Share

Sweet Distraction

Author: Ghost Rider
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-18 18:03:05

I hated the taste of alcohol, the way it burned my throat and left me feeling unsteady. I hated the way it stripped away my sense of control. But tonight, control felt like a prison, one that had left me in ruins.

"Give me a glass of champagne. The strongest you've got," I said, my voice barely hiding the desperation.

The bartender glanced at me, her brow arching as if she could see the heartbreak that had driven me here.

"Alright, give me a minute," she replied, a sympathetic smile tugging at her lips.

Tonight, I'm going to lose control. For the first time in my life, I'm going to drink, to stupor.

The bartender handed me the glass, and without a second thought, I tilted it back, the liquid burning its way down as I swallowed, the heat spreading through me. I placed the empty glass on the bar, my fingers trembling as I felt the sobs clawing at my chest, desperate to escape.

"Another one," I muttered, forcing the words out as I blinked back the tears threatening to spill.

She poured another glass, her eyes lingering on me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

I took it, letting the cool glass press against my lips before draining it as quickly as the first.

The bartender leaned forward, her tone soft but bold as she said, "I could spend the night with you, if you want." Her smile was sultry, her eyes filled with an invitation to forget, to numb the pain.

I froze, the faintest of smiles breaking through as I shook my head. "Thanks, but I’ll be fine,” I replied, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Just give me more wine.”

She poured another glass of wine, her gaze lingering on me as she leaned across the bar.

"You're missing out on a lot, babe. I'm damn sure a man broke your heart," she said knowingly, tilting her head. "Give up on men. Try women."

I didn't reply; I simply listened as she spoke, her voice soft and enticing.

There was a part of me that wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, but another part of me wondered if she was right. Maybe I had given too much of myself to someone who'd only left me broken.

"Men are scum," she muttered, a bitterness in her tone that told me she, too, had been through her share of heartbreak.

Just as I was about to take another sip, a deep, smooth male voice cut through the atmosphere. "How so?"

I turned, the glass freezing at my lips as I looked up at the tall and imposing man standing beside me.

He was dressed in sleek black sleeves and dark trousers, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and revealing just enough of his muscular chest to catch the eye. But it was his face that intrigued me most—what little I could see of it, anyway.

A mask covered the upper half of his face, leaving only his nose and lips exposed. It gave him an air of mystery, like someone who moved through shadows by choice, not by chance.

The bartender raised an eyebrow, her posture shifting as she shot him a disdainful look. "Do you really want to know?"

He shrugged, his gaze never leaving mine. "I think I do. But I'd rather hear it from her," he said, nodding toward me.

“Is there a reason you’re hiding?” I asked, my tone bolder than I felt.

His lips twitched slightly, amusement sparking on the edges of his mouth. “Is there a reason you’re drinking yourself into oblivion?” he countered, his voice smooth and calm.

I sipped my drink, keeping my gaze locked on him, trying to push the memory of Alex kissing that other woman out of my mind. But it lingered, sharp and fresh, fueling the ache in my chest. A wild, reckless idea surfaced, and I felt a spark of mischief take over.

I leaned in, my voice low, a daring smile on my lips. "Can you take off your mask?"

He returned my smile, revealing a flash of perfect white teeth, his lips curving into something between amusement and intrigue.

But before he could answer, I made my move. Rising onto my toes, I leaned into him, closing the space between us, and pressed my lips against his.

The world fell away in that moment. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft, a contrast to his strong, imposing presence. For a split second, he froze, clearly taken by surprise, but then his hand moved to my waist, steadying me as he responded, deepening the kiss.

When we finally pulled apart, my heart was racing, and I could feel a flush creeping over my cheeks. He looked down at me, his smile now tinged with something darker, more intense.

The bartender watched us with mild interest, but I barely noticed her anymore. I was caught in the pull of this stranger, his masked gaze fixed on me as if he were seeing something no one else had dared to look for.

He leaned in closer, so near I could feel the heat radiating off him, his breath brushing my skin.

For a fleeting second, I thought he was going to kiss me again, and a thrill of anticipation shivered down my spine. I wanted him to.

