The backyard boasted a heated Olympic-sized saltwater pool, its pristine waters reflecting the warm glow of the setting sun. Despite its massive size, the pool occupied only a fraction of the vast space. And the front yard? Dominated by a grand fountain positioned in the middle of a four-lane driveway, the kind of ostentatious centerpiece that screamed old-world wealth and privilege.
As Nile drove up to the property, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a wrong turn. There was no way this palatial estate could be her home -was there?
His doubts only deepened as he reached the large white gate guarded by a man who looked like he belonged on a mercenary team. The guard, mid-thirties, with sharp eyes and a weathered complexion that hinted at a South American heritage, scrutinized Nile’s van as though it were a suspicious package. The clipboard in his hand seemed less like a party guest list and more like a checklist for potential threats.
When Nile finally pulled up, the guard’s gaze lingered uncomfortably long on the "Beast," Nile’s A-Team-inspired van, with its retro stripe and heavy modifications. He half-expected the guy to run a bomb sweep. After a tense moment, the guard checked his clipboard, his sharp eyes darting back to Nile before he gave a curt nod and waved him through.
Nile felt the weight of the man’s gaze burning between his shoulder blades as he drove down the seemingly endless driveway.
When he reached the fountain, Ash came sprinting out of the house, her cream-colored sundress fluttering against her body in the breeze. She looked radiant, her sun-kissed hair catching the light and her smile brighter than the fountain’s cascading water. The sight of her struck a chord deep within Nile, resonating with a warmth he hadn’t expected. Before he could process it, he found himself smiling back, the expression coming as naturally as breathing.
He barely had time to step out of the van before Ash threw herself into his arms. He caught her easily, lifting her off her feet as she pressed her lips to his. The kiss was electric, filled with a joy so pure and overwhelming that the world seemed to fade away. For a moment, it was just them -no sprawling mansion, no watchful guard, no looming shadows from their pasts.
Ash clung to him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck as though she could pull him closer still. He responded by holding her firmly, savoring the feel of her warmth against him. It wasn’t until his chest tightened from the lack of air that he managed to pull away, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he gently set her back on the ground.
She rested her head against his chest, her arms still looped around his neck. He could feel her heartbeat, steady and calm, in stark contrast to the way his own pounded in his ears.
“So,” he said with a grin, his voice tinged with playful awe, “nice place you got here.”
Ash’s voice was muffled as she replied, her head still nestled against his shoulder. “Eh, it’s okay.”
He laughed. “Ha ha, you’re funny. Seriously, though, this place looks amazing. So… where should I park the Beast? I’m guessing you don’t want me leaving it here by the fountain -which, by the way, is awesome. You have a freaking fountain in your driveway.”
“You’re right,” she said, finally pulling back enough to look up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “We wouldn’t want that eyesore ruining the view…”
She kept a straight face as she said it, but Nile caught the playful glint in her gaze and rolled his eyes. “You’re hilarious.”
“I’d say you could park it in the garage,” she continued, “but I don’t think it’d clear the entrance. So, rear parking it is.”
Nile grinned, unable to resist. “That’s what she said.”
Ash blinked at him, her expression puzzled. “That’s what who said?”
“Never mind,” Nile said with a sheepish shrug, his grin widening. “It’s just a saying.”
Ash tilted her head, still clearly confused, but let it go with a soft laugh. She stepped back, her hand lingering on his arm for a moment before she turned toward the house. “When you’re done parking, come in through the side entrance. I’ll be in the kitchen, making sure everything’s ready for the party.”
With a sway in her step, she sauntered back toward the front door, fully aware of Nile’s eyes following her every move. Her hips swayed with a rhythm that seemed almost hypnotic, pinning his attention as though by force. Even after she disappeared inside, tossing a cheeky glance over her shoulder before shutting the door, he stood there for a moment, shaking his head in bemusement.
“Wow,” he muttered to himself as he climbed back into the van. The Beast’s modified engine rumbled to life, a sound as wild and untamed as the thoughts swirling in his head. He drove around the house and parked in front of the open garage, slipping the van into place behind Ash’s sleek silver sports car.
He paused to take in the bumper sticker on the back of her car: "If you’re going to ride my ass, at least pull my hair." Nile let out a laugh, shaking his head as he climbed out of the Beast. “Classy,” he muttered with a grin.
Finding the side entrance was easy. As he stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by the faint strains of soft rock music drifting from hidden speakers. The warm, inviting aroma of food wafted through the air, guiding him like a beacon to the kitchen.
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The kitchen was a work of art -a master chef’s dream. Dark marble counters gleamed under recessed lighting, while rich wooden cabinets gave the space a sense of warmth and refinement. Two massive islands dominated the room’s center, each equipped with its own sink and cutting area, the design clearly intended to accommodate a small army of cooks. The sheer opulence of it all left Nile momentarily speechless.
Ash emerged from the pantry, her arms laden with plastic dinnerware. She spotted him and flashed a smile, tilting her head toward one of the islands where several platters of food were artfully arranged. “Well, Mr. Guest of Honor, don’t just stand there. Lend a lady a hand.”
He smirked and picked up a large platter of hors d'oeuvres. “Yes, milady,” he said, his tone mockingly formal. “Lead the way.”
Ash grinned, rolling her eyes as she sauntered out of the kitchen. “Good sir,” she replied playfully, “try to keep up.”
Nile chuckled as he followed her, the tension of the day melting away in her presence. Whatever the night held, he was here for it -because she was at the center of it all.
