When Matilda and Aden went outside, they realized that it was raining. It appeared to have been raining for a while. However, they were too wrapped up in their little world to notice.

"I'll run to the car and get you an umbrella," Aden said, thinking quickly.

"That's not necessary," Matilda said with a lazy smile that Aden didn't really understand.

"Alright, maybe we can make a run for it," Aden said, calculating the distance. "We can run to that building's cover and take shelter there for a moment. Then we can run to the car from there."

As he said that, he started running while Matilda slowly stepped into the rain, raising her head to the oncoming downpour while spreading her hands wide. The smile on her face never wavered as she slowly walked down the pavement, splashing in the puddles.

Aden, who had already reached the protection of the building, couldn't help but stare at her in awe. She reminded him of a wood nymph or a fairy as she slowly glided through the rain, her red hair flailing furiously like flames of a campfire. If he hadn't already been smitten by her, that would have been the moment he would become so.

Even more fascinating was that she wasn't putting on an act. She was unaware of her beauty and just enjoying the refreshing rain. The fact that she would enjoy the simple pleasures of life; without a hidden agenda was such a new thing for Aden to see that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Well, that was fun! I love the rain!" Matilda said excitedly, joining Aden under the limited protection of the building entrance.

"I can see that," Aden said, looking at the joy and energy that radiated from her.

He realized it was the first time he had seen her in her element. Yet it came as no wonder that she was breathtakingly beautiful with the type of beauty that he was the fondest of, the one that is unaware of itself.

"You definitely know how to enjoy the moment," Aden said, inching closer to her wet figure.

"I am sure you know how to have fun as well. Models must go to the most exciting parties," Matilda said, wiping away a drop of water from the tip of her nose.

"Maybe, but we don't know how to enjoy simple pleasures of life such as rain. While you were accepting it as it is, I was running away like I was being chased by a serial killer," Aden said.

"I can teach you," Matilda said, offering him her hand.

As soon as he put his hand into hers, she pulled him out into the rain laughing excitedly. After the momentary shock wore off, Aden started laughing, feeling excitement and simple joy building up in his chest.

"You are incredible, you know that?" he said through laughter.

Matilda said nothing. She didn't have the time to say anything because he quickly pulled her to the building wall, his dripping body next to hers. His eyes were asking the one question, the only question that mattered.

As an answer, Matilda pulled him in, their bodies crushing against each other. Then she kissed him more passionately than she had ever kissed anyone. Her hands went around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss while his hands roamed her back, gliding slowly under her shirt, making her shiver at the touch of bare skin against bare skin.

"I do live nearby, you know," he said, nibbling at her ear.

The need she could hear in his voice made her want to see things through even more. She didn't even care if it was reckless or stupid on her part.

"Type in your address here," Matilda said as she still had enough presence of mind to do that.

As he did so, she sent the message to her friend.

"Gone to his place. Ready to see where this leads," Matilda quickly typed in.

Putting her phone away, she kissed Aden's neck, sucking and licking, unable to get enough of his intoxicating taste.

"Lead the way," she murmured.

Then they were both running towards his car like two teenagers consumed by their hormones, their needs. How they got to his place was beyond Matilda, her mind was clouded by indescribable lust.

Getting out of the car and even getting into his place was more like a blur than a conscious action, and Matilda wished she could blame the alcohol. However, it was all because of her growing lust. Nothing else mattered but Aden. Touching him, being close to him, was all there was.

They could barely keep their hands off each other. Matilda wasn't sure if they were both insane. Or if they felt more for each other than they anticipated. All Matilda knew was that she was utterly lost in the excitement. In the gentleness of his hands, in the warmth of his touch. But especially in the passion behind his each and every kiss.

There were so many different sensations. So many nuances to their feelings that it was a challenge to keep up with them. To register and savor them all.

"Wait, I need to find my keys, and I can't if you continue doing that," Aden said, chuckling as Matilda trailed a line of kisses down his neck.

"Sorry, I just don't seem to be able to keep my hands to myself or my lips," Matilda said, pulling away. She was doing her best to control herself until the door was unlocked. Until they were safe in the privacy of Aden's apartment. "I am not usually like this."

"I can tell, and I am honored that you would be so passionate with me," Aden said.

Guiding her inside, they quickly got rid of their clothing and connected as closely as two human beings possibly could.

                                                                                         ***

Lying in Aden's warm embrace afterward, Matilda was shocked to realize what she had done. What surprised her was the realization that it wasn't all she wanted from him. Aden wasn't only Matilda's first one-night stand. She cared about him on a deeper level.

It was just hidden by the cloud of lust. Now that the cloud was dispersed in the best possible way, Matilda could clearly see that she wanted more.

"What is it?" Aden asked, stretching lazily next to her.

"What?" Matilda asked, startled as she thought he was asleep.

"I can see you thinking really hard about something. The wheels that are turning in your mind are almost visible through your skull," Aden said, playfully putting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"It's just that I thought..." Matilda started to say and then stopped herself.

How was she, a woman, supposed to say that she thought they would have a passionate one-night stand and go their separate ways? Women doing that was frowned upon by society, and she couldn't even guess what Aden, as an Arab man, would think of that.

"You thought you would sleep with me and get me out of your system. Now you've come to realize that I am far more addictive than you thought," Aden said.

"Well, something like that, yes," Matilda admitted.

"Honestly, I wasn't sure what would happen either. All I knew was I had to see where this would lead us. Maybe I thought it could end up being just a physical thing, a momentary attraction. What happened here," Aden said, moving his hands up and down her body. "It has shown me that it is not just about the physical attraction. I have never felt like this before."

He looked at her with such honesty and vulnerability that Matilda couldn't doubt the truthfulness of his words.

"Me neither. Still, wouldn't it be easier if it was just 'a physical thing'?" Matilda said, starting to worry about what the new discovery would mean for their lives.

"Maybe, but where is the fun in that?" Aden said, nuzzling her neck.

"You don't think our differences will drive us apart?" Matilda asked.

"You need to stop thinking so much and let go," Aden said, kissing her gently, invitingly. "Don't think about me as an Arab but a guy you are attracted to. All the other things are not important. We'll figure them out as long as we follow what we feel and don't think about problems that might never manifest themselves. How does that sound?"

"That sounds like a great idea to me," Matilda said.

Once again, she got lost in the whirlwind of the physical attraction that might not have been all they felt, but that was a big part of it.

They chose to figure out other things as they came along. Together.