"I plan to make you see entire galaxies behind your eyes, little girl. The kind of stars that only come from soaring to the pinnacle of pure ecstasy..."A shudder of blatant feminine need rippled through Emmeline at his sinful promise.She bit down on her plump lower lip, her thighs clenching with a fresh gush of arousal."Is that so?" she breathed, tilting her head back to meet his intense stare through her lashes. "And just how do you plan to make that happen, Mr. Blackthorn?"Zavian's lips curved ever so slightly and his gaze was dangerous.He pulled her body flush against his once more, allowing her to feel every rigid inch of his arousal grinding against her aching core."The sky outside is perfectly clear tonight," he rasped against the heated skin just below her ear. "We'll be able to see the stars shining down on us..."Emmeline shook her head slowly, forcing herself to think rationally despite the relentless throbbing between her thighs."But the marina is at least two hours
Zavian's pace didn't falter, even as a low growl of pure possession vibrated against her parted lips."Don't worry, little girl. By the time this night is over, you'll have seen entire galaxies you didn't know existed." He drawled.A tremor of anticipation shuddered through Emmeline's body at the wicked promise in Zavian's gravelly words.She clung more tightly to him as he carried her out of the bar with her legs still fastly secured around his lean hips.She could feel the rigid length of his arousal grinding against her aching core with every step he took, the delicious friction making her breath emerge in desperate little pants against his heated skin.The sultry night air caressed her flushed cheeks in a warm embrace when they finally emerged from the crowded interior of the bar.Emmeline blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness cloaking the deserted street.The only illumination came from the soft glow of the crescent moon reflecting off the gently rippling waters of
Emmeline had an incredibly vivid and salacious dream last night that left her feeling flushed and flustered.The star of her X-rated reverie was none other than the devilishly handsome Mr. Blackthorn himself.His skilled tongue was buried deep between her thighs, doing such sinful, delicious wonders to her body that had her writhing and whimpering in ecstasy.She wished she could somehow strangle that annoyingly chipper little bird that loved to perch on the bedroom balcony and chirp incessantly, rudely interrupting her steamy fantasy.She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her skin, the way he had made her body sing with pleasure. It was as if he had known exactly what she needed, pushing her to the edge of ecstasy and beyond.Emmeline let out a frustrated sigh, wishing she could have lingered in that fantasy just a little longer.It had been days since that night on the yacht with Zavian Blackthorn.The memory was hazy, clouded by the migraine she had woken up with the next
Emmeline studied Minnie's delicately beautiful features apprehensively, but the other woman seemed to have said it spontaneously with no hidden meaning or implication."A relationship between spouses is supposed to be a partnership of equals," Minnie continued firmly, turning businesslike once more. "No one gets to arbitrarily dictate roles or try to divide things up by antiquated, repressive gender norms. That's not how modern marriage works, at least not in any healthy, successful one."Emmeline stubbornly planted her hands on her cocked hips, pushing out her chest ever so slightly in a subconscious gesture of defiance. "Okay, but what if he's the one who ends up getting bored with her body after years of being together? Why does the onus always have to be on the woman to try and seduce him and win back his interest, huh? Seems pretty misogynistic and one-sided to me."Minnie snatched up a frilly white negligee from a nearby display and held it up against Emmeline's torso, squinting
~MEANWHILE~The air was thick with tension and the metallic scent of freshly spilled blood in the Blackthorn ancestral manor.Grandma Eva sat rigid in her high-backed chair, her hands trembling with a fury that threatened to consume her.Her sharp and piercing eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the figure of her grandson, Zavian who stood before her with an imposing presence radiating cold indifference.His features betrayed no emotion as he casually stepped over the lifeless body of a stunningly beautiful chestnut-haired woman sprawled on the intricately patterned marble floor.The woman's hair fanned out around her head like a halo, contrasting to the growing pool of blood beneath her.Her once vibrant hazel eyes stared vacantly at the vaulted ceiling, all life extinguished from them.The sight was one of brutality and a reminder of the cold, heartless nature that ran deep in the Blackthorn bloodline.Grandma Eva had always known her grandson was a monster, a creature devoid of empathy
