Second bonus chapter. :)
Zavian led Emmeline to the side of the building designated for the sauna facilities.He randomly selected one of the private sauna rooms. Its walls were constructed of beautiful cedar wood panels. In front of the entrance were two tiers of wide wooden benches for reclining. The second row was elevated higher than the first."Don't tell me this is your first time in a steam room as well!" Zavian arched an eyebrow quizzically.Emmeline looked up at him with an arrogant expression. "Of course not. I used to frequent relaxation and skin care centers quite often before I was married," she stated matter-of-factly.The mention of her marriage caused Zavian's eyebrows to furrow slightly. However, he brushed off the comment and turned his attention to seriously studying the thermostat controls on the wall. "Can you handle intense heat well?" he asked with obvious concern.Emmeline stepped up directly behind him. Then she stood on her tiptoes to stare at the display screen over his slightly hunc
Emmeline placed her hands on Zavian's strong, muscular arms, deciding to make peace with him for the moment. "Okay, I'll believe you," she conceded, not wanting to argue further.Feeling flushed from the intense heat surrounding them, Emmeline quickly changed the subject. "The air is unbearably hot in here." Beads of sweat were already forming on her skin.Zavian reached out and slowly wiped the perspiration from her bare arms with his fingertips in such an intimate, sensual way that it made her melt a little inside."I've got plenty of oxygen. I can give you some if you want!" He said with a sly, mischievous grin.Emmeline glanced over her shoulder at him, taken aback by his suggestive words.His face was mere inches from hers, close enough for her to feel his hot breath on her neck. "How?" she asked curiously, her voice coming out slightly breathless.Zavian raised his hand to gently cup her cheek, turning her face toward his. Then his piercing gaze dropped to her parted lips. "Like
Draeven’s scathing words made Zavian's body go stiff with dread. He knew better than to take Draeven's threats lightly.The fact that the usually rational Aetherion remained unusually quiet instead of retorting Draeven’s taunts meant Zavian was pushing the limits of these powerful entities within him way too far past what was considered safe or rational.It was a miracle he still maintained tenuous control over his own body and mind in these heated moments. That they hadn't simply overpowered him completely to ravish Emmeline and forcibly complete the mate bond as was destined.A deep sense of foreboding washed over Zavian. Even more concerning was that he hadn't felt Zareth’s presence at all since that unsettling slip on Christmas Eve.Zavian quickly shoved those worrying thoughts aside for now and returned his full attention to Emmeline's luscious form stretched out temptingly before him."Do you know you're charming even in just a simple towel? With your heavy-lidded bedroom eyes re
Excitement coursed through Emmeline's veins at his tantalizing proposition. His touch was intoxicating like an elixir that left her yearning for more.She rested her hand on his thigh once more and turned toward the wall expectantly."I can't wait..." she admitted breathlessly, "Your touch... it's addictive."Zavian chuckled darkly at this confession before guiding his hands along the curve of Emmeline's thighs until they reached the edge of the towel."Do you know how they say 'what you sow is what you reap'?" He asked, tracing circles on the inside of her thigh with one hand whilst delicately nibbling on her earlobe.Emmeline nodded in response, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to contain her excitement. His words were like a tantalizing melody that danced through her mind, leaving her craving for the crescendo."Whatever I sow on your body," Zavian continued, "I reap from your reactions. I explore your body as I please and then revel in the results."His fingers
Emmeline rested her head against his chest, utterly exhausted as he walked them out of the stiflingly hot room.The fresh, cool air entering her lungs was like a saving grace. She took a deep, relieved inhale."I feel like I'm finally breathing again," she sighed, closing her eyes in relief for a moment and losing sense of her surroundings."The air inside was so hot. I’m amazed at how you handled it without complaints," Zavian remarked."I almost forgot how hot it was. I was too indulged in your ministrations," Emmeline replied with a light smile. "You were so seductive under the warm, dim lights of the sauna."Emmeline's eyes fluttered open, realizing they had reached the break room when he placed her on the couch."Wait here for a while. I'll get you some juice," Zavian instructed. "When you feel you've got your energy back, we'll go to the massage parlor."Too drained to argue, Emmeline simply nodded obediently.Zavian returned a few moments later with two bottles in his hand. "Str
A laugh escaped Emmeline's lips at his words. "You speak like Judge Blackthorn in the courtroom," she teased.Zavian poured a generous amount of the fragrant oil into his palm enticingly. “You’re the delectable, irresistible victim," he replied in a deep, silky tone.Some of the warm oil dripped in a tantalizing path down Emmeline's back before he emptied the contents of his hand on her smooth skin. Despite the liquid's warmth, her body shuddered in delicious anticipation at the sensation."I’m the lawyer who defends your right to unbearable pleasure...the prosecutor who longs to cruelly take it away from you...the impartial judge who always rules in your favor...the captivated spectator who finds his ultimate ecstasy in your very submission." Zavian's rich voice took on an overtly seductive, sin-filled tone.His wicked words sent sparks of pure desire between Emmeline's legs, making it difficult for her to catch her breath.When his hands finally made scorching contact with her bare s
