Vivian and Noah stepped into The Blindfold, immediately swallowed by the seductive pulse of music and shadow.

  Vivian felt distinctly different in her new attire—the black top clinging to her arms, its plunging neckline teasingly revealing the curve of her chest, her high-waisted leather skirt gripping her hips and exposing her thigh through a daring slit.

  Around her neck rested a black choker, a delicate silver chain holding a miniature cage. Heat flushed her cheeks as she recalled Noah's fingers fastening it, lingering possessively, eyes burning darkly with unspoken desires and implicit promises of chains and control. Vivian quickly brushed the thought aside, her heart already pounding with anticipation.

  Even though she was yet again, in another set of clothes that seemed to belong to a stranger, she felt less alien in her skin.

  Noah’s words echoed quietly, steadying her like an anchor: You’re still you.

  Their kiss, devastating, tethering, seemed to hold her together —a thin, fragile thread keeping the darkness at bay. A whisper of his voice lingered in her mind, admitting he liked even those broken parts of her—the parts she tried to bury.

  Gentle hands, Vivian.

  Even if that thin thread snapped, Noah Fang might still see her: Vivian Jiang.

  Beside her, Noah exuded casual luxury in loose jeans, a white print t-shirt beneath a designer black bomber jacket, his expensive watch glinting under the dim lights. Everything about him designed to whisper wealth, power, and privilege.

  Inside, the club radiated dark, intoxicating opulence. Bodies twisted sensually under dim lighting, dancing languidly to the hypnotic beat, pressed intimately close. Low lights concealed whispered promises, lingering touches, and hungry gazes. Every corner seemed steeped in desire, shadows full of seductive secrets. A vast, glowing bar stretched along one wall, a shrine where the everyday people, the casually rich, and the fiercely powerful mingled, their designer cocktails poured with precision under the dim glow.

  Noah guided Vivian to the sleek, illuminated bar, pulling her close enough that she felt his breath against her ear. "Look up," he murmured softly.

  Vivian raised her eyes obediently, her pulse quickening. Above them, the exclusive VIP balcony curved elegantly around the dance floor, shadowy figures observing with cold, calculating interest, selecting partners like items from an extravagant menu. Vivian shivered involuntarily. This wasn’t just a club, it was a place of trade, money for secrets or pleasure —maybe both if you could afford it.

  "Seb is there, in one of the booths. We'll head up soon," Noah said, nodding subtly. His hand tightened around her waist, pulling her closer, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Don’t wander off, Viv. It gets... complicated in here sometimes. And you're mine now." His palm slid slowly down her back, possessively lingering just above the curve of her hip. "Cheers," he winked, handing her a chilled glass.

  The wet condensation beneath her fingertips felt like a silent promise, making her mouth go dry even as she sipped. Her heartbeat pounded in sync with the music, anxiety and excitement mingling beneath her skin.

  Moving through the crowd, Vivian felt eyes tracing her every step, bold, hungry gazes from men and women. She glanced nervously at Noah and saw him watching her intensely, eyes dark and possessive, sending a shiver of heat down her spine. His grip on her waist was firm, reassuring, and a subtle warning: You're mine now.

  They ascended the staircase to the VIP area, greeted by an imposing security guard, broad-shouldered and silent, dressed impeccably in a black suit. He nodded wordlessly to Noah and unhooked the velvet rope, letting them through.

  Inside Seb's exclusive lounge, ten or twelve guests conversed quietly, laughing and drinking with practiced ease. Seb himself, sat comfortable in designer clothes, his neatly trimmed beard accentuating his calculating smile. He nodded towards Noah, murmuring to the man beside him to make room.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Noah slid onto the plush velvet sofa beside Seb, Vivian settling hesitantly beside Noah. She noted Seb’s sharp, observant eyes briefly assessing her before he smoothly turned his attention back to Noah.

  Discreetly, Noah retrieved his phone, quickly transferring the remaining crypto balance. Seb glanced briefly at the confirmation notification as it appeared for a moment and then faded, untraceable.

  "Someone you know, actually," Seb said casually, smiling as if sharing trivial gossip. "Martha A."

  Noah visibly tensed at the name, jaw tightening.

