YVONNE"Who are you, then?" I slurred.Damn. I'm drunk. I can feel my head spinning. The way he suddenly grabbed me only made it worse. Ugh. I almost finished the whole bottle!"I'm no hero," he coldly stated, bringing me back to the present."You are my hero!" I insisted."I am not a good man, Yvonne," he slowly stated, as if he wanted to reiterate what he meant to my thick skull.But I didn't understand. Or maybe I just didn't care. All I know is how I suddenly liked being called by that name. I love how the syllables roll on his tongue."You are," I nodded to convince him otherwise. "You just don't know it. No, you're trying to hide it, but deep inside," I pointed at his chest.Damn, it's hard. I was suddenly tempted to caress it. Shit, Yvonne. Stop it. I shook my head."Deep inside, you are a good man," I murmured. My thoughts are already heading elsewhere. I slowly slid my index finger down his pec.He grabbed my finger, pulling it away from his chest."You don't know what you're
YVONNE"It happened five years ago," he said.Five years ago?! My whole body was alerted when I heard what he said. Five years ago...Does that mean the death of his wife was connected to his erectile dysfunction? Was it the root cause of it?I gulped, bracing myself for what he was about to say.He kept quiet but I waited for him to say something. I didn't want to rush him. I could only guess how hard this must be for him. I could just imagine the trauma of accidentally killing someone you loved."I used to live the BDSM lifestyle," he began after a long stretch of silence between us.What does BDSM have anything to do with his wife's death? I wanted to ask but I decided to just listen to him."I discovered it when I was younger," he stated while staring into the dark horizon. "Some people that I used to work with introduced me to the community.""I was hesitant at first. It was something out of the norm," he paused. "But I felt compelled to attend to attend private parties due to wo
VLADIMIRRiva...The thought of her instantly awakened emotions I thought I had buried a long time ago. I'd buried it with her. Or so I thought. My jaw clenched repeatedly."Who is she?" I heard Yvonne gently ask.I glanced at her. She was looking at me as if she could find the answers written on my face. I looked away. I couldn't bear the weight of her stares. It felt like she could see right through my nonexistent soul. It's making me feel uncomfortable.I heaved out a long sigh."She's my late wife," I confirmed her suspicion. I knew what she was thinking. Her face mirrors what was inside her mind. She's that transparent."Oh," she nodded. Finally, she seemed to have run out of things to say.I leaned my head back on the edge of the tub. I closed my eyes and Riva's face instantly flashed behind my closed lids. In my mind, she was smiling at me. I can still remember her vividly.Her beauty was exceptional. From her beautifully tanned skin to her long brown hair that seemed to dance
"I fucking killed her!" That's all I fucking know!I felt Yvonne flinch but instead of retreating away from me, she even moved closer to hold me, trying to comfort me."I must have pulled too hard on her collar. I don't know! I don't know!" I pulled my hair in frustration.Oklahoma. That was her safe word. It was where we first met. She was the one who chose it.I never heard her say that word, not in any of our sessions. Not even during that night. But how would I know?I was way too consumed by lust. I cared about nothing but reaching my climax!I didn't even bother to check on her while we were at it. I just kept pounding on her as hard as I could while holding her waist and hands to keep her from falling. I was too busy chasing for my release.Even if she did say her safe word, how would I hear it when she had a gag strapped to her mouth? There was no way I would even notice it.All I could hear was the animalistic groan coming out of my throat when I finally reached my orgasm."W
YVONNEI don't know how to react after everything that I heard.It felt like having the most complicated rollercoaster ride. At first, curiosity filled my whole being until he started describing Riva. He didn't say much but the tone in his voice and the sparkle in his eyes told me how much he was smitten, right from the start.It made me wonder what his first impression of me was. He said Riva seemed to be the perfect submissive. I can't see myself being one. I don't look innocent and I can be as stubborn as fuck if I wanted to. But he told me I made his dick react when he first saw me...I winced. Should I be proud of that?I shook my head a little, focusing on him as he kept telling me about how their relationship blossomed into something more.My curiosity was slowly replaced by a sense of insecurity and an unexplainable tinge of pain in my gut. I don't understand why it hurt to listen to him describing his relationship with her. Why does he need to tell me that?Where is this even
YVONNE"Stay with me," he said. He voiced it out as a command but his pleading eyes contradicted his tone."Okay," I mumbled without thinking.He didn't let my arm go. He held me until we reached his bedroom. I gulped as memories of the last time I was here flooded my mind.I glanced at him. I don't think he recalls it the way I do.He opened the door and gently pushed me in. I suddenly remembered how I was only covered in a robe with nothing but underwear."Uhm, I'll get something to wear," I said but he shook his head."Just take anything from my closet," he grumbled.I pouted.Nothing would fit me! I wanted to tell him but I'm sure he would just dismiss it. I looked around his bedroom, not knowing what to do. My wet hair is dripping into the carpeted floor but he didn't seem to mind it."Why are you just standing there?!" he snapped.I looked at him confused. How would I know what to do? He just pulled me here!"Tss," he clicked his tongue before dragging me one more time.He pulle
