RENEE“I still can’t believe you slept with Robert, Renee.” Nicole snickered for the umpteenth time. Her snide remarks echoing off every wall and corner of the room. “Please, Nicole. Don’t start.”“Oh, Renee...” She purred before continuing. “You went to his office to confront him about the restaurant, but he ended up fucking you. Way to go, Mr. Robert. I love me some a dirty-minded man.” “Nicole don’t gloat about this. And don’t remind me of that mistake.” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Mistake?”“Yes. It was a mistake. Something that happened out of the blue and...”“And then what? Come on, girl. I know you wanted it.” Nicole snickered.“How? Why would you say that?” I shot back defensively, raising my head to face her fully.“Because that look of massive sexual satisfaction is written all over you, bitch. You are positively glowing tonight. Since I got home from work, and you told me about your hot angry sex with your sugar daddy, you’ve been floating!” Nicole smirked,
ROBERTMy heart was pounding in my chest as I swerved through the congested streets. My car roared down the road at breakneck speed. I was pissed. My mind raced with rage as I replayed the events leading my outrage.Some motherfucker laid his slimy hands on Renee. On my woman! At a nightclub.This was the only information I got from my man following Renee.With the threat of paparazzi and reporters watching her every move, I’d hired a bodyguard for her. Someone to protect her without her knowing about it. Someone who would keep an eye on her from afar and ensure no one hurt or molested her in public. His only job was to protect her and keep her safe from the type of scumbags intent on stalking and harassing her. All because they wanted to take some itty bitty paparazzo photos that would fetch them money. So far Harry, the bodyguard, had barely given me a report. Renee rarely left her house, except for the visit to my office earlier today. She spent most of her time locked up in he
RENEEThe first thing I felt when I woke up was a splitting headache and a nausea in my stomach. As I rolled over, my head felt like it’d crack open, like when I was drunk or hungover.The mattress underneath me was smooth, the blankets cool on my skin. I raised my arms at the same time stretching my legs. Blinking back sleep from my eyes, I took a quick look around. Where was I? Neither the room nor the bed I was resting in belonged to me. On the other hand, the decor was vaguely familiar, and it didn’t take long for me to figure out where I was. Robert’s suite. But how? Why? When? I began to question myself, and suddenly memories of last night rushed back into my mind like torrents pouring upstream.I went to the club with Nicole and her date. We were having such fun, and then she left me alone on the dance floor. I met a handsome, though creepy, stranger who’d given me a drink. Then Robert was there out of nowhere, and my mind went blank. “Fuck!” I cursed as I pushed myself out
RENEE“I’m worried, Nicole.” Nicole raised her brows and drew her gaze away from the TV screen. “Huh? “What about?” Pacing in front of my best friend, I ran my hand through my strawberry blonde hair, tugging at it to relieve some of my anxiety. I shook my head and stared at the floor, letting out a shaky laugh. “Who about, rather. It’s Robert. I’m worried about him.”“Oh.” Nicole’s face softened, and she leaned forward from the couch she was sitting on, resting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands together.Her lips pursed as she watched me pace, and I could see her perplexity and concern deep in her chestnut-brown eyes.“What’s wrong? Talk to me.” With a groan, I stopped and plopped my ass on the same couch as her. Wrapping my arms around myself for comfort, I stared into space, attempting to gather my thoughts. “It’s been four days since I left his suite, and we haven’t seen each other since. I haven’t heard from him. No calls. No texts. No presents.”“Okay, so?” “Th
ROBERTStepping inside my suite, a distinct aroma wafted through the air, instantly alerting me that something was amiss. I frowned and closed my eyes in the dim light, attempting to figure out what this was. I sniffed deeply, my nose twitching, and finally, it picked up on a hint of something spicy. The aroma seemed vaguely familiar, but not entirely, as I couldn’t place it. It smelled exotic and pleasant, making me wonder what it was.As the suite’s electric door shut behind me with a ding, my eyes snapped open, and my heart thumped faster as the faint, but tantalizing smell intensified. Kicking off my shoes, my hands fumbled for the nearest light switch on the wall, and I bit back a gasp as the overhead lights turned on.“Holy fuck!” My fingers trembled over the switch as I gaped at the sight before me. A trail of roses dotted the suite’s floor, each trailing a different color as it fell from a ceiling light like an abstract art piece, their brilliant colors catching my eye. E
RENEEI couldn’t sleep. Or, I tried not to. Not with Robert—this handsome hunk of a man—next to me in bed. I was scared that if I closed my eyes, he’d vanish, and everything that'd transpired tonight would be a figment of my imagination. I didn’t want that, so I kept my eyes open.With slumber seeming far away from me and my gaze fixed on the ceiling, the memories of earlier came flooding back with bittersweet intensity.My lips turned in a faint smile as I remembered Robert’s face when he saw me for the first time tonight. After giving him my heartfelt apologies, and we’d reconciled, Robert took me to the bed where he made love to me over and over again until I was a trembling mess, and the multiple orgasms left me dazed, exhausted, and sore. Amidst our romantic interludes, he brought the dinner I’d prepared to bed, and we ate the lavish feast. Between meals and cuddles, he dropped tender kisses on my neck and shoulders, and we talked about everything and nothing. Later on, Robe
