Chapter 1 Sold.

"Sell her."

The words sliced through the dimly lit room, as cold as the metal cuffs biting into Nirvana Castillo's wrists.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her throat burning from hours of silence, but her head snapped toward the voice. Adrian Holt, the man she had once loved, sat comfortably in a leather chair, his legs crossed as if discussing nothing more than a business transaction.

"You can't be serious," she finally choked out, her voice hoarse but steady.

Adrian's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm very serious." He leaned forward, his sharp brown eyes glinting with amusement. "You lost your worth the moment your father's empire collapsed. What use do I have for a broken heiress?"

Nirvana's nails dug into her palms, fury and betrayal coiling in her chest like a snake ready to strike. "You're disgusting."

His smirk widened. "That may be, but I'm also practical. And let's be honest...you'll fetch a high price."

Her stomach churned. The man she had planned to marry, the man she had trusted with her life, was selling her like a commodity.

A slow clap echoed from the doorway, drawing both their gazes.

"Touching. Truly."

The voice was deep, rich, and laced with amusement. Nirvana's heart pounded as she took in the man standing against the doorframe, his imposing figure relaxed, yet radiating an undeniable danger.

Rayne St Trinity

Even in the dim light, his piercing blue eyes gleamed like ice, assessing her with unreadable intensity. Dressed in a dark suit, his sleeves rolled up to reveal tattooed forearms, he looked like a predator who had just found his prey.

Adrian stood, extending a hand. "Rayne. You're just in time."

Rayne ignored the handshake, his gaze never leaving Nirvana. "I expected better merchandise, Holt," he mused, his voice taunting.

Adrian chuckled. "Don't let the bruises fool you. She's still a prize."

Nirvana's stomach twisted at their casual conversation, as if she weren't even in the room.

Rayne finally shifted his gaze to Adrian. "I don't like damaged goods. If I take her, it's at half the price."

Adrian stiffened. "Half..."

Rayne's slow smirk was a warning. "Or I walk."

A tense silence stretched between them before Adrian finally forced a laugh. "Fine. Consider her yours."

Something in Nirvana snapped. She surged forward, but Adrian's guards yanked her back, their grips bruising. "I am not for sale, you bastard!"

Rayne cocked his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're very loud for someone with no power here."

Her rage flared. "Go to hell."

He chuckled, low and slow. "I've been there, sweetheart. Didn't care for the decor."

Adrian shoved the contract toward Rayne, who signed it with an air of boredom.

And just like that, she belonged to him.

Her world tilted as the guards dragged her toward Rayne. She struggled, kicking and thrashing, but he merely caught her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up to his.

"Fight all you want," he murmured, his breath ghosting against her lips. "You're mine now."

Nirvana's breath hitched, but she forced herself to glare into those icy eyes.

"Go ahead," she taunted. "Own me. But I swear, I'll be the worst thing that ever happened to you."

Rayne's smirk deepened, and for the first time that night, she saw something flicker in his gaze...something dark.

Challenge accepted.

"Strip."

The single word shattered the tense silence of the lavish bedroom. Nirvana's heart slammed against her ribs as she stood frozen, her wrists still raw from the earlier restraints.

Rayne leaned against the dresser, arms crossed, watching her with the same cold amusement he had shown since the auction. The dim lighting cast shadows over his sharp features...high cheekbones, chiseled jaw, and those piercing blue eyes that held a silent promise of destruction.

She clenched her fists. "Go to hell."

His lips curved into a slow smirk. "Already been there, sweetheart. Didn't like the company."

She swallowed, her pulse roaring in her ears. "I'm not your toy."

Rayne pushed off the dresser and took a slow, measured step toward her. Then another. She instinctively stepped back, only for her knees to hit the edge of the bed. His eyes darkened with amusement.

"I own you now, Nirvana," he murmured, his voice a deadly purr. "You don't get to tell me what you are and aren't."

Her nails dug into her palms as she forced her chin up. "You don't own me. You bought a name, a body, but not my will."

Rayne hummed, as if considering her words. Then, in a flash, his hand shot out, gripping her jaw, tilting her face up until their noses nearly touched.

"Tell me," he murmured, his breath brushing against her lips, "do you think defiance excites me or bores me?"

She glared at him, refusing to let her fear show.

Rayne chuckled, his grip tightening just slightly...not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her who was in control. "I like you like this," he admitted. "Fiery. Makes breaking you so much more fun."

She jerked her face free, eyes burning with hatred. "You'll never break me."

He sighed dramatically. "Now you've gone and made it a challenge."

Without warning, he reached for the hem of her dress. She slapped his hand away, her breath catching.

"Don't," she hissed.

His smirk widened. "Oh? You still think you have a choice?"

He leaned in close, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body, his scent...dark spice and something undeniably male...wrapping around her like a trap.

"I can take my time," he murmured, tracing a finger along the exposed skin of her arm, watching as she shivered despite herself. "Make you beg for what you claim to hate."

She slapped his hand away again. "I'd rather die."

Rayne exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Such dramatics. You're quite the little actress." He lifted a hand and gently...mockingly...tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But let me tell you something, little kitten." His voice dropped, dangerously soft. "No one leaves me. Not by choice. Not by force."

A shiver ran down her spine.

She glared up at him, her chest heaving. "I will find a way."

Rayne's smirk faded. In its place, something darker took over. A warning. A promise.

"Try," he whispered. "And see what happens."

Before she could react, he spun her around and shoved her down onto the bed.

Nirvana gasped, struggling against the firm grip on her wrists as he pinned them above her head with one hand. His other hand settled on her waist, his touch featherlight but possessive.

Panic and fury warred inside her. She fought, twisting beneath him, but he didn't budge.

Rayne chuckled. "So much fight for someone with nowhere to go."

"Get off me!" she spat.

His grip tightened just enough to remind her of his strength. "Not yet. I think I like you just like this."

She thrashed harder, her breath ragged. "I swear to God, I'll..."

"You'll what?" he interrupted, amusement lacing his voice. "Scratch me? Bite me? Make me bleed?" He dipped his head, lips brushing the shell of her ear. "I like it rough, sweetheart."

Heat flushed through her body...not from desire, but from the sheer fury of being trapped, helpless beneath a man who played with her like a cat with a mouse.

His fingers skimmed lower, and she went rigid.

Rayne paused.

Then, he stilled completely.

Slowly, he lifted his head, those sharp blue eyes locking onto hers with something new...something unreadable.

His smirk returned, but it was different this time. Laced with something deeper.

"You're a virgin."

It wasn't a question.

Nirvana's entire body locked up. She turned her face away, her pulse hammering.

Rayne exhaled a slow breath, then chuckled softly.

"Well, well." His voice was silk and steel. "This just got interesting."

She squeezed her eyes shut.

And then....he let go.

The weight of his body disappeared as he pushed off the bed, leaving her panting, trembling.

Nirvana blinked up at him, stunned.

Rayne ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression unreadable. "I don't touch what's untouched." His lips curled into something almost... cruel. "Not until it begs for it."

A wave of humiliation crashed over her, anger and relief intertwining into something unbearable.

She shot up, her breath coming in furious pants. "You're a monster."

Rayne only smirked. "You haven't seen the half of it."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

He paused, glancing back at her over his shoulder.

"Get some rest, little kitten," he said. "You'll need your strength."

And then....he walked out, leaving her alone, seething, and shaking with everything she refused to feel.