LucianI stare blankly at the stack of papers on my desk, gripping an espresso in my hand, though I haven’t taken a sip in ages. The sun filters through the high windows, warming the dark wood of my office, but my thoughts remain tangled elsewhere. On Aurora. On the way she surrendered to me last night, her breath shaky, her body pliant beneath my touch.She fights me at every turn, but she can’t hide from herself—not really. The way she responded, the way she melted—Aurora might deny it, but I know the truth. She loves giving in to me.The memory stirs something deep in my gut, making it damn near impossible to focus. The numbers in front of me blur together, and I exhale sharply, rubbing my jaw. If I don’t get a grip soon, I’ll be useless today.A sharp knock at the door drags me from my spiraling thoughts, and I straighten as Nico walks in without waiting for permission. He drops a stack of papers on my desk with his usual efficiency.“I’ve got the reports on last month’s shipments
LucianThe sun slants through the high windows, casting long golden streaks across my desk. My espresso sits untouched, cooling in my grip. The documents in front of me blur together, the numbers meaningless. My mind isn’t here. It hasn’t been since last night.Aurora.The way she yielded to me, the way her breath caught in her throat, the way she trembled, not from fear—but from something far more intoxicating. She fights me at every turn, sharp-tongued and defiant, yet when she finally lets go, when she surrenders even for a moment…I exhale sharply, rubbing my jaw. I shouldn’t be thinking about this. About her.A knock at the door shatters my thoughts, and Nico strides in without waiting for permission. He drops a thick file onto my desk, launching into a report about security at the docks. I nod, listening without really hearing. My gaze flickers past him, drawn to the terrace.She’s probably out there.I need to see her.By the time Nico finishes speaking, I barely acknowledge hi
LucianNico huffs beside me, crossing his arms. “Yeah, I’m glad he didn’t get an invite.”I barely register his words. My mind is elsewhere. It has been all night.Aurora.The way she stood her ground at dinner. The way she kept her head held high, even when my mother barely acknowledged her. I should’ve expected it—my mother’s coldness, her disdain—but something about seeing Aurora on the receiving end of it stirred something sharp in my chest.Possession.Anger.Something I don’t want to name.I shake the thought away as we make our way upstairs. Aurora walks beside me, her fingers lightly brushing my bicep once, then pulling away as if she thought better of it. She hasn’t said a word since we left the dining room. I glance at her, but her expression is unreadable.Once inside our bedroom, she moves with quiet purpose, slipping off her heels, unfastening her jewelry, and unzipping her dress with steady fingers. She peels the fabric from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor be
Here's a refined, slower-paced version of your scene, with a deeper focus on emotion, tension, and atmosphere:---LucianNico huffs beside me, crossing his arms. “Yeah, I’m glad he didn’t get an invite.”I barely register his words. My mind is elsewhere. It has been all night.Aurora.The way she stood her ground at dinner. The way she kept her head held high, even when my mother barely acknowledged her. I should’ve expected it—my mother’s coldness, her disdain—but something about seeing Aurora on the receiving end of it stirred something sharp in my chest.Possession.Anger.Something I don’t want to name.I shake the thought away as we make our way upstairs. Aurora walks beside me, her fingers lightly brushing my bicep for the briefest moment before pulling away. Like she thought better of it. Like she caught herself before she could reach for something that wasn't hers to take.She hasn’t said a word since we left the dining room. I glance at her, searching for some sign of what s
I had played my role a little too well if she thought I wasn’t already hers.The old priest’s voice droned on, weaving vows steeped in tradition, yet my mind barely registered his words. My focus remained on the woman before me—on every shift in her expression, every flicker of uncertainty that passed through those striking hazel eyes.Aurora’s brow creased ever so slightly, a fleeting frown that anyone else might have missed. But I saw it. She had caught the small hesitation in my grip when Nico placed her hand in mine.I squeezed her fingers, a silent reassurance. She needn’t doubt—she would never have to doubt.She took a steady breath and repeated the vows, her voice clear, unwavering. A queen in her own right. The priest’s words carried through the grand hall, echoing the tenets we held sacred. Family. Loyalty. Power.“I, Aurora Vittoria Luciano, take thee, Lucian Antonio Boncini…”My jaw clenched at the name. Luciano. Her mother’s name. Her grandfather’s name. The name I had ins
"Here, cara mia. Let me tend to those knuckles."Lucian’s voice is low, smooth, but there’s an unspoken warning beneath it—a silent promise that I will not be lied to. He lets me take his champagne flute from his fingers, setting it back on our table before he reaches for my other hand and leads me away from the crowd.His brows furrow, his expression caught between confusion and something sharper. Disapproval, perhaps. I can’t be sure."If this is about Agosti—""You don’t have to do this," I murmur, cutting him off as I gently dab at the blood seeping from a small split in one of his swollen knuckles."Nonsense," I say before he can protest again. "I don’t want you getting blood on my dress."Lucian watches me, his gaze assessing, searching, peeling me apart layer by layer. He says nothing at first, but I can feel the weight of his thoughts pressing against me, as if he’s deciding just how much to reveal. The silence stretches until it becomes its own kind of tension.Then, finally,
A Quiet SurrenderLucian’s voice was a hushed command, his breath warm against her skin. “Open your mouth.”Aurora obeyed without hesitation, her lips parting as he traced his fingers over them, his touch deliberate, slow, worshipful. She shivered beneath him, her pulse thrumming in anticipation.From the moment he first touched her in her father’s kitchen, when his fingertips had barely grazed her wrist, she had known—this man would unravel her. And now, as he stood before her, shedding the last remnants of restraint, she could only stare, drinking in the sight of him.Lucian moved with purpose, his gaze locked onto hers, reading every flicker of hesitation and desire. His fingers skimmed over her bare skin, tracing delicate patterns as if committing her to memory."Relax," he murmured, sensing the tension in her limbs. "I've got you."His hands settled on her hips, grounding her, guiding her. He was patient, watching her reactions, waiting for her body to recognize what her heart al
