MEEKA'S POV::
I stand there, frozen. The world around me feels blurred. Everything happening in this place, all fading behind the thud of my heartbeat.
He's not even looking at me now. Just sitting there, swirling his whiskey like he didn't just detonate a bomb in my chest.
"Two…" he murmurs, voice calm, lazy, like he's not counting down to my total undoing.
"One."
My throat's tight. I can't tell if I'm shaking from anger or anticipation. Probably both.
Then he leans back, his smirk widening just slightly. "Time's up."
That should be my cue to leave.
To grab my dignity, my bag, and walk out of this damn place like a sane person.
But my feet?
Yeah. They have other plans.
However, I manage to find myself moving them, finally making it to the door.
Almost.
The night air hits me as I step outside, cool against my flushed skin. I take one deep breath, then another, trying to convince myself this is over. That I'm not going to do something stupid.
Unfortunately, I've already done something stupid, because I can feel it.... the weight of that hotel key card in my pocket.
Wait. What the hell.....
When did I even pick it up?
My fingers curl around it, and my stomach twists.
"God, what's wrong with me?" I whisper to no one, tilting my head back, staring at the city lights.
I could go home. Forget this ever happened. Pretend he doesn't make me feel things I have no business feeling.
But instead, I find myself walking. One step, then another, toward the hotel room.
Because apparently, I've lost my goddamn mind.
SLADE'S POV::
A smirk curls at the corner of my lips as I watch her sashay toward the suite, hips swaying, and head high, pretending she isn't trembling inside.
Hell. She shouldn't have come, but she has.
And now, every dangerous thought crawling through my mind demands to be unleashed.
She said she only came to tell me to stop.... to end whatever this is.
But I know she's lying. And she knows that I know she's lying.
I can see it in her eyes. That flicker of hesitation, that pulse in her throat giving her away.
I've been fighting myself to stop whatever this is.... whatever she started.
But how can I, when she's my brother's fiancée?
Do you have any idea how intriguing that makes this?
Still, there's a reason I asked her to meet me tonight.
One: I planned to let go if she refused to show up. If she stayed away, I would've walked away too. Maybe.
But she didn't. She came. She came, looking like sin in heels, spitting fire like she didn't crave the same heat I do.
Two: I dropped the key card, gave her one last chance to walk away. And she failed that too.
We've only known each other for two days, but she always fails when it comes to me.
So you see? I'm trying to be the good guy I've never been. But she's walking straight to me willingly, like a sacrificial lamb.
I smirk, finishing my drink, then slide out of the booth. My steps are slow and deliberate, each one echoing with the kind of hunger I've tried to bury.
And as I head down the corridor toward Suite 1107, my pulse drums in rhythm with every wicked thought I've ever had about her.
Because if she's inside that room.... then she's already mine, and there's no going back.
The hallway is a bit quiet as I stroll in. Only the muffled hum of the city lights seeps through the tall glass windows, and the low buzz of the elevator dying behind me.
I pause when I get to the suite, my hand hovering over the door handle for a moment, the ghost of a smile tugging at my lips.
She's here. I can feel and smell her, because the air around is already heavy with her scent before I even open the door.
She smells like clean skin and something faintly floral. Soft enough to miss if you aren't close, warm enough to stay long after she's gone.
I push it open slowly, and there she is.
My little firecracker.
Standing by the window, with her back to me, the city glowing behind her like a thousand little fires. Her long, dark hair is loose, falling in waves down her back. Her arms are crossed, but I can see the tremor in her shoulders.
For a second, I just watch her. She's nervous.
Good. She should be.
"I was starting to think you'd chickened out," I murmur knowingly, shutting the door quietly behind me.
She whirls around with wide eyes, her lips parting slightly. Her voice trembles when she speaks, but she tries to steady it. "This.… this was a mistake."
"Yeah?" I take a slow step toward her. "Then why are you here?"
Her throat works as she swallows, her chin lifting in defiance. "I came to tell you to stop. Whatever this is.... it ends now."
I chuckle softly, the sound low and amused. "You've said that before."
