Chapter 1 THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED

"I just don't feel anything for you anymore, Viva.

Nathan's voice was cold, emotionless, as he leaned back in his chair, swirling his drink like he was bored of the conversation. Like she was just another task on his to-do list, something to check off and forget.

Viva felt her stomach tighten. "What... what do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. He sighed, exasperated, as if she was the problem. "

You're boring, Viva. There's no spark, No excitement. I need someone who keeps things interesting.

"The words hit like a slap, each syllable tearing through her like a blade. Boring? No spark?

Hadn't she given him everything? Hadn't she stayed up late talking to him, supported him through his struggles, loved him unconditionally? Her fingers clenched around the napkin in her lap.

"Are you serious? " Nathan didn't even look guilty. If anything, he looked relieved.

"Come on, don't act so surprised. You had to feel it too,"

he said, taking another casual sip of his drink. "Things have been off between us for a while." Viva shook her head, feeling the burn of unshed tears. No. That wasn't true. Lilly had tried to warn her when she had called, Just two weeks ago, her best friend had shown her pictures from Nathan's social media , smiling with some girl, his arm draped casually over her shoulders, looking too close to be just friends. But Viva had refused to believe it. "That girl..." she whispered.

"The one you've been hanging around with. Is she the reason?"

Nathan smirked. He didn't even have the decency to deny it. "Let's not make this messy, Viva. It's over. You'll be fine".

Fine? He was walking away from years of love, and he thought she'd be fine? She watched him throw some cash on the table before standing up, brushing imaginary lint off his shirt like this entire conversation had been a mild inconvenience."Well, see you around," he said over his shoulder before walking out of the restaurant, out of her life, just like that.

Viva sat frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs, her ears ringing with the deafening silence he left behind. She should have cried. She should have felt shattered. But all she felt was empty. Slowly, she pushed back her chair and walked out onto the busy city street. The night air was crisp, but it did nothing to cool the fire building in her chest. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to replay his words over and over in her head. No, Tonight, she wanted to forget. She wanted to drink, to lose herself in the night, to stop feeling anything for just a little while.

A neon sign flickered across the street-CLUB AURA. Music pulsed from inside, a steady beat calling her in. Without a second thought, she stepped inside, letting the heavy bass drown out the pain. Maybe heartbreak wasn't the end, Maybe tonight she can prove to herself that she wasn't boring.

The club was dimly lit, a mix of deep blues and purples casting shadows over the dance floor. Bodies moved in rhythm to the music, lost in the moment, in the heat of the night. Then she saw him. A man leaned against the bar, his posture relaxed yet commanding, like he owned the space around him. His dark eyes locked onto hers immediately-sharp, assessing, interested. Viva swallowed, her breath catching in her throat. He was effortlessly magnetic, dressed in a fitted black shirt that stretched across his broad chest, the sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His jaw was sharp, his lips curved into the faintest smirk, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. He tilted his glass slightly in her direction, a silent invitation. Viva hesitated for only a second before walking toward him, feeling a confidence she didn't know she had. As she reached the bar, he leaned in just enough for his voice to be heard over the music.

"Rough night?" His voice was deep, smooth, laced with something dangerous. Viva let out a breathy laugh. "Something like that". His eyes flickered with amusement as he took a slow sip of his drink.

"I could tell. You walked in like you had nothing to lose. "Maybe I don't, she wanted to say. Instead, she met his gaze head-on. "And what about you? Sitting here alone, watching people all night?"

He smirked. "Not all night. Just since you walked in." A shiver ran down her spine. Viva reached for the drink the bartender placed in front of her, but before she could take a sip, he leaned in just a fraction closer, his cologne wrapping around her like a spell, "Be careful," he murmured. "A woman like you... she could make a man do something reckless."

Her lips curled into a smirk as she clinked her glass against his. "Then maybe tonight's the night for reckless decisions."

His eyes darkened, filled with something unreadable yet thrilling. He extended his hand toward her, his fingers brushing against hers lightly-a test, an invitation. Viva took it And just like that, she let the night take control, she was a light drinker, and one drink was enough to get her into the right amount of tipsy to want to do things she would not normally do with a strange man, who cares what could happen , she doesn't have to see him again, tonight Viva, let loose!!

The dim glow of blue and purple lights flickered around them as he led her through the crowd, past the pulsing beats of the music, deeper into the club. Her pulse raced-not from fear, but from the intoxicating thrill of the unknown.

He pushed open a door, revealing a private lounge bathed in warm, golden lighting. A sleek leather couch sat in the center, a low table with half-finished drinks from whoever had occupied the space before them.

"We can have this whole place to ourselves," he murmured, his voice like velvet as he turned to face her. Viva let out a breath, trying to ignore how her body reacted to him-the way his presence made her skin tingle, the way his gaze traveled over her like he was drinking her in. She wasn't the kind of woman who did things like this, But tonight, she wanted to be. Nathan had made her feel forgettable. Like she was a placeholder until someone better came along. But this man? He was looking at her like she was the most captivating thing in the room.

"You seem tense," he noted, stepping closer, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Viva shivered at the simple touch.

