have some patience, dearest readers. i shouldn't be having so much fun with this tension i hope you enjoy this chapter
LILIANAImmediately after breakfast the next day, Damian and I decide to do some exploring around the island, visiting local markets and tasting tropical fruits I had no idea about. As we round a corner, there’s an aged man standing with arms akimbo and a look of despair.Damian steers us in his direction. “Is there a problem, Walter?”The man turns at the sight of us approaching. “My stall is broken again and the way it is, I might not be able to open the business today if I don’t get it fixed soon.”“May I take a look?” Damian disentangles our linked fingers. “No, you don’t have to. I don’t want to stop your plan for today.”Damian waves him off. “Get me the tools you have, I’l climb up there and see how I can get it fixed.”The man does as asked and then Damian climbs up the ladder, leaving us below. I pull my eyes away from the firmess of his shoulder muscles and firm butt as he ascends. That’s when I start to feel the loss of contact. At this point, I’m tired of telling myself to
LILIANA The next morning, we go horseback riding. Initially, all I wanted to do was put a lot of space between Damian and me so I stop getting those thoughts, but when he knocked and asked that we go horseback riding, I couldn’t turn down the offer from that man. Don’t blame me. Blame it on the way he looks at me. At the stables, two men—one young and one older—lead out a vibrant stallion with a wine coat so shiny, and one dark colored mare I immediately fall in love with. Let’s hope she falls in love with me as well. He whistles. “Xavi!” The stallion snorts when it spots Damian, and starts trotting toward him. I move out of the way so they can do their bromance or whatever it’s called between two male species. The mare is led to where I am. She stops a few feet away, looking as hesitant as I feel, despite the stable man’s efforts. I guess that means it’s left for us to bond together or they get another one from the stables. “Just approach her gently,” Damian says from behind
LILIANAWe ride back all the way, racing each other as we go. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the guts to because I was too obsessed with winning my mother’s affection. The men take back the horses. It turns emotional when I have to let go of Rain.Damian folds me into him by my waist, bending low so he can greedily inhale my scent like some depraved drug user. “We should do this one last time.”Between butter and my body, I can’t tell which one melts faster under the heat of intense fire. I think it also fried my brain along with it. “Do what?”“This. Horseback riding. You seem to enjoy it a lot, even more than I did. You’ve also gotten considerably better at mounting.”I pull back to look into his eyes. “Is that a compliment I hear?”A deep chuckle rumbles in his chest. “I didn’t stutter.”“Well,” Pride blossoms inside of me at his appraisal. Almost like when he calls me a good girl. “What can I say? I’m blessed like that.”“Of course,” he agrees with a murmur,
DAMIANUnder the clear skies, Liliana and I work with the locals to get the bonfire ready. It takes approximately three hours to set the drink stands, lights and decorations, and get the word out, amongst other things.Then we got an hour to get ready and go back to the beach. I step out of my room, adjusting the cuffs of my white shirt as I start down the hall—then stop dead when she steps out of her room.Everything else disappears. Nothing else matters when I’m trapped by this fierce Albanian beauty.Her dress is a deep wine red, soft and slinky like liquid blood. Sleeveless and crossed at the back, the neckline dips just enough to show the delicate curve of her collarbone and the teasing swell of her breasts.That slit on the side? The enemy could’ve shown up and put a bullet through my head and I would’ve let them. What could be more dangerous than those smooth thighs flashing with every step towards me?I place a hand on the railing to keep myself from sinking to my knees in wor
LILIANAThe hunger in his eyes as Damian says he’d rather watch me dance almost pulls me under in the heat of lust and desire. My body burns in the places he looks without even touching me, and by god do I want him with so much intensity.Since my plans of trying to seduce him keep failing, then I might as well enjoy the rest of the night getting drunk and wasted.And that drink…what the hell did they put in it?It’s messing with my senses so much, heightening my sensitivity in all the places I only want Damian’s mouth on. I’m not complaining either. Perhaps it’s for the greater good.A pretty, dark-haired woman my age grabs my hands as we dance together and take turns twirling each other. She makes this sensual move which I immediately start to mirror and soon, I feel like I’ve become a pro at it.Hands slowly creep onto my waist as I roll and drop, before bringing it back up, brushing my ass against firm legs.“You do know what you’re doing, don’t you?” A husky voice speaks next to m
