You didn't know how it happened, but you did end up following Phillip home.

What you definitely did know was that he was one charming bastard. He could have flirted with the devil and get away with it if he would have wanted to.

His slick smile.

The confidence.

All of these cheesy pet names and little teases, so cliche southern and yet somewhat sweet. He was like a cowboy who had managed to catch you with his lasso.

And yet you did not feel like you wanted to resist.

Perhaps because of those blue eyes of his. Or the smiles that made your heart feel light despite everything.

Chuckling like a tipsy little idiot, you stumbled into the apartment to which he opened the door for you.

"Oh?", with tired eyes and a dumb smile you looked around. "How tasteful."

The interior design was simple and modern. Dark, mainly, with grey stones and black metal. A bit of deep brown wood was thrown into the mix to give it the feeling of an industrial barn.

"It's a rental.", Phillip said and casually kicked the door close.

His accent was thicker than before. Now he didn't just sound slightly southern but obviously like someone who has grown up on a farm with horses in a middle of nowhere.

"A rental...", you hummed and stumbled towards the huge window front showed off the city lights. "Someone's got money. Nice view."

Chuckling, he walked up behind you, wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you close.

A soft squeak of surprise escaped your lips as your back hit his chest. He felt hard, muscular. And it did make sense. He had said he was a soldier so he must have been well trained.

Smiling, he let his lips trace the curve of your neck from the edge of your jaw down to the crotch of your neck where he buried his face to take a deep breath.

"You smell nice...", he whispered into your ear, his breath warm, smelling like smoked whiskey. "Like something..."

You chuckled.

"Like what?", you turned in his grip to wrap your arms around his neck.

"Like an unforgettable night."

With a smile, he leaned down and pressed a heated kiss to your lips.

Immediately your eyes fell shut with a sigh. You leaned into the feeling of his soft lips.

He tasted of alcohol and smelled of dry hay. But there was also a hint of sand, as if he came straight from the desert.

The thought made you smile.

"Whatcha grinning at?", he asked with a smirk and grabbed you by the waist to lift your feet in the air.

"Can't I grin?", you asked, your head light from the alcohol and your cheeks on fire from his charm.

He snorted.

"I'll wipe that smirk off your face, suga.", he purred, carrying you past the sofa to a hidden corner where a sleeping area appeared.

As if he had never done anything else, he threw you onto the bed.

Soft pillows nestled against your body.

Immediately his hands pulled off your shoes and socks. Then they moved higher, along your legs, up to your chest where he found exactly the sensitive spot to tease.

A gasp escaped your lips.

"See?", he asked with a confident smile and leaned over you to nibble gently on your neck. "I'm good at this."

His abdomen pushed your legs apart to place himself between you.

Surprised, you sucked in a sharp breath. Something was already growing in his trousers.

Your hands grabbed his face and pulled him into another kiss. This time it was more lustful, eager to find out the taste of his mouth.

Your tongue licked over his lips, tender and well groomed. You had expected something different from a soldier but this was a pleasant surprise.

He allowed you to explore his mouth, opened his lips and pressed deeper into the kiss while his hands continued to work on your clothes unnoticed.

Buttons opened, a zip was undone. And all of a sudden you were lying underneath him dressed only in your underwear.

"A little unfair, don't you think, cowboy?", you asked with a raised eyebrow and a glance at his shirt and the jeans he was still wearing.

"Your wish is my command.", without undoing another button on his shirt he pulled it out of his trousers and over his head.

What was revealed was an impressive body with a flat stomach, visible muscles and broad shoulders. He was barely taller than the average man, but impressively athletic.

From the first glance at his arms, you could see how he had managed to carry you halfway across the apartment to the bed without even having to take a breath.

Mind clouded by alcohol, driven by the lust that spread throughout your body and began to nest between your legs, you reached out to press your hand to his chest.

His muscles twitched from the sudden warmth of touch.

Smirking vainly, he leaned into you. Your fingers twitched, nails scratched gently over his skin. Thin traces of red were left behind.

But he did not complain.

"You'll have to do a little more to elicit a sound from me, suga.", he whispered in your ear.

The next moment he grabbed your wrists and lifted them above your head.

"Don't you want to get rid of your trousers first?", you asked cheekily and pushed your hips up.

A low growl got stuck in his throat as your lower body brushed against his. There was already a visible bulge between his legs. It probably would have been a little more impressive without the stiff denim.

And yet you could feel how hard he was already.

"And let you out of my sight?", he asked with a grin, leaning over you. "I am not a beginner."

As he was so close you noticed the scar for the first time. It stretched from his right cheek all the way up to his ear, the skin split a centimetre below the tip.

Caught by the sight, you looked at it for a moment.

"Do you want to touch it?", he asked.

His grip on your wrists loosened.

Only hesitantly did you dare to withdraw from his control. Your fingertips stroked the injured skin. It felt rough. Like sandpaper.

"Don't be shy, suga.", he pulled you upright onto his lap. "It doesn't hurt."

"Somehow I can't imagine that.", you huffed.

"It hurt once. But every pain heals some day. And it will leave nothin' but a scar."