Amber’s POV

My head was pounding before my eyes even opened, and it was more than the usual headaches I have. The pain was sharp and pulsing, the kind that comes as punishment after making wrong choices.

I groaned, pressing my palm to my forehead, forcing my eyes open to see the low lighting, feel the soft sheets on my skin, and then a scent of clean smoke I didn’t recognize at first. That is, until I turned my gaze to the bare chest beside me, and my stomach plummeted.

Oh God, no.

The memories from last night flickered back in cruel fragments: the champagne, his hands on my body, his mouth on my skin, and the way I’d shamelessly begged for more of him. I slapped a hand over my mouth as shame washed over me, hot and sour.

“What have I done?” I whispered, lifting the sheets higher to cover the redness of my cheeks.

In all my movements, the man remained unmoving. I turned slowly to face him, letting out a breath of relief on seeing that he was just deeply asleep, an arm thrown over his head with an unnerving, absolute calm that seemed impossible after the violence of our night.

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I squeezed my legs together as those vivid memories of him inside me filled my head once again. One thing was certain: he was very capable, because I had not felt this… satisfied in months, even with Liam.

I cringed at my thoughts, especially because I allowed someone I barely knew to sleep with me and I didn’t even know his name. And worse, I had let him take me away while my friends were heavily drunk and unaware of their surroundings. I’d trusted a stranger’s promise without a second thought.

A wave of panic shot through my body.

“What if they never made it home like he said? What if something happened to any of them?” Questions flew through my mind.

I sat up too quickly, eliciting a sharp pain from my clit up my body and worsening the already pulsing pain in my head.

“Shit,” I said, placing both hands on the bed to steady myself as the room spun around me.

Once the pain reduced, I pressed a hand to the wall, standing up with every strength I could muster. Every part of me ached now that I was standing; my thighs, hips, shoulders.

I glanced at the man in the bed again, watching him sleep like someone who’d been perfectly sedated. While a part of me wanted to be concerned, the other saw this as a blessing because he wouldn’t see me leave.

I limped away from the bed, scanning the room for my dress and my underwear. I found my dress, a silk casualty, crumpled on the floor, the zipper slightly torn. I winced as I pulled the ruined fabric over my aching body. After that, I searched for my panties but couldn't find it so I picked what I could find, which were my shoes by the door, and my bag which was half-open, lip gloss sprawled out along with my phone.

I winced as I reached for it, trying not to scream from the pain that mounted on my hips, but then my phone lit up with a notification. I saw five missed calls from work and eight unread texts.

Another call came in, and a sharp curse slipped out of my mouth as I covered the speaker quickly to muffle the ringtone, heart racing as I switched it to silent mode. It was currently 10 a.m., which meant I was supposed to be at the office two hours ago.

I was already in trouble with this whole one-night stand thing. Would I also have to walk into the office looking like a hungover raccoon while giving an explanation to HR as well?

Why didn’t I just wait until Friday to go out?

Another text buzzed in from my colleague:

Sonia: Where are you?? The boss is already around and asking for you.

Ice slid down my spine, and I arranged myself as quietly as possible, tiptoeing toward the door. I paused with my hand on the handle, a silent but stupid desire to look behind one last time, to see the man who had been nothing but a shadow of forbidden thrill and seduction in the morning light. But I was already late, so I didn’t.

Instead, I opened the door and slipped out, closing it silently behind me, and then I bolted down the dim hallway, through the club that reeked of last night’s liquor, and into the cold morning air that slapped me hard across the face.

I stopped at the bus stop, ignoring pointed glances from other commuters as I waited for the next bus. Digging my phone out again, I winced at the rough reflection in a dark window and remedied what I could while my mind ran in circles at the next thing to do.

It was already too late to go home, so the best bet was going to resume at work for now. I unlocked my phone, moving to the contacts to call Sonia, as she’s the only person who could help me out now. My legs trembled as I waited for her to pick up, the soreness impossible to ignore as I got on the bus, finally grateful for an opportunity to sit though it was a pain as well.

“Where are you, Amber?” she gritted in my ears, her voice tight on picking up my call. “I stalled for time, but the boss is not in a good mood.”

“I’m so, so sorry, Sonia!” I pleaded frantically. “My friends invited me for a night out, and things got crazy. I’m on my way now, but I need a favor.”

I heard a disappointed sigh from the other end. “Girl, you know better. We don’t do that on a weekday!”

“I know, but the situation kind of warranted it,” I added, a weak defense to my crumbling case because I did know better.

The line went silent for a while before she spoke again. “What do you want?”

A wave of relief flooded through me, happy that she was willing to help.

“The thing is, I’m still in my dress because I just left this morning… do you have spare clothes? I can’t come in like this,” I asked, and I heard her let out a sigh.

“I promise to replace them… pinky promise, please,” I continued, making my voice soft so it could melt her heart.

“Fine,” she gave in. “But girl, you got to tighten up. Text me when you get there.”

Shame tightened around my chest as I nodded, thanking her and ending the call. The embarrassment I experienced was because of that Godforsaken man.

