Luna POVDante steps back, a slow smile curling on his lips as he surveys the room, letting everyone’s eyes drink in the sight of me bound and exposed. My skin tingles, every nerve alive with anticipation. His presence is magnetic, and I can feel every pair of eyes glued to us, watching, waiting to see what he’ll do next. My body trembles under the weight of their collective gaze. He paces slowly, gathering the items he plans to use, his movements deliberate. The room has grown quieter, the only sounds being the soft shuffle of feet and murmurs of intrigue. It feels like no one has ever seen Dante like this before—commanding, dangerous, in complete control of someone in this room. His voice cuts through the room like a knife. “This...” He points directly at me, my body stretched out and vulnerable before him. “This is what happens to naughty little kittens who think they can be brats and get away with it.” A shiver runs down my spine as his words sink in. I can feel the weight of t
Luna POVThe pleasure is overwhelming, my body responding to his every movement, but just as I feel that familiar tightening in my core, he stops. I gasp, my body trembling with the need to release, but he pulls back, watching me with a smirk. “Look at that,” he laughs, turning to the onlookers. “She was right there, so close, and now she’s practically shaking with frustration.” His voice is dark, dripping with satisfaction as he runs his fingers across my trembling skin. “She’s going to break soon. I can feel it.” He steps behind me, his breath hot against my neck as he speaks low in my ear, just loud enough for everyone to hear. “You want it so bad, don’t you, little deer? But you don’t get to come until I say so. You know that, right?” I nod, biting my lip to stop the desperate plea threatening to spill from my mouth. I can feel the heat between my legs growing unbearable, my entire body aching for the release he keeps denying me. He slips his fingers back inside, this time movi
Luna POVOut of the corner of my eye, I see Lilly smirking, clearly enjoying the show. “She’s tougher than I thought,” she muses, but her tone is laced with mockery. “Is she?” Dante’s eyes gleam with challenge. “We’ll see how long that lasts.” His words hang in the air as the wand is pressed against me again, harder this time, the vibrations more intense. My hips move involuntarily, chasing the sensation, but before I can even get close, he pulls it away once more. A sob escapes me—pure, raw frustration—and my body collapses in on itself. “Please,” I whisper, hating how weak I sound, but the need is too overwhelming to resist any longer. Dante tilts his head, feigning curiosity. “What was that?” My pride holds on by a thread, but my body is too far gone. “Please…” I repeat, my voice breaking. “I’ll do anything.” He grips my head pulling it back as he steps in front of me, his eyes locking onto mine. “Anything?” I nod, barely able to meet his gaze. “Yes.” A slow, wicked smile s
Dante POV I step back from her, taking a moment to just look at her body, utterly spent and exhausted. There’s a raw beauty to it, a reminder of how much she trusts me, how much she lets me push her to the edge. My chest tightens with a mix of possessiveness and something else—something deeper that I’m still trying to figure out. But this... this moment is everything. I adjust my clothes, my eyes never leaving her. She’s still trembling slightly, her body worn out from everything I’ve just done to her. There’s pride swelling in my chest—she’s mine, every part of her, and no one else will ever get to see her like this again. Stepping in front of her, I release the cuffs on her ankles, letting her legs fall free before I lift her into my arms. Her legs instinctively wrap around my waist, her head resting against my shoulder, her breath still coming in shaky gasps. I press a kiss to her lips, slow and deliberate. She gives me a small, exhausted smile, and it takes everything in me no
Dante POVCallum sighs, leaning back as if he’s been holding onto this for too long. “There’s nothing to talk about, really. Me and Sasha went out a while back, she invited me. She came back here, we slept together, and the next day when I tried to talk about it, she laughed it off like it was nothing. She acted like it didn’t even happen.” It hits me then—why would Sasha act so distant after sleeping with him? It doesn’t add up. “Anyway,” Callum continues, “I waited for her to change her mind, but she never did. She was stuck in her decision. So, I moved on. Me and Lilly have always been close, you know that. But it was never anything more. Then, one night... it just happened between us. I thought about telling Sasha, but she was still on her whole ‘nothing happened, we don’t need to talk’ bullshit. Then she comes here, sees Lilly answer the door, and loses her mind. Slapped her right across the face.” My eyes narrow as I lean forward. “You didn’t fucking tell me that,” I say, mor
