"N..No. I can't do this." I break away from the kiss, tearing myself away from him. "Goddammit!"My heart is racing so fast I have to press my hand to it. "You have to stop messing with me, Rhys. If you want me, tell me and I'll stay with you. If you don't want me, I'll leave."Rhys yanks me forward, pressing my body against his as he wraps his arms around my waist, gripping my sweater tightly. I can feel his intensity, his desire to rip it off."Rhys." My body trembles, and I can feel his heart pounding against his chest, like it's trying to break free.I look up at him, his hair obscuring his eyes, but I can see them darkening in the dim light."Rhys," I whisper, my breath catching in my throat. "What do you want from me?"He leans in, his face inches from mine, our lips almost touching. Our breath mingles, and I can feel his heart beating in time with mine."Rhys." Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Bloody hell! I just want to hear him say the words I desperately need to hear.
The seconds tick by with agonizing slowness as I wait ten minutes after Jasper's exit.My mind is screaming at me to act, to move, to do something.But I'm a bloody idiot! A moronic, brainless, self-sabotaging fool!I want to look at him, to drink in the sight of his beautiful face, to memorize every curve and contour. Again and again.I want to tell him what's going on with me, to confess my deepest fears and desires.I want to tell him I'm sorry, to beg for his forgiveness. On my fucking knees!I want to hug him and just... melt in his warmth.Oh my god!He deserves so much good, so much joy. And I really want to see joy linger in those beautiful sapphire eyes, to see him smile in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.I'm running back to the party. And as soon as I burst out of the building, desperate to catch up with Jasper, a quick grip on my arm brings me to a sudden stop. I spin around to face Asael, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed in concern."What's wrong?" My teeth c
"Look at those wiggling fingers. Ya think he's awake?" Comes a distant voice, muffled by the darkness that surrounds me."Hey! You awake?" Another voice comes, echoing with laughter.I try to respond, but my lungs feel like they're on fire. I inhale deeply, the air burning my throat, and exhale sharply.The sensation is agonizing, but it's enough to spark my senses back to life."Bloody hell.." I try to move, but the familiar sensation of being tied to a chair stops me cold.Panic sets in, and I scream at the top of my lungs. "You fuckers don't know how to tie a rope tight?!"I thrash about, the tight ropes binding my hands to the armrests cutting into my skin. "Fuck!""We have a sharp mouth here, Brody," A gruff voice with a thick Irish accent growls in displeasure."He was screaming earlier. He's such a pretty face. Why don't we take more fun in this before we cut him open?" Another voice chimes in, sending a raw chill down my spine.Oh shit! What have I gotten myself into? I rememb
Staring at Jasper's unconscious form lying on my bed, my heart sinks. His sharp jawline, bruised but still breathtaking, and his full lips, cracked and dry, unsettles me to my core. The crisscrossing strips of gauze and jagged edges of surgical tape only add to the gravity of his condition.A wave of guilt washes over me, its familiar gnawing sensation eating away at my existence. Fear claws at my mind, making my blood rush into my ears.Goddammit!I'm trapped in this nightmare, and I'm the one who created it!I chased him away, and now he's lying broken and battered on my bed. Everything that happened to him is my fault.The Ravens... they had to pay. I tore them apart... they touched what's mine.Fuck! I remember their bodies crumpled beneath my feet, their blood soaking into my skin like a twisted baptism.I know I'm selfish. I drew him into a war he never saw coming. But he has to deal with it now because Jasper Morgan belongs to me."I'm sorry, Jas," My fingers brush against his
Should I tell him?No..."Jas..." My lips curve upward, and I feel a warmth spread through my face. I place my hand on his head, ruffling his hair, and his frown vanishes, replaced by a dazed and flushed expression."You don't have to worry about anything," I say, trying to reassure him. "All you have to focus on is recovering.""I am going to recover," Jasper's eyes narrow, and he cocks his head to the side. "But you..." He takes a deep breath, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. "What if you're in grave danger?"My lips press into a thin line. "Shush, winner,"He frowns. "Seriously? You want me to ignore this?"Now I'm feeling irritated. But before I can even control my thoughts, I'm crashing my lips against his, the frustration melting away into want."Oh.." He wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me closer, parting his lips to allow my tongue to slip into his mouth. The taste is intoxicating, like a rich, velvety wine that leaves me breathless. I deepen the kiss, feeling his
"Faster baby, faster!" It's not every day I walk into my boyfriend's apartment, excited to celebrate our one-year anniversary, only to find his pale ass in the air as he pumps himself into a strange lady underneath him. The thought of smashing my violin on his head is tempting, but I have a solo performance in an hour. What if his dense skull breaks it? No.. I don't care. I drop the gift bag, my hands shaking as I remove my violin from its case. I raise it, ready to strike the back of his head. But just as I'm about to swing, the girl beneath him screams like a banshee. Nate's eyes widen, his face pale and horrified, as he turns to stare at me. "Jas!" A pained, deranged smile curls onto my lips. "Hello, babe," "It's... It's not what you think!" Nate pulls out of the lady, scrambling to his feet and hastily putting on his pants. He points at the terrified-looking girl on the cushion. "I don't even know her!" The typical denial. The girl's face twists in anger as she glares at
