Chapter 1
Julia
Iwanted one night to be free from expectations, free from my last name. One night to just be a normal girl at the club. Not someone who is expected to be perfect or who gets begged to buy all the drinks because my family has money.
A voice cuts through my internal bitching, “Hey, beautiful, can I get you a drink?”
I look up from my empty glass and straight into the most beautiful pair of hazel eyes I have ever seen.
“Um… yeah. A whiskey would be great. Thanks,” I replied.
He smiles, waves down the bartender, and orders two more whiskeys on the rocks. My night hasn’t been great so far, but suddenly it feels like it might turn around.
“My name is Michael, but everyone just calls me Mikey.” He offers his hand, and without thinking, I take it. His hand is bigger than mine… So much bigger than mine… So warm, and pale against my tan skin.
“I’m Julia.” I smile, trying to hide the nervous stutter threatening in my voice. He’s at least a foot taller than me, and solid muscles. His blonde hair is tied back, and you can see that the underside is shaved. There is a hint of stubble on his sharp jaw that I swear could cut diamonds. Those arms.. And don't get me started on his perfectly sculpted ass that fills out his jeans so well; it has me practically drooling.
He hands me my drink. “Thank you,” I say, standing and heading back to the VIP lounge, where I’ve been alone all night because I don’t feel like explaining why five men in suits are constantly hovering. Two outside the building, one near the dancefloor, one by the stairs, and the last one is stationed right inside my lounge. They are all massive and intimidating, and they are here because of who my father is.
Tonight, though. I want to be Julia. Just Julia.
“Do you want to come hang out with me?” I ask Mikey. “It’s just me, so it won’t be crazy. But you’d probably have to stay down here if you want… that.” I give him a shy smile. I usually don’t admit I’m alone, but technically I’m not. My dad always insists on the bodyguards, which is also why no one ever approaches me.
“Yeah, I’d love to hang out with you. Can’t have you lonely in a club, can we?" He says, lifting one eyebrow in a cocky, devastating way.
We head up to the lounge and settle onto the velvet couches, and I catch him eyeing the guard by the stairs.
“Please ignore him,” I say with a pathetic little smile.
Mikey nods, giving me space to keep talking. “So what brings you here all alone tonight, Mikey?” I ask, taking a sip of whiskey and letting my gaze travel over him again, this man’s muscles alone can make a girl drop to her knees and worship him. I lick my lips and admire the view. I want to climb his ass like a spider monkey.
“I just wanted to grab a drink and hang out. The real question is, what broughtyouhere alone?” He tips his head, studying me, like he is trying to get me to reveal every secret I am hiding.
“I am tired of all the expectations in my life, so I decided to come and be free tonight,” I admit.
He nods slowly at me. “Well, free Julia… what can I do to make sure your one free night is even better?”
“I want a no-strings-attached kind of night,” I say honestly. “Fun. With no worries, no insecurities, and no responsibilities, something I can look back on when life goes back to being… complicated.”
That's the most honest thing I have said tonight. No strings attached is the perfect situation for me; no obligation, no knowing all the dark shadows that follow me everywhere. I have never been able to hold a relationship because my dad usually scares them off. But if I am being realistic, I am the daughter of the most notorious mafia don in Chicago; it’s hard not to be scared of my dad.
Mikey steps forward, closes the distance, and puts his hand on my cheek. I look up at him. “No strings attached. I can do that for you.” Then he bends down and kisses me.
The kiss starts sweet and slow, but quickly becomes powerful and needy. I grab his shirt and pull him closer. He grabs my ass and hoists me into the air. My legs automatically wrap around his waist, never taking my lips off his. I am drunk on his kiss. The world is spinning, and my body feels like I have been electrocuted. I am buzzing from the high of his kiss when I finally pull away.
“There is a bathroom down that hall to the left.” I point to the hall behind me. One great thing about this club is that each VIP section has its own bathroom, so there's no waiting in line, and it’s not entirely nasty. Mikey understands exactly what I needed. Keeping a firm grip on my ass, he put his lips back onto mine.
Once we reach the bathroom, I reach behind me to grab the door handle and open the door. When we hear the hinges squeak, Mikey kicks it open with his foot.
He scrunches my dress around my waist before setting me on the counter and spreading my legs wide. He gives me one more punishing kiss on my lips before he starts his trail down the column of my throat to my shoulder. He moves the strap of my dress down my shoulder and pulls down the cup of my bra, exposing my breast. He doesn’t hesitate before his mouth is on me, sucking and nipping, sending white-hot pleasure through my body.
I fumble with his shirt and get frustrated when it won't come off fast enough. I groan while he continues to torture my nipples, causing my back to arch, and my ass almost falls off the counter. Finally, I grab Mikey’s head and crush my lips to his. When the kiss breaks apart for a second, I yank his shirt over his head and throw it to the side. I have no idea where it landed, but I couldn't care less. I lean back and admire his body. Each cut of his abs and the little bit of hair on his happy trail leading to the deep V cut draws my eyes to the promised land. When I look up, I see Mikey’s eyes darken with lust.
“Like what you see, princess?” He asks, his voice deep and husky. I lick my lips and nod, knowing my words would fail if I try to speak.
I reach for his pants, pop the button, and slowly lower the zipper. I try to push his pants down, but this angle I am at is not doing me any justice. I let out another frustrated groan and look up with my best puppy dog eyes.
“Mikey… can you please take off your pants for me?” I bat my eyes innocently, like I am not asking him to strip butt ass naked for me so I can touch every single part of him.
