“Oh God, it's just a few minutes to midnight!”

Adam Garcia swore under his breath, glaring at the woman who had gushed those words out. What the heck was it about midnight and why was every woman raving about it at this business party?

Shaking his head, he gulped down the remaining bits of champagne in his glass, wondering for the umpteenth time why he'd allowed himself to be dragged to this godforsaken New Year's Eve masquerade party.

Friendship obviously, he snorted as he brought his glass down and placed it on the tray of a waiter passing by. The shit friends could make you do.

Like coming to a party where you only knew 0.5% of the people chattering about when you could be balls deep buried in the rapturous heat of a woman.

To think there were well over a hundred people at the party.

Adjusting his batman mask, Adam glanced at his best friend, wishing he could just bail the hell out of there. But he couldn't. Lucas needed him. His parents were dickheads who didn't give a shit about their son's happiness as long he kissed their ass at every command.

The only time they ever softened their attacks on their son was when Adam was around, and Lucas had begged him to come along. He'd come, because he had been there before, done that, knew how it felt to be deprived of the love of parents that every child needed.

Shooting, away his thoughts before they could spoil his mood, he inched closer to the trio in time to hear Lucas's mother saying something.

“For Pete's sake, you love climbing mountains and risking your life more than you care about this business, something which will be passed on to you when your father retires.”

Her eyes slid in Adam's direction through her intricate, elaborate, ostentatious mask, and her voice softened considerably. “You are our only son for crying out loud.”

Adam decided that it was time to set in before the helplessness in his friend's eyes drove him up a wall. “Actually, Katia, that's the main reason why he went on this Christmas adventure. To have a fresh mind to give his all to his training into becoming the best businessman ever.”

Lucas's head snapped sharply in his direction, but the horror in his eyes all too soon gave way to resignation.

The defeated look didn't surprise Adam. He knew his friend enough to realize that despite how much he hated his parents for controlling his life the way they pleased, there was no way he would ever say no to them.

“What? Oh my God!” The scratchy voice of Katia grated on his nerves. “You've made me so happy son.”

“I knew you would snap right to your senses.” Lucas's father stepped forward, showing all his teeth in a smile and patting his son on the shoulder.

Were these two serious? Couldn't they see the baleful look in their son's eyes, or were they so shallowly invested in their son's emotions to know which of his smiles were genuine and which were not?

Disgusted, he turned to his friend, needing to fall away from these people. “Yo man, I'll be hanging around. See you later.”

Before the pleading twist of his friend's lips could stop him, he turned and walked away, past the alignment of extravagantly designed tables and lampposts in the large garden where the party was taking place, past the businessmen who smiled warmly at one another but were each only calculating how much wealth they could zap out of the other.

Greedy asses, all of them.

“Oh God, it's soon gonna be midnight. I better start scanning through.” A female voice squealed, and he turned to find a middle-aged woman swiveling her flat hips to the soft piano music playing.

Adam rolled his eyes. He moved on through the garden, past several guests. He encountered less and less of them as he went, and soon there weren't any around him.

He went past the tall hedges that separated the party zone from the remote zone, took a curve around some peony trees, and came short as a small pond greeted him.

The water was rippling with the swimming of fishes, and the crescent, nearly full moon above showed on it, making it shimmer like swathes of jeweled silk.

The sight was so breathtaking that it took him a while to notice the woman perched on the soft incline just before the bank of the pond.

She was blonde and wearing a red dress with lacy sleeves. Maybe it was the slouch of her shoulders that made him approach her. “I see I've finally found someone like myself.”

His voice startled her, because her head jolted in his direction, eyes wide. He couldn't see her face due to the beautiful, expansive mask adorning it, but the amber color of her eyes struck him instantly.

She took a deep breath, seemingly relaxing as she looked back towards the pond. “In terms of what?” Her voice was soft, yet firm and strangely the most beautiful one he'd heard tonight.

“Partying? You don't seem like a fan of parties, much like myself.” He mused.

“Oh come on, these people couldn't make a business party fun even if their lives depended on it.”

Adam had to chuckle at that as he plopped himself on the ground beside her, the scent of her fruity perfume suddenly invading his savor.

God, she smelled good, like lemon, and he found himself wanting to lean in and sniff her skin. But he couldn't scare her off so soon.

“So why are you here then at this party?” He asked her.

