"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
"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.
Waking up to Eminem's blasting music, a dull ache hammers my skull. I slowly open my eyes to find Keon's unconscious form slumped against me, his head resting heavily on my shoulder.Asael raps along, his words racing as fast as his driving. My heart leaps to my throat as he speeds up, weaving through traffic like a maniac.Suddenly, he slams on the brakes. "We're here!" he announces, parking amidst other cars surrounding a sprawling water fountain."Where...where are we?" I stutter, still disoriented from the spray.Asael responds coldly, "We're at a party. Try to leave, and I'll let Rhys handle you."He jumps out of the car, opens the door, and yanks Keon off me. "Hey, wake up!" He slaps Keon's cheek.Keon's eyes open weakly, widening in horror as he sees Asael. "Get off me!"He pushes Asael away and makes a break for it, but I'm hot on his heels, clutching his arm. "Wait, don't!"His panicked eyes snaps to mine."Dude, we're okay. Calm down, he just brought us to a party," I say, p
"How long are you going to sleep, loser?"That voice... I know it, but it's deeper now, rougher. And it's heavy with anticipation, creating a stir in my chest.Rhys..."Hey!" The urgency and impatience in his tone escalate, accompanied by light slaps on my cheek.A startled gasp escapes me as I open my eyes to find his face achingly close, our noses nearly touching, his warm breath leaving me breathless.Shock flashes in those dark eyes, and I'm momentarily distracted by how infuriatingly attractive he is. His features look chiseled to perfection – every line, every angle, every detail is goddamn flawless.A surge of rage and desire courses through me; I want to touch him, scratch my nails into his cheeks until blood pours out. But when I try to move my hands, I realize I'm trapped."Where am I?! Why am I tied up?" I snap, my eyes frantically scanning the luxurious, yet eerily plain, bedroom.Rhys erupts into a deep, throaty laughter, leaning back and standing upright before me. His a
Control...My sense of self is tied to control. It's the foundation I've been taught to build upon, making choices that define my existence.In my world, control is supreme.But with Jasper, control is virtually nonexistent. He brings out sides of me that I've kept hidden, sides that I never thought I had.Yes, I'm insane, sick, twisted, but he stirs a hunger within me. And it's just as toxic as the hatred I breed for him.Jasper kisses me like he wants to claim every part of me, ravaging my senses and feeding the hunger that grips me.I'm paralyzed. My heart is pounding, my fingers are trembling. As I taste the tequila on his tongue, an electric thrill courses through my body, down to my cock.And suddenly, I can't breathe. I'm drowning, dizzy... Lost in his kiss."Fuck it!" I groan, returning the kiss. I catch his long, silky black hair in a tight grip and jerk his head back, angling his face perfectly as I devour his mouth, kissing and sucking every part until he's moaning into min
"I did all your assignments for you," I say, handing Keon his books and pulling out mine to place on the table.Keon stares at me as if I have two heads, and I instinctively press my hand to my head to check. Just to make sure."Th...thank you," he stammers, his bright smile transforming his previously nervous face.I give a reluctant laugh. "You owe me. Now start coming to class regularly, okay?"Keon nods enthusiastically, and a ghost of a smile curls on my lips.After submitting our assignments, class is over, and Keon and I make our way to the soccer field. I'm not sure if Keon wants to come, but he is following me.Meanwhile, I'm searching for Rhys.He was our lead striker back in high school. I haven't researched his college activities, but he did break my nose with a soccer ball, so he's definitely still playing.As we arrive, the soccer field is filled with cheering students, mostly girls, to be honest. Their excited squeals echo through every corner. I join them, sitting righ
"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,
I kick at the sand with my boots, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy in my chest. The wind blows around me, and I feel carefree, like I'm five again. I skip along, laughing and swinging my arms as I gaze out at the ocean waves glinting under the full moonlight.But I'm not excited because of the beach. I'm excited because of the large, tattooed man walking behind me, his admiring gaze fixed on me. I walk backwards, cocking my head to the side as I stare at him."Do you like me, straight boy?" I ask, a playful smile spreading across my face."I hate you," he replies immediately, his expression stern.I shrug nonchalantly, feeling a sense of ease in my stomach. "That's reassuring."I twirl, walking ahead towards the ocean, but Rhys immediately yanks me back. "Nope. It's cold. You're not going in there." His arm wraps tightly around my waist, possessive and warm.I throw my head back to look at his chiseled, gorgeous face. "Well, promise me we'll come to the beach for a swim then."Rhy
"Are you just going to keep staring at him? Go to him, asshole." Luciano says, snatching the cigarette from my lips. I quickly retrieve it, my eyes narrowing warily."I'm... I'm going to do that, but not now," I say, trying to sound nonchalant.Luciano's face falls, his expression a picture of disappointment. "Not while everyone is looking."I'm not sure what comes over me, but I feel a sudden urge to laugh. It's a manic, unhinged sound, and it startles even me. But I quickly compose myself, take a long drag on my cigarette, and blow a stream of smoke directly into Luciano's face, my expression stern."I'm not ashamed or anything like that. I'm just... shy, I think," I admit, trying to downplay my feelings.Luciano's eyes widen in surprise. "You like him!" he exclaims, his voice a bit too loud for comfort.My body's immediate response is panic, and I find myself glancing over at Jasper, who's still engrossed in conversation with Keon. They're both staring at Jasper's phone, probably d