~FLASHBACK CONTINUES~Grandma Eva turned to her spy with a new resolve. "We make our move. Zavian will be at his most vulnerable now."The spy nodded, understanding the gravity of her words."I want every detail of his interactions with this woman. Leave nothing out.""Yes, my lady," the spy replied. "We've already gathered significant intelligence. Master Zavian was seen with her at the Bar. They appeared... intimate."Eva's lip curled in disgust. "And?""He took her aboard his yacht, the 'Night's Whisper'. They were alone for some time."Eva closed her eyes, fighting back a wave of nausea. When she opened them again, her gaze was steel. "And what of Yuna's people? I know that witch wouldn't miss an opportunity like this."That conniving snake Yuna was undoubtedly hatching some nefarious scheme, and she would be damned if she let that upstart witch get the upper hand.Her grandson might not care if Yuna found out about his new obsession but she wouldn’t let the damn woman have her wa
The air around Zavian was frosty as he strode toward the awaiting black Maybach whose rear door was held open by his right-hand man, Luca.The big guy had his head down in a deferential bow, not daring to make eye contact while his volatile boss got into the luxurious vehicle.Luca closed the door behind Zavian before hurrying around to get behind the wheel of the luxury sedan.An uneasy, suffocating silence descended on the car as Luca navigated it through the winding city streets and toward their destination.The bodyguard could feel all the hair on his body standing on end the entire time. The aura of menace radiating from Zavian in the back was like waves of Arctic cold.Luca didn't dare even breathe too loudly, let alone speak. His nerves were frayed to the breaking point.Zavian was truly in a murderous, psychopathic rage right now after the events at the manor, and one wrong move could potentially prove fatal.Luca regretted listening to Zavian that night when he dismissed all
Emmeline froze in the middle of the hallway.Her heart stuttered in shock when she lifted her head and saw none other than the devil who had been tormenting her sleep since their last encounter standing there in an impeccably tailored suit. What’s more, his expression was dark. Very dark and unsettling.Emmeline stared at him, momentarily unable to move or speak as she struggled to comprehend the situation."M-Mr. Blackthorn? What are you doing here?" she finally managed to stammer out.Zavian’s hungry gaze raked over every inch of her, lingering lecherously on the deep vee between her breasts and the teasing glimpses of thigh and leg exposed by the daring dress slit.He seemed to be devouring her with his eyes alone, no doubt able to make out every curve and swell through the sheer fabric."I'm the one who should be asking you that question!" his voice sounded low and extremely dangerous. Like he was barely holding himself back from descending on her like a ravage beast.It was only
Emmeline very nearly swayed on her feet from the force of it, her thighs clenching instinctively against a sudden, searing rush of arousal.She had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from visibly reacting, from reaching out and grabbing Zavian and hauling his body flush against hers in a shameless public display.Yuna raised her eyebrows. "You're volunteering to teach Emmeline yourself?" Her tone was laced with reproach, glancing between her husband and Emmeline. "But shouldn't Minnie know her better? As her friend, it would make more sense for Minnie to show her the ropes."Minnie didn't even blink at Yuna's thinly veiled objection. "Don't worry about it. I'll help my husband teach Richard instead. If Mr. Blackthorn can actually skate, he'd better be the one to teach Emmeline."Minnie gave Zavian a pointed look, clearly missing the undercurrent between him and Emmeline. "Thank you for offering to take that on," she said.The subtle curve of Minnie's painted lips suggested she su
Richard tensed in surprise at her sudden, uncharacteristic display of wifely affection, shooting her a bemused look over the top of her head. "Well now, what's gotten into you?" he asked with an indulgent chuckle, looping his arms loosely around her in return. "Not that I'm complaining about this unusually obedient behavior, mind you..."Emmeline felt her earlier bravado already faltering beneath the weight of Zavian's dark, knowing stare. "I...I just thought we should present a united front," she mumbled, ducking her head against Richard's chest in a futile attempt to escape that burning gaze. "For the sake of appearances, you know? We are on vacation with the neighbors, after all.""Ah, I see." Richard's tone was one of easy acceptance, seemingly oblivious to the heated undercurrents still going on behind his back. "Well, you've certainly made your point then. No need to keep up the charade any longer on my account."But Emmeline couldn't bring herself to release her grip, not yet.
The snowball caught its target square in the shoulder with a muffled thump, exploding in a puff of powdery white.Zavian didn't even flinch, though his eyes did narrow infinitesimally at her bold move.Yuna, on the other hand, let out a scandalized gasp. "Emmeline! How could you do such a thing?" she cried, hands flying to cover her mouth as if to physically hold back her shock. "You've assaulted my husband!""Oh god, what have I done?" Emmeline's own fake dismay quickly replaced her earlier bravado. "I...I didn't mean to hurt Mr. Blackthorn, I swear!""Have you lost your damn mind, woman?" Richard growled, rounding on her with ill-concealed anger simmering in his eyes.They hurried over to the two men. Emmeline's steps faltered, shame and lingering defiance swirled within her.Yuna rushed to her husband's side, fretting over him with an exaggerated concern. "She didn't mean any harm, darling," she soothed, shooting Emmeline a reproachful look over her shoulder. "She was just trying t
The group gathered at the cable car station.Minnie turned to face everyone with a mischievous grin. "Alright, here's the deal - the cable cars only hold four people max. I think it would be fun to split up by gender for the ride up. Ladies in one car, fellas in another!"Yuna's brows knit together in a frown of annoyance. "Why on earth would we do that?" she scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Wouldn't it make much more sense for each couple to share a car, just the two of us?"Feeling uncharacteristically defiant, Emmeline jumped in to argue against Yuna's prim suggestion. "What's the point of taking a group trip if we're just going to stick with our own partners the whole time?" She shot Yuna a pointed look. "Minnie's idea is way better - it'll give us all a chance to mingle and get to know each other better!"The words were barely out of her mouth before Emmeline felt the weight of Zavian's penetrating stare.A flush of embarrassment crept up her neck as their eyes met, her cheeks
The winding mountain road was blanketed in snow, forcing them to take it slowly. It took another full hour before they finally arrived at the luxurious ski resort.As soon as the vehicle rolled to a stop, everyone eagerly piled out into the picturesque winter wonderland surrounding them.Taehyung went to the trunk first, unloading the luggage - he and Minnie shared one large suitcase, just like Emmeline and Richard did.Zavian strode over next, dragging his sleek silver suitcase behind him while Yuna trailed after, clutching her own bag.The group naturally arranged themselves with Taehyung and Minnie at Zavian's right, Yuna and Richard to his left, and Emmeline lingering slightly behind.Zavian's domineering presence and deep, velvety voice immediately commanded her full attention. "Let's plan to regroup in the main hall in fifteen minutes," he stated, sweeping his gaze over the ladies. "I trust that will give everyone ample time to get settled into their suites?" His deep eyes spark
After a leisurely breakfast of fluffy Belgian waffles and crisp bacon with Zavian, followed by a long, steamy shower where they'd indulged in one last lingering tryst, Emmeline finally returned home.Her mind was utterly consumed with the memories of their intimate Christmas Eve together - every scorching caress, every sinful whisper, every moment seared into her memory with perfect clarity.Luckily, Richard didn't seem to suspect a thing when she arrived. Minnie had covered for her brilliantly.Emmeline had barely managed to exchange some words with Richard before practically sprinting up the stairs, murmuring some excuse about needing to freshen up after her night out.She locked herself in the bathroom and braced her trembling hands on the vanity, staring at her flushed, desire-glazed reflection for a long moment as the memories washed over her again in dizzying waves.The way Zavian had pinned her against the wall, one hand fisted in her hair as the other roamed hungrily over her b
Emmeline woke up to something wet and warm trailing across her cheek.Blinking her eyes open slowly, she found Zavian peppering her face with soft kisses, his hard morning wood pressing insistently against her stomach.Memories from their passionate lovemaking the night before came flooding back. How he had absolutely ravaged her until she felt the air knocked out of her lungs and stars danced behind her tightly squeezed eyelids. How she had almost passed out from the mind-blowing pleasure, leaving her aching core throbbing with need, wishing it was there he was pounding his thick, monstrous cock into instead. How she had silently begged him to finally pop her cherry and open her up completely.But then the bizarre, inexplicable incident replaced those yearning thoughts, making her breath hitch in her throat.Emmeline’s mind was at war with itself. She truly didn't know how much longer she could pretend she hadn't made such a mind-blowing discovery about Zavian last night.As much as
The sinful duo were both wiped after their intense lovemaking session.Emmeline was still snuggled up against Zavian's broad, muscular chest, but no matter how utterly drained she felt, she just couldn't drift off to sleep. Her mind kept replaying the intense scene from earlier on an endless loop.She could have sworn she heard deep, animalistic growls and roars rumbling from Zavian's throat as he ravaged her body like a ravenous beast. Emmeline had also seen strange, shimmering lights seeming to emanate from him in waves. As bizarre as it sounded, she knew she hadn't just been hallucinating from the mind-blowing pleasure and pain. No amount of ecstasy could conjure up such vivid visions.Her thoughts then turned to when Zavian had asked if she would be okay dating a supernatural being, and the hurt look on his face when she hadn't given him a definite answer. Could he truly be...not human? Some kind of monster? She had always heard the saying that the devil has the most angelic featur
Zavian was locked in an agonizing internal war, his primal instincts raging to claim his mate while his disciplined mind fought viciously to maintain control over his baser urges.The mate pull was a scorching, relentless force, clawing at his insides and inflaming every fiber of his being with an overwhelming, feral need to take Emmeline and complete their bond.'Mate wants us. Needs us to fill her, breed her,' Aetherion growled hungrily in Zavian's mind, dripping with lust. 'She can take our size, our strength. She's our mate for a reason - built to handle and crave our brutal claiming.'A guttural groan rumbled from Zavian's chest as lurid images of pinning Emmeline down and driving into her ruthlessly, claiming her in the most primitive way flashed rapidly through his mind.Her sweet cries of ecstasy and pleas for more echoed in his ears as if she were right there, writhing wantonly beneath him.'Yeah, it's the perfect time - the ideal day to finally make her ours,' Draeven snarled