CHAPTER 4Lyra's POVThe stranger smiled, and Jesus, it wrecked me. That hard face, so sharp and ruthless, went soft around the edges. Like sin dipped in honey.“Does it really matter?” he asked slowly, his voice smooth as bourbon. “Tonight, we are just two broken souls hiding in plain sight.”Fair.“Then here’s to strangers,” I replied, raising my glass with a shaky hand.“To strangers,” he echoed, clinking his glass against mine.Our eyes locked in that moment, lingering for a second too long, and the air between us suddenly became… heavy.All of a sudden, everything felt like it was tilting.“Whoa, careful,” he whispered, reaching out as my elbow almost slipped.“I am fine,” I lied, even though the room was spinning like a Tilt-a-Whirl on acid.His grip was strong. Rough fingers wrapped around my arm, steadying me. “When the last time you had something to eat?”I blinked, too tried to think.“Uhmm… I should… I should go,” I suddenly mumbled, sliding off the barstool.But that was a
Last Updated : 2025-10-16 Read more