At 4:00 PM, Ava finally started to get ready for her date, the soft hum of excitement filling the air around her. She looked at herself in the mirror, knowing she was close to finishing the look she’d spent hours perfecting in her mind. She began with her makeup, using her usual soft girl approach that made her feel both delicate and radiant. A light dusting of blush colored her cheeks in a gentle flush, the perfect hint of warmth against her pale skin. Her doe-like eyes, large and innocent, were given extra attention, the waterline darkened slightly to make them appear even bigger, and a brightening concealer under her eyes helped erase the shadows, allowing her eyes to shine as they always did when she was with Devon. She smiled, loving the way her makeup made her feel soft and beautiful.

She reached for the white dress she had carefully set aside earlier and slipped it on. The fitted bodice hugged her curves snugly, emphasizing her shape before the fabric cascaded into a flouncy, ruffled skirt that bounced lightly with every step she took. The dress felt like a second skin, so light and airy that she could almost float in it. She adored the way it made her feel—playful, feminine, and yet, effortlessly chic.

Ava reached for a pair of white fishnet stockings and pulled them on, the intricate pattern adding a touch of edge to her otherwise soft look. She selected a delicate lace choker in a matching shade of white, its ribbons a soft contrast against the pale fabric of her dress. Her fingers, carefully adorned with her favorite pearl rings and bracelets, added the finishing touch. She loved how they sparkled in the light, a reminder of the small joys in life that made her feel special.

With her accessories in place, Ava grabbed her cute white heart-shaped sling bag, stuffing it with the essentials: her wallet, AirPods, keys, handphone, and bus card. She slung the bag over her shoulder, pausing for a moment to admire the look in the mirror one last time. A soft smile spread across her face. This was it.

Pulling on her white Dr. Martens boots, she gave herself one final glance before turning off the lights and locking up the house. Her heart beat a little faster now, the anticipation bubbling in her chest as she made her way to the bus stop.

She caught the bus at exactly 4:50 PM, her fingers tapping nervously against her phone as the familiar sights of the city passed by. As the bus approached the stop right before the one Devon had told her to call her at, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.

“I’m getting close. I’ll call you when I reach the next stop.”

She hit send and leaned back against the seat, her eyes scanning the streets as her thoughts wandered to Devon. She couldn’t help but smile as she imagined how the evening would unfold. Tonight was going to be special. Tonight, it was just the two of them.

As the bus rolled to a gentle stop at the appointed area, Ava’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly dialed Devon, and the call connected. Devon’s voice, deep and stoic yet laced with tender command, purred through the line. "Baby, I'll see you soon," she murmured, the word dripping with promise.

Devon’s tone carried an effortless authority as she inquired, "Which part of the bus are you on, Ava dear?" 

Ava, her voice slightly breathless with anticipation, replied, "I'm on the up deck." Confused, she asked, "Why?" Before she could finish her sentence, her jaw practically dropped.

Without warning, Devon appeared in front of her. Walking up the stairs of the bus,Devon had the air of a subtle hunter in motion. Her dark eyes scanned the surroundings, effortlessly gliding across the passengers before landing on Ava. The brief moment of eye contact sent a shiver down Ava’s spine. A slow, predatory smile spread across Devon’s face as she moved towards her, exuding a confident, almost unspoken authority. She didn't rush, didn’t need to, each step perfectly measured, her presence filling the space with an electric tension.

Devon slid into the seat next to Ava, her thigh brushing against Ava’s, and instead of pulling away, she let the moment linger, the warmth of her body seeping into Ava’s. Ava could feel the quiet power radiating from her, the kind of strength that was soft yet unyielding. The air between them thickened with desire, heavy and palpable.

With deliberate nonchalance, Devon removed her backpack and set it on her lap, positioning herself so that her body nearly encircled Ava, gently confining her in an intimate embrace against the bus wall. As she leaned in, a stray lock of hair fell softly across Ava’s face. With a graceful sweep of her hand, Devon brushed it away, her fingers lingering against Ava’s skin in a gesture that was both protective and provocatively intimate.

"You look beautiful," Devon murmured, her voice low and husky with desire. "A sight for sore eyes." The words resonated deep within Ava, igniting a spark that mingled with the tension of the crowded bus. In that charged moment, amidst the low hum of the bus engine and the murmurs of other passengers, the space between them pulsed with unspoken promises and shared longing.

Ava couldn’t help herself; she had to ask. “Why are you taking the bus, though? You never do.” Her voice was light, but her heart was pounding, every beat a reminder of how close Devon was—how close they always seemed to be.

Devon’s eyes darkened for a split second, a flash of something dangerously playful. “This one stops about five hundred meters from my office,” she explained with a casual smirk, as if she were giving some mundane detail, but the undertone was anything but ordinary. “I ended work early today. Got out at 4:30 PM, so I thought I’d walk over. I don’t mind, though,” she added with a sly glance, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “Do you?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with meaning. The tension between them pulsed, thick and undeniable, and Ava’s cheeks flushed, her words coming out in a soft murmur. “I don’t mind at all.”

