6 months ago.

(Emily's POV)

"Seriously, why can't we just go do something else?" I asked from in front of the mirror in my small apartment in New York. My friends had decided that tonight we would go clubbing at one of the best spots in the city. Which was fun for them, me not so much seeing as I was only 20. Which made me the perfect DD for the evening.

"Because we've studied our asses off all semester and I'm ready to have a night of letting loose! Come on it'll be so much fun Em." Said my best friend Lauren.

I sighed. She was right, it had been a very long and draining last couple of months. Between trying to go to school and keep up my grades in order to graduate on time and the trauma from the car accident that killed my parents 4 months ago, I could definitely use a break. "Okay, you're right. It might be a little fun" I smiled at her reflection in my mirror. After putting the finishing touches on my makeup and slipping on the dress that Lauren insisted I wear for the evening we set off to the first spot.

...

If looks could kill, I think I would be laying on the under the ground in front of the club right now. The bouncers started eyeballing me before we ever made it to them. I of course had to show my ID, and got the x of shame across my hand before I was allowed inside. I'm sure my size doesn't help me look any older than I do, I could easily pass for 17 or 18 rather than a few months away from being 21.

We walked inside and the club was already packed out for the night. Bodies were bobbing and swaying on the dance floor, while speakers blasted music so loud you couldn't think. There were three bars along the sides of the room, all crammed full of college students looking to let loose and get plastered for the night.

We had been there for around an hour and by that time all of my friends had consumed their weight in shots. Lauren being the diligent friend that she was, started slipping a few my way once she was too drunk to care that I had driven her car here. "Emily! Drink! Come onnnnn, we'll just take a cab home!" She pleaded with me between her drunken squeals of excitement. I couldn't help but get caught up in the atmosphere of the club as I slung back one, two, six shots.

In no time at all we were lost in the sea of bodies throbbing to the beat on the dance floor. Grinding and swaying our hips to the beat, feeling free for just a moment. Allowing myself the release from my problems for just a little while.

I stumbled into a seat after a while to catch my breath. Lauren had found her way to the other side of the club with her newest endeavor for the night, disappearing into a shadowy corner to do god knows what. My other friends who had met us here had all gone their separate ways, which left me to myself.

I was feeling pretty fuzzy from the shots Lauren had shoved down my throat all night and decided that it might be a good idea to grab something non-alcoholic to quench my thirst. I made my way over to the bar, an increasingly difficult challenge in the sky high heels Lauren had shoved at me before we left my apartment. I ordered a soda and sat down waiting for it. I felt a hand slide far too high up my thigh and looked over to see a very large, very drunk man grinning at me. "Well hello beautiful thing, where have you been all my life? Whatcha say we get out of here and I'll show you a real good time tonight?" He slurred, inches from my face.

"Sorry buddy, hard pass." I shot back at him as I picked his hand up and moved it off of my leg. He muttered something about me being a bitch under his breath before he turned away from me to try on the next poor girl he could find. I turned back toward the bar to find my drink sitting behind me. As I grabbed the glass I felt a large warm hand shoot out and grab my wrist. I jumped, almost spilling the cold liquid all over myself as I turned around. My eyes locked onto piercing blue eyes, blonde wavy hair, and a thick mass of tanned muscles rippling out from under a t-shirt. Wow.

"I'm sorry if I scared you" I heard him say as I silently studied him. "The man that was sitting with you, he slipped something into your drink as he walked away" he said with a thick Australian accent. "I couldn't help but notice you when you arrived with your friends earlier, I saw all of them leave about 15 minutes ago and I wasn't about to let you drink this" he said holding up my drink.

I tried to be casual when I looked around to see if the man was watching me. For just a moment I didn't see him, until a large group dispersed from the bar and I saw him watching me. My stomach dropped as my fight or flight kicked in, my senses telling me that he was danger and I needed to figure out how to get out of here and back home. He obviously doesn't have good intentions toward me if he was trying to drug me in a club. I could feel my nerves kicking into overdrive when the gorgeous Aussie interrupted my thoughts.

"My name is Reese by the way".

(Reese POV)

I hadn't really wanted to come out with the guys tonight, but Antonio and Jeremy had important business to discuss and I could tell they wanted to be alone. So I grudgingly agreed to head over to Nicks club in the city for some Friday night fun.

I was sitting at a table in the VIP balcony with Nick and Noah when I saw her. She was wearing a silky emerald green dress that clung to her delicate curves, her hair fell down her back in cascading waves of light brown curls. She was such a tiny little thing compared to the others she was with. She couldn't be more than 5'3, maybe 125 lbs soaking wet.

As much as I tried not to, I kept finding myself looking for her in the crowd. I saw her dancing with her friend for a while, getting lost in the music and atmosphere of the club. She looked so free when she danced, like she didn't have a care in the world. After a few hours I noticed her friends all stumbling out the doors, obviously wasted and forgetting to take the tiny brunette with them. I scanned the crowd again and saw her sitting at the bar waiting on a drink, while a drunk asshole tried shoving his hand up her thigh. Just from the look on her face, I knew she didn't want the attention the man was trying to give her.

Without saying a word to the guys I got up and made my way through the crowd to her as I saw her telling him in the nicest way possible to fuck off. I could feel Nick and Noah starting at me from the balcony, assessing if I had sensed some kind of danger or if I just decided not to wait on the waitress to bring us our next round of drinks.