Dante POV“You’re right,” Callum says after a long moment. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll figure it out. But Dante...” He meets my gaze, his eyes serious. “You need to sort out this shit with Sasha too. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. And we can’t afford to be distracted right now.” I nod, knowing he’s right but not sure how to tackle it. “I’ll deal with it. One way or another.” Callum stands, giving me a firm nod before heading for the door. “We’ll figure this out, Dante. But right now, we’ve got work to do.” We leave and head downstairs, my focus shifting to finding someone who can replace Sasha. Wait. “Callum!” I shout, and he stops, turning to face me. “Offer Lilly Sasha’s job. I’m not sure if she’ll agree or be comfortable, but I need to fill it. See if she’d be willing to be the women’s voice.” He nods but the tension doesn’t leave his face. “Even I know she won’t, Dante. She’s not the type to confront shit. Honestly, I’d suggest offering it to Luna. I’ll ask Lilly, but i
Dante POVI turn to him. “There’s a reason Sasha’s going after Lilly like this. Think about it. We can stop her from coming here, but out there? I can’t control that. Why is she acting so crazy toward Lilly and not Luna?” It feels personal. Too personal. And it doesn’t add up. Sasha’s behavior is far from the norm. She’s always been tough, always held her own, but this…this is different. Targeted. Deliberate. Callum shakes his head, frustration clear in his voice. “I don’t know, Dante. I wish I fucking did, but I don’t. You know everything I know. Nothing I said was a lie. Sasha didn’t care until Lilly was involved.” That’s what keeps bugging me. Why is Lilly the trigger? “Let’s get upstairs and make sure everyone knows she’s not allowed back in. Make sure she doesn’t come near here again.” I push through the door, and Callum follows. My mind churns, piecing things together. But every conclusion feels incomplete, like there’s a piece missing from the puzzle. Lilly is quiet, kind—t
Luna POVI wake up feeling the warmth of Dante beside me, a smile tugging at my lips. I reach out to touch him but freeze when I notice someone else. Lilly is curled up on the other side of the bed, her face bruised and battered. I gently poke her in the side, watching as her eyes flutter open, and she sits up, rubbing her eyes with a soft laugh.“Nope, not Dante,” she teases, shrugging as if waking up with a black eye, busted lip, and cut above her eyebrow is no big deal. “Callum told me to come sleep here.”I stare at her face, guilt twisting in my gut. “I’m so sorry, Lilly. No one was supposed to get hurt.” My voice barely comes out as a whisper.Lilly waves it off, her casual shrug almost unsettling. “First of all, don’t apologize, Luna. This wasn’t on you. It was on Sasha. There were safer ways she could’ve distracted Rich. Second,” she gives a faint smile, “not all of this is from that fight.”“What do you mean? When did this happen?” I can’t even recall seeing her like this las
Callum 2 years earlierThe phone call ends, and I shove the last of my belongings into a battered duffel bag. There’s not much to pack; I’ve been living out of this bag for years, trying to outrun the weight of my past. But nothing makes a difference, not here. Not anywhere. This place was supposed to be a fresh start, but it’s as hollow as every other attempt. Maybe these new clubs will be different. Maybe this will be the answer.For over fifteen years, I’ve been trying to find a way to fix the fucked-up situation my mother and sister were trapped in. To help women who’ve been dragged through the same hell. And finally, I think I’ve found it—or at least the beginning of it.The streets are quiet as I head toward the train station, my boots scuffing against the pavement. The early hour cloaks the world in a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional hum of a distant car. It’s better this way. I need the quiet to figure out my next move. This guy—Dante—is a mystery. All I know is th
Lilly - 4 Years EarlierAndrew leans back in the driver’s seat, his cold eyes cutting through me like a knife. He nods toward the dark, narrow alleyway ahead, a place that reeks of danger and despair. I hesitate, gripping the edge of the car seat as though it might save me. His glare sharpens, slicing through my resolve like glass shattering against stone.“You can run,” he says, his voice dripping with venomous mockery. “Go ahead.” A twisted grin spreads across his face. “Try it. I won’t even chase you.”His finger brushes against my cheek, slow and deliberate, sending bile surging up my throat. I flinch, my breath hitching, but I can’t move. His presence is suffocating, every word laced with malice, every touch a violation.“You say that, but…” My voice cracks, the words dying in my throat.“But your little sister would make the perfect replacement, wouldn’t she?” His voice drops to a whisper, each word coiling around me like a noose. “She’s got that fiery red hair, just like you.”
