"Stop," I panted, shoving him away after our make-out session. My heart was hammering like a woodpecker on a tin roof."What's the matter, baby?" he murmured, his voice still husky from our kiss. His eyes, still hazy with desire, held me captive.I shook my head, pulling away from his touch. "This is wrong," I whispered, my voice barely a squeak. "I... I have to go." My feet felt like they were glued to the floor, like I was stuck in quicksand.He gently guided my head back towards him, his lips brushing against my neck. I bit my lip as he buried his face in my hair, inhaling my scent. "Wrong?" he chuckled, his breath tickling my skin. "There's nothing wrong if we both want this.""W--why would I want this? I'm over you."Valerian pulled back, his emerald eyes burning into mine. "Oh, really?" His lips curled into a smirk.I know that tone. He's challenging me. And that smirk he has tells me that he's excited to prove me wrong."Then why are you here with me?" His hand, which had been
"Leaving?" Dad's voice was a mix of confusion and disbelief. "But you just got here." My ass landed precariously on the edge of his visitor's chair, my butt barely touching the seat. "Yeah, well, I had to see a doctor this morning. Turns out, last night's… mishap might have done some damage." I winced, remembering the throbbing pain in my hip and my butthole. "Mishap?" Dad raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Just a little… accident," I mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact. "You know, I'm not a fan of my daughters lying to me, Elodie," he said, his voice low and serious. "I know, I know," I sighed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "But Bree called last night. Emergency at the resort, you know how it is." "And here I thought you were going to stay for a week, like you promised," he said, his voice laced with disappointment. "Oh, right," I groaned, slapping my forehead. "I completely forgot I told you th
"Yeah, I swear!" I practically shouted into the phone, exasperated. Bree had just asked if I was telling the truth. "I don't know what Dad's up to, but I have a feeling he's shoving me towards Valerian, and I hate it."Bree's laughter made me pull the phone away from my ear. "Goodness, E. Your life sucks," she snorted."Thanks for the reminder," I groaned, leaning against the balcony railing. The ocean of city lights stretched out before me. I hoped Valerian was at the other end of this glittering sea, far, far away from me.Last night's paradise? Forget it! I didn't want to relive those memories.My stomach still felt like a knot. I still feel like I won't be able to deposit what I eat because my butt still hurts. My hips ached like hell. It felt like I'd fallen out of a tree and landed on my ass."By the way, your lover boy with the killer butt and, I'm pretty sure, a massive… well, you know, sent a whole army of workers to the resort," Bree informed me. "Oh! And we've started accep
"Dad just called me and he was looking for you," Bree announced, her voice cutting through the peaceful Sunday morning air.I was sprawled out on the porch swing, trying to soak up the sun and forget the chaos of the city. I needed to move on, accept that what was done was done. But damn it, every time I closed my eyes, I saw Valerian's face and that damn big dick of his."He said he was disappointed," Bree added, making me turn to her, squinting through my sunglasses."Disappointed? Him?" I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Bree, between Dad and me, I'm the one who should be feeling disappointed. He set me up!""Uh-huh? But your face says otherwise. You were practically thanking Dad for setting you up because you got to see Valerian the hottie's dick. So, what's to be disappointed about?" She stood in front of me, hands on her hips, bossing me around as usual."Excuse me, even if Valerian was butt-naked in front of me, I'd still break his balls. Which I did," I said proudly, puffing out my
Days were dragging on, like one of those movies I was forced to watch with Dad. No action, no excitement, just the same old crap. But inside, I was about to blow. Seriously, I was pissed off, and I had no idea why! The sky was a fiery orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. I was stretched out on a beach chair, wearing my swimsuit and sunglasses. But behind those sunglasses, my eyes were burning with anger. The ocean was beautiful, with lots of people enjoying the start of summer. The waves were gentle, and the air was filled with happy sounds. But all I could see was him, the guy in black swim trunks, talking to a journalist who couldn't stop looking at him with those big, flirty eyes. Valerian Blackwood. Ugh, I wanted to throw him in the ocean and watch him drown! He was standing right where the waves were crashing on the sand. His hair was wet, and seawater was dripping down his body, making him look even more annoyingly handsome. He was holding his towel that hangs by his n
"Whoa," he chuckled, a low rumble in his chest, as I pushed him back onto the couch. "Ellie, don't do anything you'll regret tomorrow," he warned, but his grip on my legs tightened as I straddled him."Who says I'm going to regret this, Mr. Blackwood?" I asked, my hand settling on his chest, his back pressed against the plush cushions."You're drunk, baby." The honeyed sweetness of his voice was almost as intoxicating as the tequila, but it had a deeper effect on me than the alcohol ever could."I'm not drunk." Why was everyone telling me that? "I just had a few shots of tequila, that's all." I leaned close, burying my face in his neck, my teeth nipping at his skin. His moan was a delicious sound."Those tequila shots had you this wild?" He hummed, pushing me back by my shoulders. "Baby, as much as I want to ram you hard right now, I don't want to take advantage of you."I scoffed. "Sweet, but where's the fun in that?" I smiled, catching him off guard, but quickly withdrew it. "Or is
