I gradually woke up to the chirping of the birds and the sharp glare of the sunlight. I opened my eyes slowly and blinked several times to clear my vision. In those moments, I prayed that last night had been a bad dream; that the forced proximity, the suffocating warmth of his embrace, the way his lips claimed mine, and my body's betrayal were all a story created by my mind. But, the scent of his cologne wrapped around me told me otherwise. I tossed my head to the side once my vision cleared, only to find that the bed was empty. Nikolai was gone. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes. I was still in the black gown I had worn last night. It slipped down my shoulders, reminding me of how he had ruined my plan and pulled out the knife as if he already knew what I could do. Although I was relieved that I didn't wake up tangled in his arms—otherwise, he would have left me no opportunity to tease me. But a part of me was furious as well. He could disappear when
The driver kept his eyes on me until I entered the college.I came here seeking an escape, but even during classes, my mind was consumed with thoughts of Nikolai.Everyone knew what had happened to my family, and they sympathized with me. But I didn’t want their sympathy. I was just relieved they didn’t know about my forced marriage to Nikolai, or they’d start fearing me for no reason. If there was one thing Nikolai had done right, it was keeping the wedding private—only a few of his close men, the Mafia council, and the priest had been present.My friends tried to cheer me up, but I couldn't focus on anything. After classes, I went to the library and plugged in my phone to charge. I had been debating whether to call Dimitri, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right decision.He had agreed to marry me because he was going to get a share of my father’s property. But now, with everything gone, I had no idea how he would react.Still, I had to try. Dimitri was powerful, and more importantly,
His eyes were bloodshot when they met mine. His jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he might break his teeth. And for the very first time, I felt relieved to see him here. Slowly his gaze shifted to the three boys, and his fists balled to his sides. He was just restraining himself from snapping their necks right here and now. With his presence, not only did silence spread but also the temperature of the room dropped by several degrees. And in that moment, I knew these boys would wish they had never been born. His eyes darkened even further when they flicked down to their hands—hands that were still all over me. "Ca-Capo?" one of them stammered, cutting through the silence. I could feel the three of them trembling. The college students feared these boys because they belonged to powerful families. I am sure they are well aware of Nikolai. In a blink of an eye, Nikolai closed the distance between us. "Capo, we... You can have her first if you want." Their hands dropped from
The whole way home, Nikolai didn't say a single word. He just drove toward my hell, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that I am sure his knuckles turned white under the blood of those bastards. I stayed silent too, looking anywhere but at him. My body was as stiff as a board, my mind racing with millions of thoughts. The car came to a halt in front of his mansion, and before I could even collect my thoughts, he was already out of the car. The next thing I knew was that my side of the door yanked open, and he pulled me out of the car roughly yet cautiously.I kept my head down as we passed the servants. Their eyes were heavy with sympathy, and I hated it. That look. That pity. It only added to the humiliation burning in my veins.Without a single word, Nikolai shoved me inside the room and locked the door. I turned around to face him. He kicked off his shoes and I braced myself for his rage. For him to lash out, scream, or worse, beat me. But nothing like that happened. Inste
The kiss wasn’t just a claim; it was a brand. His hands moved to my back, pressing me closer as if he wanted to mold me to him permanently.And I melted. I melted in his arms perfectly, as if I were made for it. A traitorous moan escaped my throat when his lips moved to the sweet spot behind my ear, leaving a trail of kisses along my jawline. He wasn't just kissing me with his lips, but he was worshipping me. With each kiss, it felt like he was burning his name in my flesh. My fingers curled into his damp hair to push him away but instead, I found myself holding him tighter. My body was betraying me. “See?” he smirked against my collarbone, dragging his tongue along the sensitive skin. “You can deny me all you want, but this…” His hand slid down, squeezing my thigh possessively. “This reaction? It’s all mine.”I gasped when my breathing became erratic. My resolve was crumbling under his gentle touch. My body was melting, becoming a putty in his hands. The undeniable heat roused i
Betrayed.That’s exactly how I feel right now, and that too by my own body.Shame burned in my chest, hotter than the fever wracking my body. How could I? How dare I take pleasure from the same hands that shattered my world? The same fingers that killed my family. How could I stoop so low? For a few moments of pleasure, how could I forget what he did to me? A soft knock on the door disrupts my thoughts, irritating me further. "Go away! I don’t want anything," I snap, for the fifth time today.My voice is hoarse from the cold I caught yesterday, all thanks to him. My body is burning with fever, and my throat is raw and clogged with cough, making it difficult for me to speak and breathe. The contrast between hot and cold is unbearable, leaving me exhausted. But more than that, I miss my father and brother. After my mother died, they became overprotective of me. When I was sick, they took care of me like a child, fussing over me and making sure I was comfortable no matter how busy
