**************CHAPTER 64~Kaia’s POV~When the last wave finally faded, he withdrew his hand and straightened.I lay there, panting, watching through heavy-lidded eyes as he licked his fingers clean, just like before."Fuck, Kaia, you're so fucking sweet," he murmured, his blue eyes dark with lust. I couldn't respond. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. "You ready for more, baby?""I'm always ready.""Good," he said, coming down to kiss me again. I could taste myself on his lips and the thought was oddly arousing. We exchanged a few more heated kisses before his hands grabbed the sides of my panties. In one quick movement, he ripped them apart."Hey!""Don't worry," Blaze murmured. "I'll buy you new ones."Before I could reply, his mouth trailed down, leaving a blazing path of kisses on my chest, stomach, and hips, until he was positioned in between my thighs.My pulse skyrocketed as I watched him part my legs. My cheeks heated as his hungry gaze fixed on the place that t
**************CHAPTER 65~Kaia’s POV~I didn't reply. Instead, I bobbed my head up and down his length, slowly and deliberately, making sure my tongue rubbed along his entire shaft."Oh, shit," he muttered, his hand tightening in my hair. Blaze was thick, and he got length, but I was determined to prove to him that I could handle his length and make him feel good, just like he made me.I hummed around him, and he jerked, his hips bucking against me.I took things slow, too agonisingly slow if you asked me, as Blaze tensed every passing second, fighting back the urge to moan my name and plead for me to go faster."Fuck, Kaia, you're torturing me. Come on, baby, stop being such a tease and put it all in your mouth," Blaze urged, his eyes opening to stare at me."I am putting it all in my mouth, Mr. Black," I said, pulling back."You're taking your time. It's almost like you don't know what you're doing," Blaze challenged.I knew what he was trying to do, he was trying to egg me on and
**************CHAPTER 66~Kaia’s POV~"Cum for me.""BLAZE!!!!!!"The tension snapped, and a wave of pleasure washed over me. My body stiffened, a cry tore from my throat, and my fingers curled into the sheets as I came hard.Blaze continued thrusting into me, dragging out my orgasm.When the last waves faded, he pulled out, flipped me around, and entered me again.My back arched, a whimper leaving my lips."You okay?""Y-yes.""Good." He moved up, his lips trailing soft kisses around my neck and shoulders as he pulled out of me and thrust in deeply.He repeated his actions, thrusting into me, this time harder and faster, making me cry out again."Oh, fuck, you're still so fucking tight," Blaze grunted while his hands reached under me to grab both breasts and fondle them."Blaze," I gasped when he pinched my nipples, tweaking them. In response, I clenched my walls tight around his dick, and he moaned in my ear, moaning my name with reckless abandon.I turned my head and met his lips,
**************CHAPTER 67~Kaia’s POV~Morning came, but I had barely slept. I had slipped out of bed before Blaze could wake, wrapping the sheets around me as I stood by the window, my mind spiralling. The night before had been… intense. It was raw, passionate, earth-shattering. Everything about the way Blaze touched me, kissed me, wanted me—it had felt real. Like we were finally moving past whatever this contract was, like there was something more between us. And then. Then he had moaned a name that wasn’t mine. Iris.I had frozen, my heart seizing in my chest. Even as he drifted into sleep, he muttered it again, his arms still wrapped around me like I was someone else. Who the hell was Iris? I had spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, sleep evading me as the same questions replayed over and over in my head. Why would he moan out her name at such a point while making love to me? Was I just a replacement? Had he been picturing her the entire time he w
**************CHAPTER 68~Kaia’s POV~My breath hitched as I entered into the room.Everywhere I looked, there were pictures. Photos of a younger Blaze, smiling—so much softer, so carefree. His arms wrapped around a little girl with bright, curly hair. Her face radiated joy, her smile wide and pure.There were love symbols scattered among the pictures—hearts drawn over their faces, messages scribbled on paper taped to the walls. Iris loves Blaze was written in neat, childish handwriting over and over again.But the more I looked, the further I went; the air in the room felt heavy, suffocating.I took a few steps further in, my gaze bouncing from one picture to the next. Some were drawings, crude sketches in pencil that looked like they had been done by a child. Others were photographs—so many photographs.And then, one picture stopped me cold.It was a photo of the girl, Iris, her hair loose and spilling down her shoulders in soft curls.My heart skipped a beat.The girl looked just
**************CHAPTER 69~Kaia’s POV~I knew Blaze was a jerk, but I never realized just how much of an obnoxious, useless jerk he was until today.Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as the memory of our conversation replayed over and over in my head like a broken record. His words cut deeper than I thought they ever could.“You’re not a replacement, Kaia.”Liar.“You mean nothing to me beyond this contract.”How dare he?I paused mid-stride in the mansion’s wide hallway, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “No,” I muttered aloud to myself. “Kaia, you messed up. You did this to yourself. You should have known better. To him, this was nothing more than a joke.”The realisation was like a slap in the face. Blaze didn’t care about me. I had let myself believe we were something more, that maybe—just maybe—he could see me. Not Iris. Not a look-alike. Not a pawn in his games. Me.But I had been wrong. So wrong.I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders, my chest tightening as ang
**************CHAPTER 70~Kaia’s POV~At the mention of the contract, my anger rose within me. I hesitated, my chest tightening. Part of me wanted to slam the door in his face. But another part of me—the part that still cared, no matter how much I hated it—wanted to hear what he had to say.With a heavy sigh, I stepped aside, letting him in.“Make it quick,” I muttered, crossing my arms.Blaze stepped inside, his presence filling my apartment and making it feel even smaller. Once inside, he turned to face me.“You cannot leave,” he began.“You don’t say,” I replied dryly.His jaw tightened, but he didn’t snap back. Instead, he took a step closer. “Kaia, I—”"You...?"Blaze sighed and swallowed. “You cannot leave,” he repeated, his tone firm and unyielding.I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms tighter. “Excuse me?”Blaze took another step closer, his tall frame towering over me. His expression was calm, too calm, like a man who knew he held all the cards. “You signed a contract, Kaia.
