CHAPTER IV

I steadied my nerves with a deep breath. Inside, the dim atmosphere was filled with techno music as people swayed their hips and grinded against each other on the crowded dance floor.

I took a moment to look around and noticed the club was divided into two levels. The lower level had a long black tabletop bar that stretched like an endless runway. Beyond the bar was a large dance floor, pulsing with energy and movement. And that was when I noticed the DJ stationed in the middle of the dance floor and half-naked women dancing in golden bird cages hanging from the ceiling; two were on a gold swing, and...

Tabi gazed at me with wide eyes and asked, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

Left speechless, I nodded in agreement. Only pasties covered the women’s breasts. They wore red lacey thongs with garters and platform heels and swung on gold poles.

“What the fuck?” Tabi laughed over the loud music. “Do you think this is a sex club?”

I lifted my shoulders and watched the people while they danced in their own world as if nothing else mattered, almost as if they were being pulled by a magnetic force. Honestly, if it was a sex club, I wouldn’t be shocked to walk in and find people doing more than dancing and wearing less to nothing. Seeing it sent a jolt of excitement through me. There was something thrilling about it.

I wish I had the confidence to experience the forbidden things. So many times, it felt like I was stretching for the stars, their light calling out to me, drawing me in a while remaining just beyond my grasp.

“Seriously,” Tabi pressed, her eyes darting around the room. “This place is freaking wild!”

Yeah, it sure is.

As we weave through the pulsating crowd on the dance floor, the bass thumping in our chests, and finally reached the bar. Tabi leaned over the bar and turned to me. “So, what do you want to drink?”

I shrugged, glancing at the colorful array of bottles behind the bar. “Honestly, I’m not really sure,” I admitted. I wasn’t exactly a regular when it came to the nightlife.

Before I moved here, while every other college student was out partying, I was buried in textbooks and cramming for exams. I was more worried about keeping up with my grades then getting laid. Well, except for those nights when Kara convinced me to go out.

How ironic that I was now the show of the party at work.

“Come on. I’ll get you a cranberry and vodka.” She shot me a cheeky wink.

Tabi leaned over and waved to the bartender to get his attention. While she ordered our drinks, I felt an eerie presence, like someone was watching me. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and goosebumps formed on my arms. I glanced around the room and couldn’t see who it could be, but the sensation lingered, causing me to look up at the second level.

Four gorgeous guys sat behind the transparent glass in the enclosed VIP section, surrounded by women who looked like goddesses. The men had an aura of maturity and danger that seemed to warn others not to cross their path.Their gazes surveyed the crowd, but one of the men stared at me. He leaned back against the red leather couch, one leg over the other while holding a drink. A gorgeous redhead snuggled up beside him, his arm draped over her shoulders.

Although he appeared at ease, there was an undeniable intensity about him. He was dangerously beautiful, like a dark prince. His short, black hair was styled in a sleek pompadour. Different tattoos peeked out from the top of his neck down to his hands. The ebony dress shirt was half-open, revealing a glimpse of the intricate tattoo etched onto his chiseled chest. The fabric clung to the rippling muscles around his biceps and abdomen. There was a tingling sensation between my legs, and a dampness against my panties.

Well, this was new .

I felt like I was under some spell and my body was a slave to him.

Just then, a nasally voice broke the trance. “It’s about fucking time!” A tall woman approached us with a huge grin on her face. She wore a hunter-green bodycon dress that hit above her knees and gold heels. Her long, wavy dark hair fell down her shoulders, and the strands shimmered with glitter.

She pulled Tabi into a hug, and my friend returned it.

“Hey, Ana!” Tabi replied with excitement.

“And you must be Winter,” the woman said, releasing Tabi from the hug. Her face lit up with an infectious smile that seemed to cut through the club’s pulsating beats. “Tabi has told me all about you. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I replied with a smile.

