PLAYLIST

♩ Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

♩ I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas

♩ Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

━━▲━━

Two days later.

My knife lands in the bullseye.

"Fuck yeah! Pay up, bitch." Valerie holds out her hand as the bouncer places a hundred-dollar bill in her palm. His eyes follow her hands as she stuffs it into her bra. She pushes back her long black hair, rippling its Hollywood-style waves and giving him a good view of her tits. She's wearing ripped jeans and a dark red lace bodysuit which hugs her hourglass figure beautifully. Smirking with her full red lips and a sparkle in her amber eyes, she strokes his bulge.

"What? Wanna go again, big guy? Let's up the stakes. What are the two of us worth to you? At the same time?"

His eyebrows rise and his bulge twitches at that.

"Ooh, big guy indeed," she purrs, "I'll take that as a yes."

"Let it rest, Val," I say, "he's got guard duty."

"Guard duty?" she looks at me quizzically, "But we're here!"

I roll my eyes and retrieve my knife from the makeshift paper target on the wall. I come back to Imari interrupting Valerie's play session.

"Sorry, pal," he says, "she does this to all the new guys. Better try your luck elsewhere."

The man frowns and opens his mouth to tell him off, but Imari pushes him away and turns him around.

"Did I mention she has cooties? Off you go!" He shoves him so hard that the man stumbles. When he turns back, anger in his eyes, Imari flashes his holstered gun. Without another word, the man leaves.

"What the fuck, dude?" Valerie protests, "I was having fun!"

"I didn't like him," says Imari, handing us tequila shots, "he was too quiet."

"The quiet ones are usually the most fun," I say, smirking.

"Yeah, they're also usually batshit insane," he replies as he grabs a shot himself, "keep that on the streets and out of my uncle's bar. Please and thank you."

"Fair," I say.

"Fine," Valerie groans, "maybe tell him not to hire sexy bouncers, then."

Imari and I both snort.

"Have you met him?" he asks sarcastically.

We raise our shots and down them. The burn is like a balm to my insides, comforting and invigorating. I feel it warm my belly and loosen my muscles.

"So," Imari says, "have you given any thought to–"

"Can we not talk about this right now?" I plead, "We're here to have a good time."

He sighs and shakes his head but then smiles and nods in ascent.

"Well, why are we standing here?" I look around at my two best friends, "Let's dance!" I grab them by their wrists and take them to the dance floor.

We move to the music like nobody's watching. Friends, acquaintances, and strangers come up and dance with us. We get more drinks in us, and I dance and grind on a table with Valerie for a while, both aware of the not-so-subtle drunk horn dogs waiting for us to make out. The disappointment on their faces when we get down makes us almost fall to our knees laughing, but we get back on the floor in moments. There, Imari's short chestnut curls bounce as he moves and his muscled, light brown biceps glisten under the lights as his brown eyes shine with the glaze of inebriation. I catch a couple of guys looking at his ass and smile.

"I think you have some fans," I yell in his ear and tilt my chin towards them.

He follows my gaze and exchanges a knowing smile with them.

"Go!" I urge, "Just make sure they're not the quiet type!"

His smile widens as he nods at me and takes off. I slap his ass as he's walking away and wink at him when he turns around.

"I love this song!" Val grabs my hands and puts them around her waist.

"You've always been an unironic Black Eyed Peas fan," I yell into her ear.

"You know it!" She throws her arms around my shoulders as we move to the rhythm and sing along. We sway our hips in tandem as our bodies undulate against each other. She runs her hands down my body and I tangle my hands in her hair. Our mouths stop close enough to feel the other's breath, making warmth radiate from my lower belly, and I'm beginning to think those horny fuckers will see something tonight after all.

Until I spot him.

He's leaning on a wall under a Jimi Hendrix poster, a beer in his hand and a knowing smirk on his full lips. His tousled hair hangs to his temples at the front, framing his face, and reaches his chiseled jawline in the back. His eyebrows are arched over the epicanthic folds of his brown eyes. A black leather jacket is all he's wearing for a top, heavily muscled and tattooed chest and stomach on display. One hand hangs by his thumb from a belt loop on his black jeans. The other – the one holding the beer– is still but for the slight stroking of his thumb that I can barely see from my vantage, but still elevates that warmth Valerie stirred. Worst of all, I know him, and I know he's checking me out.

Valerie's gaze follows mine, and I feel her tense. Our eyes meet in shock and confusion. As if on queue, Imari pops up beside us.

"Did you see–" he begins

"Yes." I say, letting go of Valerie, "I'll handle him."

They exchange looks, "Are you sure?" she asks.

"Yes," I say again, "he's on my father's turf. I need to do this."

Without waiting for an answer, I spin on my heels and head towards him. His smirk widens as I approach.

"Hydra," I say, crossing my arms when I reach him.

"Hot Stuff," his eyes trace my body from the bottom up, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

The way he lazily speaks in his deep, raspy baritone and the way his eyes take me in turn the warmth in my stomach up to eleven. I have the sudden urge to clench my thighs but force myself not to move.

"Cut the shit, Kaen," I snap, "you're on Macheras territory. Leave in one piece while you still can."

He chuckles and bites his lower lip. "I love it when you talk dirty." His eyes don't leave me as he downs the rest of his beer.

I sigh and clench my teeth at my body's eager and traitorous reaction. This will not work. If I want to get somewhere with him, I'll have to take a different approach. Cursing myself inwardly and knowing this will make things even harder, I plaster a smile on my face and step closer. Swaying my hips, I kick his boots so that he's forced to straighten. In my three-inch heels, the top of my head is level with his eyes.

