've allowed myself to want.

And now, as I lay in bed, I kept wondering if I'd just made the best mistake of my life—or the worst one.