YVONNEI couldn't breathe.I opened my eyes just to see an oddly familiar face. It took a while before I realized who she was..."Mom," I mumbled. My whole body turned cold when an evil smirk curled on her wrinkled lips.It's been ages since the last time I'd seen her. She's gotten so old from how I remember her. But...What the hell is she doing here?!"How did you escape the syndicate, huh?" she hissed as her hands tightened around my neck.I grabbed her, trying to pry her away from me."Let me go!" I struggled to get the words out of my mouth."No!" she laughed maniacally. "I will sell you back there! I need more money!" she laughed hysterically.Fear crept into my whole body, immobilizing me. I couldn't move. What's happening?"Vladimir!"I was gasping for air when I opened my eyes. A fucking dream! That's what it was.A nightmare!I stared at the ceiling for a while, still trying to catch my breath. Why can't I breathe properly?That's when I realized that Vladimir's arm lay abov
She walked in as if she didn't hear a thing. She even had the guts to bump my shoulder as she walked past me.What the hell?My mouth parted in shock. I stared at her back in disbelief. Wow. Why do I suddenly feel like a mistress who was caught by the legal wife?The nerve of that woman."You have a visitor, honey," I yelled behind her back.I walked faster so that I could get ahead of her. I noticed how she seemed lost while looking around the unit. This must be her first time here.Well, that's good to know. At least now I know that Vladimir hadn't brought her here ever! But what is she doing here?I led the way to the dining area where I left him with his coffee."What are you doing here?" he asked when his eye landed behind me. It seemed like he didn't expect her either.I shrugged even though I wanted to laugh. He looked so annoyed to see her. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee?" I asked her, acting like a hospitable mistress of the house."No, thanks," she spat. One of
VLADIMIR"I promise I'll make it right."Her whole body became rigid in my arms when I held her. I know this sounds like an empty promise, but I meant it."I..." I took a deep breath. I turned her around to look at her. I wanted to see her face. I wanted her to see how genuine my feelings were."I'm in love with you," I told her while staring deep into her eyes. Her lips parted in shock. I had the strongest urge to ravish those lips, but this wasn't the time for that."Do you understand?" I asked when she didn't even blink.I cupped her face, pressing my forehead against her. I can hear her ragged breaths as if she was on the verge of a panic attack."I love you," I whispered. "But I need to make things right this time. I need to... end things with Riva so we can start on a clean slate."She remained dumbfounded. She was just staring at me as if I'd grown another head."Yvonne," I gently called her name. "Did you hear me?"She only nodded but still didn't say anything. I guess it was
YVONNE"Leave," even I was surprised at how my voice turned out full of conviction. I stared at the darkness in front of us.We were still in the middle of the road when he suddenly stopped the car.He chuckled humorlessly, probably from my audacity to give him an order like that. But I don't care anymore. I just need to do what I have to protect my heart from further breaking into pieces. Because if not me, nobody will."Stop playing with me," I said."I don't know what kind of game you are playing right now," I told him, my voice dripping with raw emotions. I didn't even try to hide how I really felt.I am confused and devastated. His mere presence is enough to fuck me in the head. Every time I see him around, it gives me a glimpse of hope. I don't want to. God knows I don't want to, but my stupid heart couldn't help but assume.Assume that he was here for me. Assume that he missed me. The more I see him, the more I expect him to talk to me and tell me he wants me back.It was pathe
VLADIMIR What was I thinking? I thought, staring at her as she obviously checked out everything in the room except me. How could I become so impulsive around her? I shouldn't have dragged her here in the pretense that I wanted to talk. I just wanted to be with her for a little longer and that's the only thing I could come up with when it seemed like she couldn't wait to get away from me. "What do we need to talk about?" she asked impatiently. I badly wanted to pull her closer, to wrap her in my arms and inhale her intoxicating scent to calm my shit down. But I stopped myself. As much as I wanted to confess to her, I wanted to settle everything first. I wanted to do it right this time. I should end things with Riva, before even thinking of taking her back. I owe it to both of them. What should I tell her though? My mind was blank. Fuck it. "What?" she muttered while looking at me with a puzzled expression on her face. It felt like I was saved by the bell when I heard a knock
