The bedroom had the same ceiling-to-floor windows on one end looking over the street and the hilly terrain. The moon was a Cheshire Cat's grin, unsettling amongst the spectacular view and roar of people partying out in the street.

There was a fire lit opposite the queen-sized bed. All the furnishings were red velvet fabric with dark cherry wood details and flooring. The room was made for seduction and a horror movie.

'Are you the infamous Gatsby?' I said.

Matisse reluctantly peeled himself off me and walked to a table by the fire pouring us a drink.

'You could say that. I'm not the only host of this event.' He held out a glass to me.

'No need,' I said. He arched his brow amusement dancing across his features. 'No need to try and woo me more. You already have me.' And all my seams were ready to burst.

I was a ripe piece of fruit ready to be bitten and if he spat me back out afterwards I didn't care.

'You're—' he started and I raised my hand shaking my head.

'Just keep kissing me.'

He plopped his glass back down on the table and leaned back on it, regarding me with a different kind of interest. We devoured the sight of each other again, his long lean legs, and sculpted upper body hidden beneath his suit. The blazer parted at the top to expose a hairy, but trimmed chest.

Hair or not, I was going to lick that.

He chuckled. I crossed my arms over my chest. This man has been behaving strangely all night, I haven't even considered that he might be a real weirdo. A handsome drool-worthy one, but still.

'Want to explain who that man is downstairs?' he said.

'There were other men?' I teased.

Pearly whites shined in his grin. 'The one boiling with envy.'

I shrugged determined to not talk about Zan with this sexy demon Lord. 'I'm sure many men lusted for me. No one special comes to mind.'

'Oh.' He nodded. 'Many men did. That's why I knew I had to have you.'

Bit toxic. We'll ignore it.

I checked my nail cuticles. 'Better hurry this along before I change my mind.'

With unflinching arrogance, he said, 'You won't change your mind.'

'Hm...' I turned away and marched straight for the door. My hand reached the knob and I felt the impact of his hand slamming against the door, locking it shut with his strength. It made both myself and the door tremble in surprise.

His breath was hot at my ear, his finger hooked to the front of my dress. I gasped, one soft tug had both weak straps fall loose down my shoulders. My breasts met the warm air and his hand on the door slid down along the wood before gliding his fingertips over my nipple.

I blossomed under his caress, and I didn't think twice about how he got to me so fast. His wet lips tightened around my ear lobe and kissed along the nape of my neck leaving blazing trails.

I heard the weight of heavy fabric fall at our feet, seeing over my shoulder he'd removed his ruby waist belt. He secured me with his other hand on my hip and bent forward as he trailed tingling hot kisses along my back, he nipped at my side, a ticklish part that made me squirm but he held me still as he licked at my flesh. My arse pressed up to his groin and like downstairs we grinded ourselves into each other. No music to disguise the moaning escaping us.

The strong hand swam from my hip to feel the lacy fabric of my panties. I straightened up as he pushed the fabric of my panties skilfully along my throbbing mound. His other hand still rubbing my tipple between his fingers while his ragged breaths sang in my ear.

His scent was intoxicating and I felt just as desirable if not more. We moved into the room mouths latched like hungry predators and hands roaming freely.

We knocked into the table, and something heavy fell and shattered. I reeled back to apologise but he cupped me by the neck and sucked hard on my tongue. One of my shoes slipped off somewhere along the way and he had me on my back on the Persian rug. The fire from the fireplace distorted his features, casting half of his face into shadow. There was a hollowness to his bone structure though he felt full and round under my hands. He pinned me down with his hips and I enveloped him with my thighs.

Where the shadow hid half his face, the firelight somehow glimmered in his eye brighter than the other.

'Matisse,' I whispered.

Lyra.

His mouth didn't move.

'How—' I bit my lip. 'I don't want to know.'

'No?' his white teeth caught the firelight.

I curled my fingers into his hair, bringing his mouth down and said through mashing lips. 'Naur.'

~:*:~

Gasping in ecstasy, Matisse had given me one oddly affectionate squeeze. I was on all fours, post orgasm and he leaned over me, hugging me from behind while doing his final thrusts, mildly trembling from his own climax. The kiss on my shoulder felt sincere, it was a kiss meant for a girlfriend. I mentally excused it, as the fantasy washed away from me.

He clenched his teeth on my shoulder, another gentle nip before he slid out of me and went straight for the bathroom to clean up. I got a better glimpse of his nude backside and smiled at my claw marks raked across his arse cheeks and his back.

I rolled onto my back, and watched the firelight dance jittery-like with shadows on the ceiling. Now was a good time to be gone. Get back to the party. Uber it home if I was truly done with the evening. The room was so warm, and I let myself relive the tender feelings in between the rough and passionate moments.

A part of me felt greedy and wondered what he'd say if I stuck around for another session.

My grin faltered. He'd spoken my name in my head. His voice was unmistakable.

Even if it happened, we'd already slept together. I was most likely another body to his count.

'On that note,' I mumbled. I got back into my costume. My fairy wings were in tatters so I left them on the Persian rug and grabbed my other heel at the door.

'Where do you think you're going?' his husky voice called. He leaned against the door frame of the bathroom, arms crossed over his chest. Dick fully out.

