Amara was flushed to her core. Her insides were dancing weirdly and her body in his arms was feeling so hot despite the cold rain as he carried her inside. Her legs had given up on the strength, and so did her arms. She was thankful Rhys was carrying her. Cause she didn’t know how she would’ve managed to climb the stairs with a tremble.
Her breaths, heart, and time seem to be still all together. These feelings she was experiencing were so strange and somewhat familiar like she had gone through them sometime earlier. Hiding her face into his neck, Amara breathed in his scent. Her lips met his neck unconsciously, drinking in the rain droplets, tasting his skin.
Rhys’s breath hitched as he looked down at her in his arms. If she kept provoking him like this, he’d end up doing something crazy. His self-control was slipping, and she kept teasing him with her innocence. Those slanted eyes, dark locks, parted lips, and vulnerability in her eyes. Fuck. F
Amara stirred in the soft morning light that streamed through the curtains, the golden glow casting a warm hue on the room. The air carried the refreshing scent of rain-kissed earth, a reminder of the storm that had passed. Groggily, she opened her eyes, feeling a sense of confusion until the memories of the night before flooded back. As the sleepiness wavered, Amara became conscious of strong arms encircling her waist, a comforting warmth pressed against her back. She blinked, the details of the room coming into focus, and then turned her head slightly to find Rhys sleeping peacefully beside her. His tousled hair and relaxed expression softened the rugged edges of his features. Her cheeks flushed as she felt something warm tickling her neck. Rhys had nuzzled into the crook of her neck, his breath sending a gentle shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but feel tingles at the unexpected tenderness. Growing more aware, Amara shifted, attempting to free herse
Her cheeks were burning and so was her thigh where his hand rested. The way he touched her so shamelessly and boldly both scared and thrilled her. Rhys leaned back on the couch, a mischievous glint in his eyes, teasing Amara relentlessly by pushing his hands up her thighs and teasing the rims of her panties."Easy there, Amara. I wouldn't want you to turn into a permanent shade of red," Rhys teased, a playful smirk on his lips. Amara clenched her jaw, her lips pouting as she shyly mumbled."Don’t touch me."Rhys chuckled lowly. “You look so beautiful, little one. I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up eating you out instead of the food.”Amara’s wide eyes stared at him in disbelief. Rhys pecked her nose and gently put her down before getting up. “Eat your food. I’ll take a quick shower. Need to take care of some business.” Amara frowned. What business he be doing in the bathroom?Rhys disappeared into the bathroom, and she took a moment to compose herself. Moving to the mirror, she dec
Amara stood still at the entrance of the gigantic bookstore, her eyes widening in sheer amazement. It was a place unlike any she had ever seen before. Rhys had brought her to a haven of the world she wished to live in. It always amazed her how much he knew her, from her dislikes to the things that could make her heart flutter. It was dangerous yet formidable. The intimacy one should have with their spouse, Rhys filled that void.She teased her bottom lip. The sensation from earlier crept up her chest caging around her heart and gently shook it. Chest tightened and the butterflies in her stomach flapped their wings vigorously.“You like it?” she yelped feeling his warm teasing breath on her ear. Taken by surprise, her eyes widened and her lips parted. Rhys grinned like the devil he was and leaned in, “You like it.” This time it was a statement than his earlier question. Amara flushed averting her eyes from his hypnotizing grey eyes and cleared he
Amara found herself captivated by the stormy depths of his eyes, where chaos seemed to reign supreme amidst the swirling grey. With a heavy sigh, she averted her gaze, seeking solace amidst the orderly rows of books that lined the shelves."Then what can I do to truly understand you?" she asked, her voice soft yet heavy."Be mine," he responded, his tone carrying an air of certainty that both intrigued and unsettled her."Am I not already yours?" she questioned, her brows furrowing in confusion.He considered her words for a moment before replying, his voice tinged with a hint of longing. "Perhaps, but I desire more than mere possession. I wish to intertwine our souls in every sense, to be enveloped in the essence of your being, regardless of its shade."She hesitated, acutely aware of the societal boundaries that loomed over their connection. "You know the consequences... it's deemed sinful, punishable."He took a step toward her, caging her between the shelf and his chest."By whom?
