Ice and Fire on the Bar in the Empty Club

I’ve shared plenty of my intimate escapades, often with partners I’ve connected with multiple times, savoring every second. This time, though, I’m diving into a one-off encounter – a fleeting, electric moment with someone I never saw again. But let me be clear: this was someone I’d known for years, someone who’d always sparked something in me.

That evening, I checked in with my partner before heading out to a rooftop lounge. We have this mutual understanding – it’s not about asking permission but ensuring we’re on the same page and know each other’s whereabouts in case of emergencies. So, I met up with my girlfriends at the lounge, ready for a night of fun.

It was live music night, with a band playing soulful covers, perfect for losing ourselves in the rhythm and lyrics.

My friends and I ordered cocktails – mojitos and martinis flowing freely. A group of guys approached, offering to buy us drinks. We didn’t know them, so we politely declined. As the night wore on, more drinks in hand, they sent over a bottle of prosecco as a gesture. We sent it back, keeping our vibe tight. One of the guys seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him through the haze of music and laughter. Around 1 a.m., the lounge started winding down, so we decided to hit a nearby dance club just a short walk away.

The club was buzzing, and it seemed half the lounge crowd had the same idea. We danced, laughed, and sipped more drinks, completely caught up in the moment. The DJ gave a shout-out to our table, which made us cheer wildly. During a break, the DJ sauntered over – and I recognized him instantly. His name was Marcus, a former colleague from my old marketing gig. Marcus was striking – a bit husky, not too tall, with warm brown eyes, a chiseled jaw, and a neatly trimmed goatee that gave him a rugged charm. I’d always found him attractive back in the day, despite his stocky build.

We got to chatting, and he mentioned he liked to invite women to join him on the DJ platform to keep the energy high. He called up a few other groups, then us. My friends and I climbed up, moving to the beat. The chemistry between Marcus and me was palpable – our playful glances and synchronized moves had my heart racing and my body tingling. The cocktails and pulsing music had me burning with anticipation.

We stepped down after a bit – rules are rules – and kept dancing below. The guys from the lounge reappeared, sitting nearby, their eyes locked on us. We ignored them, lost in our own world. My partner called to check in, and I assured him I was fine, promising to be home later. We hung up.
One of the lounge guys approached me. He looked familiar, but in my buzzed state, I couldn’t pin it down. He wore a navy blazer, was tall and wiry, with a faint scar above his eyebrow. He asked me to dance, and I agreed. After a couple of songs, we parted ways, returning to our tables. Marcus kept sending shout-outs our way, and our eyes kept meeting, each glance stoking the fire inside me. My imagination was running wild, and I was already so turned on. The guy in the blazer asked me to dance again, and we did, our bodies close but not too close.

By 4 a.m., the club announced they’d close unless tables ordered at least $250 worth of drinks to extend the night. We pooled our cash, and more cocktails arrived. One of my friends, Lily, was practically asleep at the table, while the rest of us kept the party going.

The blazer guy came over again, saying he’d reserved a private lounge area and invited me to “chat.” I knew it wasn’t just about talking, but curiosity – and a spark of excitement – led me to grab my clutch and follow. In the dimly lit lounge, he introduced himself as Nathan, but his friends called him “Stretch.” Then he hit me with a shocker – he was my partner’s cousin! Yes, you heard that right.

He explained he was the son of my partner’s aunt’s cousin, and we’d met at our engagement party and a few family barbecues. I was stunned. He confessed he’d always found me attractive and leaned in for a kiss. I pulled back, saying I didn’t want any drama. He respected that, offering to walk me out later. I said I’d stick around a bit. We left the lounge, and, true to his word, we only talked – nothing more. Still, the forbidden thrill of it all had me aching with desire, though I knew I couldn’t act on it without risking trouble.

The club was nearly empty by then, with only a few stragglers left. We decided to head out. As we were leaving, Marcus gave us another shout-out and queued up a final track. He jogged over, asking us to wait so he could drive us home after his set. Lily was out cold, Ava was ready to leave, and Zoe had an early shift, so we couldn’t wait long. Marcus insisted on driving us, and we agreed. Stretch watched as I climbed into Marcus’s SUV with my friends.

We dropped my friends off one by one. I was the most sober – or so I thought, especially after the cousin revelation snapped me out of my haze. After the last drop-off, Marcus said he’d forgotten his hoodie at the club and asked if I’d come with him to grab it. I agreed, enjoying his company and, let’s be honest, drawn to his rugged charm.