Page 3 of His Sunshine Baby (The Silver City #2)

“Nathaniel Black? Really?”

Daniel keeps repeating this, and it’s annoying. It’s 2:00 a.m., we just got home, and I’m too exhausted to put up with his nagging now. I take off my heels and throw them across the room, hoping they would land close to the wardrobe.

“Don’t throw stuff!”

“Who cares? I’m tired. I will put them back properly tomorrow.”

“Anyway, girl, Nathaniel Black is a big no, you know that right? Any member of that family is a no. Actually, anyone from the Blood or Velvet Moon clans is a no!”

I know, I know. I still remember that chill I got when I heard his name. Nathaniel Black. What were the odds? Now that I think about it, there were signs. His acting like he owned the place, how everyone acted around him, his Alpha Aura. I’m so stupid! We get out of our territory once and I meet one of the most dangerous guys out there! I take off my jewelry and dress, then head to the bathroom to remove my makeup. Danny’s voice follows me.

“Seriously, how do you always end up attracting those kinds of troublemakers? I know, it’s my fault for taking you there, but still, babe! You have rotten luck! Nathaniel Black of all people. This is the last time you see him, you hear me? I’m putting in my best friend veto right here and now, Elena!”

I roll my eyes. Whatever with his veto, I’m probably never going there again anyway. I still feel a bit bitter about it. I was replaying the night again and again while we took the young ones home. Moon Goddess, that kiss. No doubt I would have gone with him if that stupid incident in the parking lot hadn’t happened. And then what? He would have taken me to a fancy hotel, and we would have had sex. Then goodbye? He was very blunt and clear about it, yet I keep thinking about his words. And his eyes. He did seem very interested. Was it just physical attraction?

Danny joins me in the bathroom, but I act normal. I wash my face and brush my teeth.

“Let’s just go to Pepe’s next time. No strangers, no surprises. We should play it safe. I don’t want you in any more trouble.”

“I’m not in trouble,” I sigh.

“You are so in trouble. Your uncle is looking for any reason to scold you every chance he gets. You know that. So let’s not give him any for a while. Okay, babe?”

I nod, but Danny is way too optimistic. My uncle probably already knows we went out, and I’ll get a scolding tomorrow for sure. It’s not that bad though, I’m used to it. I jump into my pajamas and get into bed after saying good night to Danny. Though once I’m there, I can’t fall asleep. I’m still thinking about what happened on that balcony and what I felt. He was attractive, for sure, but I’ve met handsome men before and never felt like that. I thought I had closed my heart, that I would never let my feelings decide for me again. But this guy, Nathaniel. Nate.

I turn around and grab my phone. After hesitating a couple of seconds, I type his name in the search bar. A few local news articles pop up. As usual, his brothers’ pictures are unavailable, but Nathaniel seems to be the face of the Black Corporation. No wonder they picked him. He looks good from any angle. Always well dressed in brand-name clothes. Very clean and classy. The pictures show him shaking hands with CEOs, big names of every industry, and even a couple of other packs’ Alphas. I find an article with his short biography and scroll down. High-school dropout turned multimillionaire, owns several estates in the leisure industry, as well as a few renowned restaurants and clubs. The guy just turned 22 years old. He’s about a year older than me. I keep reading, but we don’t have much in common. I’m still a university student, with a big loan, and too many family and pack issues to handle.

I put down my phone. I just dipped a finger in a different world than mine, and that’s already way too much for me to handle. Danny is probably right. I should avoid him, avoid trouble, and be grateful I did not cross that line. As I said, it’s very unlikely we’ll meet again anyway…

My two Mojitos help me find some sleep, but the night is short. My alarm rings at 8 o’clock sharp until I turn it off with a groan. Saturday, here we come.

The apartment is empty. Daniel already left for the university to check his experiments, according to the sticky note on the fridge. Thank Moon Goddess he made coffee before that because I’m going to need it. A shower and two cups of coffee later, I head off to the dojo. I’m training the young ones and after the mess they got us into last night, I have no intention of going easy on them. I’m already in my workout outfit. A simple sports bra and shorts; it is June after all. I just head straight to the tatami mats.

The first one ready, as usual, is my cousin Iris, Chris’ big sister. She is my age, smart, and pretty, yet she barely has any Alpha Aura. I don’t know if she conceals it or not, but she looks totally harmless and nice. Which explains why she is so popular among the male wolves of our pack. When I approach, she nods very politely.

“Hello, Elena. You look tired! Rough night?”

