Still no response.
He rubbed his eyes and walked away, heading toward the curved staircase.
“It didn’t mean anything,” I said, my tone flat and devoid of emotion.
He stopped and then turned around, his eyes locked on me.
I rose to my feet, taking slow steps toward him. “The sex last night was a mistake. And I regret it.”
Silence.
I halted in front of him, arms crossed over my chest, arrogance etched on my face. “It was a one-time thing, and it won’t happen again.”
He wore a smug smirk. “Is that so?”
I straightened my spine and swallowed hard, trying to look and sound as confident as possible. “Yes. It is.”
He took a step closer, his eyes darting across my body. “I find it hilarious how you say something and your body language tells me something entirely different.”
I locked my jaw, struggling to keep a straight face.
He studied me for a moment, then added with a confidence that made me question myself, “You will crave me again, Eva.” He leaned in, his fresh breath warm against my skin. “And when you do…I’ll be here.”
My brows knitted together. As annoying as his claim was, deep down, I knew he was telling the truth—and it infuriated me the more.
He flashed that pesky little smirk at me one last time before heading for the stairs. Standing there alone, I realized it wasn’t just my body this man was unraveling. It was my mind, my soul, and every piece that had once belonged to me and me alone.
This was a problem. A huge one, at that.
Chapter 18 —Demyon
I lounged on the velvet couch in the VIP section, my legs crossed with an arm draped over the headrest. The music was loud, its base thrumming beneath my feet. Vibrant lights streaked the dark atmosphere as a swarm of writhing bodies danced to the rhythm of the DJ’s hypnotic beat.
The crowd threw their hands in the air, the frenzied faces a mask of pleasure and excitement. They seemed to be having a time of their lives, dancing away their sorrows and depression.
All that madness was happening below the VIP section, where my cousin and I were lounging. Up here, the atmosphere was different: just two Tarasov brothers surrounded by a bunch of strippers. One was performing on a pole in the middle of the space, moving her body like her bones were elastic.
My cousin, Adrik, sat on the sofa across from me, cradling a glass of vodka. His eyes were fixed on the pole dancer, a cocky grin playing at the corners of his lips. His dark brown hair caught the vibrant light, loose strands framing his face.
Two naked women were seated on both sides of my couch, their manicured hands caressing my body. They whispered seductive words in my ears and fluttered their long eyelashes at me every now and then. Their breasts grazed the fabric of my suit as they leaned in, caressing my body.
“What’s the matter, handsome?” one of them whispered, her hand reaching for my hair. “Don’t you find us attractive enough?”
I seized her hand midway before the tip of her fingers could touch a strand on my head. “Don’t.” My voice was cold, my expression blank.
“Argh,” she let out a quiet groan, her face contorting into a faint scowl. “You’re no fun at all.” She rose to her feet and walked away.
The other one—a brunette—seemed unfazed by my attitude. “Don’t worry, I’m not in a hurry to leave,” she said, her voice smooth and enticing.
I glanced at her, my eyes roaming her body for a moment. She was slender with slightly saggy breasts and a pair of full lips, painted a bold shade of red. Her long brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders, stray strands framing her oblong face.
Whenever she smiled, she revealed a glimpse of her perfect dentition, and her green eyes crinkled at the corners. The young lady was beautiful. No doubt. Perhaps if I hadn’t already had a taste of Eva, I would’ve considered taking her to a hotel.
However, as charming and seductive as she was, I could only admire her. Nothing more. Nothing less. In my mind, none of these women came close to my Eva, and for some reason, I wasn’t willing to get entangled with any of them.
I reached for my wallet, withdrew some cash, and handed it to the young lady. “Here.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What’s this for?”
