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2025-01-29 14:18:46
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 79
LILIANA A FEW HOURS AGO…The car rolls to a stop just inside the gates before Zoran cuts out the hum of the engine almost immediately. The amount of anxiety that rolls off him is contagious enough to seep into me and leave me restless. My fingers twitch against my lap as I take in the mansion looming ahead.The guards stationed outside, although trying to look composed, grip their weapons a little tighter, flinching at every crash that comes from inside the house. Beside me, Zoran exhales sharply, quickly moping his face with his palm. He gives me an apologetic look and I try to give him a smile which I fail terribly at. He looks like he wants to say something, then he shakes his head thinking better of it.With every crash that blasts through the house, he looks terrified, which is comical to me because I’ve never heard of a mafia man shaking in terror because of his woman. It’s usually the other way around. His jaw is set hard like he’s bracing himself to be hit by a storm. “You’
Last Updated : 2025-02-08DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 80
LILIANAI gather her into my arms. She doesn’t resist. I stroke her hair while whispering soft reassurances, willing her to calm down. “You’re strong, Selena, stronger than you know.”She lets out a short, derisive bark of laughter. “I don’t feel it.”“You are,” I insist firmly. “The fact that you’re still standing after all this? That’s strength.”She clings tighter, her breath coming in shaky gasps. “I want to give up.”“I know.”“I keep trying and it's just–” Another sob wracks her body. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”My hold on her tightens. “You’ll take as much as you need to, because that’s who you are. You love fiercely and fight just the same. Even when it feels impossible.”She sniffles, pulling back slightly to look at me with red-rimmed and glassy eyes. “You don’t understand. It’s not that easy.”I pause long enough to think about it, then I admit, “I don’t. Not completely. But I do know fear. I know what it’s like to be terrified of the future. Of yourself.” I ex
Last Updated : 2025-02-09DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 81
LILIANADamian still has the painting cradled in his hands as we sit on the bench in the courtyard and talk about my leaving. I've been holed up here for close to two months and judging by the proof of my innocence, I should be a free woman.I'm still as a rock as I wait for his final verdict. Something says he won't grant me my wishes. He sets the canvas down finally, making sure to prop it by the leg of the bench before leaning back and stretching out his legs.“What you ask is very risky, Milaya. I'm afraid I cannot grant you your request.” His voice is gentle, almost belittling, like he's regarding a little child who is asking for a fifth round of cotton candy.My irritation spikes and I try to keep it on a low since clashing with him has never done either of us any good. “I don't think anything is risky about what I'm asking. It's pretty simple; let me go home. You can have your men drive me and I promise, one word won't go out.”“Sentiments has never done the Bratva a favor i
Last Updated : 2025-02-15DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 82
LILIANA“That's surprising,” I say quietly to myself. When I open the door, there's no one else in the hallway except for Irina dressed in a pink nightdress and holding her trusty teddy bear.“I used to have my friends sleep next to me when I was at theirs. Sleeping alone will be strange for me until after a few days of settling in.”Well, she does have a point. “In that case, welcome to my room.”“Was Kristoffor here?” She blurts out without second thoughts and I have to turn around to look at the supposed little girl. “No. That's just one of my colognes.”“You share colognes now?” Her voice is tinged with delight.“Sorry to burst your bubbles but whatever you're hoping we would be will never happen. He's an a… maybe we should just go to bed.”Irina giggles. She hops on the bed, plopping down on it almost immediately. “You can say asshole. I'm not so young.”That has me curious. I walk to the balcony to slide the glass doors back into place. A delusional part of me hopes he's wait
Last Updated : 2025-02-17DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 83
DAMIANWhat should serve as comfort, brings me none. I'm tossing and turning in my bed, sighing, willing this anger swirling in my chest to disappear.I don't know how long it's been but Liliana's earlier rejection burns vivid in my mind. Running a hand through my hair, I begin to pace my bedroom. Sleep won't come, and I think I know why. Liliana rejected me. Not in an emotional outburst, nor with hesitation. Just a simple, uninterested dismissal, like one would a schoolboy who didn't matter. The last time anyone made me feel like this was with Stellëza. It's pissing me off. No one has ever turned me down like that before. Call me egoistic but it's not just my pride that took the hit—there’s something else I can't shake. And then, there is her damn request. The one that ruined the night. She wants me to send her home. She is still ignorant to the way things happen in the Bratva. How else do I make it clear to her that home means death. As long as people think I killed Genovese
Last Updated : 2025-02-18DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 84
LILIANAIt's with tasteless buds that I wake up this morning. My head feels like someone had thrown a party in it throughout the night. My body for some reason won't obey to instructions. One nostril is blocked like traffic on a Monday morning, while the other is a smooth ride to fun town. I hate the day already. After what feels like hours of willing my eyes to open, they pop open of their own accord and I scan the bedroom. Irina is nowhere to be found. “How can such a little girl be up so early while I stay here and sloth away like a snail?” I murmur, rolling until I'm laying on my stomach with my face buried into the pillow. The door opens. “Very gently, Duska.” Alice says to someone in a gentle voice. I'm too tired to look but when I do, I'm immediately thrown off by the smell of the eggs. “Good morning, Alice.” I tell her groggily.“Oh my goodness!” She gasps horrified. “You look terrible. What happened to you?” “I don't know. A truck ran me over last night?” I reply wit
Last Updated : 2025-02-18DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 85
LILIANA"Liliana…"The voices are all distorted as my vision swims and all the blood rushes to my ears. A hand snakes around my waist to keep me on my feet and then it hits me…I'm going to die. Memories fly around in my head, each a reminder of that time when I was starving and mother refused to feed me because my father had been out for days. Then I ate the only thing I could find stacked amongst Lajla’s belongings: A small scoop from a jar of peanut butter. If it weren't for my sister's timely arrival, I probably might have not witnessed her bailing out on me when I needed her the most.My life's history starts to flash before me and I know without a doubt what it signifies. “Radi boga, don't just stand there. Do something!” Someone yells. Panicked feet resound from everywhere in the room all at once, the voice of Irina panicking as she shrieks, “What's wrong with her?!”The tingling in the back of my throat and the roof of my mouth starts to spread again, prickling my tongue
Last Updated : 2025-02-24DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 86
LILIANAThe next time I’m conscious, I hear the angry voice of a man threatening to raise hell on someone. I don’t know how long I’ve been out but I do know that I crave complete silence to clear this buzzing in my head.That is until fragments of the conversation floats over to my hearing. “...the hell is that even possible? How could you make such a costly mistake?”“I swear, it was an oversight, Pakhan. Nothing intentionally done.”“Quietly now,” someone hushes the person. It sounds like Alice. She steps up to my side and cradles one of my hands in her very warm ones. “She’s stirring awake.” The voices stop talking at once. That’s when I open my eyes to blinding lights and a pair of mismatched eyes staring down at me with deep concern etched between those brows. He looks like he’d spent the last few minutes getting upset over something. Looking over my head at someone, the anger is back in its place. “Tell her what you told me.”Imagine waking up to shit you have no idea about an
Last Updated : 2025-02-27
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 117
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
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 116
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,
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 115
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
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 114
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
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