“Hi, Iris. Yeah, you could say that. How was your week?”

“Just fine, the usual,” she replies with a smile.

Iris is your typical bookworm, a shy but nice girl. However, I can never understand why she decided to dye her hair a lilac shade with such a quiet personality. Figures.

We chit-chat while everyone else gets ready. My cousin and I were never really close; our personalities and interests are just too different, I guess. Though I consider her a friend, we barely ever talk about personal stuff.

Meanwhile, the group slowly gathers. There are about thirty people, mostly teenagers and a few young wolves around my age. In the beginning, I felt a bit uncomfortable teaching people who were about my age or older, but no one ever challenged me. I used to think it was because of my uncle’s orders, but later I realized they were actually aware of my strength and Alpha Aura and had no problem acknowledging either of them. Moreover, a few of them did see me fight a couple of times with wolves twice my size and age and win. That’s exactly the kind of thing that werewolves respect most, regardless of anything else.

As I give the first exercises, everyone starts running or working out. I do the same with the group. I’ve always loved exercising and fighting. It might be my wolf side talking, but ever since I was a pup, I’ve been a fighter. I can’t go a day without working out somehow, whether I go running, hit the gym, or do some shadow boxing.

Among the pack, I’m one of the top fighters, though my uncle doesn’t let me compete with the others. I only get to fight rogues from time to time. I wish I could have proper matches with my peers, but my uncle just won’t let me. So frustrating.

After a few hours, the whole group is exhausted. I help everyone stretch before letting them go. Once again Iris walks up to me, a bit sweaty but smiling. My cousin has remarkable endurance too.

“That felt great! I still have to work on my form though.”

“You already look great, Iris.”

She sighs. “Not as great as you! Everyone knows Chris and I are way behind you. Especially Dad.”

I feel sorry about that, but I can’t change my strength, though I do try to keep it concealed. I just nod and grab my towel to wipe off. My cousin is not done talking.

“I heard you and Danny went out of the territory last night. Is it true you went to that new club? The Rain?”

I stop. How did she know? Oh, she probably talked with the other kids that we caught yesterday. I decide to tell her the truth.

“Yeah, Danny wanted to check it out. We didn’t stay long though.”

“I know. Too bad the others decided to act silly. How was it? I’ve heard about it, I’m curious!”

Really? Iris doesn’t seem like the type to go to nightclubs. I never see her around when Daniel and I go partying; not in the Latin District, at least.

“It was okay. A bit too classy for us, I would say.”

“Well, the Velvet Moon tends to be high-end after all. I heard all their establishments are like that.”

She’s probably right on that one, from what I saw yesterday. Though I like Iris, I don’t plan to stay around long enough to run into my uncle. I grab my bag and head to the showers, but Iris follows me.

“I wish I could go to one of those places one day. Do you plan on returning there again?”

I remember Danny’s words from last night. At least one person doesn’t want me to. But Iris seems interested. Be reasonable, Elena.

“Probably not, Iris. You know your dad wouldn’t want me there. I’m probably going to stick around and not cross our border for a while.”

Yes, I should do that. Forget about it, not get in trouble. Stick to my daily routine. That shouldn’t be too hard, right? Iris looks disappointed, but she doesn’t respond to that and we part ways to take our showers.

But my cousin’s words gave me food for thought. Would I see him again if I went to The Rain one more time? Danny is right, I have a thing for trouble. Seriously, why am I even thinking about this?

I finish changing and head to the library, trying to fill my mind with something else. I still have a paper to hand in for economics. I immerse myself in studies and caffeine, watching the hours pass. Just when I’m about to be done, my phone vibrates. Probably Danny saying he’s done. I take out my smartphone, but the text I received leaves me speechless. An invite for a private event at The Rain?

I stare at that text for a few seconds, a bit distraught. How did they even get my number? We only stayed a few hours and paid in cash. I read it again, but it’s short. Just mentioning something about an “invite-only” fancy event on the upper floor.

I can’t ignore the idea that this might have come from Nathaniel, but there wasn’t any chance for him to get my number. From what I recall, I just gave him my first name! Should I share this text with Daniel? He will probably freak out and tell me not to go. Though I do want to go, I just don’t care about the party.

Let’s just ignore it for now. I put my phone aside and try to focus on my paper for a couple more hours. It’s finally 1:00 p.m. and I leave the library. I get into Danny’s car that he left at the university parking lot. Just as I’m about to start the car, Daniel sends me a couple of texts to complain about his morning at the lab and his experiments not going well. I give him a quick message of encouragement, with lots of hearts and the emojis he likes. I don’t mention the text I received earlier about the nightclub. I love my best friend, but sometimes, he is a bit too much.