The dining room atmosphere is bustling, bright, and light. A complete opposite to my existence. Laughter fills the air, courtesy of my parents, Kiara, her fiancé, Damon Orlov, his parents, and the one person I don't want here – Rhys Volkov. Mom's blue eyes sparkle as she chats with Rhys, clearly smitten. Kiara giggles at his jokes. And I'm starting to think Rhys is the star of the night, eclipsing Damon, whose gentle smile and handsome face initially caught my attention. But I can't shake the feeling that he might be just as cunning as Rhys. Rhys lavishes praise on my mom, "No, No, no! Theresa, you are stunning, flawless." Mom blushes like a teenager, her cheeks flushing pink. "Oh, now you're just teasing me." Rhys gasps dramatically. "Oh I would never!" "Oh stop," Mom giggles, playfully waving her hand at him. What the... I stifle a gag, surprised by Rhys's effortless charm around adults. While everyone engages in lively conversations, I'm lost in my thoughts, struggling to s
"Don't forget about your assignments, class; there will be extra credit," The professor says as he exits the auditorium, triggering a burst of conversation among the students who are rushing to leave.I shove my books into my backpack, wincing as I zip it closed with my stupid bandaid-covered fingers, which I'd forgotten were still sore from plucking my violin strings earlier."Fucking fingers!" Frustration pulses through me like a drumbeat.Slinging my backpack onto my shoulder, I grab my violin case, my stomach growling with hunger. Fuck! I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch yet.I press my hand to my rumbling stomach. "At this rate, I'll definitely lose more weight."As I walk down the hall, shoving my hood over my head, I'm relieved that people don't stare as much in college as they do in high school. Everyone's too busy dealing with their own issues to notice an antisocial freshman like me, always dressed in black and hiding behind my hood due to my insecurities about my long hair.
Should I tell him?No..."Jas..." My lips curve upward, and I feel a warmth spread through my face. I place my hand on his head, ruffling his hair, and his frown vanishes, replaced by a dazed and flushed expression."You don't have to worry about anything," I say, trying to reassure him. "All you have to focus on is recovering.""I am going to recover," Jasper's eyes narrow, and he cocks his head to the side. "But you..." He takes a deep breath, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. "What if you're in grave danger?"My lips press into a thin line. "Shush, winner,"He frowns. "Seriously? You want me to ignore this?"Now I'm feeling irritated. But before I can even control my thoughts, I'm crashing my lips against his, the frustration melting away into want."Oh.." He wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me closer, parting his lips to allow my tongue to slip into his mouth. The taste is intoxicating, like a rich, velvety wine that leaves me breathless. I deepen the kiss, feeling his
Staring at Jasper's unconscious form lying on my bed, my heart sinks. His sharp jawline, bruised but still breathtaking, and his full lips, cracked and dry, unsettles me to my core. The crisscrossing strips of gauze and jagged edges of surgical tape only add to the gravity of his condition.A wave of guilt washes over me, its familiar gnawing sensation eating away at my existence. Fear claws at my mind, making my blood rush into my ears.Goddammit!I'm trapped in this nightmare, and I'm the one who created it!I chased him away, and now he's lying broken and battered on my bed. Everything that happened to him is my fault.The Ravens... they had to pay. I tore them apart... they touched what's mine.Fuck! I remember their bodies crumpled beneath my feet, their blood soaking into my skin like a twisted baptism.I know I'm selfish. I drew him into a war he never saw coming. But he has to deal with it now because Jasper Morgan belongs to me."I'm sorry, Jas," My fingers brush against his
"Look at those wiggling fingers. Ya think he's awake?" Comes a distant voice, muffled by the darkness that surrounds me."Hey! You awake?" Another voice comes, echoing with laughter.I try to respond, but my lungs feel like they're on fire. I inhale deeply, the air burning my throat, and exhale sharply.The sensation is agonizing, but it's enough to spark my senses back to life."Bloody hell.." I try to move, but the familiar sensation of being tied to a chair stops me cold.Panic sets in, and I scream at the top of my lungs. "You fuckers don't know how to tie a rope tight?!"I thrash about, the tight ropes binding my hands to the armrests cutting into my skin. "Fuck!""We have a sharp mouth here, Brody," A gruff voice with a thick Irish accent growls in displeasure."He was screaming earlier. He's such a pretty face. Why don't we take more fun in this before we cut him open?" Another voice chimes in, sending a raw chill down my spine.Oh shit! What have I gotten myself into? I rememb
