Night fell, and the city lights blazed to life. Inside the bar, the music was a physical force, a thundering beat that vibrated through the floor. Countless bodies writhed on the dance floor, lost to the rhythm, unleashing the pent-up energy of the week. None of it reached Maya Hayes. She was slumped over the bar, tipping glass after glass of liquor down her throat as if it were water. Her hands cradled a fresh glass, her gaze fixed on the faint, pale mark on the ring finger of her left hand. A sharp pain lanced through her heart. “Maya Hayes, you are the biggest fool in the world,” she muttered to herself. “Is there anyone more stupid than you?” She’d never imagined the man she had loved for years would betray her. The image of him in bed with that other woman was a sickness coiling in her gut. She tipped her head back and drained the glass. “Another one!” “Miss, you’ve had quite a lot already.” The bartender eyed the row of empty glasses beside her, his tone a gentle warning. Maya Hayes fumbled in her purse, pulled out a thick wad of cash, and slapped it on the counter. “What? Afraid I can’t pay my tab?” The bartender shook his head with a sigh, pulling a new bottle from the shelf and pushing it toward her. “I’m just saying, it’s not a good idea to get that drunk alone.” With a subtle nod, he indicated the room behind her. More than a few men were watching her, their gazes greedy and predatory. But what did she care? “It’s boring to drink by yourself, isn’t it? How about I keep you company?” Finally, one of the men who had been watching her for a while decided to make his move. His eyes raked over her chest and down her legs, his lust a tangible thing. “Get lost,” she slurred, not bothering to look at him. She was in no mood to be polite. Her sharp tone didn’t deter him. He slid a hand around her waist. “Feisty. I like that. Why don’t we—” A sharp cry cut through the din, causing a few people to pause their dancing and glance over. Maya Hayes glared at the onlookers. “What are you looking at? Never seen a woman putting a creep in his place?” “Why should I be the only one who gets betrayed?” she seethed, more to herself than anyone. “I’m finding someone to take home tonight!” Her eyes flickered to the man beside her. “Just not you.” With a vicious twist, she wrenched the man’s arm, punctuating it with a swift kick. As he stumbled back, she turned, downed the last of her drink, grabbed her bag, and pushed away from the bar. “If I’m going to do this,” she thought, “it has to be with someone I actually want.” The alcohol hit her all at once. She took only a few steps before her legs gave out, and she staggered forward, colliding with a solid chest. The air around him smelled of cool mint. Dizzily, she looked up into a handsome, impassive face. His features were severe, his eyes sharp and indifferent, his mouth set in a line that looked as if it had never known how to smile. A reckless grin spread across her own face, her eyes curving into crescents. Maya Hayes clutched the fabric of his shirt. “How about you sleep with me tonight?” “Are you sure?” His voice was a low, velvet rumble that was dangerously beautiful. Maya Hayes tilted her head, her voice a drunken, provocative purr. “What’s the matter? Don’t you dare?” Her eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed. The combination was undeniably alluring. A ghost of a smile touched the man’s lips before he bent down and swept her into his arms. A small scream escaped her as her feet left the floor. She instinctively clung to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as he carried her through the crowd. Then he kissed her. The raw heat of it sent a fire roaring through her veins, a dizzying inferno that chased away the last of her inhibitions. A desperate need clawed at her, a frantic urge to tear at their clothes. A hollow ache bloomed deep inside her, a void begging to be filled. “Woman,” he growled against her lips, his voice ragged. “Do you want me to take you right here?” “Then find a place,” she gasped. “I want you. All night.” He let out a low, humorless laugh and strode toward the elevators with her still in his arms. Once inside, he set her down, only to immediately press her against the cool metal wall. His mouth found hers again, plundering, possessive. It wasn’t a gentle kiss; it was the kiss of a wolf devouring its prey. The intensity of it was frightening, yet it focused the chaotic heat inside her into a singular point of desperate need. She rose onto her toes, kissing him back with equal fervor. She lost all track of time until the elevator doors opened on some unknown floor. The man pulled away, and a soft noise of protest escaped her lips before he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a room. Throwing aside her last shred of restraint, she began to tug at her own clothes, her eyes smoldering. “Come on,” she breathed. “Ruin me.” His blood was on fire. He shoved her back onto the bed, his body pressing down on hers.

Chapter 2: The Ring Came Off