Sorry for the lack of updates on my stories lately. Things have been really tough on my end, and baby girl hasn’t been in the best health either—nor have I. There are so many viruses going around right now, and it feels like almost everyone I know is sick. Thank you all for your continued support and dedication to this author.
Emmeline quickly tried to fix herself up, smoothing down her tousled hair and straightening her clothes, doing her best to hide any obvious traces of the sinful acts she and Zavian had just engaged in.Her swollen, reddened lips, however, were a different story – one that Zavian seemed immensely proud of, if the smug, satisfied smirk curving his sensual mouth was any indication."Don't even think about it," she muttered under her breath, shooting him a halfhearted glare. "If anyone asks, I'm just going to blame it on the cold air."Zavian’s grin widened. "Whatever you say, darling," he purred.Together, they headed toward the restaurant where the rest of their group was waiting, carefully maintaining the illusion that they'd just happened to run into each other outside by chance.No one appeared to suspect anything out of the ordinary as they rejoined the others, and Emmeline wondered – not for the first time – how it was possible their secret affair had managed to stay hidden for so l
The hot water lapped against Emmeline’s shoulders, its warmth seeping into her stiff muscles and coaxing her into a state of blissful relaxation. She leaned back, her eyelids fluttering shut as a lethargic haze settled over her.“I’m so sleepy,” she murmured dreamily. “Is it okay if I take a little nap here?”“The place is not for sleeping, Mrs. Maine.” Her moment of peace was interrupted by a deep, unmistakably annoyed voice.Emmeline’s eyes snapped open to find Zavian staring at her, his sharp features betraying his irritation.The intensity of his gaze made her sit up a little straighter, her drowsiness forgotten.“Did you bring appropriate clothes for New Year’s Eve?” Minnie's lively voice broke the ice before it could become too long.Yuna offered a faint smile. “I picked out one of my dresses. My husband’s all ready for the evening, too.”She turned her attention to Emmeline, curiosity lighting up her face. “What about you?”Emmeline forced a smile, trying to match Yuna’s enthusi
An involuntary moan escaped Emmeline's lips the second they united with Zavian's in a passionate kiss. It was low, but surely everyone heard the telltale sound, perhaps dismissing it as just a normal sniffle not worth complaining about.Zavian caught her lower lip between his and sucked it once with a sigh of exertion, quickly returning to capture her upper lip as if he wanted to sip her mouth mouthful by delicious mouthful before deepening the kiss further.Emmeline was confused about where to put her hands, needing to grab onto something. In the end, she folded her arms around his shoulders and tilted her head, her lips moving in harmony with his.Zavian was the one in control. Under the water, his hands openly danced up and down her waist while his hot breath scorched her flesh.A stillness had fallen over the place, broken only by the sounds of their muffled groaning.Zavian’s hands crept down to grip her ass cheeks firmly… without a care for the onlookers, giving them a squeeze th
Minnie quickly tried to defuse the tension. "Yuna could have volunteered to kiss you instead of her husband, Emmeline. You don't have to feel guilty, and she doesn't have to be angry. Heck, if I were her, I'd definitely kiss you over my husband!"Taehyung hissed furiously at his wife's remark. "Are you a lesbian or something?"Minnie blinked at him innocently. "No, I'm just Thai."He tightened his arm around her shoulders possessively, pulling her into his chest. "As if I'd ever let you kissing another woman."A smile crept across Emmeline's lips at their cute couple's quarrel.Yuna quickly caught her attention again with a dismissive wave. "I'm not angry with anyone. I may be a career-obsessed woman, but I can certainly distinguish between mere fun and something truly serious."When the heated atmosphere had calmed down a bit, Emmeline finally rose from her lover's lap.Zavian's hands slowly trailed down her waist, reluctant to let go until the distance between their bodies widened."
