Chapter 2

The party spilled out onto a large marquee erected on the sand, with a glass floor beneath which lights twinkled, creating the illusion of dancing among the stars. An orchestra played soft jazz, and the air was filled with the aroma of gourmet food and the expensive perfume of the guests. Alis had managed a moment of respite, stepping away from the main group with a glass of champagne in hand. She leaned against a wooden pillar, gazing at the now dark sea, dotted with the moon's reflection. She tried to compose herself, to regain the sense of control that had always defined her.

Green is definitely your color.

The voice emerged right behind her, deep, raspy, as if accentuated by the smoke and the night hours. It was a voice that perfectly matched the owner of the gaze.

Alis turned slowly, meeting his broad chest. He was even closer than she had imagined. She had to lift her chin to look into his face. Up close, he was even more impressive. His eyes weren't entirely brown; they had small flecks of amber near the pupils, which captured the ambient light and reflected it with an almost golden intensity. He smelled clean, like soap and water, with a woody undertone that rivaled her own.

She didn't let the shock overwhelm her. She tilted her head, a small, controlled smile on her lips.

Thank you. I think the satin also helps.

Samuel smiled, a slow movement that caused small lines to appear around his eyes. It was a charged smile, not quite one of joy, but of assessment.

Satin certainly helps. But it's how you wear it that makes all the difference. As if you didn't need it, but had granted the fabric the privilege of touching you.

The observation was absurdly bold. Alis felt another wave of heat. He wasn't praising her; he was deciphering her.

"And you're a fabric expert?" she retorted, taking a sip of champagne to moisten her suddenly dry mouth.

“I’m an architect. I understand textures, volumes… and how they interact with form.” His eyes traveled down her, from the neckline to the hem of her dress, in a deliberately slow movement. “And you, Alis? What do you do when you’re not parading around in spectacular greens at seaside weddings?”

How do you know my name?

"My sister can't stop talking about her brilliant architect friend who's coming all the way from São Paulo especially for the wedding. Judging by her tone, you're the most interesting person who's ever set foot in the university." He picked up a glass of whiskey from a passing tray, his long fingers gripping the crystal. "You still haven't answered my question."

"I'm an architect too. But unlike some," she said, with a hint of provocation, "I design more than just selfish skyscrapers. I like spaces that people can call home."

He laughed, a low, genuine sound that seemed to surprise him as much as it had surprised her.

"You hit the nail on the head. My skyscrapers are rather… impersonal. Selfish, as you said." He took a step closer, the scent of whiskey and wood enveloping her. "And where do you build these welcoming homes?"

“Mostly in São Paulo. Offices, shops… sometimes a house. I'll be here until Monday.”

“Just?”

“Wait for real life.”

"Real life," he repeated, as if the concept were foreign to him. "And this real life in São Paulo... is there someone waiting for you in it?"

The question was treacherous territory. Alis kept her gaze steady.

Is that any of your business?

“It became my business the moment you wore that dress and decided to stand there in that light, knowing perfectly well that I was watching you.”

His audacity was breathtaking. She felt a chill run down her spine, a mixture of indignation and pure, undeniable pleasure.

“You're assuming too much, Samuel.”

"I presume based on what I see. And what I feel." His gaze drifted to her mouth and back to her eyes. "And you, Alis, what do you feel?"

Before she could formulate a response—one that was intelligent, sharp, that would put him in his place—the music changed. The orchestra began to play a soft ballad, and the groom called Sabrina to the first dance. The moment was broken.

Samuel extended his hand, not for a handshake, but with his palm facing upward, as an invitation.

“Dance with me?”

It was a bad idea. The worst idea ever. She could feel the attention of other guests subtly turning to them, to the bride's troubled brother and the mysterious maid of honor. But the challenge in his eyes, the tension that had built up within her since the first moment he had looked at her, was too strong.

Without a word, she placed her hand in his. The touch was a shock. His palm was warm, rough, his skin marked by calluses that spoke of hours on construction sites or perhaps a hobby she couldn't imagine. He led her to the dance floor, his firm touch on her waist, through the satin, was like a gentle touch. He pulled her close, not violently, but with a certainty that admitted no refusal.

Their bodies aligned. She was tall, but he towered over her by almost a head. She felt the rough texture of his shirt against her arm, the radiant warmth of his torso. They began to move, and Alis discovered that he danced as well as he looked, with a quiet confidence, a natural leadership that made her follow his steps effortlessly.

"So?" he whispered, his warm breath brushing her ear. "You still haven't told me how you feel."

She closed her eyes for a second, allowing herself to feel the music, the night, the pressure of his hand.

I feel you're being dangerously direct.

"Life's too short for beating around the bush. And I…" he pulled her an inch closer, and she felt the firmness of his thigh against hers. "I've been in a very, very flat landscape for a long time. You, Alis, are the first interesting mountain I've seen in years."

The metaphor was so architectural, sofrom them...that she almost lost her breath. Her hand, which rested on her shoulder, involuntarily tightened around the fabric of her shirt.

— And what do you do with the mountains you find, Samuel? Climb them? Conquer them? Explore them?

"I appreciate the view. I study the contours." His hand on her waist slid slightly down, to the curve of her hip, in a touch that was almost imperceptible, but felt like a burn. "And, if I'm lucky, I'll discover the secrets they hide."

Alis laughed, a low, muffled sound.

That sounded like a line from a bad movie.

"Probably it was." He laughed too, and the expression on his face changed, making him look younger, less burdened. "But you're smiling."

She was. And then, the music carried them in a spin, and when he pulled her back, her body pressed against his in a new, more intimate way. Her thigh now pressed firmly against the center of his body, and she felt, unmistakably, the hard, growing bulk of his erection against her belly. A jolt of desire, pure and primal, coursed through her like lightning. Her own body responded instantly, a moist heat blossoming between her legs.

Their eyes met. The air between them seemed to thin. The intellectual provocation had evaporated, replaced by a physical attraction so raw and potent it was almost violent. He said nothing. He just looked at her, and in his eyes she read the same confirmation, the same shock. This wasn't a game. It was a conflagration.

The music stopped. The newlyweds separated to applause. Samuel and Alis remained still for another second, trapped in that force field they had created. Then, he slowly released her, as if detaching himself from something magnetic.

"Thank you for the dance, Alis," he said, his voice deeper than ever.

"The pleasure was all mine, Samuel," she replied, surprised that her own voice sounded so steady.

He gazed at her for one last moment, a look that promised, or perhaps threatened, that this was not the end. Then, with an almost imperceptible nod, he turned and disappeared into the crowd of guests.

Alis remained on the dance floor, feeling the spot on her waist where his hand had been as if it were still marked. The sound of the sea now felt like a drum pounding in her ears, synchronized with the accelerated beat of her heart. She looked at the dark sea, at the stars, at the party lights. The perfect wedding setting was still there, but something fundamental had changed. Samuel's gaze had unsettled her inside. And, for the first time in a long time, Alis had no idea what the next step would be. All she knew was that this man, with his eyes that saw too much and his voice that promised danger, had turned her world upside down in a single dance.