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Huling Na-update:
2024-11-07 01:01:53
Kaugnay na kabanata
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 23
LILIANA I don't know how long I'd been asleep for but when I open my eyes, the window shows the dimming sunlight, now a warm orange. It is a testament to how I've slept through the day into the early evening. I do hope Theodore is on his way as promised. I can't afford to spend one more night in this apartment. Apart from putting a strain on their finances, even though they look comfortable, a deep sense of unease is beginning to settle in my bones. When Rachel's father came knocking, I thought he had something urgent to disclose. Well, he did. But it wasn't for my ears. So I'd gone to my room to give father and daughter some privacy. From that point when I went back in and now, everything seemed like a haze. Like a part of my memory was hacked out. It has to be an ingredient in the drink. Either way, it worked in my favor to soothe most of my frayed nerves. It is early evening and it indicates that Theodore is already close. In a little while, I'd be out of here and
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-08DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 24
DAMIANI waste no time in peeling out of the parking lot and onto the highway, my tires screeching in protest. Like a crazed man, I speed down the highway with the needle of the speedometer quivering over a hundred miles per hour.Beside me, Zoran's face is set in a grim mask and although his eyes are fixed on the road ahead, I can see the ghost of fear playing around his features.He had offered to drive but I'd refused. I needed something to exert my pent up rage and an anchor to keep me from unraveling. I felt like driving would do me some good.Why then did I want to pull the steering wheel out of its place so bad?“I know I shouldn't be saying this but you need to slow down. If anything happens to you, Liliana would roam freely and dance over your grave if she knows where you'd be buried.”Unbidden, a small smile cracks my lips. I glance at his profile. My smile widens when I see his throat bob and his fingers grip his seat tighter.I ease up on the pedal only a little just for
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-08DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 25
DAMIAN “Kristoffor!” Shrieks Alice in a horrified voice as I climb out of the passenger seat with Liliana's unconscious body in my arms. "What have you done to the poor girl?"“Stay out of this, Alice,” Zoran tells her, pulling her back before she comes to pose as a blockage to my destination which is my bedroom. ‘Are you even making the right decision?’ An inner voice queries.I don't have the time to answer that because I'm trying to make it to my quarters in record time. I push my door open and walk towards the bed where I lower her on it. Her thick hair curtains a part of her face as her head lolls to one side. My fingers itch and without inhibitions, I reach to brush the strands out of view, revealing her creamy flesh with a fading purple stain. A reminder of my men's brutality.I frown, recalling the vicious headbutt that gave me a wicked migraine for days. My teeth grit in anger and I yank my hand back with a scowl like a force just struck me. This will be the last time I
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-09DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 26
LILIANAMy eyes crack open after so many futile efforts and the first thing that heralds my awakening is the unfamiliar ceiling.The dull, cream-colored surface stares back at me. It is a welcome change from the darkness that had shrouded my mind for what felt like an eternity. I try to sit up as consciousness slowly seeps in. I wince, becoming aware of the dull ache driving through through my head like a sledgehammer. I move my tongue but it seems as though the organ has doubled up in size. The weight of exhaustion deep in my bones renders me incapable of moving my limbs any further.“Theo…” The word dies on my tongue before I even complete it. I swallow dryly. My throat is parched and my body feels hotter than usual. I close my eyes, trying to recall the incident that led to my passing out, but every time I try, I come up blank.“Theodore,” I manage with weakness. I keep my gaze on the door for his entrance. It seems no one heard me because none came in. Wait… Why is this place
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-11DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 27
LILIANA After he leaves, I collapse in a heap on the bed as choking sobs tear out from me with a blinding force. I want to wake up from this nightmare but everytime the cuff tugs at my ankle, it pulls me back to the reality that has now become my life.“Kyle, what did you do?” I wail to the silence, my heart wringing in the despair that has begun to fester into a deep wound.Thinking back upon my life, I try to recall anything suspicious about Kyle but my mind draws blank. He never gave me one reason to.Except for his friendship with the man Nicolo…Or could that be it?I roll on my back to lay eaglespread on the bed, my watery gaze towards the ceiling to trace the patterns. The fat drops slide down both sides of my face relentlessly soaking into my hair and the mattress until finally, there are no more tears left to cry. I continue to stare blankly at the ceiling for a while longer as sleep drapes itself over my eyelids. If I sleep, at least there'll be some kind of peace for me
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-12DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 28
LILIANAAt first it is shock, then denial and lastly anger, each of them like a potent spell targeted to destroy the very foundation of my relationship with Kyle.Will I get to accept this bullshit news? Never!I seethe, “Don't be ridiculous.” Pushing away from Damian, I scramble to my feet and pull my sweatshirt down. His eyes follow my movements with a dissatisfying blankness on his face. That is all I need to have my blood boiling over. One step closer and I'd be able to claw his eyes out.He rises, his calculating eyes trained on me and lips drawn into a thin line. How can he be so calm after he had just defamed one of the most influential people in Russia?“You don't look too happy at the news, Milaya.” His voice breaks through my train of thought out of nowhere. “Having a hard time processing it?”“No.” I retort with anger as it builds in my chest like a small fire. “You are a liar and you are fucked up in the head. If you could kidnap a widow while mourning, what else can you
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-13DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 29
LILIANAI'm thirteen again. I stand in a corner of the room shaking as my mother begins a racket, thrashing our living room and wagging an angry finger at me from time to time. Her breath stinks of local rum and cigarettes, that I am certain of. My school bag has been flung, table upturned and I remain where I am for fear of her pouncing upon me should I try to call for help. My lips quiver and I flinch when a glass comes flying close to my head. It shatters on the wall next to me but thankfully, the shards don't pierce my skin. “Where are you, you little rascal?” She turns to me with a wild gaze. This animosity only shows up when I'm on her radar.“Mama?” I whimper, refusing to leave the corner as it is the only place I feel safer.“Your father is out again, the cheating bastard. I shouldn't have let him get me pregnant. I shouldn't have let my parents talk me into marrying him.” Her eyes have a faraway look but it is masked with fury. “I'm sorry.” It is barely above a whisper.
