My head throbbed. I groaned as soon as I woke up. It felt like a battleground in there, either free and comfortable or heavy and worse. The blanket kept me warm in the air-conditioned room, but the sunlight streaming through the window did nothing to help my headache. Roaming my eyes around, I gasped in realization— I wasn't in my room. "Shit!" I muttered through my lips, recalling what happened, what I did. "Now you've just proven to him that you're a desperate bitch," I scolded myself. As I closed my eyes, the memories of last night flooded my head, including what I'd heard him say last... What was it he told me? That he... he... The door burst open, revealing Valerian in a white tank top and his favorite Hawaiian-style shorts, holding a tray of food in his hands. He moved carefully, tiptoeing to be exact, until he saw me. His eyes lit up brighter than the sun, a grin spreading across his face. He smelled like a noble king, looking tastier than the best meat in the world, a
"No, Valerian. There's no way I'm going downstairs!" I exclaimed under my breath.Valerian, ever the charmer, had bought me a dress as soon as he woke up. A beige maxi dress and a pair of sandals… without any underwear. He was clad in a simple white shirt and khaki shorts that matched the color of my dress.He was leaning against the wall, both hands in his pockets, acting as if there was nothing to worry about. His mother had literally knocked on his door while we were in the middle of… business.What was even more devastating was that Ute knew I was with Valerian. Shit!"Mom was only asking if we could join her for breakfast," he said, trying to convince me, but his voice was unconvincing. He crossed his arms, his biceps bulging, defining how well-built he is."Yeah? With your whole family. What are they going to think once they see me coming down the stairs with you, and specifically coming from your room?" I was close to hysterical, but I saw no understanding in his eyes, only smu
"Better safe than sorry," I muttered, thinking about the after-pill I'd taken this morning.Years of living with Valerian, I knew he wasn't the type to want a family. He'd probably still be banging hundreds of women even after getting gout or arthritis, and he'd shrug off having a child of his own. Let alone create a family with me.As if I'd let him plant a seed in me!His legacy as a perfect man is still unknown in which cave he'd shoot his almighty sperm.The celebration Ute mentioned was happening just a few sashay away from where I was. I could see Valerian having some careless conversations with his brothers, those family-oriented, more reserved types.Only if his life were as private as I wanted it to be, maybe we'd still be married? But no, a man with a face like his would never live in peace, especially since he had a history with women. My heart was full of doubt, and I found it hard to trust someone who was too good to be true.He's got the face, the body to die for, and a
Did something happen last night between Valerian and me?"Never in this shitty ass chance," I muttered, playing with the pen in my hand."Excuse me, Ms. Beaumont. Is there something you want to say?" A fat old man, who lacked hair, pulled me out of my thoughts. When I lifted my eyes, I saw him looking at me with expectations. But it wasn't just him who was looking at me; it was the whole board."Oh, uh... I'm sorry, I'm not saying anything," I chuckled awkwardly, waving my hands in the air, refusing the idea of giving them anything useful from my mouth. "Please, continue."I received a lot of questioning looks from these old people before they switched their engrossment back to where their eyes should be.His presentation continued regarding the expansion of the branch my father and I were involved with. I wasn't even planning on biting what Dad had my feet in, but I'm taking risky risks for a reason. And for some unfortunate circumstances, Valerian was also currently present at the m
"Mr. Blackwood is currently in a meeting with the board members, Ms. Beaumont," Chen said politely. "But the boss instructed us to let you into his office if you decided to visit.""I don't care where he is or what he's doing right now. I need to talk to him," I interrupted sharply.Valerian's personal assistant, Chen—who, by the looks of him, also got his boss' taste in fashion—stood out like a sore thumb. The guy from the coast was decked out in every color. Like, who wears a bright orange necktie on a blue casual suit?Chen merely smiled, scratching the back of his neck before standing up and asking me to follow him."Mr. Blackwood usually doesn't like being disturbed during work, but I think he'll make an exception for you," he said, walking in an exaggerated, almost cartoonish way, his arms swinging loosely by his sides.I rolled my eyes, pretending not to hear the comment, and diverted my mind to something more productive—something to ease my anxiety.If Chen was always around,
Clutching my head, I waited like a good girl in his office. In fact, I was forced to do so, and this is harassment.Those people—they heard everything. Even our little... heated encounter."God, I am so cheap," I groaned, sinking onto the soft black sofa of Valerian's office. "I shouldn't have brought him there. I shouldn't be here! What the hell was I thinking?"Gnawing my cheek, I scanned my eyes around the office. Everything is in the right place, and all were neatly organized. The only mess in this room is me.My hand touched my lips. I can still feel the softness of his lips against mine, the warmth of his kisses. The way he held me was so comforting and eager at the same time. But what's not comfortable is my wet underwear.Shifting in my seat, I tried to adjust my underwear through my skirt to ease my discomfort. Just then, the door suddenly burst open, revealing the devil I'm so weak for.Valerian immediately noticed my tilted sitting position and my hand fishing for the garte
