Raisel’s POV“I’m going to cum,” I whispered, barely able to form the words. As I have been riding on his two larger fingers.“Raisel, I want to taste you. Cum for me.” His voice was low, commanding, and my body instantly obeyed, shuddering with pleasure. His fingers slowed their relentless rhythm, teasing me until he slipped them out of my drenched heat. I could only watch, breathless, as he raised them to his lips, coated with my arousal. The sight made my face flush, his eyes locking with mine, a smug smirk pulling at his lips as he tasted me. The act was intoxicating, both filthy and hot.“God, I’ve never felt this good…” I managed to breathe out.He chuckled darkly. “Raisel, we’re just getting started. You’ve no idea what I can make you feel.”My heart pounded, slamming against my ribcage, as his lips crashed into mine with a hunger that left me dizzy. I could taste myself on his mouth as his tongue dominated, demanding more, and I surrendered willingly. His hands moved with expe
Soren – POVBefore Raisel Wakes Up and Finds Soren’s SecertsSoren’s POVI couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, but not with nightmares or restless thoughts. Raisel was here—sleeping in my arms, her body pressed against mine, warm and soft. It was surreal. I had to pinch myself to believe this wasn’t just a dream. She was right here. I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, revealing her delicate features as she slept peacefully. Her skin, pale and flawless, was marked by love bites—my marks, claiming her as mine.But it wasn’t the physical closeness that made me feel this overwhelming sense of happiness. It wasn’t about the intimacy we shared last night. It was because she trusted me, allowed me into her world—not just emotionally but physically as well. I felt a sense of fulfillment I hadn’t experienced before. I was never one for cuddling, never the type to let a woman spend the night. I usually had them sent home with my driver, their addresses forgotten as soon as the door
Raisel’s POVI shoved clothes into my backpack, my hands shaking. Then I froze, wiping the tears streaming down my face. A knock on my door broke through my thoughts.“Raisel… I’ll explain the pictures, I swear, but… don’t leave. Give me a chance,” Soren’s voice came through, muffled yet desperate.I hesitated but opened the door anyway. I should at least give him a chance to explain. We sat down on the couch, the silence between us thick with unspoken words.“I’m not sorry… for what I did,” he began, his tone serious, almost hard. “I had a reason. It was to protect you…”I bit back the urge to snap at him. His explanation sounded genuine, but how could he justify invading my privacy in the name of protection?“Why are you so obsessed with keeping me in the dark, Soren? Who on earth would even want to hurt me?” I asked, my frustration spilling over. “I need answers, Soren.”“The less you know, the better,” he said coldly, his eyes dark and distant, like he was carrying a burden that c
Raisel – POVWork was a nightmare. I never knew hiring could be such a pain in the ass. Talking to people all day? Not my thing. And to top it off, I had gone the whole morning without a coffee, leaving me on edge until the afternoon when I finally managed to grab one. Hazel texted me, asking to meet at Zero Bond—a place that promised some privacy. Even though the paparazzi had backed off since Soren intervened, Hazel and I still needed the assurance of a quiet spot. She didn’t want to be seen in New York.I rushed home to change, slipping into a sleek midi dress, classic pumps, and a tailored blazer for a polished look. I kept it simple—just a delicate necklace and a stylish clutch. Hazel had sent a car, and soon, I arrived at Zero Bond. I found her there, furiously texting someone, her face tense. But when she saw me, her expression softened, and I felt the same relief. It had only been three weeks without her, but it felt like an eternity. We hugged tightly.“So happy to see you,”
Raisel’s POVThe gunshot echoed in my ears, loud and final, and I braced for impact, squeezing my eyes shut. Instead of pain, I felt the weight of Soren’s body shield me. A low groan slipped from his lips, his frame slumping against mine. I barely registered Hazel’s screams or the police shouting as they finally arrived. All I could see was Soren, his eyes fluttering, consciousness slipping away.“Drop your weapon!” the officer yelled at Alaric, but Alaric’s gaze remained locked on me, his face twisted with rage. He pointed the gun again, taking a step forward. The police shot him in the leg, bringing him to the ground before he could reach me. They moved to arrest him, but my attention was only on Soren—on the blood pooling around him.“Soren…no…” I whispered, my voice choked with terror as he lay there, unmoving. Paramedics arrived, lifting him onto a stretcher, and I clung to his side as they tried to pull me back. My eyes never left him, not for a second. Reporters swarmed around
Raisel’s POVI waited, impatiently, as Mr. Beau and the man at the laptop—Jace, I think his name was—spoke in hushed tones. The name Jace felt familiar, like a half-remembered shadow flitting through my mind, but I couldn’t quite place it. Their conversation lingered in the background as I drifted, restlessly pacing the edges of the estate, the guard trailing me like a silent, watchful shadow. Maybe he was there to guide me, or maybe he was there to keep me from wandering into places I wasn’t supposed to see.And then, I saw it—the room lined with photographs, a corridor of memories preserved in silver frames. This must be Mr. Beau’s own hall of ghosts. Among the faded images, my gaze settled on a wedding photo—a beautiful woman, his wife, her smile caught in time. Then I saw it: a family picture. Soren, his mother, his father… and then, in another frame, his mother alone, her face pale with the exhaustion of pregnancy. The father was missing, absent from these intimate moments, a sha
**Raisel - POV**As I squinted, the worried face of Jace came into focus, pulling me back to reality. I tried to sit up on the soft bed, feeling the sheets tug against me.“Thank God you’re awake,” he murmured, relief evident in his voice.“How long was I out?” I whispered weakly.“An hour,” he replied, pouring me a glass of water.Just then, Mr. Beau walked in, his calm expression laced with the usual hint of sarcasm. “Welcome back,” he said. “When do you want me to go meet Alaric?” I asked, rolling off the bed on unsteady legs. Jace stood close, ready to catch me if I stumbled.“In about fifteen days. For now, you’ll focus on helping Soren with his startup, along with Gwen,” Mr. Beau instructed. “I don’t want Soren stressing over his business—this is his dream, to make a name for himself. You wouldn’t believe how much he hates the Dalton legacy.”“I can imagine,” I muttered. Mr. Beau’s gaze shifted to me, unreadable. “Anyway, thank you for showing me the truth about my aunt Marget.
