2. Raine

The applause was deafening.

It rolled across the enormous party hall like a wave, bouncing off crystal chandeliers and polished marble, filling every corner of Black Village with celebration. Laughter, cheers, whistles. All of it merging into one overwhelming sound.

And at the center of it all…

Travis.

Even from across the room, he looked untouchable. Effortlessly commanding attention the way only Travis Villaflor could. The lights seemed to cling to him, outlining every sharp angle of his face, every arrogant line of his posture.

“Woooh! You got this, brother!!”

Voices erupted again. But the loudest cheer, unmistakably, came from Lance. Of course it did. I tried to smile. M****a! Even tried to breathe. Tried to pretend that my chest wasn’t splitting open with every clap, every laugh, every affectionate word thrown his way.

But my vision blurred as my throat tightened. And before I could stop it…

The tears fell. Hot and relentless.

I lowered my head slightly, hoping no one would notice. Hoping the noise would swallow my weakness. But mothers always notice.

“Mom… Dad…” My voice came out strained, fragile. “I’m just going to the powder room.” I didn’t wait for a response. If I did, I might have shattered right there.

I stood quickly, chair scraping softly against the floor, and walked away with controlled urgency. Each step felt heavier than the last, like my body was fighting against something invisible yet suffocating.

I could feel my mother’s eyes on my back.

She knew. She had always known. They say mother knows best and a mother’s instinct is cruelly accurate.

The moment I was out of sight, my composure cracked completely.

The powder room. That’s what I had said. But my feet carried me elsewhere. To the drinks section. To the one place where courage could be poured into a glass.

The bartender gave me a polite smile. “Wine, sir?”

I nodded. Words were beyond me now.

The glass was placed into my hand. I stared at the deep red liquid, watching the lights reflect against its surface. It looked harmless and beautiful. Just like my feelings for Travis.

My fingers trembled slightly as I opened my Hermes pouch. The tablet sat there.

Small.

Insignificant.

Yet capable of altering everything.

I hesitated for a moment, just a moment, as doubt crept in. This is insane fuck! This is wrong. But then my mind replayed his voice.

Of how firm, detached and unapologetic it was.

“I’m straight as an arrow, Raine.”

“I have Cathy.”

“I can’t love you.”

Love.

Such a cruel word.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I dropped the tablet into the wine. It dissolved almost instantly. Like my pride and dignity. Like every rational thought I had ever possessed.

“I am so sorry, Travis…” I whispered under my breath.

My chest tightened painfully. “But I have to do this.”

One last try. Just one. And if it failed…

Then I would finally disappear from his world. Forever.

I turned, glass still in hand. And nearly collided with the very man I was trying to ruin myself for.

Travis. Up close, he was devastating. Always devastating.

“Oh… Raine,” he said casually. Even my name sounded different in his voice. He glanced at the wine. “Want some wine, Travis?” I asked, forcing steadiness into my tone.

He gave a small nod. “Thanks.” When he reached for the glass, our fingers brushed. And that tiny contact sent electricity racing through my skin. God, I was pathetic. So fucking pathetic.

He turned slightly, ready to leave.

“And oh, Raine—”

No. Please no.

Not that voice. Not the rejection, the pity, the freaking apology. I don't fucking need it.

“It’s okay,” I cut in quickly. My voice was softer now. Almost broken. “I know.” Then I turned away before I completely lost it in front of him. Because if I looked at him any longer, I would have collapsed.

Tears threatened to fall again as my entire body screamed. I want to run, to hide, or even disintegrate.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered once he was gone. But the apology wasn’t for him. It was for myself. For the boy who loved too deeply. For the prince who chose destruction over acceptance.

Heat. That was the first thing I became aware of. It was not physical. Not entirely. It was something burning, consuming, overwhelming.

The world felt distant and blurry.

Heavy.

And then…

I felt a weight on top of me. A warmth that I'm all too familiar with. The warmth of his skin. Travis.

We were in his mansion in Greek Village. In his room, naked. Reality crashed into me like a violent wave.I was on top of him. My lips pressed against his.My body trembling with alcohol, nerves, desperation.