The tapping sound of my heel hitting the carpeted floor of his office didn't help fix the awkward atmosphere.My reflection in the sliding door of the cabinet told me I looked like a desperate ex-wife who'd failed attempting to be fucked hard in Valerian's office. There's no denying it; I was being a cat.And speaking of Valerian, he's quite concerned about the show we just gave a few intolerable minutes ago. So unlikely of him.He sits on a single-seater couch, leaning back, and clutching a throw pillow right above his crotch just to hide his excited "thing.""Mr. Blackwood, are you sure you want to continue the interview?" A redhead young woman decided to break the silence as she crouched by the long couch, obviously sensing the pressure building from three towers.Rachel's eyes were stuck on me like she would have a seizure if she ever failed to show me her wildest glare. She sits there with a whole lot of tension on her back, holding her pen tightly in her hands.Generosity is at
Rub two stones together, you get fire. Pour oil on it, it burns brighter. But between Valerian and I, we made a wildfire that lasted for hours.I was still catching my breath, eyes closed, feeling his kisses trailing a path from my lips down to my neck. Licking and nibbling my skin. It was like a freaking inferno down there.My hands, weak as a kitten's, lifted to run through his hair."Please," I thought, "just a little more," I wanted to say but my whole body was so weak, so exhausted, and so... used.Valerian was a freaking machine. Still had the energy for more.His hands, big and strong, were all over me, soothing me, while his kisses took whatever was left of me."Tired?" he whispered in my ear, lifting his head to meet my sleepy eyes."Very," I admitted, leaning my face into his hand that was resting on my cheek."Regretting asking me to fuck you hard?" he teased, that wide grin plastered across his face. "Pussy sore badly, huh?""Shut up," I rolled my eyes, pushing him away wi
Can you review it by Character introduction, are they interesting? What about the stakes and conflict, mystery and suspense, my writing style, and the clarity of the chapter? Also review my pace, the plot of the chapter, and the cliffhanger. Is it funny and sensual? Standing on the balcony, I waited for my call to go through. One ring. Two rings. “Hello?” His voice came through, slightly groggy, followed by the sound of him clearing his throat. “Elodie?” I smiled to myself, leaning on the railing as my eyes roamed the glowing city below. “Hey, Silas. How are you doing?” “Uh…” He cleared his throat again, and I heard a faint shuffle on his end. “I’m fine. Still at the coast, enjoying the sea and some much-needed ‘me time.’ You?” Biting my lip, I thought about how to phrase things without sounding like an ass. “I’m… good,” I said, glancing over my shoulder at the reason I wasn’t on the coast. Valerian sprawled across the bed,
“Elodie?” Dad raised an eyebrow as he opened the door. Clad in a silky robe and comfy slippers, he looked like he’d just strolled out of the spa instead of the bathroom.“Hey, Dad,” I greeted awkwardly, shifting on my feet. “Uh… I need to talk to you about something. It’s kind of important.”“I don’t even have to guess. Valerian, right?” He confidently "guessed. I just stared, and he nodded like he’d solved a world crisis. “Alright, come inside. Take a seat.” He stepped aside, gesturing me into his hotel room.My watch told me it was just a few minutes left to five in the afternoon. Time ticks like a countdown. Valerian had said he’d wait, but I wasn’t sure how long his patience would hold out.“I’d offer you a drink, but I don’t think you’re here for small talk,” Dad said, settling into the single-seater couch. He crossed his legs like he was hosting a late-night show. “So, what’s the problem?”I bit my lip, careful not to smudge my lipstick. “You already know why I divorced Valerian
Both of my legs hurt. My knees wobbled with every step, and the heels I wore weren’t helping. I should’ve just gone with my trusty flip-flops. "You walk like you shit your pants," Bree said, catching up to me as I awkwardly shuffled past rows of fermented wine shelves. Frowning, I tried to straighten up. "No, I don’t," I denied, attempting to salvage my dignity. But Bree just giggled like someone was tickling her feet. "Oh, yeah, you do. And I heard from Dad you were with Valerian the hottie last night. No wonder you didn’t come back after your so-called 'moment of unwinding.'" She even air-quoted, nudging me lightly. That light nudge? Yeah, it was enough to topple me. My legs gave out, and I started panicking as I tipped forward, bracing for impact. But then—like some knight out of a rom-com—Valerian swooped in and caught me before I could plant my face on the ground. "I got you," he said, arms wrapping around my waist as he steadied me. His voice was calm, but he held the smug
