The following weeks breeze by through relentless work and saving money. In a few weeks, I can start search for apartments and get my own place. In a few weeks, Harry and Edwin will get married.

But today, we're flying to Vegas for their bachelor parties.

It's me, Hayden, Val, her assistant, Harry and Edwin, a couple of their close friends, and Andrea with her girlfriend, Monica. A small group of eleven people.

Val has booked our hotel rooms, which means Hayden and I get our own room, because we're a 'couple.'

"I'll sleep on the floor," he says as soon as we walk through the door. There's not even a couch, and the chair is only enough for one-third of him.

"For two days?" I ask, unzipping my luggage to unpack. "No need. I trust you. I know you're not going to grope me while I'm sleeping."

"Jesus, who said anything about groping?" He rushes to the bathroom and shuts the door. Is he about to take a shit?

"How long will you be in there for?" I ask on the other side of the door.

"A minute." He snaps. "Can I have some privacy to myself?"

"No?" I smile. "Are you peeing?"

"Yes." He drawls with murderous exhaustion.

"Is it yellow?"

"Can you fuck off?"

"Don't forget to flush!"

He curses under his breath. But as I continue to unpack, my nerves start taking over.

Sharing a bed with Hayden, while the two of us will most likely be drunk. And we're going to a BDSM club in a couple of hours.

I don't think I can handle it.

Poor Milo. Edwin's little cousin is looking after him while we're here, but now I kind of wish he was here, so I could cuddle with his cute face.

"You need to shower?" Hayden grumbles, coming out of the bathroom after washing his hands. Thankfully.

"Obviously. Don't you? I can't stand the airport air. I feel polluted."

"Sure, I'll go after you."

"Or we can save water," I say suggestively. He gives me an exasperated glare. "By the way, who's sleeping in the next room?"

"I don't know. Shane. Why?"

I take my showering essentials with me. "Just in case. We don't want people to think that you suck in bed." I smirk over my shoulder. "I might have to put on a fake performance. Warm up my vocals."

His laugh is exactly what I was hoping for. "You're such an idiot."

"Toodles. I'll be out in thirty. Or forty." It's an everything kind of shower. I'm shaving every crevice, corner, curve, except for my scalp.

We're sharing the same bed with Hayden tonight. The same bed. Tonight. With Hayden.

I decide to wash my hair, even though I washed it last night. I want to smell as clean as possible. Afterwards, I put on a thick hotel robe.

"How long do you need to get ready?" He shifts past me to shower next.

"An hour or two. Probably two."

"Are you serious?" He stops.

"Of course, I have to look pretty." I give him a cheeky shrug.

He groans, locking the door after him. I start with my makeup, taking my time to make it flawless. Not that I'm a professional, but I've learned what works best with my face.

By the time I'm halfway done, Hayden moseys out from a room of steam, his hips wrapped in a white towel.

I almost ruin my left winged eyeliner.

That towel is hanging too low.

Water droplets lick every inch of his wide, tan, sculpted chest. His muscular, long arms.

His hair is dripping, falling over his forehead. As always, his face is mean like he's tasked with solving the world's biggest problem.

"I'm going to take my stuff and get ready at Harry's. Text me when you're done." He grabs his luggage and rolls out of the room.

"Rude!" I yell after him, but he's already gone.

What bit his ass?

Whatever, nothing can ruin my mood. Because I'm obsessed with the dress I'm wearing tonight. It was pure luck, destiny. Nowadays, it's impossible to find a dress that fits right and doesn't cost a fortune. This baby is a gem.

I style my hair as usual. Tousled, wavy, with curtain bangs. My skin has a golden tint to it from hanging out with Milo. And the dress I'm wearing is rich, silky purple.

I could've bought it in red or black, but purple matches my hair and skin tone in such a unique way, giving it a healthy glow.

The material is soft and high quality. It cinches at the waist, giving me an hourglass figure. Plus, an open back with criss-cross straps, a cowl-neck with a tease of cleavage, and it's short enough to be sexy, but without flashing my hooha.

I pair it with nude, open-toe heels which make my legs look so much longer, and wear a purple lace thong, just in case the wind decides to blow in the wrong direction.

I'm putting on my earrings when Hayden opens the door. "You ready?"

"Almost."

It's dead quiet. Until Hayden appears in the reflection, a few feet behind me. And his expression? It's so stunned, that his mouth is hanging open.

Quite literally. His lips are ajar. With his gaze zeroed in on the back of my dress, like he's never seen anything like this in his life before.

"What's up?" I hide my amusement.

Still looking.

I laugh softly and turn around to face him, enjoying the way he can't peel his eyes off of me. I lean against the dresser as he lowers his focus around my thighs, lingering there longer.

In the meantime, I'm admiring him. No, because Hayden is always attractive. But in dress pants and leather dress shoes? The structured lines and sleek polish, paired with a black belt and a tailored black button-down...those damn silver accessories. He looks put together, yet carelessly rugged, and undeniably tempting.

Even the way he stands. Feet rooted apart, as if daring you to come closer. Or crawl.

