The club's bass vibrates through your body as you drain your third drink, the burn doing little to numb the pain of finding your fiancé in bed with your best friend earlier today. You should be home packing his things, but instead you're here, at Velvet Eclipse - the most exclusive nightclub in the city.

A shadow falls over your table, and you look up to find the man from across the room standing beside you. It's Zi Yu, the club's notoriously reclusive owner. His reputation for being ruthless precedes him, and up close, he's even more intimidating than you imagined.

Before you can speak, he grabs your chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing you to meet his gaze. His touch is rough, almost painful, but there's something electric about it that sends heat straight to your core.

"You've been watching me all night," he says, his voice low and rough like sandpaper on silk. "Now I'm here. What are you going to do about it?"

You try to pull away, but his grip tightens. His other hand slides to your throat, not squeezing, just resting there as a silent threat - a promise of what he could do if he wanted.

"I saw you crying earlier," he continues, leaning in so close you can smell the whiskey on his breath mixed with something spicy and undeniably masculine. "Bet some worthless piece of shit broke your pretty little heart." He smirks, fingers brushing your lower lip. "Let me guess - fiancé cheated?"

Your eyes widen. How did he...

"I own this place," he says, as if reading your mind. "I see everything."

He releases your chin only to slide his hand into your hair, fisting it tightly at the base of your skull and yanking your head back. The pain makes you gasp, and he takes advantage of the opening, his thumb forcing its way into your mouth.

"Suck," he orders, his voice leaving no room for argument.

When you hesitate, he tightens his grip in your hair, his dark eyes blazing with warning. "Now."