Page 9 of Third Degree

There was a hint of an ocean breeze, a lack of a presence trailing behind me, and a place where no one treated me like I was some sort of prized possession.

Half a mile from the house, I saw the most adorable, curly black dog running up to me.

“Oh, my goodness. What a cute little boy you are!” I exclaimed.

Another thing in this life we weren’t allowed to have. Because dogs were just a hassle, or so my papa would say. I leaned down to face the dog and started scratching him around his neck.

“Where is your mom or dad?” I asked the pup in an obnoxious baby voice only reserved for sweet animals and newborns.

Suddenly, a booming tone broke through the cool, quiet evening air.

“Right here.” The guy laughed, and I was so terrified that I must have fallen from the half squat I was in, landing right on the cement walkway. A quick gasp escaped from my mouth.

“Shit. Are you okay?” The enigmatic stranger reached down toward me to help.

In the shadows of the evening, I couldn’t quite make out his features, and I hesitated to grab his hand, letting it linger there for a moment too long.

“Sorry,” he said. “My name is Elio. I live just around the corner. Not creepy, I swear.”

I finally grabbed the offered hand, and he hoisted me up.

“I think that is what all creeps say.” I let out a small giggle.

When the stranger, whose name was evidently Elio, finally came into view under the light of the dim streetlamp, I audibly gasped.

I was standing in front of the most attractive older man. He must have been in his late thirties, as some of his hair had started to gray on the sides. His body was that of a bodybuilding twenty-one-year-old, though, his white shirt taut against his muscled chest.

Every inch of his appearance exuded an air of authority and danger, especially under the dim lights of the evening.

His strong, chiseled jawline added an extra layer of ruggedness to his charm. His thick, luscious lips carried a hint of mischief, capable of turning into a captivating smile or a cold, calculated expression, depending on the circumstances.

His piercing green eyes seemed to possess an uncanny ability to penetrate the depths of my own, leaving me feeling vulnerable. They held a combination of intensity and mystery.

His wavy black hair cascaded in gentle waves, just touching the underside of his chin, framing his face with an air of untamed allure. It was the kind of hair that hinted at rebellion and an unwillingness to conform.

“Hi.” I swallowed audibly.

“Hi.” God, even when he smiled, it was fucking sexy. Shit.

I was never attracted to older men. Well, no, that was a lie. I guess when I thought about it, my destiny was to marry someone older. An older made man who was finally ready to settle down, just like my mother did with my father.

Growing up, our culture instilled in us a reverence for older men, viewing them as the epitome of attractiveness and wisdom.

So, it shouldn’t have surprised me that I was speechless in his presence. It was a mixture of familiarity and allure, a convergence of tradition and desire that left me captivated and unable to resist the gravitational pull that bound us together.

“I was just taking Nutella for a walk.” The corners of his lips curled, and I looked down at the curly-headed mutt.

“Nutella?” I chuckled.

“It’s a ridiculous name.”

I actually laughed out loud then. This beefy man just told me his dog’s name was the same as my favorite childhood snack. “It’s cute, actually.”

“What are you doing out here so late? Walking around… alone?” He glanced uneasily behind me as if he’d see someone pop up.

I shrugged. “Oh, I just like to walk after everyone is too drunk and annoying at home. We are just visiting.” I probably shouldn’t be telling a stranger these intimate details, but something indescribable drew me toward him.

As he took a deliberate step closer, our bodies pressed together, heat radiating between us, intensifying the air. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, perfectly synchronized with my breath. Every inch of proximity heightened the electric charge in the atmosphere.

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