LILIANA“What?”His jaw ticks. “Now, Liliana before I lose it and take you right here against this fucking car.”Something about the urgency in his voice makes my pulse jump in excitement. I obey immediately, fingers trembling as I fumble with the door handle and pull it open. My legs shake like they’re on the verge of collapse when I climb in the sleek black car.I feel him enveloping the space around me before I even turn around. The air around us is charged with electricity that sends tiny sparks right down the tail of my spine and back up. The moment the door slams shut, he pounces on me like a starved, bloodthirsty predator. Hands everywhere, his mouth crashes down rough and desperate. His palm slides up my thigh, dragging the dress with it and in one swift motion, he yanks my panties to the side. His fingers find my centre, moist and leaking. “Fuck, Liliana,” he hisses, then without warning, slides two long digits into my heat. “You’re fucking dripping.”“Mmm,” I whimper, thr
LILIANAHis fingers still glisten with my essence as he pulls them out of me. I twitch.I can still feel the ghost of his strokes inside me and that wicked pressure on the spot he found like it was made just for him. My walls flutter around nothing now, still desperate and aching for him.I’m panting. Legs shaking. So wet I can feel the mess dripping down the back of my thighs. But Damian?He’s calm. Eyes burning and still fully clothed except for his missing belt discarded on the seat. “Open your legs wider.” As silky as his voice sounds, it is laced with danger. I might be reeling from a mind-numbing orgasm, but I know that timbre even in my sleep.I obey without thinking. My dress is shoved around my waist, and my panties are still forgotten on my wrist. I should feel embarassed or exposed. But I don’t. I feel owned. Am I insane for admitting I love how this depravity feels?Damian slides two fingers along my slit again, teasing me this time. Not pressing in. Not quite touching wh
LILIANA“Oh God,” I whisper. The night is far from over.At first I thought it was the heat of our bodies which made the windows fogged over but now, hearing the gentle pattering on the car’s roof—it’s rain. What seems to be a light patter starts to fall harder and louder. It’s the kind that drowns out everything else but the sound of his breathing and my gasps.He takes his sweet time sliding out of me, as though he’s trying not to bruise me. I doubt we have that to worry about though. My body clenches at his slow exit and the loss of him hits me. I feel empty and aching already. Immediately after, I try to raise myself up. If only I know how big of a mistake that is.He shoves me right back down. My cheek presses the cool leather.“You thought that was it?” He sounds amused. Amused that I dared to think so. “No, Malyutka. You wanted to be ruined…I’m not done ruining you.”His fingers grip my jaw, forcing my head to the side so I’m staring at him over my shoulder. His eyes are still
DAMIANHer eyes widen in caution as I approach her. Like she’s scared of me, or maybe scared I’d hurt her even when I’m certain she knows I can’t. She doesn’t really know the power she holds over me, does she?I should say I am disappointed but how can I when I can’t even tell her how I really feel about her? That’s just hypocrisy. Behind her is Stelleza’s wardrobe full of her things which I stowed away in her memory. “I couldn’t throw her things out, neither could I burn them.” I remember the exact angle where I kept the journal hidden. Since this is her blood sister we’re talking about, then perhaps she has a right to know what it entails and the truth about how she died.Reaching further into the back, my fingertips graze a hard leather. Bringing it out, I flip the leather-bound journal and hand it to her. She gazes down at the book, not taking it yet. “What is this?”“She wrote this,” I murmur, recalling the dark words that birthed my rage. “She wrote every word on every page b
LILIANAIt’s supposed to be Stelleza…but this woman bearing such a dazzling smile…My heart stutters but I can’t bring myself to drag my eyes away from the horrifying revelation staring back at me. It’s been thirteen years since the last time I saw her. Thirteen whole years of fumbling in the dark, left alone to navigate the maze that is life. She shielded it from me for so long until she couldn’t handle it anymore.“L–lajla…Lajla…” I whisper unable to believe the sight before me. She looks the same…except for her forest green eyes, now dulled from being immortalized in a photo frame. It’s an understatement to the real sparkle when you look at her in real life. And her smile, now frozen in time, is just like I remember it. But brighter. Better.“Forgive me, Lajla.” The first drops slide down my cheeks. “I failed you over and over.” I sniffle, trying my best to hold back the dam from bursting forth. “I did what you asked and went an extra mile pleasing the wrong people.”I crumble fr
hey guys. I promise I'm not slowing updates on purpose this time. We have gotten to critical points in this book and I'm not going to rush it. I'm doing my best to deliver as seamlessly as I can and carefully close plot holes. So please be patient with me 🥹. It's slowly but surely...no one likes an unsatisfactory ending. Please bear with me.
