Luca rolled his eyes before speaking in a clipped, almost bored tone. “Take your ass back to Domus Vossus, Alexei, before Voss ruins the whole country down looking for you.”
Maria opened her mouth to interject, but before she could get a word out, Luca’s sharp glare snapped to her.“Stay out of it,” he bit out, voice as sharp as a blade.Maria flinched at the coldness in his tone. Her lips pressed together, the urge to argue bubbling in her chest, but she forced herself to swallow it. Luca was rarely this outright harsh with her, and if he was, it meant the situation was far worse than she initially thought.He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before muttering, “Eat dinner before you leave, Alexei.”Maria watched the tension in Luca’s frame as he poured himself a drink. His fingers gripped the glass too tightly, the muscles in his forearm flexing as he took a slow sip. It was a silent warning—one she ignored.Later iMaria crawled onto the bed, her breath shallow, her heart hammering against her ribs as Luca’s dark gaze pinned her in place. The room was thick with tension — the kind that made the air itself feel heavier.“Middle of the bed,” he said, voice low, dangerous.She obeyed instantly, moving to the center of the cool sheets. Her body was taut, strung tight with anticipation, her pulse skittering wildly beneath her skin.Luca stood against the dresser, shirtless, his sculpted chest rising and falling slowly. In one hand, his phone; in the other, a belt, the leather flexing menacingly between his fingers. The dim light carved hard shadows across his body, highlighting every muscle, every ruthless line.The phone rang once. Twice. A sharp click as the call connected.“Voss,” he said, his tone clipped and cold.Maria's stomach twisted.No.She pushed up onto her knees, desperation creeping into her voice. “Luca, please—”
First round had been punishment — this was pleasure, wicked and indulgent, tangled with the remnants of anger he hadn't quite managed to shake.Luca couldn’t stay mad at her forever. No matter how much Maria defied him, no matter how she pushed and tested — she was his. Always his. His anger melted into something darker now, something possessive and hungry.His gaze pinned her down, unreadable, heavy.Then he leaned in, slow, deliberate, his breath a sinful caress against the shell of her ear. His lips barely grazed her skin when he whispered, low and vicious,“Keep crying for me.”The words dragged along her spine like silk and steel, a cruel promise and a dark demand wrapped into one.Maria whimpered, fresh tears brimming in her eyes. The saltwater clung to her lashes, trembling, before spilling down hot onto her flushed cheeks. Her thighs trembled from the effort to stay open, vulnerable beneath him, but she didn’t dare move. Could
Maria Dominic never thought she would end up on her knees. Not in front of him. Not in front of the man she had loved, trusted, sacrificed for. But here she was—kneeling on the cold, immaculate marble floors of Edwards Kale’s office, her dignity slipping away with every second that passed. Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists against her thighs. She had come here for justice, for fairness, for something that resembled the years she had lost. But as she looked up at the man seated in his oversized leather chair, all she saw was apathy. Edwards leaned back, exhaling slowly as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. The sound of ice clinking against crystal felt like a hammer against her skull. His navy-blue suit was perfectly tailored, his golden cufflinks gleaming under the warm office lights. Everything about him screamed power, wealth, control. Everything about her felt powerless. “Get up, Maria,” Edwards said, his tone flat, emotionless. “You’re embarrassing you
The drive was quiet.Maria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as the city passed by in a blur. The streets of Hay Port were still waking up, bathed in the soft gold of the morning sun, but Maria couldn't appreciate the beauty outside.Her mind was still stuck in that office.Still kneeling.Still feeling the cold marble against her knees, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her chest as Edwards dismissed her like she was nothing.She clenched her jaw, staring down at her lap.The silence between her and Luca stretched. The man beside her-her brother's best friend, the reckless boy who had once been a constant presence in her childhood-was now driving her away from everything she had once called hers. Away from Edwards. Away from the life she had built for him.But strangely, she didn't feel lost.She felt... lighter.Like she was no longer carrying all of it alone.Still, confusion lingered in her chest."Why did you do that?" she finally
Maria followed Luca into SpitFire Autos, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.The moment she stepped inside, she felt small.Not because she was intimidated—but because this place was huge.The main hall stretched out before her like a grand atrium, its ceiling impossibly high. A massive chandelier hung above, its golden arms spiraling outward, dripping with thousands of tiny crystals that caught the light. It was the largest she had ever seen—bigger than the one Edwards had installed in their penthouse, bigger than the one in his company’s lobby.Her gaze moved downward, following the elegant design of the escalators.There were several, each leading to different sections of the building.Some moved slowly, taking employees to open workspace floors. Others had security scanners at their bases—meaning they required a special pass to access. Those escalators led to the more exclusive parts of the company.Maria recognized this kind of system. It was something on
Maria finished the last bite of her pastry, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and rose to her feet.Luca watched as she walked toward his desk, her steps steady but slow, as though she was absorbing everything.She placed a hand on the polished wood surface before turning her attention to the floor-to-ceiling window.From up here, Hay Port stretched far and wide, the skyline gleaming under the morning sun. The world outside was calm, unchanged, completely unaware of the war that was about to begin.Maria folded her arms."What's the plan?"Luca pushed his chair back and strode over to her, standing beside her but slightly behind-close enough for his presence to be felt, but not overwhelming."First," he murmured, "you'll go through with the divorce."Maria's expression didn't change, but she gripped her arms a little tighter."He'll give you something, even if it's just a fraction of what you deserve." Luca leaned against the desk. "We'll take it."Maria nodded slowly.Then Luca smirked.