Empire of Ash and BloodRuling an empire with a sharp blade and an iron fist. A contradiction, yet a necessity.Andrea Morelli arrives in the late afternoon, a calculated hour when the sun hangs low, casting long shadows across the cobblestone driveway. His men follow in tight formation, their suits crisp, their hands never straying too far from their holsters.Like the kind that stole my father from me. Like the kind that forced me into this life before I even had a chance to choose.The stories of how I built my empire from the smoldering embers of war still linger in every alley and whispered conversation in this city. I was careful never to let the chaos spill over into a full-scale bloodbath—New York had already burned once at the hands of the Agostis. But I made sure that anyone who dared cross me understood exactly what kind of power I wielded.And now, it seems Riccardo Agosti wants a reminder.Andrea meets my gaze, his expression unreadable. His men shift subtly, a silent lan
Excitement and alarm surged through Evelyn’s entire being, clashing like fire and ice. If his hands had the power to send waves of electricity skimming over her skin, then his words had done worse—igniting a wildfire within her, burning her from the inside out.A silent warning echoed in the recesses of her mind, a desperate reminder of her resolve, but her body—traitorous, weak, and desperate—pretended not to hear it. Oh, dear lord, help her…Michael’s hands, those hands that had already unraveled her self-control too many times, moved with an unhurried purpose. They glided over her skin, stroking, teasing, but never where she truly ached for his touch. She bit down on her lower lip, the tension coiling inside her like a beast waiting to be unleashed. She had to stop herself—not just from moaning, but from letting her lips betray her, from begging him for more. And God, she was so close to doing exactly that.The sound of rushing water ceased as Michael turned off the shower, the sud
Once the last dregs of wine have been drained from their bottles, I rise from my chair, moving toward the bar cart with steady deliberation. The low glow of the lamp casts long shadows across the room as I select a bottle of my finest scotch. Two cut crystal glasses catch the light, their sharp edges gleaming as I pour a generous measure into each.Lucian sinks into the chair across from mine with a tired sigh, the weight of the years evident in the way he carries himself. For a long moment, he says nothing, merely swirling the amber liquid beneath his nose before taking a deep pull.I watch him, my own glass resting in my hand, the rich aroma of peat and smoke curling into the air between us. There is a quiet understanding in the silence, a space carved out for words yet unspoken."Three years," I begin, my voice thick with emotion. "Three years of sitting with the weight of your name, your legacy—the foundation upon which so much has been built."Lucian exhales slowly, his fingers t
Andrea catches my eye as he rises to his feet. “Congratulations,” he murmurs, his voice low and laced with both fear and awe. “On your incredible wife, your child, and your overwhelming victory. They may not all be ready to admit it, but today, you became the king.”Lucian inclines his head, a quiet moment of respect passing between them. There’s something in Andrea’s gaze that reminds Aurora of her father—a solemn kind of pride, an acknowledgment of the weight that now rests on Lucian’s shoulders.With that, Andrea steps away, disappearing into the sea of people. As soon as the last man exits and the door clicks shut, Lucian turns, pulling Aurora into a fierce embrace.“As always, you were magnificent,” he breathes into her hair, his hands firm on her waist.She exhales a soft laugh, her fingers tracing gentle circles over his back. “Believe it, amore. You’ve worked so hard to make this dream a reality.”Lucian pulls back slightly, just enough to frame her face between his hands, his
Here’s your revised version with a slower pace and the name changes applied:---I crack one eye open the following afternoon when I hear the bedroom door creak.Lucian strides in purposefully, carrying yet another tray piled with enough food to feed several households. He places it on the nightstand before perching beside me on the bed, his ever-worried gaze sweeping over me as if he expects any significant changes to have happened in the single day that’s passed since he brought me home.“How are you feeling, principessa?” he asks, brushing a lock of hair out of my face with a gentle hand. It’s as if he’s convinced I might shatter like paper-thin glass if he doesn’t keep his touch featherlight.I heave an exasperated sigh, my fingers closing around his hand before he can pull away. “The same as when you asked me an hour ago, husband of mine. And the hour before that.”His worried expression splits into a smirk at my fiery tone. “Forgive me for asking again, wife of mine.”I roll my
Aurora’s piercing scream sends me bounding up the stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs. Panic claws at my chest as I throw the door open, bracing myself for the worst. I find her sitting up in bed, trembling, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the dim bedside lamp. My breath stutters as I take in her pale features and the way her fingers clutch something tightly. I’m beside her in two strides. "Aurora?" My voice is rough and urgent. "What happened? Are you in pain?" She shakes her head, but fresh tears spill over her cheeks. The smallest, almost disbelieving smile tugs at her lips, confusing me. My mind races through every possibility, every terrible outcome—until, slowly, she raises her hand. A plastic stick rests between her shaking fingers. I freeze. For a moment, I can’t make sense of what I’m seeing. My eyes dart from her expression to the test and back again. A faint pink line stares back at me, shifting the entire axis of my world. My throat tightens. "We’re...
