You bought me

"Amanda." His voice was deep and laced with an almost primal growl, a hint of a foreign accent that felt as if it belonged to another world. His dark eyes and intense scanned me, with a hunger I couldn't place, lingering on me as though he could read my every thought. I swallowed hard, feeling a shudder race up my spine.

"Welcome," I said, lifting my cocktail in an attempt to break the growing tension.

"Would you like something to drink...?" I trailed off, hoping he'd introduce himself. This was my first time and I didn't know how to behave and the words to say. I took some shots thinking that they will make me confident but here I was afraid, slightly trembling.

There was something about this man that seemed ancient and dangerous.

"I would love a drink," he replied, his voice rich and commanding. He stepped closer, closing the distance between us in a way that made my pulse quicken. It was as though he were stalking me, the predator circling its prey. He was taller than anyone I'd ever met. His frame blocked out the low light overhead casting me in shadows as he stood above me like some kind of predator. The tailored suit he wore strained against his muscles, hinting at a raw, untamed strength I couldn't ignore. His eyes locked onto mine, an intensity in them that made the air around us crackle with tension.

My breath caught as his dark eyes burned into mine with a possessiveness I couldn't explain.

I could feel an intense pull between us, something ancient and unyielding

As his large hand circled mine to take the glass, a shudder ran down my spine. His touch was warm, sending an unexpected jolt of heat through me. His fingers brushed over mine, sending an almost electric current racing through my skin.

"I'm Knox," he said, his voice low and almost too smooth for comfort. "It's a great pleasure to meet you, Amanda." His sultry foreign accent sent a shiver down my spine and also my face flushed involuntarily. "I saw your show tonight. It was... magnificent."

My breath caught, and I managed a soft laugh. "Oh, thank you." I responded, trying to steady my nerves.

"Is something amusing?" One of his dark brows arched, his gaze darkening. The look on his face sent a wave of tension through my body.

"Sorry," I muttered, "I didn't expect you to have seen the show."

"You didn't expect a man like me to attend, did you?" His chuckle was deep and rumbling, but there was something predatory in it.

"At first glance, no," I admitted with a shrug, trying to hide the way his intensity affected me.

"And yet, here I am," he mused, leaning in closer, his eyes never leaving mine. Without waiting for me to say anything, he sat beside me, his presence a tangible weight. My heart raced as I realized just how much of a hold he already had on me, even with the alcohol buzzing in my veins. The air between us crackled, thick with unspoken words.

"You're the expert, though," he continued. 

"Ballet is my life," I said softly, my nerves tangled under the weight of his gaze. His eyes were a mix of brown and gold, the green flecks swirling near the pupils making me feel as if I were being pulled into the depths of something ancient and powerful.

"Tonight was my first time at the ballet," he murmured. "A shame I missed the first half of the show... but with your performance, I'm certain it was worth it."

His words, though simple, were laced with an intensity that made my heart skip. His first time seeing a ballet, and already he was here with me, making me the center of his attention.

The conversation slowed, the tension thickening between us like a storm cloud. I glanced down, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The glass clicked against the coffee table, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Knox set the cocktail down, his jaw clenched, his features hardening with some internal resolve.

"Thank you for meeting me tonight, Amanda," his voice dropped even lower, something darker in it now.

"Of course," I whispered, my voice betraying the tension building between us. "I had to," I added, though I wasn't sure why I said that. The silence stretched between us, heavy, almost suffocating. I could feel his gaze on me, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

"Can I kiss you?" His voice was thick, like whiskey, smooth but with an undeniable heat that made my pulse spike. My heart hammered in my chest, the air thick with something animalistic.

"Yes," I breathed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Knox's fingers danced across my cheek, soft and warm. The instant his skin touched mine, I felt an electric charge race through me. My body instinctively tilted toward his, and his lips brushed against my cheek, the contact sending a ripple of heat through me. It was soft, tender, but I could feel the ferocity beneath.

His lips moved to the corner of my mouth, and before I realized it, the kiss deepened. It was slow at first, a careful exploration, but as the seconds passed, his kiss became demanding, almost desperate. His hands slid to my thigh, his body pressing closer. He tasted like the fine cologne he wore, mixed with the faint scent of smoke- intoxicating, seductive.

His lips were ruthless, devouring mine with a passion I could hardly comprehend. He was skilled , too skilled-and I found myself losing myself in him, in the way his kiss pulled me under, urging me to surrender.

"Can I touch you?" he asked, pulling away just enough to look into my eyes. His breath was ragged, his pupils dilated with desire. His gaze burned into me, full of unspoken promises.

"You can do anything you want. You paid for me," I said, my voice low, my nerves taut as a bowstring.

"I had to have you," He whispered against my neck, his lips trailing to the sensitive skin just below my ear. His tongue flicked over my pulse, and my body shuddered 

"The moment I saw you," he growled softly, "I knew I was going to have you. You mine Amanda."