2.

~SCARLETT.

I didn't know how I ended up at the resort's private bar.

One moment, I was running barefoot, my oversized shirt clinging to my damp skin. Next, I was sitting on a stool, my fingers gripping the cold marble counter, the chill biting into my palms.

The bar was lit faintly, soft music playing in the background. Glass shelves glittered with bottles, the labels a blur through the haze of my tears. The scent of citrus filled the air.

The bartender scanned me before approaching, wiping a glass clean. "What can I get you?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat felt tight, as though it was constricting around the grief I couldn't voice.

"Shots. Something strong," I managed to croak.

He nodded, poured amber liquid into a small glass, and slid it across the counter toward me. My hands trembled as I grabbed the shot, swallowing it in one go. The burn didn't numb the ache in my chest, but it helped distract me from the tears streaming down my face.

I sniffled, wiping at my cheeks with the sleeve of Jake's shirt. His scent twisted my stomach into knots.

Why wasn't I enough?

The thought clawed at me, sinking deeper with every passing moment. I had tried so hard—begged for this trip, planned every detail, and poured every ounce of hope into it. And yet, he chose her.

I grabbed the second shot, my reflection in the polished bar counter catching my eye. My ginger hair was a tangled mess, and my eyes were swollen and red. The oversized shirt hung off one shoulder, the lace beneath it mocking me.

Maybe that's why he cheated, I thought bitterly. Maybe I wasn't pretty enough. Or sexy enough. Maybe I was too much. Too needy.

The bartender slid another shot toward me, and I didn't hesitate. The burn in my throat barely registered as I tipped it back.

It was warm, like the tears on my cheeks. The world around me faded, and Jake with her replayed in my mind: his touch, devouring her like she was something he'd been starved for. The images cut into me like glass.

"Don't you think you've had enough?"

The deep voice startled me, freezing me in place, the glass still in my hand. I turned, and hazel eyes locked onto mine, stealing the air from my lungs.

His features were sharp and angular, high cheekbones giving him a striking, almost predatory look. His chocolate-brown curls were neatly tied back into a bun, but it was the scar above his eyebrow that truly caught my attention.

I blinked, struggling to gather my thoughts. My head felt foggy, and the alcohol wasn't helping. "I… uh…"

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not much of an answer."

I swallowed hard, setting the glass down. "I don't think that's any of your business."

His smirk widened. "Maybe. But sitting here crying into your drinks won't fix whatever's got you upset."

My heart skipped. He saw it. He saw me. There was no hiding it. But I wasn't ready to admit it, not even to myself.

"How do you know I'm upset?" I asked, trying to regain some control.

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over me. "It's written all over your face."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I hated how exposed I felt. But before I could say anything else, my gaze dropped involuntarily to his lips—full, pink, and impossibly inviting. I bit my lip, trying to ignore the throbbing between my legs.

Why was I thinking about his lips? Was I really that starved for attention?

I couldn't tear my eyes away. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the sheer need for something to distract me. But it wasn't just his lips. His jaw was sharp, the muscles of his neck visible beneath the fabric of his shirt. He looked like someone who could make me forget everything.

His voice broke through my thoughts. "Something wrong?"

I blinked, shaking my head, forcing my eyes to pull away from him. "No. Nothing."

I felt his gaze still on me, making me feel like he could see right through all the bullshit I was trying to wear. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, the heartbreak, or the way he looked at me, but suddenly it didn't feel like a mistake. It felt like something I needed.

Without thinking, I stood, my body moving before my mind could catch up. My heart raced as I stepped closer to him, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion. He was surprised, but I didn't care.

I grabbed his shirt, pulled him down to me, and pressed my lips to his.

For a moment, he was rigid, caught off guard, but then he kissed me back. His lips were soft, yet the kiss was anything but gentle.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, he rasped, "What was that for?"

I didn't have an answer, or maybe I just didn't care. "I need this," I whispered, my eyes pleading.

His hazel eyes darkened, and then a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his mouth. "Come with me."

