NOVARiver kept on bugging me from the day they went out with Dashiell, to arrange another meeting with him, but I refused. Even though I knew my refusal hurt my kids, I had to do it. I couldn't let them spend that amount of time with Dashiell. It would only cause disruptions to my plans. Not only that but letting the kids get close to him was bad news. It would only make it difficult for me to separate the kids from him when the time to do that comes. “Why are you so lost in thoughts?” Benita demanded, plopping down on the chair opposite mine. “Care to share?”Though she looked genuinely concerned, and eager to know what was bugging me, I could tell she had no desire to pry further into it, letting me decide whether I should tell her or not. Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking of what to do. I stayed silent for close to five minutes before I cleared my throat, leaning on the table. “Let's say someone did something unforgivable to you, something that would have cost t
DASHIELL I checked the time on my watch, frowning as I wondered why Nova wasn't back yet. The last time I saw her was an hour ago when he told me she was leaving to meet a friend. After that, I tried her number countless times but was told it wasn't reachable. To further solidify my fear was the fact she didn't leave the office with her car. It was still parked at the company's carpark, waiting for her to pick it up. My phone started ringing, causing me to pick it up, thinking it was Nova, only to be disappointed when I saw the caller's ID. I stared at my phone, my mind reeling. Lilith's name flashed on the screen, and my gut twisted. I didn't want to answer the call, not after the confrontation between her and Nova, but I did. I answered the call, knowing she would only keep calling until I did so. “Dashiell. I..." She hesitated, “I need your help.” “Help?” I scoffed. “What could you possibly need my help with, Lils?” This was getting rather old. “Why don't you think of another
NOVA"Thank you so much for today,” I said to Alex, who was kind enough to drive me to the hospital and get me treated. He didn't leave until the doctor finished the bandaging. Luckily enough, I didn't sustain major injuries. It was just minor ones that only needed a bandage and some painkillers. He footed the bills despite my offer to do so, making it seem like it was his job to do that since he saved me. “Don't sweat it, dear.” He smiled, walking next to me as we strode to where he packed his car. “Where are you going to next, your home? I can take your back if you don't mind,” he offered, beaming like I wasn't just inconveniencing him. Either he was one of those do-gooders or a wannabe. There was no way he would be this glad to help me, a stranger he just met, one that disrupted whatever plans he might have, with her problems. Don't get me wrong, I was happy he helped, but I couldn't help the thoughts flickering in my mind as I watched him, trying to know if he was doing this be
Alex didn't leave until I was settled in. He stayed with me for close to thirty minutes to make sure I was okay and didn't need to be taken to the hospital before he left. He dropped his number, asking me to call him whenever I needed his help, which I doubt I would ever do. I mean, why would I call someone like him for help when he would only end up being a pest? Okay, a handsome, always-smiling pest. A few minutes after he left, Benita rushed into my office, not bothering to knock. She looked excited, her eyes sparkling as she scurried over to my desk and leaned down, whispering, “Tell me they were lying.” She sounded like she was begging, but I knew she wasn't, not with the way her eyes glistened. I know that look. She always had that each time she wanted to gossip. “Lying? Who exactly?” I tried to act like I didn't understand why she dashed into my office looking like Hades was after her soul. I bet the entire office was abuzz with news of the handsome man who escorted me to t
DASHIELLI didn't count on spending this much time in the hospital. I figured it would take her 2 hours max to wake up, but it took 5. All along, I sat outside the hospital room, waiting and praying. I wanted nothing complicated to happen because it would only make me guilty, knowing this wouldn't have happened if I had gone to her house immediately called. Had I involved the police when she asked me not to, they would have caught the culprit before he did something bad to her. Just thinking of all we could have avoided made me feel so weak.The moment a nurse walked over to me and told me she was awake, I got up from the waiting chair and rushed into the room, exhaling when I saw her sitting up on the bed, smiling nervously. The only thing odd was the bandage on her head. She looked normal aside from those. Smiling, I approached her bedside. “Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked, trying to sound as casual as I could. She smiled weakly. “I'm okay, thanks to you.”This was the first ti
LILITHI couldn't contain my smile. It worked. The plans we meticulously had, actually worked. Though I was sceptical about getting pushed down the stairs, Zoey convinced me to do it, telling me it would help, and it did. Now, Dashiell thinks someone attacked me, not knowing it was all staged. Having him act concerned about me reminded me of the man I once had before that bitch who called herself Nova took him from me. Dashiell strode into the room a few minutes after he left, looking distracted. I didn't need to ask to know it had to do with Nova. She was the only one who could make him feel this way, something I had never appreciated. Why would she be the one to stir emotions I never woke up in him? It wasn't fair! “What's wrong?” I sat up, wincing from the pain. Even though everything was staged, I did not fake the pain. My head hurts like nothing else, and it feels like it wants to split in two. Zoey didn't mention that it would be this painful. “I will have someone over to lo