I start the car and drive all the way to the hospital. When I enter, the nurse at the front desk recognizes me.

“Hello, sweetheart. Say hi to your dad for me, will you?”

“Hi, Annie. I will, thanks.”

I hop onto the elevator, reaching the fifth floor a few seconds later. I’ve walked these corridors so often, I could get to my father’s room with my eyes closed. He is sharing the room with two other people. As a result, I always go in as quietly as possible and walk straight to his bed. He has the one closest to the window. No one is here today, but I still take small steps for some reason.

The flowers I brought earlier in the week look fine, I may have a couple more days before needing to buy a new bunch. I take a seat next to my dad’s bed and put my bag down. My dad looks the same, except that the nurses apparently shaved him earlier. I grab his large, warm hand and press it against my cheek, something he loved to do.

“Hi, Dad.”

He stays silent with his eyes closed, as usual. His heart monitor is still giving off a slow, rhythmic beeping.

“How are you today? Are you missing Mom? I miss her a lot. Do you dream of her, Daddy?”

The doctor told me patients in a coma can dream. I wonder what my dad would dream about. He probably misses Mom. And her cooking, he loved her cooking a lot. His motorcycle and his old garage too. He taught me how to ride when I was fourteen, and always said he would buy me my first bike when I turned twenty. Sadly, he didn’t get the chance.

I just hope he doesn’t dream about their accident. I’d rather think he’s just having a long, peaceful sleep.

“I finished my last paper today. Economics. You always said I was too smart for you whenever you saw me doing my algebra when I was a kid. Remember? Now only one year to go with my studies, Dad.”

My parents didn’t get to go to university, and my dad didn’t even finish high school, yet they insisted I do if I could. I always wanted to please them and made sure that I got good grades, although they didn’t really care about my grades. They were proud whenever I was studying and consoled me if I was tired or sad about my results.

I always tell my dad about my studies, hoping he’s listening and proud of me. When the school topic is over, I tell him about how the pack is doing, about this morning’s training, and about Daniel and his experiments that make him crazy.

I get to last night, but I don’t tell my dad anything about Nathaniel. I just mention that Daniel and I had fun, and that’s it. I don’t usually tell Dad anything that might anger or sadden him, only happy things. My father is my only family left, and I’m so scared of losing him. I pray every day that he will wake up.

“You alright sweetie?”

Deborah, another nurse, just walked in. I smile at her. I used to cry every time I came to see my dad, but I’m a lot better now.

“I’m fine Debbie, thanks.”

“You’re such a good daughter, coming every day. Those two gentlemen’s families don’t even come once a week to see them. Your daddy is a lucky man, sweetie.”

I smile. That is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard. All the nurses here are so nice. Deborah checks everyone’s vitals in the room before leaving.

Once she’s gone, I take out my headphones, give my dad one of the earpieces, and put on his favorite song, I’m A Believer by The Monkees. I take the other one to listen to it with him. I love that old song. I smile whenever I listen to it.

Whenever he put it on the old stereo in our house, Dad and I would dance around and sing loudly, making Mom laugh. He loved rock bands mostly but would listen to anything. My mom liked Latin songs more, it reminded her of her roots. Our house was the kind that had music on from sunrise to sunset. I miss the old days. I close my eyes and let my playlist shuffle through the list I made for him.

I doze off while listening to the music, and when I wake up, it’s almost 5:00 p.m. Crap, it’s that late already. Daniel sent me two texts, letting me know that it looks like he will have to stay at the lab for the night. I feel sorry for him, those experiments are really giving him a hard time lately. I don’t really get his biology stuff, but he’s so into his research, it’s not unusual for him to pull an all-nighter from time to time.

I say goodbye to Dad, taking my time before leaving. I hate leaving him in that hospital room day after day, but I’ve gotten used to it. When I’m about to start driving, someone suddenly mind-links me.

“ Hey, Elena? ”

“ Chris? Something wrong? ”

“ Yeah. My dad is looking for you, and he’s not too happy. ”

“ Crap. Where is he? ”

“ At the Main House. Apparently, he heard about you going out last night. I didn’t understand everything, but he looks really angry, Elena. ”

“ I’ll be there in a few minutes. ”

“ Okay. ”

How did he learn about our escapade in the Velvet Moon territory? Did the young ones we caught yesterday talk? One of them probably blabbed about it. I growl nervously while driving, and my wolf is annoyed too. As more time passes, I have a hard time controlling her and her alpha instincts against my uncle Xavier. Werewolves are complicated creatures, and our relationships and society are even more complex. Especially between alphas.