This is the start of Lilly and Callum's storyCallum - 18 Years OldWaking up feels like clawing my way out of a grave. My body is leaden, pinned to the sagging mattress by the weight of something I can’t name. The air reeks of sweat, stale smoke, and something sour—vomit maybe, or the leftovers of another night wasted in this filthy room. Everything around me is a distorted blur, like looking through cracked glass. The dim light from the cracked blinds barely cuts through the haze, illuminating the chaos I’ve surrounded myself with—empty bottles, burned foil, crumpled syringes, and piles of clothes that haven’t seen a wash in weeks.This time, it’s different. I can feel it in my bones, in the way my heart races and my skin crawls as if there are a thousand invisible insects burrowing under my flesh. I’ve woken up after bad trips before—dozens of times, maybe hundreds. Every time, I’ve brushed myself off, forced my way through the fog, and found my way back to the poison that put me t
Luna POVI toss the pregnancy test down, feeling a wave of relief, but something still gnaws at me. It doesn’t feel real. I pace the room like a madwoman, while Lilly sits there, laughing like this is all some comedy show.“You know it’s over 99% accurate, right? Not 100%” she says, smirking. “Well, in real life it’s more like 92% because, let’s face it, most people don’t know how to use them properly.”I shoot her a death glare. “I take my pill at the exact same time every damn day!” I throw my hands up, and she only laughs harder, clearly entertained by my spiral.“Maybe it’s just wedding stress making you late?” she shrugs, but I can’t buy that. I’ve been way more stressed than this before and my period never played hide and seek like this.“It said ‘not pregnant,’ Luna. Why are you still on this rampage?” she teases, eyes sparkling with amusement.“Until I see actual blood, I will remain on this rampage!” I shout, pacing even faster.Lilly leans back, laughing. “So I take it you d
Dante POVI reach out and gently tilt her chin up so she’s looking directly at me. “Why do you think I haven’t brought up anal?” I ask, my voice soft but firm. “I saw how your body tensed when Justin casually mentioned it once. I knew immediately it was a hard limit for you.”Her cheeks flush, and I laugh. “Am I wrong?” I ask, though I already know the answer.She looks around, embarrassed, and shakes her head.“I also noticed you skip those parts in your books—the ones with anal scenes. You couldn’t even read about it without discomfort.” I grin, feeling a little self-conscious about how deeply I’ve studied her, but it’s important she knows. “And when you say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ but you don’t really mean it, your lip curls up, just a little. You try to hide it, but you fail every time. It’s a dead giveaway.”She rolls her eyes, laughing. “Okay, so you know my body better than I do.”“Exactly. And you really need to stop smirking when you’re being a brat,” I tease, winking at her.“It’s ha
Dante POVBut I’m not done. There’s more—worse. “Luna,” I say, pausing to brace myself for what I know is going to break her. “Lucy… she wasn’t your sister. She wasn’t even your mother’s child. She was kidnapped as a baby and brought into Brian’s world.”The color drains from Luna’s face, her eyes widening in disbelief. “No,” she breathes, shaking her head. “No, I remember my mom was pregnant. I remember her. I remember the baby. They called her Abigail... Abi.”I close my eyes for a moment, hating what I have to say next. “That baby, Abigail, died, Luna. There are records to prove it. You weren’t born in a hospital, so you were never officially registered, but Abigail was. She had complications during birth so they had to go to hospital. When she died a few weeks later, Brian knew it would cause an investigation. That’s when he took someone else’s baby—Lucy—and raised her as Abigail.”Her face contorts with pain as the truth sinks in. Her eyes dart around the room like she’s searchin
Dante’s POVI reach over, grabbing the book from the table and handing it to her. “Page 231, right? That’s where you left off,” I say, smiling down at her. She gets comfortable, snuggling into my lap as she flips open to the page. A small, exaggerated yawn escapes her lips before she peers up at me with a playful grin.“Read to me,” she says, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint I’ve come to love.I sigh softly, knowing I can’t resist her when she asks like that. Nodding, I start reading aloud, the words flowing easily. She holds the book steady while I keep one hand possessively cupping her breast, the other resting between her thighs, teasing her gently. I can feel her pulse quicken under my touch, her hips subtly shifting, seeking more friction.I want to stay like this—wrapped up in her warmth, feeling her respond to me—but there’s too much unsaid between us. As much as I crave this moment, I know we can’t avoid the conversation any longer. There’s something bigger I nee
Luna POVI walk over to the shelves, scanning the titles, my fingers running over the spines of the books. There are so many—books I’ve been meaning to read, some of my favorites, and even a few I hadn’t gotten around to buying yet. I pick up one of the newer books and turn to him. “How did you even know which ones to get?” Dante leans against the doorframe, smirking. “I pay attention to what you read. Plus, I asked a few people for recommendations. Lilly gave Callum a whole list of books.” I shake my head, still in awe. “You’re unbelievable.” “And you’re worth it,” he replies, his voice low, but the sincerity in it makes my heart skip a beat. Stepping closer to him, I place the book back on the shelf and close the distance between us. “You know,” I say, resting my hands on his chest, “this space might be perfect, but it’s still missing one thing.” He arches an eyebrow, playing along. “Oh? And what’s that?” “You,” I whisper, rising on my toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.
Luna POVI can’t help but jump up, rushing over to scoop up Little Bear from Callum’s arms. I plop back onto the bed, cuddling the puppy. “Erm… I’m going to walk back out and come in again. Let’s try that welcome one more time,” Dante grumbles, walking out, which makes me burst into laughter. He walks back in, and I shoot him a confused look just to mess with him. “Unbelievable. The damn puppy gets a better welcome than I do,” he mutters, and everyone laughs. I move quickly, planting a kiss on his lips. “I was joking,” I say with a grin. “No, you weren’t. You ran for the puppy, not me,” he grumbles. “I’ve seen you more recently than the puppy,” I tease, and he can’t help but nod, giving in. “Okay, we need to talk,” Dante says, taking a seat beside Callum, who’s settled down as well. I glance between them nervously. “Whatever I did, I was drunk,” I joke, raising my hands in mock defense. Lilly, catching on, joins in, laughing. “Yeah, same. I was drunk too.” “Relax, you’re not i