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
Emmeline let out a sigh in relief when Zavian finally slid back out from under the car several minutes later with his clothes relatively unscathed despite the grimy nature of his task.His gaze darted to the spot where he knew they were being watched with a shrug. The person had dispersed before he slid back from under the car."Thankfully, your clothes didn't get too dirty," she remarked, unable to hide the approval in her tone.Zavian didn't respond. He simply took the litres of fresh radiator fluid from Donald and moved to the front of the car once more.Emmeline noticed the streaks of grease and grime staining his hands and forearms but didn't comment as he unscrewed the cap and carefully poured the bright red liquid into the open tank."You have to check the water in the car whenever it gets hot. Do you understand?" he stated in a tone of firm instruction, not even looking up from his task.Emmeline nodded vigorously, not wanting to admit that she likely would have forgotten such
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