I was in New York with my hip hop dance troupe for the World Hip Hop Dance Championships. We were performing Starstruck by Lady Gaga. It was all nerves. I found myself on more than one occasion jumping up and down. I went off stage of the venue and put my headphones in my ears and rehearsed our dance. I felt like I was messing up too much so I stopped and went outside in the cool air for a cigarette.
âHey, 15 minutes to show timeâ.
âThanks, Christineâ. I walked in, after shaking my hands vigorously.
âYou alright?â
âYeah. Just nervesâ.
She put both her hands on my shoulders. âLook at me. Youâre going to do great. Weâre going to do greatâ.
I looked up at the ceiling, took in a deep breath and met her gaze.
âOkay.â
I stood in the front of my troupe, listening as the announcer called us up.
âNow or neverâ. I whispered to myself. I ran out on that stage ready for the performance of my life.
We ended up winning the championship so we were celebrating New York City style: getting shit-faced drunk. I still had too many nerves from the entire night so I wasnât drinking that much. My friends had gone out on the dance floor. How the hell they wanted to dance after that, Iâll never know. Mightâve felt good to dance how you felt and not to a routine. Besides, I was in 4 inch heels and a long red V-cut dress. I was not dancing.
I had the shot glass at my lips when my eyes went of their own accord to the left. I saw someone standing at the end of the bar. I took a quick glance as I took the shot. I nearly choked. No. There was no way. There was no way Sebastian Stan was at the end of the bar staring at me. I ordered another shot and took another flitting glance to where I thought heâd been standing. Nothing. Okay. I was seeing things. Major whew. My friends came over to me, almost falling over themselves. They were hammering me to dance.
âGuys. No. Iâm good.â
âCome on! We want to see you dance!â
I laughed. âYou just did.â
âPlease!â
They played a cruel joke on me before they had come to get me. They asked the DJ to play Pound the Alarm by Nicki Minaj and when I heard that song, I couldnât help but dance to it like I knew how: like a boss.
I had been smart and kept my tights and tank top on underneath my dress. I pulled the dress up in one fluid motion. As I had my arms up to take my head out from the dress, my eyes again went to the left. He was there again! I held his gaze for a second, then turned towards my troupe. The music started and I lost myself in it.
After some time, we made our way outside, tripping over each other, laughing hysterically. I still had a beer bottle in my hand. I had my back turned to the door and I wish someone wouldâve warned me. My friends suddenly got quiet and were staring behind me, their mouths open. âWhat?â I furrowed my brows as I brought the bottle to my lips. That was when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I spun around, eyes going wide. I turned to the side quickly, spitting out my beer all over my friend. âOh, fuck me.â It came out so quick I had no time to censor myself. I saw his eyes jerk for a quick second before he gave one of those knee-softening laughs. I suddenly remembered my friend. I turned to see her wiping herself off, laughing. âIâm so sorry.â âI ainât even mad. The look on your face was priceless. You know who that is right?â
I stared at her, turning my head to look at Sebastian. I barely held down an excited sequel/panicked horror. âThatâs Sebastian Stanâ pointing my finger in his direction. Â She started laughing, and turning to look back at Sebastian, I found him laughing. I felt something irritating my face and realized there must still be beer on my chin. I quickly wiped it off, feeling ridiculous. âWe knew you would know who that was. Just wanted to see how drunk you wereâ.
I turned back to them, incredulous. âDid you set this up?â Oh, hell no. We just know how much you like him. It surprised us too when we saw him behind you.â
I turned once again back to face Sebastian, my face bright red. âI am so sorry. This is so embarrassing. There we were. Standing in a group. With Sebastian Stan next to me. I just wanted to get out of there. I felt so stupid. This was not how I wanted my first encounter with Sebastian to go. My friends were staring at him. I kept my eyes on them because I couldnât bear to look at him.
âDo you mind if I catch a ride with you?â
Was he serious?
âPlease forgive me if this sounds incredibly rude, but you surely came here with someone? What happened to them?â
He looked down, clicked his tongue, then looked back at me, his lip in his teeth. Oh sweet Jesus. Not the lip thing.
âWell, youâre here.â
My eyes instantly went wide as I looked slowly to my friends. Did I die and go to heaven? Felt like it.
My friends all exchanged glances, then looked back to me.
âWeâll see you later, Roxi.â
I caught myself before I reached out to them. To beg them not to leave me alone with him. The nerves caught up then and mixed with the alcohol, made me feel like I was going to fall. I felt Sebastianâs arm around my shoulder, like he was leaning on a buddy for help after drinking too much.
