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Bouquet Of Deception 32
32 Ethan I didn’t move at first. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t think. Because Riley was kissing me. Again. And just like the first time—just like at the wedding—I didn’t stop him. My brain barely had time to catch up before my body betrayed me, melting into the kiss like I’d been waiting for it. Maybe I had. His lips were firm, sure, like he already knew I wouldn’t pull away. Like he was daring me to push him off but knowing I wouldn’t. Because I never did. I wasn’t bold like him. I hesitated, second-guessed, let my thoughts get in the way of everything. But Riley? He just did what he wanted. Took what he wanted. And right now… He wanted me. The realization sent a shock through me, made my fingers curl into his hoodie, holding onto him as his hand slid to the back of my neck. He wasn’t letting me go. And hell, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to. But then— The microwave beeped. Loud. Obnoxious. Ruining everything. Riley pulled back first, but he didn’t go far. Just en
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 33
33 Ethan I stared at the door like it might explode. The knocking came again—louder this time, more insistent. Whoever it was, they weren’t leaving anytime soon. Riley let out a slow breath, tilting his head toward me. “You look nervous.” I scoffed, sitting up. “You’re the one who just got caught making out on my couch.” “Caught?” He smirked. “We don’t even know who it is yet. For all we know, it could be a salesman. Maybe I’ll get lucky and it’s a free vacation scam.” I rolled my eyes and pushed off the couch, straightening my hoodie. “Yeah, I doubt that.” Riley stretched, completely unbothered, then leaned against the wall with his arms crossed like he was about to watch a show. “Well? Aren’t you gonna answer it?” I shot him a look but didn’t argue. The knocking had turned into full-on pounding, and at this rate, the door might just come off its hinges. “Alright, alright, I’m coming!” I grumbled, making my way over. My fingers hesitated on the lock for a split second befo
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 34
34 Ava just smirked. “Oh yeah. This is gonna be fun.” Ava leaned forward, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Come on, Riley. Spill. What exactly have you two been up to?” Riley smirked, glancing at me briefly before looking back at Ava. “Well, for starters, my apartment was destroyed.” Ava’s jaw dropped. “Wait, what?” I sighed, bracing myself. Here we go. “Yeah,” Riley said, running a hand through his hair. “Long story short, there was a pipe burst, which led to flooding, which led to my landlord realizing the whole place was falling apart. So, while they’re fixing it up, I’ve been crashing here.” Ava blinked rapidly, absorbing the information. Then, dramatically clutching her chest, she gasped, “Riley. Oh my god. You’re homeless?” I snorted. “He’s not homeless, Ava. He’s staying here.” “That’s what a homeless person does, Ethan,” she shot back, eyes still wide with shock. Then, turning to Riley, she asked, “Are you okay? Do you need anything? A blanket? A casserole?” Riley c
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 35
35 Riley Ethan was avoiding me. Not obviously—not in a way that anyone else would notice—but I knew. He was quieter than usual. Fidgety. Kept his eyes on the TV but wasn’t actually watching. His fingers tapped against his knee like his thoughts were running too fast, like he couldn’t settle. And most importantly? He wasn’t looking at me. Not really. Which was funny, considering how, just minutes ago, he’d been pulling me down on top of him like he wanted me to ruin him. I smirked at the thought, shifting on the couch, letting my arm drape over the back of it—casual, easy. Ethan didn’t move away, but he didn’t lean into it, either. Interesting. “You’re thinking too much again,” I murmured, voice low. He tensed, a flicker of something crossing his face. “Am not.” I chuckled. “Liar.” That got me a glare, but it was half-hearted at best. His lips parted like he wanted to say something else, but then he stopped himself, shaking his head and focusing back on the screen. Right. Th
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 36
36 Ethan pov I was still fucking breathless but holy shit that was amazing. I was so fucking glad we got past that first awkward kisses because this was something else and I could not fucking breathe. And neither could Riley. He was a mess. But a hot one. And also the mess was partially my fault. Which was an incredibly weird thought, but I was trying really hard not to think right now. Because, you know, brain still not working. I took a deep breath, trying to collect myself. Riley was lying next to me, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling rapidly. I couldn't help but be a little shy. He opened his eyes with a seductive smile. "Hey." I grinned, unable to keep the happiness off my face. "Hi." He laughed and leaned forward, kissing me. I kissed him back, letting the taste of him fill me. "How was that?" he asked, his voice teasing. "Incredible," I breathed, meaning every word. "You were... wow." “it was just the beginning!” I blinked. What? Riley laughed.
