Chapter 124 Temptation in the Shadows
Alex：POV
I pushed through the heavy wooden door of The Den, a dimly lit bar I'd never visited before. The place was nothing like Victoria's upscale Moonlight Lounge with its crystal chandeliers and signature cocktails.
This spot had a rougher edge—exposed brick walls, neon beer signs, and music loud enough to feel in your chest but not so deafening you couldn't hear yourself think.
Perfect. No chance of running into anyone I knew here. It was actually perfect for finding a hookup, for having a one-night stand, especially when nobody knew who I was. Most importantly, I needed to prove that women were still attracted to me.
Finding an empty stool at the far end of the bar, I settled in and ordered a whiskey neat. The bartender, a tattooed woman with a shaved head, nodded and poured generously. I tossed back half the drink in one go, welcoming the familiar burn.
From my corner perch, I had a clear view of the small dance floor where a handful of couples moved to the pulsing rhythm.
A woman with long dark hair threw her head back laughing as her partner spun her around. Another couple was practically grinding against each other, lost in their own world.
I signaled for another drink, determined to numb the thoughts that had been haunting me since that therapy session. Dr. Thomas's words echoed in my head: "Try to notice your thoughts without judging them right away." Easy for her to say. She wasn't the one having explicit dreams about her best friend.
The stage lights dimmed, and a spotlight hit the small platform at the back of the bar. A woman in leather pants and a crop top strutted out, followed by two male dancers in tight black t-shirts. The crowd whooped as they launched into a choreographed routine that was equal parts athletic and sensual.
The male dancers moved with fluid grace, their sculpted bodies gleaming with sweat under the harsh spotlight.
Every sinew tensed and released in perfect rhythm as they launched into gravity-defying backflips, landing in absolute silence before dropping into hypnotic body rolls that sent waves rippling through their torsos.
The woman between them commanded the stage like a queen among subjects, her limbs cutting through space with razor-sharp precision.
She punctuated each isolation with a confident smirk that dared the audience to look away, her hips snapping with such force you could almost hear the air crack around her.
I found myself transfixed, mouth slightly open, as they demonstrated a level of bodily control that seemed superhuman.
The raw power in their movements was undeniable—the way they could freeze mid-motion, muscles trembling with controlled tension, then explode into spins that blurred before the eye, only to stop on a dime without the slightest wobble.
I glanced down at my phone, scrolling to my WhatsApp chat with Daniel. Nothing.
After what happened in the tent, after I'd run away like a coward, after he'd shown up at my apartment and I'd slapped him... He'd kept his word. Complete radio silence.
I took another swig of whiskey, a bitter smile crossing my face. Wasn't this what I wanted? For things to go back to normal? Except nothing felt normal anymore.
"Would you like to dance?"
I looked up to find a woman smiling down at me. She was stunning—tall with curves in all the right places, warm cream-colored skin that seemed to glow in the dim light, and a face that somehow managed to look both innocent and knowing at the same time.
"I've been watching you for a while," she continued when I didn't immediately respond. "You look like you could use some fun."
I glanced around and noticed two other women hovering nearby, clearly eyeing me. In another life—hell, just a few months ago—I would have been thrilled at the attention. Now, I just felt... nothing.
"Sure," I said anyway, setting down my glass. "Why not?"
She extended her hand, introducing herself as Mia. I took it, allowing her to lead me to the dance floor just as the DJ switched to a slow, sensual tango. Perfect.
Mia moved with confidence, pressing her body against mine as we found the rhythm together. Her perfume—something floral and expensive—filled my senses as she leaned in close. My hand rested on the small of her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin material of her dress.
"You're good at this," she murmured, her breath hot against my ear.
"I've had some practice," I replied, guiding her through a turn.
As we moved across the floor, her body brushed against mine—her breasts pressing deliberately against my chest, her thigh occasionally slipping between mine. The silk of her dress whispered against my slacks with each step, and the sensation of her fragrant hair against my skin created our own private atmosphere. All the physical cues that should have ignited desire within me, yet...
I performed perfectly. I smiled at the right moments, maintained lingering eye contact that made her pupils dilate, and pulled her closer when the music swelled.
My hand slid from her mid-back to where her spine curved into her hips, earning a sharp breath against my neck and tightening fingers on my shoulder.
To anyone watching, we were the picture of attraction in motion—my touch confident but not presumptuous, my attention focused entirely on her.
But inside, where heat should have been building, I felt nothing but emptiness, even as her body responded to every calculated move of mine.
"Where'd you go just now?" Mia asked, her red lips curving into a playful smile.
"Sorry," I said, forcing myself back to the present. "Just thinking about work."
"Must be some job to distract you from this," she teased, executing a perfect dip that brought our faces inches apart.
I spun her out and back, trying to focus on the moment, on the beautiful woman in my arms who was clearly interested. This was what I wanted, wasn't it? To prove to myself that I was still attracted to women. That what happened with Daniel was just a fluke, a product of desert isolation and too much alcohol.
As the song ended, Mia remained close, one hand resting on my waist while the other traced my jawline. Her touch was light, teasing.
"Sir," she purred, her eyes never leaving mine, "would you like to spend the night with me?"
She'd taken the bait, just as I knew she would. It would be so easy to say yes, to go home with her, to lose myself in her body and prove once and for all that I was straight.