And worse? A traitorous, hollow ache settled deep in my core. My body still remembered him—the pressure, the possession, the sheer satisfaction—and craved to be back there, under his command.

How pathetic. I need to lock in.

I shook my head hard, tapping my cheeks to bring myself out of that moment.

“No,” I muttered to myself. “I’m not tripping over a one-night stand. I need to delete last night from my brain COMPLETELY.”

Dominic POV

I stirred in bed like someone had poured concrete into my limbs; they were too heavy, which was unusual for me. The sun’s rays shone into my eyes as I opened them, ringing off bells in my head. It was already midday, which meant I slept in far too late.

Wasting no more time, I propped myself up on the bed, ignoring my muscles groaning in protest. I instinctively reached for the small drawer by my side, opening it to see my gun still secured. I reached for my pocket to feel my phone still placed in the exact spot I slipped it in last night.

“What the f*** happened then?” I muttered, my brows pulled as I scanned the room.

My instincts were razor-wired; I don't sleep through the night unless I choose to. I usually detect the shift of air, the slightest weight change, a pin drop. How, then, did I not hear her slip out? That lapse was unacceptable.

Everything looked untouched, and my watch and ring were still on the nightstand. There was also no sign of a hurried search. The only thing that remained was the lingering scent of that woman, and it was sweet and maddeningly addictive.

My jaw tightened as I returned to the bed, gripping the sheets. I was so unguarded that I failed to hear her slip out of my bed and out of my room. Where did she go, and who the hell was she exactly?

What surprised me the most was… Why wasn’t I furious?

My hand stretched further, and I felt something soft brush my fingertips. I glanced in that direction, pulling out a scrap of black lace… Her underwear, which was on my side of the bed.

I froze, last night's events flooding back with a stunning clarity:Her trembling when I peeled it off… the way she arched into my mouth like she was drowning and I was the only air in the room. A deep, guttural sound of satisfaction rumbled in my chest.

She was definitely not a thief or a spy, then. Just embarrassed, which is normal.

A chuckle rippled from my throat at the thought of her scurrying out like a mouse, but a sharp knock sounded, breaking my thoughts.

“Enter,” I commanded, slipping my shirt on as three of my men entered with a deep bow.

Rafe, my right-hand man, stood in the center. He was broad-shouldered, wearing a look that flickered between concern and confusion as he met the calm expression on my face.

“Boss… it’s noon, and you didn’t respond to your check-in. We thought…” he began, and I raised my hand, silencing him.

I didn’t need to hear the rest; they feared I had been poisoned, or worse.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling on my shirt. “Though I wonder what use you are if it takes you until midday to check on me.”

A chorus of apologies filled the air. They kept their eyes low as I dressed, but I didn’t miss the way they scanned the room, piecing together what happened.

Once I was properly dressed up, I turned to face them. “What about the club?”

“Everything is normal, boss,” Rafe said quickly, handing me a tablet with camera footage. “The lady walked out alone at 10:02 a.m.”

My eyes flickered as I watched her rush out the door. It was exactly as I thought; she was embarrassed.

“Poor thing,” I mused, satisfaction filling me on seeing how she limped.

“Amber,” I murmured, now remembering her name. It was fitting for her.

I thought it was business as usual: have a few drinks downstairs, then pick another entertainment for the night. But Amber proved otherwise; her presence alone had drugged me… her body had unlocked something in me I kept buried.

And after all that, all she left behind was that tiny piece of lace on my bed. I tossed the tablet, picking it up, and rolling it between my fingers… a low chuckle emanating from my chest.

“You can’t disappear on me, little ember.”

My voice dropped to a quiet, lethal rumble. “Find her.”

Rafe stiffened, but I paid no heed, moving past him to pick my things up from the nightstand.

“I want her full name, address, job, and any other thing there is to know about her by the end of today.” I ordered, buckling the Rolex back on my wrist.

Another who had been silent cleared his throat. “Sir Dominic, shouldn’t we be worried she’s connected to the Romano clan? They’ve been hovering…”

“If she were a Romano,” I cut in with a cold laugh, “I wouldn’t be standing here.”

“I want her found by the end of today,” I repeated quieter this time, leaving no room for question.

“Yes, boss,” they chorused, and with a flick of my hand, they turned to leave, shutting the door behind them.

I picked up the lace one more time, crushing it in my fist, feeling the echo of her heat. I then raised it to my nose, inhaling sharply, an ache surfacing below. I wanted her again.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the vibration sharp against the wood. I glanced at the screen, expecting Rafe, but it was a message from a London-based number.

Dante.

I didn't open it, because my cousin was likely sending another one of his scheduled status reports, or a complaint about a missed conference call with the London auditors. Though he was useful, in his own quiet, bureaucratic way, he was a world away from the fire currently burning in my veins.

My hand reached for the lace and I slipped it into my coat pocket, allowing myself a slow smirk.

“Run as far as you can, sweetheart,” I murmured. “But I will find you. And when I do… you won’t slip away so easily again.”

This room, this bar, this city… all of it belonged to me. And Amber Ross? She just made the mistake of thinking she could leave.