His breath warm against my skin.

Athonia’s pov

Kezzy’s eyes nearly popped out. She stared at me like I had just confessed to robbing a bank.

“What?! You don’t even have a boyfriend! Or a husband! How do you plan to have a baby?” Her voice dropped to a sharp whisper. “You’re the same girl who swore off love, remember? And now this? Athonia, that’s not a reason. You can’t just get pregnant to prove a point to your parents. A baby is not a trophy.”

She sounded calm, but her eyes said otherwise. She was shocked. Disappointed, even.

I blinked, caught off guard. I thought she’d support me. I thought she'd say, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ But this? This felt like a slap.

“I know,” I muttered. “But I want a baby. I’m okay being single forever… as long as I have my own child.”

That was it. My new plan. No man. No ring. Just me and my baby.

Kezzy folded her arms, raising a brow. “So basically, you want to get knocked up by someone you don’t care about? Just any guy?”

I nodded slowly. “Exactly. No strings. No feelings. Just... chemistry. I don’t want the father showing up later asking for custody or playing family.”

Her jaw dropped again. She looked like I’d said I was moving to Mars.

“You can’t be serious! Ath, this is insane! Do you have any idea what you’re saying?” She rubbed her forehead like I was giving her a headache. “Please tell me you’ve had wine. Or vodka. Or something. You sound crazy!”

“I’m not drunk,” I said, smiling. I leaned in and whispered, “I just need you to help me find the perfect guy… the perfect sperm cell.”

Kezzy looked at me like I had lost my mind. She dragged her fingers through her braids and groaned.

“Oh my God, Ath. Why not go to a clinic and do it properly? At least that way, no weird guy calling you ‘baby mama’ years later!”

I shrugged. She had a point. But…

“That costs a lot,” I said. “I’d rather use that money for the baby’s needs. And…” I hesitated, cheeks heating up. “I want to enjoy it too, okay? Don’t kill the vibe.”

Kezzy blinked. “Did you just say enjoy it?”

I nodded, biting my lip. Who even was I right now? This didn’t sound like me. The old Athonia would never…

“I feel like I’m going to grow old alone,” I whispered. “And before that happens, I want to feel what everyone talks about, pleasure, connection, fire.”

Kezzy let out a long sigh and stared at me like I’d officially lost it.

“You’re really losing your mind, girl. Pleasure? Babies? Random men?” She shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

“Just help me out, please,” I begged, giving Kezzy my most dramatic look. “I need a hot guy. Someone who can get me pregnant. At least let him be handsome. Imagine how cute my baby would be!”

I was already smiling like an idiot, picturing a chubby little baby with big eyes and the perfect nose. My baby.

Kezzy blinked at me like I had lost my mind.

“I seriously have no words. You? Saying this? Who are you and what have you done with Athonia?”

“Oh, stop it,” I laughed, pinching her waist. “You’re being too dramatic.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go get drinks. Maybe alcohol will fix whatever this is.”

“Drama queen,” I muttered with a playful smirk.

She walked back to where Prince and his friends were sitting, and I followed her like nothing had happened. We joined their conversation, and soon enough, we were laughing, drinking, and acting like life was simple.

For a while, I forgot everything. The crazy plan, the pressure, even the loneliness. I was just a girl having fun.

But of course, Kezzy’s energy didn’t run out. Even after a few bottles, she was still bouncing.

“Hey!” she yelled suddenly. “Let’s go dance!”

She stood up, a little tipsy, her eyes glossy but excited. I glanced around. Everyone else looked half-dead, passed out or slumped over. The drinks had definitely kicked in hard.

“You’re not tired?” I croaked, holding my stomach. I was dizzy. My body begged for sleep.

“Nope!” she grinned. She got off Prince’s lap, he was already out cold, and yanked me up.

“Come on, Ath! Let’s go. Maybe we’ll find your future baby daddy on the dance floor!” she teased with a wink.

I stared at her through my fuzzy vision… then smiled and let her pull me along.

We staggered into the hallway, leaning on each other, laughing like kids sneaking out.

Then she gasped and pointed. “There! VIP Room 92. When someone walks out of that room, if he’s hot, that’s your guy. Deal?”

I giggled. “Deal.”

I leaned against the wall beside the door, arms crossed. We waited like kids waiting for candy.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. No one came out.

“This is taking forever,” I mumbled.

Kezzy grinned like a madwoman. “If no one comes out soon, just go inside. I don’t care if he’s fifty and bald. As long as he’s got working swimmers.”

“What?! He could be a creepy old man with five kids!”

“At least he’ll get the job done!” she cackled.

“You’re mad. I said I want a hot guy!”

She rolled her eyes. “Girl, you’re already hot enough. Your genes can do the heavy lifting.”

