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
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 enthus
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 t
Maybe he's just stressed at work.Seduce him, entertain him. That's what people usually tell a married woman when she complains about being subjected to violence and abuse by her husband. My own family and friends said the same ignorant, victim-blaming bullshit.Their words echo in my head like a constant reminder of how alone I truly am in this nightmare.The brutal truth? I was repeatedly raped and assaulted under my own roof by my husband Richard. And the most ridiculous, infuriating thing I heard when I finally gathered the courage to turn to my family for help and support? "He'll change when he gets older! Boys will be boys!"Their dismissive, enabling attitudes made me feel even more isolated and trapped. It was as if they were complicit in my abuse, choosing to protect a monster rather than their own daughter and sister.Like, what about my wasted life? What about the trauma and suffering I've endured? The sleepless nights, the constant fear, the way my body tenses at the sligh
The staggering height difference between his muscular 6'2" frame and my petite 5'3" made me feel even more powerless and insignificant in his presence. I could smell his cologne, the same scent that used to make me weak in the knees but now just made me nauseous."I am a man, whether you like it or not," he growled, his hot breath reeking of stale coffee and cigarettes fanning across my face.I tried not to gag."A real man, not some weak little pussy-whipped bitch like you want to turn me into." He added through gritted teeth, turning off the burner on the stove before I could with his other hand.The pan's contents was now a blackened, smoky, inedible mess. Just like our relationship.I stared at the ruined food, which was a perfect metaphor for my life."You're the one who's unfit - unfit for this house, unfit for my bed, unfit for my seed." His cruel words stabbed at my femininity and my sense of self-worth like a rusty knife.I thought of the pregnancy test I'd taken in secret la
At 10 am sharp, the moving crew of four large, burly men arrived to empty our modest city apartment of all our belongings.I trailed behind the massive truck carrying our furniture and possessions in a taxi, giving them directions to the new, high-end neighborhood.My stomach churned with anxiety as we approached our new home, knowing that this move would only serve to further isolate me from my support system and give Richard more control over my life.Achrafieh Hill contained only three luxurious mansions spaced extremely far apart - each one trying to outdo the other in grandeur and excess.One particular property occupied a massive, sprawling area surrounded by towering iron gates and a security checkpoint. It was not our new place, of course—Richard didn't make that much, at least not yet.But I had no doubt he aspired to own such a fortress one day, further cutting me off from the outside world.I paid the taxi driver and headed over to the four brawny workers, addressing them a
"Looks like you need some help there."The painting obscured my view, so I didn't realize it was a man until his rich, husky voice flowed into my ears from behind me.I tilted my head to the right and my gaze landed on the sculpted, exquisite features of a very handsome stranger.He was easily over 6 feet tall, with sharp, masculine features - eyes that crinkled becomingly at the corners and a head of perfectly tousled black hair.An air of quiet confidence and self-assuredness radiated from him in waves that were utterly breathtaking.For a moment, I forgot how to breathe."Leave it, I'll carry it for you," he stated firmly in a way that was authoritative and wouldn't take no for an answer.There was something about his demeanor that both irritated and intrigued me.And because I've always detested being ordered around or having my capabilities underestimated, I immediately objected with a shake of my head.The sweaty strands of hair that had escaped my bun tickled my cheek. "It's ok
For the next few hours, I threw myself into the task of cleaning and organizing.I carefully hung up my and Richard's clothes in the spacious walk-in closet, trying not to dwell on how my modest wardrobe barely filled a quarter of the available space.My husband's designer suits and expensive shoes, on the other hand, seemed right at home in such luxurious surroundings.Evening approached.I decided to take a break from unpacking and do some baking instead.Cooking had always been a source of comfort for me, a way to center myself when life felt chaotic or overwhelming.I spent the next hour or so in the gleaming gourmet kitchen, losing myself in the familiar rhythms of measuring, mixing, and folding.The result of my efforts was two batches of my signature cakes – one a rich chocolate fudge, the other a delicate lemon poppyseed.As they cooled on the marble countertop, filling the air with their tempting aromas, I carefully packed them into decorative boxes I had bought specifically
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 t
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 enthus
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