Ana glanced down at my and Tabi’s drinks. “A vodka cranberry, Tabi? Really? Is that what you’re starting with tonight?” she asked, raising one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

Tabi lifted her glass in a cheer-like motion and took a sip. “Yep.”

Ana rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you something stronger.” She signaled the bartender, her diamond earrings sparkling under the strobe lights.

“Nuh-uh.” Tabi waved off the bartender before he made his way over.

“What?” Ana asked.

Tabi turned to me and said, “Her description of stronger leads to waking up butt ass naked, hungover, and sandwiched in bed with two male strippers in a hotel room and getting my ass smacked with a flogger!”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously?” A tiny laugh bubbled out of me from shock.

“In Vegas!” Tabi added, her eyes widening. She reminded me of one of the Disney characters with their big eyes.

Ana rolled her eyes and a playful smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t be so dramatic, Tabi. Your inner freak was begging to come out and play. I didn’t see you lock it away when they took you again in the shower.”

I choked on my drink, sputtering as it went down the wrong pipe. “Tabi! Did that really happen?”

“Don’t let this one fool you,” Ana said, bringing the glass to her cherry-red lips and gesturing toward Tabi with a finger. “She is freaky,” she sang teasingly.

Tabi shrugged and smirked. “That was the old me. I can’t be fucking around like I’m on spring break anymore.”

“Yeah, fucking right,” Ana said with a snort. “Stop making excuses, Tabi. Being a mother doesn’t change your inner freak under the sheets. We both know you’re itching to hop on a good D.”

Tabi’s cheeks flushed, and her smile turned impish. “Well, duh. I’m not dead. Just a little more.... cautious now.”

“Cautious, my ass. You just haven’t had a good threesome for a while.”

Ana’s laughter rang out, and she wrapped an arm around Tabi’s shoulders. “Winter, there are so many stories I can tell you about this one and her promiscuous ways, stories that would make a nun break her vows to have a little taste of Tabi’s sex life.” She turned to Tabi, her arm still draped affectionately around her shoulder. “But what happens on our girls’ trips stays on our girls’ trips. Right, Tabs?”

“Oh, please,” Tabi scoffed. “Just remember, I have stories about you, too, and they would put my shit to shame.”

I shook my head, still processing that Tabi had a wild side. “You two are something else.”

Ana clinked her glass against Tabi’s. “Damn right, we are. Here’s to Tabi and all the dicks she has yet to taste!” Ana raised her drink and yelled, “Happy birthday, girlfriend!” and laid a wet, sloppy kiss on Tabi’s cheek.

“Happy birthday, Tabi!” I joined in, raising my own glass.

“Come on. Let’s go get a booth,” Ana yelled before requesting another round of drinks.

While carrying our new drinks, we followed Ana to a plush booth in a dark corner, sinking into the cushions. Just as I started to relax, a man with striking gray eyes and a swagger approached us. He looked like he just stepped out of a celebrity news magazine. He flashed a bright smile, revealing deep dimples.

“Well, hello beautiful. I’m Preston,” he said, extending a hand toward me. His grip was firm, and his touch lingered just a beat longer than necessary. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Winter.”

“I like it,” he remarked, taking a calculated sip of his drink, his silver eyes never straying from mine. He swallowed, then licked his lips slowly as if savoring either the taste or my reaction.

My breath hitched, his boldness catching me off guard.

“Come on, beautiful,” he drawled as he leaned in closer, his cologne wrapping around me. “I don’t bite.” He paused, a mischievous glint igniting in his eyes. “Not yet, anyway.”

Usually, a compliment like that would make my heart flutter, but there was something predatory about his charm. I looked at Tabi, who raised an eyebrow, a smirk dancing at the corners of her mouth as if she was enjoying the show.

“Maybe later,”I said, shooting him a smile, trying to soften the blow and hoping it would be enough for him to go away. The guy was seriously giving me creep vibes.

