"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
"I can see you won't be an easy opponent to defeat on this playing field," Zavian said silkily, holding her gaze captive with a look that promised so much more than their innocent game.Emmeline quickly pulled her tingling hand away, as if she'd been burned by the incendiary contact."Do you really expect to win easily against me, Mr. Blackthorn?" She tried to deflect with a teasing quip, though her voice emerged husky and strained.Zavian moved to take her previous stance, expertly chalking the tip of the cue before tying it between his middle and index finger in an elegant, practiced position befitting his imposing stature and raw masculinity.The black fabric of his shirt stretched taut across his broad shoulders and chest, the top few buttons opened to reveal a teasing glimpse of his toned skin."You seem to have forgotten your terrible, humiliating defeat on the golf course last week, Mrs. Maine," he said, looking every inch the smug, entitled aristocrat used to getting his way.
Richard managed to sink his ball with a deft stroke, as did Yuna after him when it was her turn again. But once again, Minnie failed to pocket hers despite her best, inelegant efforts, letting out a loud groan of frustration.When it was Emmeline's turn once more, she bent over the table provocatively, very aware of Zavian's heated gaze lingering on the curves of her backside framed by the tight fabric of her dress.She caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, his deep eyes devouring her boldly displayed assets with hunger."You're staring at the wrong target there, Mr. Blackthorn," she couldn't resist teasing in a low, sultry tone no one else could hear, fully aware of the effect she was having on him.She had her eye on the cue ball, so she didn't catch the full expression on his face.Zavian couldn't resist letting Emmeline know that he had heard her scolding words loud and clear.He strengthened the mental shield he'd been using since the start of their secret, illici
Every single cell in Emmeline's body tingled with renewed arousal and anticipation.Her mouth went dry as he approached with his hands shoved into the pockets of his impeccably tailored trousers in a casually arrogant manner."M-Mr. Blackthorn!" she stammered, her cheeks flushing. "Why did you come back here? Does Yuna know you're at the restaurant? What excuse did you give her?"Zavian stopped mere inches away from her. The heady scent of his cologne and the sheer masculine presence of him made her head spin dizzily.Staring up into those fathomless deep blues, Emmeline was struck by just how vast the difference in their heights was. She had never felt smaller or more delicate than in this moment."I took Yuna home first and told her I was coming back to get you," Zavian said in his deep, sinfully delicious baritone. "The roads can be dangerous at night for a woman driving alone, especially if she's been drinking and might still be intoxicated."Before Emmeline could respond, he reac
The sound of their mingled breath, moans, and low grunts filled the quiet space.Their lips remained locked for what felt like an eternity of heated, frantic kisses and wandering hands groping at every available inch of heated flesh before Zavian finally tore his mouth away.He pressed his forehead against Emmeline's, their ragged breaths intermingling hotly as they both struggled to catch their breath in the aftermath of their passionate embrace."Looking at you makes me want to cross every boundary, to throw all caution and propriety to the wind," he confessed in a low, gravelly murmur. "Being around you in the same place without being able to touch you, to taste you, to take you as I so desperately desire...it's utterly exhausting, Emmeline. I can barely keep my hands off you much less my d!ck."In response, Emmeline arched her body against his. She pressed her aching br3asts against the solid wall of his chest and captured his full lower lip between her teeth in a teasing nip.The
Emmeline let out a breathless laugh, spreading her arms out in a shameless invitation as she met his burning gaze boldly. "Well then, it looks like you've won our game fair and square," she husked, her voice trembling. "So come over here and collect your well-earned reward from me, Mr. Blackthorn."Zavian straightened up from his stance, his eyes devouring every inch of her wantonly displayed body with naked hunger. "I don't much like taking orders, my naughty girl," he rumbled in a tone that bordered on a growl.Emmeline laughed again, the sound slightly hysterical now.She arched her back in a deliberate temptation. "Well, you'll certainly be missing out on all the fun you claim to want so badly if you're too stubborn and proud to come over here," she taunted breathlessly. "I'm a little drunk, you see. I might not have the energy or patience for your ego much longer."She pouted her lips in an exaggerated moue, watching as Zavian's eyes darkened further at the sight.He let out a ha
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