I pull over in front of what we call the Main House. My uncle’s house is also the main gathering place for our pack. It’s a large, old, but richly decorated house. Iris is waiting for me outside, and she runs to me as soon as I get out of my car.

“I’m so sorry, Elena, I think he overheard me talking about the nightclub with Prue on the phone. I tried to calm him down but…”

“It’s okay, Iris, it’s not your fault.”

Though I do feel a bit bitter that she accidentally let my uncle know, I can’t really blame her for her dad’s temper. I walk past her to enter the house, where a couple of guys I know are standing guard. They both salute me, but their faces show they know what I’m here for and feel sorry about it.

My uncle is in the kitchen, and his expression changes as soon as I enter the room.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“At the hospital, with Dad.”

My response surprises him, and for a few seconds, he doesn’t know what to say. I don’t think my uncle has visited his brother more than a couple of times since the accident, but he knows I go often. He apparently decides to ignore my answer entirely.

“Where were you last night?”

He is growling furiously, and my wolf is ready to growl too. I hold her back, trying to make her act docile, but it’s against her nature, and I struggle. I lower my eyes even if I don’t have any obligation to and decide to go for the truth.

“I went outside our border to party.”

“What the hell were you thinking? Going past our borders? And to the Velvet Moon territory at that! Who the hell do you think you are Elena?”

“Sorry, Uncle.”

“I told you not to call me that!”

This time, I glare at him. He doesn’t let me call him uncle and doesn’t visit my dad in the hospital, how am I supposed to consider him family? He growls even louder, but as usual, that has no effect on me. For a reason I can’t understand, my uncle’s Alpha Aura is totally harmless to my wolf. Unfortunately, that only angers him more.

“You’re supposed to be one of our warriors! How do you dare defy my orders to sneak out like some rogue? Just to go drinking!”

“It wasn’t to drink, it was for…”

“Don’t talk back to me! I don’t want you acting like some whore and showing off!”

“Excuse me?”

This time, my wolf is growling and won’t take this insult. How dare he call me that? But he doesn’t back off.

“You heard me! Do you feel so great about yourself that you have to show off to everyone in this city? Learn your place! You are not some damn princess! You are a fighter and belong to this pack!”

I growl even louder, furiously. I don’t belong to anyone! And I do whatever the hell I want, in this territory or any other! I’m fed up with my uncle restricting me any chance he gets!

“What is so wrong with me? I just do what everyone else does! I’m twenty-one, for Moon Goddess’ sake! What do you expect, for me to do nothing but train others and sit around? I’m a wolf! I can’t stay still and obedient like a damn dog!”

“You will learn! You are supposed to set an example! Why do you think the kids went out last night? They all want to be like you!”

So the young ones' outing last night is my fault now? What the hell? I only learned about the party ten minutes before going. Why is he pushing all the crap on me?

“Enough! I’ve had enough of you binding me and restricting me any chance you get! I can’t hunt, I can’t fight, I can’t go out! I’m fed up with this! Stop ordering me around! I’m your niece, not your damn guard dog!”

“You’re not my niece! My brother only adopted you, that doesn’t make you my family!”

I’m stunned, shocked by his words. How dare he? He would have never said such a thing in front of my dad. Across the room, the other guys are looking at him with disgusted looks too. I growl again.

“Fuck you, Xavier.”

I turn around and storm out before he can say a word. I walk past Iris while exiting the room and she looks surprised too. She calls my name but I ignore her and jump in the car.

I’m going home. I drive fast, exceeding the speed limit a few times. I’m so mad and disgusted about what happened, I can’t stop. I take the car back home and run up the stairs all the way to our apartment. My phone rings a couple of times, but I ignore it and go straight to the bathroom. I undress quickly and take a cold shower.

Moon Goddess. I hate my uncle and his stupid inferiority complex. He could never swallow that my dad, his little brother, was stronger than him. Now he hates that I’m even stronger. Damn alpha pride. I let the water clear my thoughts. I know what I need to do. Something stupid, something forbidden.

I wash my hair and body then walk to my room, grabbing my denim skirt and a black lace crop top, the one Daniel finds me sexy in, along the way. With black lingerie, it is perfect. I grab some cash from my wallet, my phone, and my ID, then go out again, heels in hand. I take a deep breath and start the car. I take a look at the car’s clock. It’s almost 8:00 p.m. now. I take the highway, heading for The Rain.