"I'm not," she lied. He chuckled, a deep, rich sound, "Liar!!"She smirked, shaking her head. "And what if I am?" His gaze dropped to her lips. "Then I should help you relax." The air between them shifted, thick with unspoken tension. She knew where this was going- and she wanted it to go there. Then he closed the distance. His lips brushed against hers, teasing at first, testing. But the moment she sighed into him, he claimed her-his hands sliding around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The kiss was deep, hungry, like he was tasting something he'd been craving for a long time.

Viva clutched at his shirt, losing herself in the sensation. His mouth moved against hers with a slow, intoxicating rhythm, his fingers gripping her hips as if grounding himself in the moment. She pulled away for air, but he chased her lips, nipping lightly at her bottom lip before smirking.

"Out of breath already?" His voice was teasing, low, full of amusement. Viva could barely think, let alone speak. He leaned in, brushing his lips over her jaw, then whispered against her skin-"Then you shouldn't have tasted so good." Her stomach tightened, her breath hitching. Maybe this was crazy. Maybe she'd regret it in the morning. But right now, with his hands on her and the heat between them threatening to consume her-She didn't care. Tonight, she wasn't the girl who had been discarded. Tonight, she was the one being wanted.

Viva swallowed hard, her body already responding to the heat between them. Her heart thundered as she met his gaze-heated, electric, and filled with something she had never seen in Nathan's eyes. Want. Lust. Obsession. His hands trailed down her back, palms rough against her soft skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against him, letting her feel every inch of his arousal.

A gasp escaped her lips, but he swallowed it with another kiss, his tongue tangling with hers, tasting, exploring, devouring."You taste addictive," he murmured against her lips, his breath hot, his voice thick with want. She let out a shaky exhale as his hands roamed further, his fingers grazing the hem of her dress. With a slow, deliberate movement, he slid it up, exposing the smooth expanse of her thighs. His lips trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing sensitive skin, making her arch against him, slowly his tongues licks through her thighs, she was shivering, she knows exactly were the journey of his tongue was about to end, and just before he buried his tongues in-between , her legs that were raised just above his head, he asked

"Do you want this?" , his lips brushing the shell of her ear, his voice a deep, husky whisper. "Yes," she breathed, no hesitation, no second thoughts. That was all he needed. He gripped her thighs and lifted her effortlessly onto the plush leather couch, positioning himself between her legs. He ran his fingers over her skin, tracing invisible patterns, watching her with darkened eyes as she trembled under his touch. his tongue did wonders she could only have read about, was this real, could a man be this good, he moved like he had mastered her body and knew exactly how it works, His mouth followed, pressing wet, open-mouthed kisses down her collarbone, across her shoulder, until he reached the swell of her breasts. His lips closed over one hardened peak, his tongue swirling in slow, torturous circles that sent pleasure rippling through her. A moan slipped past her lips as he lavished attention on her, his hands gripping her hips, his fingers digging in just enough to leave a mark. He worshipped her, like she was something sacred, something to be adored. He peeled away the remaining barriers between them, his touch reverent, yet filled with unrestrained hunger. When he finally positioned himself between her thighs, his gaze locked onto hers, a silent promise passing between them. He entered her slowly, stretching her, filling her inch by inch.

Viva gasped, clutching his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as he pushed deeper, claiming her in a way that sent a shudder through her entire body. "Perfect," he rasped, pressing a lingering kiss against her lips. He moved with deliberate precision, slow at first, letting her feel every stroke, every inch of him as their bodies molded together. The pressure built, delicious and overwhelming, each thrust sending waves of pleasure crashing over her. Viva moaned she didn't even know his name, she would have been screaming it so bad, breathless, lost in the sensation of him, the way he held her, the way he worshipped her. "You feel so good," he groaned, his movements growing more urgent, more desperate. She wrapped her legs around him, drawing him deeper, craving more. her voice spilled from her lips like a whispered prayer as he drove her higher, pushing her toward the edge of oblivion, she never knew she could be bendy or in such a position, twisted and turned, in all positions he was good And then it happened. Pleasure shattered through her like a tidal wave, her body convulsing, her vision going white. He followed moments later, his grip on her tightening as he found his own release, a deep, guttural moan escaping him as he buried his face against her neck.

**THE MORNING AFTER**

The soft glow of early morning filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the luxurious hotel suite. Viva stirred, her body deliciously sore, the lingering scent of him still clinging to her skin. Her lashes fluttered open, and the events of last night came rushing back. The club. The private lounge. His hands, his mouth, his body worshipping hers like she was the only woman in the world. she had left in the middle of the dead night when he had gone to the bathroom, while she got dressed before he could come back, A strange pang twisted in her chest. Good right, this was how it was suppose to end. That was the whole point, wasn't it? A reckless, no-names, no-strings-attached night of pleasure. No regrets. Still, as she walked out quietly , she couldn't ignore the hollow feeling creeping in.

A soft rustle caught her attention. Her eyes snapped to where a neatly folded note lay beneath her leg. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it. this was unforgettable. But if fate ever brings us together again... I won't let you go. No signature. Just an elegant scrawl that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. She swallowed hard, forcing a scoff. Dramatic much? With a deep breath, she crumpled the note and tossed it aside. It didn't matter who he was. It didn't matter if she would ever see him again, the night was over And she had bigger things to deal with. Viva pushed the door opened, and slipped out , her body humming with the aftershocks of their passion, yes she had it mixed with a hangover, but the night was worth it