Nights Burn With Regret — by Nathan Perez 54

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You made a deal with me, Violet 

Violet 

I couldn’t take it anymore. 

Before I even realized what I was doing, I shot up from my seat, my hand slamming down on the table with a crack. My chest rose and fell rapidly. 

The men froze, startled. Their eyes darted to me. The middle–aged man blinked rapidly, his voice stumbling over itself. “A- are you okay, miss?” 

I looked at him, and only then did it sink in what I had just done. My stomach twisted. God. I’d practically just shouted my own guilt with that move. 

Another man leaned forward, concern in his eyes. 

“Your face looks red. Are you sick, miss?” 

Sick? 

If only. 

How was I supposed to explain that I wasn’t sick at all, that it was the exact opposite? That my body was buzzing with heat, humming with a shameful pleasure I couldn’t control? That every nerve in me screamed and my heart was beating so hard because of him, because if I didn’t stop him, right here and now, Hades would drive me past the point of no return in front of all of them? 

I couldn’t even look at him. I already knew that I’d see that smug, devilish smirk that meant he was enjoying every 

second of this. 

I forced myself to speak. “Pardon me, I have to use the restroom.” 

The men exchanged glances. Then the middle–aged man snapped his fingers and smiled. “Elizabeth.” 

From behind him, a tall, beautiful woman stepped forward. She bowed her head slightly. 

“Yes, sir.” 

He gestured toward me. “Show her to the private restroom, please.” 

Elizabeth turned to me with a polite smile. “This way, ma’am.” 

I nodded quickly, grateful for the out. My hand trembled against my dress, and I gathered myself to move. But before I could follow her, I made the mistake of glancing at Hades. 

My heart stuttered. 

The look in his eyes was pure predation. He didn’t need to speak, I could see it all written there, I was prey who had already stepped into his trap, and he knew it. 

I looked away immediately, swallowing the lump in my throat. No. I had to be overthinking it. 

Elizabeth’s heels clicked softly on the marble as she led me upstairs. She said nothing, and I was too lost in my own racing thoughts to try for small talk. 

At last, she produced a key from her pocket and slid it into the lock of a door. The door creaked softly as it opened. 

She bowed her head again. “This is the restroom, ma’am. I will wait outside, so if you need anything, let me know.” 

1/3 

You ma a degi with my Viet 

+25 Bonus 

I forced a small smile, hoping it looked normal. “Thank you 

11 

I stepped into the room and shut the door. I turned and nearly gasped out loud. 

This wasn’t a restroom. This was a palace. 

The air smelt faintly of jasmine. A massive bathtub stood at the far end, and two large mirrors, one before me and one behind, were positioned so perfectly that my reflection doubled. No matter which way I turned, I saw myself staring back. 

Who in their right mind designed something like this? 

I didn’t have time to ponder the oddity. I had bigger problems. 

I walked to the sink, turning the tap. Cool water rushed out, and I splashed it onto my burning face. Droplets clung to my lashes, rolled down my cheeks, soaking my lips. My reflection stared back at me, the same woman who’d entered this hall looking stunning, except now her face was flushed. 

What the hell was wrong with me? 

I licked my lips unconsciously as the memory came crashing back, Hades’s hand teasing me under the table, the slow strokes. My body clenched at the thought, heat curling low in my stomach. I was wet, aching, desperate to touch myself. Every inch of me screamed for relief. 

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head violently. I splashed more water onto my face. The water did nothing. If anything, the ache in me only grew sharper. 

That was when I heard footsteps walking towards the door. 

Elizabeth? 

I froze, heart hammering as the handle turned. The door opened, and I spun around and my blood ran cold. 

Hades stood in the doorway. 

He leaned against the frame with the lazy arrogance of a man who knew he owned every room he stepped into. His arms were crossed, his head tilted slightly, as his eyes ran down the length of my body. When his gaze returned to my face, an amused smile tugged at his lips. 

“What–what are you doing here?” My voice caught in my throat, betraying me. 

“What else,” he said, stepping inside. “To fulfill your dream.” 

I blinked, stunned. “What?” 

Another step forward. Instinctively, I moved back. 

“You wanted this, Princess.” His smile widened, more dangerous than I had ever seen it. 

He closed the distance again, and I retreated until my back it the wall. 

I was trapped. 

I looked up at him, my breath quickening, and that was when his hand rose. He tilted my chin up with two fingers, forcing me to look into his eyes. For a moment, I swore his rises flashed. 

He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. “Think, princess. My hand under the table… fucking you in the restroom. Does that ring a bell?” 

The words made me freeze. 

2/3 

You made a deal with me. Violet 

+25 Bonus 

Fuck. 

The dream I’d had of him, the one where his hand slid under the table, where he dragged me into the restroom and fucked me. The dream I had never told a soul. I didn’t even tell my friends. 

I stared at him, wide–eyed. 

How–how the hell could he know? 

His thumb brushed across my lips as if savoring my silence while his other arm slid around my waist, pulling me against him. 

“Like I said,” he murmured, his mouth brushing the shell of my ear, “many people owe me. And you are one of them.” 

I flinched at the words, a chill racing through me even as heat pooled low in my stomach. 

“You made a deal with me, Violet, even if you don’t realize it.” His smirk curved against my skin. “And I always collect what I’m owed.” 

P