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-14DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 30
DAMIANI pace the breadth of my bedroom for reasons unknown to me. A look at the balcony tells me that dawn is near. I haven't slept a wink all night. My brain chooses to replay Alice's warning. “You will have yourself to blame if anything happens to that poor girl. Have you no conscience anymore? This isn't how I raised you to be, Kristoffor Damien Kastorov.” She might have raised me but the one time I have seen her lose her cool is when Zoran has smashed my head in with an iron rod while we were playing. Why the hell am I letting Alice's words get to me and why am I losing sleep over it? She's getting punished for acting out of control. If I wanted her dead, there'd be no need to go through the hassle of bringing her to Sochi.I make my way over to the balcony, drinking in the sight of the large expanse of land stretching on for miles. It is peaceful at this time and perhaps, it can get me a few minutes to snooze.‘Stop kidding yourself’, a voice taunts. Science says if you wa
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-15
Pinakabagong kabanata
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 113
DAMIANOn the drive back to the beach house later that evening, I notice Liliana has grown quieter and withdrawn into her thoughts. A few times, she throws me subtle glances which I catch but don’t comment on. When the white building comes into view, she reaches for my hand. “Thank you for a lovely time today.”I love the feel of her hand, small and soft against mine. “That was nothing.”“That was…something. You showed a part of me I never knew existed.” She laughs, threading her fingers through her hair–something I’ve been holding back from. “You built this paradise for those little kids to feel sheltered and loved.”I try not to stiffen. “It’s nothing really. They are just kids.”“No, you don’t get it.” She turns in her seat to give me a look of awe. “Yes, they’re just kids you say. But I’ve met philanthropists who give and disappear, orphanage owners who give and maintain distance with the kids.”The way she says those words in adoration—I don’t want to hear them. “Don’t just jump
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 112
LILIANAThe next morning, Damian says he has something he’d like to show me. That’s new. Something more exciting to look forward to than staying holed up in here with the man who infuriates me every second.…well maybe it’s just the way he keeps holding out on me, and the sexual frustration buzzing, threatening to pull me under. A soft knock on the bathroom door crashes into my thoughts. “Would you like my help?”Oh, for pete’s sake! He’s doing this on purpose, teasing me to see if I’ll take the bait and when I do, he pulls away with a smirk. Fucking bastard.“Stay away from me, Kris,” I reply, trying not to bruise my skin with the washcloth.He has the nerve to chuckle. “Yeah, right. Sure you want that?” “Why don’t you come in here and find out exactly what I want?”Truly, I watch the doorknob twist slowly, my back straightens and anticipation makes me slick despite the water in the tub. Then he retreats. He fucking backs away with a laugh.“We have a lot to do today, baby,” he pau
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 111
DAMIANI tighten my hold around Liliana’s thigh and pull her closer until her bottom is perched near the very edge of the chair. The light gasp of surprise and the subtle shift in her posture tells me that she wants this. Her thighs fall open on their own accord, just enough to tease me and offer an invitation she knows I can’t refuse. She lifts a forkful of crepe cake to her lips, playing oblivious to the gradual ascent of my fingers seeking the warmth of her folds. She keeps her expression unreadable and innocent. That’s a facade. She’s anything but.Viva, Genovese’s concubine asks a question. Something about…what was it again?I spare a glance at Liliana again, noting the way her chest rises just a little too fast and the slight tremble of her fingers against the silverware.She’s putting on a show by pretending she’s unaffected by the way my fingers slide up her inner thigh with a tease.Then inching higher a little more, that’s when I catch her swollen pearl, slick with her wet
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 110
LILIANALunch is served a little too late by the time I’ve showered and changed into a fresh, grey cotton t-shirt that stops mid thighs. It is at the moment, the most comfortable style of clothing I own. Halfway down the stairs, I hear a feminine voice giggling, as welll as Damian entertaining them. Curiosity spurs me faster and I realize who would be having lunch with us. Before I can announce my presence, she spots me first and her smile falters only by a fraction. “We were just talking about you.”Of course. I hide my unease with a grin. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”Why does she look so damn familiar?Damian finally turns to me, studying me with eyes that seem to see right through me. “Took you forever to get down here.”My hands clench into fists by my side as I come to stand by the table, not even bothering to hide the displeasure on my face. “I was busy sorting my stuff.”“Your stuff, huh?” A corner of his lips quirk up. He rises from his seat, tall and commanding in a