  "Only person who knows this Key guy in person," Seb continued quietly. "Only one to ever get a message to and from him. She’s retired now, has a place about two hours from here. I'll send the details on Ghostwire."

  Noah swallowed hard, nodding stiffly, but he didn’t have time to linger on it because beside him, he felt Vivian tense abruptly.

  The man beside her, Vivian had heard Seb call him Dominic, was overly confident and impeccably groomed. He was seated far too close. His hand boldly reached out and stroked the cage on Vivian’s choker, knuckles grazing the intimate skin underneath.

  Dominic leaned in closer, "That’s a beautiful necklace."

  Vivian's stomach turned, disgust rising sharply, but before she could react, Noah’s hand shot out, gripping Dominic's wrist tightly. Dominic’s arrogant smirk shattered instantly.

  Noah’s fingers tightened, knuckles white, the crushing pressure grinding bones together until Dominic felt certain something would snap. Noah’s voice was dangerously controlled, barely audible above the music. "Touch her again and I'll split each finger open slowly. You’ll watch your blood stain the carpet before I let you pass out."

  Seb chuckled lightly, flicking a glance at a tall slender woman dressed in black —one of the staff, observing impassively from the shadows.

  “Noah, let go,” Vivian breathed, but he wasn’t looking or listening to her. Noah was lost in the dark thrill of Dominic’s pain, his smile a cruel delight as he watched the other man pale.

  Desperately, Vivian touched Noah’s wrist, her mind racing, searching for a way to draw him back. Finally, she whispered firmly, "Enough, Noah. If you're done, let's go home."

  Home.

  The word hung intimately between them, wrapping around them like an invisible bond. Noah's eyes snapped instantly back to her, his grip loosening. Dominic quickly withdrew his hand, grimacing.

  The staff at the side swiftly escorted Dominic away, two other guests smoothly filling the space as if nothing had occurred.

  Seb threw an arm boldly around Noah’s shoulders, a gesture Vivian found unsettlingly dangerous, though Noah tolerated it.

  "You can kill him," Seb remarked casually, smiling with quiet amusement, "but don’t kill the vibe."

  Minutes later, Noah stood abruptly, guiding Vivian from the VIP section, his jaw tense, eyes dark. Vivian swallowed anxiously, uncertainty fluttering in her chest.

  Exiting the club, they turned sharply into an alley, its shadows thick with lingering patrons. Without warning, Noah pushed Vivian against the rough brick wall, eliciting a startled gasp.

  “Noah, what are you—”

  But her words were lost beneath the fierce crush of his mouth, claiming hers with a raw intensity that bordered on violence, teeth dragging possessively over her lower lip. His tongue invaded aggressively, demanding submission, and Vivian melted beneath him, her resistance crumbling under the ruthless pressure of his kiss.

  Pinned, breathless, Vivian felt the solid heat of his body pressing hard against hers, trapping her securely between brick and muscle. One hand fisted tightly into her hair, holding her captive, while the other slid upward beneath her clothing, fingertips skating dangerously across bare skin, tracing a deliberate path between her breasts, brushing provocatively just beneath the delicate cage dangling from her necklace.

  A sharp breath tore from her, electricity racing through her veins as Noah pressed his thumb firmly into her skin, rubbing roughly, possessively, as if trying to erase even the memory of anyone else touching her. Her body arched instinctively into his harsh caress, trembling uncontrollably.

  Pulling back only slightly, Noah’s lips brushed hers as he growled darkly, “Did you say that on purpose?”

  Vivian’s mind swam, dizzy and overwhelmed. Her voice barely came out, a hoarse whisper, “What?”

  "Home," Noah smirked darkly. "You said home. Is that what it is now? Our home?"

  Her eyes met his, wary yet sparked with quiet triumph. A slow smile curved her lips. “I thought you’d like that.”

  He laughed low, a sound rippling through her, darkly satisfied. "You really do know me well, Viv."

  The intensity broke subtly as Noah stepped back, gently guiding her forward again, his hand steady and possessive against her back. His face shifted momentarily into something softer, briefly becoming the familiar math student she'd once known. "Let’s go home then, Viv," Noah murmured lightly, though his eyes held promises darker and deeper than before.