Chapter 1: How Much for One Night with You, Mr. Handsome?

Nova Blair had downed three drinks and was feeling pretty buzzed. She was at the bar, surrounded by a sea of folks dancing and flirting on the dance floor. The whole place was charged with a vibe of temptation. She'd been hanging out at the bar for a solid three hours, constantly checking her phone and drowning her sorrows in booze every time she saw her ex's photos with another woman, all lovey-dovey. Thinking about bumping into that no-good ex of hers at the class reunion the next day was really getting to her. She'd come to the club hoping to find a hot guy to cheer herself up, but even after three hours, no luck. Not a single guy had caught her eye. Nova finished her martini in one last gulp. "So much for the fanciest club in the city, can't even find one decent guy." She sighed, left the bar, and walked straight into a tall dude on her way out. "Ouch!" She looked up, ready to snap at him, but she bit her tongue when she saw his face. "Hey—" She sobered up a bit as she checked him out. He was towering, easily over six feet, all dressed in black with a couple of shirt buttons undone, showing off his sharp collarbones. He had this chiseled, cold look that was undeniably hot. Nova thought to herself, wow, he's a looker. Totally her type. She licked her lips as she met his intense gaze. Nova herself looked sharp in a fitted dark dress that showed off her figure. Total babe – that was Tristan Alastair's first take on Nova. He definitely liked what he saw. It looked like Nova caught the hint of desire in his eyes too. She still had a playful smile, "Hey handsome, got a light?" Tristan casually took a lighter out of his pocket and handed it over to her. Nova thanked him with a smile, took out a cigarette, leaned back against the wall, and lit it like a pro, blowing out a puff of smoke. Afterward, she gave the lighter back to Tristan. He put it away with a grin, "You know, smoking isn't a great habit for a lady." His voice was rich and smooth, kind of magnetic. Nova squinted a bit, "What's with the old-school thinking? Since when is smoking a guy or girl thing?" She was half-smiling, speaking in a laid-back tone. Amid the swirls of smoke, Nova's allure was amplified, even as her face became less distinct. Tristan watched her for a second, his smile growing, "I like your wild side." Nova didn't reply immediately, instead, she crushed her cigarette in the trash can and threw it away. Nova flashed a sly smile, "You into this? Then how 'bout we head to my place tonight?" Her voice was relaxed, a bit tipsy, and oh-so-flirty. Nova wasn't shy about it; she just threw out the invite. This guy was way hotter than her ex – the one who did her dirty. And something about him got her all fired up like never before. She kinda of wanted to mess around with him, no strings attached. Tristan looked her over, his eyes squinting slightly, "You're a little drunk, aren't you?" Nova smirked playfully, "Do you think a drunk person can't feel real desire?" He didn't expect her to be so blunt, "Desire for what?" Her lips were teasingly close to his, her eyes dancing with mischief, "What else do men and women desire from each other, except, you know, the obvious?" The scent of her perfume mingled with the alcohol was subtle yet captivating. It was a fresh, distinct fragrance that seemed to cut through the haze. Tristan took in her scent and studied her boldness with a quirk of his eyebrow. "You're suggesting a sleepover?" he asked, half-teasing. Nova backed away just a hair, her laughter even more enticing, "I've got a feeling you're thinking the same. We're on the same page, right?" Tristan teased back, eyebrow cocked, "Am I the first one you've asked tonight?" Even with the buzz from the drinks, Nova understood him loud and clear. "You're in luck; you're the first. And you?" she shot back with a playful grin. Tristan's lips twitched with amusement, "What do you think?" His gaze was intense as he cornered her against the wall, his hand framing her face, the other tilting up her chin. Nova's cheeks flushed, and her heart picked up the pace. "Answer me. How many have there been?" he whispered, his fingers brushing her lips. Her eyes, slightly glazed, looked up at him, "Words don't do this kind of question justice, do they?" She grabbed his hand, and in the boldness that only comes with a few drinks, she snuggled into his arms, murmuring, "Why not check it out for yourself?" Tristan just smiled, not saying a word. She was definitely tipsy, but he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She had a scent that made him want to skip the small talk and get straight to... other things. Nova held his gaze, feeling a wild rush she couldn't quite tame. She challenged him again, a playful taunt in her voice, "What's up? You chicken? Or do you think I can't foot the bill? Let's make it simple, how about we charge by the hour?"