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
I turned to him slowly, my lips parting against his skin from just how close we were, my mind finally finding a bit of ease after the hours of self torment. He met my eyes without leaning away, the intensity turning my stomach to mush, my body immediately catching unto the waves of desire and restrained lust, and something purer helmed between the two.My hand gently moved, and my fingers pushed through his hair, and then through his neck, my eyes darting slowly across both of his."I was worried," I admitted in a slow whisper, my chest heaving. "I was worried you would hate me."He let his thumb run over the edge of my lips. "It would be impossible to hate you, Roxanne.""I want to believe you.""You should," he said, his eyes leaving mine for a few steady seconds to settle on my lips. "You should believe me. I haven't said words that I believe more, either.""Why?" I asked, my eyes flicking up to him again. "Why me?"His lips lifted up in a small smile. A smile that did not reach hi
I swallowed hard, my chest heaving as I turned to the video again. It didn't look like a police report or a news video. It was just a personal video that seemed to have taken specifically for me."You... you did that for me?"He leaned behind me, his hand dipping in the water. Slowly, he brought his fingers up and let the roses fall on my skin, his face nuzzling in the side of mine, his breaths hot against my skin, his chest heaving lightly.He reached for my hand and held it tight, his lips brushing my skin, his presence setting me on fore, lighting up embers I had wrongfully assumed to be quenched."There is nothing I wouldn't do for you."I turned, letting his forehead rest on mine, his lips a mere inch against mine. For some reason, I couldn't find guilt in me towards Damien. All I could see were the horrible things he could have done to me if Florian hadn't been there. Violating my body. Trampling on my will. Ruining my life. Fucking with my mind.He would have ended me right the
The walk towards his room was both aesthetically pleasing and nerve-wracking. I had been in his bed before, but knowing that I would be in his bed again, this time with him taking it to me naked with only a robe he had pulled on me last minute before leaving the room, it did some thing to my heart. To my mind. To my brain."You are perfect even from down here too," I said, my voice low, my chest heaving.He looked down at me, then gave a small laugh. "Perfect? You should see you, sweetheart."I gave a small chuckle, then wrapped my hands around his shoulders, pushing my body up to him, my face buried in his neck."You smell so good, too."He didn't reply, and my heart skipped a beat as the door slowly opened. "You haven't been here before," he said, walking in, his eyes meeting mine. I bit down on my lips and slowly turned to the room. My breath hitched, my lips parting as I took in the room. His room was massive, and it had a large window just like mine.It had a round bed that lev
My eyes fluttered open. It was dark, with small streaks of light reflected from the illumination outside. My brows furrowed as I watched the sky through the slowly moving drapes. It was completely dark and probably around midnight.I could vividly remember Florian tucking me in, his hand holding mine till I fell asleep. I turned. He wasn't in the room anymore.I bit down on my lips, then slowly leaned up, the sheets falling off my body. I was now wrapped in a robe, my chest heaving as I tried to take in the room. It was dark, and I moved, pushing the sheets away from me.My feet touched the cold mahogany floor, and I navigated my way to the door. The house was quiet, and I slowly walked downstairs. The house was fairly dark, and I wasn't even sure where I was going, but I just felt like I needed to go somewhere.The living room was quiet too, and I slowly walked towards the open kitchen. I stopped, my eyes slightly widening.Florian was in the kitchen, bent over the work table. He had
I slowly dropped the knife I was holding, my chest lightly heaving as I avoided Florian's gaze. Does this mean that my parents would be helping Ronan run away after what he just did to me? I know he never held a job, and for a trip like that, my father would have to be sponsoring it. How can they do this to me?I turned to Florian. He was sitting on the counter, his eyes fixed on me, his expression solemn. I felt tears sting the back of my eyes, and I immediately shook them off, then started to turn back to the meat.I had no appetite at this point, and no motivation to do anything at all. I wanted to curl up in bed and close my eyes, and just pretend that none of this ever happened to me. That my brother hadn't aided in my violation. That my parents were not helping him escape in turn."Roxanne."I looked up to Florian, and he gave a small smile, then moved backwards, tapping lightly on the small space between his legs."Come here."I looked down, then shook my head. "I won't fit."H
