Unseen Ring
1299 Words
Ava smoothed her dress for the hundredth time. She had left the shop early enough to get back to her apartment down the street to change into something beautiful.
The short red dress had a fitted bodice that accentuated her curves. The dress fell just above her knees, showcasing her toned legs. The vibrant red hue complemented her skin tone, giving her a radiant glow. Around her neck, Ava placed a delicate silver necklace with a small, sparkling crystal pendant. The pendant rested perfectly in the hollow of her throat, adding a touch of elegance to her overall look.
Her heels clicked on the floor as she slipped into a pair of red stilettos, elongating her legs and completing her outfit. Ava felt confident and beautiful, ready to take on the night with Julian.
Her phone on the dressing table lit up, casting a soft glow across the room. Ava's eyes darted towards the screen, and she quickly checked the message. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Julian's name flashing on the screen.
He was outside.
As Ava stepped out into the evening air, Julian's eyes locked onto hers, and he was consumed by her beauty. His gaze roamed over her, taking in every detail. He felt a surge of desire, his heart pounding in his chest. Ava's eyes sparkled as she approached him, and Julian's breath caught in his throat. He was entranced, his senses heightened as he took in the sight of her.
As Ava drew closer, Julian's eyes locked onto hers, and he felt a jolt of electricity run through his body. He couldn't look away, his gaze drinking in the beauty of her face. He felt like he was drowning in the depths of her eyes, and he couldn't rescue himself. ‘What is this feeling?,’ he said quietly.
With a gentle smile, Julian opened the car door, his eyes never leaving Ava's face. "You look stunning," he whispered, his voice husky with desire. Ava's cheeks flushed, and she smiled, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.
As she slid into the car, Julian's gaze followed her. He felt a pang of anticipation, his heart racing with excitement. He closed the door behind her and walked around to the other side, his movements fluid and confident.
As he settled into the back seat beside her, Ava felt his eyes on her, and she turned to meet his gaze. The air was charged with tension, the attraction between them palpable. Julian’s eyes burned with desire. All he could think of was how it would feel to have her. He couldn’t stand anyone that up close to her. He wanted her.
Ava felt her heart skip a beat as she met his gaze. The driver pulled away from the curb, and they glided into the night, the city lights blurring together as they drove towards their destination.
…
As they arrived at the restaurant, Ava's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the empty tables and chairs. The usually bustling establishment was eerily quiet, with not a single patron in sight.
"Where is everyone?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Julian smiled, his eyes gleaming with pleasure. "I wanted us to have a special night, just the two of us. I arranged for the restaurant to be empty for our dinner."
Ava's eyes sparkled with delight. She looked to her right and noticed the two men in black suits that guarded the entrance. "You did this for us?"
Julian nodded, taking her hand in his. "I own this restaurant. It was easy enough to make a call and clear the place out for the night."
Ava's gaze drifted around the empty restaurant, taking in the intimate atmosphere. She felt a flutter in her chest as she realized the effort Julian had put into creating this special evening for her.
"I'm glad you like it," Julian said, his voice low and husky. "I wanted our first dinner together to be memorable."
Ava's smile faltered for a moment as she processed the information about Julian owning the restaurant. She wasn't sure how to feel about the wealth and influence that came with it, but for now, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the man standing in front of her.
"Let's get started, shall we?" Julian said, offering his arm. "Dinner awaits."
Ava took his arm, and they walked into the empty restaurant, the soft glow of candles and the sound of soft music enveloping them.
Dinner ended with wine-kissed laughter and the soft clink of plates being cleared away. As they stepped out into the night air, cool and fragrant, Ava casually mentioned a place- her place. A hill she’d always walked to when her mind felt noisy.
Julian turned to her, eyes still warm from candlelight and conversation.
“Can I come with you?”
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded. “If you don’t mind the walk.”
The climb up the hill was quiet at first, their breath rising in pale mist as gravel crunched beneath their feet. Julian stayed just close enough to feel her arm brush his now and then. The hill was steep but gentle, winding like a secret. When they reached the top, the town unfolded beneath them in a mosaic of soft lights- quiet homes, headlights in motion, distant music.
Ava sat on the flat rock near the edge. Julian joined her, and for a moment they simply looked out, sharing silence like a held breath.
Julian turned to her, the soft glow of the town reflected in her eyes. Her face in profile- lips parted slightly, wind teasing her hair- struck something low in his chest.
“I want to kiss you,” he said, voice low. “May I?”
Ava didn’t speak. She turned to face him fully. Her eyes searched his for something unspoken. Then she nodded- once.
The kiss started gentle, tasting of wine and cinnamon, but it deepened quickly, a hunger that had long been waiting for permission. Julian pulled her closer, fingers tangling in her hair, thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. Her hands slid beneath his coat, gripping his shirt, clinging.
The air around them charged. They kissed like they didn’t know where skin ended and breath began. Ava moaned softly into his mouth, and Julian held her tighter, her body molding to his as the night seemed to blur around them. For a moment, it felt like falling- like the ground had given way and all they had was each other.
When they finally pulled apart, they were breathless. Ava rested her forehead against his, eyes closed.
They said nothing. Words would’ve broken something sacred.
Eventually, she stood, legs still unsteady, and they began the descend down the hill. They laughed a little- quiet, private laughter- as though both knew they’d crossed an invisible line they couldn’t return from.
But halfway down, Ava paused.
“Your phone,” she said.
Julian looked down to where she pointed- his phone, buzzing in his coat pocket. The screen had lit up, bright in the dark. A text message.
"Can’t wait to try on my dress tomorrow. Love you always. - V”
Ava stared. He didn’t lock the screen quickly enough.
She turned to him, the color draining from her face.
He opened his mouth. No sound came out.
Ava stepped back. Her expression shattered. “What’s going on?”
He reached for her. “Ava, I- I’m engaged”
She stared at him. Eyes already pooling up with tears. “I’m so stupid”
“No Ava. Ava wait. Ava!”
She was already running, down the hill, into the dark, the sound of her sobs breaking like glass against the still night air.
- Writer