I sighed, looking away, and that’s when I saw him.

Tall and well built. He was wearing a black shirt, sleeves rolled just enough. His jawline could cut glass. His walk? Confidence. His vibe? Dangerous.

“Ath, look. Him,” Kezzy whispered like we were watching royalty walk by.

“Delicious,” I breathed, eyes glued to him.

He didn’t even glance our way. Just walked straight into VIP Room 92.

Kezzy grabbed my shoulders. “This is it. Tonight, you leave virgin territory. I hope it’s the best ten minutes of your life.”

She kissed my cheek loudly and wobbled away, laughing like a drunk fairy godmother.

And me? I stood there, heart racing, palms sweaty, stomach doing flips. What was I about to do?

I stared at the door for a second… then reached for the handle.

I watched Kezzy stumble away like a tipsy baby deer, wobbling from side to side. Then I took a deep breath, turned to the door of VIP Room 92, and knocked.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Finally, the door creaked open. A man stood there. Tall. Serious face. Deep voice.

“What do you want, Miss?” he asked, frowning. His tone was calm, but his eyes said, You’re not supposed to be here.

God. He was gorgeous. His lips, plump, soft-looking, perfect. I stared at them too long, and then, without thinking, I said, “Make me pregnant.”

His brows jumped. “What?”

“You heard me,” I said again, chin up, heart racing. “Get me pregnant.”

No shame. No fear. This was it. He was going to be the father of my baby, even if he didn’t know it yet.

Before he could say a word, I slipped past him and walked into the room like I owned it.

It was stunning inside. Bigger than our VIP room. Dim lights. Fancy couches. The faint smell of whiskey and expensive cologne in the air. Everything felt… forbidden.

He shut the door behind us and turned to me, looking confused and slightly offended.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I turned slowly, gave him my best sexy look, the one I’d practiced in the mirror at least fifty times but never used for real.

“I mean exactly what I said,” I whispered. “I want your baby. No strings. I don’t want your money or your name or anything else. Just your… donation.”

I gave him a sweet, almost innocent smile. “You’re insanely hot. I figured your genes might give me the most beautiful child.”

I stepped closer, slowly, like I was trying not to scare a wild animal.

“I really want to be a mom. I’m serious. Just help me, please?” My fingers brushed his arm, but he quickly stepped back.

He stared at me like I had three heads.

“Are you drunk?” he asked, still half-laughing but clearly nervous. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Why were men so dramatic?

Enough talking. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. They were warm, soft and perfect. But… he didn’t kiss me back.

He stood like a statue, lips sealed, arms frozen.

Seriously? I pulled away, annoyed. My eyes narrowed as I looked at him again, this time with sass.

“Are you really going to pass this up?” I asked, crossing my arms. “I’m offering you one night with someone attractive, for free. No drama. No morning-after calls. Just fun. Then we go our separate ways.”

He still looked shocked. But something in his jaw shifted. Maybe I was finally getting to him.

Ugh. So picky. Honestly, he should be grateful I chose him to father my future baby.

I closed my eyes and gently nibbled his lower lip, teasing him, hoping he’d finally give in. And just like that, he did, his mouth opened, and my tongue slid in.

Wait… why did he taste like candy?

His mouth was sweet, like cherry-flavored gum. Unexpected… but kind of addictive. I hadn’t kissed anyone in forever. My body felt like it was learning everything all over again.

Then I felt it, something hard pressing into my stomach. Oh. So I wasn’t the only one feeling this.

I leaned into him, letting our bodies touch fully, skin to skin through our clothes. I may be a virgin, but I’m not clueless. I’ve read. I’ve watched. I’ve wondered. But now? Now I felt it, that wild, needy ache they always talk about.

Just as I was starting to lose myself in the moment, his hands grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back.

I blinked at him, breathing hard. His eyes were locked on mine, filled with something intense, was it anger? Shock? Lust?

I couldn’t tell. But instead of fear, I felt… annoyed. Why stop now?

“You’re driving me insane,” he growled, voice low and thick.

Before I could answer, his hand moved to the back of my dress. One quick pull, zip! and the fabric slipped off my shoulders.

I gasped. Not because I was shy… but because of how fast he moved.

He laid me down on the sofa like I weighed nothing, then lifted one of my legs and slid between them like he had done this a hundred times before.

“W-wait…”

He didn’t say a word. His face dipped close to my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

“I told you I’d make you pregnant,” he whispered. “And I keep my promises.”

My breath caught. Then his hand slid along my thigh, slow, smooth, sure.

No rush. No hesitation. Just heat. My heart pounded like crazy. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol, the room, or the years of buried feelings finally exploding. Maybe it was everything.

All I knew was… I wanted this. All of it.

And there was no going back now.