We both stopped, eyes locking. Panic shot through me like a caffeine overdose, but that jerk? Calm as a cucumber.“Damn it,” he muttered, clearly not planning on answering the door. He began thrusting inside me, making me moan."Val... Oh... The door," I gasped."Fuck!" The bell rang again, followed by a knock. “Coming!” he yelled, pulling himself out of me, the sudden friction sending goosebumps racing across my skin.“Who’s at the door?” I asked, palms suddenly clammy, pushing myself to stand up straight.With zero concern and maximum annoyance at the interruption, he carried me to the bed.“I’ll find out,” he said, setting me down and tucking the covers over me as though I’d vanish into the bedspread.I watched as he threw on boxers and a robe, his muscular back rippling as he strode out.From where I am, I couldn’t see a thing, but the sound of my dad’s chipper voice hit me like a slap as Valerian opened the door.“Shit!” I hissed, sinking deeper under the blanket, as though it co
Sitting on a flat rock, my eyes twinkled. Valerian really took me to an unforgettable place.I lost count of how many times I complained about walking along the trail, but as soon as we sat here and just stared at the night view, I had to admit that the dark hike was worth it— even if I had become the mosquitoes' dinner on our way here."Whoa..." I chuckled, biting my lower lip to stifle my enthusiasm about what was in front of me."Since you're a 'sucker' for nature views, feast your eyes on Hudson Valley's beauty," he said, gesturing his hand in the air before joining me—eating up all the space beside me. "Let's appreciate the 'beauty' for a while."My playful mind wandered to what he meant by 'sucker.'Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, I could see how he was looking at me."The view is in front of us, Valerian, not on my face."He only hummed before following my gaze. "I'd like to be the guy I failed to be when we were together. My only question is... how. I want to know h
"You're going on a bed date with Valerian the hottie, not off to church to play Mother Teresa!" Bree chirped, watching as I checked myself out in the mirror.The minute I walked into the room, her judgmental eyes locked onto me. I had no choice but to give her a bit of the story—well, not everything.Seriously, this woman has eyes everywhere."Look, I’m not actually going to his room. What am I, a bimbo?" I said, wrapping my coat around my waist. "I'm heading out. I need some air.""Because he banged you hard on that yacht?" she shot back, smirking as she poured herself tea."Very decent of you, Bree," I snarked, flipping my hair back and grabbing my purse. "If Dad asks, tell him I went out to date myself.""Yourself, or with your Valerian?" she teased.I shook my head, left the room, and made a beeline for the elevator, low-key terrified Valerian might catch me sneaking out.How did things happen so quickly? I could barely keep up.I ended up down by the dock, staring at rows of yach
"This dinner looks like my last supper," I remarked, eyeing the lavish treat laid out before me—so many dishes that they practically mocked the ability of my stomach. "Are you planning to kill me tonight?"A low, seductive chuckle slipped from Valerian's lips as he gestured for the sommelier to pour us each a glass of champagne. "I took your energy earlier, didn’t I? Thought you could use some refueling. You’ll need all the strength you can get because, believe me, I’m planning to take it again after dinner."Valerian was true to his word, and he held nothing back. He knew exactly how to make me let my guard down, and it was far too effective.My legs were still trembling, and I felt a delicious soreness between them. He was strong, healthy, and insatiable. And me? Just a poor, enamored girl with a weakness for him."Very considerate of you to give me a forewarning," I said with mock sarcasm, leaning in to whisper, "But don’t you think owning me all over that yacht was enough?"I glan
"Gotcha!" Panic flooded through me. For a second, I thought I was getting dragged under by a kraken—turned out it was just some jackass thinking it'd be hilarious to play a prank on me. I splashed water right in his face, swimming away as his laugh echoed across the entire ocean. "Motherfucker! You think that's funny?" I yelled, heading back toward the yacht. But before I could climb on, Valerian pulled me—not by my arm, leg, or waist, but by the ribbon of my bikini top. "Oops..." he chuckled, as my glare burned into him. "Didn't mean to; my hand just did it on its own." He ran a hand through his wet hair, flexing his muscles and giving me one more reason to feel weak in the knees and wet my pussy. "I so hate you right now," I grumbled, narrowing my eyes as I splashed him again. With a mock pout, he swam closer, slipping an arm around my waist to hold me still. "That's sweet," he whispered, tugging my top and tossing it onto the deck. "Love you too, Ellie." Control? Yeah, the o
"You’re saying you brought me here just to leave me?" I confronted Dad as soon as he told me to stay put in the hotel while he checked the plantation with Bree. He adjusted his necktie in the mirror, tilting his head awkwardly. "As you know, your sister knows more about business than you, and Breeden insisted on coming with me. Besides, I told you to look around, have fun, and breathe in the air you desperately need." "It’s weird hearing it like that," I shot back with sarcasm. "I should’ve just flown back to the coast. At least the resort needs me." Excuses... excuses... "Any good businessperson knows their company survives with or without them physically present," he lectured, straightening up to face me. "How do I look?" "Like a fifty-year-old trying way too hard to impress someone younger than his daughters," I deadpanned, making him chuckle. "But seriously, Dad, I can’t just stay here. And if you forgot again, you still owe me an explanation." He checked his watch. "I bette