“Just one dance,” he countered. His voice, smooth as honey, should have been enticing, but it only made my skin crawl.

“I think I’ll stick with my friends for now,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding another girl,” I added, glancing back at him. After all, he was handsome, and he seemed to know it too.

Preston chuckled, the sound low and sultry, and it sent another shiver coursing through me. “You’re right, but none are quite as fascinating as you.”

This guy was laying it on thick.

Before I could respond, an assertive male voice demanded our attention. “Preston.”

I turned slightly, my heart racing, as I saw who the voice belonged to. He was average height but there was something commanding about his presence. His natural tan contrasted sharply with his short black hair, which was side-parted and slicked back, and his rich brown eyes. As he rubbed his light scruff, recognition kicked in that he was one of the guys from the VIP section.

Without skipping a beat, Preston glanced back at me, his jaw visibly tense as he spoke. “Looks like you’re not mine tonight, beautiful.” He finished his drink in one swift motion and turned away, disappearing into the crowd.

One look from the other man had made Preston hesitate, almost as if he were afraid of him, yet there was an undercurrent of anger in the way he’d retreated, like he was pissed off or felt intimidated. I turned back to Tabi and Ana, who looked slightly alarmed.

“What just happened?” I asked, half-laughing and half-bewildered.

“Looks like you’ve caught the eye of the boss,” Ana explained, her grin fading as she leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “He doesn’t look at just anyone .”

A cold knot twisted in my stomach. “But why would he be interested in me? I’m no one.”

Before Ana could muster a reply, the man who made Preston disappear interjected, his voice smooth and confident, “Not to him, you’re not.”

I turned to face him, and our eyes met. His serious demeanor softened into a boyish grin. “I’m Luca,” he said, but his gaze flickered back to Tabi and Ana, who looked as afraid as I felt. “I’ll have to steal your friend here, but don’t worry; I’ll bring her back, or you can join her in the VIP section later on.”

Luca signaled the attention of a burly guard with a sweeping wave of his hand. My breath was stolen away when I shifted my eyes just a little to the left. The dark prince’s blue eyes were focused on me. Scantily clad women, gyrating to the seductive beats of the music, surrounded him, their eyes filled with hunger and desire as they tried to gain his attention.

Or maybe it was more like desperation, but the only person he was looking at is me.

My gaze shifted to the guard, severing our connection. The guard drew nearer, every stride exuding strength and control. His black suit barely contained the powerful muscles shifting underneath. His towering figure loomed over me, causing me to strain my neck uncomfortably, like being seated too close to the screen in a theater.

“This is Enzo,” Luca stated.

Enzo’s meticulously groomed beard perfectly complemented his chiseled jawline, and it all accentuated his intimidating presence. Enzo’s professionalism was evident, as his face remained stoic, his dark brown eyes revealing nothing.

“He’s going to escort you up to the VIP lounge,” Luca explained, looking behind me. But as his words sank in, I felt a jolt of panic.

“Why?” The single word escaped my lips, and one of my eyes began to twitch.

“You caught Nico’s attention.”

Tabi and Ana watch me with curiosity mingled with fear. I offered them a shaky smile, hoping to mask my growing dread, but their return smiles were strained.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said, trying to sound confident despite my stomach doing the cha-cha.

Luca’s expression shifted instantly. “You wanna repeat that?” His voice was sharp. The boyish grin that had softened his features was gone, replaced by something colder, more menacing.

The intensity in his tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I had a strong urge to run. Yet my feet refused to move for some stupid reason, as if the ground compelled me to stay in place.

“I don’t know who you are or who your boss is, and I’m not comfortable going anywhere with strangers,” I managed to reply.

He chuckled, a low, unsettling sound, and flicked a glance over his shoulder toward the second level. When he turned back, his expression was cold, making the blood in my veins turn to ice.

