Aurora’s breath catches as Lucian’s fingers trace an idle path down her arm, his touch deliberate, possessive. The warmth of his palm lingers against her skin, a silent promise of control, of power. He moves with the ease of a man who knows he is the master of every room he steps into, and this moment is no exception. “I’m the one in charge here, Aurora,” he murmurs, his voice a low vibration against her pulse. “It’s you who needs to be worthy of me.” She stiffens at his words, her sharp hazel eyes flashing with defiance, but Lucian only smirks. He expected as much. A woman like her wouldn’t kneel so easily—not yet. That makes this all the more exhilarating. Her lips part, but no sound follows. Whether it’s shock or anticipation that has stolen her voice, Lucian can’t tell, and he finds he doesn’t care. Watching her struggle against the war raging inside her is entertainment enough. “Kneel.” The command cuts through the thick silence between them. A muscle in Aurora’s jaw twitches
I don’t know how long I stand there, paralyzed with fear that he’ll storm back in. The room is steeped in his scent—heady, masculine, and darkly intoxicating. It lingers in the sheets, clings to my skin, fills the very air I breathe. I wonder, with a detached sort of curiosity, if he sleeps naked. The thought sends an unwelcome heat creeping down my spine, and I shake it off with a sharp exhale. I jolt upright, wrapping the sheets tighter around myself as if they offer some kind of protection. My pulse still thrums too fast, every muscle coiled as I listen for the sound of heavy footsteps returning. But they don’t. Lucian doesn’t come back. The silence stretches on, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of a clock somewhere in the room. I press a hand to my chest, willing my heartbeat to settle, trying desperately to make sense of my situation. Dario Boncini may not be my father, but he is still a man who owns people, controls them, bends them to his will. The difference is, he
Lucian’s voice is low, but the weight of his fury makes it feel like a growl. “I asked you a goddamn question, Aldo.” Aldo barely manages a wheeze in response, his pulse hammering against the pressure of Lucian’s fingers around his throat. I watch from the other side of the room, my breath steady, even as the plate in my hand trembles slightly before I lower it onto the bed. Lucian’s grip tightens, and Aldo lets out a panicked whimper. “N-nothing, boss! I s-swear!” I should intervene. I should say something. But in the intervening seconds since he stormed in, Lucian’s fury has taken up all the air in the room, pressing down on me like something tangible. “Oh, just a big misunderstanding,” I finally say, forcing my voice into a drawl, feigning a calm I don’t quite feel. “Aldo here was under the impression that the slash under his eye was my way of flirting. He waltzed in here hoping for a matching set.” Lucian’s gaze snaps back to me, his grip unwavering. Aldo’s lips are turning an
Got it! Here’s a smoother, more immersive version with a slower pace and deeper emotional tension.---Lucian"I’ll have Chiara find something for you," I say after a long pause. "Giulia isn’t home at the moment."Aurora doesn't respond right away. She stands there, hands clasped tightly in front of her, shoulders squared like she’s waiting for a blow to land. There’s no fear in her eyes, but there’s something else—something unreadable that makes me shift uncomfortably.I don’t like not knowing what’s going on in her head."I have a meeting," I add, stepping back toward the door, giving her space. She exhales softly—relief, maybe? The thought sits uneasily in my chest. I tell myself it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.This wedding is the culmination of careful planning, of debts and deals brokered in shadows. It has nothing to do with how she feels about it.Still, the way her posture eases when I step away from her stings more than I expect."I’ll come get you later," I say. "I w
Aurora & Lucian I blink at him slowly, absorbing his manner—the quiet, merciless finality that leaves no room for argument. “Well, in that case, I won’t let you anywhere near me.” The words leave my lips in a rush, more defiant than I feel. Before I can fully process the weight of my declaration, I push back my chair. The force sends it clattering against the stone patio behind me, but I barely hear it over the rush of my own pulse. I just need to get away, to put some distance between myself and the man whose presence feels like both a cage and a storm. But I make it three steps before his fingers wrap around my wrist. The world tilts as Lucian spins me around with an ease that mocks my resistance, shoving me back until my spine meets the cool glass of the kitchen doors. My breath hitches, heart hammering against my ribs as he steps into my space, his glacial eyes trapping me in place. One hand rises to my jaw, firm but not cruel, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I wasn’t off
