All eyes instantly turned toward the frowning Minnie.Yuna spoke up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We had agreed to arrive together as a group, but Minnie simply couldn't tear herself away from the mirror. We waited outside for over twenty minutes while she primped and preened." She rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly annoyed by the delay.A tinkling laugh escaped Emmeline's lips before she could stifle it. "Ah, so Minnie is one of those women who takes an eternity in front of the mirror and arrives fashionably late.” She meant it as a lighthearted jest, but Minnie's reaction suggested she'd struck a nerve.Minnie sighed in disapproving exasperation, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Don't you start on me too, especially not in front of my husband." She shot a glare at Taehyung, daring him to comment further.Zavian quickly asked with a vague air of nonchalance that didn't quite mask his interest, "Speaking of husbands, where is yours, Mrs. Maine? I don't see any trace of him here.
Emmeline's whole body was stiff with panic and she could barely take a step back from the towering, intimidating figure of Zavian."Mr. Blackthorn, did you hear that voice?" she asked, her voice trembling as her eyebrows furrowed with worry.Zavian’s thick brows knitted together at her question. "Which sound?"Did he find himself lost in her presence once more? Why did his sharp senses always falter around her?Emmeline aimed her wide, expressive eyes at the door and found it open ajar, but no one was visible in the hallway beyond. "You were the last to enter, did you leave the door behind you open?" Her voice was strained, the words breaking slightly as anxiety gripped her.Zavian shook his head slowly. "I closed it," he stated firmly.Emmeline gasped. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth and her eyes widened further with dawning realization. "Oh my God, someone saw us and left shocked!" Her petite frame seemed to shrink in on itself.Zavian’s handsome features exuded nonchalance desp
Emmeline’s cheeks puffed out in displeasure. He was taking advantage of her weakness for him by calling her out so brazenly.'How dare this devil!' she fumed internally."Do not throw burning matches at the fuel and then accuse it of being highly flammable. That is not your right. You know your influence on me very well," she protested, glaring at him through the heavy fringe of her lashes.With that, she grabbed Zavian’s arms and tried to separate him from her, to put some safe distance between their heated bodies. However, the devil pulled her flush against him, caging her trembling form."My assistant will be back any moment, Mr. Blackthorn. I don't want to be discredited in front of my staff. Please leave," Emmeline pleaded, tilting her face to meet his burning gaze.Zavian stroked the tip of her pert nose in an intimate caress, looking deeply into her pleading eyes with a heavy-lidded gaze. "Well, I don't want to stay in the restaurant waiting for dinner until the morning, and I
Cold sweat broke out across Emmeline’s skin.Her mind raced with dreadful scenarios of what her deadbeat husband might do if he had witnessed such an incriminating scene. Or Yuna.She quickly forced back her shock and faced Noel with an air of indifference. "You should have entered instead of wasting time eavesdropping. If the conversation was important, we wouldn't have exchanged it in the kitchen where anyone could overhear."Noel didn't ask her directly about the nature of her relationship with that man.He was not the type to pry or meddle unnecessarily in other people's private affairs. "I brought the onions. Chopping them will ruin your makeup so leave it to me," he said briskly, deftly changing the subject.Emmeline looked at the bowl of onions in his hand apprehensively. "My eyes are sensitive to onions. I will shed tears even if I am in the farthest corner of the hall from you while you're cutting them."True to her words, some traitorous tears fell from Emmeline's eyes and s
Minnie had also picked up on Yuna's unusual demeanor. "Why are you so quiet today, Yuna? Is there something wrong?" she asked bluntly, never one to mince words.Yuna snapped out of her stupor and sighed heavily in frustration. "Yesterday was a miserable day for me at work, I guess I won't get over the disappointment anytime soon."Everyone's attention turned to Yuna, who placed her spoon on the table and let out a weighted breath."I lost an important divorce case that occupied part of my thoughts and emotions recently. My client's husband physically and emotionally abused her constantly, so she finally resorted to filing for divorce to escape him. You all know divorce proceedings for the wealthy upper class are essentially just a vicious property war!"Her words about spousal abuse immediately caught Emmeline's attention. She stopped eating to listen intently."The law states spouses to divide all their combined assets and property equally in a divorce. But I pleaded with the judge t