Luca leaned in close, his mouth hovering near my ear. “Word of advice. Do as I say, and your friends won’t pay the price for your defiance. Trust me, Nico is not someone you want to piss off.” He pulled back and looked down at me, a twisted smile playing on his lips as if he hadn’t just issued a threat to me and my friends.

I paused, locking eyes with him. The silence stretched between us, heavy with tension.

When he realized I was not moving, he let out a long sigh. He tucked his hands into his pants pockets, suddenly looking less intimidating. “I promise you, Winter, no harm will come to you or your friends.”

A warm, disarming smile broke across his face. I could feel my resolve wavering, the weight of his gaze breaking down my defenses. Against my better judgment, I nodded, the movement slow and uncertain, but it was enough to signal my compliance.

“Your name is Winter?” Enzo’s question brought my attention back to him. I cleared my throat, trying to steady myself. “Yes.”

“Not tonight, you ain’t.”

What the hell does that mean?

He stepped aside, motioning for me to ascend the stairs while he remained behind me like a shadow.

Nico’s gaze fell upon me as I approached with my drink, my hands slightly trembling as I walked up the stairs. The room unfolded before me with inviting leather sofas sprawled throughout the area. The deep, rich colors and luxurious textures of the furniture created an intimate and upscale ambiance that could be found in the pages of a fancy magazine. A polished bar gleamed in one corner, and a bartender skillfully mixed cocktails with practiced ease. Meanwhile, a server moved gracefully among the guests.

When I reached Nico, he turned to the girl grinding on his lap. “Your time’s up,” he told her in a demanding tone.

She furrowed her eyebrows, fluttered her fake lashes, and ran her hands up his chest. “Are you sure? I thought you wanted me to?—”

He whacked her hands away. “Fuck. Off.” The girl quickly slid off his lap.

Nico looked up at her. “Why the fuck are you still standing here?”

She muttered something under her breath, gave me a dirty look like it was my fault, and scampered away.

A second girl sat beside him with her legs crossed. She was beautiful with her long red and black hair, big boobs that were about to pop out of her tight-knit top, and blood-red lipstick. Her green eyes could turn me to stone with the way she was glaring at me.

Was she his girlfriend? And if she was, was she okay with another woman on his lap?

Unless maybe she was into ménage à trois?

Nico turned back to me. “You’re a long way from home, sweetheart.”

Yes, I know .

“Name.” Nico’s deep and rich voice snapped me out of my lust trance. When I didn’t respond, his lips curled into a predatory smile. “What’s your name?” He said it a little slower this time.

My heart beat against my chest with fear and desire as I stepped closer. “My name is Winter.”

His deep laughter filled the air, causing the others to look in our direction.

“What kind of name is that?” the girl sitting beside Nico scoffed, but he ignored her remark.

I took a step back, but his hand, covered with mazelike tattoos, reached out and gently but firmly grasped my waist, pulling me closer to him. His eyes traveled up and down my body, and his jaw ticked.

I opened my mouth to ask him to stop touching me but was distracted by his thumb brushing my hip. Then he grabbed my ass with both hands and pulled me onto his lap, making me squeal.

My mind raced as I struggle to maintain my composure. My instincts urged me to flee from this dangerous and sexy man. But another part of me wanted to grind on his lap.

What the hell was going on with me?

He stared at me with blue eyes that reminded me of the deep sea, full of darkness and secrets. It was unsettling yet captivating, and I found myself drawn to him. An impulse surged through me to trace his sharp jaw and the scar over his right eyebrow with my fingertips and press my lips against his plump ones while running my hands through his thick black hair. No one had ever stirred such feelings within me. Nico unlocked a part of me that I didn’t know existed, awakening a need that excited and terrified me. It was as if he held a mirror to my soul, revealing desires I’d kept buried deep. Yet there was the angel inside me that the world thought me to be, whispering to step back and consider the consequences of giving in to this attraction. On the other hand, a devilish temptation urged me to lose control and dive headfirst into this connection.

