Chapter 1
Daphne’s POV
I’m having the time of my life. It’s been so long since I went out with my girls, and tonight we are going all out. Drinks keep coming, the table crowded with margaritas, vodka, and shots lined up like trophies. We are living it up.
Tessa, T to us, Charlotte, who we call Lottie, and Olivia, or Liv, are already on the dance floor, giving the guys something to dream about. But let’s be clear, touch them without their consent and you’ll regret it instantly.
The club is alive, low ceilings dripping with neon, strobes slicing through haze, a bassline so deep it vibrates through our heels. I weave into the crowd, Tee at my side, Lottie ahead with her drink held high, and Liv laughing at something only she hears over the music.
“I love this!” I yell, and we move as one, four silhouettes wrapped in blue and magenta light, hips moving like the rhythm lives inside us.
“I love this for you!” Tee shouts back, grinning.
Liv, bold in a silver mini dress, grabs my hand and spins me under the strobe. We laugh, swallowed by the DJ’s drop. Lottie twirls, curls bouncing, champagne glass like a crown jewel. Tee films us, flash popping, catching our glow mid‑laugh, mid‑this is our night.
Heat, music, strangers pressing in, it’s all electric, but most of all, I feel that freedom of being untouchable. T leans in, shouting, “This beat is ours, babe!” I laugh, head thrown back, letting the night take me whole.
“Love In the Club” by Usher plays, my all‑time favorite. It tugs at something, but I won’t kill the vibe. I just let it wash over me.
When the song ends, I slip away, motioning for the girls to stay. I need air. I walk past the bar, headed for the balcony, and I see a man, the kind of man who makes your pulse trip. Rich brown skin, smooth and even, dark eyes, intense as they meet mine. He smiles at me as I pass him, bright enough to light up a day.
Outside, the night air cools my skin. I lean on the railing, backing the club, and tilt my head, catching faint stars through the haze. Distant hums: cars gliding by, someone laughing blocks away, fried food scents in the air. My dress sparkles under the streetlight as the breeze brushes my neck. Time slows. The DJ’s music fades. Under these shy Atlanta stars, it feels soft, like the city’s exhaling with me, like all my mess could just… drift away.
“The stars are out tonight,” a voice says. I don’t turn.
He steps closer, leaning on the railing too. “Didn’t mean to intrude, but… you’re beautiful.”
I glance left, and it’s him, the guy from the bar. Up close, even finer.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi.”
“What do you want? I just came out for air.”
“Didn’t know. Just felt like following you.”
“Okay.”
He has a deep tone to his voice, I love it.
“There’s a quieter corner with a seat on the left,” he offers.
I notice others on the balcony and nod, letting him, a stranger, guide me.
It’s darker there, empty but for a single bench.
“You can sit,” he says, then smirks. “Or… I sit, and you sit on me.”
“Sir.” I laugh. He does too.
“I’ll sit, you can stand,” I reply.
We talk, about the club, Atlanta, music, until I forget my worries, forget my girls inside. At some point, I rise and let him carry me, and suddenly we’re just staring, something unspoken sparking between us.
“Your lips look so good. I wanna kiss them.”
“So, kiss them,” I answer.
“You sure?”
I don’t respond. I straddle him, my dress sliding up, and press my lips close. He takes over, kissing me deep, tongues tangling, his hands roaming, neck, breasts, gripping my ass. I don’t stop him. I want more.
My hands slide over him, unbuttoning his shirt, trailing lower, fumbling with his belt.
“Take off your belt,” I breathe into his ear.
He holds my hands back. “Slow down, baby. We’re in public.”
“I don’t care. Take it off.”
“I care. We’re in public.”
“You’re a killjoy.” I stand, smoothing my dress. “Nice meeting you, stranger.”
Back inside, I find my friends seated, catching their breath.
“b***h, where have you been?” Liv blurts.
“You don’t wanna know,” I say.
“Ahh, ahh,” Lottie chimes in. “Your makeup’s smudged, lipstick gone. Talk.”
I’m about to answer when someone whispers in my ear, “Meet me in the bathroom to your left,” and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
I don’t turn. I don’t need to. My body tightens at the sound, and my girls glare at me, wide‑eyed.
“I’ll explain later,” I tell them, rising. “I’ll be right back.”
I’ve never been here before, but I get to my feet and drift left, scanning for the bathroom. Nothing’s labeled, so I stop a passing server and ask. They gesture toward a closed door near the bar.