Just before I got to her I saw the man turn from her and call her a stupid bitch, then quickly drop something inside her drink before walking a distance away to watch her from the crowd. As she turned to lift the drink to her lips I couldn't stop my hand from shooting out to take her wrist. As my fingers locked around her I could feel her tiny bones in my hand. So small and delicate. I felt her tense in my hand as she almost spilled her drink.

As she looked up I met her eyes. Pools of glassy sea green shot up to meet me. Shock was written all over her face and I could smell her tension coming off of her in waves. She studied me for a moment as I released her hand and started explaining to her what I'd seen. I introduced myself as she tried to nonchalantly peer around for the asshole who had tried to drug her.

I felt her body tense as she spied him in the corner of the room looking none too happy that his plans had been interrupted.

She was quiet for a moment before looking over at me again. She smiled and held out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Emily" she said nervously. "Thank you for telling me, I -I had no idea that he did that" she stuttered. Her tension turned into fear as I could see her trying to turn the wheels in her head on how to get out of here and home safely. I peered up onto the balcony as I heard Nick yell something along the lines of 'about time' probably assuming that I'd finally decided to break my celibacy streak. I rolled my eyes as I pulled out my phone and sent him a quick message not to wait on me that I'd catch a cab home later.

I turned to Emily as she started to get up from her barstool. She stumbled a bit before I steadied her in my arms. I smiled to myself, taking in the tiny girl in front of me who seemed to have had a bit too much to drink despite the x on her hand showing that she wasn't 21 yet. "Would it be alright if I walk you home? Just to make sure you make it okay. No funny business I give you my word" I said to her.

She studied me for a moment before she shook her head yes and I hooked her arm in mine as we made our way through the crowd to the exit.

(Emily POV)

I can't believe that man tried to drug me. I thought as we made our way out the doors of the club. The warm and humid fall day had given away to a crisp night. I drank in the fresh air and welcomed the breeze on my flushed cheeks. It was only a few blocks to my apartment, so I was sure I could make it back before my feet gave out in these monstrous heels Lauren had put me in earlier.

When I see Lauren I'm going to give her a piece of my mind for leaving me there. I made a mental note as a breeze whipped down the street and made me shiver. Reese looked down at me and smiled, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it around my shoulders. It was so warm and smelled Oh so good. True to his word he had been a perfect gentleman, stopping just short of my apartment door as we arrived. We had made small talk the whole walk home, which eased my mind away from thinking about what could be happening to me if he hadn't intervened.

I'm not sure if it was the alcohol or just Reese, but something about him just made me feel safe. I invited him in to warm up for a bit. He looked a bit nervous on if he should come inside or not. "Come on Reese, I promise I won't bite" I laughed as I nudged him through the doorstep.

I grabbed a bottle of wine for me and a few beers for Reese and sat them on the balcony outside before I rushed back in to change. This scrap of fabric Lauren called a dress had to go. "Never again will Lauren dress me." I muttered as I threw on some jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I walked back outside to find Reese waiting on me, looking at my view over the city.

We spent the rest of the night and most of the early morning laughing, talking and sharing stories of our lives while buzzing on the drinks we'd brought out with us . I told him about my parents, my school work and my dream to become a doctor someday. He shared with me the story of his parents, how they'd been killed by a gang in Australia and he had fled to the states shortly after. How he worked for the Sorrentino family at their company, and his struggles adapting to life in the states. Something about him was just comfortable as we shared stories that I didn't usually tell anyone, much less a total stranger.

As the night turned into morning he decided to head back home. He helped me clean up our mess and I handed him his jacket. "Hey" I said before he walked out the door. "Thank you for helping me tonight. And for keeping your word and being a gentleman." I smiled at him as he tried to brush off my thanks as no big deal. As he went to walk out the door I grabbed his hand. He turned around and I leaned up onto my tiptoes and kissed him.

It felt like electricity jolted through me when our lips met. It was a slow, sweet kiss, but something about the feeling of his skin on mine set a burning sensation through my stomach. I pulled away and blushed, I couldn't believe I had just done that. I looked up at Reese to see him looking a bit shocked himself. Great now you've scared him off Emily.

He surprised me by stepping toward me and wrapping his hands around my waist. He leaned down and kissed me back just a softly as I had him. Bringing the lightning bolts and butterflies back in waves over my body.

"I really wish I didn't have to go" he said after we broke away from our electrifying kiss. "I have to get home and get ready for work. But would you maybe want to grab some lunch later?" He asked as he ran his hand through his golden hair nervously. "I'd love to" I smiled at him as he breathed out a sigh of relief.

And so began the start of our sweet, short lived romance. We would see each other a few times a week, stealing kisses and a few soft caresses here and there. He never pressured me to go any further than that, though I suspect it had more to do with his ex than me. He'd told me bits of her story, but I could tell it was a really uncomfortable subject, so I never pushed him. I was okay with that. For once in my life I wasn't rushing anything, I didn't feel like I needed to. He would bring me coffee on exam days and I stopped by his office to take him some lunch on a few of his meeting days. We would go for walks in the park, hikes in the forest and sit up laughing and snuggled up together all night. So it went blissfully for about a month before my entire world turned upside down.