LucianI drum my fingers against the polished surface of my desk, the steady rhythm doing little to settle the simmering irritation in my chest. Across from me, Nico drones on about shipment delays, but my attention is elsewhere.Aurora.My jaw tightens as I recall the scene from this morning—the way she stormed downstairs, wrapped in nothing but my robe, like she owned the place. Like she belonged. The sight of her, drowned in the heavy fabric, should have been comical, yet it was anything but. The open front had revealed just enough to send my patience hanging by a thread.I had told myself it didn’t matter. That I had more important things to focus on.But then, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a flash of color beyond the window.I shift, turning my head just enough to see her.And immediately, my fists clench.Aurora has found another robe—if you could even call it that. The sheer fabric is as good as nothing, fluttering in the breeze as she lets it slip from her shoulders, re
Aurora’s brows knit together, her gaze momentarily losing focus, lost in thought. I watch every slight movement she makes, each one feeding the fire burning beneath my skin.She’s still chewing on that goddamn lip.A sharp shiver rolls down my spine as her fingers absentmindedly rake through my hair, nails scraping lightly against my scalp. The sensation is brief but electric, sending a dangerous heat pooling low in my stomach.She doesn’t realize what she does to me.I should stop. Should put some distance between us before I lose all sense of control. But then she exhales, soft and unsteady, and my restraint snaps.I dive forward, capturing that glistening bottom lip between my own.Aurora stills. For a heartbeat, I think she’ll push me away, but then her lips part in silent surrender. I coax her deeper, savoring the warm, tentative press of her mouth against mine.She melts in my arms.A low, unbidden groan rumbles from my chest when she winds her arms around my neck, pulling me cl
The musty scent of hay and aged wood clings to the air, thick with dust and something darker—something that lingers in the corners of my mind long after I wake. The echoes of jeers and rough hands pawing at me fade as I bolt upright, my pulse hammering against my ribs. My wrists ache at the memory of being tied above my head. My own scream still rings in my ears.The sunlight spilling through the window is too warm, too bright, mocking the cold sweat clinging to my skin.A sharp knock at the door makes me flinch.“Aurora?” Chiara’s voice is gentle but firm. I don’t answer right away. I need a moment, a few deep breaths to steady the trembling in my hands before I can face the day.When I finally pull myself together and mumble an acknowledgment, the door swings open, and she steps in with a breakfast tray. Before she can say anything, Giulia breezes in behind her, all effortless energy and purpose.“There you are,” she sings, seizing my hand before I can protest. “Come, come, we have
The soft glow of lanterns bathed the grand chamber in golden light, flickering against the darkened windows. A heavy silence loomed, broken only by the steady rhythm of breathing. Kiara sat by the bedside, her hands resting gently over the cold fingers of the man lying before her. Verion’s chest rose and fell with a fragile rhythm, as if his very existence was hanging by a thread. Then—his breath hitched. A sharp inhale. His fingers twitched under Kiara’s touch. She straightened instantly, her eyes wide. "Verion?" A deep groan escaped his lips as his eyelids fluttered open. His golden irises, once sharp and full of knowledge, now held nothing but confusion. He blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light, before his gaze settled on her. His brows furrowed. "Who... are you?" The words hit Kiara like a punch to the chest. Her heart squeezed painfully as she searched his face, looking for any sign—any trace of recognition. "Verion, it's me," she whispered, tightening her grip on his
A suffocating silence settled between them, thick with unanswered questions. The night air was cold, but Isabelle felt nothing but the burning weight of Collins’ words pressing against her chest. Bound. Trapped. No escape. The words rang in her head like church bells tolling her doom. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to stand tall. “I don’t believe you,” she said, her voice sharper than she felt. “I don’t believe in any of this binding nonsense.” Collins didn’t even look surprised. He simply tilted his head, watching her with something close to amusement. “That’s the thing, pookie. It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not.” The doors to the mansion creaked open. A tall man in a dark suit stepped forward, his face eerily blank. “Welcome home, sir. The preparations have been made.” Preparations. A chill ran down Isabelle’s spine. Collins turned back to her, his expression unreadable. “Shall we?” She took a step back, every ins
The soft glow of lanterns bathed the grand chamber in golden light, flickering against the darkened windows. A heavy silence loomed, broken only by the steady rhythm of breathing. Kiara sat by the bedside, her hands resting gently over the cold fingers of the man lying before her. Verion’s chest rose and fell with a fragile rhythm, as if his very existence was hanging by a thread.Then—his breath hitched. A sharp inhale. His fingers twitched under Kiara’s touch.She straightened instantly, her eyes wide. "Verion?"A deep groan escaped his lips as his eyelids fluttered open. His golden irises, once sharp and full of knowledge, now held nothing but confusion. He blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light, before his gaze settled on her. His brows furrowed."Who... are you?"The words hit Kiara like a punch to the chest. Her heart squeezed painfully as she searched his face, looking for any sign—any trace of recognition."Verion, it's me," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand.
