Michelle's POV
But as the seconds stretched out, I thought about all the years I’d spent saying no to every little adventure—not because I didn’t want to, but because I was scared. Scared of messing up, of stepping out of line, of being seen the wrong way.
And then there was the recent loss, quietly reminding me how fragile life really was. Why had I let fear decide everything for me?
Before I could second-guess myself, I reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him toward me with a boldness I didn't know I possessed. This time, when our lips met, I kissed him back.
I leaned into him as his hands found my waist, my hand slipped on the hood and accidentally knocked over the glass. It fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
But we were too consumed to care, as we kissed more intimately.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. He picked me up gently, without breaking our connection.
He opened the back door and we tumbled into the back seat.
But then he stopped.
He pulled back breathing heavily, his eyes searching mine in the dim interior light of the car. I looked into his eyes and understood what he was asking. He was giving me the space to step away if I wanted to.
Without words, I nodded.
I saw the flash of heat in his eyes as we found each other's lips again. This time it became more intense.
He tore his lips from mine, and placed a kiss on my forehead, as he gently slipped his hands through my tank top caressing my b**bs like they deserved an award, I moaned gently, slipping my fingers through his hair.
“Oh Ray” I murmured, as I bit my lips, “have you done this before?” he asked, placing a kiss on my lips.
I just shook my head gently.
“Oh really” he whispered with a smirk.
We undressed each other quickly, throwing our clothes any and everywhere in the car. I ran my hands over his built body, feeling how hard it was, while I kept wondering if he had been plucked from a billboard.
He used his two hands to gently pull my thighs apart as we continued kissing, and I could feel his bulge hard against my thighs now.
He slid his right hand and pulled out my p**ties.
Then he pushed himself in between my thighs, I gasped and moaned all at once, my mouth wide open. The feeling was strange, yet ecstatic.
He held my both hands upwards on the car door and went all in again, slamming the doors in between my thighs gently, this time felt better, he continued thrusting gently and kissing the sensitive skin underneath my ear, while I moaned softly.
“You're so tight Michelle” he whispered in my ear as he pounded harder. He groaned and slammed for the last time and my legs gave out as they shook.
He kissed my forehead again, our breaths tangled gently. Then he pulled me into his arms, holding me close as if protecting something fragile. The windows steamed up, and for a while, it was just us—lost in a moment we shouldn’t have shared.
***
The early morning breeze at 5 AM stirred me from deep sleep. My eyes fluttered open to the unfamiliar leather seat. I was in a stranger's car, covered only by his white dress shirt.
I looked down at my body and my heart sank, the evidence was clear, something had happened during the night, and the weight of that realization hit me. No one in their right mind would sleep with a stranger on the first night, but the alcohol had clouded both our judgment.
I turned to look at the man still sleeping beside me. Even in sleep, he was devastatingly handsome, with his black hair messy against the car headrest. His chest rose and fell peacefully in a way that made my heart ache with confusion.
What have I done to myself? The thought echoed in my mind as guilt and shame crashed over me.
I carefully reached for my small purse trying not to wake him. My movements were slow, fighting against the lingering effects of the alcohol and the soreness in between my thighs that reminded me of our night together.
I slipped his dress shirt over my shoulders—it was far too big, but it provided coverage that cold morning.
I opened the car door gently and stepped onto the sandy pavement, my bare feet touching the cool ground.
***
I got back to my dorm room shivering from the morning cold. Brenda and Lia were still asleep. I slipped quietly into the bathroom for a warm shower, letting the water wash away the chill and lingering memories of last night.
I couldn't shake off what had happened on the beach. The stranger I'd given my virginity to and my first taste of alcohol. Everything I held for 21 years all swept away in one impulsive night with someone I barely knew.
After two hours of restless sleep, I was jolted awake by Brenda's screams.
"Guys!!! Ray Whitney is in a relationship!" she shouted disappointedly. "I can't believe this!."
"That's not possible," Lia snapped, grabbing the phone. "It's just a scandal, Brenda. It's not true."
"I've had a crush on him since high school," Lia continued, hugging her pillow. "I can't stand seeing another woman in his arms."
"I'm treating this as fake news," Lia said firmly. "Just reporters trying to make a quick buck."
"Why are you all shouting?" I mumbled, sitting up sleepily, stretching my hand to grab the water bottle beside me and took a gulp.
“You wouldn't even know who we are talking about” Lia scoffed.
"That's rude, Lia!" Brenda said, heading toward the bathroom.
“Michelle is from West Virginia Brenda, she is not even social,” she laughed mockingly.
That’s actually too much, Lia,” I said sternly. “I’m not really interested in whatever you were talking about—I was just concerned about you two.”
I stood up to get ready for class.
***
"Michelle!" Leo called from behind as I trudged toward the lecture hall for NUTR-UE 1260 — Diet Assessment and Planning — my legs dragging, still foggy from lack of sleep.
Leo was my closest buddy in class. People always saw us together and assumed we were dating—which was funny, considering the last guy I kissed was a complete stranger on a beach.
"Oh, hey," I mumbled.
"You look horrible, Michelle," he said, with concern.
"Just pulled an all-nighter studying," I lied, flashing him a weak smile as we stepped into the lecture hall.
I mean, what was I supposed to say? ‘Sorry I look like a mess, Leo. I got drunk last night and ended up hooking up with some random beach guy that took my virginity and I don’t even know his last name’? Yeah, no thanks. That’s definitely not a conversation I’m ready for.