"Are you still in the mood for this?" I asked, backing away from where Florian was sitting.I could see reluctance in his eyes as I moved away, but that proximity was a little too dangerous for my heart, and I couldn't take it anymore."Maybe," he said, then leaned back, resting his weight on his hands, his eyes holding mine. "Are you?"I shrugged. "I am mostly just hungry. Not really in the mood to cut this up."He laughed, his lower lip slowly sliding into his mouth, his teeth gently biting down on it. Fuck."Want to go for a little ride? We can get you something to eat, and I can pull your pigtails under the moonlight."I laughed. "Just how much do you remember?"He shrugged. "Everything. Blame the photographs in my mind."I smiled, then washed my hand and quickly put the meat back in the freezer and turned to him. Mentioning photographs brought back something to my head, and I dried out my hands on the kitchen towel, then turned to him.He was watching me with those predatory eyes
It was dark, but for some reason, I felt extremely calm, my body relaxing into the seat. Florian had rolled the windows down, and my hair was slowly moving with the slow night breeze, a small smile playing on my lips."I should have done this earlier," Florian said suddenly, and I turned to him, my eyes taking him in. "You look so darn happy."I laughed, then turned away again. "It just reminds me of the day I got my first car. Driving around the city, pushing everything away, and just..." I trailed off, then smiled. He nodded slowly. "You look good when you're happy."I laughed again, then leaned back, stretching my legs over the dashboard. My feet blocked the view, and I pulled away, my brows furrowing. I wanted to have my legs stretched but didn't want to compromise on the view in front of me.Not like it was much, but the serenity, the light from the car cutting through the darkness, something about it just calmed me."Put it here," Florian suddenly said as he tapped on his thigh
I leaned away from Florian, my hands still loosely wrapped around his waist, my eyes looking up to his. "I meant every word.""Oh, I know," he said, gently stroking my face. "I know you did."I swallowed, then turned towards the room I had just come out of, my anger fuelling even more. I hated that he would have it so damn easy. That he wouldn't see his life flash in front of him like Florian's parents did. That he wouldn't feel the gruelling pain and humiliation that Ellinel felt before she died. That he would simply lie here and get away with everything."Let me treat you tonight," Florian whispered, causing me to turn back to him."Roast?" I asked, and he broke into his breathtaking smile that I knew for a fact that he reserved for just me."Roast, baby girl."He held my hand tight, and I felt my brain shut off as he led me out of the hospital towards his own car. The car that had driven me here was parked next to it, and Florian waved it away.We got into the car, and Florian lean
I walked down the long hallways that led to my father's hospital room. It was in the VIP section, hence it was much quieter than the rest of the hospital, and the only sound I could hear was the clinking of my heels against the tiled floor.I stopped in front of VIP room 8, my eyes cold as I examined the cold door. My fingers tightened around the printed will papers I was holding and all of the information Florian had regarding my father's mistress and her twenty year old son.It made me laugh just thinking about how I thought I was second favourite. I hadn't even been in the equation. Not even Ronan was, but he deserved that. He had been in the equation long enough."Hello?"I turned, and a nurse gave me a small smile. "Hello.""Who are you?" She asked, her voice polite. "I am his daughter," I said, a small smirk appearing on my lips. Of course, I was his daughter. Only one demon can take out another."Oh, sure, then. He has not had any visitors ever since he went into another card
The house was awfully quiet, and I lay in ned all alone, my eyes fixed on the chandelier hanging from it. My mind reeled with all of the inconsistencies that I hadn't noticed all these years.How I never realized just how bad these people were. How shameless they were, fighting for money that was never even theirs.I swallowed hard and turned on my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. It haunted me just how Florian had to stand by and watch it all happen. How he had to watch himself still want me despite everything.I gave a small grunt and sat up, my heart burning with anger. It all felt like it was happening right now for me. Like I was seeing my father threatening Florian's father for money that originally belonged to the latter. It haunted my soul that they could have spent that blood money in me, for something, and it felt like I owed Florian a bigger apology.I got out of bed and slowly went down the stairs. I stopped at the very foot of the stairs, however, as the sound of s
I held unto Florian's waist even as he gently parked the bike, then leaned back and removed his helmet. I reluctantly let go of him and got off the bike, and he got off too, taking my helmet from me as he gently balanced it on the bike. He turned, holding my hand as softly as the subset lights were resting in his hair, his eyes tender. "Is this alright?" I swallowed, my eyes slowly moving to the gate. "Will they want to see me?" He gave a small chuckle. "I am sure they will." I nodded, and he gently led me towards the gate. He pushed open and slowly started to lead me into the long rows of his family that have passed on. I held my breath throughout the short trip that took us to the side by side graves where his parents lay forever, and I immediately felt my heart drop. "Hi, Mum, Dad." Florian's voice was casual, and it reflected just how close he was with his parents, and it extended to even right now. "Sorry, I haven't been able to come around recently. I am all grown up, and I
