My eyes widened slowly as my brain immediately picked up on the aroma and the delectable plating. It looked like something straight out of a three star Michelin restaurant, which was exactly what The Continental was, but it somehow still looked better than the one I had seen in the restaurant."Oh my God," I finally blurted out as I left my seat, then went around to where Florian was standing.He had a small proud smile, and he gently kept the lid on the work table, and he watched me through his thick lashes."You made this for me?" I asked, my hands still clasped on my mouth, my eyes wide.He didn't reply and simply leaned, his fingers pointing to the side of the round plate. Right on the side was an elegant cursive that read simply, Rox.I broke into a laugh and turned around, blinking as I met his eyes."It's beautiful."He leaned one hand on the work table, his eyes taking me in. "Is it?"I nodded. "Can you close it back? I want to take a photo so badly, but I broke it the other
I stood in front of a mirror and took in my appearance. I was wearing a black pencil skirt with a short skit behind and a red turtle neck shirt. I smoothened the skirt around me, then turned to zip it up. It was, however, a bit too tight, and I started to move it up in order to get the zipper up.A knock suddenly came on the door, and I turned letting go of the zipper. The skirt was thankfully tight enough to stay on me."Come in," I said, and Florian slowly stepped in.My eyes widened a bit as I took him in. He was wearing a full suit, his hair slightly ruffled and falling above his forehead in curled waves."Hey."I bit down on my lips, then turned back to the mirror. "You look like the Florian I imagined right now."I turned to see his expression, but he had none. Like always. "And who is the Florian you imagined?"He moved away from the wall, then slowly came behind me. I watched him through the mirror as he leaned to keep his phone on the dresser in front of me."Let me help you.
Florian had been waiting downstairs like he always did, and I slowly walked down to him, my smile small. He was a little distracted by something, and I came in front of him, my eyes taking a bit of time to watch him. His eyes were thin, and his brows slightly furrowed as he spaced out.He turned to me fairly quickly, however, and I gave him a small smile."What were you thinking about?" I asked, turning to the TV he appeared to be watching.Right as I turned to it, he turned the TV off. My face dropped, and I turned to him."What's it?"He shrugged. "It was nothing. Just a...""Are you watching adult stuff?" I asked, my eyes thin."I do adult stuff, sweetheart."My eyes widened, and I turned red as extremely clear flashbacks of our first night together came to mind. I instinctively brought my hands to cross over my chest, and he gave a small chuckle."Let's go. I will drive."I swallowed, then nodded, hoping he would leave so I could fight against the demons in my head, but he didn't
The tension the car thickened, and I found myself looking between Florian's lips and his eyes, my chest heaving hard, my body trembling with anticipation. He gave a small smirk before he started to pull away. Disappointment washed over me, and I blinked rapidly, trying my best to hide just how much I had needed him to go through with it.Give me his taste as punishment for disobedience, and I am forever stamped to he a bad girl. "Florian, I..." I trailed off, then shook my head.His eyes moved to something behind me, and for the first time in so long, I saw the same blinding wicked smile light his face up.His sharp canines came on display, his eyes thinning, the red lights of wickedness splashing through his orbs.My brows furrowed, but I didn't have much time to contemplate before he covered the distance, his left hand wrapping around the nape of his neck, the thumb of the same hand coming below my chin to raise my face up, at an angle that would give him the sort of space he want
"A heart attack?" Florian said before I could get my mind to boot and process the words Ronan had just spoken. "How very convenient, right, Ronan?"Ronan turned to Florian, his head slightly raised, his brows furrowed. "Why? Are you going to stop your little cum bucket from seeing her mother in what could very well be her last moments"Florian sucked in a sharp breath, and took a step towards Ronan. Florian easily towered above Ronan, and I remember back then, whenever Ronan would go looking for trouble, Florian's imposing height was good enough to scare the opponents away.The opponent was now Ronan, and even though he stood his ground, I could see a wave of fear flash through his eyes."And if I do?" Florian asked, in a tone that told both of us that he wasn't asking. He was daring Ronan to any sort of foul play. "If I do stop her, what would you do, bestie?"The entire area went quiet, and my mind registered it. It would be very convenient for Ronan to just say that my mother had a
"He is using you," Ronan said once we got out of the driveway, his brows drawn, his eyes fixed on the road."You don't know that," I said, my voice so low it was almost a whisper. I felt horrible for just letting go of Florian's hand when he was the only one to extend a hand to me when I truly needed it. I felt like a traitor, just like Ronan and Damien, and it didn't help matters that I was in Ronan's car like he hadn't shown me utmost hostility ever since it happened."Oh, I do. You are naive. Dumb. Unintelligent. A fucking typical girl who wants to jump ships and run towards any man who offers her a...""Don't you fucking say that about me! You aoded Damien to cheat, a day before our wedding.""And what if I did?" He asked, turning to me briefly. "For goodness fucking sake, he was going to have to listen to your stupid whining and deal with whatever boring sex you bring to the table. You couldn't even offer him one night of freedom?"My chest heaved, and I turned, searching for so
