His Virgin Bride, His Sin

A night of freedom.

Lexi

I pushed the door open slightly, ensuring it made no noise as I slipped out of my room, my twelve-inch heels tightly gripped in my fingers.

I tiptoed down the stairs, my heart racing with each step, praying that no one, not even my overzealous sister, was awake to witness my escape into the night.

“Why run away for the night when you can actually run away forever? This is your chance,” Cassie's tiny voice echoed through the earplugs I wore. She was the reason I was doing this. To escape and give the man I'm marrying a heart attack.

His bride was supposed to be untouched, clean, and undefiled. Those were the words I overheard my father saying in his study.

"She's a virgin, Mr. Blackwood." Those words kept echoing in my head.

“Shush, Cassie. I’ll tell you why I can’t if I successfully escape tonight,” I replied, gasping in relief as I made it out to the bustling streets of Manhattan, New York City—the city that never sleeps.

I stepped out into the cool night air, a welcome respite from the suffocating expectations within.

“I made it out, Cas. Where the heck are you parked?”

“Over here,” she said, honking at the far end of the Grant mansion.

I sighed, awkwardly making my way towards her Bugatti Chiron. One night is all I needed, just one night before I got sold off, instead of my sister, to a man known for his ruthlessness.

Tonight, I would be a random pretty girl in a chic, off-shoulder cocktail dress, flaunting my slender, barefooted legs as I entered the car of another random pretty girl.

Tonight, I would be who I really am, not the daughter of the prestigious Grant family.

“God, you are such a cheeky girlfriend,” Cassie commented as I slammed the car door shut. “It’s sad it takes you tonight to know your worth.”

“I guess life happens, Cas,” I replied, smiling as I worked my feet into the heels. “Never expected I would need one night to go wild.”

“You still haven’t told me what prompted this decision,” Cassie said, igniting the car. “What happened to no sex before marriage?”

I sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Change is constant, ma'am. Now, if you will, tell me what bar you’ve specifically chosen to get high and laid. Told ya earlier I wanted a bar with men who have the looks.”

Cassie turned towards me and laughed. “Not necessarily rich?” she asked before pressing on the accelerator.

“Yes. Someone who just needs a nice time.”

“Brandy is the key, girl. They have the weirdest selection of whiskey,” she sang happily, proud of her vast knowledge of bars.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the sophisticated bar in Tribeca. It was a pleasant place, and I marvelled at the vast collection of whiskeys adorning the walls. This was where I needed to be.

“It’s called Brandy Library for a reason,” Cassie whispered, seated on a chair facing the bar attendant. I followed suit, my hair waving in the slight air-conditioning.

My eyes travelled around the bar, the music and laughter of the nightclub beckoning like a siren’s call, making me lose myself in its uniqueness.

“Here,” Cassie called, grinning widely as the young man in a black net jacket placed our drinks before us. “It’s now or never. Cheers to a night of freedom!”

“Cheers!” I shouted, gulping down my drink.

I wasn’t new to bars, nor was I new to alcohol, but the reason I was here made my mouth water for more.

“You really want to do this?” Cassie screamed, louder so I could hear her.

“If you keep asking, I might actually ask you to leave,” I warned, not wanting to have second thoughts.

“I wanna dance,” I added, standing up with my cocktail in hand.

“I’m in!” Cassie replied, giggling. It was obvious we were both drunk.

I rushed to the dance floor, wiggling my ass at her while we laughed, earning stares from horny-looking men.

“Are you on the lookout for the man you want?” she asked against my heart. “Everyone here seems to want a taste of you.”

“I like that,” I replied, smiling as my eyes wandered among the crowd. “They don’t strike me as the ones who could give me the time of my life. I want a man whose presence will strike me as such.”

“Too much fiction, girl, but of course, it’s your night!” Cassie urged on. I smiled. Cassie could sometimes be a bad influence, and I liked that she knew when to be one.

I danced with abandon, losing myself in the crowd. The pulsating rhythm and flashing lights erased my worries.

Cassie was soon whisked away by a man whose identity I couldn’t discern.

I turned, my eyes darting to the far end of the club, and there I saw him—mysterious, handsome, and charming.

I smiled in victory as my eyes lingered on his. He had piercing oceanic eyes and an incredibly captivating aura.

I wasn’t sure I had ever met someone this mysterious and enchanting before.

A slight smirk found its way to my face as I locked eyes with him, bringing out the seductress in me. The art of seduction I had only practised for my husband.

Not wanting to lose him, I walked sideways towards Cassie, who was already kissing the gentleman.

“I found him,” I blurted, my eyes still locked with his intense gaze, full of uncertain expressions.

I didn’t care what he thought; I wanted him, and I would have him.

“Seriously?” she gasped, pushing the poor guy away. “Who?”

I didn’t say anything, but she followed my gaze, and her mouth fell open.

“Him?” she screeched.

“Yes, him.”

“He doesn’t look like one who wants a lay to make the first move. What will you do to get him, though it seems he’s lost in you too?”

“Watch,” I said, stepping towards him, Cassie warning me to be careful.

Without much thought, I walked over to hi

m, pulled him down by his jacket, and slammed my lips against his.

It’s tonight or never!