Tom poured the wine with slow, deliberate care, his fingers steady on the neck of the bottle. The rich red liquid slid into the glasses with a soft glug, the scent of dark berries and spice wafting up as he handed Julia her drink. She accepted it with a small smile, fingers brushing his just slightly as she took the glass.
They clinked their glasses together softly, the chime barely audible above the low hum of the hotel's ventilation. Tom took a small sip, then leaned back against the headboard of the bed, letting the warmth of the wine settle in his chest. Julia sat beside him, one leg tucked beneath her, her red robe catching the low lamplight like velvet.
"So," she said after a moment, swirling the wine in her glass, "how was your day?"
Tom chuckled, but it was a tired sound. "Oh, you know," he replied, taking another sip. "Just went on a wild goose chase across town. Nothing serious."
Julia tilted her head, eyebrows raised. "Wild goose chase?" she echoed, intrigued. "That sounds dramatic. What were you chasing?"
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Can't really tell you all the details. Classified, let's say. Spy stuff."
She gave him a look, amused but knowing he wouldn't elaborate. "Fine," she said. "Keep your secrets. But tell me this, how did this mysterious goose chase make you feel?"
Tom exhaled slowly through his nose. "A little disappointed, if I'm being honest," he admitted. "But disappointment and I… we're old friends. I've learned to take it in stride."
Julia's eyes softened. She looked at him for a few seconds longer than necessary, like she was trying to read something behind his words. Then, gently, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
He closed his eyes at the touch, letting it linger for just a moment before glancing at her sideways. "You know," he said, voice low and teasing, "a kiss on the mouth would soothe me even better."
She leaned back slightly and gave him a playful smirk. "You're such a flirt, Tom Polo."
"That's why you like me," he shot back with a grin.
Her smile widened. "True."
Without another word, she leaned in again, this time slower, more deliberate. Her lips met his in a soft, warm kiss,
Julia eased back from their first kiss, her lips tingling from the heat of Tom's
"God," she said, her voice warm and laced with playful nostalgia, a teasing smile curving her lips as she fixed him with a steady gaze. "I'd forgotten what it's like to kiss someone with all that… youthful energy." Her manicured fingers traced the edge of her robe, a deliberate move that drew his eyes, her confidence radiating like heat.
Tom's trademark smirk curled, his dark eyes glinting with cocky amusement as he leaned closer, his toned frame shifting on the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. "Youthful energy, huh? You should ditch those flabby old men and stick with fit young studs like me," he shot back, his voice dripping with arrogance, a playful edge that dared her to bite back. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his biceps flexing under the tight black shirt, knowing she was watching.
Julia's laugh was rich, throaty, a melody that filled the room and sent a shiver down his spine. She tilted her head, her green hair catching the light as she fixed him with a challenging grin, her eyes sparkling with wit. "Oh, Tom, I might still prefer my flabby old men," she teased, her voice warm and direct, leaning forward so her robe gaped slightly, revealing more of her smooth, tanned skin. "They know a thing or two. But tonight? You're a damn fine exception."
Tom's ego purred, her confidence a spark that lit him up. He leaned in, his smirk widening, his voice dropping to a low, cocky purr. "What'd I do to earn that kind of honor, huh?" His fingers brushed her arm, a fleeting touch that sent a jolt through the air, his eyes locked on hers, searching for the crack in her cool facade.
Julia's smile turned sly, her gaze unwavering as she leaned closer, her breath warm against his cheek. "You've got balls, Tom. That confidence? It's sexy as hell," she said, her voice a sultry murmur, her hand resting on his thigh, her nails grazing the denim with a purpose that made his pulse race. "But let's see if you can handle a woman like me. I'm not one of those giggling college girls you're probably used to."
Tom's eyes narrowed, a glint of challenge flashing as he drew closer, their faces inches apart, the air between them crackling with tension. His breath mingled with hers, the faint musk of his cologne blending with her perfume, creating a heady cocktail. "Oh, I'm more than ready," he murmured, his voice thick with arrogant promise, his lips hovering just shy of hers. "I'm gonna take you to heights of pleasure you've never dreamed of, lady. Those old guys? They've got nothing on me."
Julia's smirk deepened, her eyes dancing with amusement and desire, her voice a low, teasing challenge. "Big words, kid. Hope you're not just blowing smoke." She leaned back slightly, her robe slipping further, daring him to make good on his boast.
Tom didn't reply, his smirk turning predatory as he closed the distance, his lips crashing into hers with a fervent hunger that made her gasp into his mouth.
His hands found her shoulders, pushing her slowly back onto the bed, the dark sheets cool against her skin as she obliged, her body yielding with a confident grace. The mattress sank under their weight, the room a cocoon of heat and anticipation, the city's distant hum fading into the background as their world narrowed to each other.