MARGAUX WASN'T SURE what happened after she fell on her knees. She was on the ground one second, and the next, she was already back beside the treehouse. Did Rome carry her there? She couldn't tell. All that she could sense was the rough wood behind her and Rome's heady scent as he pinned her to that tree. "Are you drunk?" She shook her head. His breath against her ear was like liquid fire, and her womanhood clenched just at the sound of his voice. 'Back out, Margaux. This is a horrible idea—Oh!' Her thoughts stopped when Rome groped one of her breasts. Shock mingled with desire inside her, making her eyes flutter. 'Ohhh... Shit!’ He clipped her nipple between his fingers and began massaging her. "Who's groping your breast, cara?" He leaned his forehead on hers, and she shivered at how his amber eyes poked holes in her soul. His breath smelled like mint. Hers must be reeking of alcohol. How fair was that? "Answer." He thrust his hips forward, rubbing her fold with the front o
CRAP. What else could best describe sitting in the dark while listening to Alejandro's masterpiece for the hundredth time? It was ten in the evening, and Rome felt like it was going to explode any second. [Did you hear that, Maestro?] "What?" [This part.] Rome heard Lucille's fingers tapping on her computer. She rewound the piece and played a particular segment from it. Same old. He heard nothing but a man trying to kill his piano, not even a symphony or anything he could relate to. [Listen to this part carefully...] "I'm fucking tone-deaf, Lucille!" [Please. Just this one.] "Shut up." He was angry when he stood up from his chair and marched to the open window. He needed to breathe. They had been wasting so much time in search of the Amati. Alejandro might be coming home soon, and he still didn't have any credible leads. He would need to kill the old man as soon as he came. Killing was easy, but it was the add-on assignment that was not. He palmed his face in frustration. "
MARGAUX'S BODY TURNED INTO A MASS of need as soon as Rome's mouth met hers. Biting her lower lips, she opened herself to welcome him more.Just like on the night he became her official outlet, he kissed her with hunger, ravishing her while gripping her hips and pinning her down.For a split second, she asked herself why Rome always tasted like sweet mint. It was even impossible for her to turn down his kisses. Too sweet to resist.'Really, Margaux? Even better than Greg's—'Her thoughts were halted when Rome harshly flipped her body above the bed, making her hang on it with her knees touching the floor. She huffed when his palm pressed her down even more against the soft sheets, making her look like prey under his mercy. "Oh, God...""I can't give you foreplay at this rate, cara ."'Of course you cannot!' Margaux closed her eyes with her thoughts upon hearing his tortured voice. He began kissing her nape and shoulders.Rushing, Rome slipped one of his arms under her belly and caresse
"EYES ON ME, WIFE..."Margaux was forced to stop scanning the function hall when a strong arm snaked around her waist. She felt both irritation and warmth creeping through her when the man beside her tugged her forcefully, closing the space between their bodies.Trying not to look up at him, she discreetly wiggled her way out of his hold and smiled at another guest they passed by. She knew by then that bringing Rome to that celebration was indeed a bad idea.As expected, all eyes were on them as soon as they walked into that place. She couldn't blame them since she intended to shock everyone by bringing a very handsome man as her husband.She saw some of her old friends, familiar faces, and even well-known celebrities with whom their family had connections standing in the crowd. The function room was choked with the number of guests. However, not even one soul dared to approach her as she walked around.How could they when she was gracefully walking around with a 'Doberman' behind her
Margaux's world stopped when the dangerous voice tore through her rants. She felt the air thinning. Then slowly, she lifted her head until she was looking at his face.To her surprise, the man before her wasn't wearing anything fancy at all. Instead, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a black hoodie. But, of course, that shouldn't be since the celebration in the function hall was all about him. He was Mr. Rossu's client—the bridegroom himself."What the—Greg?" She felt a sudden gush of fear and confusion wash over her. He was looking at her disdainfully, and it was making her want to run. "How... Why are you—Isn't this supposed to be your engagement party?""Crowd aren't my thing, baby," he cut her off with a grim smile. And for a moment, she thought she saw a monster in him. He didn't even look like the same man she had loved years ago. "I'd rather have a private party with someone than a crowd full of monkeys." He gave her a malicious once over, and the goosebumps that crawled acros
'OH, MY GOD—UMP!" Margaux's scream could have shaken the walls if Rome's mouth hadn't shut her up. For a moment, she tried to wiggle her way out of his grasp. Her resistance, however, slowly melted when Rome's familiar taste spread in her mouth. He was kissing her slowly. Tenderly even, like a husband who was just giving his wife a simple good morning kiss.She closed her eyes and naturally surrendered to him. She held on to his shoulders, tip-toeing and mimicking every pleasant move his lips made toward hers."Umh…" She hadn't recovered from the pleasant surprise yet when Rome abruptly spun her around to face the tiled wall of her bathroom. Her breasts flattened on the cold surface, while both of her hands ended up supporting her weight. There was a hard piece of flesh poking her from behind and causing her womb to ache. "R-Rome...""Good morning, Cara Mia." He kissed her cheek while pinning her with his hand. She lethargically smiled when his overnight stubble scraped her a bit and
"$20 MILLION." Greg's eyes widened in horror as the floor-to-ceiling screen in front of him showed the number. The room he was sitting in was dark, with just the monitor illuminating it. The number blinked in bright red as the robotic voice of the woman behind her announced it through a microphone.There were several program windows on the screen too, like when a team was doing a video call. Most of the people attending that cyber meeting were wearing masks, except for an old couple who looked nervous and unsure.'Mom! Dad!' his mind screamed. Only God knew how he ended up sitting inside that place after his parents called about receiving a red letter. He was barely conscious for days after Margaux's beast husband crashed some of his bones inside the Golden Palm Hotel.Little did he know that the red letter was a Money Game invitation, and Margaux's husband was connected to the Dark Blue. He was still recovering in his ward when a group of shadows suddenly broke into his room at midni
"I don't like this on my head. It's not comfortable—""Bare it."Margaux's mouth shut upon hearing his objection. It was ironic how he sounded pleading earlier; his tone came out abrasive to her ears this time. She wanted to run with how his actions were making her remember something she would rather forget. However, she felt trapped in the comfort of his arms. Thus, she just held on to him more. 'Damn it! Stop thinking, Margaux! Stop—'"Are you okay?"She didn't answer and just shook her head, focusing herself on clearing her mind.It took them a few minutes before Rome and she finally reached the treehouse. She may not be able to explain how he managed to carry her there easily, but she was sure about the disbelief that flooded Rome’s face upon seeing her abode.It was dark inside her treehouse, with only the moonlight illuminating it through the windows. There were holes in the walls. It was far from the matrimonial room she demanded from the unknown man. There wasn't anything insi