Minnie tenderly cupped handfuls of water, using it to caress her husband's reddened shoulders. "I think I've had enough of this game for now. My poor husband, the apple of my eye, is going to catch his death from my overzealousness."Richard grabbed Emmeline's arm forcefully, pulling her up to stand with him. "No need to linger if they're all leaving. We won’t take too long getting changed."Minnie grunted a vague response before they departed.Emmeline and Richard parted ways in front of the changing rooms, leaving her to awkwardly shuffle inside and find Yuna already seated, clad only in her underwear.Everyone had emerged from the hot spring area except Minnie, who stayed behind to tend to her husband.Emeline approached the spot where she'd left her bag. “Minnie will be a few minutes behind,” she spoke awkwardly."Taehyung needs some time to recover after that ridiculous challenge he foolishly agreed to." Yuna answered calmly, putting on her pants.Emmeline swallowed nervously when
The restaurant was situated in a different wing of the resort, so they didn't need transportation to get there.They sat around a window table and dined quietly for a while until Minnie brightly recounted one of her memories."We spent New Year's Eve last year at my family's resort in Thailand. When we went to the restaurant for dinner, this charming young man kept staring over at our table. My husband thought I was the one he had his eye on, so he went over to warn the guy off."Taehyung gave Minnie's chair a firm kick, the sound of his foot connecting cutting her off abruptly. "Enough of that story, Minnie!"Minnie looked over at her husband before bursting into laughter. "But he ended up flirting with Taehyung instead and asked for his number!"Everyone else at the table joined in the laughter, except for Taehyung whose ears burned red with embarrassment and Zavian who remained calm."He told Tae he was too beautiful to be wasting his time dating women and should seriously consider
Emmeline jutted out her lower lip in a pout. "I'm not really one for surprises. My mind will drive itself crazy guessing until I'm too worked up to even enjoy it anymore."She furrowed her brows and folded her arms across her chest. "The word 'surprise' gets me so keyed up that I end up losing my enthusiasm entirely."Zavian sighed heavily, removing his hand from her neck. "Women!"Before she could retort, the watch on his wrist caught her eye and she eagerly grabbed his hand. "Isn't this the watch I gave you for Christmas?"Zavian glanced down at it absentmindedly. "I haven't lost another one since you gave me this. If I get bored of seeing it on my wrist every day, you can give me a new one for Valentine's Day."He looked back at her face and was startled to see tears welling up in her eyes. He cupped her cheek and ran his hand over its smooth flesh. "Emmeline? Are you about to cry, love?"Emmeline tilted her head back, rapidly blinking away the moisture. "You're the reason I want to
"I thought the surprise was over?" Came Emmeline’s curious voice.Zavian settled in front of the window with her coming to stand at his side.The sky outside was dark and clouded, but not for long because fireworks began lighting it up in brilliant bursts of color the next second."Fireworks!" Emmeline said in disbelief, turning to Zavian. "I thought I'd missed the show when I went to meet you in the hallway!"Zavian looked at her teary eyes with mixed emotions. "There's always something special waiting for you with me."A smile curved Emmeline’s lips. She turned back to the window, watching as the Fireworks continued to explode across the sky with their vibrant hues shattering the darkness. "It's breathtaking," she breathed.The crackling booms of the fireworks outside were deafening, the vibrant bursts of color painting the night sky in an array of breathtaking hues.Zavian's arm draped possessively around Emmeline's shoulders, tucking her snugly against his side as they watched the
Minnie's jaw dropped. Her wide eyes darted between Zavian and Emmeline, disbelief etched across her delicate features."Did you hear what your lover just said?" she exclaimed, turning to Emmeline. "Inevitable collateral damage? What kind of dinner conversation is this?"Emmeline squeezed Minnie's arm gently with a reassuring smile softening her features."Don't mind him," she explained. "He sometimes forgets he's not in a boardroom."Taehyung took advantage of the momentary silence to tease Emmeline.His lips curved into a mischievous grin. "Look at you defending him so naturally now. That's serious progress!""I think Emmeline is very comfortable with us," Minnie observed, satisfaction filling her voice. "Our ice queen has finally thawed."Emmeline gestured toward the elegant table setting, her confidence momentarily faltering under the weight of hosting such an intimate gathering."Please, sit down," she invited.Taehyung handed her the bottle of expensive wine he had been carrying.
True to his word, Zavian let her finish decorating in peace, though his eyes never left her as she completed the message on the cake.When Emmeline was done, she carefully covered the masterpiece to protect it until dessert.Together they loaded the prepared dishes on serving trays: stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil, elegant canapés topped with smoked salmon and carried them out to the dining area.They arranged everything on the table with efficiency, working from opposite sides of the elaborate spread as if they'd been hosting dinner parties together for years.Crystal glasses caught the light, sending prisms dancing across the pristine tablecloth. Silver cutlery gleamed beside fine china plates… everything was positioned with meticulous attention to detail."So, are we still on for Valentine's Day?" Emmeline asked, excitement bubbling in her voice as she placed the final dish which was a platter of colorful roasted vegetables arranged in a spiral pattern.T
The crude imagery made Emmeline’s cheeks flush. She took a deep breath and then gave him a pointed look. "Zavian," she admonished, trying to calm her racing heart.She'd spent the last hour perfecting the dessert for their dinner party, and now only the decorating remained. It would have been a peaceful task if not for the man beside her."I need to finish this cake before everyone arrives." Her fingers tightened around the piping bag as she tried to focus on creating the delicate rosettes along the edge, but his intense gaze made concentration nearly impossible.Zavian untied his apron with intent slowness, the simple action somehow becoming sensual under his touch.The fabric slid from his broad shoulders, revealing the crisp white shirt beneath that hugged his athletic frame in all the right places. "I've done my part. The appetizers are prepared, the wine is chilled, and now I think I'll watch you work. It's quite... entertaining."Emmeline searched desperately for a distraction be
