Chapter 1: Introduction
The neon sign of the bar, "The Red Lily," blinked on and off, casting a crimson glow over the dimly lit interior. The air was thick with the scent of cheap perfume, stale beer, and the unmistakable aroma of lust. The jukebox played something sultry and slow, a bass line that throbbed like a heartbeat, primal and insistent.
Red sat at the bar, nursing a whiskey, her long red hair cascading over one shoulder in loose curls. She wore a dress the color of fresh blood, low-cut and tight, hugging her curves in all the right places.
She quickly made her way to the first man, familiar with his body, and runs a finger along his back. She can see, as she touches him, that he's glaring across the bar at another man.
The other man is tall, his blonde hair falling in waves around his face, and she can tell by the way he leans against the wall, arms crossed, that he's just as familiar with the lay of the land as she is. She smiles to herself, a slow, wicked curve of her lips that promises trouble.
Jack, the man she's with, growls low in his throat, a sound that makes her skin prickle with anticipation. "Got your eye on someone, Red?" he asks, his voice a rough murmur in her ear. She feels his hand on her thigh, sliding upwards, under her dress.
She leans into him, her breath hot on his ear. "Maybe," she whispers, her voice a soft purr. "But don't you worry about him. You know you're the one I came here for tonight."
Jack's hand stops, his fingers flexing against her skin. "Is that so?" he says, a dangerous edge to his voice. "Because I could've sworn you were smiling at him just now."
Red turns her head slightly, her green eyes locking onto the blonde man across the bar. She doesn't look away, her gaze bold and inviting.
"Maybe I was," she says, her voice a low hum. "But that doesn't mean I'm not here with you."
Jack's grip on her thigh tightens, his fingers digging into her flesh. "You're playing a dangerous game, Red," he growls. "He's not a man to be trifled with."
She turns back to him, her lips brushing against his in a brief, teasing kiss. "And neither are you," she murmurs. "But I like dangerous men. Don't you?"
Before Jack can respond, a hand on her shoulder makes her jump.