“What is it?” Rhys's voice cut through the tension, his eyes narrowing with anticipation as his fists clenched. The air hung heavy with tension as Rhys waited on the other end of the line, his senses keenly attuned to Lorcan's hesitant breathing. With a deep breath to steady himself, Lorcan finally found the courage to speak, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "I... I got the footage." Rhys's reaction was instinctual, his body tensing as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Footage. The word echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the harsh reality lurking just beyond the edges of his consciousness. Amidst the chaos of recent things, he had purposely let Amara's incident slip into the back of his mind, overshadowed by the overwhelming intensity she sparked in him. Blood. It was all he could think of, the animalistic urge for blood pulsing through his veins like a relentless drumbeat. His inner beast roared to life, demanding revenge for the pain inflicted upo
“Where are we going?” Amara finally broke the silence with a question, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of nervousness. Rhys veered from their original route, shifting her gaze to his face behind the shades. A yearning emanated from her eyes, a silent plea to comprehend his emotions, to unravel the feelings concealed by his sunglasses. She resisted the urge to reach out and tug them away, her desire to peer into his eyes battling with the fear of further provoking him.I wish to intertwine our souls in every sense, to be enveloped in the essence of your being, regardless of its shade.She shut her eyes as his words echoed in her head. Regardless of its shade, he said. But what if… what if she was colorless? What if she was simply devoid of it all? What if she was just a blank canvas, lacking in hue and incomplete? Would he still want to be painted in her colors? Would he still mend her?She was scared of those answers. As much as she wanted him to be with her, she dreaded th
“You wouldn’t mind if I join you guys, don’t you?” Anna smiled, but the way her lips curved, made Amara anxious. She couldn’t fathom the situation. Anna turned towards Amara, her smile was sickening, making Amara swallow. The woman in front of her was someone she felt like she didn't know. Anna smirked placing her leather handbag on the table and leaned on her hands, her low-cut dress exposing her cleavage. “What say, Amara?”Amara looked at her and then at Rhys, her chest throbbed as she averted her eyes and nodded. “N-no worries, you… you can…” The world seemed blurred and hazy. She could practically feel her words ringing in her ears. Fiancé. Rhys’s fiancé. The revelation sent shockwaves through her, the sharp edges of surprise and hurt intertwining as she grappled with the reality.Amara shuddered as her chest tightened and she struggled to breathe. Pushing the chair back, she stood up, her hands balled at her sides and her head lowered. She couldn’t afford to look at them anymor
He didn’t like that. The way she ignored him tempted him to pull her close. Her leaned eyes and red rims bothered him to the point he was seething with rage. The act she was putting on, the façade and the mask she wore to hide her true emotions were gnawing at him. His eyes slowly moved down her trembling body, taking in the sight of her dishevelled dirty clothes. His jaw clenched. But he reminded himself.This was not the time. He knew she needed explanations, and he’d give her, but now was not the time. He couldn’t risk her life. This game included blood, and he’d die thousands of deaths just to make sure she lived.Rhys hid his emotions behind his cold expressions. The muscle in his jaw twitched and he resisted the urge to snap Anna’s fingers as she seductively ran them down his thigh. He grabbed her hand before she could move it low and squeezed it tight as a warning. “Don’t.”Her touch disgusted him. It was taking everything in him to pull out his gun and shoot her. Anna glance
A lush garden filled with vibrant flowers and towering trees. In the centre lies a small, serene grave adorned with a single peony. Rhys with a weathered face and gentle eyes, slowly approached, his steps heavy with the weight of memories. Raindrops fell softly, casting a melancholic veil over the scene.He smiled down at the grave and replaced the weathered Peony with a new one. “Another day, my doll.”With trembling hands, he delicately placed a fresh peony on the grave, its petals glistening with raindrops. He knelt beside it, his movements slow and deliberate. Sitting beside the grave, he gazed at it with a mixture of longing and acceptance.Twenty-five years have passed and he still couldn’t fill the void in his chest.He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. Can you feel the rain, my love? It's as if the heavens weep with me.He reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold stone of the grave. A soft smile graced his lips as he recalled memories long past.“Do you remem
TWO MONTHS LATERRhys focused his attention carefully on the picture in his hand, slowly analyzing each detail captured within it, memorising it. His face remained void of any noticeable emotion, leaving his inner sentiments hidden from his friend’s eyes. However, Lorcan despite this, managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of longing and despair that momentarily flickered across Rhys’s dark eyes. It was an invisible twitch of his jaw and a subtle clenching of his fist that Rhys was attempting to hide. Lorcan instinctively lowered his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact with him, before repeating his previous words.A bouquet of soft pink peonies was on his lap. The one he'd never forget to bring. “Doctors said we can shift her-“ He started looking pitifully at Rhys. The man destroyed Francis and Abigail in days, and his brother behind bars, but couldn’t save his destination.“She’ll come back, right?” Rhys mumbled caressing the picture in hand. It was of them, as children.“Of course…” Lo
