Chapter 3
790words
I drive downtown unconsciously and find myself outside The Obsidian, the most exclusive club in Silver Creek city. I've never been inside—it's for the elite, the wealthy, the beautiful people. But tonight, I don't care.
Tonight, I want to disappear. Tonight, I want to forget my name, my life, my shattered dreams.
The bouncer gives me a once-over but lets me in without question, which strikes me as odd. Inside, everything gleams with wealth—from the black marble bar top to the crystal glasses. I take a seat, order double whiskey, and drink it again and again until the edges of my pain begin to blur.
"Another," I tell the bartender, fighting back tears.
As he pours my third drink, I catch my reflection in the mirror behind the bar. I look like a mess—eyes red-rimmed, hair disheveled. I try to smooth it down, but freeze when I notice a man watching me in the reflection.
He's devastatingly handsome—sharp jawline, broad shoulders under an impeccably tailored suit, and eyes that seem to glow amber-gold in the low light. Even through my alcohol-induced haze, I can't help but notice he's even more handsome than Lucas—there's something almost otherworldly about his beauty that my ex could never hope to match.
I quickly look away, but it's too late. He's already moving toward me, sliding onto the stool beside mine with a grace that seems almost predatory.
"Rough day?" His voice is deep, resonant, sending shivers down my spine.
"You could say that." I take another sip. "Found my boyfriend in bed with my stepsister, discovered he's been secretly giving me contraceptives in my coffee, and learned I have about a year left to have children before my endometriosis makes it impossible."
Oh, why am I telling him this? Shut up, Sienna!
Something dangerous flashes in those strange golden eyes, a protective intensity that catches me off guard.
"Your boyfriend drugged you without your knowledge?" His voice is dangerously quiet, almost a growl.
"Ex-boyfriend now," I correct. "And yes, apparently for a year."
"That's assault," he says simply. "He should be prosecuted."
I laugh bitterly. "The damage is already done. I always wanted a family. Now I might never have one."
"Sometimes fate has other plans for us," he says, his tone softening.
I study him more closely. In person, this man is even more striking. There's something almost inhuman about his perfection—the way his skin seems to glow from within, the unusual color of his eyes, the sense of barely restrained power in his movements.
And that dimple that appears when he gives me a half-smile... I have the strangest urge to kiss it.
I stand up too quickly, my head spinning from the alcohol. "I should go—"
My heel catches on the bar stool, and I stumble forward. The world tilts, and I close my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never comes.
Instead, strong arms wrap around me, catching me with impossible speed. One moment I'm falling, the next I'm cradled against a broad chest, looking up into those mesmerizing amber eyes.
How did he move so fast? He was seated three feet away.
"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice vibrating through his chest against my palms.
I should pull away. I should thank him politely and leave. But something about being in his arms feels right in a way nothing has all day. For the first time since the doctor's office, I feel anchored, protected.
"Your blouse," he says, and I look down to see that my silk top has caught on something and torn, exposing the edge of my lace bra.
Heat floods my cheeks. "Oh God—"
"I have a VIP suite upstairs," he says, still holding me. "I can lend you something to wear."
Every warning bell in my head should be ringing. I shouldn't go to a private room with a stranger, even such a handsome one. But something about this man makes me feel safe, despite the dangerous energy radiating from him.
Or maybe after today, I'm done playing it safe. Maybe I deserve one night where I'm not sensible, responsible Sienna who always does the right thing.
"Okay," I whisper.
He carries me—actually carries me—through a private door and into an elevator that requires a keycard. The entire time, he holds me as if I weigh nothing, and I can't help but notice the firm muscles beneath his suit.
His jawline is perfect. And that mouth... I wonder what it would feel like against mine.
The thought shocks me. I've never been so instantly attracted to someone before. It's as if some primal part of me recognizes something in him, something that calls to me on a level I don't understand.
