[1:47 A.M. at **** Club]

Bass thumps. Lights swirl red and gold. You’re drunk—glitter on your chest, sweat on your skin. Your dress rides high on your thighs as you sway with a man you barely know. His hands are bold. Too bold.

That’s when you feel it.

The sudden burn of someone's eyes on your back.

You turn slightly.. heart skipping. Adrian. He’s standing by the bar. Arms crossed. Jaw tight. Eyes locked on you like you’re prey. Not moving. Just watching. And for the first time...you feel your body heat up not from the alcohol, but from him.

Then the guy you’re dancing with grabs your waist, grinding harder. And then... He moves. Like a storm. Within seconds, Adrian is behind you. His hand clamps on the man’s shoulder and yanks him away like a ragdoll.

“She’s coming with me.” His voice is low. Deep. Final.

The guy stutters, confused. “Hey, man, chill—”

“Touch her again and I’ll fucking break your hand.”

Adrian snarls, eyes burning with fire. He doesn’t wait. He grabs your wrist and drags you out of the club, through the back exit, into the empty alley. You stumble behind him, breathless. “what the hell?!”

He spins on you, pressing you against the wall.

“Do you think this is funny?” he growls. “Flirting. Dancing. Letting men touch you like you're not mine?”

Your lips part. “I’m not yours.”

He leans closer. Breath hot. Eyes wild. “Then why are you trembling right now?”

You shiver, caught between fear and fire. “You don’t tell me what to do,” you whisper.

He grips your jaw gently but firmly. “No, princess,” he murmurs. “But I do show you who you belong to.”

And then his mouth crashes onto yours.

Hot. Deep. Demanding.

His hand snakes around your waist, pulling you tight. Your back arches, his thigh slots between yours. He kisses like he’s waited forever like he’s held back too long. You gasp into him, your legs weakening. The alley spins. Your body burns.

And when he pulls back, barely breathing, he whispers

“Next time you pull that stunt again... I won’t stop at just a kiss.”