“Came with someone.” She replied, then said the next words under her breath. “...who didn't even notice when I slipped away.”

“Ah, your father." He figured and then chuckled again.

She didn't say anything, and they lapsed into silence so comfortable that it surprised him while they watched the fishes swimming superficially in the pond, the piano music from the party filtering over to them.

“You know I've never liked parties, always hated them.” He said with a sigh.

“Your life must be pretty boring then. Partys can be fun if organized well and depending on the purpose.” She mused.

“Dancing your ass off and binging on booze so you can wake up the next day with a hangover is fun?" He asked, glad that their conversation was flowing so naturally.

Then again, he'd never had a problem with his way around women.

“Pretty much.” She replied, then as if on second thought, turned to look at him. “But parties can be fun without booze, okay?”

Well, he had his own definition of fun. To him, it was being himself with nature and snapping away at its wonderful creations. It was diving headlong from the sky and feeling the air rush around him, the adrenaline tearing through his veins. That was fun.

He heard the voice of the party host speaking over the microphone. “Ladies and gentle, it is less than five minutes to midnight already. You better prepare yourself if you've set eyes on anyone.”

Adam tuned him out as the woman he was with spoke. “Jeez, am I the only one who thinks it's cold out here.” She asked, running her hands along her shoulders.

“Well, you didn't think these flimsy sleeves could keep you warm did you?”

“Not really. Had appearances to keep up.” She muttered, a bitter edge to her tone.

“He's very demanding, isn't he?” He asked, referring to her father. She shrugged, drawing a knee up and resting her chin on it. “I guess you are being groomed into the business.”

“You can say that.”

“You shouldn't make that venture if you don't want to, you know?” He pointed out, then smiled when she turned to look at him.

“Easier said than done, right?” Her amber eyes rolled delicately. “Besides, I love it. Not complaining.”

She didn't sound so certain which made him wonder how true her second statement was.

“I think I should better get going.” She announced and then bracing her hand against the ground, levered herself up.

The sudden view of her well-endowed backside sent feverish heat skittering down south of his body, and he took in a sharp breath, getting up himself. It was at that moment that the host's voice came again.

“Ladies and gentlemen, one more minute, and then the countdown will begin.”

“What's all the fuss about 12:00 on New Year about?” He asked, suddenly very curious.

“You don't know?” She asked, surprise coloring her tone. “It's because of the legend of the kiss of eternal love.” When he twisted his lips, her lush mouth widened. “Clueless?”

“Well, I guess I've heard it a lot of times but I've never cared to find out what it actually is. Plus I don't do parties as I said so...”

“Well, it's just this legend which says that when two strangers meet on the eve of New Year and kiss at exactly 12:00 on New Year, they'll love each other forever."

“Strangers like us?” He suddenly felt damn tempted to rip off her mask to put a face to the enchanting voice, piercing amber eyes, and damn kissable lips.

Her head tilted thoughtfully before she nodded. “Yes, I guess.”

“Do you believe in it?” He asked.

Her snort made it all obvious she didn't. “It's the most absurd thing I've ever heard in my life.” She told him. He laughed until her gaze fixed intently on him. “What about you?”

“I think it's bullshit. Exactly why it is a legend.” He answered and they both chuckled.

Adam would be damned if he believed in it, but who said he wouldn't end up with a blissful close to the night if he played his cards well?

He hadn't fucked a woman ever since he'd gone on his winter adventure, which was a good three weeks already, and the need for release had been riding him for a while now.

Some women could be very easily charmed especially when you had looks like his–and she was, if the look in her eyes was anything to go by. The kiss would be the perfect opportunity to pave the discussion for a one-night-fuck-and-part-ways.

“Here it goes ladies and gentlemen.” The voice of the host came again, several other voices joining his as he began the countdown. “Ten, nine...”

“I'll be going now.” The masked woman announced.

Before she could take two steps away from him, he grabbed her by the arm and propelled her back and right into his arms.

“What are you doing?” Her eyes widened, but she made no attempt to pull free from him.

“No fearing what both of us don't believe in, right?” He quipped.

And right there in the garden, just as the countdown reached zero and fireworks exploded above them, Adam drew her head up for a long, passionate kiss.

_______________

There goes the prologue. Please vote and tell me what you think.

LOL(Lots Of Love)
–Enock(E!)