Emmeline's entire body was swallowed with shame and excitement as she was fully exposed to his ravenous gaze.Zavian's eyes raked over every lush curve and swell of her nude form hungrily, like a man starved."Your womanly curves take my breath away whenever I dare to look at them.” The rough timbre of his voice scraped deliciously against her senses. "I want to sneak my hands into your sacred, forbidden area and do so many deliciously bad things with you."When she felt the first warm trickle of the fragrant almond oil pouring down the cleft of her ass, a full-body shiver raced down her spine. A rogue drop of oil rebelled against the path and trickled towards her aching womanhood instead. Her silken inner walls clenched violently in response."Very bad things," Zavian murmured roughly, his sexy tone like a physical caress feeding the flames of desire burning low in her belly."Catch your breath, little girl because you are going to need it.” His hand landed on the swell of her ass bef
“Wha—" Emmeline’s words turned into shameless moans of mixed pleasure and pain when Zavian purposefully poured a few drops of the melted wax on the taut skin of her stomach.The hot liquid instantly froze to her sensitized flesh in delicious little splatters that made her muscles clench involuntarily."That stings!" she gasped, her back arching as she looked up at him with wide, aroused eyes.Zavian stared at her intently, clearly savoring every minute reaction and expression that crossed her flushed features in response to the erotic pain.Then his lips curved in a wicked smile of dark satisfaction."How can pouring drops of hot wax on my naked body be anything fun?” Emmeline asked exasperated. However, his look… the heat in his eyes told her he had no intention of stopping this wicked game of seduction and torment anytime soon."Relax that tense body a bit and you'll understand what I'm talking about." Zavian finally spoke, trailing the flame of the candle down the valley between her
Emmeline rolled her eyes and dropped her hands from his face. "You don't need to remind me every time as if I'm always trying to seduce you. I understand my virginity is necessary to win the court case, and after my meeting with Yuna today, I couldn't possibly do anything to ruin myself."Zavian’s hand settled on her head and ruffled her hair with patronizing affection. "Good girl.""Don't treat me like I'm a little girl," Emmeline protested, knitting her brows together in frustration.The age gap between them had always been a sensitive topic, one that Yuna never failed to bring up during their confrontations.Zavian's warmth disappeared as he stepped away, moving toward the yacht's door with grace.His expensive shoes clicked against the deck. "You are my little girl.” He smirked. "Let's go for a ride. The scenery might lift your mood."Emmeline’s earlier irritation melted away, replaced by genuine excitement. The prospect of spending time with him on the water always had this effec
Emmeline drew in a sharp, shuddering breath."Neither Yuna nor anyone else can destroy me!" The words erupted from Zavian's throat, each syllable carved with steel-edged conviction. His jaw clenched and his muscles there ticked with barely anger. "If you believe her words, then you don't know me at all, little one."Warmth bloomed across Emmeline's tear-stained cheeks.Zavian palms cupped her face. His thumbs traced gentle paths across her skin, catching the tears that continued to fall despite his tender ministrations. The contrast between his fierce words and gentle touch made her heart flutter."She targets you because you're the easiest mark in her eyes," his eyes darkened with protective fury. "I won't let her harm you. Do you understand what I'm saying, Emmeline?"Their gazes locked, and Emmeline felt herself drowning in the depths of his eyes. Even through the tempest of her emotions, she found an anchor in his unwavering stare.The intensity radiating from him was quintessenti
The journey to the port stretched endlessly, yet Emmeline barely registered the passing scenery. Thoughts of Zavian consumed her. He was the only one who could steady her, the only one who could make her feel safe.The soft hum of the yacht’s engine greeted her when Emmeline arrived.She stepped aboard without hesitation, moving with urgency, as if time itself threatened to slip away from her grasp.Zavian’s tall and commanding figure was standing with his back to the door when Emmeline reached the deck.His hands were tucked into the pockets of his slacks and his posture deceptively relaxed. However, Emmeline knew him well enough to see the tension in his shoulders that betrayed his thoughts.“Mr. Blackthorn.” Her voice cracked with emotions.Zavian turned sharply at the sound. His striking features tightened with concern once he saw the state she was in."Little—" His words died in his throat as Emmeline launched herself at him. The impact nearly threw him off balance.Her arms wrap
Emmeline's gaze drifted away from Yuna to a random corner of the coffee shop, where a young couple sat sharing a dessert. Their happiness contrasted with the scene unfolding at her table."I pitied you at first because no one deserves betrayal," she confessed softly, watching the condensation trail down the window. "But my desires were stronger. I used to curse myself after every sin... until I committed one far worse."A sigh escaped Emmeline's lips as she returned her gaze to Yuna's eyes."I’m not a thief," Emmeline’s self-confidence grew stronger with each word. "I did not steal your husband from you because his heart no longer belongs to you. I didn't snatch him from your bosom - he deserted it long ago. I merely crept into the fractures that you created." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but they carried the weight of truth she could no longer deny.Yuna’s grip tightened around her coffee cup. “Even if you rehearsed your stories together, they wouldn’t match this perfectly.