I keep driving, trying to remember the nightclub’s location. I have the address from the text I received this morning, but I don’t need it. I have a good memory and can find my way back from what I saw yesterday while Danny was taking me there.

This nightclub. I know why I’m going there. I mean, I could have gone to any club on our territory, even another territory, but I chose to go to this one. Half of the reason was to piss off my uncle and go against his stupid order. The other half makes me sigh, and my anger slowly turns into some excitement. I know exactly what, or rather who, I’m going for.

His little number from yesterday hasn’t left my mind. I’m curious. I don’t really care if it’s just about sex, but this attraction I feel towards Nathaniel Black is no joke. I want to see if this is real. Just for once, follow my instinct and let go. I haven’t forgotten that spark of his fingers under my skin, when we moved our bodies close, or the feeling of his hands on me. I feel myself getting flushed just thinking about it.

A few minutes more, and I park in front of the nightclub. It’s Saturday, but the place doesn’t look very crowded. There’s only a small queue, not even a dozen people. It is quite early after all. I take a deep breath, and for a few seconds, observe the place. What stupid thing am I about to do? No matter how stupid it is, I’m not about to stop. I need this.

Just like yesterday, I manage to get in quite easily. The bouncer just looks at my ID, but there is no reason for him to refuse a girl by herself. Once I’m inside, I hesitate. There aren’t many people on the dance floor yet, but my interest is more on the upper floor, the VIP area. Last night, Nate got us in without an issue. But tonight, I don’t know if they would let me go upstairs. I decide to go to the bar, order a honey-flavored whiskey, and observe for a while. Once again, there are very few people, but I don’t see Nate.

How stupid! Why did I assume he would come two days in a row? I take a sip and watch the dancers. The music is a more savage, sexy beat. I stay sitting at the bar, watching them absent-mindedly. The barmaid who was wiping glasses comes to me with a smile, as she doesn’t look too busy either.

“Waiting for someone?”

“Maybe,” I sigh.

“A pretty woman like you won’t stay alone too long.”

I give her a smile as thanks, but my heart isn’t there. I give another glance upstairs.

“He’s in the Clouds Area?”

“Clouds Area?”

“That’s the name of the upper floor. Do you have an invite to get there?”

“I went just yesterday, but I was with someone. But it’s fine, I’ll just wait here and see if he comes or not.”

“He got a name, honey?”

I hesitate for a second. The name Black is somewhat of a taboo in Silver City. The name of the brothers, the name of a scary king, and a reign of fear. Most people fear that name and for good reasons. The Black brothers aren’t known for being nice, either. Yet, here I am, waiting to meet the second of them. What kind of an idiot am I?

Seeing that I’m hesitating to answer, the barmaid goes first.

“I suppose it’s not a name you can say out loud then. Just go upstairs, he’ll be there soon.”

I frown. How did she understand who I meant? And why would she let me go to the Clouds Area without any sort of pass, or even a good reason? She shrugs while I’m still confused and gives me another glass to replace my empty one.

“I have a good memory. I saw you with the boss yesterday, honey. If you’re here to meet him again you might as well just go upstairs. And my name is Kylie. Just tell Garry I let you go.”

“Okay. Thanks, Kylie.”

“Have fun, honey.”

I nod and grab my glass to head toward the stairs. The gorilla-looking guy guarding the entrance frowns, but I explain to him Kylie said that it was okay. He looks hesitant, but just one look at the bar seems to be enough. Once Kylie gives him a nod, he steps aside, and I can finally climb those stairs.

Yesterday, Nathaniel took me across the whole floor in a flash, and I barely had any time to look. Now that I’m on my own, I have plenty of time to observe my surroundings, velvet in shades of purple, leather sofas, and fancy glasses. You can tell it’s another kind of customer wandering here. Suddenly, my denim skirt seems a bit out of place. Thank God I applied makeup. I quickly put my hair in a bun, hoping that would be enough to avoid the stares.

Since I already have my drink, I pick an empty spot to sit down, my eyes on the dance floor below. Everyone here is in a flirty mood. Mostly women in brand name clothes playing hard to get, while the guys show off their wealth. This is definitely not my world. I don’t belong here. I just sip my whiskey, reflecting on what I’m doing here. Something stupid, as I mentioned, and most likely a very bad idea. I take a glance at Kylie, busy pouring drinks downstairs. She said he would come, right?

