The full scope of Zavian's takeover became evident as the days stretched into a week.Board meetings at Blake Enterprises became tense affairs, with Zavian's representatives slowly but surely asserting control over every aspect of the company.Old Master Blake watched helplessly as decades of carefully cultivated business relationships and strategies were dismantled or repurposed to serve Zavian's interests.The family itself was not spared from the upheaval. Melina was unable to bear the memories that haunted the Blake manor. She left for Europe, taking her and Sam's young children with her.Thomas threw himself into his work, desperately trying to salvage what he could of the family's business interests.Jessica retreated into a world of charity galas and social events, using her philanthropic efforts as a shield against the pain of her brother's loss.And through it all, Old Master Blake found himself increasingly isolated like a relic of a bygone era.He spent long hours in his st
Emmeline stood alone in the locker room early the next morning, psyching herself up for her first workout.She changed into her exercise attire of a fitted black racerback tank top that hugged her curves in all the right places, paired with a set of skimpy gray shorts that showcased her toned legs to perfection.She felt a twinge of self-consciousness as she observed her reflection in the full-length mirror. It had been a while since she'd worked out in such a public setting, and the thought of all those strangers' eyes on her was mildly unsettling.Emmeline took a deep, fortifying breath, squared her shoulders and strode out to the main gym floor with as much confidence as she could muster.The sound of equipment in motion and the occasional grunt of exertion from other gym patrons filled the air.Emmeline scanned the area somewhat awkwardly with each passing second. She felt increasingly out of place.Just as a sigh of despair was about to escape her lips, her gaze landed on a strik
Emmeline desperately wanted to make her escape and find a nice rock to crawl under."No permission needed to use the equipment," he said with a hint of amusement coloring his deep voice.He jerked his chin toward the vacant treadmill beside him. "The machine is empty, as you can see. Feel free to make use of it... if you think you can keep up."Was that a challenge glinting in those blue depths? Emmeline's competitive spirit flared to life, momentarily overriding her nervousness.She flashed him a smile and climbed on the treadmill next to his."Minnie was meant to accompany me today, but she's got her kids to attend to this weekend," Emmeline explained as she familiarized herself with the treadmill's control panel."You can't imagine how nervous I was about coming here alone for the first time. It's not that I struggle with communication or anything… I definitely prefer having company in new situations like this."Her gaze drifted to Zavian's jacket hanging on a nearby hook, and she
Sweat poured down Emmeline’s flushed face, plastering strands of her hair to her damp skin."What are you doing, Mr. Blackthorn?" she managed to pant out between labored breaths, glaring daggers at him.Rather than responding verbally, Zavian simply reached over and jabbed another button on her treadmill's control panel, causing the belt to accelerate even faster.Emmeline stumbled.Her stride faltered as she fought against the unbearable new speed with everything she had.Her muscles screamed in protest, trying to keep up with the relentless pace.Zavian’s look was filled with wickedness. "I'll discuss adult matters with you when you’re taller," he stated flatly.His deep voice held an undercurrent of scorn, making Emmeline's cheeks burn with indignation.She gritted her teeth and her fingers clenched the handrails tightly.She closed her eyes against the dizzying rush of the world blurring past."You're so cruel," she grumbled, the words nearly swallowed by her ragged pants for air.
Zavian's lips curved into an inscrutable smile at her words, though the expression didn't quite reach his eyes. "A soft stomach is better than a muscled stomach for a woman," he stated flatly.Emmeline bristled at his words. Who was he to dictate what was or wasn't attractive on a woman's body?Zavian jerked his chin toward a nearby machine with a curved, padded track before she could voice her indignation."That's an ab roller. Use that for your core," he instructed.Emmeline hmphed then moved to stand before the indicated machine.She eyed it with a bewildered frown as she tried to puzzle out how it was meant to be used.Zavian let out a sigh, clearly resigning himself to providing guidance."Put your knees on the seat—be careful, it moves. Fix your arms on the support and hold the handles, " he explained in a clipped tone punctuated by his exertions.Emmeline followed his curt instructions to heart and straddled the padded roller, pulling her lower body off the seat with her hands
"The problem is that your ass becomes visible whenever you bend your legs," Zavian growled in a tone of dark censure that seemed to vibrate against her very bones. "And the man behind you is almost devouring you with his eyes."A furious blush flooded Emmeline's cheeks at his bold words.The heat of it spread rapidly through her body when Zavian wrapped his other arm around her waist as well.He effectively caged her against the solid wall of his chest, the hard planes of his body molding to the softer curves of hers in a way that made her head spin.She opened her mouth, determined to respond - to protest his forwardness or at least ask him to give her some space - but all that emerged was a strangled squeak.Emmeline’s mind raced, torn between indignation at his presumptuous behavior and a traitorous thrill at his possessive display.Who did he think he was, manhandling her like this in public? Yet... a bigger part of her reveled in the feeling of being claimed and the object of his