Emmeline found herself out of breath so quickly. His proximity was overwhelming her senses.The solid wall of his chest against hers, his scent, the heat radiating from his body… it was all too much and not enough simultaneously. "Stop what you're doing," she pleaded weakly. "You're turning me on."A dangerous gleam transformed Zavian’s face into something almost predatory.She should have been alarmed by the sight, yet it made her more aroused. There was something primal about the way he looked at her, something that spoke to the most basic part of her."I deserve to see you aroused after my absence," he murmured. "To hear you beg for the ecstasy only I can give. Every word you speak while under my spell is drenched in love and laced with desire… mine and yours, tangled together."The poetry of his voice clashed deliciously with the vulgarity of his touch and his hand unapologetically exploring the most sacred parts of her.He tasted her cream with unashamed delight before letting go
Zavian brought his finger to his mouth and sucked it clean all the while his eyes never left hers.The gesture was possessive and sent a fresh wave of heat through Emmeline’s body."Your taste is just for me. No one else gets even an accidental sample."Laughter bubbled from Emmeline's throat.She turned back toward the table, attempting to regain some semblance of normalcy. "If anyone knew what we were doing while making their cake, they'd be horrified.”Zavian moved to the sink embedded in the kitchen island and turned on the tap. "That's why I prefer home cooking," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. "You never know what happens in restaurant kitchens."He shut off the water, drying his hands on a nearby towel with methodical care. "Professional chefs can't be trusted," he added dryly. "They're a passionate bunch, prone to impulse.""Hey, I'm a chef too," Emmeline protested with mock indignation, placing her hands on her hips.The stance emphasized her curves,
Zavian ignored her half-hearted objections, clearly enjoying how she melted under his attention. His eyes remained locked on hers, dark with an intensity that made her knees weak.The warm pressure of his tongue sent heat spiraling through Emmeline’s body, awakening nerve endings she'd never known existed. Every stroke of his tongue on her skin seemed to connect directly to more intimate places."Ahh, Zavian…” A low, sultry moan escaped her lips. “P-Please stop," she whispered in a voice betraying her arousal.The plea lacked conviction, undermined by the way she swayed toward him rather than away. "You're giving me thoughts I can't handle right now. Making me want things we don't have time for."Her free hand moved to his shoulder, ostensibly to push him away but instead curled into the fabric of his shirt.Zavian withdrew her finger from her mouth with reluctance, the cool air a shock after the heat of his tongue.A thin strand of saliva connected them briefly before breaking."What
Emmeline turned away with embarrassment and desire coloring her cheeks as she faced the cake again. "Hand me that knife," she requested, extending her hand without looking at him.Zavian placed the decorating tool in her palm and his fingers lingered on hers longer than necessary.The brief contact sent awareness tingling through Emmeline.She quickly pointed to a bowl of cream on the counter. "Fill that piping bag so it's ready when I need it."Zavian picked up a spoon with his left hand and the bag with his right, concentrating on the task.His movements were precise despite his unfamiliarity with kitchen tools. "That looks easy," he commented, focused on not making a mess.Emmeline watched him for a moment with surprise crossing her features. "I always forget you're left-handed."Zavian continued working, his attention on the bag he was filling. "We're special that way."Emmeline laughed. "And modest too."With that, she returned to smoothing the cake's frosting."So about today's c
Zavian kissed her like a man starved.Emmeline tried to match his intensity, her inexperience showing but only making him want her more.He took turns with her upper and lower lip, occasionally letting his hot breath slip into her mouth.The counter dug into her back as his body caged her in. When his tongue finally slipped past her lips, pleasure escaped her throat in a moan she couldn't hold back.Zavian’s hand moved from her chin to grip her waist tighter. He explored her mouth thoroughly. Their lips moved in perfect rhythm while their tongues danced together. Every so often, he pressed his hips forward, letting her feel how much he wanted her. Each contact pushed her excitement higher.Eventually, they had to break apart for air.Their eyes reconnected, glowing with obvious love."Damn everyone who kept us apart this week!”Their lips stayed inches apart while they caught their breath.The look between them was almost physical in its intensity."I've always gotten what I want witho
The group split up at the parking lot.Emmeline slid into her brother's car passenger seat while Minnie moved toward their own car.She caught Emmeline’s eye from across the lot, offering a small supportive smile before climbing into her husband's car.On the other hand, Brody's convertible roared to life with unnecessary force before peeling out of the parking space and disappearing down the street.The drive home stretched into an exercise in silence.Emile gripped the steering wheel with his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.Tension filled the car.Emmeline turned toward the window, watching the familiar streets of Riverwalk blur past. The town that had always been her home now felt like a place she was preparing to escape."Mother called while we were in court," Emile finally said.Emmeline traced a pattern on the condensation forming on the window. "What did you tell her?""What needs to be said.”Emmeline turned to face him, already knowing what he meant. "You shouldn't make p