A suffocating silence settled between them, thick with unanswered questions. The night air was cold, but Isabelle felt nothing but the burning weight of Collins’ words pressing against her chest.Bound.Trapped.No escape.The words rang in her head like church bells tolling her doom.She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to stand tall. “I don’t believe you,” she said, her voice sharper than she felt. “I don’t believe in any of this binding nonsense.”Collins didn’t even look surprised. He simply tilted his head, watching her with something close to amusement. “That’s the thing, pookie. It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not.”The doors to the mansion creaked open.A tall man in a dark suit stepped forward, his face eerily blank. “Welcome home, sir. The preparations have been made.”Preparations.A chill ran down Isabelle’s spine.Collins turned back to her, his expression unreadable. “Shall we?”She took a step back, every instinct screami
The Wedding TrapThe car moved steadily through the darkened streets, leaving behind the glittering lights of the wedding hall. Isabelle sat rigid, her breath shallow, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might crack her ribs. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run—but there was nowhere to go. Not yet. Not until she understood what Collins had done.The weight of his words lingered in the air like a storm cloud. The rules have activated, cookie.She clenched her fists. “Collins, if you don’t explain what’s going on, I swear I will make your life a living hell.”Collins let out a low laugh, rubbing his temple as if her voice was the real source of his headache. “You’re cute when you’re mad,” he mused.“Try furious.”“Try trapped.” His voice turned flat, void of the drunken playfulness from earlier. His dark eyes flicked toward her, and for the first time that night, she saw something cold lurking beneath them.Isabelle swallowed, but she refused to let him see her fear. “
Collins attempted to focus on her, his expression a mix of regret and defiance. "None of your business, pookie," he slurred. Isabelle's jaw dropped in disbelief, but before she could respond, Collins staggered up to the altar. The officiant, looking uncomfortable but dutiful, stepped forward to proceed with the ceremony. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." the officiant began, but his voice was drowned out by the shocked murmurs of the crowd. Isabelle felt a wave of nausea and dread wash over her as Collins took her hand, his grip unsteady. She could barely focus on the words being spoken, her mind racing with confusion and fear. "Do you, Isabelle, take Collins to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, as long as you both shall live?" the officiant asked. Isabelle hesitated, glancing at the crowd. Her mother, Stacy, and Kelvin all looked at her with worry etched on their faces. She took a deep breath and n
The officiant nodded respectfully and stepped aside. Isabelle took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. The guests began to move toward the reception area, their whispers a constant reminder of the humiliation she was enduring. She felt a mixture of relief and frustration, knowing that she had no choice but to wait for Collins' explanation. Vivian and the other family members stayed close, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. Isabelle's mother and Stacy flanked her, offering silent support as she tried to navigate the emotional storm brewing inside her. "I can't believe this is happening," Isabelle muttered to Stacy, who gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know it's hard, but we have to trust that Collins has a good reason," Stacy replied. "And remember, we're here for you no matter what." Isabelle nodded, though the knot of anxiety in her stomach refused to loosen. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The day had been a whirlwind of emotio
Minutes turned into hours, and yet Collins never appeared. The murmurs from the crowd began as quiet whispers, but soon they grew louder, filling the grand wedding hall with a low hum of gossip and speculation. Isabelle stood at the altar, her heart pounding and her mind racing with confusion and dread. She could feel the stares of the guests, their eyes boring into her with judgment and pity. "What is this man doing?" Isabelle muttered under her breath, her voice trembling. She tightened her hands around the small bouquet she held, the knuckles turning white from the pressure. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, the ground beneath her feet threatening to give way at any moment. The grand doors of the hall opened, drawing everyone's attention. Isabelle turned to see a group of rich-looking people entering. They carried an air of authority and wealth, their presence commanding immediate respect from those around them. Two older couples and a middle-aged couple wa
As Isabelle stepped into the grand wedding hall, her eyes fell upon the variety of people who had gathered to witness her union with Collins. The hall was a sea of elegant dresses and sharp suits, with the scent of fresh flowers mingling with the faint hum of conversation. The decorations were breathtaking, a testament to the care and attention that had gone into planning this day. Her gaze drifted over the crowd, and suddenly, she spotted two familiar faces that made her heart skip a beat. Her mother, dressed in a beautiful deep blue gown, stood next to her best friend, Stacy, who was wearing a stunning bridesmaid dress that complemented Isabelle's own bridal gown. The sight of them filled her with a rush of emotions—joy, confusion, and relief all mingling together. Isabelle's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't seen her mother or Stacy since she had been taken by Collins, and their sudden appearance here at her wedding was both bewildering and comforting. She had worried about them