Chapter 1

Ava’s POV

I stared at the drink the bartender had given me and frowned a little. This was not how I had envisaged this night going. In an ideal reality, I would be a little buzzed by now; and there would be a hot man next to me asking me if I wanted to go home with him.

I definitely did not expect to take one sip of the drink I had gotten and not like it. To be honest, it was a bit of a blow on my fragile ego that no one had approached me so far. I had done everything that would make the contrary happen though! Makeup? Done to perfection. Short form fitting dress? Check. Killer fuck-me heels? Strapped to my feet. I didn't look out of place. I was dressed like everyone else. Maybe there was something else. Maybe inexperienced was written on my face.

I sighed and looked down at my drink then up at the bartender. He looked like he did not want to be here. Maybe that's why he had tried to end my life when I had asked him for a drink recommendation. If this was how alcohol tasted like, I did not want it. Dying was not part of list of bad decisions.

"Lost?" I heard a voice ask next to me. I had to admit that it was a beautiful voice. Deep and the vibrations were pleasant. However, the word lost just made me think of how out of place I was.

"Definitely feels like it," I said sadly, sighing. I did not bother to look up at them. I did not need another reminder that I did not belong in this place.

I had just wanted to let loose for once in my life. I did not want to be the stuffy virgin who had never gotten drunk in her life. I was tired of doing the right thing. I just needed to become someone completely different for just this night; I needed to break out of my shell.

I had always done everything right. I had straight As, I had graduated high school with a perfect GPA and college was a breeze as well (not in the sense that it was easy, just in the sense that I didn't fail—actually I passed spectacularly). I had found a job that I really enjoyed but all this, studies and now work, had taken a toll on my social life.

I had never had a boyfriend; I had never had anyone touch me inappropriately and I had never had anyone sneaking out of their house and defying their parents just to see me (not that I wanted any of that). However, I was tired. I was tired of being that stereotypical good girl. I wanted fun. I needed fun. It was apparently the first thing in my life that didn't want to go right.

"You sure look like it," the voice drawled. I shook a little, jolting out of my reverie. I decided to look up at the person who was so intent on taunting me and who had taken me so rudely out of my thoughts. When I lay my eyes on him, I wished I had looked up sooner.

He was breathtaking. There was no other word for it. He looked like the type of man you would hear your mother tell you to stay away from, but the one you secretly wanted; the type that the girls threw their panties at. He looked like he had never had to lift a finger to get the attention he wanted. Even in the dim light at the bar, his striking features were visible.

"I already know that. I don't need more reminders," I said honestly, and then I sighed and took another sip of my drink. I grimaced and kept it away. I wanted to have fun but not at the cost of my life and sanity.

"Don't like your drink?"

"Is it that obvious?" I was shocked the man was still talking to me. I was seeing countless of other "more eligible" women around me. I was not part of this crowd.

"Yes," he said bluntly. Then without asking for my opinion, he took the drink and took a sip out of it. He grimaced as well. "Were you trying to die? What the fuck are you drinking?"

I frowned a little. "It's what the bartender gave me," I defended myself.

"And you just took it?" His voice had gone a bit deeper, and his tone was reproving. I frowned.

"Hey look mister. I am not your kid. You can keep your voice down when you're talking to me," I said, rolling my eyes. Just who the heck did he think he was?

To my surprise, the man sitting next to me did not get offended. Instead, he laughed. It was a pleasant sound and it sent heat to my cheeks. I rubbed my cheeks and stared at him.

"I should get you a more appropriate drink," he mused. "Don't you think?" It was clear that asking me was just a formality. I flushed. After contemplating for a short while, I nodded. It was not going to do any harm. Besides, he was more experienced with all this. Maybe he was going to give me a better choice.

He flagged the bartender down and as he was ordering whatever, I turned my head away and watched the others. Some people were dancing on the dancefloor, and if I was being honest, no YouTube videos I had watched had prepared me for this.

There was a lot of…gyrating. It was intimate. It was almost like watching people have sex on the dance floor. I almost felt uncomfortable, but I swallowed and kept watching them. I wasn't sure I was ever going to do that, but it did not hurt to watch, right?

"You want to dance?" a voice asked in my ear and my eyes got wide. It was the same man. I shook my head vigorously at him, alarmed. Dancing was definitely not part of my list of bad decisions.

He laughed again. I did not know why he kept laughing. I wasn't particularly funny. I had not even said a word.

