Chapter three.

Renna's POV.

The loud music from the speakers throbbed so hard it rattled my bones, my chest practically vibrated with every pulse of sound.

I told myself I was going to enjoy this.

I needed to enjoy this.

But there I was, standing at the edge of our VIP table, nursing my third cocktail, still fighting the ghosts in my head.

“Relax, Renna,” Gia shouted over the music, bumping her shoulder playfully against mine. “It’s your first night out in forever!”

I forced a small smile and raised my glass in mock celebration before gulping the drink. The alcohol warmed my insides, sweet and sharp at the same time, maybe it would be enough to drown out the haunting thoughts.

But then…

I felt something.

A prickling at the back of my neck, a ripple under my skin, someone was watching me.

I looked around slowly, trying not to be obvious. The club was crowded, faces blurring under flashing lights, but then… my gaze fell on him.

And I froze.

There he was.

The mysterious stranger who had been living in my head rent-free for two agonizing weeks. He stood at the far corner of the club, near the shadowed edge of the wall, one hand casually shoved in the pocket of his black trousers, the other holding a glass of obvious alcohol.

His eyes, dark and dangerously intent... were fixed solely on me.

No smile, no wave.

Just that unreadable, cold expression.

I blinked rapidly and looked away, heart thudding against my ribs.

Oh my God.

Of all places. Of all nights.

I forced a laugh at something one of Gia’s friends was saying and took another sip of my drink. My hands were shaking slightly, and I knew I couldn’t let it show.

“Okay,” Gia’s voice suddenly cut in as she leaned close to me. “You’ve had enough of that, It’s time to find someone in this club and have an absolute nice time with them. Cool your head, Renna.”

I choked on my drink, coughing. “What?!”

“You heard me.” she smirked. “A little fun can most definitely cure a heartbreak.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

“I… I haven’t seen anyone I like,” I stuttered, glancing away.

Gia tilted her head, looking around carefully. “What about him?”

My stomach dropped as she discreetly pointed toward the far corner, and I didn’t even have to look to know who she was referring to.

“That man has been staring at you since we walked in. Like, laser-focused. He hasn’t looked away once.”

Heat climbed my neck, but I shook my head quickly. “He’s… he’s not my type.”

It was a lie. A blatant one.

Gia’s brows shot up. “Not your type? That man I'm looking at is everyone's type including me, He looks like literal sin, Renna! He might be older but who cares? The more seasoned, the better.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but she wasn’t having it.

“Nope,” she said firmly, grabbing my wrist. “You need this. And I know you won’t do it on your own, so…”

“Gia, what are you.. ”

Before I could finish, she pushed me.

Like literally shoved me up from my seat.

I stumbled forward, trying to regain balance, and before I knew it, I was walking straight toward him.

The closer I got, the louder the music seemed to get, or maybe it was just my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

“Hi,” I managed breathlessly when I reached him.

He didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, still as stone, those dark eyes roaming over my face like he was trying to memorize me.

God. How could one stare do so much to me? My stomach flipped, my skin buzzed, and I swear I felt moisture pooling between my legs just from the way he was looking at me.

“You look different.. hot really.” he finally blurted, his gaze roaming my body.

My breath caught in my throat. “Uh… thank you.”

I wasn’t sure what else to say. My brain was useless, and the alcohol wasn’t helping.

“I just…” I swallowed hard. “I just wanted to have fun tonight.”

He nodded once, not breaking eye contact.

I shifted awkwardly, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. He wasn’t saying anything else, just staring, and I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I reached for my glass again, and as I stood to leave, my heel caught on the edge of the chair.

I stumbled.

Right into him.

Surprisingly, he widened his arms and I fell right in, steadying me before I could hit the floor.

And then I was pressed against him.

I could smell him now, so clean but outrightly intoxicating.

My heart thundered as I looked up into his impossibly handsome face.

He was closer now, so close that I could see the faint stubble along his jaw, and the perfectly trimmed strands of his beards.

“Damn,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, as if the words slipped out without permission. “What are you doing to me, kitten?”

I gasped softly, the new nickname sending a shiver straight down my spine.

I didn’t even think. I just… reached up, tracing my fingertips slowly along his jawline.

His entire body tensed.

I felt it.

A tiny little twitch.

And then… lower.

My thighs clenched involuntarily when I realized there was something hard now pressing against my backside.

I glanced up at him with wide eyes, and then... Despite how hard I tried to keep it in, a wide smile broke out on my face.

“You’re… hard,” I murmured, unable to resist teasing him. “For me?”

His jaw flexed, and he didn’t answer, but he didn’t deny it either.

I leaned in, my lips brushing his ear, “I wouldn’t mind… taking care of that.”

His breath hitched.

“We could… get a room,” I said softly, boldness fueled by alcohol and the way his body was responding to mine. “And I’ll take care of you.”

I took a bold reckless step and leaned up to kiss him, my lips just inches from his, but his hand suddenly came up, firmly holding my head in place.

He didn’t make any move.

Instead, he stared into my eyes, his gaze fierce and conflicted.

“Renna…” he said slowly. “You have a boyfriend.”

“I don’t,” I whispered back, shaking my head. “Not anymore, we've broken up.”

But he didn’t seem convinced.

“Not officially I assume, and you’re drunk right now,” he added, his other hand brushing my cheek lightly.

“I’m fine,” I argued, trying to lean closer, but he held me still.

“Kitten…” he whispered, leaning down to gently graze his lips against my cheeks.

And then my temple.

And then my forehead.

Soft, lingering kisses with every word he spoke.

“You’re too sweet to get entangled with me,” his lips lingered at the corner of my mouth.

"And I'm already falling apart just having you this close.”

By the time he kissed the corner of my jaw, I was trembling in his arms.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

But he only tightened his hold on me, burying his face in my hair for a long moment.

"You’re going to destroy me, kitten.” he whispered against my ear.