The floor was abuzz with energy at the 39th annual “What’s to Come” beauty convention with influencers from all around the world in attendance. Ring lights flashing, fans swarming booths, the scent of perfume and printed T-shirts lingering in the air. It was the first time that Jade Lin, mid-thirties, one of the most recognized beauty influencers of the last year, was attending. She floated through the chaos like it parted just for her. She wore a cropped blazer, high-waisted pants that hugged her curves, and her signature glossy red lips. Her badge hung low, already scribbled with autographs from fans she’d taken the time to meet.

She had just finished her panel on “Beauty in Fandom Spaces” and decided to wander the exhibitor hall for a breather. That’s when she saw him—a silver-haired man with a charming half-smile and a camera slung around his neck, flipping through a limited edition photo book at one of the quieter booths. Not a common sight amongst the convention crowd: tall, distinguished, and clearly comfortable in his own skin.

He caught her eye before she could look away. “You’re the one from the panel, right? Jade?”

She smiled. “Guilty. You were there?”

“I caught the tail end,” he said, stepping closer. “Enough to know you’ve got more poise than most keynote speakers I’ve seen—and I’ve been to a few conferences.”

Jade tilted her head. “A smooth line for someone who just stumbled into my panel.”

“I never stumble,” he replied, his voice warm and steady. “I observe. And I’m observing that you haven’t had a break all day. Let me buy you a drink.”

It was impulsive. But something about his energy made her heart skip a beat—grounded, calm, and definitely flirtatious. They slipped away to the hotel bar connected to the convention centre, the buzz of enthusiasts and chatter fading behind them.

Over cocktails, conversation flowed easily. He was witty and confident without being cocky, and he listened—really listened—when she talked. Her hand brushed his as they laughed, and neither pulled away. There was a quiet magnetism between them, growing stronger with every sidelong glance and accidental touch.

“I’m staying upstairs,” he said eventually, voice low, not pushy, just inviting. “If you want to… keep talking somewhere quieter.”

Jade met his eyes—bold, unashamed. “Lead the way.”

The elevator ride was quiet, but the silence wasn’t awkward—it was charged. Jade stood close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his side, their reflections in the mirrored walls catching glances at each other. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her pulse tapping at her throat.

He held the door open when they reached his floor, his hand resting lightly on her lower back as they walked down the hall. The gesture was gentlemanly, but his fingers lingered just long enough to send a ripple of anticipation through her.

Inside, the hotel room was dimly lit, clean, and quiet, with a panoramic view of the city lights just beyond the glass. He set his camera gently on the desk and turned toward her.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked, his voice still smooth, but there was a new depth to it—a tension just under the surface.

Jade stepped closer, standing toe to toe with him. “Sure,” she said, her tone playfully soft.

It was all the permission he needed.

His hand found her waist as he leaned in, brushing his lips over hers—barely touching at first, like he wanted to memorize the shape of her mouth. When she tilted her head and deepened the kiss, it became something else entirely: hungry, exploratory, breath-catching. His other hand cupped the back of her neck, and she pressed her body into him, feeling the heat ignite between them.

She slipped off her blazer, revealing the soft silk of her top clinging to her curves. His hands slid along her waist, appreciating her with a slow, deliberate touch. She undid the top button of his shirt, then the next, her fingers trailing skin as she moved downward. His chest was warm, firm under her touch—her nails grazed him lightly, and he let out a quiet, approving sigh.

Their kisses grew bolder—deeper, slower—punctuated with little gasps and half-whispers. He walked her backward toward the bed, his lips at her jaw, her ear, the sensitive spot just below it that made her breath hitch.

He gently laid her down on the bed, hovering above her, drinking her in. “You are… stunning,” he murmured.

“And you’re taking too long,” she whispered with a teasing smile, tugging him down to her for another passionate kiss.

As their bodies met the bed in a slow tangle—Jade on her back, propped slightly against the pillows, her skin flushed with anticipation. He continued to hover above her, the soft light from the city outside casting shadows over his frame. For a moment, he just looked at her—eyes sweeping over her with the kind of attention that made her feel completely seen, completely wanted.

His hand traced a line along her collarbone, feather-light, then followed it with a kiss, then another—slow and deliberate. Each press of his lips sent little waves through her, the buildup electric. Her breath caught when he dipped lower, his hands easing under the silk of her top, palms spreading across the warmth of her waist, sliding the fabric up inch by inch.

She helped him strip it away, her chest rising and falling with anticipation as his eyes widened at the sight of her. He kissed her again—deeper this time, with his weight gently pressed into hers, anchoring her to the bed. His hand ran up her side, fingers exploring the curve of her rib cage, the swell of her breast, the heat between them intensifying with every brush of skin on skin.

Jade moaned softly as he kissed her neck, his lips traveling across her chest, down her stomach, each movement measured like he wanted to memorize her with his mouth. She arched into him, her fingers tangling in his hair, her body alive under every touch. When he reached the waistband of her pants, he paused, eyes flicking up to hers for silent permission.

She nodded, breathless. “Yes.”

Clothing slipped away in the quiet space between them, slow and reverent, until nothing remained but skin and heat and the urgency of wanting. He kissed her thighs, the inside of her knee, the dip of her hip—working his way back up until their bodies aligned again, chest to chest, mouth to mouth. The tension between them had grown thick, nearly unbearable, a sweet ache begging for release.

When he finally entered her, it wasn’t rushed—it was a slow, stretching fullness that made her gasp and cling to him. He moved with control, but it was passionate, deep, his body answering hers in a rhythm that built steadily, like a wave cresting. Her legs wrapped around him, drawing him closer, matching every thrust with a roll of her hips that drove them both higher.

Their breath mingled, broken into sharp, soft sounds—gasps, moans, her name whispered like a secret. He touched her like he wanted to unravel her, to make her feel everything. And she did. She felt herself opening completely—mind, body, and desire all tangled into one raw, burning connection.

It was hot—undeniably—but also connected. Like they were syncing heartbeat to heartbeat, pulse to pulse, chasing a high that was more than just physical.

She came undone with a soft cry, her nails digging into his back, her body trembling around him. He followed soon after, groaning her name against her neck, his release as intense as hers, pouring every last ounce of heat between them into her.

For a long moment, they lay there—bodies still entangled, skin slick, hearts racing.

Then, slowly, he shifted beside her, pulling her into his arms without a word. Jade rested her head on his chest, still catching her breath, her fingers lightly tracing the lines across his abdomen.

“Oh God,” she whispered, half-laughing.

He chuckled, warm and low. “Yeah. That about sums it up.”