Chapter 2 I WAS

Leah

I climbed down from my car, closing the door with one hand, and my phone pressed to my ear with the other as I listened to Sam's one-night stand escapade.

"... I woke up the next morning, and he was GONE," Sam emphasised the last word. "And do you know what else was gone? My car key, purse, and my fucking dress!"

I laughed, "No fucking way,"

My eyes drifted to the side, catching sight of a man too imposing to ignore. His dark eyes locked onto mine for a beat as he adjusted his tie and I looked away quickly, my heart skipping a beat.

The hell.

"I mean, why did he take my dress too? Is he planning on wearing it?" Sam laughed. "I almost walked home naked if not for the hotel cleaning lady."

I chuckled, the man I just locked eyes with distracting me now. There was something about him. Something dark and dangerous that sent a cold shiver down my spine. It was brief but I could tell does eyes were trying to devour me. "That would've made the headlines."

"My dad would have my head rolling off my body," she giggled. "He hasn't gotten over the last scandal."

Sam is my best friend. We have known each other since we were little, and she was a wild woman. A complete opposite of me.

"Hey, I will come over during your break," Sam said. "Let's have lunch together."

"Sure, let's do that."

I stumbled all of a sudden, nearly hitting the ground when a strong arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back with ease.

"Oh my God," I gasped, my phone slipping from my fingers.

"Another moment, and you will be kissing the ground, doll." A deep rough voice whispered, his breath warm against my ear, and I shivered involuntarily from it.

My breath hitched as I stammered, "T-thank you."

He chuckled, the sound deep and low vibrating through my body as he pulled me closer, my back pressing against his solid body. I could feel the warmth from him, seeping through the thin fabric of my dress, his scent wrapping around me. A musky scent mixed with tobacco and something else, something I couldn't quite place and was better off not knowing.

I tried to move away from him, realizing how intensely aware I was of him, but his grip was tight around me.

"I-I am fine now,"

He didn't let go. Instead, he leaned in his nose, brushing against the shell of my ear, an action that made me jerk in surprise. "You smell nice," he murmured, his voice smooth, like a caress spreading goosebumps all over my skin. "Like lavender."

"Thank you, it's my, uh, shampoo."

Why was I even replying him?

He brushed my hair aside, his finger drawing a lazy circle on the sensitive skin at the back of my neck, causing every hair on my body to stand on end as he whispered, "You have a mole here. A beautiful one."

"Get your hands off me!" I demanded in a firm voice, trying to pull his hand from around me, but he wouldn't budge. "You are being rude!"

"Am I?" He chuckled, clearly amused with my discomfort.

"Let go," I yelled, and he released me.

I turned around to face him, my nose flaring and eyes promising hell, but my words caught in my throat as I lifted my head to meet his gaze. Damn, he was tall... and hot.

His black hair was tied in a man bun, with few strands framing his face. There was a scar on the left side of his face, running from his eyebrow down to his cheek. You would think a scar like that would look ugly on any man, but it only made him hotter than he had any right to be.

There was something about him that scared me, yet stirred feelings, feelings that were wrong in every aspect. He was the kind of danger you know you should avoid, but you can't help wanting to get closer.

I trembled slightly under his piercing dark eyes. Eyes that promised nothing but trouble.

I hated how I felt like a fucking prey, and he was my predator, patiently waiting to devour me. Yet, I stood frozen in place as I watched him take a step forward, closing the distance between us, my heart pounding in my chest threatening to burst free.

His fingers grazed my skin as he brushed a strand of hair aside. I knew I should run. I should step away from this man, but my body had a mind of its own at that moment.

He traced a circle beside my eye, his lips curling into a wicked smile. "Found another one," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

I slapped his hand away, irritated, not just at him for his blatant disregard of boundaries, but at myself for letting him touch me so easily as if he had the right. "Keep your damn hands to yourself!"

He chuckled. "Sorry, doll," he apologized. An apology he didn't mean. If anything, his smile made it clear he would do it again. "I tend to get a bit handsy when I see something beautiful I want to keep."

"Something?" I glared at him.

"What's your name?"

"I don't think I need to tell you."

Not when you have been nothing but an asshole.

He leaned down, his face so fucking close that I could smell the mint in his breath and feel the warmth on my face. "Your name, doll,"

I made to take a step back, and he gripped my jaw gently, forcing me to meet his eyes again. His face was now closer, the tips of our noses brushing against each other.

"Your name."

"Leah," my heart raced as I whispered. "It's Leah."

"Leah," he repeated.

The way he said it intimately made my knees weak. There were so many things wrong with this situation. The fact that I was reacting this strongly to him being on top of the list. "That's a beautiful name. Just like your eyes."

"They are beautiful." He added, his eyes falling on my lips, lingering there a beat too long. "Beautiful," he whispered, his eyes returning to mine.

"Aiden."

"I don't give a damn about your name!"

"Say it," he commanded.

"Go to..." His grip on my jaw tightened, cutting off my words, and I whimpered, "Aiden."

He sucked in a sharp breath, closing his eyes. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath as if his name on my lips affected him.

"Boss!" A man called from behind him.

He leaned away, his thumb now brushing roughly against my lips. "What is it?"

"We have to go. Something happened to the goods," the man informed.

He paused, his face morphing into a scowl as he turned to the man, "The fuck happened?"

"We were robbed."

He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair and pushing back the loose strands.

He turned back to me as he stared hard and long as if contemplating what to do next with me.

His lips curled into a dark smile. "I'll see you around, doll." And with that, he turned and walked away.

My legs threatened to give up beneath me as I caught my breath.

I had no idea then how much this encounter would ruin my life. How much that bastard was planning on breaking me. And the worst part... I let him.