Raisel’s POVDavina stormed into my office, eyes blazing with fury. Gwen, sensing the tension, scrambled to call Mr. Beau. I didn’t flinch, but behind my mask of composure, a tight coil of fear twisted in my gut.“You’re going to testify for Alaric,” she said coldly. “And you’re going to say you didn’t see him shoot Soren.”I leaned back, forcing a smirk. “You’ve got some nerve, Davina.” My voice was steady, but a storm raged inside me. “But let me enlighten you—I’m not the only witness. My best friend was there too. Alaric’s looking at a long, cold prison sentence, and I’ll see to it personally.”“I can pay you whatever you want,” she said, desperation seeping into her arrogance.My brows shot up, mocking. “You and Alaric, always thinking money can buy anything. You’re both just spoiled, self-centered parasites who believe the world bends to your will. It’s almost tragic how well you suit each other—hell’s own power couple.”Her eyes darkened, lips twisting with rage. “Listen, you in
Soren - POVThe scent of whiskey clung to Iris’s lips as she leaned in, her breath hot against my ear."Come on, Soren. You and me—tonight—we celebrate. We’re official now, aren’t we?" she whispered, voice laced with playful intoxication.I barely spared her a glance. "Not interested," I muttered and turned to leave.I barely made it a few steps before she grabbed my arm."What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she hissed, her nails digging into my sleeve.I sighed, yanking my arm free. "What do you mean?""Don’t play dumb with me!" Her voice was low, trembling with frustration. She wanted to scream, but she knew better."This is just a deal. Take a chill pill, woman," I shot back, shaking her off completely.I walked away, ignoring the whispers and the judging stares following me. Let them talk. I didn’t give a damn. But my grandfather—he was another story. His cold, sharp gaze burned into me, a silent warning. He wasn’t happy. He wanted me to play my part, to act like I was engag
Raisel's POVThe car launch exhibition was a massive success. The presale numbers shattered records, marking a historic moment in the industry.The energy at the afterparty buzzed with celebration—music, laughter, and endless congratulations. People kept telling me how inspired they were by my work. I smiled, nodded, accepted their praise, but my eyes kept drifting.Soren and Iris. Hand in hand.I stood next to Joshua, who was effortlessly charming as he engaged in conversation. I tried to stay focused, to be polite, but the weight of his arm around my waist made my skin crawl.“Come on, Luna, this way.” Joshua’s voice was smooth, sweet—too sweet. His touch lingered, possessive. I swallowed the discomfort and endured it.“Raisel!”Hazel’s voice sliced through the noise, and relief flooded my chest. Perfect timing.“Excuse me,” I murmured, stepping away. Joshua gave me a polite nod, his hand finally falling from my waist. I turned quickly, practically rushing toward Hazel and Fiora. As
Raisel's POVI adjusted my cocktail-blue outfit, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The makeup did its job, masking the dark circles, but it couldn't hide the exhaustion in my eyes."You look beautiful," Gwen said with a warm smile. She was a vision herself, dressed in a sleek suit with a satin red blouse, black trousers, and matching heels.I forced a small smile. "Will Soren make it on time?""He will. Rest assured," she replied confidently as we stepped out of her house.As she slid into the driver’s seat, I settled into the passenger side, gripping my dress."Aren’t you nervous?" she asked, glancing at me."Nerve-wracking," I admitted in a whisper. "I just hope everything goes smoothly.""It will. Our hard work will pay off."I nodded, grateful for her words, but deep down, I was scared as hell. Taking a shaky breath, I watched the city blur past us as we neared the venue."Ready?" Gwen asked, pulling into the lot."As ready as I’ll ever be."Stepping out, my eyes immediately
Soren - POVRocher and I sat in the basement, eyes locked on the grainy footage playing on the screen. The man wore a Reaper crest ring, but there was no identifier—no name, no visible face. Something blocked the camera’s view, leaving only his hand in sight. Judging by the roughness of his skin, he was likely in his late twenties or early thirties. I exhaled sharply. No new information. Nothing. Even the dark web held no trace of the Reaper mafia, as if they never existed.If it weren’t for Susan and the stories my grandfather used to tell—tales of his reckless youth and the rebels he ran with—I wouldn’t have even known this gang existed."Any luck?" Susan’s voice cut through the dim light of the basement, blending with the low hum of our laptops."Nah." I leaned back, rubbing a hand down my face. The exhaustion was settling in."It’s been six days." My voice came out rough, frustration slipping through as I ran my fingers through my hair."You look terrible. Go get cleaned up, and y
