Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Bryan squinted, feeling the grip on his collar tighten. With Irene perched on a high bar stool, he feared pushing her away might send her tumbling backward. Irene had been with plenty of men, so her kissing skills were top-notch. She glanced down, spotting the bulge in his pants, and chuckled. So, it was all an act.

She let go just as a man approached the bar, ordering the most expensive drink. "Miss, your dancing is amazing. Let me buy you a drink."

Irene, with her cheek propped up on her slender fingers, traced lazy circles on the bar, her movements suggestively intimate.

The man signaled for Bryan to mix the drink. Without hesitation, Bryan skillfully prepared a cocktail and set it in front of Irene. The man discreetly dropped a pill into the drink, a move Bryan noticed.

He figured Irene was aware, too, so he didn't interfere and went on to serve other customers. However, when he returned half an hour later, Irene had finished her drink. She was now leaning on the bar, cheeks flushed, while the man beside her was getting too close for comfort.novelbin

Bryan's temper flared, and he grabbed the man's wrist. "What's the problem? Can't I help my own girlfriend?" the man snapped.

Bryan narrowed his eyes. "She's my friend, and you two just met."

The man scoffed, "Coming to a bar dressed like that, she's obviously looking for a good time. She agreed to spend the night with me."

Just then, Irene lifted her head and smiled innocently at Bryan. The man tried to wrap his arm around her waist, but Irene grabbed Bryan's sleeve instead.

"Don't leave me. I need a man right now, and you'll do just fine."

Seeing this, the man believed they knew each other well and cursed under his breath. Damn! So he was just setting the stage for someone else!

Bryan glanced at Irene, handed the bartending duties to another mixologist, and helped her towards the restroom. "Where does it hurt?"

Irene smiled and pointed at her chest. "Here. It's killing me."

Bryan felt a pang in his chest, unsure if she was just flirting. In the restroom, she locked the door and started unbuckling his belt.

"Ms. Irene, please don't," Bryan protested, his back pressed against the wall, his cheeks flushing.

Irene kissed him slowly, inch by inch. Outside, the sounds of music,

knocking, and strangers' chattel né

filled the air, but none of it seemed

to matter in that moment.

Finally, Bryan couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her up, grinding his teeth. "You really are—"

He couldn't finish his curse. The restroom stayed locked for a long time until a maintenance worker was called to open it.

Bryan's clothes were disheveled. He

asked the worker to clean elsewhere

first. Irene's arms encircled his

waist, but he brushed her hands

away, unable to resist the seduction. No one could have.

Rubbing his temples, he said, "We're closing. You should go home."

Irene immediately looked upset, her eyes reddening. "Don't you want me?"

Bryan swallowed hard. It wasn't that he didn't want her, but he knew her heart belonged to someone else. He hated being a stand-in, unwilling to be seen through, only for her to envision someone else.