I was running wildly in the open field, the cold breeze brushing through my hair, making it flow behind me in waves. The warm golden glow of the setting sun spread over everything. My crackles of pure happiness filled the open field along with the soft ruffles of leaves. The sweet scent of wildflowers filled the air as my fingers grazed them while I ran. “Run, Alessia, run... while you still have time,” a deep, familiar voice called out behind me.I turned my head slightly and saw a silhouette of a strong, well-built man. A playful smile made its way to my lips as I pushed my legs harder, determined to outrun him.“I will run so far that you won’t be able to catch me!” I chirped, my voice resonating with pure delight. A deep and dark chuckle followed my loud and carefree laugh. "You are mine, Alessia, and you can't outrun me. There is no escape from me." His words sent a shiver through me, but before I could react, strong arms wrapped around me possessively. My body instantly mel
I had been waiting for Nikolai to return for two hours now, biting my lips in anticipation. I just couldn't wait to see his reaction. I just wanted to soak in the frustration on his face, knowing that, at least for once, he was not in control. Since evening, I had been doing my little happy dance in the room. Our plan had worked. Dimitri was able to take down his clients, leaving Nikolai with nothing. I had celebrated it by eating so much that even the servants were surprised. They were probably wondering if I had finally accepted my fate here. If only they knew. I slumped back further into the pillow, holding the book tightly as I tried to focus on the words to pass the time. Just then, the door to the room opened.My head snapped up to see Nikolai entering as if he owned the place, which he did.I was more interested in his expressions. His jaw was tightly clenched, and the way he exhaled sharply told me he wasn't pleased. In fact, he looked furious.Behind him, a maid entered,
When the car slowed to a stop, I fully expected to find myself in front of a lavish five-star restaurant, the kind that matched Nikolai’s personality: extravagant, cold, and overwhelming. Instead, I found myself standing in the middle of a small and warm restaurant. It was dimly lit, with rustic tables and soft golden lights. Suddenly, the scent of freshly baked bread and rich spices wafted through the air, and I couldn't help but inhale it again and again. It felt so familiar, even though I had come here for the very first time. I swallowed hard and turned my head to Nikolai, only to find him already watching me, his dark eyes filled with something close to fascination. My brows furrowed. Why does he always look at me like that—as if I am the most precious thing in his world—when he has already taken away my happiness, my life? I cleared my throat and tore my gaze away. “Have a seat, my lady,” he said smoothly, pulling out a chair with a soft smile on his lips. I glanced at
Alessia's POV It had been over a week since Nikolai had brought me back to this hell. Since then, I have done nothing except sleep. No matter how much I slept, I felt very tired and restless all the time. Every time I spent a night with Nikolai, I regretted it the next morning. No matter how much I swore to resist, I always lost control whenever he was close. I had barely spoken to him since then. I avoided him most of the time. To my surprise, he also gave me the required space instead of forcing his presence like at other times. He was trying to act all soft around me, but I knew his reality. I wasn't going to be lured by his fake care and concern. I knew what a skilled manipulator he was. The soft click of the door opening broke through my thoughts. I immediately shut my eyes, curling deeper into the mattress, pretending to be asleep. A few seconds later, I heard the soft click again, which meant he had closed the door. He stayed there for a moment before I heard the
Nikolai's POV"This is so unfair. You promised that island to me!" Antonio shouted, his voice hoarse from hours of suffering. He was tied to the chair, exactly where and how I wanted him, beaten black and blue by my men. His arrogant posture now slumped against the chair. The blood dripping from his temple soaked into his white shirt, painting it red. He was always under the illusion that he could outsmart me. Even in the past, he betrayed me by joining hands with Alessia's father. But today, reality had hit him harder than my men’s fists. I leaned against the heavy wooden desk, casually swirling the whiskey in my glass, letting him cry a little more. It was bringing peace to my heart. The air was thick with the smell of iron and blood, something I am used to. I wanted Alessia to witness the consequences of her actions, but I knew she wouldn't be able to stand here. She hasn't been feeling well for the past few days. After that night, she struggled to even walk to the bathro