It looks way too clean to be a club bathroom, VIP, maybe. Clean as hell, no bathroom smell at all. But strangely, the main area is empty. A flicker of nerves runs through me.
“Hello?” I call softly. What are you doing here, Daphne?
“Sorry, had to grab this,” a voice answers from behind, making me jump. He’s holding a condom. Guess that’s what he left for. I never even heard the door.
“You scared me. What is this place?”
“It’s a bathroom. Have you tried opening any of the doors?”
I let out a shaky laugh, noticing four doors along the wall. My mind’s already buzzing. God, why am I suddenly nervous? This isn’t me. I don’t get nervous.
He steps closer, voice low in my ear. “You nervous?”
I start to reply, but his mouth crashes onto mine, and the kiss steals all my thoughts.
He pushes open the first door and leads us in, lips never leaving mine. Words disappear.
He lifts me easily, my dress riding high as I wrap my legs around his waist, fumbling his shirt off.
“How private is this? No one can walk in?” I ask between kisses.
“Thought you didn’t care?”
“Never mind,” I mutter, kissing him harder.
“It’s VIP. No one comes in once we’re inside.”
Alone. Perfect.
The club fades to a distant thump through the walls. In here, the air is warm, humid, and scented faintly with soap.
My back meets cool tile as his body presses into mine. His hands frame my waist, fingers spread wide as he shifts me so I’m aligned perfectly against him. I’m already aching, slick with want, and he’s just… looking at me. But the way he’s looking at me—like he’s savoring this, savoring me—makes my chest tighten.
“You shouldn’t have played me like you did earlier,” he says.
“Really?” I whisper. “Right now? You wanna talk right now?”
His lips trail my neck, and I can’t stop the soft moan.
“Ahh.”
My hands roam over him, and his hands are everywhere, skin on skin, kisses that make me dizzy. His muscles flex beneath my touch, and he groans, pressing us tighter together, pushing me open for him.
He tugs the top of my dress down, mouth closing over me, teasing until I gasp and moan without restraint.
“F-f**k,” I breathe, and he only deepens his attention, making me whimper.
“I need you. Now,” I plead.
He doesn’t rush, just keeps tasting, touching, making me tremble. I reach for his belt, fumbling.
“Your damn belt, take it off,” I growl in frustration.
“Damn, girl, slow down,” he chuckles, finally yanking it free and releasing himself.
He’s thick, dark, hard, and my eyes lock on him, my hand reaching out instinctively, fingers curling around him, feeling him twitch under my touch.
“It’s big,” I whisper.
“I know,” he smirks, “but you’re a big girl. You can handle it.”
I pull him in, kissing him slower now, deeper. “I need you right now,” I whisper into his ear, voice breaking.
He says nothing, just slides my panties aside and sinks into me with steady, devastating intent.
“F-f**k,” I cry, “more, I need more.”
He answers with rhythm, slamming into me, with my head hitting the tiles, my breath ripped away with every thrust. His mouth finds mine, then my breasts, then back to mine again.
It’s too much, the pace, the pleasure. “I ’m, I’m gonna come,” I choke out.
“Wait,” he groans, voice low and strained. “Almost there.”
Five more thrusts, hard and relentless, and he’s pounding in uncontrollably. Our moans tangling like music, until we shatter together. I cling to him, biting down on his shoulder, his loud groan filling the room.
We’re both shaking, breathless, riding it out.
“f**k,” I mutter as he lowers me to my feet. He leans against the wall, catching his breath.
“I can’t move,” I admit, laughing weakly as my legs wobble.
He laughs too, and we stand there, spent. I consider sliding to the floor, but stop, no matter how spotless this place is, I’ve already done enough in it.
He tidies himself after a while of standing, then grabs tissues to clean me gently.
“Thank you,” I murmur, appreciating him for cleaning me up. “Do you want to head out first or should I?”
“You want to go out there?” he asks, and when I don’t respond, he raises his hands in surrender.
I slip past him, open the door, and step back into the main area. Before I can walk away, though, he tugs me back, pressing a slow, intimate kiss to my lips.
When he lets me go, I head toward the exit until I catch my reflection in a mirror and freeze.
“Oh my God,” I breathe. “Please tell me there’s another way out that doesn’t go through there.” I point at the door I came through.
He grins, pointing to a door at the far end. “Emergency exit.”
