CHAPTER 4

POV: Damian

Her mouth tasted like mint and something sweet I couldn’t name.

Maybe it wasn’t the taste.

Maybe it was her.

Because the moment my lips touched hers, something inside me cracked open—something I didn’t even know even still existed in me.

I pulled her closer without thinking, my hand sliding from her neck down her back, pulling her soft body against mine. I knew this was wrong. God, I knew it. But right now? I didn’t care. I only wanted more of her. All of her.

My hands kept moving on their own, like they weren’t even mine to control. They found her hips—small, firm—and I squeezed them, groaning against her mouth.

She made a tiny sound, almost a gasp, and my entire body reacted. Hard. Fast. Violently.

I shouldn’t feel like this. Not for a stranger.

Not for a girl whose name I didn’t even know. Whose face I hadn't seen at all.

But I couldn’t stop. I couldn't help myself.

My palms slid from her hips, ready to explore more, pull her back into my lap—

And then the door handle clicked.

She froze instantly, stiffening in my arms.

My grip loosened on her hips as the door began to swing wide open.

Before I could speak, before I could stop her—

She shoved me back. Hard.

I wasn’t expecting it, so I fell back against the couch as she jumped off my lap. The mask still covered her face, but her eyes—those damn brown eyes—looked terrified.

The door opened wider.

Eric walked in, talking as usual. “I asked for the girl—”

He stopped the second he saw her.

She panicked. “I’m sorry, I—I have to go.”

And then she ran.

She just bolted past him and disappeared into the hallway.

Eric turned his head toward the open door, confused, and then looked at me. His brows shot up as he stepped inside and closed the door.

“What just happened?” he asked slowly. “Did she already perform for you?”

I coughed, clearing my throat. “Kind of.”

“Kind of?” He moved closer. “What does that even mean? I’m the birthday boy and I didn’t get to see her dance!”

He dropped onto the chair opposite me, squinting his eyes like he was trying to read my mind. Then, suddenly, he smirked.

“Oh no,” he said, grinning. “I think something else happened in this room.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, hoping my face wasn’t giving anything away.

He pointed at me. “For one—your lips are swollen.” He leaned forward. “And is that… lip gloss?”

I stood up fast. “Okay. I think it’s time we go.”

“No, no, no.” He raised both hands. “I’m not leaving. Not until you tell me what happened here.”

“You know,” I said, annoyed, “when you said we were going out to celebrate your birthday, you didn’t say anything about it being a strip club.”

“Where’s the fun in telling you beforehand?” Eric shrugged. “You’d have backed out if I warned you.”

“Fine,” I said. “I’ve celebrated with you. Can we leave now?”

He sighed loudly. “Ugh, fine. But I’m not letting you off the hook. I will find out what happened while I was in the bathroom.”

“Learn to control your bladder,” I muttered, rearranging my jacket on my body. “Then maybe you won’t miss all the fun next time.”

Eric placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Wow. That’s the gratitude I get?”

“Let’s go.”

We walked out of the VIP room together.

But as soon as we stepped back into the club, I couldn’t stop myself—I looked around. Every corner. Every shadow. Every direction.

Hoping to see her again.

Hoping for even just one more glimpse.

I didn’t know her name. I hadn’t even seen her face. She kept her silver mask on the entire time.

All I knew… was the firefly tattoo on the bottom left side of her waist.

And the scent—

A mixture of jasmine and coconut.

Who the hell smells that good?

And those brown eyes under the mask…

They pulled me in like gravity.

“Who are you looking for?” Eric asked suddenly.

“What?”

“You’ve been looking around since we walked out of that room.”

“It’s nothing,” I said too quickly. “Let’s go.”

We pushed through the exit and stepped outside. The night air hit my face, cold and sharp, grounding me a little. We got into the car—Eric was driving us back.

As soon as the engine started, my thoughts went right back to her.

The moment we stepped into that club, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her. She danced like she didn’t want to be there, but she still moved with everything she had. Powerful yet broken.

Beautiful yet hurting.

Eric had caught me staring too long and had asked the manager to send her to the VIP room.

And when she walked in…

My entire body reacted.

I had never reacted to a woman like that.

Not in my teenage years.

Not during my army years.

Not even with Vivian—my fiancée.

But this masked girl…

She woke something in me that should have stayed dead.

Wrong or not, one thing was clear—I was going to find her.

Whoever she was.

Wherever she worked.

That girl was mine.

She just didn’t know it yet.

I needed something cold to calm me down.

“You okay, man?” Eric asked.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

“Are you sure? You know, you don’t have to tell me what happened back there in that room, but I’m worried.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine.”

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll stop asking.”

The rest of the ride was silent.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up in front of my apartment building.

“I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I told him and got out.

The elevator took me up to the penthouse. As soon as I entered, I headed straight to my room. My mind was chaotic, my body even worse. Only one thing could help me right now—a cold shower.

I dropped my jacket on the bed, kicked off my shoes, and walked straight into the bathroom.

I didn’t bother undressing.

I stepped under the cold water fully clothed, letting it hit me until my thoughts slowed.

Damn that girl.

What the fuck had she done to me?

As I stood under the water trying to calm myself, I heard my phone begin to ring.

I forced myself out of the shower, peeled off my wet clothes, tied a towel around my waist, and walked to the bedroom.

Vivian. Why was she calling me?

I sighed and picked up. “Hello.”

“Hey babe,” she said brightly. “How are you doing?”

“Why are you calling this late, Vivian?”

She laughed softly. “Can’t I call my fiancé anytime? Anyway, I’ll be back in the country tomorrow. I wanted to let you know.”

“Mmm.”

“I know you’ll be happy to see me,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

I ended the call.

I didn’t care whether she returned or not.

Because only one thing stayed in my mind—

One person—

The girl with the mask.

The girl with the firefly tattoo.

I dressed in comfortable clothes and got into bed, staring at the ceiling.

And then—

suddenly—

my phone buzzed again.

A message.

From Vivian.

‘I forgot to tell you how much I miss you and I can't wait to be in your arms tomorrow.’

She really knew how to annoy the hell out of me.

But I wasn't going to let her ruin my night. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep.

But the image of the girl in the mask kept on haunting my dreams.