Riven pushed against the man's chest, but it was like trying to move a mountain. The man didn't budge.
'Why the hell is he kissing me? And why is he so damn strong?' Riven's thoughts raced in panic. Desperate, he bit down sharply on the man's lower lip.
The reaction was immediate. The man jerked slightly and pulled back, his eyes locking with Riven's just as muffled voices echoed from outside the bar.
"Hey! He ran this way, check around!"
Riven's heart slammed against his ribs. 'Shit. I can't be caught.'
"You like to bite, huh?" the man murmured, lowering the coat that had concealed their faces. Riven's breath caught the moment he got a clear look at him.
It was Azerin Noctaire, the notorious Alpha whose name sent shivers through even seasoned warriors.
Riven's gaze flicked past Azerin's shoulder. A few patrolmen were closing in, eyes scanning the bar inside.
Without thinking, Riven grabbed the front of Azerin's collar and yanked the coat back over their heads. "Then I guess it's my turn to return that kiss," he whispered, desperation lacing his voice.
Before Azerin could react, Riven crashed his lips against his. The kiss was urgent, lacking finesse, but carried a raw intent that startled Azerin.
'What's with this guy? One moment he's resisting, now he's kissing me like his life depends on it.'
'And he's bad at it,' Azerin noted dryly, though his hand instinctively wrapped around Riven's neck.
But the coat slipped again, falling from their heads. Their faces, flushed and breathless, were now fully exposed under the dim bar lights.
"Why are you choking me?" Riven croaked, his voice strained as he clutched Azerin's wrist with one hand and pressed the other against his solid chest, struggling for breath.
Azerin blinked, unaware of how tightly he'd been gripping him. "...Oops." He let go of his neck, ready to leave when Riven held his hand.
"Can I come with you?" Riven asked.
This was his only opportunity to be saved from those warriors. If they would catch him, he would be punished brutally. "Okay, I–I lied. I am an escort here," he told Azerin and bit his bottom lip.
'That is the worst lie I have told in my life,' Riven then thought. 'But only a notorious Alpha like him can save me. And I think he wants some sort of service. Once I'll be safely out of this place, I'll run away.'
"Sorry, but you're inexperienced," Azerin pronounced, a small smirk playing on his.
"What?" Riven frowned. His heart raced in fear because if Azerin wouldn't take him, then it would be over him.
As Azerin took a step back to leave, he got a hard push and ended up falling to Riven's side. Their bodies pressed against each other's, a jolt of electricity passed through Azerin's body and he groaned while clutching his stomach. The wound on his abdomen had opened and he could feel his fingers damping with blood.
As Azerin stood straight, Riven saw the blood on his hand and the shirt too.
"Hey, you're injured," Riven said.
Azerin didn't say a word and walked out of the bar. Riven followed him, wanting to be as close as he could.
"I'll dress your wound, Sir. Your shirt is already stained with blood at the abdomen," Riven said, walking beside him. He looked around, making sure the warriors weren't around.
As they crossed the path and turned left, they encountered a group of five trained warriors.
"So, here you are!" The one of them said, looking at Riven.
Riven gulped and clenched his fists, preparing himself to throw a punch at the approaching warrior. However, before he could react, Azerin stepped up and gave him a hard blow right on his face, throwing him meters away from them.
The remaining four marched them, but Azerin easily took them down one by one.
'He is amazing! Only by his side, I can remain alive,' Riven thought.
"Agh!" Azerin gasped in pain as he pressed his hand on his stomach. He staggered as his vision blurred. But Riven caught him at the right time, bringing Azerin's arm over his own shoulder and another hand to circle around his back.
"You need immediate treatment," said Riven.
"Take me to Hotel Platinum Estate," Azerin muttered, his eyes turning heavy. "The card is in my blazer," he mumbled before fainting, his head resting on Riven's shoulder.
"Platinum Estate," Riven murmured the name and quickly walked to the roadside to stop a cab. Finally, one stopped and he was quick to push Azerin inside before settling in.
"To Hotel Platinum Estate," said Riven.
"It's quite far," the driver remarked.
"I'll give you double," Riven replied. His only focus was on fleeing and hiding at a better place.
The driver nodded and started the engine before driving off to the hotel.
Meanwhile, Riven gave first-aid to Azerin. Luckily, the small bag he had carried had the essential medicines in it. He lowered Azerin's shirt after dressing the wound and stopping the bleeding.
Leaning his head back, Riven stared outside. 'I can't believe I'm being kissed by a man. But it won't happen again. But I need to make sure Azerin doesn't ask me to leave,' he thought, turning his head to look at Azerin's unconscious form.
They finally arrived at the towering, opulent seven-star hotel, Platinum Estate. The building gleamed with golden glass and architectural grandeur, a place Riven never imagined he'd step into, let alone with a man like Azerin slumped against him.
As the car rolled to a stop, Riven hesitated before pulling out a folded bundle of notes from his pocket. It was nearly all his savings, money he had hoarded for a year, piece by piece, for emergencies. And now, it was gone in an instant.
He shoved the bills at the driver with a mutter, "Keep the change," then opened the door and hoisted Azerin out, nearly losing his balance under the man's weight.
"Shit, you're heavy," Riven muttered through gritted teeth, dragging him toward the entrance.
Inside, lavish chandeliers hung from high ceilings, marble floors gleamed beneath their feet, and staff members offered respectful nods. Thankfully, none dared to stop them, Azerin's presence was enough to silence questions. Even unconscious, he carried power.
They reached the elevator. Riven nearly collapsed when they arrived at the 21st floor.
Once at the suite's door, Riven rummaged through Azerin's blazer, retrieved the key card, and unlocked the door with a beep. He stumbled inside, barely keeping Azerin upright as he dragged him across the room, past leather couches and velvet curtains, and finally to the massive bed.
With a deep sigh, he eased Azerin onto the mattress. "Damn… you're seriously built like a mountain," Riven groaned, straightening his back.
But just as he began to move away, Azerin's hand shot out, gripping his wrist with surprising strength.
"Wha—?"
In one swift pull, Riven lost his balance. His body lurched forward, and his lips crashed against Azerin's.