I tuck myself back into my jeans, buttoning pants as I cross the room over to him before he can make it out.He rips his arm away from my grasp the second I touch him.“What?” I joke, “Think I’ll stain your Valentino?”“More like infect it.”I roll my eyes, “Listen, you’re way too fucking serious these days. Do you even eat breakfast?”He starts walking away again.“Hey-” I reach out.“Don’t touch me.”Again, I lift my arms up, showing the damn beast I mean no harm, “Let’s hang out.”He looks at me like I just threatened to kill him with a water gun.“What?” I ask, “It’ll be like the good old days. We used to hang out all the time, what’s changed?”“Not you.”“Yeah,” I agree, getting in his face, “I’m still sane enough to have a sense of humor and at least one fucking fun bone in my body. You don’t get tired of your goddamn attitude? You gotta loosen up man. Listen, I have just the thing.”He’s standing there, waiting, but part of me feels like he’s not listening to a word I’ve said.
I’ve been idling by the window all morning, keeping an eye out for the package I’m supposed to receive before work this night. It’s almost past noon, the workers come and go through out the day. But there’s been no sign of a delivery yet.The odd hours of the job came as a relief to me. I wouldn’t have to worry about being called while I’m out working, since everyone would be asleep already.It’s almost two more hours of waiting when I see the unfamiliar black car idling by the front of the estate gates. I make my way outside, dismissing the worker on their way to question the parked vehicle. The driver rolls down the tinted window the second I walk up to it, his eyes are hidden behind dark sunglasses. Without a word, he hands me a small rectangular box, rolling up the window as soon as I take it. He drives away.I tuck it to my chest, dodging all the staff as I make my way back to my room.It’s a velvet material, soft. It feels expensive. I untie the satin bow, then pull the box op
It’s… Lingerie.The girls don’t seem fazed by any of it. They make quick work of the pieces in front of them, shedding their robes and adorning the scanty pieces. Some walk buck ass naked around the racks, searching for fabrics more their style. My face heats. What the hell is happening?“Is there a problem?”The Mistress touches my shoulder lightly, her brows furrowed as she fixes me with a concerned look.“This…” I gesture all around me, “I didn’t… I didn’t know what this was… I had no idea…”She smiles at me, but this time it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “What did you think it was then? You received the rules, you also fulfilled the application and accepted your membership.”My hand moves to the damn mask on my face, I move to pull it off, “I had no idea-”She grabs my arm, stopping me, “You can never be seen without your membership. Did you forget?”“You don’t have a mask.”“I don’t need one. I am The Mistress, I wont be auctioned.”I blanch, “Auctioned? What do you mean auctione
There’s no way.I want to believe I’m seeing things. I want to tell myself neither of them are present right now, and all of it is just a figment of my imagination. But I cant. I cant do that, I cant do anything, but stand there frozen. My hands twitching nervously at my sides as I think of what to do next.I don’t have the acrobatic skills of the last girl. Or the confidence of the one before her.None of this was part of the arrangement I signed up for. And now I’m the sole object of everyone’s attention, in a room full of men and women alike willing to blow thousands of dollars for a rewarding night with whatever girl they choose.It feels like a dream. And I keep wishing for someone to wake me up.The Mistress inches closer to me, the dazzling smile still fixed on her mouth. She reaches for my hand, “Twirl.” She whispers, guiding me, and spinning me in a slow circle.My movements are stiff, unpracticed, I have no idea what to do.“I cant do this,” I whisper.“You’re doing great,”
Across the room, he holds my stare.I cant even keep the shock off my face. The girls and their silent conversations grow louder, my heart rages. No one else in the room says a word.“Twenty million dollars for Blue Ivy.” The Mistress calls, “Going once, going twice. Sold! The prize is yours for the night, sir. The night has kicked off with a bang!”The Mistress pushes down on my back, urging me to step down from the stage. A waitress dressed more appropriately than the others waits by the edge, greeting me with a warm smile.I feel Kane’s eyes on me the whole way down. It’s choking, I’m finding it so difficult to inhale under the weight of that stare. My eyes try to look anywhere but right at him. They move up to the ceiling, taking in the lone man resting his arms on the edges of the cubicle high above everyone else. He has a mask on. It’s simple, black. And just like everyone else, his eyes are on me. I look away immediately.The girl holds her hands out to me, “I’ll be your esco
My knees part, the cold air hitting my already damp folds.“Wider.” But Rune grabs my calf before I can even comply, setting my foot on the edge of his knee. Carefully, I slide my other foot on Kane’s, quietly watching him for a reaction. His fingers flex on his glass, but he doesn’t shove it away.Rune runs a hand up my shin, his gaze fixed between my legs, “Go on.”My hand drifts back between my legs, finding my clit, and drawing slow circles over the small bud. My teeth sink into my bottom lip as the pleasure builds, cresting so fast under their intense scrutiny. My other hand moves to one of my breasts, palming and squeezing.Rune lets out a rough breath, shaking his head.I don’t let the reality of what’s happening weigh me down. It’s like I’ve shut off my mind. Right now, none of this is wrong.It’s mind alteringly good.Rune’s hand runs up my thigh, inching towards my pussy, and on reflex, I go to push him away-or pull him closer to me, I’m not entirely sure-but Kane snatches m
