When Nathan Rio, a guarded stripper with a haunting past, catches the eye of the city’s most powerful bachelor, his life plunges into a world of seduction, secrets, and betrayal. Donald Ervin is stinking rich, dangerously charming—and hiding more than just his criminal empire. One night of steamy passion between them ignites a fire neither can ignore. But when Nathan becomes his personal bodyguard, the line between love and hate blurs dangerously fast, and he finds himself pulled deeper into a world of crime. As the past claws its way back and enemies scheme to tear them apart, Nathan must choose: betray the man he has come to love in order to protect himself, or risk everything for a chance at redemption. In a world where love is lethal and secrets destroy, how far will he go to protect his heart?
View MoreCHAPTER ONE: I'll HAVE HIM
Heaven on Earth—the most exclusive club in the entire country. A haven of seduction and Lust where men and women—especially men—came to lose themselves in passion.
“Welcome to Heaven on Earth,” a lady purred, her straight brown hair cascaded over a tight dress that could barely contained her large bossom. As she poured drinks, a group of men gawked her shamelessly—except one.
Donald Ervin.
Thirty-three, filthy rich, dangerously attractive. A man with an aura so strong it pulled people in with such a great force. Piercing blue eyes, smooth jawline. An air of control that made everyone around him submit without question.
But tonight, his eyes weren’t on the ladies, who were looking extra good today.
His gaze was fixed intently on one of the strippers—A man.
Tattooed on his left breast was a dragon. His black pants clung to him as he moved with seductively on the pole. The way he smiled, the way he moved, everything about him made Donald yearn to have him.
“Mr. Ervin!”
Mrs. V, the club owner, walked toward him in red platforms. Her red hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her dress clung to her hourglass figure.
“It’s always a pleasure to see you,” she smiled. "I wasn't expecting you tonight tho."
“You look ravishing, as always,” Donald said, rising briefly to kiss her hand. “Red suits you. I assume your husband’s been feeding you well.”
Mrs. V blushed. “He’s away on a business trip, so I’ve been looking after the club around the clock.” She took a seat next to him on the couch.
The drinks arrived. They clinked glasses.
“I see your eyes are… occupied tonight,” she teased, trying to follow his gaze. "You like what you see?"
“Off course." He took a sip from his glass. The wine was nice. He'd ask for the name before he left the club.
"They are,” Donald replied, voice low, eyes still on the man.
She smirked. “Liz’s quite the seductress. Skilled in every way, she's beautifully end—”
“I’m not talking about Liz,” he cut her off. “I’m talking about him.” He pointed towards the man in black pants. “The one entertaining those ladies.”
Mrs. V turned and blinked. “Nathan?” She blinked repeatedly. "Maybe I have it all wrong."
Donald’s gaze was still glued to the dancer. “Is that his name?”
"Nathan." He muttered. It was a nice name.
“Yes, but I didn’t realize you were…” She caught herself, when she noticed the change in his mood. “I mean, you usually request the ladies.”
Donald raised a brow, slightly irritated by her words. “And?”
“Nothing,” she laughed nervously, taking a sip from her glass. “I was just surprised, that’s all.”
“Is there a rule that says I can’t want a man?” he asked flatly. "Or is a federal crime?"
“Of course not! We’re all-inclusive here. I’m a proud ally.” She threw a mock salute, laughing awkwardly.
“How much for him?” Donald asked, eyes never leaving Nathan. “Triple of what I pay for the girls."
Mrs. V’s smile widened at the mention of money. “They set their own rules and prices. I can’t override that. But I’ll ask.”
She called over a girl nearby. “Sapphire, go get Nathan.”
The girl hurried off, whispered something in his ear while pointing in their direction, and she had him in her company when she returned.
Donald repeated the name under his breath. “Nathan. He looked much more handsome up close."
Nathan approached minutes later, shirtless, his body glistening with sweat and confidence.
But the moment his eyes met Donald’s, his expression turned cold. He immediately knew why he had been called. His face was scrunched up in pure disgust.
“Your performance was eye-catching tonight,” Mrs. V said, her tone sugary. “One of our very special guests”—her hand rested Donald’s lap, trying to give a clue to Nathan—“would like your company in the VIP room.”
“I’ll pass,” Nathan said bluntly. "Can I go now?" He glared at Donald who was smiling.
Mrs. V blinked. “Nathan, he's one of our VVIP—”
“I made it clear when I signed the contract." He cut her off rudely. "I only do women.” His tone was calm but laced with disdain. “Not men.”
Mrs. V hesitated, then nodded stiffly. “Of course. You’re free to go.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Nathan slightly bowed his head and walked away, returning to the stage where the women eagerly pulled him in.
Donald’s gaze followed him. “Hard to catch,” he muttered with a small smirk. "I like him."
Mrs. V tried to smooth over the awkward moment. “I’m really sorry, Mr. Ervin. It’s policy, and I can't breach it."
Donald didn't say anything which made her paranoid. He was one of her biggest customers, she couldn't lose him.
"We can’t force anyone—”
“To do what they don’t want. I get it,” he said. "Nobody likes that in business."
“As a courtesy, I can offer you two of our best girls—no charge. You can take them home tonight.” She said, pointing at two ladies who were ogling at him.
Donald’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “I’m not interested in consolation prizes.” He reached for his glass.
Mrs. V raised a brow. “Then what are you interested in?”
