The faint buzz of artificial lighting seemed to pulse in my ears along with the race of my heart. Closing my eyes against the golden neon light, I pressed my face to the luxurious bed I was sprawled on as I caught my breath. My hands stretched forward, smoothing out the wrinkles my fingers had left in the fine silk sheets, cool against my flushed skin. 

A sharp crackle of electricity drew my gaze up, tendrils of dark, damp hair falling across my face as I looked at the man next to me, sitting on the edge of the bed. An electric lighter was held in his elegant fingers, spitting green sparks to light the slim cigarette between his lips. It caught in a flare of vibrant color, glowing as he drew in a deep breath.

As he breathed out, a cloud of thick, red smoke tainted the air with the sharp, stinging smell of chemicals. I wrinkled my nose, stomach churning as I watched the smoke curl like blood in water. It was an image which fit the man who had his back turned towards me.

I looked over the ridges of his muscles, the plane of smooth skin broken by fragments of metal and glowing tubes of wires that were bolted along his spine. Thick geometric tattoos covered portions of the scarring, continuing over his shoulders and arms where more metal was fused. I watched as he tossed the lighter to clatter onto his side table, reaching for the floor to retrieve his clothing. Only half dressed with his chest still bare, Ash turned his gaze to where I still lay atop his mattress, watching me as a smirk curved his mouth. 

Though he was obviously older, it hadn't worn down his sharp features or the taught muscles of his body. His waist-length black hair fell in strands over his sculpted abdomen as he took another deep drag of his cigarette. He let his jaw fall open as he breathed out another huff of red smoke, his red eyes glowing as the drug entered his system. The acrid air burned the back of my throat as the noxious haze settled over the sheets. Gritting my teeth, my eyes watering, I looked down for a moment to hide my glare. I didn’t dare voice my complaints while Ash watched me with that unforgiving gaze.

The arrogant smirk left his lips, his expression turning grim and condescending as he stared down his nose at me, eyes moving over my figure. “Get dressed. We have work to do,” he said in a deep, commanding voice, putting out the cigarette on his tongue before he tossed it in a bin. He shrugged on a thin black shirt that clung to his abdomen and pulled on a high collared leather trench coat. Seeing me still lying on the bed, his upper lip curled into a snarl, snapping in a demand, “Don’t make me ask you again.” 

I sat up, my stomach still twisting at the sight of embers burning out against his flesh. Ash’s gaze followed me as I collected my clothing, strewn across the expensive metal flooring of his bedroom. With heavy steel slats sealed over the windows, the harsh glowing tubes of yellow neon lighting built into the walls made me feel anxiously exposed as I stepped into my trousers, dragging a simple shirt over my head. Tugging on my fitted biker jacket, I turned away from the large mattress draped in elegant bedding. Though the room was luxurious- a splendor I only dreamed of as a child who spent nights huddled in crumbling buildings- I couldn’t enjoy it; Ash’s impatient sigh reminded me how precarious my position was, and how easily I would find myself back on those streets should I disappoint him.

With my jacket zipped and my boots laced, I hurried to Ash’s side. Looking up, I felt small and fragile compared to him; towering over me, and thick with muscle, I knew he’d have an easy advantage over my slender frame. A sliver of fear splintered my annoyance, and I took a breath to ensure my tone would be calm and polite before I asked, “Do you have a new assignment for me?” 

His red eyes flicked down towards me as I spoke, his stare cold and calculated. The last thing I expected him to do was give me a cruel grin as his deep voice murmured, “Oh, Destry, you’re going to love this one.”