Ace POV:She was dropping a half mug of water on herself, then stopped and opened her eyes immediately.It was a weird behavior.THUD.She flinched at the sound and shot me a startled look as soon as I closed the door behind me.The way she tried to cover herself with bubbles and hide her two little ducks was almost comical.I approached her, crouching beside the tub, and gently tucked the damp hair that had stuck to her flushed face behind her ear.She flinched away at my touch, her eyes wide with apprehension.Now that I could do anything with her, I let out a big sigh."You could use a shower instead of a mug," I murmured, my voice low and soothing as I pulled the wet strands of hair away from her flushed cheeks.She inhaled deeply, her breath quickening as she stammered, "I don't know... how t-to use... it-its not opening."I reached for the shower handle with deliberate, unhurried movements. As I flipped it to the right, the water cascaded down in a gentle stream, creating a sooth
Ivan POV:"So you're telling me these are all for... Iris?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief as I surveyed the impressive collection of clothing spread out before us.Ace barely glanced at me, his face impassive and devoid of any readable emotion.Without a word, he continued to sift through the dresses, his movements precise and methodical.Earlier, Ace had handed me a list, instructing me to purchase every item on it.The list was extensive, and it included a variety of items: 20 vintage dresses, 5 different types of jeans, 10 shirts, skirts, and tops, 10 undergarment sets, 5 accessories for reasons unknown to me, and several other miscellaneous items typically associated with a woman's wardrobe.I watched in confusion as the maids meticulously displayed each dress to Ace, awaiting his approval.His attention to detail was almost obsessive, as if every stitch and fabric choice mattered immensely to him.He's behaving weird.Ace Salvatore, known for his ruthlessness and cold dem
Ace POV:What the fuck is she doing here?Iris, trembling with fear, instinctively closed her legs and began to push me away. Her eyes were wide with a mix of panic and confusion.I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against my fingers as I gripped her hips gently, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.She stopped moving, her body tensing up as she fisted the sheets tightly, gasping softly.I glanced over and saw Athena staring at us with a look of disgust. Fucking bitch.My anger flared, and without a second thought, I got up, dragged Athena outside of my room, and threw her out, slamming the door in her face.The sheer rage coursing through me was barely containable.I couldn't believe I hadn't heard the door creak open? Fuck me.When I turned back to Iris, she was pressing herself against the headboard in fear. Her form was practically naked, save for a disheveled frock that barely clung to her hips.I released a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration.I s
Author POV:A sharp hiss escaped Aiden's lips as he sat on the cold floor, clutching his arm, blood seeping through his fingers from a fresh wound. The pain was evident on his face, but it was the shock and betrayal that shone most vividly in his eyes."Aiden!" she shouted, running towards him and dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling as she tried to assess the injury. "Aiden, oh my God, are you okay?" Her voice was thick with panic, but there was a determination in her eyes, a need to protect the man she cared about.Felix’s voice, usually so composed, was now tinged with fury as he yelled at him, "ACE! Are you out of your fucking mind?" His fists clenched tightly at his sides, the veins on his neck bulging with barely restrained rage.Ace stood a few feet away, the gun still in his hand, the barrel faintly smoking. But rather than look remorseful or even concerned, he merely murmured, "Ohh, please. It just passed through his skin." He scratched his head lazily wit
Ace POV:I took a long, measured breath, my eyes drifting over to the clock.The clock had just struck past five in the morning, and the faint rays of the rising sun were starting to filter through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. The silence was comforting, almost peaceful, but my mind was anything but.Lying on my side, I cradled her head gently in the crook of my arm, her small, delicate form pressed against me as she slept. I watched her for a moment, my gaze tracing the soft curve of her face, the way her breath came slow and steady. My other hand moved on its own, brushing against her bare shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin under my fingertips. She looked so peaceful, so innocent— completely unaware of the turmoil that was gnawing at me.Last night, I told her to strip down to nothing but her panties. She’d hesitated, her fear so palpable I could almost taste it. But she did it anyway, trembling the entire time. Now, though, she was curled up against
Author POV:Iris stood at the stove, her hands busy with the morning's breakfast preparations, but her mind was far from focused. She could feel the curious and slightly bewildered gazes of the men around her, and it made her stomach twist with nerves."Tell me you're joking because nowhere in the world does this seem real," Su murmured, rolling her eyes dramatically as she leaned against the kitchen counter.Iris managed a small, unsure smile and nodded her head, letting out a quiet sigh. She had always been the quiet one, the one who stayed out of the spotlight, but ever since the kiss with Ace, things had changed. And now, she was the center of a conversation that made her feel both exposed and confused.Felix raised an eyebrow as he leaned in closer. "Did you kiss someone?" he asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and curiosity.Iris quickly shook her head, resuming her work with a newfound intensity. "No," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper. She stirred the pot in fro