With the grocery bags pressed to my chest, I take my time strolling down the idle street, it’s empty, understandable at this time of the day.The more I think about everything, the more insane it all becomes.The fact that less than twenty four hours ago I was putting on the show of my life with a mask on my face and a different name, for men who’d paid a fortune just to see me in that light. For my step-brothers.There’s a massive difference between writing fantasies about them on paper, a whole other world from everything that happened last night.I want to hate myself for it.I want to not replay the memories back in my head as often as I do.I want to never want a repeat.But I can’t. No matter how hard I try.It feels like a horrible itch I’ve only now been able to scratch. The dirtiest, most demented parts of me coming to life and relishing in the dreams that have now become my reality.If I had the chance to go back, I know without a doubt that I’d do it all over again.And it
Oh no. This is bad.One glance outside the window tells me it’s well past seven pm. I have less than three hours before I have to meet whoever sent me the letter. I need to find out who it is.I move to the windows, shoving at them to see if there’s any give, trying to look for another exit. But I come up short. There’s no other door, the windows are screwed in.I pace and pace, hours later. My anxiety brewing and threatening to overflow the darker the sky gets.It’s almost ten o’clock.What if this person decides to reveal my secret? Dread settles like lead in my belly. They know where I live, they know my real name. The longer I think about it, the more the possibility solidifies.It didn’t seem like they had intentions to harm me though, rather to warn me. But about what?I chew at my thumbnails, listening as music pours in from the upper level of the house, the bass echoing above me.Another one of Dad’s business events. I cant pound on the doors because it would be useless, the m
My eyes have been shut this whole time that when I open them I realize none of this makes sense but I don’t even care. I get off him and kiss him so hard I’m sure I left a bruise somewhere. I finally allow us to breathe. “I’m so sorry baby.” I whisper whilst hugging him. “Shh..” he says and rubs my back. I step away and he wipes my tears. “I know you have many questions.” He says whilst holding my waist. I nod with snot probably coming out of my nose. “Ask.” He says. He’s trying to distract me. “How are you here.. the letter! Your silence on the phone? London?” I speak without thinking . “Michale called yesterday. He told me he didn’t want to tell me about your wedding but I told him we already met and you told me about it. He then told me it’s happening today but I still didn’t want to bother. I had concluded that I’d kill myslef the day you get married. So I was prepared until he told me the kind of danger you might be in and I immediately got on the plane. The only
“I’m so sorry Leo.” I say but he ignores me and I can see his heart shattering. I know how much he loved his sister even though he loved to pretend otherwise. I then look at Luca who seems to be staring at Isabel like he’s in a trance. He’s not even crying. There’s not even tears. He’s just staring at her. I sit flat on the floor between the two dead bodies whilst the war outside is still happening so it’s not like I can go anywhere. Elena suddenly calls my name but I’m too shocked to look at her. She shows up in front of me and hands me the same envelope that mom gave her. I take it from her and open it. I look down first because I want to see who it’s from, this is not the time. I see the name Kane there and I immediately start to get the most painful headache ever. I close my eyes and I could swear I’m in a trance where all I’m seeing are memories. They're all coming back. Rune was my stepbrother. Leonard killed him. I loved Kane alot and I also loved Rune a lot. Emaine
I sigh when I realize Michael and I have walked past half of the aisle and look up. I finally have eye contact with Leonard and the way he looks at me makes me want to drop my gaze back down. He looks amazing in his black suit. His hair is slicked back as well and he’s carved his beard. He’s staring at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen and that makes me smile. We finally reach the small stairs and Michael untangles his hand from mine. I see him glare at Leonard before he lets me go and I walk up the stairs. I stand right in front of Leonard. He's on the right side whilst I’m on the left. The priest is in the middle. My girls are behind me and vice versa with Leonard’s men. I so badly want to ask Shannon where Emaine is but I don’t think it’s appropriate. I hear some whispers whilst I’m up here but I can’t hear what their saying. Everyone sits down and I finally hear someone say that it’s not right for my mom to be here but the king's mother isn't. I snort and Leonard rai