DASHIELL She wasn't in the office when I turned up, so I decided to check at home, but she wasn't there. I dialled her number, but it wasn't reachable, so I went to the only place I knew she would be in; her home. I was right. She was there. However, I didn't see her because the minute I knocked on the door, Brion showed up, and I knew she was in there. Else, he wouldn't be so defensive. “I need to talk to Nova,” I said the moment he opened the door. He didn't bother to open it all the way, just a little so he could see my face. "She's not here.” He sounded bored. “Why do you think she's here?”"I didn't think, I know she's in there. Can I speak with her? I promise I won't take much of your time,” I pleaded, hoping he would listen to me. I knew it was futile, but I believed he would be moved with me, begging him."She's not here.” Before I could beg again to ask him to let me in, he slammed the door in my face, blocking my pleas. Relentlessly, I knocked on the door. Calling out
Brion took the bag from her and returned to the house, but not before nudging me. I know it would seem natural, almost like he didn't do it purposely, but I know that was far from the truth. He knew what he was doing when he strode close to me. With him gone, I turned to look at Nova. Puffing out a breath, I walked towards her, stopping a few paces from where she stood. “I'm sorry I missed your call, Nova. It wasn't intentional, I swear. I had the phone in silence mode and —” “Why are you here?” She cut me off before I could complete my words. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at me. “To seek forgiveness. I know you are pissed at me for going to Lilith and —” “I'm not angry.” “You are.” It was all over her face. And let's not forget the call she hung up when she heard I was with Lilith. “I said I'm not, damn it!” “Okay, you are not.” I raised my hands in surrender, showing her she had the last words. Whatever she says goes. “I'm only here to seek forgiveness for going
It seemed like the Nova who was acting like a saint downstairs, the one who cared about his health and wanted to take things slow, had been transformed. In her place was one who didn't care at all about anything else but getting her pleasure. My panties were soaking wet already, my pussy throbbing, eager to get down and dirty with him. I doubt I would be down to anything else that didn't include getting on my back with him between my legs, pleasuring me as if his life depended on it. The palm that was on my breasts drifted down. My breath stopped as he slid his hand into my panties. I was wet and ready for him. My responsiveness should have scared me, but it didn't. I didn't even think of how odd it was that I stayed for five years without being touched by another man, only for me to start feeling this damned aroused after just a month without his touch. Had he somehow made me a slave to his passion? I'd heard stories like this, but never thought someone would make a woman love them
“Fuck, Nova,” he growled, his voice getting deeper and sexier. I loved it. Everything about him was so tempting. I didn't think I would ever feel that way for him, but here we were, years after we got married, finally in love with each other. Back when I left the country, I never imagined such a day would come, but it seemed I was wrong all along. I rubbed my fist from the tip to the bottom, still looking at him. Even though his eyes were shut, I loved staring at his face, to know his expression. It was my way of knowing if he was getting into this like I was. I repeated the action once more, running my tongue around the tip of his dick, sucking it in. He groaned, cursing under his breath. Smiling around his dick, I wrapped my fists around him, stroking from the tip to the bottom. His scent, so musky and delicious, aroused me. I was wet and ready to have him make love to me as he promised, but at that moment, I needed to feel him in my mouth, take him deeper until he came. I wanted
I bit my lower lip, peering up at him through my lashes. I felt the flush go from my neck to my cheeks the more intense his gaze became, like he was staring into my soul, seeking answers I couldn't give with my mouth. He reached over to me and rubbed his thumb on my lower lips, his gaze fixed on mine. “What should we do, Nova?” His whispered voice washed through my body like a balm, reaching deep into my spirit. “You are sick,” was all I could manage to say. “You can't —”“It doesn't mean I can't satisfy you, Nova. My legs are yet to heal, but that didn't mean I can't pleasure you, can't make you moan my name as your pussy clamp down on my dick.”My breath hitched in my throat at his words. Gulping, I peered into his eyes. I didn't know how to respond to those words, to the desires swirling deep in his gaze as he placed his hand under my jaw and lifted my gaze towards him. “Dashiell —”“Do you want this just as I do?” He whispered, his breath fanning my face as he came closer. The w