YVONNEI chose a semi-formal emerald green dress. I took it from the rack and held it in front of me, imagining how I would look if I wore it."It suits you."I gasped audibly when I heard his voice behind me. I turned to look just to find him standing at the closet's entrance. I gulped when I caught his gaze lingering on my body.My cheeks heated up profusely. I can feel the temperature around us suddenly rising. I couldn't help but glance at the air conditioning unit in the room. It's turned off. It's definitely the reason why it's getting hotter here.I'm sure it had nothing to do with Vladimir leaning languidly against the doorframe, looking so damn... Fine..."Uhm, thanks," I murmured, fighting the urge to bite my lip. "I'll take this for the opening ceremony. I hope you won't mind."He looked around the closet. I noticed his jaw ticked when he must have realized that everything was still there."I don't care," he looked back at me. This time, he stared into my eyes intently. "Yo
YVONNE The silence that greeted me in the apartment was deafening. I suddenly wished I let Selene come with me again. I sighed as I plopped myself into the daybed. I stared at the ceiling as if it was interesting. I felt so exhausted after another day of pretending I was fine. I'm not. I even think I am on the brink of insanity. I'm barely holding on by a thread so as not to fall on the other side. I don't know what I want anymore. I want him gone when he's around, but my heart screams for him when he's not. Damn it. If that's not insane, then I don't know what else is! "Ugh!" I groaned loudly. I should seriously stop thinking about him! I harshly get out of bed to find something else to do to occupy my mind. I winced when I realized there was no food left. I was quite hungry because I had not eaten anything while in the shelter. I sighed. I had no choice but to go out. I can also drop by the store to buy some stocks. I just gathered my hair up into a messy bun, then grabbed
VLADIMIRI woke up with a heavy feeling on my chest. I pried my lids open just to find Riva sleeping soundly. Half of her body is almost draped on my chest. Her arms were tightly wrapped around me as if she was afraid to let me go.I sighed. I guess she has the right to feel this way. It's my fault. I haven't done anything to give her the assurance she needed.I can't even if I wanted to. Not after finally accepting how I truly felt.I let out a long sigh before gently untangling her from me. I was careful not to wake her up. I don't want another confrontation. Not after last night.I still feel emotionally drained from our conversation. Today, I just want to breathe without the emotional baggage that's been weighing down my shoulders for a while now."Is there any update?" I asked as soon as I arrived at the warehouse.Our operation is back on track, although I refused to deal with clients who turned their backs on me in exchange for a few dollars in savings."We still haven't found
YVONNEThe next morning, I woke up with a terrible headache. I already forgot most of what happened after finishing the bottle of tequila."Ugh," I grunted as I rolled out of bed. I barely slept last night but I still needed to wake up early to go to work. Dragging my feet to the bathroom, I went under the cold shower to wake my senses up.Selene was still sleeping soundly when I finished. I went to the kitchen in just my bathrobe to whip up a quick breakfast for us. To my dismay, my refrigerator was almost empty. I needed to go to the supermarket later. Luckily, I found a few strips of bacon in the freezer and still a few pieces of eggs left.I popped some bread into the toaster while I fry the bacon and eggs. I checked the pantry, waiting for the bacon to cook to take note of things I needed to restock.After I was done cooking, I set everything on the table and then proceeded to change into my work clothes. I pulled up a pair of stretchable pinstriped dress pants. Then I put on a s
YVONNEI don't know how I ended up in my unit with Selene after work. She insisted on coming with me, and now we share a bottle of tequila.What's even worse is as we both progressively got drunk, I found myself telling her everything from the beginning Everything. I told her how Vlad bought me from the ring, how he turned me into a completely different person and made me his wife."But our marriage wasn't real," I muttered bitterly after drinking from my glass."It was just a marriage for convenience. I was his contract wife," I added while pouring myself another glassful of tequila."And that woman we saw with him in the restaurant," I scoffed while motioning my hand in the air. "That was his real wife.""Real wife?" Selene frowned. She stared at me with disbelief written all over her face. "Are you drunk?" she snapped."Not yet!" I growled. "I'm not drunk! That's his real wife! She came back from the dead after years!"I stopped talking to drink."I thought we already shared somet
VLADIMIR"I can't..." I didn't realize I said it out loud until it was too late. I felt Riva freeze. She stared at me as if I had done something despicable.But her expression was quickly replaced by that of hurt and betrayal. A wave of guilt washed over me, but this was out of my control.I glanced at my damned useless cock which remained flaccid all this time despite Riva's attempts to rouse my desire."W-what's wrong?" her broken voice interrupted my trail of thoughts. "Don't you want me anymore?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper."No!" I hurriedly exclaimed. "It's not like that."She stared at me confusedly while I couldn't meet her piercing gaze."Then why?" she sniffed. "Why do I feel like you haven't missed me after all those years?!""Vlad, I fought for this," she stood up and walked in front of me.I picked up her clothes but she just brushed me off when I tried to cover her up."I never gave up. I held onto the hopes that we would be together again after everything," h