As I watched the scene below, my mind was a million miles away, stuck on thoughts of Avi. The image of her being held by Damar kept replaying in my head over and over. It was like a damnloop that I couldn’t escape. Almost losing her had done more than shake me up; it had doused the fire I felt for her with gasoline.
I was obsessed, and Ihatedit.
Everything in my life was under my control—my business, my empire, my reputation. I dictated the pace, set the rules, and made the calls. But when it came to Avi, I was powerless. I hated how vulnerable she made me. The thought of her, especially in Damar’s arms, was constant torment.
I tried to push it aside and focus on the club. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to her, to the way she looked at me, to the way I felt whenever I was near her. I was a man used to control, and yet, here I was, completely at the mercy of my own feelings for her.
“Fuuuuck.”A low, regretful growl escaped my throat as I eyed Aviana following Damar into the spot.
I stiffened. It was like my muscles had a mind of their own, reacting to her presence in a way I couldn’t control. I hated how my whole being unraveled at the sight of her. The way she could unsettle me so effortlessly was unnerving.
When she spotted me and flashed that smile, it infuriated me how oblivious she was to the intensity of my feelings for her.
I watched her approach the VIP section. She had changed out of the casual leggings, t-shirt, and gym shoes she’d worn earlier that day. Now, she wore what was supposed to be a basic t-shirt dress, but on her, it was anything but ordinary. The fabric clung to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination, accentuating her voluptuous figure with every move she made. The way the dress hugged her curves, the generous swell of her hips, the gentle roundness of her stomach, and the confident way she carried herself made it look like a high-fashion piece from arunway show in New York. My dick rocked up as hard as the steel of the railing that I was leaning against.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying not to let my irritation show. At that moment, it was a blessing and a curse to see her. “You should be resting after the day you had.”
She glanced up at me, and I could see that her eyes were soft but tired. “Damar didn’t want to leave me alone, so he made me come with him.”
She stood close enough that I could smell her sweet fragrance. It made it even harder to focus. Her presence was so close, it was almost unbearable. I found myself staring at her, my gaze fixed on her face, drinking in every detail.
Avi shifted slightly, as if sensing my intense scrutiny. Her voice broke the silence with a nervous edge to it. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Her question cut through my haze.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to put an end to this. “Avi, you can’t come to the club anymore.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What? Why not?”
I took her hand and pulled her into the stairwell. I paced a few steps before turning to face her. “Because of how I feel about you.” Her eyes ballooned more, and I saw her breath hitch as I went on. “I can’t think straight when you’re around. You drive me insane, and I need space. I need you to stay away because nothing can happen between us. You’re happily married, and I have to respect that.”
Her face was a picture of disbelief. Her mouth was slightly open as she processed what I’d just said.
I was naively waiting for her to deny her marriage and tell me that she felt the same, but she didn’t. Instead, she looked at me with sadness. “Please don’t push me away.” Her voice trembledslightly. “I’ve already lost my friendship with Mia. I don’t want to lose you too.”
I could feel the pull between us. The tension in the air grew thicker. I wanted to argue more, to convince her to leave, but something else was happening. Our eyes locked, and I could see the same desire reflected in her gaze that I felt in mine.
I towered over her. “You don’t want me to push you away?”
She blinked up at me. “Please don’t.”
“Then tell me that you feel the same about me,” I said, making her breath hitch.
Before I knew it, we were inches apart, our breaths mingling. I could feel the heat from her body. I leaned in, desperate to close the gap between us, to finally taste those lips I had been craving. But just as our lips were about to touch, she pulled back, her eyes wide and filled with nervous uncertainty.
“I–I have to go,” she stammered.
She turned and hurried away. As I watched Avi scramble down the stairs, I was about to call after her—to try to make her stay, to complete that kiss—when I saw Lelani standing at the bottom of the stairwell. I had no idea how long she’d been there. Lelani was always popping up at the club whenever she wanted to.
Avi was so engrossed in her quick exit that she nearly crashed into Lelani. As soon as she recognized Lelani, her eyes grew wide with shock. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” She fumbled with her words, trying to regain her composure, but Lelani’s expression remained unreadable. “Hi–Hi, Lelani.”
Lelani’s lips were pressed tightly together as she nodded a curt greeting.
I could see the way Lelani’s gaze followed Avi. Once Avi was out of sight, I moved down the stairs. Lelani climbed the stairs and met me in the middle.
“What was that about, Mythic? What’s going on with you and Avi?”
I tried to play it cool. “Nothing. I was asking her what she was doing here after everything that happened earlier. She needs to be at home. I was just looking out for her.”