Two weeks laterNo matter if I am alive or not, you must always be with me, residing inside me. If I were to face death, my only wish is to spend my final moments in your arms, Amara. Whenever the rain troubles you, consider me as the raindrops. And when the warmth of the sun touches your feet, know that it is my essence within those sun rays.Rhys gripped the pen tightly in his hand, his eyes staring in darkness and he watched the stars dissipating behind the clouds in the dark sky. His heart was heavy and his eyes blurred with unshed tears.The chords of his heart were broken, his nights were sleepless. Yet he couldn't stop recalling the last look of panic and concern on her face. He should be happy that she felt something for him, but at what cost? On the verge of losing her...Whom I should ask, Amara? You are not here. Where do I search for your touches of laughter, this world is filled with silences. Where do I find happiness, Amara, when you are not here? I don't know how many
"Fuck, Amara! Don't die on me!" Rhy’s fear was palpable as he carried her inside the car, his growl echoing in the tense atmosphere. The urgency in the air increased when Lorcan swiftly followed suit, his actions mirroring the sound of distant gunshots that pierced through the day."Rhys... Rhys.." Rhys clenched his fists as she muttered through her mouth drawing in deep breaths. Her hand limply slipped through his fingers.Lorcan wasted no time in sliding into the passenger side, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any threats. With a surge of adrenaline, he pressed his foot on the accelerator, causing the engine to roar to life, matching the intensity of their situation.He felt a rush of adrenaline. It was too intense and too overwhelming as he felt sweat trickling down his back."Drive fast!" Rhys muttered as a few cars followed them. Lorcan cursed in Italian and pulled the windows down.Rhys’s concerned gaze fixated on Amara’s complexion, which appeared remarkably pale, while
A sharp agonising pain stung the side of her body as she moaned in pain. She panted as she tried to blink the blurriness away. There was a long silent pause for a moment when a scream left her mouth as her body was jerked forward. Confused and panicked she yelped as she felt something trailing down her arms.Looking down she saw blood oozing down her arms, the pain came afterwards when she realised she had a deep cut over her upper arm. The tattered piece of shirt dug into the wound as she winced at the stinging sensation. Crawling on her legs she pushed herself up as she swayed at the dizziness.With unfocused vision, she breathed heavily trying to stand still but due to weakness and exhaustion, she stumbled a step back before a large pair of hands e flushed her in a warm embrace.There was chaos all around but what stood among them was shooting sounds. Amara felt her heart pounding loudly in her chest as she looked baffled at the person behind her. Her eyes widened as she saw his fa
"Get up." Amara looked confusedly at two men towering over her. Dressed in black clothes and scary tattoos.A deep frown formed on her face, accompanied by a sense of discomfort and unease. Having remained in a stationary state for a long duration of nearly a day or so, her legs had gradually succumbed to a numbing sensation, rendering them almost unresponsive to her commands. Thus, when she attempted to move, her steps were unsteady and unstable, causing her to stumble momentarily. The guard hastily and instinctively reached out, swiftly grasping her arm. With a swift motion, he began to lead her towards the door with an undeniable urgency.A sudden surge of panic forcefully swept over her entire being, overwhelming her senses and plunging her further into a state of trepidation. It was as if a new, more potent wave of fear had washed over her, intensifying the gravity of the situation. As her gaze frantically scanned the surroundings, her eyes inevitably locked with the piercing sta
"YOU PROMISED SHEʼD BE SAFE! YOU FUCKING PROMISED!" Adrian bombarded in Rhys’s office unannounced. Rhys’s jaw ticked a subtle frown of annoyance on his handsome face."And she will be," Rhys said nonchalantly ignoring him. Rhys didn’t pay him any attention, all his focus was on his computer screen where he was looking at the files on Francis. If these filed were to be released in public, Donovon's reputation would be in ashes in less than an hour. "HOW?! YOU LET THOSE FUCKERS TAKE HER!" Adrian slammed his fists on the table as Rhys glared at him. Adrian looked dead in his brother’s eyes, his orbs dilating as his teeth clenched. "You said you won't let anyone touch her again!" Rhys tilted his head, remembering he also sent the video footage to Adrian a day ago, which explained why he was in Spain. The videotape. Ever since Rhys had seen that, he hadn't been able to sleep. The pain and humiliation his little doll went through was bone-chilling. It took every ounce in him to not do s
Amara shrieked in fear, she woke up terrified from the nightmare, her body drenched in sweat. Her heart racing and her hands trembling as she tried to catch her breath, the memory of the terrifying images still fresh in her mind. She didn't understand what she exactly saw a nightmare or twisted fragment of her lost memories. It all seemed too real to be called a mere nightmare.Reality blurred with the remnants of the nightmare, leaving her disoriented and unsure of her surroundings. Anxiety coursed through her veins, a relentless tide threatening to overwhelm her fragile sense of composure. She longed for the comforting embrace of Rhys.Yet, despite her desperate yearning for solace, she found herself hesitating to close her eyes again, afraid of what horrors the night may hold. Each moment of wakefulness was a precarious balance between the desire for rest and the dread of reliving the nightmare's torment. She was scared. Terrified. Top of FormShe patted her cheek when she felt som
He clenched his fists, teeth grinding as he looked down at her unconscious frame. The straps of the dress had slipped down to her shoulder exposing the delicate collar bones. A flash of raging blood flashed through his eyes as his dark eyes zeroed in on the hickeys on her neck descending under her blouse. It infuriated him when he saw Rhys with her, and it angered him more knowing that the bastard had her. So many days without her. "I fucking don't care. I am not backing down." He raised his head ever so gradually as his dark eyes held his Francis. Francis clenched his jaw as he said. "I can kill for her too. And I won't hesitate, not even a bit." Francis let out a frustrated sigh as he ran his hand through his dishevelled hair. He looked at Amara and another stressed breath left his mouth. He was fucked, along with his son. Not only did he mess with Rhys, but Rhys De Luca would also crush them under his feet. ***** Amara woke up with a pounding sensation and dizzy head. The firs