Maria barely registered the nod of acknowledgment she gave before Luca spoke again, his voice calm but edged with something deeper.“How long did you say you two were together?”Maria exhaled softly, fingers brushing the polished surface of his desk.“Ten years.”Luca’s brows furrowed, his brown eyes darkening as he tilted his head slightly, processing her words."Ten years?" His voice held an edge of disbelief, almost as if he was confirming something for himself. “And you never had kids?”Maria’s throat tightened. She shook her head.“Edwards wanted to wait a while.”Luca went very still. His gaze burned into her like the midday sun.Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said,"Marie, ten years isn’t ‘a while.’" He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. “It’s a decade.”The weight of those words pressed against her.Maria opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Luca suddenly grabbed her by the waist. A surprised gasp barely escaped her lips before he ho
"Mr. Avancii."Gina’s voice was flat, unimpressed.Maria stiffened, her heart stalling in her chest.Luca, on the other hand, remained completely unbothered. He didn't even turn to acknowledge Gina properly—just kept his hand possessively on Maria’s thigh like nothing had changed.Gina exhaled sharply, shifting the tablet in her arms."Never in all my years of working here did I think I would ever hear you say that."Maria blinked, confused.Luca, however, smirked."What, ‘fiancée’?" His voice was smooth, amused, as if he found her disbelief entertaining."That," Gina said pointedly, "and watching you actually use your office for something other than business."Maria’s face flamed, but Luca only chuckled."You wound me, Gina.""Do I?" she deadpanned.Luca let out a low laugh, finally straightening to look at her fully."You need something?"Gina pinched the bridge of her nose."You have a meeting in five minutes."Luca tilted his head."And?""And," Gina gritted out, "your presence is
First round had been punishment — this was pleasure, wicked and indulgent, tangled with the remnants of anger he hadn't quite managed to shake.Luca couldn’t stay mad at her forever. No matter how much Maria defied him, no matter how she pushed and tested — she was his. Always his. His anger melted into something darker now, something possessive and hungry.His gaze pinned her down, unreadable, heavy.Then he leaned in, slow, deliberate, his breath a sinful caress against the shell of her ear. His lips barely grazed her skin when he whispered, low and vicious,“Keep crying for me.”The words dragged along her spine like silk and steel, a cruel promise and a dark demand wrapped into one.Maria whimpered, fresh tears brimming in her eyes. The saltwater clung to her lashes, trembling, before spilling down hot onto her flushed cheeks. Her thighs trembled from the effort to stay open, vulnerable beneath him, but she didn’t dare move. Could
Maria crawled onto the bed, her breath shallow, her heart hammering against her ribs as Luca’s dark gaze pinned her in place. The room was thick with tension — the kind that made the air itself feel heavier.“Middle of the bed,” he said, voice low, dangerous.She obeyed instantly, moving to the center of the cool sheets. Her body was taut, strung tight with anticipation, her pulse skittering wildly beneath her skin.Luca stood against the dresser, shirtless, his sculpted chest rising and falling slowly. In one hand, his phone; in the other, a belt, the leather flexing menacingly between his fingers. The dim light carved hard shadows across his body, highlighting every muscle, every ruthless line.The phone rang once. Twice. A sharp click as the call connected.“Voss,” he said, his tone clipped and cold.Maria's stomach twisted.No.She pushed up onto her knees, desperation creeping into her voice. “Luca, please—”
Luca rolled his eyes before speaking in a clipped, almost bored tone. “Take your ass back to Domus Vossus, Alexei, before Voss ruins the whole country down looking for you.”Maria opened her mouth to interject, but before she could get a word out, Luca’s sharp glare snapped to her.“Stay out of it,” he bit out, voice as sharp as a blade.Maria flinched at the coldness in his tone. Her lips pressed together, the urge to argue bubbling in her chest, but she forced herself to swallow it. Luca was rarely this outright harsh with her, and if he was, it meant the situation was far worse than she initially thought.He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before muttering, “Eat dinner before you leave, Alexei.”Maria watched the tension in Luca’s frame as he poured himself a drink. His fingers gripped the glass too tightly, the muscles in his forearm flexing as he took a slow sip. It was a silent warning—one she ignored.Later i
Maria adjusted the strap of her handbag and cradled her belly as she stepped out of the museum. The cool evening air greeted her, mingling with the faint scent of old parchment and polished wood that still clung to her senses. She had spent the last few hours indulging in one of her new habits—shopping without checking the price tag. It was something she was still getting used to, but Luca had made it clear: she was his wife, and his wife would never want for anything.Her guards trailed behind her, arms laden with bags filled with delicate artifacts and paintings she had acquired on impulse. They weren’t just purchases; they were pieces of history, stories carved into stone and woven into canvas, each one adding to the growing collection she had started curating for their estate.Just as she was about to step into the car, a voice cut through the street noise.“Maria!”She barely turned at first, assuming it was just some overly familiar stranger or a paparazzo trying to get her a