“I want you,” he murmured, his voice laced with a dark intensity, a hunger that felt almost dangerous. His gaze, even from behind the mask, burned into me, as though I’d awakened something fierce and primal inside him.

I bit my lip, my heart pounding wildly as I whispered, "I’m all yours to devour."

His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me against him, he leaned down, his lips grazing my ear as he whispered, “You might regret saying that.” His voice was a low, thrilling rumble that sent a jolt through me.

Related chapters

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Contract Marriage

    The continuous ringing of my phone cut through the fog in my head, pulling me into the morning sunlight. For a moment, I lay there, my mind struggling to piece together where I was and how I’d ended up here.I rolled over, groaning at the weakness that weighed me down, and froze when I realized—I was naked.My eyes flew open, wide with shock as the memories of last night came rushing back in fragments. The bar, the drinks, the masked man. And then… I closed my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my face as I remembered it all.I’d slept with him. A total stranger. No idea who he really was, no idea what he looked like beneath that mask. I barely even knew the sound of his voice.The realization hit me like a wave, and I felt my heart race in shame. I wasn’t the kind of person who ended up in a stranger’s bed.I sank back into the sheets, feeling the weight of my own actions settle over me. I was better than this. I had always been careful. But in one night, I’d shattered all of that. And f

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   New Bride

    "Have you gone to see Mr. Calvin yet?" my father asked, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth with a fork."Yes, Dad," I replied, my hands clasped tightly behind my back as I stood, watching him eat.He simply nodded, picked up the glass of wine from the table, and took a slow gulp before turning his sharp gaze on me. "And? Give me the details. I want to know everything."I opened my mouth to speak, but my mother’s voice interrupted from behind me."Your daughter has been through a terrible heartbreak," she said, her tone cutting, "and a painful divorce, if I may remind you. But all you seem to care about is every detail of a particular crippled billionaire, not the details of your own daughter. Your only child."Hearing her defend me brought a flicker of comfort to my heart, but I knew better than to show my emotions in front of my father.He set his fork down with deliberate calmness and pointed it at my mother. "It’s your job as her mother to care about her feelings. It’s my jo

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Thorns and Pests

    When we arrived at Mr. Calvin's mansion, the scene at the gate caught me completely off guard. A sea of reporters and journalists swarmed the entrance, their cameras flashing like relentless lightning."What’s going on?" I asked, my voice laced with unease."Nothing to worry about, ma’am," the bald African man beside me said, his tone steady as he opened the car door. "We’ll need to walk past the gate—the crowd’s too thick for the vehicle."I sighed in relief, shaking my head slightly. "I’m sure they’re not here for me. I’m a nobody. Mr. Calvin must have done something to attract the media."But as soon as I stepped out of the car, reality hit like a tidal wave. The reporters surged toward me, their shouts drowning out my thoughts, their cameras capturing every step I took like a lamb walking to the slaughter.My chest tightened as panic clawed its way through me. I instinctively moved closer to one of the suited men, my breath quickening."Are you the Kate that’s getting married to t

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Divorce Papers

    Sophia stared at the large framed picture of my husband and I on the wall, a smile frozen in time."Beautiful, isn’t it?" I interrupted, trying to lighten the mood as I handed her a glass of water.She ignored my question, collecting the glass of water with shaky hands, her gaze locked onto the picture."How could he do such a thing?" she muttered, her face pale, anger and disappointment swirling within her. I had never seen my friend look so bitter before."Sophia, talk to me. Why are you staring at the picture like a widow mourning her husband?" Confusion etched across my face as I exchanged glances between Sophia and the frame.Finally, she turned to me, her face still drained of color, eyes shimmering with unshed tears."Your husband is cheating on you, Kate." Her voice was steady but laced with empathy."Alex would never cheat on me. What do you mean?" Sophia nodded, her expression resolute. "I have the evidence to prove it. Open your Instagram account and check your husband’s p

