Bass slammed into my eardrums like a personal grudge, but after years of haunting this place, I barely flinched. 

Sitting on a barstool, I hugged an empty tray tight to my chest as both my thumbs typed swiftly on my phone.

[Aiden • 11:42 PM] cant go home rn. but im getting my salary later so i can pay

[landlord • 11:43 PM] I've been waiting in front of your door for several hours now, better show up before I destroy your shit!!!!!!!

[Aiden • 11:43 PM] whoa calm down gramps. balance will git paid fs jus go to sleep alr? tmrw morning il buy u ur fave coffee nd pay you in full, deal?

The landlord left me on read. Although I tried to sound optimistic, I couldn't help but worry about my balance, three months behind on rent.

I sighed.

Nothing left to sell, and my brother's meds were running out. It wouldn't surprise me if I ended up on the streets just to pay the damned hospital bill, so he'd live.

This is my life. I get paid twice a month, pay my bills five times, and still end up hustling while hungry, like a walking skeleton. 

I circled my fingers around my wrist—the space between them was huge. 

Yeah. Few more missed meals and I'm almost there.

A tap on my shoulder broke my thoughts. Behind me, I saw my workmate, Dalton, who looked intrigued about what I'd been doing to my wrist. He's my friend, but I don't want to see his face right now.

"Whad'ya want?" I hissed.

"A customer asked you to clean their table." 

I raised both of my eyebrows at him. 

"Would it be the end of the world if you do it yourself?"

He only stood, looking more pissed than I was. But then he grabbed my neck and pulled me off my chair.

"Ahh—asshole, you're gonna kill me!"

He finally let go when I stood properly. "I'd gladly do it if no one were asking for you!" Then, he handed me a rug from his apron. "Go to Room 4, and don't stall—or steal from people again!"

My mind cursed him for being so naggy, but I gave up and went anyway.

While weaving through the tables, dodging elbows and trays, people kept calling me—asking for drinks, cleaning, and even for the contact number of Mr. Pretty Boy, Dalton.

I was everyone's favorite errand boy tonight. Nights like this always blurred together—faces, noise, lights, all the same. Maybe that's why I noticed things I shouldn't.

I groaned at the sight of people eating each other's faces, but I couldn't look away; the sight oddly amused me every time. 

The way they look high and shameless—it's like I'm being served a free live movie. Too busy to care, but that doesn't mean I'm not open to this stuff. In my twenty-four years, I've never met anyone curious enough about me to strike up a conversation.

If any, it would be this customer who, according to Dalton—if he wasn't lying—specifically requested me. Probably some old geezer with his beloved concubines.

Speaking of—I need to go there quickly if I want to keep my reputation as the employee of the month. I hadn't even noticed that I was already staring at them like a creep, so I shrugged them off and continued.

But then, something gleaming made me stop. Placed on their very table was a half-empty lip gloss.

I cracked my knuckles and felt the pull of temptation. I want to have it.

The club was dark, save for the lasers and the disco ball. I looked around to see if anyone was watching, but they all seemed to be doing their own thing.

Looking at it again, I rationalized to make what I'm about to do a little justifiable. If I were the owner, I'd have put it in my bag so no server with sticky fingers takes it—so really, I wasn't stealing. I was teaching them a lesson. Fair.

I inhaled, picked up the pace, and smoothly swiped the lip gloss as I passed.

Got it, and no one noticed.

But by the time I reached Room 4, shame had already climbed back into me.

Staring at the lip gloss in the light, I cursed. Why did I take it? Dalton already told me not to.

I rubbed my thumb against my palm as if I could scrub the sin off of me, grinding my teeth together like it could turn back time.

No matter how hard I try, I can't stop.

And I hated that. I hated my kleptomaniac ass. If only I could afford some sort of therapy for this—I would've lived a life half times good. 

But for now, I'll just do what will satisfy me if I want to have a good night's sleep.

I shrugged, put it in my pocket, and fixed myself before curling my hand to knock at the door... but then—it opened before I could even touch it.

A tall guy leaned against the door frame as if he'd been expecting me. A glass of whiskey dangled from his hand, while his black tank stretched across his wide chest. His messy brown bangs half-veiled his clean brows, one of which arched in quiet amusement.

He locked those deep brown eyes onto my blue ones as his faint scent of vanilla slipped into my nose.

I looked away, checking for clutter or company inside the room, but before I could look longer, he shifted, and his broad shoulders filled the doorway as he leaned against the frame.

"Eyes on me," he murmured, then tipped back his glass in one swallow.

He watched me as if he were memorizing the shape of my hesitation. And he wasn't even trying to make it subtle, which made me look at him weird.

"How about you move? I've got work to do." I shot back, not even pretending to be polite.

He gave a sly nod and stepped aside, ushering me inside the dim, red-lit room.

