Forbidden Kiss

The lips that touched mine were not my boyfriend’s. In fact, I had just walked out of his apartment, discovering that the latest prey of that cheating bastard was lazily lying in his bed. My Ex-Fiance’s words still echoed in my mind: “I never loved you, Emily. You were just a placeholder until I found the one I was meant to marry.” Standing outside his building, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and adjusted the hem of my dress. I should have known better than to trust Mark Jensen. That bastard had betrayed me throughout our entire relationship, always making excuses to go out with friends or work late at the office. I was such a fool to believe him, to think we had a future together. I ran down the sidewalk, my heels clicking sharply against the concrete, the sound echoing between the nearby buildings. On a Friday night, the city was alive with hustle and bustle. People strolled past me leisurely, most of them oblivious to my presence, continuing with their evening. Others cast curious glances at my attire. It wasn’t every day you saw a girl in a cocktail dress storming down the street, then turning into an alley. Maybe this was just that kind of place in the city. I pushed open the door to the bar and stepped inside. Dim lighting enveloped me, and the soft music was like a balm, soothing my frayed nerves. I needed a drink. Or three drinks. Or ten. I sat on the barstool and ordered a whiskey. The bartender nodded and began preparing my drink. I stared at the smooth wood of the bar, my mind still a whirlwind of anger and betrayal. How could Mark do this to me? We were supposed to get married in three months. I had already sent out the invitations, booked the venue, and bought my wedding dress. What am I supposed to do now? The bartender placed my drink in front of me, and I downed it in one gulp. The amber liquid burned its way down my throat, warming my stomach and quickly spreading through my veins. I signaled for another drink and then turned to survey the bar. It was half-full, with most people sitting in pairs or small groups. A few solitary drinkers were slowly savoring their beverages. One man caught my attention, even though he wasn’t looking at me. He sat at the end of the bar, eyes glued to his phone, fingers flying over the screen with a frantic urgency. I couldn’t help but wonder what was so important. Sensing my curiosity, he glanced up, met my eyes for a brief moment, then returned to his screen. Just then, my phone buzzed in my bag. When I pulled it out, the message on the screen made my heart race: “Emily, we need to talk. Meet me outside.” I didn’t need to ask who the message was from. I already knew. I sighed, slid off the stool, and headed for the door. The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, and I scanned the street for Mark. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anger and anticipation. I saw him leaning against a lamppost, arms crossed over his chest, his expression cold. “Emily,” his voice was low and soft. “Mark, what do you want?” I asked firmly, keeping my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. He pushed off the lamppost and walked slowly towards me, a smirk growing with each step. “We can work this out, Emily. You’re overreacting a bit.” His words were like salt in a wound, and I clenched my fists at my sides. “You cheated on me!” I shot back, my voice rising involuntarily. “You mean to tell me you never loved me? That I was just a placeholder until you found someone better?” Mark shrugged, the smug look on his face quickly turning to irritation. “You’re being too dramatic. We can work this out together.” I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? You’ve been cheating on me for years. How could I have been so blind?” Mark rolled his eyes, clearly running out of patience. “Listen, Emily, I’m not the only one keeping secrets.” I froze, my breath catching in my throat. “What are you talking about?” A flicker of shock crossed Mark’s face before he regained his composure. He smiled slightly, savoring the sudden shift in power. “You know exactly what I mean.” I shook my head, narrowing my eyes. “No, I don’t. What are you implying?” Mark scoffed, and I wanted to punch him. “Come on, Emily. You’re not as innocent as you pretend to be. You’ve always been emotionally distant. Getting you to talk about your feelings is like pulling teeth. It drove me away.” I clenched my teeth, refusing to let him twist this around on me. “Are you saying you cheated on me because I wasn’t open enough? That’s a weak excuse.” Mark shrugged again, and I wanted to scream. “It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth. And it wasn’t just one affair. There were many.” My mouth dropped open as I stared at him. “You’re disgusting,” I spat. “I’m glad to be rid of you.” I turned and stormed back into the bar, leaving Mark standing alone on the sidewalk. I slid back onto the barstool and ordered another whiskey. As the bartender poured my drink, I realized I was finally free. I had been with Mark since high school and had never dated anyone else. I didn’t know what it felt like to be with another man, to kiss someone else, to be desired by someone new. The thought sent a shiver down my spine as I looked around the bar. That’s when I saw him. The stranger from earlier. The one who had glanced at me before returning to his phone. He stood at the entrance, scanning the room. When he spotted me, a bright smile spread across his face, and he walked over. As he approached, my heart pounded in my chest. Up close, he was even more attractive, with perfectly styled dark hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. His smile softened as he reached the bar and leaned against it beside me. “Hi,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Hi,” I replied, feeling my cheeks flush. We were silent for a moment, and I wondered if he remembered our brief encounter earlier. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. “Sorry,” I blurted out, breaking the silence. “For what?” He turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. I shrugged, feeling a bit foolish. “For interrupting your call.” He smiled, his expression softening. “It wasn’t an interruption. I was just checking in with my sister.” He paused, studying me for a moment. “Would you like another drink?” I hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yes, thank you.” As he ordered our drinks, I took a closer look at his face. He had a strong jawline and full lips, with neatly styled black hair. I felt an inexplicable attraction to him. When the bartender handed us our drinks, the stranger turned to face me. “I’m Lucas,” he said, extending his hand. His voice was calm and captivating, and I felt a sense of ease as I slipped my hand into his. “Emily,” I replied. We fell silent again, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he remembered our kiss from earlier. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It lingered in my mind like a ghost, refusing to be forgotten. I glanced at Lucas, wondering if he felt the same. But he didn’t meet my gaze, instead staring straight ahead at the bar. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “So, how’s your sister?” I didn’t know why I asked, but I wanted to steer the conversation away from my swirling emotions. Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. He seemed to be pondering the same question. When he spoke, his voice was low and cautious. “She’s going through a tough time.” He paused, taking a sip of his whiskey. I sensed there was more to the story, but he didn’t elaborate. I felt a wave of sympathy for him. I knew what it was like to carry burdens alone. I glanced at him again, wondering if he would open up more. But instead, he reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sent my heart racing and a shiver down my spine. The music in the bar faded into the background as we gazed at each other. For a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. Lucas’s eyes softened as he looked at me, as if he could see into my soul. As if he knew all my secrets and desires. “Emily,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “You feel… familiar.” I blinked, stunned and confused. “Familiar? What do you mean?” Lucas leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my ear. His words were gentle and careful, sending a shiver through me. “I don’t know. It’s like… I’ve known you before. Like we’ve shared something.” I felt my cheeks heat up and looked away. I could hardly believe what he was saying. It sounded absurd. But at the same time… I felt it too. There was something familiar about Lucas. It was as if we had known each other before. As if we had shared something special. The memory of our kiss flashed through my mind, and a strange longing filled my heart. I glanced at Lucas, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was also trying to understand the strange connection between us.