**************CHAPTER 71~Blaze’s POV~The house felt suffocating.I stood in the middle of the room I had kept locked for years, the one Kaia had invaded earlier. Her words echoed in my mind, each one like a hammer pounding against my resolve."You don’t even see me, do you? You don’t care about me. I’m just some…replacement for the girl you actually loved."My jaw clenched, my eyes scanning the pictures on the walls. The sight that had once been a source of comfort now felt like a mockery. The photographs of Iris and me, the love symbols, the memories—they didn’t offer solace anymore. Instead, they reminded me of the chaos I had brought into Kaia’s life.When I first saw Kaia, I thought fate was playing a cruel joke on me. She looked so much like Iris—right down to her laugh, the way her curls framed her face, and the fire in her eyes. It shook me to my core.I didn’t marry her because of Iris. At least, that’s what I had told myself. But now, standing here in this room filled wi
*****************CHAPTER 127~Author’s POV~The rooftop lounge of Seraphine, one of the city’s most exclusive members-only clubs, buzzed with low conversation and jazz humming through golden speakers. The skyline burned orange with the last of the sunset, and the air was thick with cigar smoke and quiet power.Kayne arrived just as David Mercer waved him over from a private corner booth.“Good timing,” David said smoothly, raising his glass as Kayne took the seat across from him.“I figured you'd pick somewhere dramatic,” Kayne replied with a chuckle, resting his blazer on the arm of the chair. “What are we drinking to?”“Progress.” David leaned forward, his tone was much cooler now. “And control.”Kayne raised a brow. “Sounds vague.”“Blaze is unravelling. Slowly. I’ve seen it. Ever since Kaia, he’s more emotional, more unpredictable. You showing up—getting close to her—it’s exactly what we need to keep him off balance.”Kayne smiled lazily, but his eyes sharpened. “You sound like
*****************CHAPTER 126~Author’s POV~The evening sun shone through the tall windows of Kayne Kyle’s penthouse suite, filling the space with warm light. From the top floor, the sprawling city unfolded—buildings like steel giants against a cotton-candy sky. But Kayne’s gaze was inward, fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass as his feet rested on the cool surface of the glass coffee table.The intercom’s soft buzz broke the silence. “Sir, Mr. Draven is here.”A smile touched Kayne’s lips. He stood and straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “Send him up.”Two minutes later, the door yielded, and Draven Davion entered. Dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, his attire suggested ease, yet his presence never did. He moved with confidence into his cousin’s house while his eyes raked the surroundings. “Nice place,” Draven commented, his gaze sweeping over the penthouse a second time as though taking in anything he missed on first glance. “As expected.”Kayne chuckled, extend
*****************CHAPTER 125~Kaia’s POV~I was still sitting in the living room of my parents’ house when my phone buzzed beside me.Blaze.For a second, I considered ignoring it. My mind was still wrapped around the truth I had just uncovered. The weight of that document hadn’t left my chest since I found it.But I answered.“Kaia,” Blaze’s voice came through, warm and deep. “I was thinking… dinner tonight? Just the two of us.”I hesitated, shifting on the couch. “I don’t think—”“It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” he cut in, gently. “Just you and me. Good food. Maybe some dessert we don’t finish because I can’t keep my hands off you.”I should’ve laughed. I almost did.But something in me wasn’t ready. Not tonight. Not after everything.Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say no to him. Not when he sounded so hopeful.“I’ll meet you there,” I said quietly.Later that evening, I arrived at the restaurant he had chosen—Maison Lune, a softly lit, elegant space tucked into a quiet
*****************CHAPTER 124~Author’s POV~Eriel Black was sitting in his cozy study, gently swirling the last bit of his aged whiskey in a crystal glass. The late morning sun poured in through the tall windows, filling the room with a warm golden light, but his mind was anything but calm.Not today.He had barely finished reading through his messages when one of the housekeepers knocked softly and entered with a bow.“Sir… Miss Crystal is here. She’s waiting for you in the living room.”Eriel’s brows lifted slightly. That was fast.He stood up without a word, set his glass down on the desk, and walked down the long hallway. The housekeeper disappeared behind him as he stepped into the big living room.And there she was.Crystal sat elegantly on one of the couches like she had all the time in the world, her legs crossed, one hand casually resting on the armrest as though she hadn’t been at the centre of a brewing storm. Her smile was faint, polite… and empty.