One week later I’ve been thinking about Kane and I’s conversation all day and my heart feels like it's exploding every time. I don’t know whether it’s the memories of my past that have been coming back lately but they are affecting the way I feel about this entire situation. Leonard decided to rush our wedding because he felt like something bad would happen in between. Apparently the rebels are angry at me for betraying them. they’ve started to riot again. I didn’t betray them but it sure as hell looks like I am now that I’m getting married to one of the revolution's enemies. They must be feeling the same way Michael feels. I would definitely try to find who is commanding them now that me, Michael and Luca are no longer there just so that I could talk to them and try to find a reasonable understanding or come to an agreement between one another to stop the violence and just let the wicked leaders lead. The people will handle it during the elections when they are choosing their own l
I lean back in the seat, tracing the edge of the invitation card in my lap. It’s still strange, seeing my name next to Leonard’s in elegant, golden script. I went to see them today, to invite Michael, Elena, Shannon, and the others to the wedding. A part of me hoped they’d all be there, that maybe they’d want to share this with me. But every single one of them declined. Their rejections feel like tiny, sharp pinpricks, pressing deeper the more I think about it. As we slow at a red light, I glance out the window, watching people hurry across the street, faces blending into each other. Then I freeze. In the car beside me, a familiar face leans against the window, lost in thought—Kane. My heart skips. Without thinking, I lean forward and tap the driver’s shoulder. “Please, pull over. Right here.” He raises his eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror but nods, steering us to the curb. I roll down my window, sticking my hand out to catch Kane’s attention. “Kane!” I call softly, hop
Everyone keeps congratulating me but for some reason I don’t even feel like this is real. Leonard told me he doesn’t want to waste much time on our wedding and I agreed so we’re getting married in a week. I decided to go to kanes place to tell Michael and the others. For some reason I can’t get Kane out of my mind….ever since he helped me that day by getting me away from that weird ass man in the library stuck with me and I haven't been able to thank him. I didn’t even thank him for trying to get to me the time that Leonard had kidnapped me. Leonard invited his hateful relatives for our engagement. Apparently the tradition is that they have to all come and dine with me, I refused to do so.. they came regardless but I wasn’t there to see them. Leonard had understood that I needed to leave so he let me go to kanes place which is where I’m heading now. He insisted that I take some of his guards so I did. I don’t know how Shannon, Michael, Elena, Luca and even Kane will take this news…
Hearing that Aurelia was in love with Leonard was one thing but seeing it in her eyes did something to me. The moment we got home I didn’t speak to anyone no matter how much they tried to get me to speak. There’s no use for me to stay in Rome if the reason I’m here is clearly gone… I don’t want to give up but as long as she doesn’t have her memory back I have to leave. I decided to write her a letter, I hope that when she gets to read this her memory will be back. I’m presently packing. I'm going back to London. I don’t plan on getting talked out of this so I’m planning on going when everyone’s asleep besides Shannon, I'm going to give her the letter personally because I know she’ll deliver my message. I step out of my room silently and knock on her door a few times. She opens it whilst brushing her eyes with her hands. She looks like she hasn’t been sleeping… but she does look very tired. “Kane?” she asks, voice hushed. "What are you doing here? And...with a suitcase?" I st
I sit in my room, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. My heart still races from the commotion downstairs. I expected my mother, Shannon, to leave with the rest of them, but she didn’t. She’s here. I hear her soft footsteps approaching before there’s a light knock on the door. “Aurelia, may I come in?” she asks, her voice gentle but firm, like always. “Yeah,” I whisper, unsure of what to expect. My fingers fidget in my lap as she steps in and closes the door behind her. She sits beside me on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. There’s a brief silence as she studies me, her eyes soft but observant, the way a mother’s should be. I look away, my throat tight, already feeling the emotions bubbling up. I know what this is about. “I didn’t leave with the others because I needed to talk to you,” Shannon says, her voice soft but serious. She reaches out, taking my hand. Her touch is warm, familiar, and it instantly begins to break down the walls I’ve tried to
I sit on the edge of the couch, my eyes scanning the room. Kane leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Shannon and Luca sit across from each other, both looking deep in thought. Elena is quiet, but I can feel her eyes on me, waiting. Emaine sits off to the side, her posture stiff, clearly uncomfortable. I clear my throat, trying to break the silence. "The revolution has been regrouping. We don’t know who their new leader is, but I have reason to believe they’re planning to take action soon." Kane uncrosses his arms, his lips curling into a grim smirk. “Let them. If their first plan is to kill Leonard, I’d be more than happy to let them.” Before I can respond, Shannon jumps in. "That’s not a good idea, Kane. Especially if Aurelia isn’t leading them anymore. They see her as a traitor. If they try to kill Leonard, they’ll go after her too." Her words hang in the air, and I can feel the tension rising. Luca’s phone suddenly rings, cutting through the weight of the