Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart was pounding as I looked in the mirror one last time before putting on my mask. I had to redo my makeup and change back to my costume.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReady?\u201d Philippe asked as he peeked by the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath before I responded, \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Let\u2019s go,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I only have one audience compared to the tons of people during my first performance. However, there\u2019s something inside me that I couldn\u2019t truly explain. I can\u2019t point it out exactly, but suddenly, the image of that mysterious man sitting in the corner of the bar crossed my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shake my head off, trying to get him out of my head. This isn\u2019t the right time to be curious about a man when I\u2019m about to give a private show to another stranger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took one last deep breath, trying to steady the nerves that were bouncing around in my chest. Then, I stood up from the soft velvet chair and followed Philippe down a long, dim hallway. With every step, it felt like my heart was beating louder and louder\u2013so loud I swore he could hear it too. My hands were sweaty, and my chest felt tight, like my heart didn\u2019t want to stay put. It was pounding like it was trying to break free from my ribs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hallway was quiet and glowing with soft golden light from the fancy wall lamps. Everything looked rich and elegant\u2014from the carved designs along the ceiling to the deep red carpet that made our steps quieter. It didn\u2019t feel like a bar at all. It felt more like a secret mansion where only the rich and powerful went to escape and live out the kind of fantasies no one ever admitted out loud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philippe finally stopped in front of a tall door at the very end. This door looked different. There was a small, shiny plate on it that caught the light, but there was no name, just a strange, fancy symbol engraved in the middle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held my breath again as Philippe reached for the handle. It clicked softly as he turned it, and then he gently pushed the door open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warm light spilled into the hallway, soft and golden. The room was dim, but even in the low light, everything inside looked expensive and intimate. Thick velvet curtains in shades of deep red and dark blue hung from the ceiling all the way to the floor. A dark crystal chandelier hung low in the center, casting little sparks of light that shimmered across the walls. In the middle of the room was a small stage, surrounded by curved couches covered in smooth leather and silk. At the back, a mirrored wall reflected everything, making the room feel even larger and more private at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a small table nearby with a tray of fancy liquor and two crystal glasses, already filled with golden- colored scotch. The rich scent drifted through the room, mixing with the warm, spicy smell of incense coming from a black stone holder. The air felt thick with mystery\u2013like something powerful and slightly dangerous lived here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo ahead,\u201d Philippe said in a quiet voice, stepping to the side so I could walk in. \u201cHe\u2019s waiting for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e23\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted into tight knots. That\u2019s when I noticed someone already sitting in the corner of the room, far from the light. I couldn\u2019t see his face, just the dark shape of a man\u2013tall, broad, and still. The dim light bounced off the metal of his watch. That\u2019s when I also noticed the silver handcuffs wrapped around his wrist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They did restrain him just like I asked them to. However, despite that, I could feel that it would never be enough to stop those strong arms from snapping that restraint if he wanted to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The soft sound of the door closing behind me made me flinch. I hadn\u2019t even noticed I was holding my breath again. Now that Philippe was gone, it was just me\u2026 and this stranger. He was somewhere in the shadows, watching. I couldn\u2019t see him, but I could feel him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, despite not being able to see his face, his gaze seemed rather familiar. There\u2019s something about him that calms me. I was standing in front of him and staring at him despite the darkness that was hiding his face. Then, a ray of light coming from the strobe light flashes briefly on his eyes, and that\u2019s when I realized that he was the same man that was sitting at the corner of the bar a while ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the music started. Slow, smooth, and almost like a whisper. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket, filling the room with something sweet and heavy. I tried to ignore that familiar feeling his intense gaze brought to my body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes landed on the glass of scotch placed on the table. I\u2019m not sure if it was for me, but I\u2019m pretty sure I needed one. I grabbed the glass and took it in one gulp. I hope that was enough to calm my nerves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath and tried to steady my shaking hands as I walked toward the small stage in the middle of the room. The sound of my heels echoed with every step, matching the quick thump of my heart. I felt like my chest might burst with how fast it was beating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I reached the pole, I gently touched it. The coldness of the metal made me shiver. I closed my fingers around it, holding on like it could keep me steady. Funny how something so simple could feel like the only real thing in the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t thought about those college days in a long time. Back when I lost a silly bet and had to take a pole dancing class. I had no idea that one innocent bet would come in handy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes for a second and tried to forget there was someone watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The music guided me, pulling me into it. I started to move slowly, letting my body find its rhythm. My hands held tight to the pole as I lifted myself, surprised at how easily it came back. My body remembered. I twirled gently, my hair brushing against my back as I moved with more grace than I thought I had left in me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a brief moment, I have completely forgotten about him. I didn\u2019t expect that I\u2019d be enjoying this performance. However, it didn\u2019t take long before I finally felt the effect of drinking a whole glass of scotch in one go. My head started spinning. I\u2019m not sure if it was the scotch or my performance that was the culprit for my sudden dizziness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But at the same time, that dizziness comes along with a braveness I never knew I had. I suddenly become more aggressive and more curious about this mysterious man who requested my company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I got off from the stage and slowly walked towards the single couch where he was sitting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to come near me. That\u2019s the rule,\u201d he said with his deep baritone voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