I watched the sun as it set, while Florian lay in my lap, his body spread on the bed, his bare back tinted a warm light brown by the sun, his hair sprawled all over me. I had my fingers buried in his hair and my other hand running down his back.His fever had gone down after a few pills, and it seemed to have knocked him out. I leaned, kissing the top of his back, before I leaned away, just as a familiar ding reached my ears.I turned, and his phone that was sitting on the bedside drawer to my right was lit up, most probably with a message.I swallowed hard, looking down at him. I wasn't sure if he would have let me read the message had he been awake, but morbid curiosity haunted my mind, and I found myself reaching for the phone.I stopped, however, my chest heaving. Knowing how heavily involved with my family Florian was, there was a very good chance that it would be about them. I am not sure I want to ruin this evening with them. I am not sure I want to ruin this day by discovering
"I am sorry," I said to Florian, reaching to cup his face. "I wanted to make something for you."He nodded slowly. "So why are you fighting with a maid? You can just have her escorted out."I bit down on my lips. "I am sorry. I let my jealousy take over for a minute."He didn't reply but raised his eyes to the maid that was still standing behind us. I turned to her too, my eyes wide, my chest heaving hard as I watched her."You heard me the first time. Leave.""Sir, please. I beg of you. I was simply cooking porridge for you and...""Don't let me repeat myself, Savannah. Please leave."Florian turned to me. "Be careful."I nodded, and he started to turn away from both of us. "You know I can love you better, sir," came Savannah's strained voice, her breaths so loud that it made her voice sound a little muffled. "You know I would never remind you of the things you want to forget. You know I would never be selfish. You know I would never ever huet you. You know that, sir."Florian turn
I gently ran my fingers through Florian's hair, my eyes fixed on his sleeping frame. He was wearing a robe around him, his head resting on my lap, his lips slightly parted. His body was burning up, but he preferred having me sit right here than be Iver him, trying to bring down his temperature with a cold towel.I leaned, my eyes darting across both of his closed ones. He was slightly reddish, and against his layer judgement, I gently moved his sleeping frame, then got out of bed.I walked to the restroom and grabbed a small towel and his first aid kit. I dampened the towel, squeezed the excess water off, and then walked back to the room. Luckily for me, he wasn't awake, and I sat next to him, keeping the towel and the first aid box away.I gently loosened the knot of his robe, then pulled it down to his waist, leaving him shirtless upwards. I then slowly brought the damp towel to his body.The first I pressed it unto him, he gave a small shiver, but then slowly fell back asleep, his
The ride home was quiet, but at least Florian let me hold until his hand tight. I watched his profile, my eyes blurred with tears. I hated myself for pushing him to this point. I hated myself for the blood I carried in my veins. I hated the time I wasted without letting myself go for someone who I knew would absolutely do it for me.We finally got home, and Florian went out, then came around and opened the door for me. His eyes held mine for a long minute before he turned away, closing the car door, before he walked away.I stopped by the door, watching his back as he made his way up the stairs, letting go of the cat keys on one of the stairs and never even looking back.I blinked, my face dropping, the emotions heavy on my heart. I slowly followed him, wondering if he would still come to my room tonight, like he always did. I wouldn't even want him to. I wanted him to be selfish and not spend the night in the arms of the person who reminds him of everything he keeps trying to run aw
ROXANNE'S P.O.V It felt like the wind was knocked right out of my lungs. Ronan? Ronan was a little bitch but... I slowly looked up to Florian.Florian wouldn't lie to me, especially right now. Florian wouldn't make things up right now, and he definitely wouldn't do so much for an anger that wasn't justified."What's that look?" He asked, laughing slightly. "Why would you be surprised? I told you she was dead the other day.""I...""You guarded your heart a little too hard again, didn't you?" He gave a small pause, his brows raised. "You... we both know you asked now only because you still want to guard your heart. That's why you forgot that she wasn't even living competition. That's why everything passes for you like these rain clouds. Because you keep guarding your heart a little too hard. A little too selfishly, Roxanne.""Florian..""What are you going to say to me?" He asked, his voice breaking. I never thought I would see Florian reach this point, and fuck, it scared me. "That