When he pulled away, Maria smiled beautifully, her lips barely brushing his as she whispered, “Do I have to?”She was almost whining, a soft, breathy sound that sent a flicker of warmth down Luca’s spine.His lips quirked. She knew what she was doing.He chuckled, his fingers tightening slightly on her waist, thumb tracing the dip of her spine in slow, idle circles. “You’ll get what you want, mi reina,” he murmured, amusement laced in every syllable. “But I expect proper compensation.”Maria squealed, delighted, throwing her arms around his neck. Her warmth pressed against him, and the scent of her perfume—soft, floral, and distinctly hers—wrapped around him like a drug."Thank you."She had always known exactly how to win.Her excitement made him chuckle, a deep, indulgent sound, but before she could pull back, she added, “Oh! When can I see Gina?”Luca hummed, his lips trailing lower, brushing against the delicate shell of her ear. He felt her shiver, barely perceptible, but it was
Sitting in his study, with Maria staring at him like she always had, Luca sighed deeply. The dim glow of his desk lamp cast flickering shadows over the rich mahogany furniture, the faint scent of aged paper and leather-bound books filling the air.His fingers curled around the sleek black pen in his hand, but he barely glanced at the documents before him. Instead, his focus remained on her—the woman who had mastered the art of distraction with nothing more than a lingering gaze.“What is it?”Maria blinked, feigning innocence. Her hazel eyes gleamed with mischief, catching the light just enough to make them dance. She even tilted her head slightly—the same way she always had when she was about to manipulate him. A habit he knew too well, yet never quite managed to resist.“Nothing.”Luca exhaled through his nose, the sound sharp against the thick silence. He set his pen down with a quiet click, fingers smoothing over the fine grain of his desk before he lifted his gaze to hers.“Mire
Luca Avancii was a man who prided himself on control.Every breath measured. Every movement calculated. Every decision made with the kind of unwavering certainty that turned empires into dynasties.And yet, at this moment, his focus was fractured.The contracts spread across his mahogany desk should have commanded his full attention. The numbers, the clauses, the final steps in dismantling Kale Industries were all laid out in pristine, paper-bound authority.But his wife was in front of him.And she was staring.Silent. Still. Expectant.Luca knew better than to look up right away. He kept his eyes on the papers, his pen tapping lightly against the rim of his glasses as though he could will himself to ignore her presence.But that was impossible. It had always been impossible.Another five seconds passed. She didn’t move. Didn’t shift, didn’t cough, didn’t even tilt her head—just sat there in his study, her delicate fingers drumming lightly against the arm of the chair, her body so ut
Maria barely had a moment to breathe before he thrust into her again—slow, deliberate, dragging out every inch of pleasure as he filled her completely. The sensation was overwhelming, a heady mix of overstimulation and raw desire that left her gasping, her fingers gripping the counter as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.The wet, obscene sounds of their joining echoed through the kitchen, each thrust a slick, lewd melody against the backdrop of their breathless moans. The air was thick with the scent of sex—heady, intoxicating, laced with the remnants of last night. Luca was still inside her, and she could feel it, the remnants of his previous release making everything even hotter, even messier."You're dripping everywhere, baby," he murmured, his voice dark and amused, one hand gripping her hip possessively while the other trailed down the curve of her stomach. His fingers traced lower, teasing, smearing the evidence of their union against her skin.Maria w
Luca stirred awake to the warmth of sunlight filtering through the tall windows of their bedroom. The sheets were slightly cool beside him, telling him Maria had already left the bed. He groaned softly, stretching his arms before rolling onto his back, his mind still hazy from sleep.Then he remembered.Gina.He exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. That brat had made him worry for no damn reason. After all these weeks, she'd managed to fake her death, stay hidden, and even keep it from him. Luca smirked to himself. He had meant to tell Maria last night, but one thing had led to another, and well… priorities.Pushing himself up, he walked into the bathroom, letting the hot water wake him fully. By the time he stepped out, towel wrapped low on his hips, the scent of ginger and something sweet drifted through the air.Maria.The morning sun cast a warm glow over the marble floors as Luca stepped downstairs, the scent of ginger and sugar wrapping around him like a slow, teasing invita