LILIANAThe words strike right in the middle of my chest like lightning hitting a spot twice. It just doubles the ache I’ve been feeling since I woke up. Could it be any worse?I’m certain I’ve heard this from the man himself. As though fate is playing a cruel joke on me, his words echo in my ears again.‘I killed her.’ ‘I pulled the trigger that killed her.’Is that why he wanted me to stay away from him? Oh, Liliana, how much of an idiot can you be? The signs have been staring at me naked. I ignored the way I did Kyle’s red flags until he landed me in worse trouble. Is this just the universe’s way of teaching people like me lessons?“You look pale. Maybe you should just go back and wait…?”“No. No, I’m fine.” I don’t know if I’m ready to hear more of what she has to say, yet I tell her– “Go on.”She nods, casts a nervous glance around and then looks at the door. “I don’t know what he hides in there that he’s refused to let anyone in. The only person who managed to see in here by m
LILIANARachel is waiting by the door by the time the car pulls up inside the fancy prison I familiarized myself with as home. Not anymore. Maybe soon, this nightmare would be over and I’ll get over him. “You’re back early?”I manage a fake smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Don’t tell me you miss me. I’ve barely been gone for a week.”She reaches to take my bags and I pull away before she can touch it. There’s no need to fool anyone with exaltations when we are both alike in more ways than we think. She’s a slave here even though she’s willing. I’m the captive. Still sounds the same to me. Yet, why do I need all of this special attention? It’s just bullshit around here.Speaking of captives, I stop and turn to Rachel. “Did Melanie stop by at the house today?”She pauses to think, then shakes her head. “That was last night. I told her you were on a trip and she made me spill the location. I don’t know why she needed that information anyway.” After another long pause, she gasps
Buckle up people, this is going to be a long ass read but I guess we've seen this coming.LILIANAMelanie?I look at Damian for help, wondering why in the hell she is standing on the property of his private island. Wait–how does she know where we are? Damian looks as shocked as I am as well. So we’re going to say he’s not aware of her arrival? I don’t believe whatever facade he’s wearing on his face now. It’s hard to believe he doesn’t know about this and something within me breaks. I’m not sure what that is.“Well, well, well,” she starts in a demeaning tone reeking of spite, “if it’s not the captive and her captor enjoying a week out of town so they can spend time alone. How romantic!”Damian looks like he’s fed up of her nonsense. “What are you doing here, Mel?”“That’s not such a nice thing to say to someone who you once called better suited for your cock. Now that’s not very nice, is it? I should be the one asking the questions here, not you baby boy. What are you doing here?” Sh
To my consistent readers who make writing worth it, i'll be making the next chapter a free one to make up for my inconsistencies. especially those two special readers whose comments I can't do without and make me roll in laughter on my bed and spin ideas...thank you. thank you for loving D & L even in their silliness and mistakes. thank you, wonderful readers for getting to this point. you're my most treasured on earth after God and chocolate. happy reading!
LILIANAThe water ripples as he sinks in behind me, large body settling under the surface with practised ease. His legs open and he guides me between them, pulling me back against his chest. His arms come around me.I melt right into him with a greedy inhale of him.We sit like that for a while with the water lapping around us and his fingers massaging my scalp. Then, they stop and disappear into the water. Before I get the chance to protest, his fingers lightly begin tracing patterns on my stomach. His chin rests on my shoulder, and for a moment, everything stills. Until his hands drift lower. And lower.“You’re insatiable,” I whisper, smiling. I already know how this is going to end.“And you,” he says as he grazes my ear with his mouth, “are impossible to resist.”He shifts me, wrapping his hands around my waist to turn me so I can straddle his lap. The second our eyes lock, the air becomes charged with sexual tension. His hands are hot on my thighs. I rest my hands on his should
LILIANAI wake up wrapped in the warmth of body heat and cedar. Damian.His arm is draped across my waist, his chest pressed firmly against my back and one leg tangled over mine like he’s scared I’ll disappear while he’s asleep. His breath is warm against my neck, blowing in steady and soft.For a man like him, sleep turns him into something else. He’s in a vulnerable calm.I need to move now, but I don’t want to. I just lie there, breathing his scent in and watching, enthralled by the way his fingers twitch slightly against my stomach like he’s still chasing me in whatever dream he’s in. what he doesn’t know is that I don’t need to be chased anymore. I’m his as much as he’s mine. His confessions and the way he loved me last night, deep and hard…it wasn’t perfect. He’s not perfect either. He’s just–him and I’m content with that.Eventually, I shift to face him. He’s still asleep. There’s still a faint crease between his brows. Even in rest, his mind doesn’t fully shut off. But it’s