Owned By Night

The music throbbed through the floor, each beat pulsing under the soles of my heels like the heartbeat of the city itself. I tugged at the hem of my dress – too short, too tight – and glanced at Lila. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, lips already curved in a playful grin as she led me further into the club.“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I muttered, scanning the dimly lit space. Eclipse wasn’t exactly my usual scene. Velvet shadows, flashing gold lights, and the kind of atmosphere that felt heavy with secrets and seduction. It was the kind of place I imagined power players frequented – not struggling law students drowning in debt.“Oh, come on.” Lila laughed, tugging me closer as we maneuvered through the crowded floor. “You’ve been a stressed-out hermit for weeks. This is exactly what you need. One night to forget about briefs and contracts.”I sighed, loosening the knot in my shoulders as I allowed her words to sink in. Maybe she was right. Maybe I needed to step out

The soft hum of the engine filled the silence between us as Damien maneuvered the sleek black car through the winding streets of Manhattan. I kept my gaze fixed on the skyline, watching as the glittering lights of the city blurred into streaks of gold and silver against the night sky.I told myself I wasn’t nervous.I lied.The faint scent of leather and cedar filled the space around me, curling through my senses in a way that made it impossible to forget who was sitting beside me. Damien Blackwell didn’t just command attention – he devoured it, pulling everyone in his orbit whether they wanted to be there or not.And I was no exception.“Where to?” Damien’s voice broke through the silence, low and smooth like the whiskey he favored.I hesitated, realizing I hadn’t told him my address. “You don’t have to drive me home. The subway was fine.”“You think I’d let you take the subway this late?” He shot me a sidelong glance, one brow arched in subtle amusement. “Besides, you never gave me

The first thing I noticed the next morning was the absence of warmth beside me.I blinked against the soft morning light filtering through the window, the sheets cool and empty where Damien had been just hours before. The faint scent of his cologne still lingered, curling through the air like smoke from a fire that had long since burned out.I sat up slowly, tugging the sheet higher around my body, as if that could somehow shield me from the undeniable truth – he was gone.No note. No text.I hated the way disappointment settled low in my chest, heavy and unwelcome.What had I expected? Breakfast in bed? Sweet nothings whispered into my ear?Damien Blackwell wasn’t that kind of man.And last night… last night wasn’t supposed to mean anything.At least, that’s what I told myself.---I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the lingering remnants of his touch. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t erase the bruises his lips had left along my collarbone or the

The morning sunlight spilled into the room, casting soft, golden hues across the bed. I blinked, the warmth of the light tugging me from the depths of sleep. For a moment, I lay still, trying to piece together where I was and why my body ached in the best way possible.Then it hit me.Damien.The memories of last night rushed back in vivid, dizzying flashes: the way his hands had gripped my hips, the fire in his gaze, the way he’d murmured my name like it was the only thing that mattered.I rolled over, expecting to find him still beside me, but the bed was empty.The sheets were rumpled, a lingering hint of his cologne clinging to the fabric, but there was no sign of him.Disappointment settled in my chest like a stone, heavy and cold.What did you expect, Ava? That he’d stay? That he’d make you breakfast and whisper sweet nothings into your ear?I shook my head, forcing the thought away as I sat up and reached for the robe draped over the edge of the bed.It wasn’t supposed to mean

The elevator hummed softly as we ascended to Damien's floor. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of his silence pressing down on me like a vice. He stood beside me, his hand still wrapped around mine, his expression unreadable.For someone so composed, there was an underlying tension in him now—a crack in his armor I’d never seen before.The doors slid open to reveal a sprawling office space, minimalist yet commanding, much like Damien himself. The walls were glass, offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. But the grandeur didn’t ease the unease twisting in my gut.Damien didn’t speak as he led me toward his private office at the end of the hall. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a desk lamp casting shadows across the space.“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the leather chair opposite his desk.I hesitated, but the seriousness in his tone left no room for argument. I lowered myself into the chair, my pulse quickening as he paced behind his desk, his hands shoved deep i