Third person POV Alessia's whole body shuddered when Nikolai pressed the ice cube directly against her clit. Her body was on fire; she needed release, but Nikolai's actions made it even more challenging for her, while he was thoroughly enjoying her predicament. He wanted to tease her, punish her, and teach her a lesson so she wouldn't repeat the mistake. He understood that she was overwhelmed by emotion and revelation, which caused her to escape, but she didn't realize the blunder she had committed. She was too innocent to understand others' intentions. Antonio could have done anything to her. As a Mafia King, he had many enemies looking for his weakness, and now she had made it obvious. They would surely come after her. She would have to understand that only he was her home, her solace, her only place to turn to. No one knew her body better than he did, and he was taking advantage of exactly that. He slowly and teasingly began rubbing the ice on her clit. Her legs tightened
I can't trust him. He could do anything for his sick pleasure. "I am not as despicable as you think," he mumbled before dropping the belt on the floor. I released the breath I had been holding for so long. But my breath once again caught in my throat when he dropped his pants as well and climbed onto the bed. "Don't move!" he ordered when I tried to crawl away from him. The mattress dipped beneath his weight as he moved closer. He positioned my body between his knees and leaned forward to grab an ice cube. Before I could process what he was trying to do, he pressed the ice cube against my collarbone, sending a shock of cold through my body. But what surprised me more was the excitement that stirred beneath the fear. Goosebumps rose all over my skin as I struggled to understand my own body. Everything he does to me feels like it has happened in the past, and I don't remember a single thing! My breath hitched when he began moving the ice cube from my collarbone up my t
The air suddenly became thick. My legs felt too heavy to move, especially after listening to his obscene demand. "On the bed, Alessia," he commanded. "Now!" My fingers curled to my sides as my heart hammered wildly in my chest. My legs remained unmoved as if chained by invisible ropes. His eyes were too dark and intense. "And don't forget to remove your clothes." I didn't move from my place. I couldn't. My chest rose and fell in anticipation. I knew he was waiting for me to follow his command, but I couldn't. He inhaled deeply, took another step back, and pinched the bridge of his nose. The veins in his forearm strained, indicating the effort it took to hold back. "Don't test my patience, Alessia!" he snapped. "Don't make me do it!" I shivered. My knees buckled. His ruthless eyes bored into me. "You know if I come to myself, it won't end well for you," he growled through clenched teeth. "I'm still trying to be lenient with you. Don't make it more difficult than it al
I know he would not let me go this easily for what I have done, but I didn't expect him to be this bold. Removing his hand from my thigh, I shifted back into my seat. He didn't try to make contact, either. He placed his elbows on his thighs, leaned forward, and kept his eyes on the road as if each meter felt like a mile to him. Meanwhile, I was still struggling to breathe. I was trying to tell my heart that he couldn't hurt me physically. To be honest, it's not the fear of him killing me that haunts me—it's the fear of my body betraying me, surrendering once again to his rhythm. I hate that, despite everything, I still feel safe with him. I hate that even after he shattered my entire world, a part of me still longs for his presence. I hate that someone who tore my heart to pieces can still feel so painfully familiar and so close. The rest of the journey went silent, and I knew very well that it was the silence before the storm. I didn't dare look at him, but I could feel his ga
Alessia's POV "He has happily handed you over to me for a piece of land." The color drained from my face when I heard Nikolai. Though I didn't trust Antonio much, my heart broke. Every damn person I have met in my life has always betrayed me. It feels as if the ground has shifted beneath my feet. My knees buckled; I was about to fall, but before I could lose my balance, Nikolai's arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest. "You have no idea what I had to let go of to have you back in my arms." I blinked as a gasp escaped my throat. The intensity of his possessive grip burned into my skin, reminding me of where I belonged. Why? Why does it have to be me every damn time? Why? "There is no one else in this world who can protect you the way I can," Nikolai added. "I would burn the world before I let anyone else take you away from me." He leaned down and dipped his head into the crook of my neck. He inhaled deeply as if I were a drug keeping him sane.
Nikolai's POV The people around me watched in surprise as I walked through the corridors of Antonio's company. I was moving like a man possessed. I was actually furious; I just needed my Dolcezza back in my arms. How could he even think that he could take her away from me and that I would stay silent? The guards eyed me warily, but a sharp glance from me had them stepping aside. They knew who I was and knew better than to test my patience today. One of his men tried to stop me, but I just pushed him away. Without any formality, I opened the doors to his private cabin without hesitation. He was seated behind his mahogany desk, working on his laptop, doing something. He was holding a glass of whisky in one hand. His head snapped up as soon as he heard the loud bang of the door. At first, he was taken aback, but then a slow, dark, and satisfying smirk stretched across his lips. The bastard had been expecting me. "What a great surprise, Capo," he drawled, swirling the ambe