She was terrified. The taxi finally stopped about two meters to her left, meaning it would have completely crushed her without Enzo’s quick reaction. She turned around and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, still shocked and unable to talk.

He took her in his arms. “It’s okay. Calm down, you’re fine. Shhh... it’s okay.” Jennifer felt surprisingly safe and protected inside Enzo’s arms. She was incredibly grateful – that man had just saved her life! He was so warm and thoughtful.

The taxi driver got out of his car and screamed at Jennifer – probably insulting her. Enzo talked to him in Thai and gave him money to make him leave.

“Th... Thank you.” Jennifer said while leaning her head against his chest. She was still shaking and sweating, breathing heavily.

“You’re in shock. You need to lie down and rest. Let’s go to my place. It’s not very far.”

Jennifer simply nodded, unable to speak while Enzo was calling a taxi and giving his address to the driver. On the way to Enzo’s place though, Jennifer realized she was going to be alone with him in his home.

She thought about Bruce. “Enzo, thank you, but I think I’m fine. Can you tell the driver to drop me at Kempinski hotel, please?”

“Why? What are you going to do over there?”

“Can you please just tell him?”

Enzo told the taxi driver to change directions. Fifteen minutes later, they arrived in front of the hotel. Enzo paid for the taxi and followed Jennifer in.

“Enzo, you don’t have to come with me. I’m fine thank you very much, but I need to be alone.”

“Why? Tell me what’s going on – I can’t leave you alone like that; not after what happened.” The look on Enzo’s face was intense, and it gave Jennifer butterflies in her stomach. She knew she liked him – she’d been attracted to him since the beginning, and the more he cared for her, the harder she fell.

Jennifer looked around, took his wrist, and went inside the mall next to the hotel. “I think we need to stop seeing each other.”

Enzo gazed at her intently and leaned in closer. “Why? You don’t like me?”

The battle inside Jennifer’s heart was unbearable. She couldn’t lie – she did like him – but she couldn’t tell him either; what about Bruce? She shifted her gaze, trying to look away from him. “It’s a mistake. I barely know you...”

Enzo took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face toward him. “Look at me. We can take our time if that’s what you want...”

Enzo leaned forward and got dangerously close to her. Jennifer couldn’t resist and closed her eyes, letting him press his lips against hers. Her knees were wobbling. The man was giving her insane butterflies and messing with her guts in a way that she couldn’t explain. She felt completely helpless and weak, unable to fight. She immediately realized that her crotch was getting soaking wet – and fast – and she felt a burning desire consuming her empty channel.

It took her several seconds to gather her thoughts and to finally find the will power to push him away. “Stop.” She was panting. “Please. I can’t. We should stop seeing each other. It was a mistake.”

Jennifer pulled away from his arms and, after turning around to see him one last time, she ran inside the hotel.

Chapter Six

Jennifer was waiting for Bruce in the hall. She had tried to call his room, but nobody had picked up. She knew she might wait like this for hours, and decided to leave a message for him at reception with her phone number.

Then, she took a taxi and went back to her hotel room. She took a shower and lay down on her bed, trying to understand what she was feeling. During these three days away, she had missed Bruce but, at the same time she had had more fun than ever with that stranger, Enzo.

She wasn’t sure if she was attracted to him because of the situation – the excitement of being in a new place, her argument with Bruce, the feeling of freedom she experienced to explore the city – or because there was really something in this man that she couldn’t resist. In either case, he was just a random guy that she’d met in a bar, and he wasn’t worth ruining everything with Bruce. That’s what she was trying to convince herself, that is; but another part of her was telling herself another story – maybe she was really falling for another man.

What’s wrong with me? Why am I attracted to someone else?

She kept thinking about it. Bruce wasn’t perfect – very secretive, emotionally unbalanced, slightly arrogant with an enormous ego, unable to appreciate the simple things in life – but she could accept it. After all, it was to be expected; Jennifer knew she wasn’t dating an average Joe.

Everybody has flaws, after all!

But most of all, she reminded herself, what she liked about Bruce was that he was a very unique individual with a strong personality, an alpha male who made her safe, very dominant and confident, charismatic, and smart. Surprisingly, Jennifer realized that she was also attracted to him because of his complex character – dark and mysterious, sometimes hard to understand, tough yet sensitive. He was like an enigma she desperately wanted to solve.

There’s no doubt... between the two of them, Bruce wins. And the sex with him... Oh my God, he’s just amazing – such an incredible lover!

Jennifer was lost in her thoughts when her phone rang and made her jump. She looked at the number and didn’t recognize it. Jen, why are you checking the number? You don’t know anybody here!

“Hello?”

“Jen? Is it you? Are you okay?”

The voice was deep and familiar. “Bruce! Yes, I’m okay.”

His tone changed. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Kenichi’s bodyguards are screening the entire city. We sent your description to the police; I called your grandmother to know if she had news from you, I even called Benny! Kenichi and I have been to nearly all the massage clubs looking for you in case you’ve been kidnapped; we’ve been to brothels asking girls if they’ve seen you – I didn’t know what else to do!”

Why did he assume such terrible things?

Bruce was understandably angry at Jennifer and his voice was trembling. Jennifer felt that he really cared for her, but at the same time, she had never imagined he could be so irrational.

“Bruce, I don’t know what to say – I’m really sorry.”

“Thank God, you’re safe! I was so worried. What the hell had you in mind?”

“Bruce, I didn’t disappear. You saw me leaving; I was mad at you. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to find me but... wasn’t it a bit too much?”

“Too much what? I’m not kidding when it comes to you, Jen. I have to be prepared for the worst. I always prepare for the worst. God, where are you?”

“I’m in a hotel in Khao San Road. It’s okay, baby, calm down. I’m leaving right now – I’ll take a taxi and...”

“No, you stay where you are.” Bruce interrupted her. “I’m coming to pick you up with June.”

Thirty minutes later, Bruce was running up the stairs to Jennifer’s room. He knocked at her door and she opened almost immediately. Before she could say anything, he rushed at her and kissed her passionately. Jennifer was completely caught by surprise and tried to break away from him.

“I can barely breathe, baby...” Jennifer said, trying to catch her breath.

Bruce was kissing her, caressing her face and her hair frenetically. “I was so worried. Are you okay?”

Jennifer kissed him back. “Yes, baby I’m totally fine, so stop freaking out please.”

Her phone rang again - it was a text message. Jennifer’s heart skipped a beat. “I hope I didn’t do anything wrong. I miss you. Enzo.”

“Who is it?” Bruce asked. Jennifer’s head was spinning, and she couldn’t say anything. “Who is it, Jen?”

She finally managed to stutter. “Err, it’s... it’s nothing, just someone who helped me find my way.”