"That's a damn monopoly!" Emmeline blurted out loudly, unable to contain her outrage. However, she instantly regained her senses when she found everyone at the table staring at her.She smiled nervously. "I mean, it's not fair or just for the abusive husband to be able to take half the wife's property, assets and wealth if her life with him was utter misery filled with torment and suffering." She tried to explain herself.Richard knocked on the table with his fist several times, his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to control his temper. "She will also get half of his property and wealth in return. If the husband is richer than the wife, he will be the one who ends up losing more in the end regardless."Emmeline didn’t respond. She decided to avoid provoking his legendary anger further."It sounds like you're not just sad for your poor client, but because you lost the trial and case itself after working so hard." Minnie addressed Yuna with her mouth full of food, redirecting the conve
One of Zavian's thick eyebrows raised confidently as if she wasn't affecting him at all. "Have you forgotten I am a judge? I'm quite accustomed to dealing with unruly people and outbursts."Emmeline deliberately put her finger in her mouth. Then she seductively bit down on the nail while gently stroking his inner thigh. "It's true the courtroom does sometimes turn into a battlefield between the opposing parties."He seemed to deliberately distract himself from her wanton display by cutting into the crepes on his plate.Emmeline tilted her head to look at Minnie, who was still yelling furiously at her husband."Admit that you no longer love me, since I see talking about your past flings is so normal for you!"Taehyung furrowed his brow in confusion. "Where on earth do you get these ridiculous ideas from?"Emmeline looked away from the bickering couple to watch the lethargy slowly cover Zavian's features, his eyelids twitching more with every stroke of her foot against his leg."Mr. Bla
Taehyung gestured to the billiards table, hoping to distract and defuse the tension. "Why don't we change things up and have a game of pool instead? Every couple can be on a team."Zavian shot Emmeline a heated look filled with wicked promises, clearly relieved to have an excuse to shift locations and put some space between them before he lost control completely. "You can all start playing the game, I'll catch up shortly.”Emmeline slowly pulled her legs away and slipped her shoes back on with clear reluctance.Her body was practically vibrating with pent-up need, an intense longing for Zavian's touch that was almost palpable. Yet, amid this yearning, a mischievous satisfaction bubbled within her when she recalled the predicament she had caused for him.A wicked smile spread across her lips as she savored the thought. She knew all too well the reason Zavian had requested to join them a little later was because he couldn’t stand up right now without revealing his... situation.There wa
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 r
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
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 hun
They synchronized, lifting their shirts over their heads in one fluid motion.Emmeline couldn't help stealing glances at his bare torso when the fabric rose. A sight that still took her breath away no matter how many times she saw it. His toned muscles and lightly tanned skin were nicely framed by the open vee of his unzipped pants."I like when you’re obedient for once," Zavian purred in approval at her actions.Emmeline cheeks bright red."My eyes yearn to see your naked body again," Zavian said huskily, roaming his burning eyes over her. "It's been too long since the last time." He slowly licked his lower lip, openly staring at the swell of her breasts above her bra. "If you touched me now, you would feel my erect dick pulsing with excitement."Emmeline avoided meeting his heated gaze. She quickly unbuttoned and unzipped her pants with trembling hands.Her face was flushed an alarming shade. "Have mercy on my shyness, Mr. Blackthorn," she pleaded, unable to withstand his intense sc
