CHAPTER ONE THE ENCOUNTER

The night hung heavy with the scent of whiskey and heartache as Luke stumbled into his hotel suite. His steps were unsteady, his mind clouded by the sting of rejection. He fumbled with the key card, cursing softly as he finally unlocked the door. The suite was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls like ghosts of the past. Luke didn't bother turning on the lights. He kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the plush sofa, his body heavy with despair. He had just been rejected—brutally and unequivocally—by the woman he thought was the love of his life. She had walked out on him without a second glance, leaving him alone in this empty suite with nothing but his thoughts and a bottle of whiskey for company. With a heavy sigh, Luke reached for the bottle and poured himself another drink. The amber liquid burned as it slid down his throat, but he welcomed the pain—anything to numb the ache in his chest. Meanwhile, across the hotel, Hana stumbled out of the elevator, giggling uncontrollably while clutching her bag. Her sister, Mia, had insisted on a girls' night out to celebrate Hana's recent promotion, but she left halfway through the celebration, leaving a key card with word of a surprise waiting for her. "I hope I'm on the right floor?" Hana slurred, her words blending in a haze of alcohol. She then giggled, her words slurred. "Room 315! Room 315! Room 315!" Hana grinned, her cheeks flushed with alcohol and excitement. She had been in a long-term relationship for years and had an inkling of the surprise. A night out with her sister was just what she needed to let loose and have some fun; she could not wait for what was in store for her. She stumbled down the hallway, weaving between the doors until she reached room 315, or so she thought. Hana fumbled with the key card. She tried to open the door, but it would not open, leaving her frustrated. She then banged on the door loudly, hoping her surprise would let her in. The door was suddenly opened to reveal a half-naked man who looked like he walked out of the Cosmopolitan. "Ta-da!" she exclaimed with a broad smile, thinking she had ruined the surprise. She took in the sight of Luke standing at the doorway to a dark and empty room, illuminated only by the faint glow of lamplight. Confusion furrowed Hana's brow as she stumbled into the room, her senses dulled by alcohol. "Where's the party?" "You came back, thank God! You came back," Luke said as he pulled the drunk Hana into a kiss that seemed to last forever. Hana struggles to pull away from Luke but won't have that. How could he let her go? How could he let the woman he loved get away from him again? Slowly, the alcohol got to her, and she gave up her resistance and let Luke take control. Luke's head spun as he tried to make sense of what was going on, but when he felt Hana's body heat, his heart beat faster. Letting go of his self-control, he led Hana to the couch, and they stumbled on it with their lips still locked. Luke felt warm and emotional. He opened his eyes to see Hana's face overlap with another girl's. Sitting next to him, he caressed Hana's hair and cupped her face as he forced his tongue into her mouth. "I'm not letting you go," he slurred, struggling to focus his gaze after ending the kiss to catch his breath. Hana giggled her laughter like music in his ears. "This is my first time. Thank God it's you; today was worth the wait. I can't thank Mia enough." Luke nodded in a drunken stupor, not registering what Hana had said as his hand roamed all over her body. "I know you think I'm hiding something from you, but trust me, it's for your safety; I'm carrying the burden of being the guardian of my family..." Hana cut him off as she planted a kiss on Luke's face, her tongue lashing about as if he were a delicious Sundae, to which Luke responded in kind and with great effort. He carried her to the bed and slowly undressed her while planting kisses all over her body. " I'm drunk," Luke mumbled, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He paused momentarily to take everything in, but all he saw was a blur. Hana nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "Me too." Hana pushed Luke off her and then climbed on top of him, "Don't stop," she said. And with that simple statement, the ice was broken. Luke was following his basic instinct, the weight of his problems and responsibilities forgotten in their drunken revelry. When their lips finally met in a drunken embrace, it felt natural. At that moment, they were no longer strangers but two souls finding solace in each other's arms. The moon cast a soft glow through the curtains, illuminating the room with a gentle light as Luke and Hana lay in bed, their bodies intertwined in the aftermath of their lovemaking. The air was filled with a quiet calmness, broken only by the steady rhythm of their breathing as they drifted off to sleep. At first, they lay on opposite ends of the bed, each lost in their thoughts as they savored their shared intimacy. But as the night wore on, a subtle shift occurred between them, drawing them closer together until they were wrapped in each other's arms, their bodies fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle. Hana stirred restlessly in her sleep, her brow furrowing in distress as she tossed and turned beneath the covers. She let out a soft whimper, her movements growing more agitated with each passing moment. Luke, lying beside her, immediately sensed her distress, as if by intuition. Gently, he reached out to her, his hand finding hers and drawing her into a close hug before gently rubbing her back to soothe her. "I'm here," he whispered, his voice sleepy but filled with concern as he tried to comfort her of her troubled sleep. "I'm here." But Hana remained trapped in the grip of her nightmare; her body tensed with fear as she thrashed about on the bed. "Shh, it's okay," Luke whispered soothingly, his voice a gentle murmur against her ear as he pressed kisses to her forehead. "I've got you. You're safe with me." Slowly, Hana relaxed in Luke's arms, her breathing steadying as she melted into his embrace. She buried her face against his chest, seeking solace in the warmth of his body as she clung to him like a lifeline. Luke held her tight, his arms wrapped securely around her as he stroked her back in soothing circles. He murmured words of comfort and reassurance, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled mind as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear. For an eternity, they remained locked in each other's embrace, finding solace in being together. As the night wore on and the darkness outside began to fade, Hana's nightmares receded into the background, replaced by a sense of peace and security in Luke's arms. Eventually, the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room as Luke and Hana lay entwined in each other's embrace. And as the world outside stirred to life once more, they drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the warmth of their love and the promise of a new day together.