My lips parted, but no words could come out of it. I just sat there, my eyes fixed on Florian's smile, the TV in the background acting like some sort of reminder of what I had gotten myself into.I stood up slowly, then walked past Florian and towards the TV. It showed herds of reporters, and Damien tried his best to push through them. He was still wearing the suit I had seen him in earlier, and I wondered what my parents thought right now. What they would be feeling.Would they finally take me back? Would they believe everything I had said?I turned, and Florian was behind me, his hand tucked into his pockets, his eyes cold as he looked down at me."Did... did you do this?"He looked up to the TV, then to me. "I wish I had.""Florian.""Let's face it, Rox. He slept with prostitutes and then let them take explicit photos of him like that. What exactly was he expecting? Of course, one of them would end up blackmailing him or even leaking it. This was bound to happen."I swallowed hard.
I woke up to the warmth of soft moist skin against my face. It felt like bliss, and I moved even further in, inhaling the pretty scent of masculine aroma and cooking. It felt nice, and I smiled, wrapping my hand even tighter around this pretty smelling thing, like if I woke up, it would be gone."You lied about hating being touched."I stopped chuckling to myself, then opened my eyes and looked up. As it turns out, my hand was firmly wrapped around Florian's back, my nails digging into his flesh, my face buried in his chest.My lips parted, and I started to move, but he pulled me back, a gasp escaping my lips."Florian, I...""You can stay here," he said, and I could hear him chuckle a little. "You are such a bad liar."I sighed, slowly adjusting closer to him again. He did smell incredibly beautiful, and there was perfection in the way my hands were around him, his skin soft yet firm."I didn't lie," I said slowly, my lashes fluttering against his skin. I felt him jerk a little to th
I ran to the closet, my eyes roaming around the section for formal to semi formal dresses that I could wear. The Continental is an elite restaurant frequented by some of the wealthiest people around. Even though I had no use for any of the glitz and glamour of the place, I have always dreamed of having their special lamb roast, after one particular day when Ronan had come home, bragging about the VIP card dad had given him to the restaurant, and how his date had been completely stunned, enough to let herself be bend over even in the bathroom floors. Of course, she never heard from him again, but she sure is satisfied. I shook my head, then reached for a black dress. It was floor length and would hug my figure down to the very edges. I took it in, nodding slowly. It was sparkly and had a slit up to the thigh that was covered in transparent black material. The sleeves were slim, almost nonexistent, and the neckline was a little loose and had an arrangement of pearls around it. It was p
By the time the car pulled up in front of the restaurant, my foot was feeling much better due to Florian's constant massaging. His fingers were soft yet firm, skilful around my skin, and his touch was delicate. I watched him throughout the ride, never once getting distracted by the sights around.They were beautiful, but...He finally looked up and met my eyes. He had been so focused on my foot, massaging it that he hadn't even bothered to look up to me.His eyes darted across both of mine, and he gave me a small smile. "Does it feel better?"I nodded slowly. "I doubt there is an ache as stubborn as you."He slowly raised his brow. "Well, that is perfect. I hope those aches know thay can't get to you while I am right here."I smiled, then blinked, feeling moisture build up in my eyes. "You are crazy."He chuckled, then turned away. "We are here."I nodded, for the first time tearing my gaze off him. The restaurant was beautiful, but my eyes slowly drifted back to him again, and I let
The VVIP section was an enclosed area that was covered completely in glass. It overlooked a breathtaking view of the city, and I held my breath as Florian slowly brought me to sit across from the only other empty seat in the section. He leaned away but stayed close, his eyes taking me in as his fingers gently pushed my hair back behind my ears."Are you okay?"I met his eyes. It hurt. It felt like a dull ache in my heart, and my chest felt tight. How could they really choose him? What could be so demeaning that they would so blatantly refuse their own daughter?I met Florian's eyes. Would he hate it if he saw me vulnerable? Would I ruin this date when he was doing everything to make me happy?I sighed and turned away, trying to keep my tears in. I can't mess this up."If you are trying to appear strong for me, you shouldn't, Rox. I held your hand at your dentist appointment when you were getting that toothache, and I don't think I have ever seen anyone cry as hard."I gave a small la
The slow piano in the background was the only sound I could hear above the rapid thump of my heart. Florian had his eyes on me, boring straight into the crevice of my soul.Slowly, I turned away, grabbing the glass of wine and bringing it to my lips. He said nothing still, and once my glass went empty, I reached for the bottle again.My eyes were starting to rapidly fill either tears, and I started to regret telling him. Had I ruined everything? Have I broken the attraction he seemed to have to me? Have I destroyed whatever we had going on for us? Have I broken whatever this... could have led to?I donned yet another glass, and I started to feel lighter, my chest heaving. I sighed and reached for the bottle again, but he held it, his fingers wrapping around mine, stopping me from pulling the glass to me. I hated how all of my body immediately responded to his touch, my heart beating wildly, my blood burning on the promise of a touch that I used to love, my spine conveying electricity
"I am sorry," Florian said, his voice low. "The brothel is the other way."Damien gave a drunk laugh. "For real? My bad. I thought this was the brothel cause I saw a slut right behind you."I felt Floriam stiffen. "Could you say that again to my hearing?"My brows furrowed. I was almost sure Florian had heard it. I mean, I did, too, so there was no way he couldn't have heard it.Damien walked to Florian, his eyes looking up to Florian, who was much taller. "I said, I thought that this was the fucking brothel, since I can see a stupid slut right behind you."The words had barely left Damien's lips when Florian landed a deafening slap on his right cheek, forcing to the floor. I flinched as the sheer force and the sound of the slap, my eyes widening. Damien was now on the floor, blood trickling from his forehead where he had hit the floor, and the edge of his lips from the slap. "If you weren't too busy burying your head in so many pussies instead of focusing on being a man, you could
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
"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