Chapter 3: Solid as Steel

(Claire's POV)

It wasn’t just any chest. It was solid as steel, an unyielding wall of a chest. It was packed with muscle, all that wrapped in a dark shirt that clung to his body like a second skin. Warm hands caught me by the waist. My eyes moved up to his face. The man was tall—at least 6’2” or 6’3”. His jaw looked like it was carved by angels. His eyes were green, sharp, mesmerizing. My eyes roamed his face and found the scar that ran from the edge of his brow to his temple.

“Sorry,” I said breathlessly.

But he didn’t let me go. He held me steady.

“Don’t be,” he responded. His voice was like velvet to my ears.

I stared up at him, unsure whether to back away or melt into him. The music continued to throb inside of me. Around us, people danced, but I was hyper-focused on him and him alone.

“Are you okay?” he asked, finally releasing me. I hated the fact that he released me. His hands seemed to soothe an ache I didn’t know I even had.

“Not even close,” I answered. It was honest and a little reckless—but it was the truth.

His lips curved into a smirk. “So do you want to be?”

I tilted my head to the side in question. “Are you offering me something? Maybe an escape or a distraction? If so, then it depends.”

“I would like to give you both,” he said.

His green eyes pierced me, making my core clenched. I didn’t look away. I wasn’t a coward, and I wasn’t shy either. The whiskey In my veins was boosting my confidence. I liked the way his eyes didn’t move down my body like most men would. He didn’t seem like most men. His clothes were too expensive and made him stand out in the crowd. I knew because I read a lot of GQ magazines.

He seemed not to be bothered by the fact that I was tipsy. It was like we were having a real conversation.

“What’s your name?” I asked finally.

He hesitated for a second and looked up at the ceiling, then back at me. His green eyes seemed to flicker with mischief. “Dante,” he responded.

I giggled and raised my eyebrows at him. “Is that your real name?”

“It is—for tonight.”

I giggled again, loving where this was going. “Fine. I am Ivy.”

That wasn’t my real name—but he didn’t have to know that. I could play his game, because under these dim lights and in this space, truth was… subjective.

My handsome stranger, Dante, extended his hand to me. I took it without any hesitation. He pulled me to himself. I could feel his growing arousal. He wanted me—and I wanted him too. We danced wildly, recklessly, carelessly. We had this magnetic pull that made time stretch so far it took my breath away. He was so close I could feel the heat of him. I forgot everything. He was what I needed to forget.

He leaned closer. His breath brushed my ears, and I knew what he was going to ask.

“Wanna get out of here?”

I paused as my core clenched again, my heart drumming a staccato beat. My rational mind could not fight. It was fuzzy and blurred by alcohol but still present. I barely knew this man. I didn’t even know if his name was truly Dante. What did I care?

No. I didn’t want to be left alone tonight. I didn’t want to feel lifeless. I didn’t want to be reminded that I was discarded by the man I loved. So I nodded.

“I just need to tell my friend.”

He nodded once, and as I turned to go to the bar, he followed behind me. Maddie saw us coming and narrowed her eyes at me. I leaned forward across the bar and whispered something too low for the music to compete with. Maddie’s eyes moved from me to the stranger beside me, then back.

“Are you sure?” she asked me with concern in her eyes.

I nodded, trying to make her feel better. “I need this, please, Maddie.”

Maddie didn’t argue. She couldn’t. I knew she wouldn’t. He hurt me so much—and she knew I needed to erase him from my memory. This was the only way.

She handed me a bottle of water before I could say anything else. “Text me as soon as you get to wherever he’s taking you. Anything weird—I find you. OK?”

“You’re the best, babe,” I smiled at her.

As we exited, Dante placed his hand at the small of my back, and I wondered what Maddie would think of that. Well, she knew I was going to get laid though.

The night hit me so hard it almost sobered and sharpened me. I inhaled deeply. The night air smelled like freedom and possibilities. Maybe it wouldn’t smell like that tomorrow.

He led me into a black car parked around the corner. It was clean, windows tinted darker than should be legal.

“Do you drive for a living?” I teased.

“Maybe,” he smirked.

I don’t think he was ready to give anything away, but I got into the car, which he held open for me. The inside smelled like leather and citrus—two of my favorite things. He entered the car beside me, cool and collected, as he started it.

I relaxed into the passenger seat. He felt like a safe place.

“Where are we going?” No matter how high I was, I had to ask.

“The place I’m staying is ten minutes away.”

I nodded, not asking any more questions.

“Tell me something about you that nobody knows,” he said again after a pause.

“I used to think I was good at discerning characters.”

He grinned. “That’s dark.”

“It’s been a very dark day.”

After that, Dante didn’t bother prying. We drove in silence for a while. I leaned my head against the glass, watching the world blur as we passed.

“Are you running from something? It looks like you are.” His words—his question—were crazy. How could he feel so much about me?

I turned to look at him, not giving anything away—at least trying not to in my drunken haze. “Aren’t we all? We are all running from one thing or the other.”

He didn’t respond. I know he probably was thinking about what I just said. But in no time, we got to the parking lot of a modern building—security cameras everywhere. Dante stepped out first and then circled around to open the door for me.

I stepped out as well, but I was a little unsteady on my feet. He had to hold me again. Our elevator ride was silent. There was a current between us. Although we were not saying anything, it seemed to charge by the second.

His apartment was on the top floor. This was the penthouse. High ceilings, expensive-looking furniture—everything smelled like cedarwood and male cologne.

“You live here?” I asked, as if it wasn’t already obvious. He told me he was taking me to his place, but I had to confirm.

“I do, actually.”

I could feel his eyes on me as I moved around, looking at everything—even those floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Nice view.”

“Oh, that? It comes at a price,” he said. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to be suave or if he was just teasing me again.

“Doesn’t everything come at a price?” I said, turning to face him. He handed me a glass of water and stepped closer to me.

“If you feel like talking, I would listen—I promise,” he offered.

There was something in his eyes. Something that hinted that he knew what I was going through. He knew about Ben’s betrayal. He knew what it meant to be afraid and abandoned. I took another sip of my water, then set the glass down. I walked towards him. The distance closed easily because he was so close to me. I reached out and touched his jaw—his perfect jaw—and he didn’t flinch.

“Thank you for tonight,” I whispered.

He leaned in and kissed me—slowly and deliberately.

He kissed me like I was the only woman in the world. Like I was his. And like he was mine. And I kissed him back with equal fervor.

His hands moved, exploring my curves. He cupped my breasts, gently kneading them. I moaned into his mouth. This was going to be a wonderful night—and I didn’t want him to stop.