Zavian sat back down on the weight bench after grabbing what he wanted. He reached for one of the small metal discs resting on the floor beside him and gripped it between his thumb and forefinger.Then he stuck his index and middle fingers through the hole in the center of the ring and began moving them up and down in an unmistakable motion.His dark blue eyes never left her face, glimmering with a sinister, burning promise that made Emmeline gulp down her saliva.A flush crept up her neck at the overtly suggestive display that made her skin prickle with embarrassment and an unexpected frisson of arousal she struggled to tamp down.She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling hyper-aware of every inch of her body under his scrutiny. "What are you trying to do now, Mr. Blackthorn?" she asked.Malice seemed to dance between Zavian's heavy-lidded eyes and the corner of his lips twitched with the faintest hint of a smirk as if he had been hoping she would inquire about his p
"What happened to her?" Emmeline muttered under her breath with frustration creasing her brow.She got out of the car and looked it over from the outside, then bent to peek under the open hood at the internal components.The scent of hot metal and oil filled her nostrils, making her wrinkle her nose in distaste.Everything appeared to be in order from what she could tell, though she readily admitted that her knowledge of automotive mechanics was sorely lacking.She settled on the curb in front of the stubborn vehicle, staring at it helplessly as she wracked her brain for what could possibly be the issue that was preventing it from running properly.The morning sun beat down on her, causing beads of sweat to form along her hairline."Damn, what did that bastard do to her?" she growled, knowing full well that Richard must have tampered with the car in some way during the time it had been in his possession.He was likely trying to punish her somehow for her defiance, or simply exert his
Zavian winked at her before he dipped his head to capture her lips in a scorching kiss that robbed the breath from her lungs.She melted into the passionate embrace, her body tingling with desire as his tongue teased against her lips, demanding entry.Emmeline parted her lips with a soft moan, allowing his skilled tongue to delve inside and engage hers in a sensual dance.His large hands slid down her back to pull her flush against his hard body as the kiss deepened, growing more heated and intense.Emmeline gazed up at him with half-lidded eyes and was breathless when they finally broke apart.“Delicious as always,” Zavian commented wickedly, placing two bags in her palm. "I heard women crave snacks during their period, so I brought you bags of chips, feminine stuff and chocolate," he responded.Emmeline looked at the first bag in astonishment, seeing numerous brightly colored bags of potato chips inside in a wide array of flavors. Then she blushed furiously at the numerous branded pa
~The next morning~Emmeline woke up feeling a bit under the weather, with some uncomfortable cramps signaling her monthly visitor was on its way. Ah, the joys of womanhood!As if that wasn't enough, her entire body ached as though a truck had plowed into her - no doubt the result of all the passionate smooching Zavian had lavished on her the previous night aboard his yacht.A ghost of a satisfied smile curved her lips at the delicious memories. Their heated embraces, his skilled mouth blazing a path of sin across her bare skin, the way he'd worshipped every inch of her body with fervent devotion...Emmeline shivered, warmth pooling low in her belly despite the cramps. Last night had been nothing short of heavenly debauchery.She'd barely slept a wink, too consumed by visions of her devilishly handsome lover and the sinful acts they'd indulged in together.Richard, the oblivious fool, hadn't even batted an eye when she arrived home well past midnight yet again. He simply grunted his usu
Zavian wasted no time driving straight to his private estate located on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Riverwalk after making sure Emmeline arrived home safely."Double the security detail," he instructed one of his trusted men through the mind link tersely. "Keep a low profile for now. "You got it, boss. The lady's security is locked down tight," came the quick mental reply.Zavian had handpicked five of his most elite and loyal shadow guards to keep a watchful eye on Emmeline while Luca was busy with other important matters. No way was he taking any chances with her safety.As Zavian's sleek ride pulled up to the circular driveway, he spotted the men in crisp black suits and earpieces standing at stiff attention like statues lining the whole thing.They all snapped to attention the second Zavian climbed out of the driver's seat, giving a respectful deep bow of their heads."Welcome back, sir!" They chorused like one voice, showing their utmost respect for the man whose power an
Zavian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as if she'd asked something completely unexpected from a married woman like herself. "You really don't know?" He questioned incredulously."I..." She began but faltered under his intense gaze, lowering her eyes bashfully."It's because men and women are built differently. Women can orgasm multiple times during one round due to quicker recovery time." He explained, gently stroking her cheek and studying Emmeline intently as she absorbed the information. "Therefore, it's crucial for a man to maintain an erection for a long time. Premature ejaculation can be quite frustrating for women because it denies them satisfaction."Emmeline listened with rapt attention, her eyes wide with newfound knowledge. "I didn't know our bodies were so complex," she confessed.Zavian chuckled softly, his hand absentmindedly stroking her hair. "You're hard to please even in bed," he teased.She playfully punched him in the chest, giggling lightly. "If you want good servic
Emmeline was on the precipice of a delicious surrender, her fingers dancing across her femininity with a feverish tempo.Her middle digit fluttered left and right, creating an intoxicating rhythm that echoed through her body. As she pleasured herself, her other hand was busy exploring Zavian's turgid manhood, sliding up and down his length in a frenzy of desire."I'm...I'm so close," she breathed out. The sensation was so intense that it cut off her voice mid-sentence and sent ripples of pleasure coursing through her body."I want to watch you climax, but I can't keep my eyes open. It feels like I'm soaring to cloud nine."Zavian groaned at the effort of holding back his own pleasure, his breath hitched and ragged."Seeing you like this," he continued after a beat, "Touching yourself for me for the first time...it's like observing an exquisite piece of art that demands admiration." His voice was thick with arousal as he watched Emmeline writhe on the bed before him.Her soft whimpers e
Tears spilled relentlessly from Emmeline's eyes as she thrashed about on the bed, her limbs flailing in a futile attempt to alleviate the overwhelming sensations of discomfort that wracked her body.“Fuck, it hurts.” She cried out weakly.Zavian’s breathing was ragged. He took several deep mouthfuls of air to calm himself down, running a hand through his hair before dragging his feet toward the bed once more.He knew he had to make this right, to alleviate her pain. And his saliva should work magic in this case. "Forgive, baby. I’m here, I'll make it better."He gently maneuvered Emmeline on her back, his eyes filled with desire and concern. "Let me help you," he murmured soothingly roaming his hands over her body, not just to arouse but to comfort… to remind her of the intimacy they shared was beyond the physical act.His lips found hers, kissing her deeply, trying to convey his apology and his affection.Then he moved down her neck and began trailing her skin with gentle kisses.Zavi
Emmeline's body jolted involuntarily when his scorching tongue made contact with her chilled skin.A soft moan—one almost like that of kitten miaowing escaped her lips as her grip on the edge of the bed tightened.“Mr… ah, Blackthorn….” She breathed, her lips parting in bliss. "Your tongue... it feels incredible," she murmured.Zavian chuckled lowly at her words and expression. He blew a hot breath against her sensitive skin causing her to shudder."Not as soft as your lower lip," Zavian rumbled back.A gasp tore from Emmeline’s throat when he took her into his mouth again, the sensation overwhelming her senses.She arched her back and cried out, "What kind of sorcery do you wield, Mr. Blackthorn?” She cried out, throwing her head back in delight. “I-It feels like my s-soul is being drawn out from sheer pleasure!"She could feel his lips curving into a wicked grin against her flesh.“Touch yourself!" Zavian instructed hoarsely. "Fondle your breasts."The deep timbre of his voice plus h
Zavian returned moments later with a glass filled with ice cubes in hand. "You've been naughty, Emmeline," he announced ominously as he approached the bed again.His gaze unapologetically scanned over Emmeline's bare form. "Naughty girls must face consequences."Emmeline’s gaze met his darkened one reflecting pure trepidation."Don't fear me, baby," Zavian coaxed gently with an unsettling grin playing on his lips. "The punishment I've selected for you is... exquisite." His fingers plucked an ice cube from the glass on the bedside table, causing Emmeline to eye it with apprehension."What are you going to do with that?" she asked hesitantly.Zavian’s stern gaze met hers again. "Your hands are off limits today," he commanded smoothly. "Only I get to touch you – your punishment is enduring the chill of the ice against your skin. No release until you confess why you're being punished."As her wide-eyed fear became more evident, Zavian dropped the ice cube back into its crystal container."
"Where are you taking me?" Emmeline’s words were laced with curiosity and anticipation.Zavian's eyes were dark with desire that reflected back at her through half-lidded gazes. "To the bedroom," he replied huskily, "To drink deeply from the wellspring of your passion. Your absence has left me parched."His hands slid down to cup her ass firmly in a possessive gesture that sent her body on fire."You awakened my primal desires with that sinful kiss," he growled low in his throat, his fingers digging into her flesh almost harshly. "Did you think you could tease me so blatantly and not face the consequences?"Emmeline nestled her face into the crook of his neck, nipping lightly at the taut tendon there with sharp teeth. "I don't want to escape," she confessed breathlessly, the thrill of their impending passionate section making her heart pound wildly in her chest.A rough groan rumbled in Zavian's throat as he felt the sting of her bite. He palmed her bare ass almost brutally in response