Chapter 3 Let me ruin you, princess

Violet

He kissed me deeply, and I kissed him back.

God, he tasted so good, like warm spice. His teeth caught my bottom lip, biting just hard enough to make me moan, and then his tongue slipped into my mouth, stealing every last thought in my head.

The kiss deepened, and my whole body responded like it had been waiting for this moment all its life.

My legs went weak, and my head spun. My core clenched so tightly I swore I could feel my heartbeat there.

"You bastard! How dare you!" Matthew yelled.

Before I could turn, the stranger was shoved away from me. A sickening crack followed as Matthew's fist slammed into his jaw, knocking him back a step. I gasped, eyes wide with shock, Matthew was never the aggressive type.

Matthew grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him.

I gasped at the sudden contact, pain flaring where his fingers dug into my skin. "Let go of me this instant!"

His eyes were wild, and red with fury. "How dare you kiss another man in front of me?! Don't you have any shame?!"

Shame?

I'm the one without shame? He saved his childhood friend, carried her like she was his girlfriend, and humiliated me over and over in front of everyone. And somehow, I'm the shameless one?

I stared at him and laughed. "It's funny, you suddenly remember the meaning of shame. I thought you'd forgotten what that word meant entirely."

He glared at me. "What the fuck do you mean by that? Are you seriously still jealous of Nora?"

Still jealous?

"How many times have I told you?" he went on. "There's nothing going on between us! Nora's my childhood friend! I care about her! I can't just stop seeing her because you're jealous-"

"You're crazy," I snapped. "And fucking blind."

"You-"

"Since you care about her so much, then go ahead and date her. We're done, Matthew. I won't let you play with my heart anymore. I won't be anyone's substitute."

His expression crumbled, confusion hitting first, followed quickly by disbelief. "W-What are you saying? You want to break up with me-" Before he could finish, his arm was roughly ripped away from me, and twisted behind his back with such speed and force that he staggered back.

I turned my attention to the masked man, he held Matthew's hand, twisting it effortlessly.

"Well," he said coolly, tightening his hold just enough to make Matthew wince, "you heard the lady. She doesn't want you anymore."

Matthew struggled, red-faced. "Let me go! Do you have any idea who I am?!"

The man tilted his head, amused. "Do I?"

He leaned closer, like he was talking to a sulking child.

"You look like a kid who just lost his favorite toy to someone better."

He grinned. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood tonight, kid." His voice dropped low. "Because otherwise, I'd have made you regret ever laying a hand on me."

For a split second, I saw fear flicker in Matthew's eyes.

That moment was satisfying.

I had suffered in silence, doubted myself, and shrunk into corners while he played savior to another woman. But now, he was the one humiliated. Held in front of everyone like a tantruming child.

And God, it felt good.

Still, I didn't want this stranger to get into trouble because of him. If Matthew found out who he was, he might try to get revenge.

I reached out gently and laid my hand on the man's hand.

"Let him go, and let's go."

He looked at me, eyebrows raised.

"You did promise me a night, remember?" I said, meeting his gaze with a smirk. "Didn't you?"

He looked at me for a long moment, something like pride and lust simmering in his eyes, before he released Matthew with a flick of his hand like he was letting go of garbage.

Matthew stumbled back, clutching his wrist, eyes still wide. Before I could fully process what had just happened, the man turned to me, and without asking, lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing.

I gasped, startled by how easily he carried me. Behind him, Matthew growled. "If you go with him, Violet, I swear to God, we're really over! I'll never take you back! Not even if you crawl on your knees and beg! You hear me?!"

The man carrying me didn't stop walking. Instead, he chuckled low in his throat, the sound amused. "Don't worry," he called over his shoulder, "she will be on her knees and begging,"

He glanced down at me with a smirk. "But not for you."

Heat exploded in my cheeks.

I wasn't a fool, I knew exactly what he meant. And the worst part? My body reacted to his words. My thighs clenched together, and my breath came just a little faster.

He carried me out of the party, and for the first time that night, I felt relieved.

That place had been suffocating.

Outside, the night air was crisp and cool against my wet skin. Parked in front of the building was a sleek black car.

A tall man with dyed white hair stepped forward, bowing his head slightly before opening the car door.

The masked man lowered me into the seat, then slid in beside me as the door shut. He pressed a button, and a partition rose, separating us from the driver, making sure the people in front couldn't see us.

I wrapped his jacket tighter around me. His scent lingered in the fabric.

I turned to him, and instantly regretted it.

His piercing blue eyes were already on me, unreadable behind the mask. I finally had the chance to really take a good look at him, and the sight made my heart skip a beat.

His soaked white shirt clung to his chest, outlining lean muscle, chiseled abs, and dark tattoos that curled along his ribs. Water fell across his collarbone and slid down his neck.

I licked my lips before I could stop myself, and he noticed. His mouth curved into a smile.

I quickly looked away. "T-Thank you... for helping me," I mumbled. "You can drop me off anywhere, as long as it's far from here. I don't want them to see me."

He tilted his head, watching me like I'd said something absurd. "Why would I drop you?"

"Eh? Why not? Wasn't that all an act? Didn't you just help me because you felt bad?"

He laughed like I was speaking an entirely different language, before leaning in.

I instinctively leaned back, until I was pressed against the car door. My heart thundered in my chest as he braced one hand beside my head, boxing me in.

"I don't do things out of pity," he said, voice low. "And I meant what I said."

My breath hitched. "What...what do you mean?"

He reached out, one hand curling gently under my chin, tilting my face up toward his.

"I meant when I said I wanted you to spend the night with me." His other hand slid up my thigh. I sucked in a breath. He moved slowly, his fingers trailing fire as they traveled from my knee to my waist, where they settled.

He leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of my ear before giving it a soft, teasing bite.

A soft moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"Let me ruin you, princess."