I was expecting to see a mess on the table, but it was all perfectly fine except for the wet puddle of condensation from the bowl of ice.

I reached for the rag to wipe it when the click of the lock made my shoulders stiffen.

He dropped onto the sofa, proudly manspreading as his head tipped back, exposing his throat while watching me bend over, making me feel like he was imagining me naked.

"Pretty." With a hoarse voice, he mumbled.

I stopped. "What?"

A mischievous smirk tugged at his lips. He shook a bundle of cash in his hand. 

My attention went straight to it. He sat as if he knew exactly how badly I wanted them.

I didn't hesitate—smiling widely, now acting as if I owed him my life by bowing continuously and smiling until it was about to rip my cheeks off.

But before I could grab it, he stood up in one smooth motion, lifting the cash above his head.

I thought he'd just laugh and let me take the money. Instead, his arm brushed mine until it wasn't just a brush anymore.

"A–a–ah~." He wagged a finger close to my face. Something in his grin made my gut twist and my smile disappear. "You think you deserve this after just wiping the table?"

I opened my mouth to roast him—but he was already on me.

It was too late when I noticed his arms snaking around my waist.

I looked down at his arm, and it looked strong enough to knock me out if I angered him. Looking up, I chuckled nervously. I've seen this in movies. Clubs are always a place to get harassed.

"This joke is hilarious—sadly, it's time for me to go." 

Before I could step back, he caught my wrist and pulled. My knees hit his thigh, knocking the air out of me; the next thing I knew, I was in his lap while he sat on the sofa.

I let my hands drift over him, curious where he'd go next, deciding whether to pull back—or not as he silently watched me while I tried to make sense of the situation.

His head slid lower on my chest. I could only heave—nervous and also aroused from how his breath tickled my skin. 

I didn't even notice I'd been biting my lip and closing my eyes until I realized what I'd been doing.

Why the hell am I about to submit to this hooligan? 

I looked at him as he slowly raised his head, now staring at me with that intoxicated gaze as he smiled like I was a sports car he couldn't afford.

"You're so beautiful." He leaned closer and caressed his cheek on my face as if he was asking me to kiss him there. "I want to talk to you, but you looked like you would embarrass me in front of those people. And now you're here. You look more beautiful up close."

I glanced at everything except for him, not knowing how to react to the pathetic confession. 

He thinks I'm beautiful? Right... How many of his friends are here to bet on me? This asshole better be truthful with his word—or else I'll milk him for money by sending him to jail.

I finally glanced at him—he was already staring at me with those big ol' almond eyes that made him look annoyingly cute.

"What do you really want from me?" I asked.

It took him a few seconds of opening and closing his mouth as if he was unsure of what to say. Then, he looked away with one of his cheeks puffed before saying. 

"Sleep with me."

Bold. I wonder how many bottles this guy has chugged since he got here?

He leaned, nibbled on me, and kissed the side of my head as he mumbled questions like, "What's your name?" but I couldn't answer. Not when he's touching me in a way I've never been touched before.

Should I give in? I mean, it's about time to have my first, right? 

I lifted his face with both of my hands so I could see him. His gaze was clouded as he sucked his lower lip like a baby.

His lips were plump, his button nose is criminally the cutest nose I've seen up close, his hair looks so fluffy, and he has long eyelashes that almost touched his eyeglasses.

If not for the jawline and the muscles, I'd mistake him for a girl.

There must be people out there who want him. If I sleep with him tonight, I'd be better than them.

I took the lip gloss from my pocket without a thought, twisted the cap, and smeared it on his lips before tossing it in the corner. They weren't chapped, but I thought the lip gloss would make them shimmer better under the dim light.

He smirked, confused but amused, until I cupped his face and pulled him closer.

"Don't come looking for me after this." 

Then, I pulled him into a kiss. Sweet. Warm. Delicious. That's how I'd describe it.

He kissed too well, like he'd practiced this on a hundred people before me, and I didn't want it to end. Not when he's wrapping his arms around me as if he'll never let me go.  

We were only kissing on our mouths, but the sensation flowed across my entire body, and I felt weaker, as if he was sucking my energy like a vampire.

When we pulled away, we caught our breath with our faces close to each other. He was licking his lips while I was waiting for another round. When I leaned close once again, he stopped me by placing his finger on my lips.

"Can you handle me?" He exhaled. "I don't have protection tonight—I wasn't planning on finding someone like you." Then, he leaned closer to my ear. "I'd help you prepare. Mine will hurt you a lot, but it will be worth it. Trust me."

My eyes widened when I realized what was about to happen. The high vanished instantly.

"Wait—you're on top?" I stammered. His hold tightened on my waist.

"What's the problem with that?"

That was the most horrifying sentence I've heard in my entire miserable life.

He's obviously bigger. Why did I think I'd be the one in control?

---

Thank you for reading Monsterpiece.