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18

Latest chapter

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Thorns and Pests

    When we arrived at Mr. Calvin's mansion, the scene at the gate caught me completely off guard. A sea of reporters and journalists swarmed the entrance, their cameras flashing like relentless lightning."What’s going on?" I asked, my voice laced with unease."Nothing to worry about, ma’am," the bald African man beside me said, his tone steady as he opened the car door. "We’ll need to walk past the gate—the crowd’s too thick for the vehicle."I sighed in relief, shaking my head slightly. "I’m sure they’re not here for me. I’m a nobody. Mr. Calvin must have done something to attract the media."But as soon as I stepped out of the car, reality hit like a tidal wave. The reporters surged toward me, their shouts drowning out my thoughts, their cameras capturing every step I took like a lamb walking to the slaughter.My chest tightened as panic clawed its way through me. I instinctively moved closer to one of the suited men, my breath quickening."Are you the Kate that’s getting married to t

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   New Bride

    "Have you gone to see Mr. Calvin yet?" my father asked, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth with a fork."Yes, Dad," I replied, my hands clasped tightly behind my back as I stood, watching him eat.He simply nodded, picked up the glass of wine from the table, and took a slow gulp before turning his sharp gaze on me. "And? Give me the details. I want to know everything."I opened my mouth to speak, but my mother’s voice interrupted from behind me."Your daughter has been through a terrible heartbreak," she said, her tone cutting, "and a painful divorce, if I may remind you. But all you seem to care about is every detail of a particular crippled billionaire, not the details of your own daughter. Your only child."Hearing her defend me brought a flicker of comfort to my heart, but I knew better than to show my emotions in front of my father.He set his fork down with deliberate calmness and pointed it at my mother. "It’s your job as her mother to care about her feelings. It’s my jo

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Contract Marriage

    The continuous ringing of my phone cut through the fog in my head, pulling me into the morning sunlight. For a moment, I lay there, my mind struggling to piece together where I was and how I’d ended up here.I rolled over, groaning at the weakness that weighed me down, and froze when I realized—I was naked.My eyes flew open, wide with shock as the memories of last night came rushing back in fragments. The bar, the drinks, the masked man. And then… I closed my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my face as I remembered it all.I’d slept with him. A total stranger. No idea who he really was, no idea what he looked like beneath that mask. I barely even knew the sound of his voice.The realization hit me like a wave, and I felt my heart race in shame. I wasn’t the kind of person who ended up in a stranger’s bed.I sank back into the sheets, feeling the weight of my own actions settle over me. I was better than this. I had always been careful. But in one night, I’d shattered all of that. And f

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Sweet Distraction

    I hated the taste of alcohol, the way it burned my throat and left me feeling unsteady. I hated the way it stripped away my sense of control. But tonight, control felt like a prison, one that had left me in ruins."Give me a glass of champagne. The strongest you've got," I said, my voice barely hiding the desperation. The bartender glanced at me, her brow arching as if she could see the heartbreak that had driven me here."Alright, give me a minute," she replied, a sympathetic smile tugging at her lips.Tonight, I'm going to lose control. For the first time in my life, I'm going to drink, to stupor.The bartender handed me the glass, and without a second thought, I tilted it back, the liquid burning its way down as I swallowed, the heat spreading through me. I placed the empty glass on the bar, my fingers trembling as I felt the sobs clawing at my chest, desperate to escape."Another one," I muttered, forcing the words out as I blinked back the tears threatening to spill.She poured

  • Love Game with the Crippled Billionaire   Divorce Papers

    Sophia stared at the large framed picture of my husband and I on the wall, a smile frozen in time."Beautiful, isn’t it?" I interrupted, trying to lighten the mood as I handed her a glass of water.She ignored my question, collecting the glass of water with shaky hands, her gaze locked onto the picture."How could he do such a thing?" she muttered, her face pale, anger and disappointment swirling within her. I had never seen my friend look so bitter before."Sophia, talk to me. Why are you staring at the picture like a widow mourning her husband?" Confusion etched across my face as I exchanged glances between Sophia and the frame.Finally, she turned to me, her face still drained of color, eyes shimmering with unshed tears."Your husband is cheating on you, Kate." Her voice was steady but laced with empathy."Alex would never cheat on me. What do you mean?" Sophia nodded, her expression resolute. "I have the evidence to prove it. Open your Instagram account and check your husband’s p

DMCA.com Protection Status