Ash led Nile through the main house, guiding him past a maze of rooms that seemed to stretch on forever. Nile tried to count the different spaces as they walked, but his focus kept drifting. The sway of her hips ahead of him was mesmerizing, and every few steps, she would glance back over her shoulder, her half-lidded eyes peeking out from behind a golden curtain of hair. Those fleeting glances weren’t just looks -they were weapons, deliberate and devastating, and Nile felt like a deer caught in her headlights.
He hummed softly under his breath, the melody of a song he’d once heard called “Trouble” by Chris Rene. The upbeat reggae tune played unbidden in his mind, her movements syncing perfectly with the imaginary rhythm. Each step she took added another beat, another note, until the whole scene felt surreal, like the opening montage of some summer romance movie. He wasn’t sure how she did it, but Ash had a way of taking over every corner of his mind without even trying.
Before he knew it, they had reached the backyard. Ash directed him to place his platter of hors d'oeuvres on a long table near the pool, which was surrounded by flickering torches and glowing rice paper lanterns that swayed gently in the evening breeze. The whole area had been transformed into an exotic oasis. Bamboo-canopied tents lined the edges of the yard, and a large fire pit, already smoldering with glowing embers, added a primal energy to the space.
The pool itself was breathtaking. Designed to look like a natural spring, it was ringed with large, smooth stones that glistened under the soft light. Reeds and lily pads floated on the surface, their placement so perfectly haphazard that Nile wondered if they’d been arranged by some unseen artist. Below the surface, the pool’s sandy bottom and scattered rocks gave it the illusion of a serene lagoon, while the soft hum of hidden filtration systems reminded him that technology still lurked beneath the fa?ade of nature. It was all so perfectly Ash -a mix of wild beauty and calculated elegance.
Once they finished arranging the last details for the party, Ash decided to give Nile a full tour of the property. She led him through gardens that felt more like enchanted forests, past fountains that seemed to sing with the splashes of falling water, and into nooks and alcoves filled with carefully curated sculptures and flowers. To anyone else, the sprawling layout would’ve been a labyrinth impossible to navigate without a map, but Nile found it surprisingly easy to orient himself.
Well, except when Ash brushed against him.
Every time she "accidentally" touched his arm, his shoulder, or his back, a spark seemed to arc between them, throwing his sense of direction completely off-kilter. And then there was her scent -lavender and vanilla, delicate yet intoxicating- drifting toward him with every breeze. It was a siren call, one that demanded his attention no matter how much he tried to stay focused. He didn’t know how she did it, but she had him utterly captivated.
As night fell, the party began in earnest. The first masked guests arrived just as the last rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon. Ash left Nile to play host for a moment, promising to return quickly, and disappeared up the grand staircase. True to her word, she wasn’t gone long, but when she came back, Nile almost forgot how to breathe.
Ash had traded her sundress for something far more striking -a shimmering, short, light-blue gown that sparkled like the surface of a moonlit lake. It reminded him vaguely of a Grecian gown, but the similarities ended there. This dress was bold, its neckline plunging daringly low, while the back dipped even further, exposing smooth, flawless skin all the way down to the dimples at the base of her spine.
She spun slowly, showing off the outfit, and Nile felt his heart skip a beat. The dress somehow managed to leave little to the imagination while fueling his mind with a thousand tantalizing images. And then there was the mask -white, crafted from bleached peacock feathers stitched together in an intricate pattern that perfectly matched her dress and lipstick. It was simple at first glance, but the more he looked, the more he noticed its complexity.
“Cat got your tongue?” she teased, a sly smile tugging at her lips.
Nile blinked, realizing he’d been staring. “Sorry, you just... you look incredible.”
Ash laughed softly, a sound that sent a shiver down his spine. She tossed him a mask of his own -a sleek, black silk piece with silvery blue stitching. It had a breakaway design that let him wear it as a full mask or as a Phantom-of-the-Opera-style half-mask.
“Cool,” he said, examining it before slipping it on. It paired perfectly with his black button-up shirt and dark charcoal jeans, though he couldn’t help but wish for a cloak to complete the look. “How do I look?”
Ash stepped closer, adjusting the mask slightly before giving him an approving nod. “Stylish. Mysterious. Very dashing.”
As the party gained momentum, the once-empty house transformed into a vibrant hive of activity. Guests arrived in droves, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Nile wandered through the rooms, taking it all in. The game room, large enough to double as a small sports bar, was a hub of excitement. Groups gathered around the tournament-sized pool table, while others played foosball, Ping-Pong, or lounged on oversized beanbags in front of a 90-inch television set up for gaming.
Outside, the pool had become the centerpiece of the party. Guests played volleyball in the water, their masks paired with swimsuits or, in some cases, nothing at all. Others gathered around the fire pit, where a man with long, messy hair and tattooed forearms strummed an acoustic guitar, his soft rock melodies blending seamlessly with the night’s ambiance.
The air was electric, alive with energy and movement. Masks ranged from simple, elegant designs to elaborate creations that obscured entire faces. Some were held delicately on sticks, while others covered only half the face, lending the party an air of mystery and playfulness.
But as the night wore on, Nile’s excitement began to wane. He moved through the crowd like a shadow, exchanging pleasantries with the few people he recognized, but his heart wasn’t in it. He kept scanning the faces around him, hoping to spot someone who wasn’t there.
Ash noticed his descending mood and tried her best to lift his spirits, staying close and engaging him in conversation, but even her efforts couldn’t dispel the growing heaviness in his chest. The one person he truly hoped to see was a no-show, and with each passing minute, the weight of that absence settled more firmly on his shoulders.
Nile found himself retreating inward, his thoughts spinning. The laughter, the music, the vibrant energy of the party -all of it felt like background noise. No matter where he looked, the one face he wanted to see wasn’t there. And it stung more than he was ready to admit.
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