Ace POV:Mesmerizing.That was the only word that fit as I watched her. She looked different tonight, though in a way that was both alluring and unsettling. There was a dangerous edge to her beauty, something that made my pulse quicken despite my efforts to remain indifferent.I handed her the flowers. Jasmine, of course. The delicate scent seemed to fill the air around us as she took them from my hands. Her eyes widened slightly as she brought the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply. A smile spread across her face, gentle and genuine. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a soft, soothing melody that seemed to calm the chaos in my mind.“My pleasure, sweet Mini,” I murmured, as I reached out to open the car door for her. She deserves courtesy.I watched as she slid into the passenger seat, her movements graceful yet tinged with an apprehensive excitement.I settled into my seat, starting the engine with a practiced motion. The car roared to life, and the hum of the engine seemed to c
Author POV:Iris trudged through the restaurant, her exhaustion visible in her slumped shoulders and the weariness in her eyes. The hotel’s low popularity meant her workload was consistently heavy, and tonight was no exception. The limited staff made her duties— washing dishes, mopping floors, and cleaning tables— seem endless. Each task felt like a mountain, and every time she thought she might finally be finished, another chore was added to her list.The head chef, a man who lacked both culinary skill and managerial aptitude, handed her a small wad of cash. His face was expressionless as he counted the money, hardly acknowledging the exhaustion etched into Iris’s features. "That’s all, Iris. You can leave now."Her heart sank at the casual dismissal. She was grateful for the small amount of money but wished she could have been given a bit more consideration for the effort she put in. She mumbled a quiet "OK" and shuffled out of the kitchen, her head hung low. She left the resta
Ace POV:The air was crackling.Not just with tension—no, something more visceral. The scent of blood clung to the walls, thick and metallic, mixing with the sharp tang of gunpowder and the distant stench of rusted metal. It soaked into the concrete, into the very marrow of the room.I wiped my bloodied hand against my handkerchief, watching as crimson spread across the pristine white fabric. Red on white. Death on purity.I barely felt the sting in my knuckles. The pain was irrelevant. Fleeting. Around me, the weapon shipment area buzzed with nervous movement—men scrambling like rats to correct a mistake. A simple, yet unforgivable mistake.Internal incompetence.A woman had messed up the logistics. Sent an entire shipment to the wrong buyer.Not just a misstep.A disaster.I exhaled slowly through my nose, feeling the irritation simmer beneath my skin, restrained, measured. My fingers twitched at my side, a fleeting impulse. A temptation. But I had already handled the situati
Iris POV:He squatted down in front of me, tilting his head slightly, a soft smile playing on his lips. It wasn’t an arrogant smile, nor was it pitying.My chest tightened as I struggled to decipher what I saw in his gaze: nostalgia, amusement, concern… a quiet understanding that I both longed for and feared.His hand moved with familiarity, yet with a caution that hadn’t been there before.The back of his knuckles brushed against my cheek, slow and deliberate, like he was reacquainting himself with something fragile. A shiver ran down my spine at the contact—light as it was, it felt intrusive, peeling away the flimsy layers of composure I had managed to construct.“You’ve gotten more beautiful now,” he murmured, his voice a rich blend of admiration and something deeper— something I couldn't quite place.Heat surged through me, pooling in my cheeks, my skin prickling under his gaze. The air around us felt too heavy, too charged. My throat tightened, my body betraying me in ways I
Ace POV:A soft sigh left my lips as the squirrel closed its eyes and laid its tiny head on my palm. The warmth of its body was oddly comforting, its delicate breaths tickling my skin. So small. So trusting.Animals are far better than humans. Less complicated and easy to please.I leaned back in the rocking chair, the old wood creaking softly beneath my weight. The air was crisp tonight, carrying a distant melody from inside the mansion— some soft piano tune drifting through the air. The kind of sound that belongs in a dream, too delicate for reality.A small breeze stirred through the garden, sweeping my hair forward. A few strands fell in front of my closed eyes.My hair has grown a lot now.Long enough that I could use Iris’ scrunchies.I smirked at the ridiculous thought. Aiden had mentioned that girls liked when their boyfriends used their scrunchies, that it was "cute" or some shit.Boyfriend.The word sat strangely in my mind. Like a foreign language. Something that wasn’t
