Prologue

Oh god! Stefan! I use all my strength to lift one arm up as his footsteps pound towards me. His large body falls next to me, his strong arms lifting me, tucking me closely to his chest. One hand wraps around my neck, forcing me to look up into his beautiful eyes. “Don’t you go dyin’ on me now, baby! Don’t you do it!”

Cold sweeps my body, my eyes begging to close as he rocks me back and forth.

“I...” Gasp. “Love...” Gasp. “You... Stefan.”

Chapter One

“They’re back,” I whisper to Winter as we pick up our clothes and tips, and then head to our break table.

Of course, Winter can do nothing but groan. Pyro is the Vice President of the MC Breakneck. For weeks now, he’s been scouting her for his President’s birthday bash. Again, he’s begging her to take the gig and I kick her under the table and practically purr for her to accept the offer.

See, Winter and I are exotic dancers. I do it for fun and exercise. I don’t need the money and she doesn’t really either. I found Winter running from her past, took her in, and showed her the ropes. Now, we’re roommates and best friends.

So… this thing I have for Pyro runs deep. Something about him just draws me in. It doesn’t help either that he ignores me. Not to be biased or anything, but I think I am beautiful. I’m Hawaiian and need no makeup. I’m also tall. I’ve heard men love tall women.

With a final kick to Winter’s leg under the table, she gives in under the condition that I dance with her, and I can’t help but let the squeal come out and feel childish as it does. This means I get to see more of Pyro and what he’s all about. I stare long and hard as he walks away. Even in his loose jeans, Pyro has a firm ass. The kind of man-ass that makes me want to stand there all day and stare at that one body part, admiring it. Don't even get me started on his green eyes. They are the brightest I've ever seen, and when he tilts down those shades and that boastful yet bright green hits you, you're stuck, frozen in place. Time literally stands still.

But even though I am deeply attracted to him, I want to get to know the real him, yet he won't give me the time nor the day to do that. For now, I'll settle on doing this gig with Star, and just maybe, I’ll get lucky and he'll at least talk to me a little more. If not, I just might give up. Well, shit, that is definitely not going to happen. Besides, Winter thinks that Braxxon Breaker is an old fart. I bet she has this theory going on that he’s dirty or grungy and old, but word is that he is one fine specimen. She comes from a world not too far off of the one we are about to enter, come time for the party, but I can’t help it that I am dragging her into it for my own benefit.

My own selfish reasons.

Actually, one reason.

Pyro.

You ever hear about a nervous tic? There are a shit load of nervous tics and I have some, actually, a lot of them. I bite my lip and I do it way too much. When I’m pissed, nervous, sad, lonely, hell, it doesn’t matter, I just bite my lip whenever any emotion falls across my mind.

So here we are, stuck in the middle of the desert. On our way to the gig for the club, our car breaks down. What a disaster, because we end up riding in a tow truck, following Pyro, and the entire time, I wish it was him behind the wheel instead of PP. This time my wish isn’t for a selfish reason. The creepy bastard driving the truck keeps staring at us in a way that makes my skin crawl, crawl with millions of tiny little bugs. It just won’t stop. And I am resenting the fact that I didn’t listen to my gut about him, because later on, we all would learn the hard way…

As soon as we get to the club, Pyro takes us to his room so we can dress. Between the car breaking down and his rushing us, my nerves are beyond shot. So, when he offers us coke out of the blue, I should have run the other damn way. Stupid estrogen. I bet it has everything to do with my stupid decisions when it comes to men. Because I know if Pyro didn’t look like he did and he offered me all this shit, I would run the other way. Maybe that makes me a little shallow but it’s the straight up truth. Looks may not be everything but they have everything to do with the reason I’m here. Like I said. Stupid. Fucking. Estrogen.

I find it hard to be myself around him. I’m usually this outgoing, bubbly person, but when I am near him, I completely shut off. My mouth doesn’t seem to want to move with my thoughts. I guess that means the man makes me tongue tied like no other. He is as intimidating as they can get. Winter is apparently sick of that tonight because her blunt ass calls me on it.

“I can’t help it; that man kills me.” I say.

If he would just show one weakness, I’d be okay. I’d get back in the game. The coke he left for us is strong. So strong, I can tell it hasn’t been cut up and is completely pure. This should scare the shit out of me, Pyro having pure coke in his room, but it doesn’t.

Winter and I are dancing as angels, and at first, I’m a little hesitant about looking so innocent, until he sees me.

He cracks the door open rather slowly and his dirty blond head peeks in.

“Fuck me, Hazel,” Pyro growls.

Yes! Finally! I want to scream. I am back in the game.

Between the look he gives me, and the coke flowing through my body, I am extremely and utterly blissed out. I smile as his guard keeps going down.

I take a silent deep breath and saunter up to him.

“Maybe later, but for now, we’re ready,” I purr.

He stands straight to block our way, his tall frame hesitant to let me out of the room.