âDid you drive here?â
It took me a minute to respond to him. âN-no.â
âGood, because youâre not driving now. Where are you staying?â
âCasblanca Hotel Times Squareâ.
He sucked in a breath. âOooh, nice.â
âYeah. The venue put us up nicely.â I said with a smile.
He gave a shrill whistle and it seemed like a taxi appeared in seconds. giving the name of my hotel when the driver asked where to.
Okay. You got this. Heâll get you to the hotel and itâll be over. He wonât remember you.
The cab ride was quiet He was looking at me as I stared at the window at the city lights. I met his gaze a few times and we shared a smile. I was afraid of saying something stupid.
The cab pulled up in front of the hotel. Sebastian got out and ran over to my side of the cab. I had my dress and heels back on and the last thing I needed was to fall flat on my face in front of him. I took his hand and gripped it as I stepped out of the cab. He brought me into his body, a hand at the small of my back. His hand went from where he was holding my hand to lacing his fingers into mine. I looked at him. Face to face. So close. I quickly backed up before I leaned in all the way to kiss him. I turned to start walking in. Sebastian paid the cab and caught up to me.
âWhat room are you?â
â204.â
âHow weird. Iâm 203.â
âReally?â Panic started to set in again. The damage was done when he had laced his fingers with mine. The things this man did to me. It was criminal, now I was right next door to him?!
Sebastian followed me into the elevator. I was really trying hard to keep distance between us. I closed my eyes, rubbing the back of my neck in an effort to focus on something else. I couldnât decide if I wanted to drink more or pass out. I rolled my head to stretch out my neck, grabbing the metal bar behind me for stability as the elevator began to climb up. When my head was centered, I opened my eyes. Sebastian was right in front of me. I didnât have any time to react as he grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me hard. My hands white-knuckled the metal bars lining the back of the elevator. Our lips parted with that sound where you knew it was a good kiss. That skin sticking, audible lips parting sound. I let my breath out slowly, eyes closed. I felt his forehead touch mine, his breathing ragged as well.
âWhy did you do that?â I asked softly, breath shaky..
âBecause you looked like you needed it and I wanted to do it the second I saw you. Youâre lucky I didnât lick the beer off your chin.â
I nearly choked. I was losing the battle to keep my hands to myself. The elevator door opened again, his arm back around my shoulders. We got to his room first.
âWell, itâs been fun. Goodnight.â I said to him, turning to leave. He caught my hand in his.
âStay with me.â
My head snapped up to look at him.
âSebastian, I need to get some sleep.â It was such a lame ass excuse, but there was no way Sebastian Stan was asking me to stay the night with him.
âJust stay with me, dork.â He said, laughing while he pulled me into his room.
Okay. I guess this was happening.
I crossed the threshold into his hotel room and felt like I was in a forbidden zone. I was dreaming. There was no possible way this should be real. The alcohol caught up with me, blurring my vision, my hands starting to go numb. Leaning against the wall for support, I looked to Seb who was looking at me, a cute expression on his face. I laughed, my face turning red as I hid my face in my hands. I looked up, jerking a thumb behind me to the bathroom.
I didnât close the door all the way when I went into the bathroom. The alcohol was raging full force in me now. I tended to get goofy and confident when I was drunk. I splashed cold water on my face, patting it dry in an effort to bring myself back to reality. I was holding onto the counter encasing the sink for stability when I felt his face in my hair, his warm breath gracing my ear. I straightened, my arm instinctively coming up to wrap around his neck. I let my head fall back onto his shoulder, his lips placing soft kisses along the side of my neck. His hand came to my throat, long velvet fingers cupping it. My knees were weak, shaking as they struggled to hold up my body. I was completely at his mercy. I couldnât have made him stop even if I wanted him to. I fisted my hand in his hair when he bit my neck, a growl escaping his lips, feeling his cock hardening and twitching into my back. His left hand trailed up the arm I had pulled back to his,head, leaving goosebumps in its wake. He curled his fingers into the hand that was tangled in his hair, pulling it away slowly. He put our arms out in front of us, fiddling with my wedding ring. He pulled my hand to his lips, my ring finger going into his mouth. I couldnât tear my eyes away from the erotic display anymore than I could help the desire to feel that tongue in between my legs. His tongue licked my finger before his teeth grabbed hold of my ring.  perfectly positioning in between his top and lower jaw. He tossed the ring into the sink before moving in front of me, grabbing me and pressing me into him. He backed me up against the wall, my hands above my head, held together at the wrists. His hand was still cupped at my throat. I felt his lips at my ear. âI donât think youâll be needing thatâ, he whispered deeply and huskily.