3

Jennie's POV

The air in the club is sizzling with desire.

“Cara” I whisper my best friend’s name nervously and she winks at me, “let's have fun. I promise this place is completely safe” she yells over the music before leaving me to go dance with a stranger.

The whole place is lit up only by red lights. The sultry light bounces off half-naked, sweaty bodies. The air in the spacious club is heavy with something heady. It feels like freedom.

I lick my lips as I survey the crowd. I lift my eyes and find a section of the club hidden from everyone else. It's private yet open, and there's a man sitting there.

My eyes stay on the stranger sitting there. He's dressed in all-black. He's not even moving, yet I can feel the power radiating off him.

Oh my God…he looks old enough to be my father, but something about him makes me gulp.

The man leans back in the seat and I lick my suddenly dry lips again. His black shirt is stretched over his powerful chest. The shirt half-unbuttoned, showing off the tanned skin of his chest. His thighs are spread apart and he seems to be alone.

I watch as he leans forward to say something to the masked bartender and a cup of whiskey is slid into his hand. His lips form a hard line and his long fingers dance over the edge of his cup.

He suddenly looks in my direction and I freeze.

From the distance, his dark eyes meet mine, and then they drop to my body. Something about the way his stormy eyes scan my body makes me press my legs together. They move over my cleavage, my waist, and down to my feet.

For the first time, I feel heat and lust surging through my body…he isn't even touching me.

I get up from my seat and make the decision to go to him. If Oliver could do this to me…I think I'm free to go after what I want.

I slide into the seat next to him and he smirks at me, salt and pepper hair falling over his forehead. Even up close, he's more attractive.

“You're one brave girl, aren't you?“ he asks and I swallow. “You looked lonely…I wanted to join you” I say and he tilts his head, watching me through heavy-lidded eyes.

“Are you alone?” he asks in a low voice and I nod.

“Yeah…” I say. Suddenly feeling shy at my own forwardness, “do you want me to leave?“ I ask and he chuckles low and deep.

“Hmm, I don't mind the company. I am a sucker for pretty faces with sad eyes” he says with a deep voice and I can't help but laugh.

He's right, Cara did a great job at making me look pretty. I'm pretty but my eyes still look very sad.

“Do you want to talk about it, princess?“ he asks and my skin heats up at the title. He says it with an accent and I find myself wanting to hear it again.

“I got cheated on by the man I've loved since I was a teen” I say, trying to act like none of the words affect me, but he sees past me. His eyes scan me again and saliva pools in my mouth.

Why do I feel like tonight is going to change my life?

“He doesn't deserve you“ he says and I sit up straight. “How do you know that?“ I ask and he takes a sip of his drink, taking a moment to swallow before speaking.

“I know you're fucking beautiful. You're brave and you loved him” he says.

“How…how can you tell?“ I ask and his eyes search my face again.

“Your eyes, princess. Eyes don't lie” he says and I lean forward, high off the atmosphere, high off the confidence he's feeding me.

“What do my eyes tell you right now?“ I ask in a whisper and he hums softly, reaching up to brush my hair behind my ear.

“They tell me you need a break…you need a moment to breathe” he mutters. He isn't yelling over the music, yet I hear him clearly.

“Can you give that to me? I want to forget about it all” I whisper and he chuckles, taking his hand off me, leaving me cold.

The unbelievably attractive man tilts his head back enough to show me his jawline. He picks up his glass again and pours some of his drink into his mouth, letting some of it dribble down his chin.

Fuck.

I want this. I want him. I need him.

“You're asking for trouble, princess. I'm older than you. I'm far, far older than you can handle” he says.

“I know, I'm twenty …I can handle it” I whisper and he chuckles again, the sound is low, but somehow it seems louder than the music in the club.

“Name?“ he asks me.

“Dahlia” I lie and he hums as his eyes trace my body again, slowly caressing the exposed skin of my chest, moving down to my hips and lower to my legs.

He gets up and leads us to a private room that's open to exclusive customers only.

The moment we are in the room, he turns my body around and presses my back against the door. I gasp as he puts his hot mouth on mine.

This is exactly what I didn't know I needed. I moan and open my mouth as his wet tongue slides into my mouth. His wide hands on my body are firm as he pins me against the door with his body.

“Tell me exactly what you want, Princess“ he commands with a rough voice, and I moan against his lips.

“You…I want you to fuck me” I pant my answer and he pushes his thick thighs between my legs, making me moan weakly.

“Good girl” he says and ravages my mouth again.

“Tonight…tonight, I'll show you heaven” he says and for some reason, I believe his words like they're the only truth in my life.