As they stepped inside, Lyra's face lit up as she began greeting everyone she recognized. Her smile was warm and effortless, her laughter carrying over the hum of conversations. Meanwhile, Travis lingered silently by her side, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. He didn't engage with anyone, though not out of disinterest—it was because his mind was busy.
He scanned the room subtly, taking in every detail. The placement of the exits, the clusters of people in conversation, even the staff's movements—it was all data feeding into his mental calculations.
Okay, I think I'm ready for whatever may come, he thought, his jaw tightening slightly.
When Lyra finally finished her round of greetings, she reached for his hand, tugging him gently. "Come on," she said, her voice low but insistent. Without a word, he followed her as she led him upstairs.
Once they reached the second floor, she paused briefly, scanning the hallway before opening a random door. She pulled him inside, her movements quick and deliberate, and shut the door behind them with a soft click.
"Man, I hate big crowds," she muttered, already walking toward the bed. "Especially now that I'm famous. Everyone wants to network or pitch me something. Like, give me a break." She threw herself onto the plush mattress, lying sprawled out with her arms flung wide.
Travis stayed by the door, his gaze sweeping over the room. The decor was luxurious yet impersonal—a lavish guest room typical of mansions like this. A subtle vibration in his pocket interrupted his survey. Pulling out his phone, he glanced at the notification from his private camera software.
' Oh. This is a Diddy party, ' he thought, the realization settling over him like a weight.
His eyes flicked to the television mounted on the wall.
Crossing the room with purpose, he grabbed a pillow from the bed and covered the screen, his movements precise.
Lyra propped herself up on her elbows, frowning at him. "What are you doing?" she asked, her tone curious but edged with amusement.
"Just making sure there aren't any cameras in here," he said, his voice low. "After what I've read about Diddy... yeah, I'm a little cautious."
She raised an eyebrow, then laughed lightly. "Well, you should be careful. Marion's a good friend of mine. We go way back."
"That's cool," Travis replied, his tone nonchalant even as his thoughts churned.
' I don't even know whose party this is now that I think about it '
He moved to the bed, sitting beside her. His posture remained tense, his mind still running calculations, but he tried to appear relaxed as he leaned back slightly, resting his weight on his hands.
"So tell me about the person I remind you of," Travis said, his voice casual, but his curiosity peeking through.
Lyra chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That's a funny story, actually," she said, leaning back slightly as she looked him up and down, a smile curling on her lips. "I don't think I can tell you without a drink, though. So, why don't you go grab some for us?"
Travis hesitated, the words no almost on his lips, but then he caught the playful challenge in her expression and the subtle expectation in her tone. He understood this was a small task, but one that held weight in her eyes, so he gave a slight nod and left the room.
The mansion seemed to stretch endlessly, its many hallways and rooms feeling like a maze as he searched for the kitchen. He tried several doors—each one revealing something more unsettling than the last. One room had a group of people in a heated conversation that stopped as soon as he entered, their eyes turning cold. Another door revealed a large pool table, a couple of people lounging too comfortably in each other's arms, exchanging whispers. He didn't linger long.
Finally, he stumbled upon a large, portable cooler tucked away in a utility room. He popped it open, grateful to find it stocked with an assortment of drinks.
' Jackpot ' he thought, as he carried back to the room.
When he returned to the room, he found Lyra leaning against the railing of the balcony, her body angled just so. The night air was cool, and the dim glow of the city lights cast long shadows across her. She had a vape in her hand, the cloud of smoke rising in soft tendrils. Her stance made her curves more pronounced, and Travis couldn't help but notice how she pushed her hips back, giving him an undeniable view.
Without a word, he stepped outside with the beers in hand, handing one to her. She smiled, a slow, approving grin that tugged at her lips. "Thanks," she said, her eyes flicking to him before settling on the drink. "You're not going to drink?"
"Uh, no. I don't drink," Travis replied, his voice even. "Plus, I have to drive after this."
' That's a lie '
She raised an eyebrow, a laugh escaping her. "Ohh, clean guy. Never thought I'd meet someone like you in this day and age." She took a long drag from her vape, eyes studying him. "So, tell me. Why are you here?"
Travis took a breath, letting the words flow. "I was bored and decided to crash a random party. Turns out, there's a guest list."
Lyra laughed, a genuine sound that cut through the tension between them. "Hah! That explains why you were turning around, all lost. Guess you were lucky to meet me, huh?"
"Yeah," he said, keeping his tone light, even though a part of him wanted to push her further. "You could say that. So about that person…?"
Lyra leaned back against the railing, the dim light catching in her eyes as she began, her voice taking on a darker edge. "Wow, you're really interested, huh? Well, let me make it short. About ten years ago, me and my friends tricked this one sucker of a guy and got him arrested." She laughed, the sound cold. "Thinking about it still makes me laugh."
Travis' jaw tightened, his fists clenching involuntarily. He had to force a smile, the humor in her voice striking him the wrong way. "What? You were in college then, right?"
"Yeah, it was fun. We still joke about it when we hang out—jokes about him dropping the soap, being a cell wife and all that." She paused, her expression darkening. "But he kind of deserved it. Never liked the guy to begin with."
Travis fought to keep his voice steady, his pulse pounding in his ears. "Oh? What did he do specifically that made you hate him so much?"
Inside, he was seething, his stomach churning. The impulse to knock the smile off her face was almost overwhelming.
Lyra took a long sip of her drink, her eyes briefly meeting his as she answered, her tone casual, almost dismissive. "Funny enough, he did absolutely nothing. I just hated him. And I still do. The thought of him makes my skin crawl." She let out a soft breath before looking at him again. "But don't worry, I don't feel that way about you."
"How do you feel?" Travis asked, his voice low as he closed the distance between them.
Lyra's lips curved into a seductive smile, her eyes locking with his. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she purred, her tone teasing.
Travis stepped closer, a playful yet confident glint in his eyes. "Well, of course I'd like to know. But you don't have to tell me," he said, his hand slowly moving toward her waist, fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of her dress before settling firmly around her. "I can just find out myself."
The moment his hand made contact with her skin, Lyra felt a sudden rush—a tingling sensation that started at her waist and spread through her body, making her pulse quicken. It was a spark of desire, one that she hadn't expected, but that now seemed undeniable.
"How will you do that?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper, her body leaning in toward his, their faces mere millimeters apart.
She could feel his breath on her lips, the space between them charged with anticipation.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?" Travis responded in a soothing voice, the sound of it so smooth and deep it made her mind almost go blank. It was like his words had a pull on her, a weight that she couldn't resist.
Lyra didn't quite understand what was happening, why her body was responding the way it was. She didn't even think it was the closeness, but the way Travis exuded confidence, the way he made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt in a while. Still, she told herself it was simply because he was attractive—nothing more.
"You know," she said, her voice softening as she tilted her head slightly, "I still haven't gotten your name."
"Same here," Travis replied, his voice a breath away from hers.
"Lyra. Lyra Everhart," she said, her name rolling off her tongue with a mix of confidence and intrigue.
"Travis. Just Travis," he replied, his eyes flickering over her lips before meeting her gaze. The air around them thickened, and time seemed to slow, each moment stretching into eternity.
TO BE CONTINUED