Lily Thompson We ended up in a nightclub downtown, lights flashing, music pulsing through the floor. I hadn’t been anywhere like this in years. At first, I was stiff, clutching my drink, too aware of the crowd and the cameras that might lurk outside. But Ryan stayed close, his hand steady on the small of my back, his voice low in my ear. “Relax,” he murmured. “Tonight, no one gets to touch you. You’re with me.” I didn’t know the last time I’d been inside a place like this. The lights flashed pink, blue, gold. Music thumped in my chest. People laughed, danced, shouted over the beat. For a second, I almost turned around and walked out, but Ryan’s hand pressed against the small of my back, guiding me forward. “You’re safe,” he said in my ear. His voice cut through the noise, steady, sure. I nodded, though my legs were stiff, my shoulders tight. He led me to a booth tucked into the corner, away from the worst of the crowd. The leather was worn, the table sticky, but it f
Last Updated : 2025-11-19 Read more