Chapter 1

ALVIRA’S POV

I shivered as the evenings cool breeze chilled my bare arms. I was going to work in a night club, for the first time in my life. This was would even be my first time of being in a nightclub, but I really needed the money, my friend – the only person I had in the world, Clarissa, was sick, and I needed money for her treatment.

She had fought me over going to work at a night club, not minding that she was the one that was sick, and she was the one that needed the money. According to her, the nightclub was no place for an innocent girl like me.

But, heaven knows I had no other choice other than being a stripper.

However, age had helped me dress. Helping me strap my red lacy push up bra that made my boobs jut out in a way that really embarrassed me, making me blush.

I was wearing a very short skirt, and fishnet garters that even made me feel more exposed, yet Clarissa had taken one look at me, and said I still looked ‘too innocent’

My work at the club, as the manager explained, was just to stand around, and convince the men to buy more drinks. I could already feel my emotions close to skyrocketing, and yet another hand slapped my butt, squeezing it, and muttering something in passing.

Experiencing this finally made me lost my grip over my emotions as tears flowed freely down my cheek, soaking my lashes, and causing a ruin on my makeup.

I felt alone, exposed and vulnerable at point. As I bit down hard on my lower lip, feeling a tremble all over my body from the cold.

Realizing I was indeed very foolish to think I could handle this job.

I mean I could I could face anything despite my traumatic experience in life but I guess this isn’t for me.

"And why are you crying my lovely?” I felt a masculine, and yet gentle hand lift my chin, even as the scent of his powerful cologne hypnotized me. I lifted up my eyes, only to find myself looking into the most formidable jet black eyes I had ever seen before.

Unable to keep looking, I looked away from his eyes, only to find myself looking at the rest of him. I sucked in a breath as my pulse started racing, and this time, when I trembled, it was not because of the cold. It was because of the magnetic power of this man.

Gosh! He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, but there was a power he exuded that went beyond looks. He looked like everything in the club belonged to him – including me. I suppose but damn him though, he doesn’t own me, no one does.

But my heart thudded against my chest at that realization.

The man smiled, a little upward curve of his lips, but it transformed his face from dangerously ruthless, to ruthlessly sexy. I felt myself suck in another breath, and then, he drew me to himself – forcefully, so that my soft pliant body collided against his rock hard body, and then, I couldn’t think again, as his lips crushed against mine.

I only had a few seconds to panic about this being the first time a man kissed me, when he started his experienced onslaught on my lips. I whimpered and unconsciously drew nearer to him as he devoured my mouth with a ruthlessness that bordered on cruelty.

His teeth nibbled at my bottom lip, and when a whimper that ended in a moan escaped my tortured lips, he pulled my head even closer, and slipped his tongue into my mouth.

As much as this made me feel somewhat, it felt so damn good.

I whimpered again, from the acute pleasure his kisses brought, so intense, I was sure it was pain, and I felt my body melt completely against his. He yanked my head away from his then, pulling my hair, not gently, and making me whimper again in pain.

The man angled my head, so that once again, I was looking into his powerful, unusual black eyes. For some unknown reason, I felt tears well up in my eyes again and spill over, but this man seemed to be enjoying my tears. His lips curved up in another smile that made him look even more dangerous.

My heart skipped several beats – what had I gotten myself into!”

"My my. What do we have here! This is a real beauty Carter. Where have you been hiding her.”

Carter. His name was Carter. My mind registered the name, even as my heart skipped several beats. I knew his name would forever live in my head, just as I knew my lips would forever remember his kisses.

Without realizing what I was doing, I lifted my hand and brushed the knuckles against my bottom lip as I turned my gaze to find out who had spoken. My lips felt raw, tender, and slightly bruised from ruthless kisses.

The man who had spoken looked equally rich and powerful. He was dressed in expensive clothes, but he could not take my mind off Carter. I felt my heartbeat quicken in fear – why was my body reacting this way to someone I did not know.

"I would like to see this one take it all off – how much do you guys even charge for a strip tease?”

The man asked, and real fear slammed against my heart. I was not going to give any strip tease, or lap dance – not going to have sex with any body. I felt another tear slip from my left eye. I couldn’t do this.

I was a virgin, had never even had a boyfriend, until today, I had never been kissed. Why were these men taking such am interest in me, instead of in the more experienced girls.

"Why is she crying?” The man asked Carter.

Carter shrugged. He was watching me intently as he replied. “Why don’t you ask her Larry.”

"Well you own the place…” Larry shrugged, then suddenly, he drew me to himself, and crushed his lips to mine. I choked back a sob, as my soft hands fisted and beat against his chest.

"Let me go p-please…” I whimpered.

Larry let me go, but he seemed angry. “You were not begging Carter to let you go were you? You seemed to be enjoying his kisses –” he turned to Carter, “I’m holding out because it’s your nightclub, or else I’d drag this one to a nearby room and tear of her clothes.”

"Please…” I could hear myself whimper. I hated the vulnerability in my voice. My eyes were not on Larry, they were focused on Carter, as my green eyes pleaded with his jet black ones. Somehow, I knew he had the power to save me – from whatever other man came by, he was the owner of the place after all.

He had to be a billionaire, I knew owning even a small property in this expensive part of town could cost up to a billion, let alone such a big, expensive looking nightclub.

The billionaire turned to face me now, dragging me to his side, a bit more gently. I could feel my body press against his powerful body, as his body heat warmed me till I was no longer trembling.

"Offer the chick money Larry, if you want her to do anything for you. You of all people should know by now that the language of women is money.”

Larry smiled. “One million dollars Little pet, and I want all your clothes off now.”

Still pressed against the billionaire’s side, I shook my head shyly. Though I needed it, I didn’t want his money. The money the nightclub would pay at the end of the night was enough for me – and of course, I couldn’t possible strip for anyone.

Larry looked angry now. “Well that’s all the money I’d offer for a whore” he said as he stormed off.

The billionaire merely shook his head. “Maybe, this one is not a whore,”, he said softly to Larry’s retreating form. “I’ve tasted the innocence in her kisses.”

"How did he even know that?” I wondered to myself.

I guess he is an expert in women who are strippers, after all, it’s his night club.

And to my surprise, the billionaire drew me into a warm hug, his big powerful body covering my tiny one, so that I felt warm, safe, covered.

When he finally pulled away, his lips took mine again, in a kiss that was gentler this time, and yet again, something about how raw it was brought tears to my eyes.

"What’s your name Love?” The billionaire asked in a gentle voice, but it was underlined with power.

"Alvira.” I answered, again hating how tiny and vulnerable my voice sounded.

He nodded. “I have some plans for you Alvira” grabbing my head again, and kissing me with a ruthlessness that hurt. His hands moved lower to cup my butt, pressing me more closely to him, as his mouth left mine to trail hot kisses down my face. When he bit the pulse on my throat, drawing a whimper from me, I gathered the last strength I had and fled.

I kept running, without looking back, trying to out run the ruthless billionaire, to out run my pounding heart, and the memories that clawed at my throat, memories of powerful hands holding me still while I got forced.