Danial’s eyes darted around the dance floor, as if seeking to preserve their modesty despite the overwhelming volume of the music. He leaned down, his lips closer to her neck than her ear, pulling her so close to his body that she felt she might disappear within him.

“You want me to come to your room?” he repeated, luxuriating in the words.

“I do,” she confirmed, feeling the song crescendo around her and wanting to freeze it in time, to extend this perfect moment forever.

“And what do you want me to do?” He freed one of his hands, running it up her arm mid-movement and deftly turning her around so that her back was once again to his chest. “Once I get to your room?”

She turned her face toward his and could feel him instinctively bury himself in her hair, inhaling her deeply. She closed her eyes, forgetting the crowd of strangers and losing herself to the intoxicating feeling.

“I want you to take off my dress,” she breathed.

“But you look so good,” he replied, and she could hear the smile on his voice. He moved one hand over her stomach, spreading his fingers across the expanse of it as the other guided her extended arm. “Can’t we keep it on?”

“We can,” she whimpered, feeling so lightheaded with desire that she needed to rest her weight on his body. “We can do whatever you want.”

“Hmm,” he said, voice deep in his chest. “I don’t know that I believe you. Tell me again.”

“We can do whatever you want.”

His fingers kneaded softly at the base of her stomach, pulling her closer to feel every detail of him against her back. She continued, barely audible, “I put my other key in your jacket, so you can come right up.”

“Oh,” he whispered, sounding nothing short of hypnotized. “You want me to surprise you, then?”

God, she did. She wanted to be awoken from the deepest sleep by the feeling of him on top of her. And she wanted so many other things, things she wouldn’t dare verbalize for fear of ruining their tenuous connection. She would happily take another glorious night with him, even if it was only sex.

“I want you,” she continued, surrendering to hedonistic release, “I want you to write a list of everything you never got to do to me over the past ten years, and I want you to check them off one by one until you are completely, fully satisfied.”

The sound of his moan in her ear was drowned out only by the sound of the dance floor clapping. The song was over, and Alex pulled herself roughly from Danial’s chest, opening her eyes like she had just been doused with a bucket of cold water.

As the opening notes rose on the next number, she turned around and smiled awkwardly, muttering something about how she needed a glass of water.