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
"So, what's the deal between you and that guy?" Valerian asked as we sat in the waiting area, a chair apart.Frankly, we hadn’t talked for minutes now, even after he insisted on driving us to the hospital just to wait for Silas to finish his report to the police. And Liam... poor Liam. I didn’t know what to think.I figured Silas would be the one to handle the case—if there even was one. He hadn’t shared the story yet. All we knew was that Liam got into an accident just an hour ago.And Valerian? He was sour."He just came by the door after twelve years of not seeing him. Just like you saw," I answered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "He asked if we could talk.""About what?" he asked, sticking his nose in further. I couldn’t blame him. Jealousy clung to his voice like a second skin."Well, I’d know by now if he hadn’t been hit by a car," I shot back, sarcasm held my words captive as I huffed and closed my eyes. "Look, Val, don’t you think this is just not the time to
It's past noon, and Liam told me to meet him tonight. I 'could' just tell Valerian about it, but what’s really bugging me is—what the hell does Liam have to spill?Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. I could practically feel my brain splitting in two. This is all Athena’s fault. If she hadn’t shown up with that huge ass missile, I wouldn’t be stuck overthinking everything."I’ve been seeing you around a lot lately," someone said behind me, making me inhale sharply mid-pour as coffee overflowed from my mug.I spun around to find Valerian’s decent yet laid-back older brother, Theodore, leaning casually against the counter.He was dressed in a dark gray suit and black tie, his whole vibe screaming calmness and effortless charm—unlike Valerian's color scheme on a daily basis. Theo looked like the type who could host a TED Talk on "Chill Vibes Only" while rocking the same monotone wardrobe every day.The meeting must’ve been dismissed. Now he’s probably looking for someone to bl
My eyes locked onto the face of a man I never thought I’d see again—not in this lifetime, not in the next. Yet, here he is. After twelve long years. Liam. Back from my history, as if he’d never left.His straight, dark hair still framed those maddeningly familiar brown eyes. Eyes that once felt like home and now felt like a question I wasn’t ready to answer. He carried the same calm he oozes, the kind that felt almost too fragile for the chaos he used to create. But then there was that jacket—black leather, well-worn—still screaming "trouble follows me everywhere."“Liam?” I said his name, my voice unsteady, as if speaking it would bring back all the ghosts I’d worked so hard to bury.His name tasted bitter, like chewing on regret.He stood there, easily towering over me, though I hated giving him that much credit.Standing there, he just shrugged. That same damn shrug, like nothing in the world could faze him—not heartbreak, not time, not even the look on my face right now.His expre
First Rachel Took, and now this? How does someone just waltz in after eight freaking years to drop a bomb like, “Oh, by the way, you have a kid”?Athena Winters knew exactly what she was doing. She couldn’t not know about Valerian and me. What was she trying to pull?Whatever beauty she owned on her skin brought nothing but headache in me."Massaging the sides of my head, I let out a soft sigh as I listened to the faint sound coming from the radio, breaking the silence that had settled in the air.""Ellie," Valerian said softly, his hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes darting toward me. He was trying to gauge my mood, but his voice betrayed him—he was nervous.I get it, his past was a mess. But can I really blame those women when it’s Valerian Blackwood who was willing to bring them heaven?If I were one of those women who had him, I'm pretty sure I'd do whatever it takes to keep him in my pocket. But the point is, I was the
"Yes?" Valerian asked, catching me gawking at him while he worked at his desk.He’d been frowning at his laptop screen since I walked in. I’d been bored at home and decided to visit him, avoiding my sister’s calls because I knew she’d pester me for updates about Valerian and me, like some paparazzo desperate for a scoop.Honestly, I don’t know what spell this man has on me, but he’s been in my head all day. I swear, I’d probably drop dead if I didn’t get to stare at his gorgeous face for a few hours.Every morning, I wake up in his arms, warm and safe. There’s nothing more I could ask for.Valerian doesn’t just love me; he respects me, trusts me, and treats me like a delicate child more than the queen I think I am. And somehow, I love it.Biting my lip, I tried to contain my excitement as I watched him.The earthy green of his eyes was mesmerizing enough to suck me into his world. And those lips? Always hungry for me—but does he know I’m just as greedy?Mornings are quite... eventful
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