Iris POV:“Who are they?” I whispered to Liam as my eyes flickered toward the older couples across the room.“They’re Aiden and Susan’s parents,” Liam murmured back, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a long swig.I could feel their silent judgment pressing down on Ares, even from this distance.“Do they hate Ares?” I asked.Liam nodded once, a sharp and certain motion.“Do they hate everyone who belongs to that—” I started to whisper, but before I could finish, Liam’s grip on my forearm tightened. Just enough to shut me up.I swallowed, taking the hint. Ares sat beside Liam, rigid as ever. His sharp gaze was fixed on something in the distance, though I doubted he was actually looking at anything. His hands rested on his thighs, tense, unmoving. Every muscle in his body seemed to be coiled tight, like he was forcing himself to remain still despite the sheer disdain radiating from the people across the room.“Ares, why don’t you go down and enjoy yourself instead of sitting h
Author POV:A pair of drowsy hazel bedroom eyes flickered open, glancing lazily at the clock on the wall. The hands read 7:39 in the evening. The distant sound of running water echoed softly in the background, blending seamlessly with the quiet ambiance of the room. The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue across the space.Ace let out a deep, rumbling growl of annoyance as Snacks snuggled deeper into his dark locks. The tiny creature had been toying with his ears, collarbone, neck, and even his pendant for the better part of an hour. Somehow, Snacks had wormed his way into a comfortable position on Ace’s broad shoulder, entirely at ease.Ace had come home early today, prompted by Iris' relentless nagging. Though he hadn’t bought the gift she suggested, she had taken it upon herself to prepare whiskey-infused truffles and artisan brownies. Which made him scowl, like a disgruntled 8 year old toddler, but deep down, Iris knew Ace h
Iris POV:To All the Gods in Heaven (and maybe my very exhausted guardian angel),Hi. It’s me. Again.So, um… about last night. Yeah, that night. I know you saw it. You’re gods. You see everything. And for that, I’m very, very sorry.You see, I was just minding my own business (kind of), being a totally respectable, innocent human, and then— BOOM— Ace happened. Like, really happened. And, um, I think I broke several unspoken commandments? I mean, I didn’t exactly look them up beforehand, but I know there’s gotta be one against making sounds that loud or behaving that… desperately.In my defense, though— you’re gods! You made us humans this way! So maybe you should’ve seen this coming when you gave me emotions, tingles, and a very dangerously good-looking man who knows exactly how to ruin a girl’s ability to behave well. Just sayin’.To summarize my sins:The noises— Loud. Embarrassingly loud. I may have reached “unholy choir” levels.The positions— Um… we discovered I had grown a
*MATURE* Without another thought, I slid down from the counter, the movement quick and precise, my eyes never leaving hers. She took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity in my movements.“I have to cook,” she stammered, her wide eyes locking with mine. She could see it— darkness, lust, raw and unfiltered, burning in my gaze. She knew exactly what she had done to me, temptation and hunger, a need so deep it felt like it might consume me.“Oh~ you should have thought about that before you started that little show of yours,” I growled, my voice thick with desire as I advanced on her, my steps quick and purposeful.She tried to run away, but there was nowhere to go. In a matter of seconds, her back hit the counter, and she stumbled slightly, regaining her balance by gripping the counter’s edge. Before she could react further, I was there, looming over her, trapping her between the solid counter and my body, so close that our chests brushed together with every breath. I lea
Ace POV:Even with the tension building in the room, my focus stayed on the phone in my hand.The screen lit up, displaying the contact details of the one person who made me rethink everything.Iris. Her name seemed to burn into my mind.For the past half hour, my finger hovered over the dial button, hesitating, refusing to move forward.Yesterday morning, I'd been a fucking dick to her.The way I treated her, the words I spat out—they still gnawed at me, but nothing haunted me more than the look in her eyes. The hurt. The disbelief.She'd always been the one person I never lashed out at, the one I protected from the ugliness of my world.And in one moment of misplaced anger at Agostino, I'd turned that ugliness on her.She had always looked at me like I was more than the monster everyone else saw.I hated how her pain lingered in the back of my mind.I deserved it, every bit of it, but now... I was afraid to call her.What if she taunted me?What if she threw those same words back in
Ace POV:"I mean, really?" I muttered, driving the knife into the table with a heavy thud, the sound echoing through the dimly lit basement.My chest heaved as I caught my breath, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.The man lying on the floor, once so full of defiance, now barely had the strength to whimper."That eyepop literally looked me in the eyes and then turned around, snuggled into her cheeks like it was nothing!" I exclaimed, the disbelief in my voice masking the seething anger that still simmered beneath the surface.I turned to the lifeless form on the floor, eyes narrowing in frustration.His screams had subsided into faint, muffled groans, his life slipping away with every shallow breath."Shh... Can you like keep your fucking voice down? I'm talking," I snapped, as if he could still hear or care.His head lolled to the side, the last traces of life fading from his bloodshot eyes."Snacks knows he makes me jealous," I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth as I recounte