Ben took Seya in his car. She had made up her mind to call it quit with Jason. He did not worth her love. To give Jason a farewell gift, Seya unleashed an irresistible seduction on Ben and they ended up making that sweet slow love he had opined to his friend at the backseat of the car.

Ben knew this was not the plan but he could not hold the throbbing hotness between his thighs. Seya placed his hands on her waist and his body screamed for an urgent release only she could bring to his soul.

Ben did not realize he had begun to confess a newfound love to Seya. “He doesn’t deserve you. I will make a better lover.”

“Let it be. This is the last time you or your friend will ever see me. Do me one favour, please.”

“I will do it. Anything, just say it.” He tried to kiss her.

She parted his lips with her fingers and kissed him. “Kiss and tell, give Jason every detail of this game.” She left Ben staring at her back and wishing he could drive into her one more time.

Seya walked away. Ben cleaned up and quickly zipped up his trouser. He hurriedly locked the car and rushed to catch up with her.

“Seya, wait.”

Seya turned around fast. “Stay away from me, Ben. After here, I don’t want to ever set my eyes on you.”

“Please, I never meant to play this game.”

“I’m glad you called it a game.”

“Please…”

“And I am glad I’m not the loser here.” She slammed her palms on his chest. “Get the fuck away from me.”

He held her hands. “Believe me.”

“You went on with the plan like I was a dare.”

“I didn’t. I was convinced you wouldn’t have fell for such cheap ploy. I was just going to drop you home and bid you good night. That’s it, Seya. I didn’t know you happened on our conversation and would turn the tables on me. I’m sorry. My only crime here is that I couldn’t resist you.”

“Is that meant to make me feel less cheap and stupid?”

Seya wrapped her arms around his neck and tiptoed to touch her forehead to his. After a long pause, she kissed him and pulled back when he tried to embrace her. Her eyes were cold as she took slow steps backward.

“That’s a goodbye. Stay away from me.”

Ben called after her retreating figure. “I can’t. Not now. You think this was just a game? My intentions were pure. I’d give up Jason for you.”

Ben could not return home. He checked into a hotel. Ben sat on the floor with his back against the bed. He knew the implication of having more brandy but that was the only way to douse his emotions from getting the worse out of him. The beep on his phone screen lightened up the dark room a bit. He saw the notification was from a social app and hissed. He had left series of text messages to Seya but they kept failing.

Ben sighed and picked up the phone. He stared at the ceiling like it held all the answers. He tried calling her again and confirmed his suspicion that she had blocked him from every channel he could reach her.

He stood up and the shot of dizziness had him falling on the bed. He groaned and stretched on the bed. He contemplated going to her workplace tomorrow but cancelled the idea.

“Waiting outside her job might look creepy. Should I send her flowers? Should I play her favourite songs.” He banged a pillow. “Damn it! How am I supposed to know her favourite songs and what flowers she likes?” He shut his eyes tight. “Get a grip, on yourself, Ben. You’re beginning to insanely sound creepy. She was your friend’s girlfriend until few hours ago. And how am I sure they are not getting back together? The fool doesn’t even know he might have lost his girlfriend forever.”

Ben picked up his phone to call Jason but decided against it. He was torn between his loyalty to his friend and his new-found emotion for Seya.

The night stretched longer than Ben could handle. Sleep refused him, replaced by the intoxicating memory of Seya’s body writhing under his touch. Every second her scent lingered in his lungs, every trace of her taste on his lips haunted him. He cursed himself a thousand times, yet when he closed his eyes, he wanted nothing more than to pull her close again.

By morning, his guilt wrestled with his desire. Jason had called him three times already, but Ben ignored every attempt to return the calls. He knew Jason would want details, would press for confirmation. And he could not bear the thought of reducing what had happened with Seya to a mere “test.”

Meanwhile, Seya woke up with swollen eyes and an ache between her thighs that was not entirely from exhaustion. She had used Ben to send a message, but the warmth of his whispered confessions still clung to her. “I will make a better lover.” Those words were dangerous. They threatened the careful wall she had built between her heart and her body.

At noon, her phone buzzed. It was Jason. She ignored the first call. The second. On the third, she answered.

“Babe,” Jason’s voice was a mix of charm and pressure. “Are you not missing me?”

“Why should I?” she said flatly.

Jason chuckled nervously. “Don’t play with me. Where are you? Let’s meet.”

“No.”

His silence was heavy. “You’re angry with me?”

“You’ll figure it out.” She hung up.