The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but for Zariah, it felt like an eternity and a sudden end all at once. His lips were soft, surprisingly warm, and the way he held her waist was firm, yet not rough. It wasn't hungry like the touches she usually got; it felt… different. Like he was reaching for something real. Her stomach churned with a wild, unexpected flutter, a feeling she hadn't let herself feel in years.
Then, just as quickly as it began, the hand on her waist tightened, not from him, but from someone else. Elias was pulled back, away from her, with a sharp yank. The blurry vision of his hazel eyes, so close just a moment ago, vanished.
"Elias! What the hell?" a man's voice roared, cutting through the loud music.
Zariah blinked, shaking her head slightly, trying to clear the strange haze the kiss had left. Her heart was still beating too fast. She saw Elias, a little unsteady on his feet, being held by a worried-looking man. That must be his friend. Nick.
Nick quickly let go of Elias, stepping forward, his face pale with apology. "Oh my God, Ms. Cruz! I am so, so sorry! He's had way too much to drink, he's not usually like this, I swear!" His eyes darted nervously between Zariah's calm face and the dazed Elias.
Zariah kept her face carefully blank. She wouldn't let them see how the kiss had truly shaken her. She wouldn't let them see the unexpected spark, the soft tremor that still lingered in her gut. She was the queen of this club, a woman who showed no weakness. She looked at Elias, who was now swaying slightly, his eyes still a bit unfocused as he stared at her. He didn't seem to understand what was happening, but a strange, soft smile touched his lips, as if he was still lost in the kiss.
That smile, that dazed look, was almost her undoing. It was too open, too innocent for this place. It threatened to crack her carefully built walls. She had to push him away, now.
"I am used to the hungry ones," Zariah said, her voice clear and cool, cutting through the noise of the club like a sharp blade. Her words were meant to dismiss, to belittle, to put him back in his place, far away from her. "It's not a new thing to me." She looked past Nick, straight at Elias, her eyes hardening just enough to make her point. "Just get him out of here."
Nick looked even more horrified. "Yes, Ms. Cruz! Right away!" He grabbed Elias firmly by the arm, pulling him towards the exit. Elias stumbled but didn't fight, his head turning back to look at Zariah, that small, soft smile still on his face. Zariah ignored him, turning her back, forcing herself to focus on the crowd, the music, anything but the strange ache in her chest.
But before she could truly lose herself in the noise, another presence made itself known. A shadow fell over her, blocking the flashing lights. The air around her suddenly felt heavy, thick with a possessive anger she knew all too well.
"What was that all about, Zariah?" a deep, gravelly voice rumbled close to her ear.
Zariah's shoulders stiffened, but she didn't flinch. She knew that voice. It was Damon. He was the man who was obsessed with her, a man she kept close only because of his money and power, even though she couldn't stand him. She slowly turned, her face carefully neutral.
Damon stood there, tall and broad, his eyes dark and burning with anger. He smelled of expensive cologne and something else, something dangerous. He reached out, his hand wrapping around her arm, his grip too tight. He pulled her roughly towards him, his face leaning in, clearly intending to kiss her.
Zariah moved with practiced speed. Before his lips could even brush hers, she twisted, pulling her arm free with a sharp, quick motion. She stepped back, putting a careful distance between them. Her gray eyes met his, cold and unyielding.
Damon's jaw tightened. He hated being rejected, especially in front of others. He knew every eye on the dance floor was secretly watching, wondering. He leaned in again, this time whispering so only she could hear, his voice laced with venom. "Why would you let a cheap nobody put his filthy lips on you? After all I've given you? After everything you are because of me?" His words were meant to cut, to shame her, to remind her of his twisted claim.
Zariah didn't blink. His words were poison, but she had built an empire on swallowing poison without flinching. She knew exactly what he was trying to do. He wanted to make her feel small, to remind her of her past, to make her think she was somehow less because of Elias's kiss.
She straightened her shoulders, her chin lifting just a fraction. A faint, knowing smile, colder than ice, touched her lips. "Damon," she purred, her voice low and dangerous, "You forget who you're talking to. And you forget whose club this is. I don't allow anything. I choose." Her gaze swept over him, dismissing him, making him feel like an annoying fly buzzing in her ear. "And what I choose right now is to enjoy my evening."
With that, she turned her back on him completely, moving effortlessly into the crowd, her body swaying to the music once more. She didn't look back. She knew he wouldn't follow. He was too proud to make a scene in her club, where she held all the power. But she could feel his burning gaze on her back, a silent promise of future trouble.
***
Outside the club, the cool night air was a shock after the hot, crowded inside. Nick practically dragged Elias towards his car, which was parked just down the street. Elias was still a little wobbly, the whiskey making his legs feel like rubber.
"What the hell was that, man?!" Nick shouted, shoving Elias into the passenger seat before climbing into the driver's side. He started the engine, the low rumble a stark contrast to the pounding bass they had just left behind. "You just… you grabbed her! Zariah Cruz! Do you know who that woman is? She could have had us both thrown out! Or worse!" Nick gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white.
Elias just slumped back against the seat, a strange, dreamy smile still playing on his lips. He lifted a hand, his fingers touching his own mouth, as if reliving the moment. He chuckled, a soft, almost breathless sound.
Nick stared at him. "What's so funny? You're lucky she just gave you a warning! Most guys who try that end up in the alley with a broken nose, if they're lucky!"
Elias just shook his head slowly, still smiling. He didn't answer. He couldn't. His mind was replaying the moment, the way Zariah's eyes had widened, the brief, intense connection he'd felt. He knew he had been drunk, but even through the haze, something about her had pulled him in. Something about that kiss had felt… important. Different. He remembered her cold words, her dismissal, but they felt like a distant echo, fading against the warmth that had bloomed in his chest.
Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Seriously, man. You're lucky. We are never going to that club again. Ever." He shook his head slowly, a mix of relief and disbelief on his face. "You nearly got us killed for a drunken mistake."
Elias didn't argue. He didn't care about getting into trouble. He was still touching his lips, lost in the memory. The taste of her. The feeling of her body against his.
Nick pulled away from the curb, driving through the city streets. The club's loud music faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the engine and the distant sounds of the night. Elias stared out the window, the city lights blurring into long streaks of color. He saw the world, but he wasn't really seeing it. His mind was miles away, still lingering on the dance floor, still feeling the echo of a kiss that had changed everything. He had no idea who Zariah Cruz truly was, or the dangerous world she lived in. All he knew was that for the first time in a long time, something had truly touched him, reaching past his calm, art-filled life and stirring a desire he hadn't known he had. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he had to see her again.