Page 7 of Until We Meet Again

"I need to push myself out of my comfort zone."

"If you want to see what's out there, this might be worth exploring. Just make sure the guy isn’t a psycho or a crazy-hot stalker that preys on younger women."

"Are you trying to scare the hell out of me or turn me on?" Our laughter fills the room when I hear the faint sound of my phone buzzing once again.

Z: Please let me take you out for coffee sometime.

T: Let me know when and where.

Z: Good girl. I'll message you with the details.

I show my phone to Jen, and as she falls back on the couch, her head rolls back in excitement.

"You're going to be tied up and spanked, and I can't wait for every juicy detail."

"Well, I guess it's good that I'm not against either of those things," I say with a hint of playfulness, but deep down, I have an unquenchable urge to delve into the most intimate parts of my sexuality.

Chapter 5

Tessa

"Does this look okay?" I ask Jen after checking my outfit for the hundredth time today.

Even though I think this guy has the potential to put me on edge, I throw together an outfit that I know will make me feel good so I can go into this coffee date feeling semi-confident. My long blonde hair falls down my back in loose waves, and my black skinny jeans hug my curves just right. I pair them with a beige sweater that drapes effortlessly off my shoulders, revealing a hint of my black bra strap.

"You look hot. Are you excited?"

"I'm a little nervous," I whisper. "I don't think I've ever dated anyone like him before."

"You said you wanted to try new things and see what else was out there, right?"

"I did."

"Well, now's your chance. Just remember to send me your location before you go."

"I've already done it," I say with a grin as her phone lights up. I leave with a few words of encouragement from Jen, shredding any last-minute nerves.

Once I arrive, I quickly scroll through the messages Zane and I sent each other this morning.

Z: Café Luxe? 11 a.m.?

T: Perfect. See you soon.

The warm Chicago sun kisses my skin as I approach the coffee shop, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee welcomes me as I push open the door.However, my attention is immediately drawn to Zane. I find him instantly, my eyes drawn to him, feeling as if the wind has been knocked out of me as his gaze locks with mine. His photo on the app didn't do him any justice, and now those nerves I tried to banish are fighting to work their way back inside me.

When I reach him, he keeps his eyes fixed on me. "Tessa," my name rolls off his tongue as he stands up and pulls out a chair for me like a gentleman.

"Thank you," I say with a smile.

His hazel eyes draw me in, and his light stubble, accentuated by his strong jawline, only enhances his undeniable masculinity.

God, he's hot.

"I'm enjoying the nice weather we're having today, but I heard there could be rain later." He offers me a slight smirk as he speaks.

"Really? I wasn't planning on getting wet today."

His elbows rest on the table, his eyes lock on mine, and he slowly brings his hands to his mouth. His fingers gently graze his lips, making me wonder how they would feel against my skin, and I succumb to the intensity of his gaze. "That's a shame." Ican't take my eyes off him, and just as I'm about to reply, the server comes by to take our order.

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