"No," I said, pushing myself away from the floor. The girls got out of bed and started to move, each doing a little dance around Damien. I didn't even have the time to be sad about Damien. I just needed to get out of here. I needed to fucking leave."Bring her here," Damien said, and the girls immediately walked towards me. I turned, grabbing the first thing I saw. A bottle. I smashed it on the ground, ignoring the several shards of glass that flew out to my hand, cutting my skin."Don't you dare!" I yelled, turning the sharp edge of the bottle towards them. "Don't you dare come close or I swear...""She won't be able to do anything," Damien said, letting go of the last bit of clothing and dignity he had. "And your resistance is just turning me on.""You are a fucking bastard!""I know. Florian made sure I found out. Florian made sure I fucking knew! And that is why he is going to meet you here, undone in my bed, because that is exactly what he did to me. It will hurt him, wouldn't
The sun was starting to set when I stirred awake. My body felt a little better now, but still sore, my chest heaving lightly as I turned around. The drapes were wide open, the lights dim, and the ambience calm.I turned, and Florian was standing by the dresser, his back to me. I don't think he knew I was awake, his phone to his ear.He was gently tapping on the dresser, his head slowly moving to some sort of rhythm that only he could hear."F..." I started to say but stopped as he spoke into the phone."Get me the whereabouts once he is out, then. I would like to personally pay him a visit."My brows furrowed, and I let out a small groan, and I tried to push myself to sit up. He turned, his eyes taking me in before he quickly dropped the phone and covered the distance. "Hey. What are you doing?"I met his eyes, then swallowed. "Florian.""Mhm?"I bit down on my lips, then turned around. He had covered all of the wounds I had incurred, and even the sting on my face felt a little bette
"What?" I asked, my brows coming together, my lips falling apart.I would be lying if I said I didn't feel something to my heart. A stab. A violent pull. It's like when you hate someone so much that you want to kill them yourself, but seeing their dead body makes you want to die too."My... my father is dead?"Florian blinked, his eyes growing a little darker, and his hands left me to slowly clasp behind me."Did you lie to me, Roxanne?"I bit down on my lips, tears stinging the back of my ears violently, till it felt like I couldn't breathe."To answer your question, yes. I made sure of it. Like he made sure mine did. So, what now? Are you still sure?"I met Florian's eyes, my heart knowing that he was right. His parents had died a gruesome death that had been completely unnecessary, and my parents would have to pay for it, too.But I would be lying if it wasn't so much easier to agree with in theory than when he was standing right here, completely remorseless, telling me that he had
I stood in front of the mirror, watching my reflection. It was beautiful. Florian was right about this dress. It made my skin color pop, and the cute little bow that Florian had put in my hair... made it all so perfect.I sighed and gave a small twirl. It was perfect. Satisfied with what I was seeing, I made it out of the walk-in closet. Florian was standing by the bed, his back resting on the wall, his eyes focused on the floor.He was wearing an all-black ensemble, his hair pushed back in silky, seemingly wet strands, his right pinky and thumb adorned with silver rings, and his left hand carrying a black leather watch.I felt my breath hitch in my throat as I took him in. He was even more beautiful, and I could remember all the insecurities that had pushed me to believe that he would never be mine.Now we are here, the entire world left behind, and it felt like all of that time that we had lost was slowly being recovered."Florian."He looked up, and his eyes immediately lightened u
ROXANNE'S P.O.V.I looked up to Florian, my lips slightly parting. We were lying in the bath, his right hand securely wrapped around me, his fingers gently running up and down my stomach.He had a glass of wine in his left hand, and his eyes were focused on the sink far away from us. More precisely, the phone he had left there before running the bath."Are you waiting for a call?" I asked, and he turned to me, his perfect smile lighting up his entire face.He dropped the glass of wine and leaned to me, so both his hands were now wrapped tight around me, his face coming to rest on my shoulder. "Kind of."I smiled, leaning up to push my fingers into his hair. "Well, I am jealous of this call."He laughed, holding me even tighter. "Cause I am waiting for it?""Cause it has you looking at your phone while you are lying naked in a bathtub with me."He gave a small chuckle. "You have all of my attention, sweetheart."I nodded, then closed my eyes. "Is something happening today?""Maybe. Wh
