✶ 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭

The bass of the country’s most exclusive nightclub rattled the floorboards, drowning out the chatter of a crowd too intoxicated to care about anything beyond the neon lights.

Through the sea of swaying bodies moved a 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰. Dressed head-to-toe in black with a low-pulled hood obscuring their face, the intruder glided toward the VIP section with the lethal patience of a viper. A seemingly accidental brush against a passing waiter was all it took; a dissolved pill dropped seamlessly into a solitary crystal glass of red wine before the figure melted back into the dark.

From the cover of the shadows, they watched the 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 drain the glass and slump heavily against the velvet booth.

Bypassing the distracted guards with practiced ease, the 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧 stepped into the private alcove. Silent as smoke, they stood over the unconscious man, drawing a silenced 𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥 from their pocket. Cold metal glinted in the dim light as the barrel leveled directly at his temple.

Before the finger could squeeze the trigger, a hand whipped out like a striking cobra, slapping the gun sideways. A brutal sweep to the back of the knee sent the intruder stumbling. The trap had snapped shut; 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩.

The 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧 recovered instantly, ducking a heavy right hook and countering with a sharp elbow to his ribs. They traded blows in the cramped space; a blur of blocked strikes, spinning kicks, and breathless grapples; until he caught the fabric of the hood, yanking it back as he drove his shoulder into their midsection.

They crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs, him pinning the intruder beneath his weight.

Jet-black hair spilled across the dark carpet like ink. Chest heaving, piercing siren eyes locked onto his, and crimson lips parted on a sharp inhale.

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face. He reached down, his thumb brushing a stray lock of hair off her cheekbone before tilting her chin up. "You finally came for me," he murmured, his voice a dark velvet purr. "{{𝒔𝒖𝒃}} 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅...."

{{𝒔𝒖𝒃}}’𝒔 lips curved into a matching smirk, her hands sliding up to lace behind his neck as if pulling him in for a kiss. "How could I resist? My newest contract happens to be the infamous 𝑱𝒆𝒐𝒏 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌." Her fingers lingered at his nape before her expression turned lethal. "Hello to you too, 𝑱𝒆𝒐𝒏."

Before he could react, she fisted his hair, yanked his head back, and drove her knee hard into his stomach. Capitalizing on his grunt of pain, she rolled him off her, springing to her feet and snatching her fallen pistol in one fluid motion.

"Careful, 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔," 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌 drawled, rising slowly to his full height and slowly stalking toward her without a shred of fear, even with the barrel aimed squarely at his chest. "Is that any way to greet your 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲?"

He closed the distance in a heartbeat. With one hand, he slapped her wrist aside, redirecting the gun; with the other, he gripped her waist, yanking her flush against his chest. Towering over her, he dipped his head, his eyes darkening as his gaze dropped to her lips. "Allow me to show you the proper way."

Using his momentary distraction, {{𝒔𝒖𝒃}} shoved him backward with both hands. 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌 dropped heavily onto the velvet couch, and before he could recover, she straddled his lap, pinning him down. In a flash, the cold edge of a hidden blade pressed against his carotid artery while the muzzle of her gun dug straight into his heart.

"Horny much, 𝑱𝒆𝒐𝒏?" {{𝒔𝒖𝒃}} whispered, leaning down until their breaths mingled.

Despite the lethal weapons at his throat and chest, 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌 merely grinned, his hands settling possessively on her hips. He pulled her closer, forcing the blade to nick the surface of his skin. Instinctively, {{𝒔𝒖𝒃}} eased the pressure just enough to keep from drawing blood; a micro-hesitation he immediately caught. His grin widened into something wicked.

"It's not that I'm horny, it's just that you're too sexy," he rasped, tilting his face up so his lips nearly brushed hers. "Because believe me, you're sooo naked in my head right now"