May I have this dance?

The newcomer grew more belligerent at the moment, threatening to report the bartender to their hotel owner.

In an effort to diffuse the situation before it spiraled further out of control, Jena stepped in to plead with him.

Thankfully, her efforts were not in vain and the newcomer relented, but only after the shaken bartender issued his sincere apology to her.

As the newcomer turned to leave, Jena impulsively called out, stopping him in his tracks.

Really? He was just gonna leave like that? She couldn't believe he was just going to walk away like that without even introducing himself or exchanging a few words? No way!

Her heart pounded as she watched his graceful back. She didn't understand why, after all, he was only a stranger.

Mustering her courage, she cleared her throat and began, "I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for me. I appreciate it."

His response was as cool as a winter breeze, "No need." And with this curt dismissal, he prepared to walk away again, but Jena was not about to let him disappear so easily.

"You didn't even tell me your name." She quickly interjected, hoping to prolong their interaction for just a moment longer.

Well, she didn't really want her white knight to disappear without leaving even the smallest piece of himself behind.

After such a thick silence that made Jena wonder if she unknowingly crossed a line, the man gently pivoted, his hypnotic blue eyes locking with hers. Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his gaze and she found herself struggling to maintain her composure.

"What's its matter to you? I'm not planning on sticking around so why bother getting to know each other?" He shot back, a hint of guardness in his tone. "Or do you have a habit of chatting with strangers?"

Jena's eyes went wide at his unexpected response. She had, of course, picked up on his gruff, no-nonsense demeanor from the way he handled the foolish man who tried to hit on her and the imposing air that seemed to surround him.

"Well, I didnt know it was such a crime to want to know you. But, you seem like such an intriguing person, and i'm a bit of a sucker for mysterious strangers." She smiled sheepishly, trying to play along and at the same time, hoping her honesty might disarm him.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips, clearly, he was amused. "Intriguing, huh?" He paused for a moment. "You can call me your knight in shining armor" he teased with a smirk.

And yet again, his response caught her off guard.

How coincidental was it that they were both thinking along the same line

Well, just as she was about to give him a response, her gaze fitted back to the stain on his shirt.

She already forgot about it.

Offering to clean the stain, she was met with his initial reluctance, but her persistent pleas eventually won him over. With a resigned sigh, he relented and finally followed her to the restroom.

She was relieved that he agreed to let her clean the stain, rather than expecting something inappropriate in return like the other man had. The memory of his lecherous behaviour made her grit her teeth in disgust. annoyed.

As they entered the restroom, Jena's nerves thrummed with anxiety but she tried her best not to show it. She didn't even know where to begin.

Should she ask him to take off his shirt? No way! Right?

She didn't want to make any wrong moves, and asking him to remove his shirt was definitely a no-go. Not only would it be inappropriate, but it might also make her seem overly forward.

Glancing in his direction, she nearly flinched. She caught him already staring at her with a sly, predatory grin plastered on his face. She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to fall prey to the mesmerizing allure of those blue eyes.

Her gaze swept around the room in search of something that might be of use to her. Her search was abruptly interrupted by the deep rumble of his voice.

"Nervous?" He queried

"What?.. Nervous?" She repeated, a touch of feigned defiance lacing her tone. "Not at all. I'm perfectly calm and collected." Her words belied the slight quiver in her voice.

She quickly rinsed a piece of clothing she found resting on the sink under the faucet, her attention focused on what she was doing. But her concentration was abruptly broken as the man's voice echoed again

"Is that clean?"

"Of course it is" she replied, but not without a hint of annoyance slipping into her response.

She heaved a sigh of relief when she didn't hear anymore question from him after some seconds.

So she carefully pressed the damp fabric against the stain. Her fingers brushed against the solid wall of his chest in the process and she felt a shudder ripple through her body.

The air between them was thick with his alluring scent, a heavy blend of masculinity and something indescribable that threatened to overwhelm her senses. She found herself wishing that this moment could last till eternity, so that she'll have all the time in the world to savor this sweet aroma.

Little did she know that his resistance to conversation was not solely due to his aloof nature. The tantalizing scent of lavender which clung to her like a second skin also had a similarly intoxicating effect on him.

The temptation to sneak a glance at his face was overwhelming but she resisted. She didn't want to risk getting lost in those hypnotic blue eyes, revealing the effect he was having on her.

So she tried to focus on the task at hand, all the while maintaining a cool composure.

But despite her outward calmnes, her curiosity about the stranger's appearance was undeniable. She was certain that his looks would be nothing short of breathtaking, and she longed to see his face. Since he didn't want to disclose his name, she was hoping he would show her his face.

But even without seeing his face, she could sense the magnetic aura of authority that surrounded him. He exuded an air of power and influence that was both intimidating and alluring. She had never encountered someone with such a commanding presence.

Was he a CEO, a politician, or some other powerful figure? She wondered.

Jena's focus shifted to the stubborn stain that still clung to his fabric. Silence stretched between them as she worked diligently.

Neither of them broke the silence, as if both were waiting for the other to make the first move.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Jena finally announced, "Done!"

The moment she removed her hands from his body, the man silently cursed his own weakness, for he had found himself relishing the sensation of her soft hand pressed against his shirt. The removal of that tactile contact left him oddly bereft.

When she got no response from him, she went ahead to drop the piece of cloth back. As she turned around again, her breath hitched in her throat at the unexpected sight before her. The man stood before her, his upper body exposed, revealing an impeccably chiseled chest and sculpted muscles. The man had removed his shirt!

She couldn't stop her gaze from roaming over his bare chest and taking in the rippling muscles and toned abdomen.

Control youself Jena! Her inner voice whispered but she didn't know why the words sounding so impossible to her.

The sight of him casually running his fingers through his hair, his lean frame casually propped against the wall, made her blood boil.

She fought to maintain her composure, wondering if this was all some sort of calculated seduction.

Swallowing, she asked, "What are you doing?"

His gaze shifted to meet hers immediately. "Why? You weren't expecting me to wear a wet shirt, were you?" He inquired with a mischievious lilt in his voice, fully aware if the impact he was having on her. "How inconsiderate of you"

"That's not the point" she shot back. "You could have just said something, instead of... this!"

He scoffed at her response.

His scoff was punctuated by a smooth movement away from the wall, his stride bringing him closer to Jena. Her heart skipped a beat as she instinctively retreated, unsure of his intentions.

"Do you hear that?"

"What?" She replied, feigning disinterest.

"That song. It's my favorite"

Huh? Why the info?

Before she could voice out her thoughts, she saw him stretch out his palm to her, and then asked, "May I have this dance?"

His invitation came as a complete surprise to her and her initial reaction was to choke on her own breath. She dramatically started coughing, hoping for him to say it was a mistake.

Instead, he stood there with a tell-me-when-you're-done expression etched on his face.

When her coughing finally ceased, she lifted her gaze, only to find him staring at her like she was a ghost.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She snapped.

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "I just want to dance to my favorite tune. So, are you gonna dance with me or not?"

Her defiance suddenly hardened as she straightened her posture, squaring her shoulders as if to ward off his advances. "I don't know you. You have refused to tell me who you are and I certainly don't dance with strangers" she declared, folding her hands and turning her face away from him.

He watched her with great interest,a knowing smirk curling his lips as an idea started to take shape in his head.

With deliberate slowness, he reached up to his face and removed the mask that had concealed his features.

The striking beauty of his face, sharp and chiseled, was now reveled in its full glory. With a confidence born of his dazzling appearance, he uttered the seven words he knew was gonna sway her.

"Still gonna say no to this face?"