"I mean it this time, Slade." her jaw tightens. "This ends now!"
F*ck! How sexy my name sounds on her lips, making me want to do sinful things to her.
"Then walk out." I nod toward the door, keeping my voice calm. "It's right there. I won't stop you."
She blinks, caught off guard. Her gaze flicks to the door, then back to me. Her pulse flutters at her throat, visible even from here.
But she doesn't move.
"I'm serious," I add, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You want this to end? Then walk out."
Her lips part, breath shaky. "You're arrogant."
"Only when I'm right."
A silence stretches between us, heavy, and charged. The the light in the room glows against her face, softening her edges, but her eyes are wild, alive.
God. They were killing me.
"I hate how you talk to me," she whispers.
"No," I say quietly, tilting my head. "You hate that I make you feel things you're not supposed to."
She exhales shakily, taking a step back. "I'm your brother's fiancee, for fuck's sake. This is wrong, Slade."
"Then stop me."
"You think this is a game?" She glares at me, her voice breaking.
"It was," I admit. "Until I saw you again tonight."
The truth slips out before I can stop it. But she doesn't say anything, and neither did I say anything else.
The silence thickens between us, so sharp I can hear her breathing.... uneven, shaky and defiant. I let it stretch a little longer. Then I reach into my pocket, pull out my phone, and dial a number.
"Suite 1107," I say quietly. "Now."
"What are you doing?" She finally says something, a deep frown curving up her brows.
I don't answer, I just stare at her silently.
Seconds after, a tall woman steps inside confidently in nothing but black lingerie and heels that click like a heartbeat on the tiles as she approaches. She doesn't even glance at Meeka. Her eyes find me, and she knows exactly why she's here.
Meeka stiffens, her pulse visible at the base of her throat.
I lean back in the chair, watching her reaction instead of the woman now crossing the room toward me. My lips curve in a wicked smile. Good. Let her see it. Let her see what kind of man she's playing with.
The woman moves closer, her hand sliding up my chest, her perfume heavy in the air.
Meeka's breath catches, barely a sound, but I hear it. Her fingers twist together, knuckles white. Her gaze flicks between us, her jaw tightening as she takes a step back.
"Slade...." she murmurs, her voice trembling somewhere between disbelief and anger.
I tilt my head lazily toward her, meeting her gaze with a smirk that could cut glass.
"What's wrong, Rebel? You said you wanted this to end. I'm just making that easy for you."
The woman shifts closer, the room thick with tension as she kneels before me. She grabs my belt and begins to unbuckle it.
The moment she's done with the belt, she grabs my length and begins to stroke it.
A low sound escapes me.... half groan, half challenge, just to see her flinch. I shouldn't enjoy this, but I do. Too much.
Meeka's eyes darken. She tries to hide it, but she's already losing the battle.
"You're disgusting." Her throat bobs.
I chuckle low. "You didn't think I was that night."
Her lips part, words failing her. I can practically see the storm behind her eyes.... rage, guilt and jealousy, maybe. All tangled up in something she refuses to name.
"Fuck!" I curse as the woman takes me in, sucking me like her life depends on my d*ck.
My lustful eyes stay fixed on Meeka while the woman worships my length. She gags, pulls back slightly then swallows me completely and I groan out again, my eyes never leaving Meeka.
I'm going all the way out for her. I'm allowing this woman touch me in ways she shouldn't, all because of her.
God. I feel like throwing up. Really bad. But I won't. I have to endure this for her.
She said she wants us to end it, then let her prove it by walking out that door. By not getting affected by this. This is her last chance, and if she does walk out, then I'll let her go.... forever.
"Shit!" Another groan escapes my lips and I throw my head slightly backwards, but my eyes are still on her.
She's fuming. I can see the rage in her eyes but she's still holding herself together. Barely.
And just when I think she's winning.
"F*cking stop!" she yells, and the woman freezes instantly.
She walks closer to us and pulls the woman up off me. "Get the hell out!"
The word tears out of her, sharp and loud, echoing against the walls.
A dark smirk tugs at the corner of my lips.