Zavian's grip loosened at her words. His shoulders relaxed, the hard line of his body softening as a hint of a smirk tugged his mouth."Is that what you've been waiting to hear?" Emmeline couldn't resist teasing, unable to smother her smile at the tension bleeding from his expression.Zavian looked away, burying hands in his jacket pockets. "I've been waiting to hear it," he admitted flatly.Emmeline chuckled, reaching to trail fingers over his stubbled jaw in a teasing caress. "That's how you know how patient I am," she murmured, her tone playful and seductive.Zavian’s brows furrowed briefly in irritation but before he could respond, she rose on tiptoes and pressed a quick, impulsive kiss to his lips.The sound lingered sweetly intimate in the chilly air between them."Let's head back before they ask questions," Emmeline suggested, pulling back to gaze through her lashes. "What excuse did you use to get us alone this long?""Minnie dropped her phone, so I pretended I lost my wallet a
Zavian finally pulled back just far enough to stare down at her, his expression hardening into something stern and unyielding. "You are my woman," he stated gravelly, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity. "And you belong to me alone!"Emmeline felt something inside her emotions at the weight of his claim. The vulnerability and longing she'd been fighting for so long crashed over her in an unstoppable wave. Without a moment's hesitation, she threw her arms around his neck, forcing him to bend down closer,"I know jealousy can make a person blind. It silences reason and makes you listen only to your fear of losing someone. I've felt that before too, Mr. Blackthorn." She whispered.Zavian’s forehead came to rest against hers, their mingled breaths gusting over swollen, ravished lips as he stared at her like she was the only thing anchoring him to the world.Emmeline swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "He told me to pretend. To act like we were some wild, passionate c
Emmeline's heart pounded wildly in her chest, her breath coming in shallow, panicked bursts.She tried to meet the blazing intensity of his gaze head-on, but the sheer force of his expression made her feel impossibly small and powerless. "I told you why I smiled," she managed, her voice cracking with the effort of holding his stare. "If I refused to listen to his commands, he would've hurt me again. Zavian, you have to believe me."But Zavian ignored her pleading words entirely, moving to grip her shoulders in a firm, punishing hold and pushed her back against the tree with the solid weight of his body. "What would you do if you were me, Emmeline?" he demanded in a voice raw with fury. "How would you put out the fire of your jealousy if Yuna kissed me in front of you... and I smiled at her afterward?"The weight of his accusation crushed Emmeline. The mere thought of Zavian with someone else - smiling at someone else was utterly unbearable.Hot tears blurred her vision as she whispered
Emmeline returned to their previous meeting spot and found Minnie was the only one waiting there, brushing some fresh powder off her coat with a polite smile. "How's he doing?" she asked casually, her tone laced more with curiosity than genuine concern.Emmeline's lips twitched into a sly smirk. "His tongue works just fine, so I'd say he's doing great," she replied with dripping sarcasm.Her eyes scanned the snowy landscape, searching for that tall, brooding figure that made her heart flutter even when he was infuriatingly cruel. Not spotting Zavian anywhere, she turned back to Minnie with a slight frown. "Where did your husband and Mr. Blackthorn go? I told him I still needed his help with the skating!"Minnie chuckled lightly, nodding toward the slope where Zavian and Taehyung were tearing down a slick, winding track on roaring snowmobiles in what looked like an all-out race."My husband challenged Mr. Blackthorn to a little snowmobile competition," she explained with an indulgent ro
"What's going on there?" Emmeline asked, furrowing her brows."Your husband seems to have fallen. Why don't you go check on him?" Zavian answered sarcastically.Emmeline shot him an annoyed look. "You of all people know how much I despise Richard. Don't speak to me with such dismissive sarcasm."Zavian’s expression darkened. "Maybe because I’ve never met a woman who kissed the man she hated."Emmeline exhaled shakily, indicating the extent of her excitement and frustration. "Mr. Blackthorn, please...""Emmeline, come here! Richard fell and he's not looking good." Minnie's voice echoed in the distance, forcing them to postpone their argument.Emmeline slowly skated toward the couple with Zavian following closely behind.They gathered around Richard, who was still on the floor with Taehyung beside him."What happened?" Emmeline asked with feigned concern.Minnie crossed her arms and tilted her head, a small, mocking sneer tugging at her lips. "Oh, nothing much. He managed to skate on fla
A wave of intense rage crashed over Zavian at that brazen display.He could feel the entities within him straining against his mental restraints - roaring to be unleashed and rip Richard apart for daring to kiss their mate so boldly.A deep, guttural growl bubbled up from Zavian's throat as his fists clenched, every fiber of his being urging him to strike Richard down right then and there.He could feel the snarling and snapping at the mental chains holding his predators back from bursting forth.Zavian's breaths came in harsh pants through flared nostrils as he struggled to maintain control, to not expose the dangerous truth that Emmeline was his mate.His entire world had narrowed down to that revolting sight of another male claiming his mate, of her being violated right before his eyes. The bestial side of him raged and roared for blood, for vengeance against this usurper who thought he could stake ownership over what belonged to him alone.Emmeline raised her hand and lightly but f