I want to check what time it is, but I don’t have my smartphone! What an idiot! I probably left it in the car, since I came inside in a hurry. I vaguely remember grabbing it when I came down from our apartment. I sigh. Never mind, I can always mind-link Danny if needed, and I don’t really feel like talking to anyone else right now.

“Are you alone, Miss?”

I turn my head but face deception. Some tall guy, with a smile worth any toothpaste ad, is beaming at me with confidence. Before I can even answer, he sits in the empty space next to me. I slide a bit away. Why do they have to be so blunt? The guy glances at my drink, obviously looking for any way to engage in a conversation.

“Whiskey. I like a woman with some character!”

So what, we have to drink a “manly” drink to actually have some character? What would he have said if I had been drinking a Mojito? Is it a sexy drink? I ignore him, showing my annoyance, but the guy doesn’t get the message.

“Which pack are you from? You have to be someone to come up here. I’m an attorney, Joey, by the way.”

“Great. Now instead of just ‘I’m not interested,’ I can say, ‘I’m not interested, Joey,’” I answer.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m fine with just talking! What happened to gentlemen, huh? I know, you must think I’m one of those douchebags who just come to fish out pretty girls. But I–”

“Actually, I think you’re one of those men who doesn’t get what ‘not interested’ means. I don’t need someone to keep me company, nor a gentleman wannabe. You can move on,” I answer with a growl this time.

“Hey, you don’t need to be rude! I was just trying to be friendly, yet you won’t even give me your name! You think you’re some princess, answering me like that? I come with honest thoughts and you…”

I’m growling again, seriously annoyed now, but before he can finish his sentence, someone suddenly grabs his neck and slams his face against the balcony guardrail. Joey, totally confused, struggles to break free, but the man holding him doesn’t flinch.

“How about you fuck off and be friendly outside my club before I get mad?” he says in an ice-cold voice.

“What?”

Pearls of sweat run down his temples. Everyone around us stops their conversations to look at the scene. I’m holding my breath. Nathaniel pushes the guy to the stairs with a growl, where the huge guard grabs the poor Joey to take him outside. It’s over within half a minute and, like a silent order was given, everyone resumes their conversations.

Nathaniel runs his fingers through his hair, regaining his composure like nothing happened. I notice a black wolf by his side, but he just turns around and leaves us.

“So, you really came back,” he says.

He’s still standing, tall and handsome right in front of me. I gasp for some air. He’s even more tonight. He’s wearing a gray silk shirt and black pants. His hair is half-wet like he just got out of the shower. A drop slides from his ear to his chest.

“I needed a drink,” I answer.

What a poor response, Elena. I could’ve done better, but his sudden appearance surprised me a bit too much. I take a new sip of whiskey to give me some more confidence, the sweet taste adding some red to my cheeks and warmth to my body. Nathaniel has a glass too, some translucent liquid.

He finally takes a seat next to me, dangerously close, but I don’t back away this time. I’m feeling bold, strong, and defiant. My skin is getting hotter, as he is a few inches away. His face is so close, I can see every detail of his traits.

“Good place to get a drink. I was hoping I’d see you again.”

His honesty surprises me, but I don’t think twice before giving my response.

“Me too.”

He smiles and a chill runs down my spine. Moon Goddess, his sexiness puts me on the fucking edge. My stomach feels as if it is about to burst. Suddenly, his fingers reach for my drink, and he takes it away without a word. I’m about to protest, but before I can, his lips are on mine.

It’s a delicious surprise and I answer his kiss without thinking. Just like yesterday, his movements are so precise and measured that I lose myself in his expert moves. I kiss him back, and Moon Goddess, it feels so wrong but so good. I’m aware people might be watching us; we are in a crowded nightclub after all, but I don’t give a damn.

I just want his lips on mine, the touch of his tongue, and the fire of his hands caressing my skin. His fingers run over my thighs, my neck, and through my hair. It feels like fire and desire are taking over me. I forget and give up on everything else. I want more, I want to feel this good forever.

It’s innocent and sexy. Something half forbidden. I gasp for air and his lips reach out for my neck. Without realizing it, I put a hand on his arm, flirting with his skin too. When we slowly stop, I’m feeling amazing. Shame and hesitation have faded as he smiles at me.

“I take it that you haven’t changed your mind,” he whispers.

“I haven’t.”

I reach for my glass and finish my whiskey in one go under his amused eyes. It would take a lot more to get me drunk, but the sweet taste helps in making me feel lighter. He finishes his too, and we get up at the same time. He doesn’t take my hand or touch me, just leading the way as we head down the stairs.