FLORIAN'S P.O.V I woke up to the feeling of slow, light kisses on my face. My brows slightly furrowed as I adjusted, but the ticklish feeling only continued, and I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips.I finally opened my eyes to Roxanne hovering above me, eyes closed, lips pursed hard as she attempted to probably assault my cheeks again.It was a sigh that I wish I could catch in a time capsule. A beauty that no one has ever seen before me.I leaned forward and did what ever red blooded man would do. Instead of giving her my cheek, I pecked her lips, then leaned back, waiting for the realisation to dawn on her.She gasped, her eyes opening wide, her hand coming to her lips. I broke into a laugh, and she just melted right into my chest, a giggle escaping her."Good morning."She nodded, and I laughed, holding her a bit tighter. "Why are you up so early?"She finally looked up, but her cheeks were still slightly red, and it only made me chuckle."I wanted to get a few more mi
I let my fingers gently sift through Florian's hair as he carried me bridal style into the hotel suite he had booked for us. I wondered how long it had taken him to do all of this, plan everything so meticulously, and keep it away from me.I gave a small sigh, then wrapped my hand gently around his neck, my head coming to rest on his shoulder. I felt protected, and there was nothing I would exchange this feeling for.The door to our hotel suite opened up, and Florian walked in, then turned on the lights. The room was minimally decorated. A bouquet of red tulips, a bottle of wine and two glasses, and a red box sitting in the middle of the bed.Florian gently dropped me by the edge of the bed, then went on his knees. I watched as he gently removed my feet from the heels I was wearing, then carefully massaged them before putting the heels away.He kissed the tops of my feet, then leaned up,kissing my lips lightly."I will run a hot bath for you," he said, and I nodded, words failing me y
ROXANNE'S P.O.V.I was breathless by the time Florian broke the kiss, his breath fanning my skin. I must have turned all shades of red because I could feel this incredible heat, yet I couldn't stop looking up to him.His eyes, his lips, the fact that his cheeks were just as red as mine. I broke into an unprompted laugh, my hands reaching up to cup his cheeks, my eyes filled with adoration that was meant for him exclusively to see.I laughed again, a sigh escaping me."What?" He asked, even though a chuckle escaped him too, his eyes tender and bright."Someone's got a crush on me," I said, laughing again.He broke into a laugh, his head slowly nodding. "Someone's got a crush on me too."It made me laugh even harder, and maybe we didn't make any sense to the rest of the world. Maybe we looked foolish, crazy in fact, but I haven't let myself feel this way in such a long time, and I was determined to feel every drop of it till the very end."Do you want to see more of the church?""Of co
FLORIAN'S P.O.V.I held onto her hand, more for the fact that I needed her to keep me grounded than anything else. I have always told myself that my world was pretty stable. The ghosts of my parents, the guilt that lingered, the demons in my mind, and the revenge I fully intend to go through with. Then her.She could, with one look, one glance, one word, ruin everything that I have worked so hard for, and I know, deep down that I would let her.When I told her that I was in love with her, I knew better than to expect it back. Someone who was in love with me would have seen all of it from the start.The stolen glances. The pictures when she wasn't looking. The obsession. The need in that first kiss. But she hadn't, and I simply believed, maybe this was what it was bound to be. Raw obsession on my end. Gratitude on her end.As long as it kept her with me, I would be satisfied.But now... I could barely breathe, and I can barely wrap my mind around the miniscule possibility that the u
Florian held my hand tight as he led me downstairs to a waiting limousine. I didn't bother asking anything about where we were going or what we would be doing. If there was someone that I trusted with my entire life, it was Florian.He sat right next to me in the car, his hand wrapped around my waist, his eyes occasionally darting between his phone, my face, and the scenery outside. We reached the airport soon enough, and Florian grabbed a bag that I hadn't even noticed, and a smaller one that seemed to hold our documents. "You took my documents too?""Of course," he said, his eyes meeting mine. "Why not?"I bit down on my lips. "I am sorry I shut off my brain once I am around you.""I will take that as a sign that I am doing my job as a man."I chuckled as he turned away to speak to someone on the phone, my cheeks heating up. He turned back to me two minutes later, then grabbed my hand and led me in. We went through to the private airfield, where a magnificent private jet was wait
I stirred, the warm streaks of su light slowly caressing my face. My brows slightly furrowed as I moved, my lips parting slightly, my chest heaving. My lashes fluttered as I opened my eyes, and the streaks of golden sunlight streamed through the drapes.The bed was empty. Slightly ruffled to convince me that Florian's presence here with me last night had not been a dream. I let out a small breath as I turned on my back, a small smile lifting my lips.The mete thought of him lit me up more than the golden sunrise that caressed the side of my face, and I closed my eyes, a laugh escaping me."Glad to see you woke up happy," came the beautifully familiar voice, and I looked up, turning towards the door.Florian was standing by the door, gloriously shirtless, with only a pair of black tailored pants resting dangerously low on his waist. I felt my breath hitch as I took him in, my eyes finally meeting the beautiful differently coloured pair of his.He had a small smile and a single stem of