Nate threw his head back as the sharp burn of coke hit his nose, sniffing loudly as the rush spread through his veins. He slumped deeper into the battered couch, the fabric stained and torn, a relic of past parties and bad decisions—if it could talk, it would scream. With lazy fingers, he fished out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulling one free and placing it between his lips. The flick of his lighter briefly illuminated his face, a hollow glow, as he inhaled the nicotine, feeling it settle in his lungs, balancing the drugs that now simmered in his system.

His head fell back again, eyes drifting to the cracked ceiling, lost in the bliss of the high that washed over him. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, savoring the moment before his eyes slid over to Greg, who sat motionless in the corner. Nate’s frustration flared like a spark as he plucked the cigarette from his mouth, his voice a low growl.

“Where the fuck is she? I told that bitch to be back in five minutes,” he muttered, scratching at the rough stubble on his chin.

Hypocrite, he knew it. He could indulge—snort, smoke, swallow anything handed to him—but god forbid his girl even take a minute for herself. The thought grated on him. Just as he was about to snap at Greg to go find her, the soft click of heels against the floor caught his attention. His head whipped around, and there she was.

Nate’s eyes darkened as he saw her, his irritation flaring. Without hesitation, he grabbed her by the arm, yanking her onto his lap with a rough pull. “Where the fuck were you?” His voice held a dangerous edge, his grip possessive as he wrapped his arm around her waist, locking her in place.

“I was about to drag your ass out myself,” he murmured, his breath hot as he leaned in, pressing his nose into the nape of her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume and shampoo, a sharp contrast to the haze of smoke and drugs surrounding him.

“Missed you so much, baby...” Nate whispered, his voice dripping with a mix of need and threat. His hand tightened around her waist as he pressed open-mouthed kisses along her neck, each one more demanding than the last. “You’re not gonna leave me, are you? Huh? Say it before I make you.” His nails dug into her hip as he growled, scattering rough kisses and love bites across her skin, marking her as his.