“Uncle,” she greeted s
*****************CHAPTER 123~Kaia’s POV~The soft rays of sunlight filtered into the room through the sheer curtains, casting faint golden stripes across the bed. I stirred slowly, my limbs sore and heavy, my skin still tingling from the night before.The space beside me was empty.Blaze was gone.I blinked slowly, adjusting to the light. The room still smelled like him—warm skin, spice, and something undeniably masculine. I shifted slightly, my body humming in the places he had touched, kissed, and worshipped.As the memories returned, my face heated.I remembered how his mouth felt between my legs, how he growled my name like he needed it to breathe. And when we’d both passed out, exhausted and bare, I remembered waking up sometime in the middle of the night with his face nuzzled between my breasts, his soft breath warming my skin, his lips pressing lazy kisses there as if he never wanted to leave.I smiled to myself, biting my bottom lip.But just as I reached for the covers to r
*****************CHAPTER 122~Kaia’s POV~"I... I—""Cum," Blaze ordered.His teeth sank into my clit, and his fingers curled, and that was it.The dam burst, and my entire body convulsed.My voice cracked, and my limbs went numb."Fuck!"My body convulsed, and I was shaking, twitching, and shuddering.It was never-ending, and I couldn't breathe.His mouth stayed locked, sucking, and his fingers didn't stop moving.It was too much."BLAZE!!"But, Blaze kept his mouth where it was, and his fingers were relentless, and all I could do was cry his name, over and over, until I thought I might pass out.Finally, just when I was about to lose consciousness, Blaze's mouth slowed. He kissed and sucked lightly, his fingers drawing circles on the outside of my core."Are you okay?" he whispered, his mouth leaving my clit and returning to mine.I couldn't answer. It took about two minutes for me to fully recover all the while I smiled at him."Yes. Yes, I am," I replied."Good. Now, can I have y
*****************CHAPTER 121~Kaia’s POV~Blaze's tongue pushed deeper into my mouth, and I moaned. His steps faltered, and his grip around me, tightened.My mind was racing, trying to keep up with what was happening around me. But I knew where this was going, and I didn't want to stop it.We got to my room, and he kicked the door shut, and the next second, he was on me. His lips trailed down my neck, and his hands found the front of my robe.I gasped, but Blaze just continued his trail of kisses down my chest, tugging the thin fabric open as his lips explored the curve of my breasts."Fuck," I gasped.Blaze kissed lower, down my stomach and his hands slid beneath me, squeezing my ass, kneading, pulling me up, and then he dropped me gently on the bed.I landed on the sheets and sat up, but Blaze was already kneeling in front of me, his mouth inches from mine, his eyes wild."Kaia," he whispered. "Last chance. Tell me to stop."I shook my head. "No. I don't want you to stop. Ever."He
*****************CHAPTER 120~Kaia’s POV~Dinner ended with the same polished charm it started with. I tried not to stay too late. Once we were done discussing business, I finished my meal before announcing that I wanted to take my leave. Thankfully, he wasn’t much trouble and allowed me to leave. Kayne accompanied me out of the restaurant like he had all the time in the world. The valet handed over my keys, and I walked ahead, mentally reviewing everything we had discussed. Every word. Every pause. Every calculated compliment.I stopped beside my car, turning to say a brief goodbye.“Thank you for dinner,” I said politely but guardedly.Kayne didn’t move right away. He simply stepped closer, not into my space, just near enough that I noticed. Then, with the same smooth confidence he wore like a second skin, he leaned in and kissed my cheek once, then the other.It was light, professional or formal and nothing out of control but I was still tense.He straightened and extended his h
*****************CHAPTER 119~Kaia’s POV~Walking into Apex Global that morning felt like slipping into a familiar suit of armour.The moment I stepped through the revolving doors, the crisp chill of the air conditioning clung to me hard. I had barely slept, but I dressed sharply—black fitted trousers, a white blouse, a blazer, and heels that clicked purposefully against the marble floors.No more hesitation. No more distractions.I was here to work.As I approached the executive wing, Blaze’s secretary stood up from her desk, her hands folded in a professional manner.“Good morning, Mrs. Black,” she greeted with a small nod. “Mr. Black is in his office… but there’s someone inside waiting for you.”I arched a brow. “Waiting for me?”She nodded. “Yes. He said it’s important.”“Right.” I adjusted my blazer and walked up to the double doors.I knocked once before pushing them open.Blaze stood near the windows, hands in his pockets, staring out like he was too focused on anything but th