Raisel’s POVMy head was spinning as I felt the weight of judgmental stares around me. Those looks—those whispers—brought back memories of my split with Alaric. The same unspoken accusation hung in the air: whore. It stung then, and it still stung now. I clenched my jaw, trying to shrug it off, when the sound of a door creaking open caught my attention.“Gwen,” I exhaled, relief washing over me at the sight of her familiar, sympathetic expression. It was a breath of fresh air amid this suffocating tension. She handed me a file, and I flipped through the pages quickly. A solution to the current crisis was underway, but we weren’t out of the woods yet.“Thanks for bringing this. I’ll report the next steps to Soren,” I said, my tone clipped but grateful.“He’s not in the office this week,” Gwen replied casually.I frowned. “What? Why? Where’d he go?”“No idea,” she said with a shrug. Then, with a sly look, she added, “But if I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with you.”I bli
Soren - POVSusan sighed, shaking her head with a heaviness that filled the room. I sat on the edge of the couch, my patience thinning. She stood abruptly, walking off to her room without another word. Frustration twisted in my chest as I waited, but before I could follow her, she reappeared. In her hands were files, thick and stacked, which she dropped on the table in front of me.“What’s this?” I asked, picking up the top file. My hands tightened around it as I flipped through its contents. Photos of Raisel’s childhood in the orphanage, her college years, and, worst of all, her marriage to Alaric stared back at me. There she was, smiling—happy, even—standing next to him. A twisted knot of agony coiled in my gut. It never failed. Any time I saw Raisel with Alaric, whether in a photograph or in memories that refused to leave me alone, I’d spiral. I couldn’t think, couldn’t focus, couldn’t breathe.Instead, I’d bury the pain the only way I knew how—by drinking myself senseless in some
Soren - POVThe penthouse felt lifeless—empty and cold, even as sunlight struggled to pierce through the curtains. I lay motionless on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of exhaustion pinning me down. I wasn’t really sleeping, just barely surviving on fragments of rest.The worst part wasn’t the sleepless nights; it was the endless nightmare of Raisel’s hatred. It felt like a prophecy, each passing moment bringing it closer to reality.The phone rang, cutting through the silence. I sighed and glanced at the screen. Grandpa. If I ignored him, he’d show up unannounced. I dragged myself to answer.“Morning,” he said.“It’s not,” I whispered flatly.“I know,” his tone carried a grim edge. “There’s a scandal blowing up. Apparently, your current girlfriend is all over the tabloids… cozying up to Joshua.”I shot upright, a sharp hiss escaping as the sudden movement worsened my pounding headache. I hadn’t checked the news yet—I didn’t need to. She said she was done with me, and I bel
Raisel – POVThe room was heavy with tension, so thick it felt like the air itself had turned solid. All eyes were on me, but the unspoken energy in the room wasn’t about me. It was about Soren. His presence alone was enough to tighten every throat in the room.“As you all know, there’s been an issue with the car sensor failing,” I began, my voice steady, calm, despite the storm brewing beneath my skin. “I’ve found a solution.”Soren’s voice sliced through the air like a blade. “What have you come up with?” His cold tone made the hair on the back of my neck rise.I didn’t flinch. “I’m getting to that, Mr. Dalton,” I replied, holding onto my composure. “I ran a series of diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact conditions causing the sensor delay,” I said, my voice measured, professional.“And? What did you find?” His words were sharper now, laced with curiosity, but there was something else there—something darker.I clenched my fists under the table. “The issue could be caused by several
Soren’s POV“Mission Raisel accomplished.” A smirk tugged at my lips as I read Jace’s text on my phone. Perfect. Everything had fallen into place—because I made sure it did. It took a lot of manipulation to create this so-called “problem” and ensure Raisel would be the one to fix it. There’s no way I’m letting that asshole Joshua get anywhere near her.The temptation to storm into Chicago and drag her back home myself was almost unbearable. But that would only make her hate me more. And Raisel hating me? That’s the one thing I can’t risk.“Sir, the situation is getting worse.” Gwen’s voice cut through my thoughts. She entered the office, her expression tight with worry.I glanced at her calmly, and she frowned, as though confused by my lack of panic. “You don’t seem concerned. Sir, if we don’t fix this, we’re out of car models, out of investors, and ultimately... out of business.”“Take a breath, Gwen,” I said.She nodded, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease. She placed a