Chapter One

Aria slumped deeper into the worn-out gray couch in Lena’s cramped Toronto apartment, her curvy frame practically swallowed by the baggy sweats that could easily fit in two more people of her size.

Her dark hair fell in a tangled mess around her face, framing her big hazel eyes that were puffy and red from two months of sobbing into pillows.

Eight long years. Fuck, we talked about marriage and kids.

And what does he do? Fucks that bleach-blonde slut of their neighbor, Sasha, with her fake tits and I*******m thirst trap, right on our kitchen counter while I stupidly worked double shifts at the cafe towards their future.

Fucking Marcus!!

The memory hits fresh.

She had come home earlier from work to surprise Marcus. A customer had just given her the biggest tip of her life and with the day being their 8th anniversary, she made plans for a rooftop dinner and some hot fuck later.

Everything was perfect.

But as soon as she walked in, the sound of moaning was unmistakable.

Quietly, she followed the sound to the kitchen, and what she saw made her breath hitch.

There was her boyfriend with his scruffy fade-cut head buried between their neighbor’s legs.

“Ohh, Marcus… right there…y-yess… that’s the spot… yess-s..”

“Mmm-hmmm-mmm, fuck, you taste so good, Sash… so fucking good,” Marcus mumbled between her legs, his tongue thrusting in and out of her swollen pussy.

“What the actual fuck?!” Aria’s words came out louder than she intended.

But they didn't stop.

It felt like her presence turned them on even more. Sasha had the stupidest smirk on her face as she held Marcus head to keep tongue-fucking her deeper.

The audacity!

Her hands clenched so tight that her freshly-done nails broke.

How could he do this to her?

Even though Marcus earned a decent pay as a gym coach, it was only her money that was used to buy what they needed around the house.

He had always assured her that he was saving the money for their future, and she had been so stupid to believe him.

They were in love. That was all that mattered, or so she thought.

With her blurred vision, she grabbed what she could: clothes, laptop, toiletries, and called an Uber, sobbing.

By midnight, she was standing on Lena’s doorstep.

Lena Torres, her coworker from the cafe who had become a fast friend over their late-night shift, venting about bad dates and boss drama, hugged her tight when she opened the door.

“Crash here for as long as you need, girl," she'd said softly. "Marcus is an absolute pig and he doesn’t deserve you.”

That was two months ago.

Her phone buzzed on the cluttered coffee table again, the screen lighting up with his name. She grabbed it, thumb hovering before opening the text.

Marcus: “Come pick up the rest of your shit. The garage door is open. Also, Sasha says hi xx.” A gym-bro emoji smirked at the end.

“Fuck you,” she muttered as she hurled the phone across the room.

It bounced off a greasy pizza box and skidded under the TV stand.

“Fuck you, Marcus!” She screamed as the tears welled up again in her eyes.

Just then, the front door flew open with a dramatic bang and Lena marched in, her short black curls bouncing wildly. Her yoga-toned arms were crossed over a neon pink tank top.

Beside her was Mia Chen, a petite Chinese-Canadian with straight bob haircut and sharp eyeliner. She was always the sarcastic one from their cafe crew.

And then, there was Jade Patel, the tall Indian beauty whose long hair Aria could only dream of having. She was the hype-woman who DJed at their staff parties.

“Aria Marie Jenkins!” Lena exclaimed. “Enough with this pity party. It’s been two months. Two fucking months moping over that smug rat.”

“Crying into Ben & Jerry’s every night?” Mia snorted, kicking off her shoes.

“Honestly, Ari, it’s pathetic," Jade chipped in. "The idiot is probably somewhere having the time of his life while you’re sitting here depressed.”

Lena, who had gone into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, stepped back in.

"Club tonight, bitches!" she said. "There's this Toronto’s hottest spot that just opened. We’re talking shots, dancing, and hot guys."

She turned to Aria. "Time to slut it up and forget that loser and his limp dick.”

Aria whined and pulled a blanket over her head.

“Guys, no," she protested. "My Masters' programme starts tomorrow, remember? I’ve got an early morning class, and I already look like a raccoon fucked a zombie.”

Lena yanked the blanket away and Mia pulled her up.

“We know that," she shoved a tight black dress into her hands. "Lena pushed your ass to apply for that program, so don’t waste it. But for now…”

“We partyyyy!” Jade blasted music from her phone, setting them in the mood. “Go shower, girl. We’re dragging you out for this house, whether you like it or not.”

- - -

An hour later, they were at the club.

Flashy strobes of lights sliced through the sweaty air, thick with vodka, weed, and cologne-perfume mix. Bodies ground wild, glitter girls tossing heads, guys peacocking.

Lena moved them all to the sticky bar.

“Four tequilas! Salt-lime. Quick!”

They cheers and downed the shot.

"Fuck!" Mia shook her head. "This is one strong tequila."

The burn slid down Aria's throat nicely.

She leaned back, scanning the crowd as she licked the lime from her lips, and that's when she saw him.

He was leaning on the wall, 6’2 and muscular. His inked arms clung tightly around the white V-neck shirt he wore.

His tousled black hair fell over his piercing blue eyes that were locked onto hers.

Damn! He’s hot!

Lena nudged her. “You see that fine piece over there looking like he'd rather eat you for dinner? Go talk to him.”

"What?!" Aria’s cheeks flamed. “I'm just two months post-breakup. I can't… It's too soon.”

“Slut up, girl,” Mia teased. “You want to get over your ex, right? Well, the right opportunity had presented itself.”

“Guys, come on—”

"I think she needs more shot," Jade called the bartender, chanting shots and the rest followed suit.

Three burned sweet, four fired confidence and the fire pooled low in her belly.

Fuck Marcus. I’m doing this!

With her heart hammering, Aria sauntered over, her hips swaying over her tight dress. God bless Mia. This dress was definitely the right choice.

“Staring much?” She said in her most sexiest voice when she reached him.

He chuckled, his deep voice cutting the noise.

“Can you blame me?” The smell of whiskey oozed through. “Dance?”

Damn! Where did this magnificent being come from? His baritone voice was already vibranting her dormant pussy.

“Sure,” she said as they moved to the dance floor.

His hands on her waist sparked heat and she felt the liquid soak her panties.

How the fuck is he able to make her wet just from his touch?

As they danced, they ground closer and closer, their sweat-slick skin becoming electric.

She turned her back to him and ground her ass against his hard length. Oh shit! That is one huge cock.

Just imagining how it would fill her up made her body shake involuntarily.

The man must have felt it too because he leaned down to her ears, his breath hot against her skin.

“Wanna get out of here?" he whispered. "I know somewhere quieter."

“Umm…” she hesitated. Her eyes darted to her friends, and sure enough, there was her answer in six thumbs up. “Okay, let’s go.”

As soon as they left, Aria immediately texted in their group chat.

Aria: “Hotel across the club. Pepper spray ready just in case.”

Her friends replied with a series of emojis: tongue, water drops, aubergine, and crazy hand placement (iykyk).

Lena: “Get dick, queen! Don’t forget school tomorrow.”

Just before the hotel door shut behind her, the man shoved her against the cool wall and devoured her lips, rough and hungry.

Their tongues slid into each other's throat with wet urgency.

Aria’s nails scraped his shoulders through his shirt, her hips rolling forward to press her mound against the rigid outline of his cock bulging in his trousers.

She moved her hands to his chest and pulled him back slowly.

"Wait," she said between breaths. "No names and no strings attached. After tonight, we don't need to see each other again. Got it?”