The sway of Lucian’s steady steps carries me through the warehouse, each footfall a quiet promise that I am no longer trapped. Part of me is convinced this must be a hallucination—that any second, I’ll wake up, still bound, still drowning in the dark. But when I press my face into the crook of his neck, the heat of his skin grounds me. The scent of him—smoke, leather, and something distinctly Lucian—tethers me to reality.He doesn’t let go. Not once.The blinding sunlight stabs at my eyes as he carries me outside, the stark contrast making my vision blur at the edges. I cling to him like a lifeline when he lifts me into the backseat of a waiting SUV. My entire body feels like it’s still tied to that steel chair—muscles locked, nerves frayed, phantom pain pulsing across my skin. The fear hasn’t left me yet. Maybe it never will.Someone climbs into the front seat and starts the engine, but I don’t look up. My universe narrows to the sound of Lucian’s heartbeat beneath my ear, steady and
Aurora.That name is the only thing keeping me grounded as I scan the darkened monitors before me. Every second that passes without seeing her face feels like a blade twisting in my gut."Gotcha! I found them, boss," Lorenzo calls from the other side of the room.I'm at his side in an instant, my pulse hammering as I take in the grainy footage of a dark sedan crawling through city traffic. It turns off toward a high steel gate—the entrance to one of Riccardo Agosti's warehouses.I exhale slowly. He took her there.“That stronzo brought her to his biggest warehouse,” I growl, bracing my hands on the desk. “Guess we’re in for a straightforward raid after all.”Behind me, Nico shifts uneasily. “It has to be a trap, Lucian. The location is too obvious.”I barely hear him. The dull throbbing in my temple, constant since she was taken, sharpens into something close to agony. “That bastard has my wife, Nico. The time for smart has run out.”Nico exhales heavily, rubbing a hand down his face.
Aurora’s POVConsciousness returns in fragments, my mind struggling against the thick haze of whatever sedative Riccardo used to knock me out. The darkness around me is suffocating, the air heavy with dampness and something more insidious—fear. My limbs feel sluggish, but the sharp bite of rope digging into my wrists and ankles tells me enough. I’m tied to a chair.A low chuckle slithers from the shadows, sending a shiver down my spine. The sound is familiar, a cruel rasp I’ve heard before.Riccardo Agosti."You finally came back to us, Aurora. I was starting to get bored of waiting." His voice is all mockery, smooth with the confidence of a man who believes he has already won.I force my eyes open, blinking against the fog clouding my vision. The dim light in the bunker flickers, casting eerie shadows along the steel walls. My captor steps forward, emerging from the gloom with a smirk carved into his gaunt face.I yank at the ropes, testing their hold. The chair creaks under my weigh
Aurora is missing.The words slam into me like a freight train, cold and brutal.My world tilts, splinters.I force myself to breathe, but it feels like trying to inhale through broken glass. A sharp pang of longing lances through my chest as I picture her—the way she laughs, the softness in her eyes when she thinks no one is looking. The way she tilts her head when she’s deep in thought, lost in a world I desperately want to understand.And now she’s gone.“She was right there.” Gabriele's voice is hoarse, as if he’s already screaming at himself inside his own head. "One second, she was looking at something on the shelf. The next—" He swallows thickly. "I turned for one damn moment, Lucian. And she was just... gone."The office door slams open with a bang.Nico barrels in, eyes wild, chest heaving like he ran the whole way here. His hands rake through his unruly curls, his face ashen.My gut knots.“What’s happened?” My voice is tight, already dreading the answer.Nico hesitates for