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 109
LILIANA Damian’s hands are everywhere–skimming up and down my back, caressing my thighs, grabbing my ass, thumbs stroking just shy of my panties. He moves like he’s trying to memorize the feel of me. I move over him just to see what it does to him and how much his self-restraint can take. It’s a dangerous thing to attempt on the plane, but I can’t help myself. His grip tightens to halt my movement, at the same time that a curse leaves his lips. “You’re enjoying this too much,” he breathes, touching our foreheads together as he tries to gain control. I smirk, leaning back in so I can join our lips back together. He captures mine and moves hungrily against me. I press closer, and with slow rolls of my hips, I continue to tease him. Thread by thread, his restraints begin to snap. “Liliana…” His voice is wrecked. “You like it when I do that?” His fingers dig into my thighs, his response a low, guttural sound from the depths of him. “You know exactly what you’re doing.” In my l
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 108
DAMIAN“Come here,” I say, patting my thigh.She freezes and her eyes go round like I just suggested something insane. Which, I suppose, I did. She searches my face to see if I might crack a grin and say I’m joking. I don’t.“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” she sputters. A smirk tugs at my lips. “Probably. But don’t be scared.” My fingers drum lazily on my leg. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”The sight of her so worked up like this is something for sore eyes. She’s cute like that. I can practically hear the wheels turning in her head, debating her decisions. She could stay safe in the co-pilot’s seat, but I know she won’t. Curiosity always wins with her.Finally, she blows out a sharp exhale and unfastens the seatbelt. The faint click is swallowed up by the hum of the engine. Her hands clench and release by her side as she pushes herself up. She looks hesitant, but in that stiffness, there’s something else shining in her eyes. The moment she is within reach, I don’t give her a cha
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 107
LILIANAI settle into the passenger seat, smoothing the dress over my thighs and feeling self-conscious while doing it. The silk clings to my skin and the floral print is vibrant against the black. Alice really did choose well.The low rumble of the car reverberates through me as Damian takes his place right next to me in the driver’s seat and starts the engine. “So,” I start, feeling jittery anticipation about the sudden trip, “where are we going?”He glances at me, and his lips curl into the most beautiful smile. “You’ll see soon enough.”“That’s not fair,” I argue but he only grins widely with mystery dancing in the yin and yang depths of his eyes. “You’re too damn impatient, Lily. What did they teach you about patient dogs?”“They die hungry?” When he slants me an incredulous look, I burst out laughing. “I’m not a dog and I’m definitely not patient. We’ve established that fact. Now can you tell me that you’re not selling me off again?”Slowly, the smile slips off his face and his
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 106
LILIANA…he’s gone.Before the first spill of sunlight, he’s out of my room. All I’m left with are the memories of stolen kisses here and there, straying fingers in my scalp and strong arms keeping me warm. I tried to ignore the warning bells in my head and just relax while it lasted. It worked for a while at least. Now, he’s gone. “Do you think he’d end up with a Mary Sue who’s got mommy issues?” I muse, laughing at myself. To my merit, I’m freer than I’ve been in forever. The weight that used to pull me down is non-existent. Dragging myself out of bed, I go to take a bath. It’s while I’m in the bathroom that the door opens and someone walks in. Immediately, I’m wary of the intruder because of what happened the last time. “Whoever it is, could you just wait outside?” I tell them. The footsteps retreat and the door closes again.A short while after I’ve changed into a cotton shirt and pants, I notice a tray of food on the coffee table. It feels like I’m walking into a Deja Vu this
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 105
LILIANAI can't look away no matter how bad I feel the impulse to. Damian's gaze burns into me, never looking away—it’s like he is staring into my soul and drawing out my words. Even if that isn't his intention, they are already spilling out. All the memories I've tried so hard to bury. So, there's no stopping now.“When Lajla left,” I continue, reducing my voice to barely a whisper, “I found a letter she wrote me. She told me to try and be everything our mother wanted. She said…maybe then, she would finally love me.” My fingers trembled slightly in my laps. Unable to hold his gaze anymore, I turn to them, tracing the tiny lines. The deception in Lajla's words… She did it for me, but she thought wrong.I can still see my sister's scrawled handwriting in the back of my mind, can feel the hope in her words. Oh God, I was so stupid to believe it.“So, I did,” I continue. “I stayed. I did everything my mother asked. I went to college nearby, smiled when…when all I wanted to do was scre