Emmeline’s thoughts drifted to Zavian, who had left with Yuna earlier. The image of them walking away together haunted her mind. Her fingers moved across the screen almost unconsciously."Where are you now?"The minutes ticked by without response, each passing moment heightening her anxiety. The silence felt deafening in her room as she watched the unchanging screen. Her desperation seeped through after what felt like an eternity."It's been half an hour since we parted, is it possible that you two are still together?" Emmeline sent another message.Her forehead creased as she stared at the unchanging screen. A bitter realization struck her, prompting another message:"What are you two talking about?"The absurdity of her own actions hit her suddenly. She tossed the phone aside and rolled on her back with fresh tears spilling down her temples."Of course, they're talking about her finding out about us. What else could it be?" Her voice was a fragile whisper, barely breaking the silenc
Emmeline caught a glimpse of Richard’s face through the tinted glass of his BMW as he also peeled away from the courthouse. His smug and self-satisfied smile made her stomach turn."Despicable!" she cursed under her breath. The word seemed inadequate to describe the magnitude of her contempt, but it was all she could manage without breaking down completely.Silence descended on the remaining trio, heavy and oppressive."Are you going to tell me why Mrs. Blackthorn seems to hate you so much?" Emile's question broke the quiet. "Why would she defend Richard after everything she knows about him?" His eyes darted between Emmeline and Brody, searching for answers in their expressions.Emmeline drew a shaky breath. "There's no enmity between us," she murmured. "At least, not that I know of."A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Maybe she's hated me all along, and I've been too blind to see it."Brody's gaze bore into her, sharp and calculating. "I think there's more to this than you're letting
"Yuna is indeed Richard's lawyer!" Emmeline’s voice cracked, denial weighing down every syllable.She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag so tightly her trembling fingers dug into the leather. It was the only thing keeping her grounded in this moment that felt more like a nightmare than reality.Zavian’s head snapped toward her in disbelief. "What the fuck?" The curse came low and rough, like a growl from deep in his chest.His jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his neck stood out.Brody tilted his head slightly as his sharp gaze flicked between them. "Didn’t she tell you she’s defending Richard?" His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it.Zavian let out a bitter laugh—one short and humorless. "Looks like I’m the last one to know." He spoke in a chilly tone.His hands curled into fists at his sides, the veins in his forearms standing out as he fought to keep his anger in check.Emmeline opened her mouth to respond, but Zavian’s attention suddenly shifted.His enti
Yuna’s face darkened and her teeth ground audibly.“Let’s move on to the best part of the recording.” Brody tapped the screen once more before she could protest."The pain I've put you through is nothing compared to the consequences you'll face once I'm free from this place," Richard's voice slithered through the room, venomous and chilling.All eyes turned to Richard, whose face had gone pale. His lips parted, but no words came out.Brody’s expression was sharp with mockery. “Care to explain to us exactly what kind of torment you put her through?”Richard’s hands trembled. “I meant… well, actually…” His words stumbled over each other, collapsing into an awkward silence.Richard looked at Yuna in desperation when his tongue failed him, silently begging for assistance. Despite the damning evidence Brody had just presented, Yuna’s expression remained composed and as solid as stone.“Torture,” Yuna began smoothly, “can mean many things. My client’s words in the recording are vague at bes
The detective called over a young officer, gesturing toward the computer. "Record every statement. Word for word."The keys clicked softly as the officer positioned his fingers over the keyboard. "Ready, sir." His voice carried the crisp enthusiasm of someone who hadn't yet been worn down by the job.Silence stretched for a moment before the detective's steel eyes locked on Emmeline. The weight of his gaze made her throat tighten."Ms. Lawson, paramedics reported that on January 3rd, your husband was struck on the head with a vase. Did you do it?"Emmeline's fingers twisted in her lap, worrying at the hem of her coat. She glanced at Brody who gave an almost imperceptible nod.She drew in a shaky breath, tasting the stale air of the interview room. "Yes." The word came out stronger than she expected. "I did."The rhythmic tapping of keys punctuated the heavy silence that followed."Walk me through what happened." The detective's hands settled on the desk with his fingers interlaced. A