One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood-Chapter 85 — Eighty-five

The man noticed her expressions. He noticed the way her smile didn’t reach her eyes. He studied her for a long time, noting the way her tense shoulders only eased when her friend laughed.

"Interesting." He murmured under his breath as he took a slow sip of his drink.

His eyes watched the way her body gyrated with the rhythm of the loud music.

The music throbbed through the bar, bass rattling the floor and walls. Maya moved with the rhythm, but something prickled at the back of her neck — a gaze. She slowed slightly, scanning the crowd.

"Something wrong?" Serena leaned close, shouting over the pounding beat.

Maya shook her head, though unease crept into her smile. "I... feel like someone’s watching me. It’s unsettling."

Serena’s brow furrowed. "Do you think it’s him?"

Maya’s grip on Serena’s hand tightened. "No. But this gaze is intense. It is focused and allmost... calculating."

They made their way to the bar, ordering tequila shots. Maya’s hands shook slightly as she lifted the glass, but she laughed it off.

Meanwhile, the man’s eyes darted around when he lost sight of the two ladies. He tightened his grip around his wine glass, casually tapping against the rails.

A man approached him and placed a hand on his shoulders. "You’ve been restless for about two minutes. What’s bothering you?"

Cody shook his head in reply. A few seconds later, he placed his wine glass on the table, muttered a "I’ll be right back," and walked out.

The man looked at him, and shrugged. His friend was unpredictable, and they never knew what his next move would be.

Across the crowd, Cody’s feet moved with purpose. His unblinking, sharp and precise eyes scanned the dance floor. Bodies pressed against him, neon lights flickered, highlighting his sharp features, laughter and shouting bounced around, but he didn’t pay attention.

Then he saw her. A flash of brown hair caught the light as she laughed with her friend. He didn’t step too close neither did he rush. To him, patience was key and his best weapon.

When he couldn’t stand being far away from her, he finally closed the distance. The bass of the music beat against his chest as he stopped a few feet away.

"I finally found you." His smooth and calm voice cut through the chaos, carrying a hint of amusement.

Maya froze. Serena’s protective instinct flared as they turned toward the voice. Shadows masked his features, but his presence was undeniable.

"And you are?" Maya asked cautiously, yet the edge in her voice was sharp.

"Who I am isn’t important," he said, lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile. "I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to see you."

Serena stepped slightly in front of Maya, her posture defensive. "See her? For what?"

Cody’s gaze flicked briefly to Serena, then back to Maya, his smile widening. "That’s for me to know. For now... just know I’ve been observing you."

A chill ran down Maya’s spine. He was observing. His words brought back terrible memories. Observing. He was only... watching.

Maya’s pulse quickened. Serena’s eyes widened, but neither moved. The music roared, the crowd danced, and yet in that moment, it was only the three of them.

Cody’s eyes softened imperceptibly, but the tension between them stretched. It only needed a snap for it to break.

Maya’s pulse hammered in her ears. She could feel Serena’s hand tighten around hers, a small anchor in the chaos.

Meanwhile, Cody’s gaze didn’t waver. It felt like he was scanning every twitch, every subtle shift in her posture, and remembering it all.

"Observing me?" Maya’s voice was steady as though her stomach wasn’t currently being twisted. "Why?"

Cody tilted his head slightly, as if considering her question. "Curiosity," he answered softly, the words barely audible over the music. "You interest me."

Serena’s jaw tensed. "Interest you? That’s... vague. And a little unsettling. You should feel the same way."

He gave a small shrug which was an almost casual movement, yet there was a weight behind it, an almost deliberate control. "Unsettling?" His lips curved faintly. "Good. It means you’re paying attention. You notice everything about people, don’t you? I like that."

Maya stilled as her chest tightened. There was a magnetism in the way he spoke, a confidence that wasn’t arrogance, but a quiet power she couldn’t place. He didn’t seem threatening, but every cell in her body screamed at her to stay on guard.

"Look," Serena interjected, her voice firm, "we don’t know who you are. You don’t just get to watch people without explanation. You also don’t causally inform people that you’ve been observing them."

Cody’s eyes flicked to Serena briefly, then back to Maya. The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "I didn’t come here to explain myself," he said smoothly. "I came to see you. That’s enough... at least for now."

Maya swallowed hard, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Something about him felt dangerous, yet not in a way she could easily define. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, exhilarating but terrifying. She wanted to feel it... yet was scared.

Cody took a deliberate step closer. Maya instinctively shifted back, her heel scraping the edge of the bar platform.

"You should relax," he murmured, his voice low and confident, carrying a faint hint of teasing. "I’m not here to hurt you."

Although he said so, every muscle in her body screamed caution. Run away. They kept screaming at her. His entire body aura emanated danger. She should be running, she shouldn’t be having a conversation with him. But she was stuck... stuck between this good-looking adonis.

Serena moved slightly in front of Maya, shielding her with her body, eyes narrowed. Maya always protected her, now it was time to do the same for her best friend.

"Then why are you here?" she demanded, her tone sharp. "We keep asking you, but you keep giving vague answers."

Cody’s grin widened as he listened to Serena’s demands. A hint of mischief crossed his eyes as he finally answered. "Because, for the first time in a long while... someone caught my attention. And it happens to be your friend."

Maya’s eyes bulged in disbelief. Her grip on Serena’s hand tightened. She didn’t know why she felt weak. She was always strong, but something felt different today while she stood opposite him.

Serena glanced at her, confusion and concern mingling in her gaze.

And just like that, before anyone could respond, Cody’s eyes flicked past them. His calculating, patient gaze scanned the crowd once more.

Something told Maya that this wasn’t over. In fact, it was just the beginning.