Donald leaned back in his chair, glass in hand, eyes never moving from the dancer.
“I’m a man who always gets what he wants.”
He took a sip. “And I want him.”
"Nathan is a tough one." She pointed out. "How do you intend to do that?"
"Don't worry about that." His lips curled up in a mischievous grin.
Nathan's PovAt the hospital, they tried to separate us. Doctors and nurses swarming, wheeling him toward surgery prep while someone physically blocked my path."Sir, you need to stay in the waiting room—""He needs blood," a doctor called from down the hall. "Type O-negative, and we need it now.""I'm O-negative," I said immediately, already rolling up my sleeve. "Take mine."The nurse blocking me hesitated. "Sir, we have blood supplies—""I said take mine." I wasn't asking, it was an order and they knew better not to follow through with it.Ten minutes later I was lying on a gurney while a needle pierced my arm, watching my blood flow through a tube into a bag. They'd let me donate the maximum amount they safely could, and honestly I'd have given more if they'd let me.If my blood can keep you alive, I thought, watching the crimson liquid fill the bag, take it all. Take everything. Just don't die.A nurse came to check on me after, making sure I wasn't dizzy or nauseous. "The doctor
Nathan's PovThe hotel bar was nearly empty when I stumbled down around two AM, unable to stay in that room another second. The bartender took one look at me and poured a double whiskey without asking."Heard about the search," he said quietly. "Real sorry, man for what happened."I nodded, not trusting my voice, and took a long drink. The burn felt good, grounding. Real."I'm sure they'll find him," the bartender continued, clearly uncomfortable with my silence. "Police around here are good at—""Can I just drink in peace?" It came out harsher than I meant."Sure, yeah. Sorry." He turned away and continued wiping the cups.I stared into my glass, watching the amber liquid catch the dim bar lights. Somewhere in my head, I knew drinking wasn't going to help. But sitting sober with my thoughts felt impossible.I had asked myself these questions but no one except Donald could provide answers to them. Donald wouldn't just wander off, he was a grown man for fuck sake. Either he got lost or
Nathan's PovThe police officers, and a local guide who knew these woods. We took the northwest quadrant, the area I'd already searched three times during the night, but I wasn't about to say that. Maybe I'd missed something. Maybe in the daylight we'd see what I couldn't in the dark."Donald!" I shouted, my voice already hoarse from hours of calling his name. "Donald!" At this point, the only thing left for me to do was bawl my eyes out but there was no time for that.The others spread out, flashlights still necessary under the thick canopy despite the morning sun. Every snapped twig made me jump, every flash of color in the underbrush made my heart skip—but it was never him. Just animals, just shadows, just my mind playing cruel tricks."Mr. Nathan," one of the officers called. "You said he was wearing a blue jacket?""Dark blue windbreaker, yeah. And jeans, hiking boots." I'd memorized every detail, replayed our last conversation a thousand times. I'll be right back, he'd said. Don
Nathan's PovThe forest was too quiet. That was the first thing that felt wrong—no rustling leaves, no animal sounds, just the echo of my own voice bouncing back at me through the trees."Donald!" I called again, my throat already raw from shouting. "This isn't funny! Where are you?"He'd said he needed to pee. Five minutes, maybe ten at most. That was twenty minutes ago, and the camping spot we'd picked felt suddenly isolated in a way it hadn't before. My phone showed no signal, which I'd known would happen out here, but the reality of it was making my chest tight.I pushed through another cluster of bushes, my flashlight cutting weak paths through the darkness. "Donald, come on! If you're trying to scare me, it's working!"Nothing. Just the wind picking up, making the trees creak overhead.My mind was already going to bad places. What if he'd fallen? Hit his head on a rock? What if something out here—an animal, another person—had found him before I could? I was his bodyguard. My en
The fire had burned down to glowing embers by the time they made their way into the tent. Nathan's hands shook slightly as he zipped the entrance closed, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet forest.Donald was already pulling his shirt over his head, his movements deliberate and unhurried. "You're trembling," he observed, his voice soft but commanding."I'm fine." Nathan's voice came out rougher than intended."No, you're not." Donald stepped closer, his bare chest catching the faint light filtering through the tent fabric. "Look at me."Nathan lifted his eyes, finding Donald's gaze steady and reassuring. The authority was still there, but tempered with something gentle. Something that made Nathan's breath catch."We don't have to do anything you're not ready for," Donald said, his hand coming up to cup Nathan's face."I've been ready for three weeks," Nathan admitted, leaning into the touch. "I just... I don't want to mess this up."Donald's smile was soft. "You won't."When Donal
Donald's expression changed, and fir the first time in days, the mask he'd worked so hard on cracked. For a second, Nathan saw something raw underneath—hurt, maybe, or longing. Then it was gone."Nothing," Donald said quietly. "You did nothing to me.""Then why have you been acting this way?" He rested his arm on Donald's lap. "Why have—""Because I can't." The words came out harsh, like they'd been torn from Donald's throat. "I can't keep pretending this is just professional when every time I look at you, I want..."He stopped himself, jaw clenched tight before he said more than was required. Nathan's heart started racing. What was it that Donald didn't want to say. "Want what?"Donald shook his head, staring into the fire. "It doesn't matter. You work for me and there are boundaries.""Screw the boundaries." Nathan moved around the fire, settling on the log beside Donald. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body, close enough to catch the familiar scent of his cologn
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