'Undecided, I could go with another dance... but...' Matisse launched to me and captured my mouth with a kiss that pulsated through me. His hand raked my neck and long hair. 'Well, if you're not done with me yet, I could go for another round.'

'Done with you?' He looked at me strangely and shook his head, his wavy hair bouncing. 'Do you even realise how intoxicating you are?

I rested my finger on his lips. 'Let's call this what it is Matisse. You're an incredibly handsome man, I'm a breathtaking woman.'

He nuzzled my neck, a deep purr vibrating at the base of his throat. 'A woman I'd kill for.'

I chuckled. 'Wow, come on, we've indulged in the fantasy... this is where it ends.'

'Not for us.'

My mouth fell open. 'Okay.' I took a big step out of his arms, even with the gap I felt spiritually tied, like an invisible thread was connecting our chests. 'So, there's more to this fling for you?' I was doubtful.

Perhaps this man was stuck in that sex haze, I didn't believe this was his first one-night stand so my body must have been exceptional. My pussy was so good that he what? Let me sleepover?

That I'm worth killing for?

'I have somewhere I need to be.' He evaded. Dressing into his black suit and red sash as he spoke. 'I need a date for this party. My intention is to have you on my arm when I go.'

'You're just going to leave your own party?'

'We're going to leave this party for a better one.'

'So, I'm not more than a fling. You just need some arm candy.'

He cupped my chin, I don't know why I let him. 'Don't be devasted. I am completely yours, if you'll have me.'

'Why should I say yes to this?'

His eyes darkened. I was disappointing his expectations. His grip on my chin felt solid rather than tender.

His smile flourished out of the blue. 'Our first quarrel.'

He walked to a wardrobe that matched the dark Rosewood furniture. He pulled out a full-length crimson gown meant for a slimmer figure, with a slit along the side hiking high to the hip bone. It was a shimmering metallic fabric. It looked expensive.

I must have given away my approval because there was a hint of smugness in his countenance. 'I'll let you keep the dress.'

'This is all very sus,' I said. I chewed on my bottom lip and slunk quickly out of my dress. His feline eyes followed the direction of the fabric before raking up my body. 'Give it.'

~:*:~

I retwisted my hair in a bun as I sat in the passenger side of Matisse's fancy car. It was the kind of sleek vehicle that humbled all my defensiveness over my hideous car. He was flying a hundred kilometres over the speed limit, leaving me little time to wonder what I was doing.

'Aren't you worried about your house?'

'My roommate's got it covered.'

What was it about this man? What was it about this whole night? It was like everyone, especially me, was on a toxic high on life. Like tomorrow wasn't coming.

'Do you feel that?' I said wondrously.

'What?'

I scrunched my fingers in the air like there was a tangible quality to it. 'That-that tension.'

'Like something is coming.' He lifted my hand to his lips, softly kissing the knuckles. It sent a shiver down my spine. 'Just you wait.'

'Are you going to continue being this cryptic? I'll warn you now, I hate riddles; and people who like to play the Devil's Advocate. Always make me feel like they've done something unforgivable.' I sunk into my seat. 'And are proud of it.'

'Are you completely without sin, Lyra?' he said amused.

'That's not the point.' I frowned. 'Oh God, you're one of them, aren't you?'

He laughed, it was rich and genuine. My heart fluttered a little. 'You truly despise them.'

'They never have real opinions, they're just there to oppose you. To pretend they're worth the interest when really, they're dull or just plain cruel.'

'Was Zan a Devil's Advocate?'

'Beside the point.' My breathing hitched. 'How do you know Zan?'

'We're here.'

He parked in front of a reception hall, a domed roof with white columns at the glass doors. Two bulky, and intimidating guards opened the doors for us.

The entrance was carpeted in ruby red with more crimson drapes hanging off the white walls. A staircase descended to a red and black draped rotunda littered with lounges and tables and a high platform at the centre of the room. The light fixtures resembled ouroboros, dragons chasing their own tail.

And the people, oh my god, the people were so attractive in that majestic, will stab you out in the open kind of way. Heads turned and bowed to Matisse, he regarded them with a polite nod but his lush lips harshened into a firm line.

I don't remember linking arms with his, what I did acknowledge was the respect he seemed to gain from the entire room, and not one person greeted me.

'You haven't answered the question,' I said.

'Just smile,' he ordered. My blood ran cold.

'Let go of my arm.'

He towered over me, had my arm in a death grip and his eyes blackened over the whites. The caramel thinning into halos in the black abyss. In a blink they were back to normal, his beautiful face was marred for me till his clenched hand caressed up my shoulder. I was instantly eased, and aroused...

Matisse leaned down and hovered his mouth over mine. 'You're the most beautiful woman in this room.'

He snatched a glass of sparkling wine from a passing waiter and cupped my hands around it, keeping locked onto my face the whole time.

'Calm down, you've already seen me naked.'

'I look forward to an eternity of it.'

I rolled my eyes. 'So, what's this party for?'

A new voice commanded us all with the power of a rocket launch. I snapped my head to an older gentleman sporting a satin red suit with a golden sash belt. A dusty gold diadem on his dark black hair cropped short with a fade. He rocked a full-trimmed beard and looked dangerously muscular under his attire.

His eyes poured over me as he said, 'For my son's triumph.'