His words didn\u2019t stop me from moving closer to him. I place iny hand on both of his wrists that were handcuffed against the armrest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what will you do if I break the rules?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned closer in hopes that I could have a glimpse of his face. But to my dismay, he was wearing a mask as well. The only thing that I managed to get out of my boldness was that I was able to see his gray eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Disappointed, I was about to step back and go back to the stage when he suddenly yanked his arm from the chair, breaking it and freeing his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was so surprised that I was frozen and didn\u2019t manage to move away. He then snaked his arm and grabbed my waist without a warning, causing me to land on his lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are walking on thread, angel. Don\u2019t make me lose my patience.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cL\u2013Let go of me. You\u2019re not supposed to touch me!\u201d I stuttered as I struggled to escape from his grasp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened about breaking the rule, angel?\u201d he teased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even his voice sounds beautiful. Was there anything about him that wasn\u2019t perfect?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine! I\u2019m sorry for going near you. It won\u2019t happen again. So, let me go,\u201d I responded as I continued to struggle to free myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cQuit moving. You\u2019re waking up the monster,\u201d he commented.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat went dry the moment I noticed his growing member. I was basically wearing nothing but underwear covered with lace, beads, and sequins. I can feel his huge member rubbing against my center. And that alone was more than enough to ignite the fire within me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2013You\u2019re not supposed to touch me,\u201d I reminded him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, angel. You\u2019re a forbidden fruit. Will I be punished if I get a taste of you?\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even process what exactly he meant by that, I already felt his hot tongue running along the valley of my breast. His hand continued to move all the way up to my neck before he started tracing my jawline. He then grabbed my nape and pulled me closer to him while his tongue was busy teasing my ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cS\u2013Stop\u2026\u201d I whispered, my voice barely audible, trembling with a mix of nerves and something else I didn\u2019t want to name. But even as the word left my lips, I didn\u2019t move away. I didn\u2019t push him. I just stood there, caught between the heat of his breath and the thunder of my heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His presence was overwhelming, like a storm rolling in quietly, surrounding me before I even realized it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome to my hell, angel,\u201d he murmured, his voice brushing against my car like silk, soft and dangerous. The way he calls me \u201cangel\u201d sent a shiver down my spine. He said it like he knew me. Like I was someone he\u00a0<\/p>\n
remembered. Someone he once held close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t know who he was. At least, I didn\u2019t think I did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who is this man? Why did his voice feel like a memory I couldn\u2019t quite reach?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even gather my thoughts, I felt his lips move lower, trailing down to the curve of my neck. My breath caught. My body moved on its own, tilting my head to the side, offering him more without a single word. It was instinctive. Natural. As if some part of me trusted him\u2013even though I didn\u2019t understand why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He noticed my surrender.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tongue brushed against my skin, slow and teasing. The heat of it made my knees weak. I clenched my hands at my sides, trying to hold myself together, but my body was already starting to melt under his touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then\u2013he bit me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not hard. Just enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Enough to send a spark through me, sharp and sweet all at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAhhh\u2026\u201d A moan slipped from my lips before I could stop it, a sound full of surprise and something deeper I didn\u2019t want to name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sting of his teeth mixed with the heat of his mouth. It was like he knew the exact line between pain and pleasure\u2014and how to dance on it without losing balance. My skin burned where he touched, but I didn\u2019t pull\u00a0<\/p>\n
away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And that terrified me more than anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But just when I was enjoying his sinful assault, he stopped. I let out an inner growl in protest. He noticed that, and he chuckles, causing our body to shake. The sound of his voice was enough to awaken the desire buried within me. I don\u2019t want this to end. I want more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, he said, \u201cLeave. You\u2019re dismissed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt like I was splashed with cold water. The fire of desire that was burning my body a while ago was completely gone. It was replaced with shame and embarrassment. How can I desire a man who was paying for another woman\u2019s company? I\u2019m so stupid to feel special.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I quickly pushed him and moved away from his lap. I didn\u2019t wait for him to say another word. I left the room hurriedly. My faint attempt to at least save my face from further embarrassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
************\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:25 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 15\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 14 Chapter 14\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 My heart was pounding as I looked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24365\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}