Last Updated : 2025-03-04Bouquet Of Deception 37
37 Riley’s POV I woke up to the feeling of warmth pressed against my chest, Ethan’s body curled into mine, his breath steady and slow. For a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything. Holy shit. Last night was… intense. Incredible. Better than I ever could’ve imagined. I glanced down at him. His face was peaceful in sleep, his lips slightly parted, his dark hair a mess from my fingers running through it. God, he was beautiful. I felt a grin creep onto my face. Careful not to wake him, I ran my fingers lightly down his arm, enjoying the way his skin felt beneath my touch. His body shifted slightly, and I heard a sleepy groan escape him. “Mmm… what time is it?” he muttered, his voice raspy from sleep. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. “Almost ten.” He groaned again, burying his face into my chest. “Too early.” I laughed softly. “Too early? After everything we did last night, I’d say we got plenty of rest.” He peeked up at me, his
Last Updated : 2025-03-05Bouquet Of Deception 38
38 Ethan Thursday had officially earned the title of my least favorite day of the week. And it was all thanks to Jonathan. He had been annoying before—hell, he was always annoying—but ever since Liam’s wedding, he had turned it up to an unbearable level. I couldn’t go a single hour without him making some snide remark about me being “cruel” or “heartless.” And today? Oh, he was going for the world record. “You know,” Jonathan said, swirling his coffee like some pretentious villain in a soap opera, “I always knew you were a little bitter, but trying to ruin your ex’s wedding? That was a new low, even for you.” I didn’t even look up from my phone. “It’s too early for this, Jonathan.” “It’s never too early for the truth,” he shot back. “You’re just mad that Liam moved on and found someone better.” I clenched my jaw, exhaling slowly through my nose. I was not going to let him get under my skin. Not today. Instead, I calmly set my phone down and met his gaze. “It’s none of your bu
Last Updated : 2025-03-09Bouquet Of Deception 39
39 Riley’s POV I was at the studio, camera in hand, adjusting the lighting for a couple’s photoshoot, but my mind was somewhere else—on Ethan. His shy smile. The way his cheeks flushed when I teased him. And last night… damn. He had been so shy, so hesitant at first, but once he let go? Fuck. It had been incredible. I smirked to myself, adjusting my lens, but I wasn’t even focusing on the clients in front of me. “Riley!” I snapped out of it, blinking. My boss, Thomas, stood nearby, arms crossed, watching me with an amused expression. “You good, man? You’ve been spacing out for the last ten minutes.” Shit. I cleared my throat, forcing a sheepish smile. “Uh… yeah. Just didn’t sleep well.” Thomas snorted. “Right. You’ve got that ‘thinking about someone in a very inappropriate way’ look on your face.” I coughed, trying not to look guilty. “What? No, I—” He raised a brow. “Dude. I’ve been married for twelve years. I know that look.” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Okay
Last Updated : 2025-03-10
Latest chapter
Bouquet Of Deception 89
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it
Bouquet Of Deception 88
Chapter One: The InvitationEthan's POVI didn’t expect much when I opened the mail that morning. Bills, maybe a flyer for a local pizza joint, or yet another notice from my landlord about “building improvements” that never actually happened. But when I saw HIS name on the envelope, my breath caught. Liam Carter. My ex-boyfriend. With shaky hands, I ripped it open, and there it was—a wedding invitation, embossed in gold foil and scented with some absurdly expensive cologne he used to wear. My eyes skimmed the elegant calligraphy, but the words blurred as my mind raced. Liam Carter and Owen Taylor request the pleasure of your company at their wedding.Three months. Three measly months since we broke up after a three-year relationship, and he was already tying the knot? My stomach churned, bile rising at the thought. My first reaction was disbelief. Then rage. How long had he been planning this? How long had Owen been in the picture? Was it even possible to fall in love and plan
Bouquet Of Deception 87
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 86
Chapter 84 – Fangs and Fire Riley Speedy was unusually quiet on the ride. Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent. You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful. “I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.” But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered. I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.” The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret. Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late. I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan. The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets. I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us.
Bouquet Of Deception 85
Chapter 84 – Fangs and FireRileySpeedy was unusually quiet on the ride.Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent.You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful.“I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.”But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered.I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.”The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret.Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late.I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan.The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets.I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us. What he too
Bouquet Of Deception 84
Chapter 84 – Fangs and FireRileySpeedy was unusually quiet on the ride.Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent.You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful.“I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.”But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered.I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.”The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret.Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late.I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan.The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets.I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us. What he too
Bouquet Of Deception 83
Chapter 83 – A Door Without a KeyI went home. Or what used to be home.The apartment was cold, quiet. The kind of quiet that settles in after something dies. I moved through the rooms like a ghost, brushing my fingers over memories tucked into the corners—frayed books, forgotten mugs, a photograph half-tucked under the fridge magnet.Packing didn’t take long. I didn’t have much left to hold onto. Just a few clothes, the old paperback I couldn’t bring myself to leave with Ethan, and the jacket that still smelled like him—faintly, barely, like smoke after a fire.I zipped the duffel shut. That was it.It was really happening.The hallway outside was just as dim as I remembered. Paint peeling at the corners, lights flickering overhead like the universe couldn’t decide if it wanted me to see clearly or not. I descended the stairs slowly, each step heavier than the last, until I reached the landlord’s door.Old Mr. Harvey opened it after a couple knocks, his face as grizzled and skeptical
Bouquet Of Deception 82
82 EthanDarkness enveloped me, a heavy, impenetrable shroud that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Gradually, the blackness began to thin, peeling away in delicate layers. Sensations seeped in, subtle at first. A weight pressed down on me, as if invisible bricks had been stacked upon my chest, arms, and legs. An ache throbbed deep within my skull, a relentless pulsing against bone. I attempted to move, to lift my limbs, but they remained unresponsive, leaden and foreign. My mouth was parched, and each swallow felt like dragging sandpaper down my throat.Then came the sounds. A rhythmic beeping echoed nearby, accompanied by the soft whir of machines. Beyond these mechanical murmurs, faint voices ebbed and flowed, their words indistinct, as though carried from a great distance.Light followed. Blinding and harsh. I squinted against its intensity, a groan escaping my lips as a sharp sting ignited behind my eyes. Slowly, the sterile white ceiling above me came into focus, lined with recta
Bouquet Of Deception 81
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
