Chapter2One Night

“Who are you?” Tanya twisted in his grip. “Let me go—now.”

“Relax,” the man replied, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ll know who I am soon enough.”

He was tall—far taller than her. When he leaned down to speak, warm breath brushed against her skin, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

What was happening?

What did he want?

Before she could think further, a sudden chill crept across her back.

Her dress—she didn’t even know when—had been torn open by his hand.

“Bastard!” Tanya thrashed in his arms. “What do you think you’re doing?! Let me go!”

“Careful,” he murmured.

His fingers traced slowly along her slender neck, his voice husky, unreasonably intoxicating.

Tanya’s breath hitched.

Even with no experience, she knew exactly what this meant.

Worse—her body reacted before her mind could. Heat bloomed under her skin, unwanted, confusing.

“If you dare touch me,” she gasped, “I swear I’ll make you pay—let me go!”

She twisted desperately, unaware that her resistance only tightened the man’s control.

“How exactly do you plan to make me pay?” he asked, amusement lacing his tone.

He lifted an eyebrow.

Before she could react, he stepped forward, forcing her back against the wall.

Panic surged.

She opened her mouth to scream—

But in the next second, his arm swept around her, lifting her effortlessly and tossing her onto the bed.

For a fleeting moment, Tanya scrambled upright, preparing to escape—

Too late.

His weight pressed down, trapping her completely.

There was no room left to run.

No strength left to fight.

His mouth crashed down on hers—hot, urgent, drug-fueled—stealing every sound before it could form.

Then pain, sharp and unmistakable.

Her body tensed violently beneath him.

Leonard froze.

There was resistance—real, undeniable resistance.

This wasn’t the body of a woman accustomed to strangers.

This wasn’t someone who sold herself for money.

This wasn’t a woman who moved through men like transactions.

The woman beneath him was not what he had assumed.

She wasn’t experienced.She wasn’t practiced.

He was clearly drugged himself, restraint hanging by a thread—yet his movements slowed, gentled despite the chaos burning beneath his control.

“Relax,” he murmured. “It’ll stop hurting soon.”

Animal.

Tanya clenched her teeth and bit down hard on his shoulder.

“Damn—” He sucked in a breath, then laughed softly.

“Not obedient at all,” he said. “But doesn’t that make it more… exciting?”

“Asshole!” she screamed.

Afterward…

Holding back tears, Tanya glared at him, her jaw clenched.

Curtain-light shifted faintly across the room as she tried to make out his face—but it was too dark. All she could sense was his overwhelming presence.

Dominant. Ruthless. In control.

“Who are you?” she demanded hoarsely. “Why did you do this to me?”

A low chuckle answered.

Leonard’s fingers brushed her cheek lightly.

“You’re interesting,” he said lazily. “And I love it.”

She slapped his hand away and shot upright in bed.

“I asked you who you are!”

“Please me again,” he replied coolly, reaching for her. “Then I might tell you.”

Disgusting.

Pathetic excuse for a man.

“No one’s pleasing you,” Tanya snapped.

She scrambled for her clothes, clutching them tightly around herself.

She had to leave.

Right now.

As if reading her thoughts, Leonard laughed—slow, confident, mocking.

“You really think you can escape?” he drawled.

“Woman, I suggest you give up that foolish idea.”

His thumb brushed his lower lip as his gaze darkened.

“This fierce little act doesn’t suit you,” he added.

“You were much cuter earlier…”

The implication lingered in the air.

“Bastard!”

Fueled by rage, Tanya grabbed the nearest glass and hurled it at him.

Leonard dodged easily.

But before he could speak—

Pain exploded in his abdomen.

“You’ve got some nerve—”

“Nerve?” Tanya cut in coldly. “Call it self-defense.”

She drew back her leg, satisfaction flashing across her face as she heard his stifled groan.

“Men like you—ruled by nothing but lust—deserve exactly this.”

Seizing the moment, she dressed quickly, flung the door open, and ran.

“Stop!” Leonard barked sharply. “Don’t you dare leave!”

She paused just long enough to glance back.

“Anyone who stays would be an idiot,” she shot back coolly.

Then, with deliberate calm, she added—

“And for the record—yes, it was my first time.

But even I know your performance just now was… underwhelming.”

And then she was gone.

Outside the hotel, Tanya staggered to a stop, gasping for air.

Only when her heart slowed did she reach instinctively for her neck—

And froze.

Nothing.

Her pendant was gone.

“Oh no… my necklace!” she whispered.

“My father’s emerald—the one that’s been in our family for generations.”

The hotel.

It had to be there.

But how could she go back?

He was still inside.

Tears finally slipped free.

Her first time—Gone.

And she hadn’t even seen his face.