Taking my hand, he led me out of the bar. I didn't know what I was doing, but I didn't care.

We reached a suite. As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, he pulled me toward him. His lips crashed into mine, hungry and forceful. His hands gripped my waist, slamming me against the door. The kiss was wild. It was as if he was trying to erase every trace of my heartbreak.

His bulge pressed against my stomach, sending a jolt of heat to my pussy. My hands tugged at his shirt, desperate for more. His hands went lower, cupping my ass and pulling me in closer, if that was even possible.

He paused, pulling back slightly, his eyes dark with desire. "Are you sure about this?"

I swallowed hard, my mind clouded by lust and uncertainty. But at that moment, I didn't want to think anymore. I just needed to feel something.

"Yes," I breathed.

At that, his lips found mine again, and his hands moved with a hunger that matched my own. The sound of fabric hitting the floor seemed deafening in the silence.

A pang of guilt twisted in my stomach as Jake’s face flashed in my mind, but it vanished as quickly as it came. The need for something real, something to fill the emptiness, took over.

With his lips still on mine, he guided me toward the bed. My heart raced, my skin alive with every touch. As he lowered me onto the mattress, his hand moved over my body with a tenderness that stood in contrast to the intensity of his earlier actions.

"Trust me," he murmured, his voice a promise in my ear. A shiver ran through me, his words soothing the storm inside me, even if just a little. "If anything feels wrong, if you want me to stop, just say the word."

I nodded and closed my eyes briefly as he moved over me. When I opened them, his gaze was locked on mine, an intensity that made my pulse race. His lips trailed gentle kisses from my neck to my stomach, stopping just above my clit as he parted my legs.

The sudden warmth of his mouth on my clit made my back arch instinctively, a gasp escaping my lips. My hands gripped the sheets tightly as his tongue moved in quick, relentless strokes that left me breathless.

Before I could fully adjust, he slid two fingers inside me, his free hand finding its way to my left breast. He pinched the nipple between his fingers, sending a jolt of pleasure that bordered on pain, stealing the air from my lungs.

The overwhelming sensations consumed me, waves of ecstasy crashing through my body. The guilt and anger melted away, replaced by something I hadn't felt in so long—pure, unfiltered release.

When he finally pulled away, his hazel eyes dark with hunger, he brought his fingers, coated in my juices, to his lips. Sucking them clean, he murmured, "So fucking sweet."

Then he kissed me, deeply, letting me taste myself on his lips. A soft moan escaped me as I melted into the kiss, surrendering completely.

His hands roamed over my body, exploring every inch of me, and before I knew it, I felt the cold steel of handcuffs against my wrists. The shock made my heart skip, but he was already fastening them to the bedpost.

Leaning down, his breath warm against my ear, he whispered, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin just below. "You're safe. Just trust me."

And somehow, despite the rush of fear and excitement swirling in my stomach, I trusted him.

Positioning himself between my legs, he rolled on a condom and slowly slid his length inside me. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and pain that quickly shifted into something more electrifying. He picked up the pace, each thrust sending sparks of heat through my body.

I wasn't sure how long we had been lost in each other, but everything blurred. At that moment, my world shrank to just the two of us, and nothing else mattered.

When I finally came, it was with a shuddering gasp, my eyes rolling back and my body trembling, the cuffs rattling with the force of it. He didn't stop, his grip tightening as he rammed into me, pushing me closer to the edge once more. Then, with a sharp intake of breath, he followed, finding his release.

We both collapsed against the bed, our bodies tangled together, breathing heavily. His gaze met mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten as he unlocked the cuffs.

"Look at me," he commanded when I tried to look away, my cheeks burning red. He gently guided my face back to his. "I want to see you."

I met his gaze, my heart still racing. For the first time, I didn't feel lost. I felt alive, even if for just a moment.

As we lay there together, the exhaustion of the night catching up to me, I closed my eyes, the quiet of the room wrapping around us. Despite everything that had happened, despite the chaos swirling inside me, I drifted off to sleep with him beside me.