"Sorry, darling," I purr and trace his exposed abs with my finger, "I get a little jumpy when I see snakes in my grass."

My hand reaches his belt, and I tug on it, pulling him into me. His cock brushes against me, and I feel my wetness seeping out. I ignore it.

"So," I say, rubbing his leg with mine and snaking it around his thigh, "why don't you just tell me why you're here and both of us can go our separate ways."

He looks down at my leg around him and smoothly rubs my thigh, sending goosebumps in his wake. The fucker notices and smirks at me before tugging it up and holding it in place on his hip. I feel a breeze where my thighs and ass cheeks peek out from under my skirt.

"Maybe I just came to see you," his other hand snakes to my lower back and he presses me to him. I sit right against his cock, our clothes the only things separating us. "Maybe I don't want to go our separate ways."

I swallow. My mouth – in total contrast to what's happening between my legs – is dryer than the Sahara desert. He brings his mouth to my shoulder and brushes his lips across it, making me shudder. Chucking, he travels up my collarbone and bars his teeth across my neck. When he reaches my ear he whispers,

"I bet your pussy is soaked for me, Sienna. Can you feel how hard I am for you?" He pushes further into me.

Fuck.

Fuck me right now.

Literally.

Turning to face him, my breath catches in how close his lips are to mine. I feel my heart hammering against my chest as I stifle another shudder. My body screams with need, every fiber of my being begging me to give in. This was a horrible idea.

"I'm flattered," I say, fighting to keep my voice steady, "but let's skip to the part where you tell me why you're really here."

He laughs. A low sound that threatens to melt my insides.

"I'm here for you, baby," he says, "really. I have a message from Elijah."

I cock my eyebrow, "Why not just meet with my dad?"

"Maybe he prefers a pretty intermediary," he rubs his hand slowly back and forth across my thigh, "can't say I blame him."

When his hand reaches my skirt, he snakes it underneath and lays it on my panties. I can hold back neither the gasp from my lips nor the shiver from my skin. His eyebrows fly up in mock astonishment.

"My, my, you really are soaked," he smirks, "would you like some help with that?"

His thumb lands expertly, directly on my clit.

That's more than enough of that.

Before my body involuntarily reacts again, I put my leg down and push him away. Not as strongly as I should have because his other hand is still curled around my back. He laughs again and uses that hand to pull me back into him.

I put my hands on his chest, forcing a distance between us. My stupid horniness doesn't let me just wiggle out of his grasp, even though being this close to him is torture. Whatever. The faster this is done, the faster he can leave and not torture me any longer.

"What's the message?" I snap, channeling my state into frustration.

This seems to only turn him on more. I can see the outline of his cock twitch and, before I can force myself to look at his face, he uses my distraction to wrap another arm around my back and yank me toward him. My arms buckle as his mouth meets mine.

Electricity flows through my body from where our mouths touch, numbing me to everything but his lips and the press of his hard cock. He kisses me hungrily, feasting on me like I am his first meal in weeks. His tongue slips into my mouth tasting like ambrosia. I can't control the moan that comes out of me when he does that. His responding moan is a low grunt followed by a small, knowing laugh.

I force my head back and punch him.

His head flies to the side, and I take the advantage to slip out of his arms. Panting, I glare at him. What the fuck does he think he's doing? What the fuck do I think I'm doing?

He laughs again before turning back to me. I busted his lip, but the motherfucker is acting like I just blew him. Satisfaction and – is that pride? – gleams in his eyes. Like he accomplished a goal. In a way, I guess he has. Fuck, why do these damn hydras have to make me so fucking weak? And why do I let myself be made so?

The psycho licks the blood on his lips and rolls his eyes.

"Delicious," he growls.

It takes me a moment to notice that my own lip is bleeding. Putting my hand to it, I realize he bit it. When has he done that? How did I not feel it? I should be horrified, but all I feel is moisture leaking from between my legs. What the fuck is wrong with me?

"Was that your message, darling?" I put venom in my voice, "Because if so, it's not a very smart one."

He takes a step toward me. I take my gun out of my bra holster and aim it at him.

"God, you're so fucking sexy," he bites his ruined lip again with no concern.

"I bet I'm even sexier decorated with your brains, sugar, wanna find out?"

"Don't threaten me with a good time, now," he smirks.

I flick the safety off and he shows me his palms apologetically.

"It's for your ears only," he says, then lowers his voice, "and people are listening."

I look around. A few patrons around us are staring, eyes glued to my gun and frozen in place. As more people notice, waves of unease and discomfort slowly spread around us. Great.

I make a split-second decision and put my gun down.

"It's alright, folks," I say as I holster it, "not trying to make a scene. Carry on. Jackson, everyone's next round is on me."

The bartender nods and the tension quickly turns to cheers and laughs. I even hear a couple of toasts in my name. This lot is very easy to please. Helps that your mob family owns the bar, I guess. When everyone gets back to their business, I turn back to Kaen who is slowly approaching me. He stops close to me, and, though he keeps his hands to himself, his hungry gaze and ever-present smirk shine as he looks me up and down.

"If I were a worse man..."

I open my mouth to retort, but he cuts me off.

"The die has been cast, darling," he says.

My retort dies in my mouth, "What?"

"Elijah's message."

"What does that mean?"

"It means," he brushes my split lip with his thumb before I step back, "that we are about to have some fun."

He licks the blood off of his digit and savors the taste. Need mixes with dread and confusion inside me. He catches on and smirks.

"Don't worry too much, Sienna, I promise it will be the time of your life."

Stupefied, I watch him wink, turn around, and stroll outside without a care.