Brion was discharged three days later. Unlike the past few days, he could stand now without being tired or helped. The doctors believe he will recover well at home. After getting discharged, I took him and the kids back home. Dashiell was still getting treatments. They would have discharged him with Brion had it not been for his legs. The doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital for a week more, to check on his recovery. I just prayed everything would work out perfectly. Two weeks later, I drove him back home. Amaya came over to stay in the hospital with him so I could return to work. We had been gone for days, and the shareholders were making snide remarks about it, so I had to return to take care of the office while he recovered. The past few weeks have been a busy one for me. There were piles of work waiting on my desk for me when I returned, and I had to also combine it with Dashiell's. Had it not been for Benita's help, I would have drowned in work. She was such a darling, h
The doctor removed the IV drip before I could visit Dashiell. Ben led me by the hand, keeping me steady as he took me over to the room. Brion and the kids hadn't been alerted yet, so they didn't know we were back. My phone was off, so I hadn't gotten a call from him — yet. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before he called the police to report about me.The moment I opened the door, my eyes locked with that of a shocked man. Emerald eyes bore into mine the second I stepped into the room. "Nova?” He whispered, his voice shaky. He looked like he was imagining me because he lifted his right index and rubbed furiously on his eyes before it landed on me. “You are real?”I nodded, as tears rolled down my eyes. Dashiell was a shell of himself. Just a few days in captivity, and he had gotten so lean, I hardly recognized him. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his cheekbones jutted out sharply. I was frozen, staring at my lover, and imagining how much he had suffered to l
When I came to, I was lying on a bed. The scent of disinfectant in the room made me realize where I was. I slowly sat up, grimacing at the pain in my arm. I had a bandage wrapped around my biceps, one that was stained with blood.The monitor next to me beeped as if it could sense my discomfort. Wincing, I leaned on the bed as I looked around the empty room. From the looks of it, Ben took me to the clinic I left Brion in. Heaving out a breath, I closed my eyes as images of the last time I was awake assaulted me. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Snapping my eyes open, I looked towards it as it opened and Ben stepped in. “Thank God you are awake,” he said as he walked over to my bed and sat beside me, relief etched on his face. “Welcome back. You've been out for hours.”"Hours?" rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog. “What of Gabriella?”“Dead. You did a pretty good number on her. The police have agreed to rule it out as self-defence. As she was an offender, it's not
“Where is Dashiell?” I asked after a few seconds, still wondering why she hadn't attacked me. I figured all it would take was a little talk before we get down to business. “Dashiell?” She made a face at that before a knowing smirk took over. Getting up, she glanced towards the stairs, which seemed like it had seen better days. The stairs didn't look like they would last for another year before caving in. Just like the rest of the house, it was dying — most times, I always believed houses were entities. She snapped her fingers and three men appeared from a door behind where she stood, their chest bare, showing off muscles that must have taken years to build. My heart skipped as I gripped the pistol in my hoodie tighter. I knew it was about time for the fight. But I doubt I could take the men on. Gabriella alone? I could. “Do you assume the gun you hid in your hoodie will help you, darling?” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the sides. "How?" I was dumbstruck by the question. “How
It looked just like the place someone as shady as Zoey would be. As I approached, I noticed the overgrown yard and weeds sprouting through cracks in the pavement. Nature had reclaimed the property, wrapping vines around the porch pillars. I slowed my pace, my senses on high alert. Something felt off. Though Ben's hidden presence reassured me, my heart continued to thud like a bass drum in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped onto the porch, the wooden boards groaning beneath my feet. The door creaked as I pushed it open, and I called out, “I'm here.” My voice echoed through the empty corridor. At first, nothing happened, until I heard a rather familiar voice asking me to come forward. I looked back at the place Ben was likely hiding in before I fully stepped in and closed the falling door. I shivered as I walked forward, guided by the dim lighting in the hallway before I arrived in the sitting room. A figure sat perched on one of the sofas, the minute I walked in. “Hell
I got dressed for the operation. We didn't return to the hospital because I didn't think it was necessary. Brion would undoubtedly try to talk me out of my plans, which was why I didn't attempt a return there, not until we had gotten everything sorted. Today, I vowed, would be the day I bring Dashiell back home. He had stayed too long with Zoey. It was time for him to return, to his home, to me and the kids.“Ready?” Ben turned to me, lifting a brow, when I stepped out of the motel I checked into to change out of my clothes. I had a bulletproof vest under a hoodie.To cover my guns, I stuffed them into the pockets of my hoodie, waiting until I got an excellent location to conceal them. “Ready,” I confirmed, adjusting my hoodie to ensure the bulletproof vest wasn't visible. “Well, as ready as I can, for a dangerous mission,” I added with a smile. Though I was feeling as nervous as hell, and it felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest, I acted like I was okay. Yeah, perfectly