I was in an unusual environment when I woke up. My room was lavishly decorated and had heavy drapes that could be opened to display the city skyline. The king-sized bed I was lying on was comfortably soft, yet the very comfort it offered seemed to be mocking my confusion.
Whispers filled the room, hushed voices speaking in shocked undertones. "Boss never gets close to women," one of them said.
Another voice chimed in, "Yeah, but he just grabbed her like... like he knew her or something."
Slowly, I pushed myself to sit up, my hand instinctively going to my head as I tried to dispel my disoriented mind. My action caused a ripple of silence to spread among the men standing in the room. Their eyes widened as they took in my posture, my defiant eyes scanning each one of them.
"I don't know who you people are, but I won't let anyone take advantage of me," I said, my voice coming out surprisingly steady. I instinctively clutched my belly, an unspoken promise to protect the life growing inside of me, my heart pounding with fear and determination.
In response, a muscular man with a scar running down his cheek took a step forward, his hands raised in a non-threatening manner. "Easy, miss," he said in a calm voice. "We don't mean any harm. The boss just asked us to watch over you until he got back."
What am I, a submissive dog that waits for its master?
His words didn't do much to calm my nerves. I pushed myself further back on the bed, my eyes darting around the room in search of an escape route. But before I could act, my hand landed on something. A glance revealed it to be a dagger, which lay carelessly on the nightstand beside me.
In a swift motion, I snatched it, pointing the sharp blade at them. "Back away," I commanded, my voice echoing off the walls. The men took an immediate step back, their hands raised in surrender.
"Miss..." The man began, his tone becoming more urgent. "Please put that away. We're here to protect you."
I scoffed at him, my lips curled into a sneer. "You think I'm stupid?" I challenged. "You want me to trust you even though I don't know what happened while I blacked out? You expect me to believe that some strangers just happened to bring me in here to protect me from something?"
My words were meant to scare them, but instead, they only made them look more worried. They exchanged glances amongst themselves, then nodded in unison.
Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, a commanding voice boomed from the doorway. "Enough."
Every head turned to the source of the voice. Standing there, bathed in the shadows, was Tristan. The dim light from the room outlined his muscular figure, making him look even more imposing than he already was.
His dark hair was slicked back, revealing a chiseled face that was hardened by life's trials. His crystal blue eyes held a myriad of emotions that were impossible to decipher. His features were sharp, chiseled as if by the hands of an artist. The man radiated power and authority, his mere presence silencing the room.
Dressed in a black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders, Tristan looked every bit the powerful mafia boss he was. His presence seemed to consume the room, an enigma that both terrified and captivated me.
"Leave us," he ordered, his voice firm. The men quickly scattered, leaving me alone with Tristan. His gaze never left mine as he took slow, measured steps toward me.
My heart pounded in my chest as he drew closer. I watched him warily, my grip on the dagger never faltering. The room fell into a deafening silence, the tension noticeable.
And then, he was standing right before me, his intense gaze burrowing into mine. The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room, leaving me breathless and the dagger dropping to the floor.
"What do you want?" I whispered, my voice trembling. My eyes searched his handsome face for answers, but none came. He remained silent as he stared at me, his expression blank.
I felt like a deer caught in headlights, unable to comprehend the situation. Was this really happening? I thought I'd seen everything that night when I ran from those wolves. But now... now things are different. This wasn't a dream as I had thought our reunion turned out to be; it was reality. And the sight of Tristan standing so close to me was surreal. It was like watching a movie where all the characters suddenly started acting real.
I swallowed hard, trying to clear the lump in my throat. "What is going on?" I asked again. "Why did you bring me here? What do you want from me?"
Tristan's eyes flickered with emotion. He seemed torn between wanting to reach out and comfort me or pushing me away. Indecision clouded his face, and yet he still stood there, staring at me as if waiting for something.
Fighting his indecisiveness, he raised his hand, reaching out toward me, and I held my breath...
With that, the world stood still, leaving us in a bubble where time ceased to exist. The future seemed a terrifying abyss, and the past, a shadowed nightmare. Yet, at that moment, all I could focus on was the man standing before me–Tristan, the enigma I was tied to by a bond stronger than any other.
And as he took a step closer, a strange feeling washed over me. It wasn't just fear or nervousness—it was something else entirely.
As he moved ever so slowly, my mind flashed back to that night when we met. The way he had grabbed me, almost as if he knew which touch could send me spiraling into a world of pleasure. And now, as he came closer, that same sensation returned. My body felt like it was being pulled toward him, as if he was a magnet drawing me in.
I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through my veins. I couldn't let this happen again. Not after what happened last time.
"Don't," I whispered under my breath. But it was too late. In a single fluid motion, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace.