Valerie, who had scrambled back on her feet after being shoved aside by Zavian to run after him, froze in her tracks.Her heart skyrocketed instantaneously, pounding wildly in her chest at the surreal scene unfolding before her eyes.Zavian had one of the burly security guards lifted clean off the ground by his thick neck.The guard's face was turning an alarming shade of purple. His legs kicked uselessly in the air as he struggled for breath.But as terrifying as that display of raw, inhuman strength was, it wasn't what made Valerie's blood turn to ice in her veins. No, it was Zavian's eyes that truly chilled her to her core.The mesmerizing blue orbs that had captivated her from the moment she first saw him were gone, replaced by something... other.They glowed with an otherworldly, supernatural light. His iris burned like twin embers in the gathering twilight.This was the same man she'd been scheming to seduce for months.A violent shudder wracked Valerie's body. Fear washed over
Zavian suddenly felt disgusted at his wife’s taste and pulled back from their heated liplock.Then he gripped her shoulders and flipped her over on her hands and knees in one rough motion.Yuna let out a startled yelp. “Zavian!” She called, trying to get him back to his senses. But the man was too far gone to care.He bunched the silk of her dress up around her waist, hooked his fingers into the waistband of her lacy panties and simply ripped them away.The delicate fabric parted like tissue paper under his brutal strength.Yuna gasped at the sudden, rough treatment with fear and arousal coursing through her veins.It had been so long since Zavian had touched her like this. With such raw hunger.Part of her wanted to protest, to demand an explanation for his bizarre behavior. But a deeper part of her responded to his dominance.Her body was already preparing itself for what was to come.Zavian shoved his own slacks and boxer briefs down with an impatient grunt, freeing his achingly ri
"You really came!" Emmeline exclaimed in a cheerful tone, genuinely surprised her friend had followed through on her word despite her doubts.A small part of her had hoped Minnie might cancel and spare her the need to pretend everything was fine.Minnie gave her an amused look. "Of course I came, you goof.” sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I may be a total motormouth who never stops yakking, but unlike some people, I actually keep my promises."She let out a spontaneous peal of laughter at her own teasing jab.Emmeline gave her a playful nudge with her elbow, careful to maintain her balance on her good foot."Hey, that's not fair! You know how it is...life just always seems to get in the way. Things keep happening, one thing after another." She tried to keep her tone light but couldn't help wondering if Minnie could sense the weight behind her words.The adorable twins instantly captivated her attention, which provided a welcome distraction.She leaned down, ignoring the twinge in he
Emmeline made her way towards the kitchen, still marveling over the twins' insightful comments.She heard Minnie gently scolding her son. "Ruhn, we don't say things like that, sweetie. It's not a nice word, even if it's true sometimes. We talk about being kind to everyone, remember?"Emmeline hadn't expected such a heavy conversation from what was supposed to be a light-hearted visit with a friend.She took a deep, steadying breath and quickly got to work pouring four glasses of cold lemonade, the tart aroma refreshing her senses and helping to clear her head.She carefully arranged the freshly baked lemon cupcakes on four plates, taking care not to smudge the pale-yellow frosting that she'd painstakingly piped earlier.The familiar motions of playing hostess helped push away the lingering discomfort from their earlier exchange.When everything was set on a large tray, Emmeline took another deep breath and returned to the living room, plastering on her best hostess smile as she rejoin
Minnie and Emmeline immediately got up from the couch. Their laughter instantly died down as they turned toward the entryway.Emmeline quickly smoothed down her skirt with her palms in an attempt to regain some composure.She could feel her cheeks were still flushed from laughing.“Welcome back, honey.” She beamed like a good and happy wife at Richard. “This is Mrs. Kim from next door.” She hurriedly introduced with her gaze zeroing in on Minnie with a polite, tight-lipped smile.Minnie's eyes briefly flickered over to Emmeline before returning to Richard.Emmeline noticed the slight narrowing of her friend’s eyes as she took them in, probably wondering what they'd been laughing about."Good evening, Mrs. Kim. I'm Richard Maine, Emmeline's husband," Richard's deep voice rang out as he extended his hand.Minnie bowed politely and then introduced herself and the twins. "Kim Minnie and these are my children, Mimi and Ruhn."The twins peeked out shyly from behind their mother's legs and o
The days leading up to Sunday flew by in a flurry of cleaning, cooking, and fretting over what to wear.Before Emmeline knew it, Sunday evening had arrived, and they were heading to the sprawling Blackthorn estate for the neighborhood barbecue.Emmeline wanted to look presentable without going overly formal, so she opted for a simple but elegant ensemble - a white silk blouse with delicate pearl buttons down the front tucked into a flowy pink midi skirt that skimmed her calves.The fabric swished pleasantly around her legs as she walked.She left her hair down in loose, tousled waves around her shoulders and applied just a touch of makeup to enhance her features without looking overdone.Richard, on the other hand, took a more casual approach in a pair of dark-washed jeans and a thick gray knit sweater over a collared shirt, dressing for comfort and warmth.Emmeline noticed how the sweater clung to his broad shoulders, reminding her of the man she'd fallen in love with. How unfortunat
Emmeline sensed Yuna wasn't as harsh as her icy exterior suggested.She found Minnie actively chopping vegetables and meat on the large island that sat in the middle of the space when she arrived in the spacious and modern kitchen.Minnie wore a flirty peach dress that showed off her toned, tanned legs. Even while working, she looked effortlessly stylish, making Emmeline glance down at her own simple outfit with a momentary pang of envy."Emmeline is here," Yuna announced.Minnie set down her knife and enveloped Emmeline in a warm, exuberant hug despite having seen her earlier. "We can use two extra sets of hands in here!" She patted her new friend’s back affectionately, feigning annoyance in her usual playful way. "Glad to see you, I guess. Though I was hoping for a strapping young man to help instead."Emmeline rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Sorry to disappoint. You'll have to make do with little old me."Then her brows furrowed in confusion. "But I saw so many servants milling ab
Emmeline pushed open the door with her hip and stepped into the immaculately landscaped Blackthorn garden, which looked like something out of a magazine spread.The late afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light, making the scene before her look almost surreal in its perfection.A massive rectangular pool took up a large portion of the space, the crystal blue waters shimmering invitingly.It was surrounded by sleek, modern patio furniture and lush greenery artfully arranged to feel both lavish and tranquil.Emmeline once again felt a twinge of envy at the sheer beauty and luxury of it all.Near the pool, a long wooden table was set up where Richard sat engaged in what seemed to be an animated conversation with a man Emmeline didn't recognize—Minnie's husband, Taehyung, she assumed.Richard's hands were making gestures while he spoke, his face beaming with excitement. It was nice to see him so engaged, though a small part of her felt a bit left out.A short distance away,
Emmeline finally reached Zavian’s door and knocked softly, her heart pounding in her chest.The path here had seemed longer than usual in the eerie quiet.She had glanced behind her more than once, anxiety prickling at her spine as she worried about being spotted.Zavian opened the door almost immediately, his expression shifting from impatience to something softer when his eyes swept over her.“I thought I’d have to wait all night,” he said with a hint of admonishment.Then his gaze dipped, taking in her figure with open admiration.Emmeline also took in his appearance.He was dressed casually in dark blue silk pajamas, the first two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a hint of his chest.The sight of him made moist pull between her legs. “Stealing glances across the room isn’t enough. I’ve been waiting all evening for this moment—just the two of us.”“Are you going to keep me standing out here in my nightgown?” Emmeline whispered urgently, glancing over her shoulder. “Don’t for
Emmeline leaned against the wall, her chest heaving with relief.“Oh my God, I almost got caught.”Her head fell back against the elevator wall and her thoughts spun as Zavian’s words replayed in her mind.“What did he mean by that?” she whispered with frustration, lifting her gaze to the ceiling. “I can’t even ask him about it.” She groaned.The elevator dinged softly when it reached the lobby, but Emmeline remained frozen in place. Her mind was caught in the tangled web of everything she had just overheard.Finally, she forced herself to push the thoughts aside. She couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. Others were waiting for her outside, and she needed to focus on what she would say to them.Emmeline groaned, hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Fool,” she muttered under her breath. “I had one task. One simple task, and I couldn’t even do it properly.”She straightened her posture, took a steadying breath, and stepped out.The cool night air greeted her as she joined the
Zavian walked Emmeline to the changing room, his hand brushing lightly against the small of her back. The gesture was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it left her hyperaware of his presence.Emmeline quickly got dressed and slipped out of the center on her own. Her heart was pounding with every step until she finally made it to her suite where she found Richard already asleep.She tiptoed inside, careful not to wake the useless excuse of a man.The following day passed in a calm haze.Emmeline spent the morning with Minnie and Yuna at the massage parlor while the men stayed behind at the hotel.The women indulged in face and foot massages, their laughter and chatter filling the serene space.By evening, they all gathered at the pool, where Emmeline made sure to dress modestly. She didn’t want to give Zavian any reason to feel jealous. She donned a fitted bronze dress, complemented by a shorter, lighter jacket. The fabric hugged her curves, yet the night’s chill penetrated, causing h