It was the truth, but it sounded so much like a confession. A confession she wasn’t entirely sure she was ready to make. The way Devon looked at her—appreciative, slow—was enough to make her heart race in her chest, enough to make her feel like Devon could devour her whole if she wanted to. Ava shifted uncomfortably, the heat building between them too intense to ignore.

In an attempt to ground herself, Ava babbled on, anything to distract from the overwhelming pull she felt. “So, politics, right?” she started, her voice rising in pitch as she scrambled for something to say. “Have you seen the latest debates? I swear, some of the things they’re talking about in Parliament—”

But Devon didn’t dismiss her this time. She didn’t interrupt with her usual half-hearted shrug or a quip about not having enough spoons for such long-winded conversations. Instead, Devon’s eyes were locked onto hers, fully engaged, her focus undivided. She was listening. Really listening. And it made Ava’s pulse quicken, her words faltering for a moment before she pressed on, her thoughts running in a scattershot direction. “And the house… you know we should probably start looking at contractors again for the basement, and my mom’s been asking about the family reunion—don’t even get me started on that—”

Ava didn’t realize it at first, but at some point, Devon’s hand had found its way into hers. Her fingers were warm against Ava’s skin, her touch deceptively gentle, but there was an underlying strength there, a dominance that couldn’t be ignored. Devon’s fingers lightly traced over Ava’s palm, the sensation sending a current of heat through her. It was a simple touch, but it lingered just a second too long, long enough for Ava to feel it deep in her bones.

She was hyper-aware of every breath, every movement. It felt like Devon’s touch was drawing all the air from the space between them, leaving only the tension—sharp, tangible, like static before a storm. Ava’s voice faltered slightly, but Devon didn’t let go, didn’t move her hand away.

Instead, she just kept looking at her, steady, unwavering, as if she were savoring every moment. There was no hurry. There was no rush. Devon was in control, and Ava could do nothing but let herself be pulled deeper into the orbit of her gaze.

“I love your voice,” Devon murmured, her voice low, hushed with something dangerous, something magnetic. Her thumb brushed over Ava’s palm, a slow, deliberate motion. “Thank you for sharing it, and your beautiful mind with me today.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak. She could feel Devon’s fingers curling around hers, the weight of her touch a silent command, one that wrapped around her chest and held her tight. It was as if, in this single moment, the world outside had ceased to exist. The bus, the passengers, the city—it all faded into the background, leaving only them.

Ava’s heart raced, each flutter of her pulse echoing in the charged air between them. She could feel Devon’s gaze on her like a physical presence, each lingering glance a gentle pull that made her breath hitch. Every time Ava’s eyes flickered toward Devon, her lips tingled, as though the look in Devon’s eyes was tracing a path there. The way Devon studied her lips, just a little too intently, was enough to make Ava’s stomach do flips. She blushed furiously, desperate to turn away, but her body betrayed her, melting under the weight of Devon’s attention.

Ava tried to focus on anything else—the passing city lights, the hum of the bus engine, the slight sway of the vehicle as it maneuvered the roads—but all of it felt far away, insignificant compared to the pull of Devon’s presence beside her. Every inch of her skin seemed to hum with awareness, a searing warmth pooling in her chest that wouldn’t be quenched. She felt caught in an invisible web, spun by the simple but intoxicating way Devon’s eyes lingered on her.

Her thoughts scrambled as she tried to maintain some semblance of composure, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to focus. Every brush of Devon’s arm against hers sent a jolt of electricity through her. She forced her gaze downward, her lips tingling with the unspoken desire hanging thick in the air.

Then, as the bus neared their stop, the tension between them reached a fever pitch. Devon’s voice broke through Ava’s spiraling thoughts, low and smooth, a breath of sound that shivered through the space between them. “You know,” Devon began, her tone playful, yet laden with something more—a promise, perhaps, or a challenge. “You owe me for this nice little dinner we are going to have.”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat at the words, her breath stalling in her chest. The lightheartedness of Devon’s voice was a sharp contrast to the intensity of her gaze, the smirk curling at the corner of her lips sending an entirely different message. A message that made Ava’s pulse race even faster.

Ava swallowed, her throat dry, as her mind scrambled to keep up with the sudden rush of desire spiraling through her. She opened her mouth, but the words felt tangled, lost in the haze of Devon’s proximity and the overwhelming heat that clung to every word they exchanged.

Devon leaned in slightly, her lips brushing just close enough to Ava’s ear to send a shiver down her spine. “I’ll let you figure out how you want to repay me,” she murmured, her breath warm against Ava’s skin. “But don’t think I’m going to make it easy on you.”

Ava’s heart hammered in her chest, her skin prickling with the weight of Devon’s declaration. She wanted to say something, anything, but the only sound that escaped her lips was a soft, breathless gasp.