One night, he said. One night that I really need. One night when I can be someone else, someone’s one-time lover.

Like yesterday, we leave the nightclub in a flash, no one holding us back. He takes my hand when we get outside and leads me to his car. We sit inside, and just before he turns the engine on, he sighs and turns to me with a frown.

“No running away?”

I can’t help but laugh. This question is so sudden and random!

“No, not this time,” I answer with an amused smile.

“Good,” he says with a smile too.

He starts the car, and we head further into the Velvet Moon territory. It’s a silent ride, but I don’t feel any uneasiness in it. Instead, I’m mesmerized by the scenery as we take the highway. All of Silver City, a glowing nightlife, yellow lights on dark buildings, like some golden glitter on a black curtain. It’s the kind of scene you see on a poster, a view you can never get tired of. Nathaniel lit up a cigarette and is enjoying it. I’ve never been in a convertible. Feeling the night air and summer wind on my skin as he speeds up is awesome.

A night ride with a stranger. Asking for trouble, probably, but Moon Goddess, I don’t care. I need one night to be someone else, leave my life behind me for a while. No worries about my duties, my uncle, my life. I take a big leap into the unknown without looking back.

He finally parks in front of some very chic hotel I’ve never seen before. An incredibly tall building with a fancy entrance and VIP service. Is this really okay? This is way too classy for my means! He notices my expression.

“What is it?”

“A hotel?” I ask, a bit unsure.

But he just shrugs.

“I own it.”

He owns a hotel. Am I supposed to act as if this is common? He owns a freaking hotel! Well, I knew the Black brothers were rich. Probably some of the richest people in Silver City, as far as I know. Oh, whatever. It’s just for one night anyway. I can play fancy as well, after all. I follow him as he walks across the lobby without stopping, simply nodding at the receptionist. He’s walking fast, like he’s in a hurry. I silently hate my heels in that moment as I struggle to catch up to him.

He steps into an empty elevator, pushes the button for the highest floor, and I join him before the door closes.

The second the elevator starts moving, he suddenly turns to me and grabs my waist to pull me close to him. I’m pushed against the wall and we stare at each other for a moment before he starts kissing me again. It’s more passionate and forceful this time. We are both hungry for each other and our lips get more impatient. I caress his neck and the base of his blonde hair. I feel his hands on my thighs and back, caressing my skin and moving along with our kiss.

What is it about him that makes me forget everything else? I pursue this kiss even more, playing with his tongue. The sound of his breathing makes me forget about gravity. This elevator is getting higher, reaching for the sky, and Moon Goddess, I hope it won’t ever stop. My eyes are closed and I feel the heat of another language, something silent we exchange with our fingers. He interrupts our kiss to look at me. I feel like my heart’s about to burst out of my chest just looking at his hypnotic blue eyes. He doesn’t say a thing as we pant, staring at each other with desire etched on our faces. I’m alone with an angel and his demonic kisses. I don’t want to look at the floors scrolling on the screen. I just want to stay trapped in here and exchange the remaining seconds for hours. He smiles, as if he could read my mind, and suddenly goes for my neck, kissing and biting it gently. Oh, Moon Goddess. His hand suddenly ventures under my skirt, and I shiver with desire.

He keeps this torture going, and for a second, I wonder if we can make love right here instead.

A bell suddenly rings, announcing our arrival. 53rd floor? Damn, it’s a skyscraper after all, and Mr. Millionaire went for the top floor. I try to catch my breath, but Nate grabs my hand and pulls me behind him across a corridor. We walk by a couple of doors before he stops. He takes a black card from his pocket and opens the door before taking me inside.

Moon Goddess, this is one really impressive suite. A cold marble floor, red cedar on the walls, and gold decorative patterns throughout the room. And that incredible view over the city! I wish I had the time to see it, but for now, all I can focus on is Nathaniel.

As soon as we cross the threshold, his hand reaches for mine, and before the door is even shut, his lips are on mine again.

It’s like a sweet drug, something I crave uncontrollably. The taste of him, the manly smell of his skin. I kiss him back fiercely, abandoning myself to desire. I want more, I want this man right now. I’m against the wall again and our bodies are intertwined with each other. His leg is between mine as I feel his desire growing under his pants. Nathaniel kisses me again, a deep, savage kiss. A fire is raging inside me, burning my skin and my senses. I’m so hot. My hand caresses his torso, appreciating the open shirt. I can feel those perfect abs under my fingers, and they are impressive, and make me curious for more. I try to unbutton him despite our wild kissing. I’m so clumsy, it takes forever to get to the last one. He smiles against my lips, and in the next second, the shirt is on the floor, and his torso is fully exposed.

