"When a person plays with their food, it usually means two things: they don't like it, or they're thinking about something." Dad's voice pulled me out of my trance. "I'm assuming it's the latter since you're a big fan of my pasta dishes. So, what's bothering you?" Discussing my weaknesses wasn't my favorite thing to do, and my problems weren't exactly the topic I wanted to talk about. Forcing a smile, I crunched my nose, hoping I could pull off the act of a great liar. “It’s—” “Nothing? Yeah, I thought so,” he interrupted, swirling his wine. “But what’s that nothing about? I’m curious.” I shrugged, still feeling the ghost of Valerian’s touch on my shoulders. I twirled some pasta on my fork. “I’m just being a woman,” I mumbled, taking a bite even though I had no appetite. Dad sipped his wine. “Does being a woman make you a liar?” I almost choked. “What? No!” "What am I going to expect? I've encountered so many women in my life, and all of them have this unusual att
My left eye kept twitching, and no, it’s not because I lack magnesium—or his cum! I mean, it’s not about lacking anything in my body; it’s all because of the anger, the fury, the raging flames inside me, and just me embodying the temperature of hell all mixed up. Summer is supposed to be hot; I get that. But it didn’t help me extinguish the burning rage within. "Dad said you have an impressive talent, E! I watched the video, and it was superb!" Bree chimed in enthusiastically as she plopped herself on the couch next to me, checking her neon green nails. "It was almost Broadway-level drama. I should've been there." Last night was the most embarrassing moment of my life. How many times do I need to remind myself never to get drunk? I drunkenly drove in my lingerie and robe, broke down and cried, and ended up getting pranked, a little? But it was all my father's fault. Valerian was in the hospital, sleeping, because he got punched in the jaw by some huge brawny guy after causing a s
"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
"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
"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
"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
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
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
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