“What’s an angel like you doing in a club like this?” Nico’s words snap me out of my dazed and confused state.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly going dry. “It’s my friend’s birthday.”

Nico studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “This doesn’t seem like your kind of scene,” he said.

I exhaled slowly. “It’s not, but it doesn’t matter what I wanted. It’s her birthday,” I repeated with a shrug.

He nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. “And what made you think it was okay to dress like a forbidden angel in fuck-me heels?” His voice carried an edge, almost like he was angry at me, though I didn’t know why.

I averted my eyes from the intensity in his. “Nobody tells me how to dress,” I stated, defensiveness creeping into my tone. “And I didn’t realize there was a dress code, considering half the women here are practically naked.”

Suddenly, everything around us froze in place as a stretch of silence crackled in the air between us. I could feel the tension in his posture, the way his hands tightened on my back. Taking a chance, I peeked at him through my lashes, my heart racing. With his hands now on my lower back, he pulled me closer.

A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face. “You’re about to make me break every fucking rule, aren’t you?”

My breath quickened. This man was a mystery—a present wrapped in layers of sin—and I wanted to unravel him. “What...”

“Shh,” he whispered, his lips brushing my earlobe, sending a rush of pleasure down my spine. “Do you want to feel what your smart-ass mouth does to me?”

I suppressed a moan when his cock hardened against my warm center. This dress was so damn short he could easily whip out his penis and slide right in.

This was crazy . I should get up and walk away. But his arms around me felt like a haven, and the scent of his cologne clouded my better judgment. “You’re right where you belong, dolcezza,” he murmured, his voice low and velvety.

Nico’s eyes held mine. “Go on, see how far you can push me. I fucking dare you.” His thumb brushed my jaw, his touch feather-light. “Because I’m going to show you things you’ve never even dreamed of.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He toyed with a loose strand of my hair, letting it slip between his fingers as he studied my face. “Out of all the women in the club tonight, you’re the only one that caught my attention, and that ain’t easy to do. And you know what that means, don’t you?”

I shook my head.

“You belong to me now.”

I pulled back slightly. “Belong to you? I don’t even know you.”

He chuckled, a low, gravelly sound that vibrated against my chest. His hand lowered to my ass and squeezed hard. “I don’t need to know you to claim what’s mine .”

“You can’t just decide that,” I protested. My stomach churned, tightening into a knot. Who says something like that? I couldn’t believe he thought he had that kind of power.

“Watch me,” he murmured, his face inches from mine.

“Why me?”

“Because...” he simply said, “you are light and I’m dark. You are heaven and I’m hell. And together, we’re going to create chaos.”

I didn’t know what that even meant, but I felt an undeniable pull toward Nico. Something about his possessive nature intrigued me, but I couldn’t dismiss the warning bells ringing in my head.

This was insane. Dangerous, even. But this man was like a force of nature I couldn’t resist even if I wanted to. In that moment, I knew I was lost. I wanted to be his. There was something about how he carried himself, a dangerous aura that seemed to surround him like a dark cloud. Ever since the day my parents were taken away from me, grief and anger swallowed my heart and left me roaming through nothingness, like a ghost haunting the memories of my past. I now carry those two halves of myself, and Nico might be the only man who could appreciate and understand them both.

A part of me believed Nico might be the light I’d been searching for. It was as if he held the key to unlocking the door that trapped my demons, the ones that clung to my soul. They would finally be let loose, and I’d be free of them. I also believed that Nico was the type of man who could handle them and maybe even teach me how to control them.

Nico’s lips curled into a devilish smile as if he could see the surrender in my eyes. “Just remember,” he added, his tone turning serious, “there’s no running from me. I’m possessive as fuck, and you’ll be mine, and mine alone . So you better get used to that idea because I won’t let you slip away so easily.” Nico caressed my cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of my jaw. “I saw you. I keep you. And now your mine.”