I could taste wine. And something darker, something dangerous.

“Rai…ne…hhh…wh…y…”

His voice was strained, thick, unstable. But his hands…

His hands were gripping me. Not pushing me away.

The aphrodisiac had done its work. Guilt stabbed through my chest but desire drowned it instantly as I kissed him harder. From his lips down to his neck.

My tongue tracing fevered paths across skin I had dreamed of touching for far too long. This is wrong.

This is everything.

No matter how much he tried to resist, his body betrayed him as his breathing grew heavier. His grip tightened.

And suddenly —

Everything shifted. In one swift movement, Travis flipped us. Now he was above me. In a dominant position. His lips crashed against mine. It was rough and demanding, his teeth biting my lower lip. His tongue forcing its way inside my mouth with ferocity that made my entire body ignite. Pain exploded as he bit my tongue. It was painful, sharp, metallic that it drew blood.

Yet I answered him with equal hunger.Equal madness.

Because this…

This was Travis. He`s finally touching me. Finally wanting me. Even if it was artificial, drugged, temporary. His hands roamed my body like he was claiming territory.

Pinching.

Gripping.

Exploring.

I moaned helplessly, my back arching as pleasure and pain blurred into something intoxicating.

“Ahhh… Travis…” My voice didn’t sound like my own. Then I was flipped again. Face down, exposed to his eyes, vulnerable. His fingers invaded me without warning. One.Then another. Then more. Pain ripped through me Fuck! It was raw and overwhelming. “Aaah! Travis, fuck!”

Tears welled in my eyes. But I endured.

Because this was my choice.

My sin.

“You better endure it, darling…” His voice was low, dark, intoxicating as he rasped behind my ear.“I’m big.” Despite the pain, my body reacted in wanton need. Something shamefully eager.

Then I felt a sudden fullness. A violent intrusion as his cock entered my tight and aching hole. I screamed in pain. “Ahhh, fuck nooo!! Travis… it… hurts…” The stretch was unbearable. It burns but Travis…

Travis didn’t stop. He continued to enter me and moved at a brutal pace. Thrust after thrust. He was too deep. As if reaching the deepest part of me that all I can do is take his relentless fucking with my helpless moans and cries of pain

And slowly…

The agony twisted. It shifted and melted into something else. Something terrifyingly pleasurable and my body began to respond. To carve more and to meet his fervor equally.

“Ahhh… Travis… yes… that’s it…” I didn’t recognize myself anymore. Only sensation. Only heat and him.

When I gasped out, I heard him groan and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Did I just hit your spot?” His reaction was immediate. He fucked like there was no tomorrow. It was savage and brutal as he picked up his pace and I met him thrust for thrust.

The room filled with nothing but grunts, moans, skin against skin. Two bodies colliding under entirely different emotions. His fueled by anger and chemical fire. Mine fueled by love and desperate illusion.

And then…Release.

“I’m cu…mming… ahhh…” Warmth spilled across my stomach. My body followed seconds later, trembling violently.

“Me too… ahhhmm…” 

For one fragile moment…There was silence and stillness. All I can hear is our uneven breathing. Then Travis’s expression changed. Like a storm returning. Regret flickered in his eyes followed by rage. “Fuck it.” His voice was cold now. Detached and cruel.

“Get dressed, Raine.”

My chest tightened instantly in fear and desperation.

“No—”

“Don’t ever tell this to your brother.”

His eyes burned into mine.

“Or else.”

My tears returned.

“Why, Travis?!” I shouted as my voice cracked completely.

“Why can’t you love me?!”

Then his answer came like a blade.

“You know the answer.” Each word is deliberate.

Merciless.

“I LOVE HER.”

“I’m not gay.”

“Put that in your fucking brain.”

My world shattered completely.

“I will never love you.”

And then the final blow.

“You disgust me.” The punch came suddenly. It was sharp and violent. Then he choked me too bacause of his anger

But nothing hurt more than his words. Because pain from his hand would fade. Pain from rejection…

Never would.