Holy Moon Goddess, even Apollo should be jealous of this man. How do you get a perfect body like his? Or is it just my personal heaven? I gasp as this half-naked man steps back to take off his shoes. I’m still drooling over his perfect muscles when he faces me again, and that makes him smile.

“Enjoying the view?” he asks with an annoying smirk.

I try to ignore him, but I can’t, his fingers are already reaching for my top. Taking it off over my head, he throws it across the room too. He doesn’t wait though, and his hands get a hold of me again, his lips going for my neck. I’m just as hasty, reaching for his back, caressing his arms as we hold on to each other.

Suddenly, his fingers decide to explore my body some more, and they caress me under my skirt. Oh, Moon Goddess! Is he skilled or am I overexcited? Or both? I tremble from the sensations, but he doesn’t stop and starts kissing my chest instead. If I wasn’t against the wall, I might have lost my balance already. His fingers keep moving and my voice suddenly comes out in an embarrassing moan that surprises the both of us. I cover my mouth. How did I make such a sound? But after a second of surprise, Nathaniel has this devilish smile on.

“I love your voice. Let me hear it some more.”

And with that, he resumes his movements against my panties, his kisses going up and down my neck and chest. He knows what he’s doing, and those fingers are driving me crazy! I grab his wrist, but that doesn’t stop him. The torture goes on and only stops when he decides so. Damn, my legs feel so numb. Why is he the one with the upper hand? As payback, I kiss him even more fiercely and push him all the way to the large bed.

I can feel his smile under my lips, but I don’t care. I get on top of him and bite his shoulder, annoyed. It’s childish, but his groan is satisfying enough. I have a little victory over him. It’s my turn to smile.

“It hurts,” he whispers.

“And I don’t care,” I answer just as softly.

We stay like this for a few seconds, him under me, staring at each other. I can’t tell what he is thinking. His eyes are fixated on me, a bit confused, like he’s reevaluating, looking at me differently. The atmosphere between the two of us seems to change slowly. I lean in to kiss him again, and he replies to my lips.

This time, it’s different. Our exchange feels much more tender, gentle. His hand caresses my shoulder, and he guides me for a change of position. We don’t stop kissing, but our hands are also busy taking our clothes off. It takes a while, but it doesn’t matter. We take our time kissing each other, exploring each other’s bodies, and playing with our senses. My skin is so hot despite the air conditioning in the room, we are sharing our warmth again and again.

Nate’s kisses are addictive. Sometimes gentle, sometimes sultrier, they are unpredictable and I love it. He keeps me on edge every time. I want him, but he still finds a way to make me want him even more. It doesn’t feel like a cold, heartless one-night stand, but like a passionate night between two lovers. We kiss, we enjoy ourselves, and we even smile between our kisses and caresses.

But we both know what our bodies are yearning for. After who knows how long, when I can’t take it anymore, we finally join our bodies together. Moon Goddess, I can’t even describe how perfect this feels. We take a few seconds, and another kiss, to enjoy that sensation of completing each other. He starts moving, slowly at first, and I join him.

Our bodies dance at a perfect, gentle rhythm. He’s on top of me, staring at me, watching my every reaction. His intense blue gaze is making me even crazier. He grabs my wrists and pins them against the mattress, and I can’t control anything. Neither of us averts our eyes from the other. The movements of his waist are intense and driven by desire. I can’t hold my voice, and the sounds of my pleasure echo in the room. He matches his speed to my reactions, and damn, he’s good at it. Everything increases: pleasure, sounds, groans, speed, until I can’t control myself anymore.

I let myself drown in intense pleasure, not holding back, and I hear him join me a second later. My own orgasm took me by surprise and Moon Goddess, it’s a whirlwind of sensations I was not prepared for. For some long seconds, my body is experiencing heaven and hell, trembling and searing.

When I come back to my senses, I’m still panting, and Nathaniel is in the same state as me. Oh, Moon Goddess, that was intense! I feel like my whole body was just struck by lightning. I close my eyes, in a post-orgasmic daze. To my surprise, his lips come looking for mine again, in another tender kiss, and his hands caress my neck. I don’t resist it.

My Moon Goddess, why does this one-night dream have to be so perfect and heavenly?