DYLAN
It's past midnight now.
The crowd's gone. The music's low. Just us in the penthouse lounge — leather couches, glowing whiskey, city lights blinking through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
And Hermione Vale, goddess in silk, is curled up on my lap like she was made to sit nowhere else.
My arm's around her waist, my other hand draped lazily on her thigh — completely unapologetic. Her legs are tucked to the side, bare skin brushing mine, and every time she shifts even slightly, I have to fight the urge to drag her away and make the rest of this night R-rated.
Cassian raises his glass. "So… tell us more about these beautiful best friends of yours, Hermione."
She smirks. "Why? Hoping one of them will pity date you?"
Ronan cackles. "Oooh. Damn. She's mean. I like her."
"She's mine," I mutter, pressing a slow kiss to her shoulder.
She swats my chest, grinning. "Don't start."
"I already did," I whisper into her ear. "And I'm not planning to stop."
Her breath catches — just for a second. That's all I need. I press another kiss behind her ear, softer this time, smug.
"Truth or Dare," Kainalu announces, plopping down on the opposite couch. "Let's make this interesting."
Siddharth groans. "We're billionaires, not teenagers."
"We're bored billionaires," Ronan says. "Big difference."
Cassian points a finger. "Hermione goes first. Truth or Dare, Queen of Voss?"
She raises a brow. "Truth."
"What's the most illegal thing you've done?"
I lean in. "Careful. This is admissible in court."
She winks. "I once broke into a professor's office in undergrad to steal back a graded essay."
The boys erupt into laughter.
Siddharth wipes a tear. "Rebellious and brilliant. Dylan, how do you keep up?"
"I don't," I say honestly. "I just worship from below."
Cassian nearly chokes on his drink.
Hermione bites her lip, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Your turn, Voss. Truth or Dare?"
"Dare."
She smirks wickedly. "Kiss me like you're trying to make all your friends jealous."
"Oh, baby," I mutter, setting my drink down. "Don't mind if I do."
And I do.
I kiss her with slow, smug intensity — hands framing her face, lips coaxing hers open, tongue teasing hers until she melts right into me. The boys groan and complain like we're committing war crimes, but I don't hear a thing except the sound of her soft, barely-there whimper when I pull away just enough to make her want more.
"Unacceptable behavior," Siddharth declares.
"Ten-yard penalty," Cassian adds. "We are being emotionally attacked."
Hermione turns to them, smug and flushed. "You asked for it."
"She's too good at this," Ronan mutters. "You two are insufferable together."
Hermione slides her fingers into my hair lazily. "Get used to it."
"Alright, alright," Kainalu laughs. "Truth or Dare, Hermione?"
"Dare."
"Send a picture to one of your beautiful friends right now. A cute selfie. Let them know where you are… and who you're with."
She laughs, pulling out her phone, taking a quick snap of us — her sitting on my lap, my arm wrapped around her, my face buried against her neck.
She types something, then shows it to me.
Text to: Lia 💋
"This man is dangerous. Also, his friends want to know if you're single 👀"
"Done," she says smugly. "Brace yourself. They're probably already stalking your socials."
"Let them," Siddharth says, sitting up. "Do they like cocktails? Sailing? Charitable foundations?"
"They like men with jobs," Hermione teases.
"Shots fired," Cassian mutters. "Is unemployment a crime now?"
"Only if you're boring," she quips.
I kiss her cheek just to feel her smile against my skin again.
And again when she leans in to kiss me back — this one softer, lingering.
"You're not bored, are you?" she murmurs.
I tighten my grip on her hips. "With you? Never. I could sit here and watch you shut down every one of my friends all night."
"I think I just might."
"God help us," Ronan mutters.
"We're losing him," Cassian says. "The Voss has fallen."
But I've never felt more powerful.
Because I've got Hermione Vale on my lap.
Laughing with my friends.
Mocking them.
Kissing me like we're the only ones in the room.
And when she leans in again, whispering something in my ear that makes my entire body light on fire—
I know exactly how this night is going to end.
And none of these bastards are invited.