"Chill princess. I wasn't going to ask. I am not interested in that…kind of dancing." I frowned, a little confused. However, his gaze and the pause he had made before kind guided me and told me all I needed to know. I blushed and turned away.

"Your drink," he said, and passed a glass to me. I took it and as soon as I was about to drink, he held my hand.

"Have you never been to a bar before?" he asked incredulously. I frowned. Was there some sort of ritual I had to do or chant I had to recite before drinking?

"Why do you ask?"

"Jesus, don't you fucking know not to drink what a stranger gives you? I could have fucking drugged it," his expression was somewhat hilarious. Not in the ha-ha you're so funny way. In the why are you looking so serious way.

I was kind of scared to laugh at him though. I mean he looked intimidating. He had broad shoulders and when he looked at you, it was almost like you were glued to the spot and you couldn't move, not even if Jesus himself appeared in front of you. Also, the tattoos, no matter how they looked attractive under the dim bar lights, were not helping the intimidation matter.

"Did you drug it?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

"I didn't," was his response. I frowned at him.

"Then what's the issue?"

"Have you never heard of safety rules? How not to get picked up and raped or killed?" he asked. I swallowed when I saw the look on his face. I was tempted to tell him I was new to this kind of scene.

But he had just come here. And he was attractive. So I didn't want to scare him away.

"Maybe I have," I said vaguely, "But I probably didn't give much stock to them."

The man stared at me for a while, and I fought the urge to start fidgeting and turn away. His gaze was like steel, depending on whatever he was talking about. I almost thought he was going to get up and leave to one of the more desirable women. But he didn't. He drawled out a response.

"Rule number one, always watch your drink, especially when you're getting it from a stranger."

I was kind of thankful but this dad behavior was not going to cut it. I mean, I was attracted to the man. And him acting like I was some kid? It irked the heck out of me. I rolled my eyes again. His daddy behavior was getting annoying. "Okay, dad," I said, putting an emphasis on the dad.

The man smirked and leaned in. "If you want to call me anything, call me Daddy."

I blushed, averting my eyes. "I'll pass," I mumbled quietly. The man was attractive. And I was actually surprised to realize that I was attracted to him. I could see the beginning of chest hair where his shirt was open and his laugh for one of the sexiest things I had ever heard. But I wasn't about to tell a total stranger that I was attracted to him. Not without some alcohol in my system.

So I drank. This drink was actually better than the other one I had had. It was sweet and I couldn't feel the alcohol. So I took another sip. And another. Then another.

"Hey, slow down princess. We don't want you drunk, yeah?" he said then he took the drink away from me. I pouted a little, but I didn't say anything.

"So what do you want me to do since you took my drink away?" I asked, leaning towards him. I already felt some kind of buzz. Was this the feeling that people had described? The one that was supposed to come over you after you drank alcohol?

"I could think of a lot of things," he flirted (I think).

"Oh? Like what?" The alcohol was definitely making me bold. This wasn't a question I would have asked if I wasn't under the influence of anything. Sober me was boring.

"I show much better than I tell." His voice was husky and I flushed. The heat levels were climbing.

Okay, I was naive and all, but I knew that his words were an invite. It was up to me to say yes or no. I perused him. I definitely wanted to say yes. Besides, he was attractive. If I wasn't going to get drunk, I could add losing my virginity to a hot man to my list of bad decisions. Lawd knows it needed to be filled up.

"Show me then," I said boldly. The man smirked then left his seat. He was tall and I knew that he was going to tower over me.

"Want me to show you in private?" The smirk was still on his face. I hesitated then nodded. Tonight was the night I took risks.

He sent out his hand and I put mine in his. I got out of my seat and my suspicions were confirmed. He towered over me. I looked up at him and he led me towards the exit.

I swallowed and prayed to all the gods of debauchery, hoping that I was not being led to the slaughter by some serial killer or a murderer who did it for kicks. He led me to what I presume was his car and I got in.

"Before we go anywhere," I started when he got into the car, "What's your name? Your full name?"

I fully expected him to laugh. I mean, who gave their name to a one-night stand. Nobody if all the articles and confessions online were to be believed. Also, I needed it if something happened to me tonight. I was being an idiot by going to his apartment with him. But at least he would be identified if something happened to me, that is if I survived this night.

So I was shocked when, after a slight pause, he answered.

"Logan. Logan Sanders."

I knew in that instant that the name would forever be engraved on my mind. I didn't know why. But I just had that feeling.