Richard covered himself up and closed his eyes, ready to drift off to sleep.Emmeline finished packing everything she needed into her bag and getting ready without another word."I'm all packed and Richard is about to go to sleep. Should I head to the center now?" She messaged Zavian."I'll be waiting for you at the entrance." Zavian’s reply came quickly. He must have had his phone close by.Emmeline smiled at his message as if he could see her smile."I'll be out soon." She typed out a response, shrugged on her black coat and slung the bag over her shoulder.With that, she made her way to the private wellness center located in the next building. It was just a few minutes' walk away.Despite the late hour, Emmeline spotted Zavian's tall, imposing figure standing sentry at the entrance. A smile tugged at her lips as she approached him. "I'm not late, am I?"Her smile faltered when he fixed her with a stern look. "What did you talk about with Taehyung?"Zavian's features were outwardly
Emmeline's heart raced, throwing a disapproving look at Zavian. His reckless request to spend the night at his suite left her flustered. Yet, she couldn't deny the thrill that coursed through her veins.With trembling fingers, she began to compose a response to his daring message. Her cheeks flushed with trepidation and desire."You are a demon, and you will be the cause of my death," Emmeline wrote. Her lips curved into a sly smile despite her dramatic words.The precarious circumstances surrounded them. Even so, she eagerly awaited his reply with a delicious sense of anticipation coiling low in her belly."This devil will drown you in pleasures, but he will not abandon you in the end.” Zavian's response came swiftly.His words ignited a blaze within Emmeline, barely able to stifle a laugh.She was torn between finding his words unbearably romantic or simply proof of her own psychopathic tendencies."We have to use these days to have fun, little girl," he added.Emmeline read his mes
~Lunchtime rolled around~The lovers tried a different restaurant than the day before, savoring the chance to explore somewhere new together. All too soon, the day ended with their return to the hotel.A pang of dread struck Emmeline at the thought of seeing her husband in their suite. To her relief, she found the room empty upon her arrival.Richard didn't appear until much later. He found Emmeline lying on her bed, just as he'd left her earlier.With a dismissive wave of his hand, he instructed her to wake him before dinner time then promptly fell asleep without a word about how he'd spent his day. Not that Emmeline cared in the slightest.At eight o'clock sharp, they went down to the hotel restaurant.Emmeline had taken extra care with her appearance. She donned a short black dress that hugged her curves and flared out at the waist. The long sleeves left just a tantalizing hint of skin exposed.As they approached the table where the others were already gathered, Zavian was the first
The two simply stood there for several endless moments, trading secret smiles and losing themselves in the depths of each other's eyes. It was Zavian who finally broke the spell, giving a curt nod toward the half-finished snowman standing silent vigil nearby."You appear to have forgotten one rather crucial detail," he murmured with the barest hint of a smirk lurking at the corners of his mouth.Emmeline blinked, momentarily thrown by the abrupt shift in conversation before realization bloomed. Twisting in his embrace, she cast an appraising look over their snow creation and her eyes morphed comically when she registered the distinct lack of anything resembling a nose."Oh, you poor thing! How could I have overlooked something so vital?"Digging into the pocket of her heavy coat, she produced a plump, bright orange carrot with a triumphant flourish. Carefully, she maneuvered the makeshift nose into place right in the center of the snowman's face, smiling with immense satisfaction as sh
The raw vulnerability in Zavian’s confession left Emmeline breathless.She swallowed hard, searching for words amid the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume her whole.Zavian lifted her chin with his fingertip and held her gaze again in an uncompromising snare. "You are one of the warmest, most caring souls I've ever encountered in my long, miserable life. The fact that you've even deigned to bestow a modicum of affection on a cold-hearted jerk like me is a miracle."Emmeline's fingers curled around his wrists and made a half-hearted attempt to dislodge his grip. But Zavian was utterly unmoving."You would make an incredible mother - quite possibly the most loving, attentive parent a child could ever hope for. It won't be difficult in the slightest for you to nurture and cherish a baby. You were well made for it, little girl."Emmeline's arms fell limply to her sides, all the fight draining from her in a rush as she sagged forward with a dejected sigh. "Then why won't you even