'True evil is more attractive than anything else. But evil has many forms, and one of its most lethal outcomes is self-destruction.' John Clare. ~•~AMANDAEcstasy. Not the feeling. The taste. It shook me to my core. I lose track of time as I get lost in the experience of the heady narcotic I took earlier, paired with the sensation of this young man vigorously fucking me. He was so good to me, and despite his roughness, I didn't want him to stop. With every single thrust, he fucked me with a fervor unlike anything I'd experienced in a long time. While I moaned halfheartedly, my entire body shook with pleasure."Do you want me to come inside you? Nut in you, and..." Tyson, the stranger, started to mutter against my neck, but I didn't let him finish. Instead, I drew his face closer and took his lips in mine. While I moaned loudly, he accelerated, moving up and down and pumping his hips quicker and harder. Damn! I was spiraling out of control, not wanting this to end. His huge han
ROBERT"Where are you taking me?" Renee asked for the millionth time since I picked her up from her apartment building. "It's a surprise, love." I told her with a sly grin, sneaking a brief glimpse at her in my car's passenger seat. Sporting a ponytail, Renee was dressed in a comfy pair of trousers, a tank top, and tennis shoes with holes along the borders and laces that could easily be ripped off. She looked adorable. Wrinkled brows accented her rosy skin and pink cheeks as she pouted at me. “You're being secretive, Robert. You know how much I despise that." "Secretive?" I repeated, and she nodded. "Darling, I'm not keeping anything from you.""Of course you are. If you weren't, you'd have told me everything about your talk with Nicole when you came to pick me up." Her voice dropped an octave, becoming more accusatory, and I couldn't stop the laughter bubbling out of my chest.I reached over the center console and took her hand in mine, bringing her knuckles to my lips and kissin
RENEEI had no idea where Robert was taking me tonight, and I didn't ask.He'd told me it was a surprise, and though I was used to him spoiling me, tonight felt different.Was it because this was our first date in months or because we had so much to celebrate? I couldn’t say.And so, when our vehicle stopped in front of a large, automated gate I instantly recognized from the first—and only—time he brought me here, I didn't try to hide my confusion."The hangar?!" I asked after we bypassed security, and the car crept forward to the main building.Robert got out, walking around to open my door. He held his arm out to help me down, but I ignored him and stepped out on my own."Are we flying out for this date?" I asked again as we approached the building, its massive entrance doors sliding open."Yes, we are, baby," he replied immediately, wrapping an arm around me from behind and guiding me through the doors.As we entered the hangar, which looked exactly as I remembered it, with its bri
ROBERT On the way home, my phone buzzed with a text. ‘All is set, sir,’ it read, followed by a wink emoji. ‘Congratulations in advance!’ The text was from Mark, who was to coordinate the surprise I’d planned for Renee tonight—the surprise marking the start of our new chapter. Smirking as I read the message, I quickly typed thanks, before sliding the phone into my breast pocket and taking a glance out the window. The car pulled into the driveway, and before the driver could get out to open my door, I was stepping out. The house staff warmly greeted me as I entered, and one informed me that Renee was in the backyard garden. Nodding gratefully, I made my way there. Sure enough, I spotted her. She stood near the daisies—her miracle flowers she called them. She once told me about a dream where she saw a whole field of daisies. And now she was determined to grow them everywhere in our garden. I smiled softly as I stood there, admiring and taking in every detail of her gorge
ROBERT I watched as the officers led Amanda out of the courtroom, her shackled hands clasped behind her back and her head hanging low. She looked broken. Defeated. And whereas she'd walked in confidently earlier, flashing a smug grin at me, now her feet dragged, and she didn't dare to look up. She couldn't, though, not after all that’d happened. Seeing her like this, knowing she finally got her karma, a bitter satisfaction curled in my chest. Finally, she got what she deserved. After the chaos, the wreck—the way she'd torn through my life, Renee's, and so many others—she would finally pay. This was her end. Her retribution. And it was brutal, yes, but it was also entirely fitting. "Yes," I breathed out, an invisible weight, one I'd carried for far too long, lifting from my chest. "Damn, I feel good," I murmured under my breath, and a smile formed on my lips. God! I couldn't wait to get home to Renee. I couldn't wait to tell her it was all over. That we’d won, and Aman
Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky. ~•~AMANDA TWO MONTHS LATER Typically, a day begins when the clock strikes midnight, and the seconds tick.For some, it begins at seven a.m. or earlier. But today, my day began when the courthouse doors swung open and the bailiff ushered me and my lawyer into the courtroom. As we walked in, a hushed murmur rippled through the room, and for a moment, my stomach clenched—not in nervousness, but in anticipation. Which was strange given my crimes.Any prisoner convicted of murder would probably feel fear. Fear of their impending punishment, fear of the unknown consequences of their actions, fear of being executed. They'd also feel guilty, combine that with a sense of helplessness, and voila!But see, I wasn't just any prisoner. I was Amanda Clarke, and I feared no one. I feared nothing. As a convict who'd hired the best defense attorney in the country—my lawyer's record was pristine wi
RENEE "Look who's getting out of these four bleached walls today!" Nicole squealed with delight the moment she entered the room. She ran toward me, arms outstretched. "I'm so happy, Renee." She sniffled. "So fucking happy." "As am I," I said, hugging her with all my strength. "Where's Mom?" I asked. "She's at home, er, the mansion, preparing for your arrival," Nicole said. "I suspect you're going to eat a lot today, my friend," she added, and I laughed. "I can only imagine." I groaned and let go of her when Robert and the nurse assigned to check me out of the hospital arrived. She pushed a wheelchair into the room, signaling it was time for me to leave. As Robert turned to greet Nicole, the nurse, a petite young lady, attended to me. She introduced herself, asked a few questions, provided some healthcare instructions, and then it was time to fill out the discharge paperwork, which Robert quickly took charge of. As usual, he wasn’t letting me lift a finger. It’d been
ROBERTShe was awake.God, she was awake.I couldn't believe it, but as my legs carried me across the room and toward her, yes, Renee was awake. She was alive. She was conscious. And she was looking at me with teary brown eyes, muttering my name repeatedly. As I reached her bedside in a flash, and despite the doctor's warnings to take things easy, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her hard. Tight. Bone crushingly. The tears dropped faster than ever, and I cried. I sobbed. I turned into a blubbering mess, not caring about the doctor or nurses in the room. I just let the fucking grief out because it was about damn time. "Oh, God... Oh, Renee..." I mumbled, my voice breaking as I buried my face in her hair. "I... I thought you wouldn't make it. I thought I had lost you forever." My body shook violently as I spoke, but it didn’t stop my arms from tightening around her. I wanted to permanently hold her close. To never, ever let go of her."You didn't lose me." She whispered, her v
RENEE My dreams were a blur. I saw everything and nothing. I remembered everything and nothing. There was sunshine, and there was rain. There was light, and there was darkness. It was all so beautiful, but so terrifying. It was like time stopped, and I could do nothing about it. Everything felt surreal and I couldn't make sense of it. But then, suddenly… a feeling overtook me—a familiar feeling. The feeling of being alive. Of being whole. Of being complete. There was no more pain, blurry dreams, distorted visions, or anything else. There was only peace. And that peace woke me up. That peace made me move. That peace snapped me from my trance. Eyes fluttering open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. Then white walls and curtains. I blinked several times to orient myself to where I was, but the room appeared unfamiliar. It looked like… a hospital room. But why would I be there? I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to the sunlight streaming through
‘You’re my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you… please don’t take my sunshine away.’The sky really was grey, almost black in its intensity. It looked like a storm could burst out at any moment and unleash its wrath on anything within sight. But he didn't care. Robert. He just stood in the field of daisies, arms crossed, staring up at the gray sky as if it were the most wondrous thing in the world. And he was singing. Singing with that bassy, beautiful voice of his. The one Renee had fallen for. That made her heart skip a beat and sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach. ‘When the sky is dark, and the clouds are thick, I will keep you warm through the rain. And I will always be with you through the wind and snow. I love you. I love you. I love you.’He kept singing, his voice carrying through the air and reverberating throughout the field, causing even the smallest flowers to sway gently to his me
ROBERT“…bad news, Robert. You need to get here. Renee… She was drugged. Or poisoned. I…I'm not sure, but she fainted. She’s in a critical condition, and her life is hanging on by a thread…”Nicole's words swarmed and raced in my mind like angry gnats as I rushed past the hospital's reception, the busy ER nurses and medics, and through the bustling hospital corridors to the VIP room reserved exclusively for the Clarke household.I could hear my heart thumping steadily, but the agony was nothing compared to the million terrifying thoughts flying through my mind. Every thought brought me back to that single word. Drugged. Or was it…Poisoned?Renee had been poisoned. Fuck no!This couldn’t be real. What I’d heard on the phone earlier wasn’t true, neither was this situation. It was a prank. Maybe someone, Nicole or Renee herself, was pulling a cruel joke on me.Yes. That’s it. And by the heavens, my woman was okay. She was at the mansion, and the party was still in full swing. She wasn’t