The seconds tick by with agonizing slowness as I wait ten minutes after Jasper's exit.My mind is screaming at me to act, to move, to do something.But I'm a bloody idiot! A moronic, brainless, self-sabotaging fool!I want to look at him, to drink in the sight of his beautiful face, to memorize every curve and contour. Again and again.I want to tell him what's going on with me, to confess my deepest fears and desires.I want to tell him I'm sorry, to beg for his forgiveness. On my fucking knees!I want to hug him and just... melt in his warmth.Oh my god!He deserves so much good, so much joy. And I really want to see joy linger in those beautiful sapphire eyes, to see him smile in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.I'm running back to the party. And as soon as I burst out of the building, desperate to catch up with Jasper, a quick grip on my arm brings me to a sudden stop. I spin around to face Asael, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed in concern."What's wrong?" My teeth c
"N..No. I can't do this." I break away from the kiss, tearing myself away from him. "Goddammit!"My heart is racing so fast I have to press my hand to it. "You have to stop messing with me, Rhys. If you want me, tell me and I'll stay with you. If you don't want me, I'll leave."Rhys yanks me forward, pressing my body against his as he wraps his arms around my waist, gripping my sweater tightly. I can feel his intensity, his desire to rip it off."Rhys." My body trembles, and I can feel his heart pounding against his chest, like it's trying to break free.I look up at him, his hair obscuring his eyes, but I can see them darkening in the dim light."Rhys," I whisper, my breath catching in my throat. "What do you want from me?"He leans in, his face inches from mine, our lips almost touching. Our breath mingles, and I can feel his heart beating in time with mine."Rhys." Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Bloody hell! I just want to hear him say the words I desperately need to hear.
Riding my bike back home from violin practice, I'm met with a surprise. The mansion compound is packed with cars, and the sound of booming music, cheers, and screams fills the air. I park my bike, exhaustion washing over me as I remove my helmet. "I'm not in a party mood." It's Asael's birthday today, and I hadn't planned on returning to the mansion so late. My mind has been preoccupied with securing a solo spot. I'm so close! I make my way through the crowd, scanning the sea of faces for a glimpse of Rhys, but all I can see is Asael and Luciano dancing together, surrounded by cheering people. Luciano is laughing and spraying them money. I roll my eyes, a grumble escaping my lips. "Rich people." As I step up the stairs and into the hall, I find myself standing in front of Rhys' door. I stare hard at it, feeling the urge to open it, but it's probably locked – and he doesn't want to see me. Maybe he wants to. My phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking the spell. I pull it o
It's Asael's birthday today, and the party is tonight. But I'm not really concerned about the preparations because Asael made it clear he wants to handle everything himself.Right now, I'm at the company, signing documents my dad told me to take care of. I'm exhausted and grumpy, dreading the fact that this will be my life soon.Makar is lounging on the couch, his eyes sealed on his phone. He looks more conflicted than usual. "What's wrong?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.He looks up at me, his eyes wide with surprise, like he didn't expect me to ask. "Well, erm... My father wants me to do something that will prevent a war between us and the Italians.""What?" My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen to see a message from Dad. [Arrange marriage.]"Well, that's unexpected." I look up at Makar, who forces a weak smile."I'm guessing you know what I'm supposed to do," He rises from the couch, storms out of my office, and slams the door behind him, screaming, "I'm getting married to a fu
I'm returning from the club at 12 pm, not exactly part of my plan, but the unwanted energy I've been receiving lately is pushing me away from this mansion.For an odd reason, I feel like Batman.I head to the kitchen, opening the fridge to find a large bowl of chocolate ice cream. And hell! Do I feel blessed!"Just gotta take this to my room, watch a movie, and ignore that asshole," I grumble to myself as I make my way upstairs, through the hall.But.. Before I know it, I'm standing in front of Rhys' door, staring at it like an obsessed freak.Damn.We had a good thing going at the beach the other night, but of course, from the next day on, he's been giving me that "you ruined my life" look.At first, I didn't want to believe it. But fuck it! We're back to square one."Open sesame," I pull the door handle, and to my surprise, it's unlocked."Oh?" I step into the dark room, and the moonlight illuminates Rhys, who's fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath.He l
Damon takes a drag of his cigarette, his eyes fixed on the bloodied mace clutched in my hand. "Makar had a run-in with the Ravens last night," he mutters. "Seems they've gone to the Italians for help."I gaze at my bloodied hand, a grim smile spreading across my face as my bloodlust begins to subside. "Smart move, crawling under the Italians' feet," I say. "Father's been trying to avoid an all-out war between us."Damon's calculated eyes narrow, studying me intently. I can sense his unspoken questions, his attempts to unravel the complexities of my thoughts and emotions.I sit in the chair, the lifeless body of the Ravens' leader beside me, a gruesome note to the brutality I've unleashed. The Ravens think they can hide behind the Italians. "The war is inevitable now," I growl, my voice low and menacing. "I'm wiping out the Ravens completely. I don't care if they're in hiding. They tried to hurt my family."The words feel like fire in my throat, and I realize, with a sense of unease,