Sex

The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of an estate so vast it felt like a world of its own. The towering gates had already given away the grandeur within, but seeing the mansion up close was an entirely different experience. I hesitated, the weight of my situation pressing down harder as the door opened. A pair of maids and butlers approached, their smiles polite but distant as they offered me assistance.

“This way, my lady,” one of them said softly, gesturing toward the grand staircase that led to the mansion’s main entrance.

Every step I took felt heavier than the last. The mansion loomed above me, its intricate design and towering walls dwarfing anything I’d ever seen. My father’s home had been luxurious, yes—imposing in its own right. But this… this was a palace reborn. No, it was something beyond that. It was like stepping into a dream—one I wished I could wake from.

Inside, the opulence was overwhelming. Chandeliers dripped with crystals that refracted light like miniature rainbows. Every piece of furniture seemed hand-carved and gilded, the floors so polished they reflected the intricate ceiling murals above. I swallowed hard, unsure if the tightness in my throat was awe or dread.

“This way, my lady,” the maid repeated, breaking through my thoughts. I nodded, following as they led me through hallways that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Finally, we stopped before a set of grand double doors. They pushed them open, revealing a room that could only be described as regal. It was clear this was meant to be my space. A four-poster bed, draped in sheer fabric and adorned with silk cushions, dominated the room. Gold accents lined every corner, from the massive windows to the intricate wardrobe. Even the air seemed different here—thicker, heavier, carrying with it the weight of the life I’d just stepped into.

“This will be your room,” the butler informed me with a bow. “The master has been informed of your arrival.”

I nodded mutely, stepping inside as they left me alone. The silence was deafening. My fingers traced the edge of the bedpost, the cold wood grounding me as my gaze swept over the room. Lucian Diaz. His name echoed in my mind, a reminder of the man I had yet to meet. The man who now held my future in his hands.

I had been prepared—warned—that he might not greet me immediately. Still, the absence of his presence left a void I wasn’t sure how to fill. Was this some sort of test? A power move? A chill ran down my spine at the thought.

I moved to the window, staring out at the sprawling gardens below. They were beautiful, meticulously maintained, but they felt more like a gilded cage than an escape. My fingers curled into fists as I stood there, the setting sun casting long shadows across the room. This mansion may have been heaven in appearance, but to me, it felt like purgatory.

Lucian Diaz wasn’t here yet, but his shadow loomed over everything.

As Aurora drifted into an uneasy sleep, the weight of the day still pressing on her, a strange sensation began to stir her from her slumber. It was light at first, almost like a whisper against her skin, tracing a delicate line from her cheek to her collarbone. Half-asleep, she shifted slightly, her breathing uneven as the touch continued, now trailing down to her stomach.

Her body stiffened as the sensation ventured lower, inching toward a place that sent a jolt of alarm through her. Panic surged, yanking her fully awake. Her hand flew up instinctively, striking out to ward off whatever—or whoever—was there. Her heart pounded wildly as her vision adjusted to the dim light, and then she saw him.

Lucian Diaz.

He stood over her, the smirk on his lips cold and calculating, a shadow of malice dancing in his piercing eyes. The smirk—the very same that had haunted her dreams long before she even knew his face. The rumors of his cruelty, his dominance, suddenly felt all too real, like chains tightening around her. His eyes roved over her as if she were a possession, his presence suffocating and chilling all at once.

“You’re awake,” he drawled, his voice smooth yet dripping with mockery. “Good. I was beginning to wonder if you’d sleep through your welcome.”

Aurora’s breath hitched, her pulse roaring in her ears. “What—what are you doing here?” she managed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and fury.

Lucian tilted his head, his smirk deepening as he leaned in closer, his presence overpowering. “Making sure my bride is… settling in.” His tone was deceptively soft, but there was an edge to it, a warning hidden beneath the words.

Her fingers curled into the sheets, knuckles white as she tried to steady herself. “Stay away from me,” she whispered, though her voice wavered, betraying the fear she desperately tried to conceal.

Lucian chuckled low, the sound rumbling in the quiet room. “You don’t get to make demands, Aurora,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers, his gaze as cold and unyielding as steel. “You signed your life away the moment you put your name on that contract.”

He straightened, his looming presence pulling back just slightly, though the tension remained suffocating. “Sweet dreams,” he murmured, his smirk lingering as he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her frozen in place.

Aurora sat there, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to process what had just happened. Her skin still prickled where his touch had lingered, the memory of his haunting eyes burning into her mind. She pulled her knees to her chest, the chill of the room settling deep into her bones.

This was her new reality, she realized. A life tied to a man who wielded power not just over kingdoms, but over her very soul.