Emmeline’s laughter turned into a squeal. She swam faster, her arms cutting through the water. “I didn’t mean you!” she called out breathless from both exertion and laughter. “It’s just a famous phrase—I wasn’t talking about you!”Her words only seemed to spur him on. His strokes grew stronger and faster as he closed the distance between them.“Don’t you know the difference between a joke and seriousness, old Blackthorn?” she teased, glancing back at him with a mischievous grin.Zavian’s lips curved into a faint smile, the expression both amused and predatory. “You’re asking for trouble, little girl,” he replied. “Maybe I should arrest you and let justice take its course.”Emmeline stuck out her tongue at Zavian, her playful defiance lighting up her expression. Her arms cut through the cool pool with all the strength she could muster, her legs kicking furiously behind her.She pushed harder against the water's resistance, breathing in quick, focused gasps.Emmeline expected him to cat
“Tell me, why did you send me to Yuna?” Emmeline’s voice was quieter now.Zavian’s gaze flickered briefly, something unreadable passing through his eyes then nodded toward the far end of the pool. “Let’s swim to the other side.”Emmeline scowled as her frustration boiled up in the surface. With her arms dangling at her sides, she stayed put. “Zavian!” His name escaped her lips with a hint of annoyance and resolve.The sound of his name seemed to catch Zavian off guard. His movements stilled for a fraction of a second, and something shifted in his expression.She noticed with a start that he enjoyed the way she spoke his name when a slight, nearly undetectable gleam appeared in his eyes.“I’ll tell you while we swim.” Zavian’s voice softened slightly.With that, he turned and began making his way across the pool.Emmeline hesitated for a moment, watching him before finally following. Her strokes were slower than his but she stayed close to his right with her gaze flickering between his
Emmeline pressed her lips together. She knew he was right. She had gotten carried away again.The silence between them stretched, heavy and charged.Frustration bubbled up inside Emmeline, and she couldn’t hold it back any longer.“Why do you refuse to listen to me whenever I talk about anything related to my husband?”Zavian’s eyes darkened. “Because you’re mine!” His voice was raw, filled with something she couldn’t quite name.Before she could respond, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer.“I’m jealous of you, even of the water that touches your body.”His words sent a thrill through her, though she tried to keep her tone light. “You’re supposed to listen to my complaints without getting upset.”She paused. “You’re the closest person to me, and I want to tell you everything that’s on my mind. If I can’t complain about my husband to you, who else can I complain to?”Zavian leaned closer until their lips brushed ever so slightly. “Is Minnie a vase?”“You two are not the same.”
Emmeline decided to steer the conversation away from herself. “Why didn’t you accompany your husband to the center?” she asked, feigning curiosity. “If you’d come with him, you wouldn’t have had to search for him in random places. I’m sure he’d have been happy to have you with him.”Yuna glanced at her, her expression briefly flickering with something Emmeline couldn’t quite place. “I came here this morning,” she said after a moment in a tight voice. “It wouldn’t be good for me to spend extra time in the sauna. Two sessions in one day would be too much, and he didn’t want me to overdo it.”Emmeline nodded. “Mr. Blackthorn is very considerate,” she murmured. “Of course, he wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”Yuna met her gaze with a shaky smile.Emmeline returned it with one of her own—though hers felt forced and brittle. “You’re lucky to have him, Mrs. Blackthorn,” she added softly.They continued walking in silence, the changing room drawing closer with each step.When they finally
Emmeline's heart nearly stopped when she heard Yuna's voice echoing through the empty spa center.Her body froze against Zavian’s chest, where she had been comfortably resting just moments ago and the peaceful midnight atmosphere they'd been enjoying shattered instantly."It's Yuna," she whispered, trembling. The fear in her eyes was unmistakable as she pulled away from his embrace.The sound of heels clicking against floors grew closer, each step making Emmeline more anxious. She began nibbling on her fingernail – a nervous habit she'd never managed to break."Why would she be here at this hour?" Emmeline's thoughts raced wildly.‘Have you noticed how our senses are becoming almost nonexistent around our mate?’ Aetherion’s voice echoed with concern in Zavian’s mind, each word laced with urgency. ‘It’s as if her presence alone is unraveling the control we’ve always prided ourselves on. The effect of not completing the mate bond isn’t just an inconvenience anymore—it’s a growing danger
Emmeline traced the lines of his muscles before meeting his gaze. "Good thing I've been there before or else this could have been quite awkward." She teased, moving to get off the table but Zavian tightened his grip around her waist."You can just turn around right here," he suggested smoothly. "I want to feel every inch of you against me."The narrowness of the table made maneuvering tricky but after some careful shifting around, Emmeline found herself positioned perfectly over him.Zavian admired the view appreciatively. “Your backside is even more appealing without any clothing." He stated candidly.Emmeline jolted when a smack landed on her rear. "I still feel shy when you talk about my body like that," she blushed furiously.Zavian's response was a harsher slap on her backside, causing her to whip her head around in surprise.“What did you do that—”Emmeline trailed off when an even sharper slap landed on the curve of her buttocks. The sound echoed through the room, sending shock