He rubs his hand down his mouth and slowly shakes his head.

"What?" I tilt my head.

"Is that what you're wearing?" His voice lowers.

On command, my heart rate increases. But I choose to ignore it. "Why? You don't like it?"

Instead of replying, he takes a slow, measured step closer. Then another. His shoes against the floor is the only sound until he stops in front of me and lifts his darkened gaze to mine.

"You ready to go?"

I'm slightly breathless. He doesn't have to compliment me with words. The restrained lust in his gaze is convincing enough.

A second ago, I felt powerful to have such an effect on him. Now, I feel like he's the one in control.

"Yes, sir."

"Don't. Don't do that to me." He groans.

"Do what?"

He curses under his breath and laughs. "Can we go, please? Everyone's waiting."

"Since you asked so nicely, of course." I strut past him, suppressing a triumphant grin. "Let's go."

Maybe...I overdid it with the dress. Almost everyone compliments me about it. Andrea screams. Edwin purrs. Val's eyes pop. Harry goes 'wow' and smirks at Hayden. Even strangers look at me more than normal.

Or maybe it's because I'm with Hayden? Women check him out left and right.

The funny part is that he pays zero attention. None. It's as if those women don't exist.

The night begins in Harry's room, where we take a couple of shots. Val rented a limousine to drive us to the BDSM dungeon. Upon arriving, we find out that this place isn't as intimate as the one I went to before with Andrea.

It's way more expensive-looking, with multiple stages and flashing neon lights and smoke. The music is loud and hypnotic, perfectly matching the atmosphere. It's so dark, you can hardly make out people's faces.

There is so much happening. From cracks of whips and cries of pleasure. To electricity play and people holding flames in their palms.

I'm semi-drunk, but Hayden is right next to me the entire time. He kind of follows me around, letting me explore and watch whatever I find interesting.

At some point, we split up as a group and I pause in front of a couple doing a shibari scene.

I've never been tied up before, and I'm not sure I ever want to be. But their dynamic immediately grabs my attention, because it reminds me so much of me and Hayden.

The pink-haired girl smirks at him with defiant cheekiness while the guy remains kind of mysterious and quiet. The entire time, he's tying a rope around her ankles. He's in no rush.

"I don't have the patience for this," I whisper to Hayden. "It's taking forever."

He doesn't say anything. Suddenly the guy pulls on the rope and the girl's ankles lift above her hips, putting her in a compromising position.

It's so unexpected yet smooth and confident, that I'm left speechless just like his partner. Guess what? She's definitely not smirking anymore!

What strikes me the most is how the guy watches her reaction. The way he soaks in her helpless gasp, her eyes glossing over with want.

A strange guy next to me turns and gives me a smile. I have no idea why, but before I can even scowl at him, Hayden's hand spreads across my stomach as he pulls me back against his chest.

The curve of my ass is pressed against his...well, let's just say neither of us is wearing a thick fabric. So...yeah. Um...thank God it's dark in here, because my face is roasting on fire.

The guy that was staring at me not only looks away, he leaves.

I crane my neck to find out what expression Hayden was giving him. Yup. It's a solid, 'I'm going to kill your kids' kind of cold glare.

"I can't tell if you're for real or if you're pretending," I say.

"What?" He looks down at me.

"Are you pretending to be possessive? No one is watching. So who are you acting for?"

"Who said I'm acting?" His hand remains on my stomach. His focus is on the couple in front of us. But his tone is amused.

"You're not?"

He clicks his tongue and dips his lips until they're a breath away from my ear. "Shhh."

Something about that makes me even hotter.

I playfully elbow him in the stomach.

He wraps his other hand around my arm, snakes his calloused fingertips down to my wrist, and pins it behind me against my low back.

It's not enough pressure to trap me completely, but it's enough to make my brain melt. I can't pay attention to the couple anymore. I can't think of anything else except being in his possession.

"Hm, so you like being restrained. You just don't like the rope," he whispers.

My breath catches. He's right. I do like it. A lot. I can't believe I'm playing games here, while he's testing me, studying me. And he does it so effortlessly, while we're surrounded by people.

Just to punish him for that, I push my ass against him and smile as his hand around my wrist tightens. I stifle my laughter and do it again.

"Behave."

"I am."

I couldn't care less if others know what's going on. Let them watch. The crazy part is that I've never felt so free and so safe around someone before. I just don't care, because he cares so much. And because he does, for once in my life I get to be reckless. I get to enjoy myself.

Hayden lets me go and steps beside me, ignoring my smug grin. But I see the subtle hint of humor on his mouth. The suppressed irritation.

"There you are!" Val shows up, catching me off-guard. "Did you know there are more rooms upstairs? I want to go check it out."

In other words, let's go together. Got it.

"I'm down." I smile at her and Shane. Turning around, I grab Hayden's hand and take him with me.

"Where are we going?" he asks.

"Upstairs."

A/N
Sigh...I'm just waiting for Hayden to call Hazel a good girl and turn her into a pathetic mess.

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