Moonlight Temptation

Lily Evans stood amidst the vibrant swirls of color that adorned the walls of the trendy art gallery, her eyes wandering over the eclectic mix of paintings and sculptures that filled the space. The soft hum of conversation filled the air as patrons mingled, sipping on glasses of wine and admiring the artwork on display. This place looked really beautiful, a lot of men in suits and women in splendid dresses encompassed the arena. She felt a little bit out of place. Somewhere in her heart, she hoped that the flowery dress she had put on was also pretty. She had tied her thick black shiny hair in a low bun with a pretty pink silk scrunchy. She also held a tiny pink purse. It was a gift from her mother on her last birthday. Beside her, Sarah Richards, her closest friend and fellow university student, beamed with excitement as she gestured towards a particularly striking painting across the room. "Isn't this amazing, Lily?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Lily looked at her and nodded, offering a smile as she took in the abstract masterpiece before her. "It's beautiful," she agreed, though her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with thoughts of upcoming exams and deadlines. She didn’t want to be there in the first place. She prefers being inside her room, away from all the noise and indistinct chatter. Sarah nudged her playfully, jolting her out of her reverie."Come on, Lily, loosen up a bit! You're not going to find inspiration standing over here by yourself all night. " With a reluctant sigh, Lily allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd, her senses awakening as she immersed herself in the vibrant energy of the gallery. As she wandered from exhibit to exhibit, her gaze caught by each new piece of artwork, she couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness that gnawed at her insides. And then, as if by some stroke of fate, she saw him. He stood across the room, his tall frame towering over the other patrons as he gazed intently at a sculpture on display. His dark hair fell in waves around his face, framing his sharp features, his sharp jaw twitched a little as he slightly tilted his head as if he was inspecting the sculpture closely to find faults in it, his right hand held a glass of sparkling gold wine as his thumb grazed the rim of the cup, his piercing blue eyes seemed to sparkle with a hint of mischief. The top four buttons of his packet shirt seemed to have lost their way from their respective holes, the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up slightly above his elbows, his hands looked really strong. Lily felt her breath catch in her throat as she took in the sight of him, a rush of excitement coursing through her veins. Who was he, and what was he doing here? “A stupid question to ask”. She thought to herself, of course he was here to see the artwork or maybe not. Sarah followed her gaze, her eyes widening with curiosity as she spotted the mysterious stranger across the room. "Who's that?" she whispered, nudging Lily with her elbow as she raised her left eyebrow teasingly. Lily shrugged, her attention still fixed on the enigmatic figure before her. "I don't know, but there's something about him..." Before she could finish her sentence, the stranger turned and their eyes met, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through Lily's veins. She felt as if she could see straight into his soul, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away, leaving only the two of them standing amidst the sea of artwork. This feeling was weird. She had never felt like that before. He smiled, a slow, knowing smile that sent shivers down Lily's spine, and she felt her cheeks flush with heat. Who was this man, and why did he have such a powerful effect on her? As if sensing her thoughts, the stranger began to make his way towards her, his gaze never leaving hers. Lily's heart pounded in her chest as he drew closer, her palms growing clammy with nerves. She slowly wriggled her toes in her pink six-inch long heels, an act she always does to calm herself a little bit, but unfortunately for her today, it didn’t seem to be working. "Hello," he said, his voice smooth as silk as he finally reached her side. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. My name is Ethan Samuel Blackwood." His gaze never left hers. Lily's breath caught in her throat at the sound of his name, a sense of familiarity washing over her. "I'm Lily Lacriz Evans,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a bit annoyed at the fact that all her senses were failing her. She was always good at hiding her emotions, but today seemed different. Ethan's smile widened, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lily Lacriz Evans. I couldn't help but be drawn to your beauty." Lily felt her cheeks grow even hotter at his words, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Who was this man, and what did he want with her? “Lacriz” Evans said as he slowly dragged the pronunciation of her name, the name rolled from his lips like honey, she liked the sound of it. “Where does this name come from?” “Greece” she answered. “My great-grandmother was Greek, Lacriz was her name”. She added. Ethan reached out and took her hand in his, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Would you like to walk around the gallery with me? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the artwork." Lily hesitated for a moment, “Honestly, I don’t really know much about art” she said, her mind racing with questions and doubts. But then she looked into Ethan's eyes, and all her fears melted away, replaced by a sense of calm and reassurance. “Art is a soul, Lacriz. You don’t need to know it before you own it, just let it flow through all your senses, and you see how easy it is to experience art.” With a smile, she nodded, allowing Ethan to lead her deeper into the gallery, their conversation flowing easily as they lost themselves in the art and the magic of the moment. And as they walked, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of an unforgettable journey… Hopefully.