Mated to the Unknown

Shots

Violet's POV:

        Walking in was like walking into a penthouse suite. The hotel suite was ordained with the most elaborate decor imaginable. Gold etchings along the wall, the finest marble vases, lavish white leather couches with fluffy pillows. One room to the right and one room to the left. It was larger than most apartments.

        I felt stares from behind me as I slowly turned, I had somehow forgotten Miles was with me. I had asked him to come with me. He was smiling at me and I couldn't help the blush that crept onto my face. "Sorry, I just... I've never been in something so nice unless it was Nicholas's living quarters," I said looking at my own two shoes. I was still in my stilettos.

        "Make yourself comfortable while I send someone out to get you some clothes," Miles said as he walked into one of the rooms before I had any time to object. But I really did need some clothes, I couldn't wear this skimpy outfit with a man's shirt covering me to walk around in public. It was one thing with dim lights and when other girls were in my same boat, but in the public eye, I was an eye sore.

        I took off my heels and sat on one of the stools in the kitchen area, twisting off the cap of tequila. Not bothering to pour myself a glass as I went straight for the bottle. The mixed flavor of strawberry helped the taste but it did still burn just slightly, but in a good way.

        As I sat there by myself, I had time to reflect. Childhood was once great until my father lost his job and my mother had to go back to work. Father gambled and mother began to drink. My father eventually saw what he was doing and quit his gambling, but my mother in turn picked up his bad habits. So much yelling, lost our house. Father left, and we moved into a double-wide. My mother continued to drink and gamble, I had to clean up after her messes while my attendance in high school was struggling. The next thing I knew, I was carried away by strange men and thrown into a cell.

        I shuddered, taking another swig. Such a cold cell before they moved me to what they called their training and education for why we were there and what we were to do. We were nothing more than a body to make money for them. To pay off debts, my mother had been gambling at King V's Casino. She had wracked up so much debt she had to offer her own daughter to cover what she owed.

        Two shots worth, down the hatch. I could fill the liquid hitting my empty stomach. How could someone have done such a thing to their own daughter? She was supposed to be a mother, someone I could turn to in times of need. That place hardened me, I trusted no one. I had grown to like some of the girls who were in my same situation, but they came and went. Often moved around within Nicholas's great empire of Casinos, a gentleman's lounge, and many nightclubs.

        And now here I was, with some stranger who paid for me. He paid to have me in any which way he wanted and yet he didn't. And now he had me here in some bougie hotel getting me clothes. But why was Nicholas so adamant I stay away? I knew better than to go against Nicholas. But perhaps it was curiosity that I chose to defy his demand but something about Miles drew me in, I wanted to know him.

        It felt freeing to allow myself to do whatever, with no consequences or punishments. The only time I could drink was if men bought us a drink or a shot. I wasn't quite sure how all this alcohol would affect me, but I didn't care. I took another sip.

        "Woah, you okay?" Miles asked as he entered back into the room. I would never get tired at looking at his shirtless stature.

        I looked down at the bottle, whoops. I had managed to get a decent portion of the bottle down the hatch. "Mmm," I hummed, not really caring to move my lips to speak.

        "I'll order us room service," Miles said as he sat on the stool next to me.

        "I want pizza," I whispered. I hadn't had pizza in years. The thought of ooey gooey cheese made my mouth water.

        "You got it!" he said. I wasn't even looking at him but I could just tell he had a smile on his face.

        I twiddled my thumbs while he ordered our room service, keeping myself from drinking more as I slowly felt it hit me. I felt good.

        Once he got done ordering, I spoke, even surprising myself. "So why me?"

        He seemed dumbfounded by my question, as if how dare I think of such a question. But I could tell he was really thinking my question through before he answered. "I could sense the darkness and hard times you've gone through but also see your strength and fight within. I could sense your kind heart just from being in your presence. And I knew going into Nicholas's that he was up to something. That was what my bet... best friend and I were doing there. We paid well in hopes that the top dancers would dish out some information. It just so happened that Nicholas decided to let it slip that your debt was paid. But I wasn't going to let you stay there even if it weren't."

        "But I'm used," I was blunt.

        "Against your will and I will make my life's goal to ensure you never go through that ever again. I will fight for your freedom and for you to stay free," Miles said as he placed his hand on my knee. It sent electrifying tingles all over my body, it felt good. Or was that the alcohol?

        I looked him in his eyes when I said my next words. "Nicholas isn't the type of man to give up when he wants something. And for whatever reason it is, he doesn't want us together."

        His gaze intensified as he leaned closer, his scent was intoxicating. "What you don't know, is that I won't give up fighting for what's right and for those who mean everything to me."

        His words, were they just that? Words? How could I mean everything to him? And yet, I almost felt the same way. I wanted him to touch me, to hold me, to kiss me. I shook my head, what was I doing? I just met this man. A kind and generous man, but I just met him. I was crazy, I took another drink.

        "You sure you're okay?" he asked me.

        I handed him the bottle. "Drink if you want," I offered him.

        He took the bottle, grabbed two glasses, and placed ice in them before setting the two drinks right in front of us. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

        He came back with room service delivering pizza, hamburgers, chicken fingers, steak, and french fries along with a set of pajamas for me to change into. I jumped up and couldn't help the squeal of excitement that escaped. I slammed my hands over my mouth. "Sorry," I mumbled.

        Miles was smiling at me before he tipped the gentleman and turned his attention back to me. "No need to apologize. I'm happy to see you happy. Go make yourself comfortable."