One Reckless Decision

ZELDA’s POV

“I will fuck the first guy that comes through that door,” I said proudly as I downed another shot of tequila.

If only I knew that statement would change my life forever.

My friend Mia and I sat at the bar, ordering shot after shot, drowning ourselves in alcohol. Just days before my wedding, Luke had ended things via text. His reason? I was too uptight. An old maid virgin.

“Oh you wouldn’t,” Mia said.

I smirked and swallowed another shot. “Watch me.”

Both our eyes were fixed on the door. Mine more than hers. I stared hard enough like my gaze alone could summon some hot hunk through it, instead of the pot-bellied, lusty old men that surrounded us.

Maybe the staring worked.

Because the moment that door swung open, everything else seemed to pause. The man that walked in oozed danger from every pore. The kind of man every girl’s mother warned her about. He didn’t scan the room, or smile at anyone. He simply walked to an empty seat and sat like he owned the place.

Every eye in that bar followed him.

I turned to Mia. Her mouth was still hanging open.

“My, my,” she said slowly. “He looks fresh out of a rich mafia movie. That man is fineeeee!”

Oh damn right he was. My eyes hadn’t left his direction since he walked in.

“Hmm, he exudes that dangerous aura too,” Mia added.

I smirked, my finger lazily running around the rim of my tequila glass, my eyes still locked on him. “He sure does, the more dangerous the better.”

“Zee?” Mia called out, my eyes finally leaving Mr Dangerous.

I grinned mischievously, “Don’t worry I will be careful.”

I was losing my V card tonight. That man right there looked perfect for the job.

If Luke could bag that million-dollar heiress, why couldn’t I have one night with a dangerous hunk?

I took one last shot, stood up, grabbed Mia’s wine, and topped my glass. Then I smoothed my dress, fixed my face, and turned toward him.

“You are not giving up, are you?” Mia grabbed my hand.

I smiled. “Watch me,” I said winking at her.

I walked toward him, wine glass in hand, and a smile fixed firmly on my face.

The tequila helped. But the closer I got, the more my confidence began to crack. Because up close, this man was something else entirely. His face was well sculpted, with a sharp jaw, full lips, and hazel eyes that could ruin a person. Tattoos ran across his chest, visible beneath his slightly open collar. Mia lied. He wasn’t just fine, he was breathtaking.

I almost turned back, but when he lifted his head, his eyes locking onto mine, I froze.

“Can I help you?” his voice was low and sent something straight through me.

I forced out an awkward smile. “Yes, you can, expecting company?”

“Did the elders send you?” he said, sounding mildly annoyed.

I looked around slowly. “What elders?”

Something shifted on his face and he seemed to relax a little. “Forgive my manners.” He gestured to the seat across from him. “Have a seat.”

“I’m Vance.”

“I’m Zelda,” I said, slightly nervous now that I was actually sitting.

His eyes moved over me briefly. “You are human?”

I blinked. “Am I supposed to be a witch?”

The corner of his mouth pulled. “I would love that. As long as you don’t turn me into a dwarf.”

I laughed. And just like that, something loosened between us.

We talked and laughed like we had known each other for years. At some point, Vance leaned in slightly and said, “Want to dance?”

“Here?” I replied.

“In the club,” he nodded upward. “Ever been to one?”

Absolutely not. Before tonight I had no life. It took heartbreak to prove that.

“Sure, why not?” I stood and reached out, tugging his tie lightly between my fingers.

He led the way.

I paused at Mia’s table, grabbed my purse, and grinned at her stunned face. “Off to get some dick. See ya.”

“Be careful, Zee,” she mouthed.

I winked and followed Vance up.

The moment we walked in, it was clear Vance was VIP. People moved, bowed slightly, and drinks appeared without asking. We were led straight to the section above the floor. But I was too tipsy to care about any of that.

What I cared about was the dance floor.

I headed straight to the dance floor and Vance followed. His hand on my waist as we moved with the music.

The more I moved my waist, the more his breath hitched and his arousal grew with every movement.

He couldn’t take the torture anymore and retreated to his seat. I followed him there, I wasn’t giving up so easily. Growing bolder, I sat straight on his thighs, he flinched definitely wasn’t expecting it.

But his hand found my waist in no time, and his eyes dropped to my chest, then back up to my face, and the look alone made my spine tingle.

“Do you want to leave here?” he whispered against my ear.

I nodded without thinking.

He scooped me into his arms and we were in his car the next second, I didn’t even bother informing Mia.

His eyes stayed fixed on me as the city blurred past the windows. The look in them was enough to make my pulse stumble, and when he kissed me, hmm, the world seemed to disappear immediately. I had kissed Luke before, but nothing had ever felt like this. By the time his hands slid up my thighs, I was trembling beneath his touch.

His hands moved slowly, brushing over my breasts like he had all the time in the world. I swallowed down a moan, but it still escaped me in a shaky breath when he deepened the kiss, stealing what little air I had left. And when he finally pulled away, I was gasping, dizzy, my lips parted, barely recovering before he claimed them again—hungrier this time.

His mouth left mine only to trail lower, his hands sliding down, gliding up my thighs in a slow, teasing climb. I shuddered under his touch, every nerve in my body lighting up all at once.

“We are here, sir,” the driver’s voice cut through the haze.

Reality snapped back too quickly. We weren’t alone.

“Park the car,” Vance said calmly, like nothing had happened at all. Then, without hesitation, he lifted me into his arms again.

My breath caught as he carried me through the hotel, The elevator light seemed endless despite spending just seconds in it. By the time we reached his room, the tension between us was unbearable.

He pushed me gently against the wall while fumbling for the key card, then pulled me into another passionate kiss the moment the door shut behind us. I reached for him, desperate for more, but he caught my wrist and stepped back slightly.

“Are you sure?” he asked, pulling back just enough for his hazel eyes to meet mine, dark and searching, his breath still uneven against my lips.

Everything logical in me said no. He was a stranger. I didn’t even know his last name.

But my body betrayed every thought I had left.

I nodded.

Vance’s jaw tightened. He let out a slow breath, stepped back just slightly, and his voice dropped lower.

“Take off your panties.”