Chapter 1: The Stage is Set
The spotlight burned hot on Vivienne Cross, a woman whose presence commanded every eye in the dimly lit underground club. At thirty-two, she was a force of nature—sharp-tongued, fiercely independent, and the lead singer of the indie band, Scarlet Venom. Her leather pants hugged every curve of her toned legs, and her crimson corset barely contained the fire of her spirit. Tonight, the crowd was electric, but her gaze kept drifting to the bar, where Jace Ryder leaned with a smirk that could melt steel.
Jace, a rugged music producer with a reputation for breaking hearts and making hits, had been watching her set with an intensity that made her skin prickle. His dark eyes locked with hers as she belted out the final note of their encore, her voice raw and dripping with defiance. The crowd roared, but all she heard was the challenge in his stare.
After the set, Vivienne strutted off stage, sweat glistening on her collarbone, and made a beeline for him. She didn’t wait for an invitation. 'Enjoy the show, Ryder?' she purred, her voice low and dangerous as she leaned against the bar, her hip brushing his.
Jace’s smirk widened, his gaze raking over her like she was a prize he’d already won. 'I’ve seen better,' he drawled, sipping his whiskey. 'But that last note? Damn, woman, you nearly made me hard just listening.'
Vivienne laughed, sharp and unapologetic, her green eyes flashing. 'Oh, please. If a note’s all it takes, you’re easier than I thought. I bet I could have you begging with a whisper.'
'Is that a challenge, Cross?' Jace leaned in, his breath hot against her ear, the scent of whiskey and danger rolling off him. 'Because I don’t beg. I take.'
She didn’t flinch, didn’t back down. Instead, she tilted her head, her lips curling into a wicked grin. 'Big words for a man who’s still standing here talking. Why don’t you prove it?'
The air between them crackled, charged with a heat that had nothing to do with the club’s stifling atmosphere. Vivienne’s pulse raced, but she wasn’t about to let him see it. She turned, her ass brushing against him deliberately as she sauntered toward the back hallway, throwing a glance over her shoulder. 'Coming, or are you all talk?'
Jace’s jaw tightened, and he followed, his boots heavy on the sticky floor. The hallway was narrow, the hum of the club fading as they reached a shadowed corner. Vivienne spun to face him, her back against the wall, her chest rising and falling with anticipation. 'Well?' she taunted, her voice a dare. 'I’m waiting.'
He didn’t waste a second. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him, and she felt the evidence of his arousal pressing into her. 'You’re a fucking tease, you know that?' he growled, his lips hovering over hers.
'And you’re a cocky bastard,' she shot back, her fingers curling into his shirt. 'But I’m not here to play nice.'
Their mouths crashed together, a collision of hunger and defiance, tongues battling for dominance. Vivienne’s nails dug into his shoulders as his hands roamed, sliding down to grip her ass, pulling her tighter against his hard length. She gasped into the kiss, her body already wet with need, the heat between them unbearable. His fingers teased the edge of her pants, and she bit his lip, hard enough to draw a grunt. 'Don’t stop now, Ryder,' she panted, her voice dripping with command. 'I want to see if you’re as good as you think you are.'
Jace’s eyes darkened, a predator’s gleam, as he pressed her harder against the wall, his breath ragged. 'Oh, sweetheart, I’m just getting started.'
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