The ride to Sirus Hotel was loud, filled with laughter, music, and Shaw's nonstop energy as he hyped up the night ahead. I sat in the front seat, arms crossed, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. I had no real interest in this party, but I wasn't about to kill the vibe for everyone else.
"Peter, you better loosen up," Davies shouted over the music. "You agreed to come, so don't act like a damn priest now!"
I smirked but said nothing. They didn't understand. For them, this was just another wild night. For me, it was a reminder of something I wasn't ready to relive.
The moment we stepped into the club, the energy hit me like a wave. The bass thrummed through the air, people moved like liquid on the dance floor, and the scent of sweat, perfume, and alcohol blended into something intoxicating. Shaw was already leading the way, his eyes scanning the room like a predator searching for his prey.
"Alright, boys," he announced, grinning. "Time to feast."
I shook my head, grabbing a drink from the bar while the others wasted no time diving in. Shaw, as expected, found his way back to her—the woman he had bragged about last time. She greeted him with a knowing smirk, running her hands over his chest like she already owned him. Within minutes, they disappeared into the crowd, lost in each other.
I took a sip of my drink, feeling a presence slide up beside me.
"Not interested in joining them?" a smooth voice asked.
I turned, finding a curvy woman standing next to me, her dress hugging every inch of her body in a way that was impossible to ignore. Her dark eyes studied me like she already knew something about me.
I frowned. "I'm good."
She smiled, sipping her wine. "Shaw told me you might say that."
I glanced toward the dance floor, catching sight of him giving me a thumbs-up before vanishing again. I sighed. Of course, he set this up.
"You're Peter," she continued, leaning in slightly. "And I'm Alyssa. Your friend thinks you need someone to remind you how to have fun."
I smirked. "Does he?"
She nodded, placing a delicate hand on my arm. "And I happen to agree."
Her touch was deliberate, her nails trailing down my skin, leaving a heat in their wake. She knew exactly what she was doing—how to use every movement, every glance, every slight shift in her body to test me. But I had already made up my mind.
I reached for my drink, ignoring the way her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"You're not as easy as Shaw said you'd be," she murmured.
I chuckled. "Shaw clearly doesn't know me as well as he thinks."
She studied me for a moment before leaning in, her breath warm against my ear. "You know… resisting only makes the chase more fun."
I turned my head slightly, our lips almost touching. "And what if I'm not playing the game?"
Alyssa pulled back, tilting her head. For a moment, I thought she would push harder, but then she surprised me with a soft chuckle.
"Fair enough," she said, raising her glass. "I respect a man who knows what he wants. Or rather, what he doesn't want."
I clinked my glass against hers. "Glad we understand each other."
The rest of the night played out as expected. Davies found himself a brunette who clung to him like he was the only man in the room. The others paired off, disappearing into dark corners, lost in fleeting pleasures. Shaw, true to his word, stayed with his woman from last time, looking more satisfied than I'd ever seen him.
And me? I watched, entertained but unmoved.
Alyssa stayed by my side, not pressing further but keeping the conversation engaging. She was sharp, confident, and knew exactly how to command attention. I respected that.
When the night finally wound down, and the group began to gather outside, she turned to me, pulling out her phone.
"You might not have wanted anything tonight," she said, handing it to me. "But who knows about tomorrow?"
I took her phone and entered my number. "We'll see."
She smirked. "Yes, we will."
As she walked away, I exhaled, shoving my hands into my pockets.
For the first time in a long while, I had been tempted.
But tonight, I had won.
She smiled. "Good. I like a challenge."
With that, she turned and walked away, her hips swaying in a way that made me shake my head with amusement. She knew exactly what she was doing, but she also respected my boundaries. I had to give her credit for that.
Shaw groaned dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "Peter, you kill me, man! A woman like that, right in front of you, practically begging, and you still resisted?"
I smirked, stepping toward the car. "Not every man thinks with his dick, Shaw."
The group burst into laughter as we piled into the vehicle, the night still alive in our veins. Davies was whispering sweet nothings into his woman's ear, Greenwood was passed out in the backseat, and Shaw, despite his usual bravado, looked like he had finally met his match in his mysterious lover from last time.
I leaned back against the seat, exhaling as the city lights blurred past us. Despite everything, I had enjoyed myself—not in the way my friends had, but in a way that reminded me that I didn't have to lose myself to fit in.
Alyssa had been tempting, no doubt. She was smart, confident, and knew how to push buttons without overstepping. But I wasn't ready for that—not yet. Maybe not ever.
As my phone buzzed with a new message, I glanced at the screen.
Alyssa: You're interesting, Peter. Let's see if you can keep resisting.
I chuckled to myself, shaking my head. The night had ended, but something told me this was far from over.
I laughed, thinking that she had no idea the kind of man she was trying to play this game with. She might have thought she had me figured out, but she had no clue how deep my resistance ran. Well, only time would tell what the future held.
Shaw glanced at me from the driver's seat, his smirk widening. "Still thinking about her, huh?"
I scoffed. "Not really. Just a passing thought."
He chuckled. "Yeah, right. I saw that little smile, Peter. You can pretend all you want, but she got to you."
I leaned back, exhaling. "She was interesting, I'll give her that. But that doesn't mean anything."
Shaw laughed, shaking his head. "Man, you act like you're untouchable. We'll see how long that lasts."
I didn't bother responding. In truth, Alyssa had left an impression, but it wasn't enough to shake my resolve. The night had come and gone, and unlike my friends, I was walking away exactly as I had planned—without regrets.
As the car sped through the quiet streets, I looked out the window, watching the city lights fade into the distance. Maybe Shaw was right. Maybe Alyssa would try again. Maybe I'd even let her.