“To punish you.” Suddenly, the room felt smaller, the air thicker, and Aurelia's defiance began to falter. "What do you mean?" she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady, but it trembled despite her best efforts. Of course, she knew what she meant, but at the same time, she didn’t. She hoped it wasn't what she was thinking, and yet the prospect of it made her insides warm, causing her to press her thighs together in reflex. Luke arched a brow at her, his eyes glinting with sinister intent. "You think you don’t deserve to be punished?” he drawled, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Aurelia's instincts screamed at her to retreat, to escape, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. Luke's presence seemed to fill the room like a dark cloud of smoke, suffocating her, and she knew she had to act fast to regain control. But how? “I’m not in the mood for your mind games.” she retorted, her gaze lingering on his lips before she looked away. “We both have had a long day.”
AURELIA’S POVI threw my head back, my moans constricting against the gag in my mouth as my whole body trembled in painful pleasure. My wrists burned as my arms were bound by a tight rope, banishing any chance of escape. I looked up at him as tears welled in my eyes, begging him to put me out of my misery. He only smiled, leaning down to roughly grab my chin. “Had enough yet?” His husky voice rumbled in my ears, his hot breath fanning against my face as I writhed under his hold. “Or do you want me to punish you more?” A normal person would have easily refused, but I was far from normal. I nodded my head slowly, and he smirked. I yelped loudly as I felt the whip slash against my most sensitive part, eyes rolling to the back of my head as waves of ecstasy clouded my mind. “You fucking slut.” He whispered tentatively, and my gaze found him as he settled between my legs, spreading my thighs apart with his sturdy hands. His dark eyes soaked in the sight of my throbbing wet pussy, bur
THIRD PERSON POV Luke was tired. Tired of forcing smiles and empty pleasantries. The fashion week had worn him out and he couldn't wait to return to New York. “Your bitch face is showing.” Veronica teased him, noticing that he had already drained his social battery. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing.” He sighed, looking down at his watch. For how much longer did he have to be here? Luke looked over his shoulders, his eyes searching for Aurelia. His jaw clenched as Ezekiel came up beside her. He watches Aurelia’s face brighten up on his arrival, and Luke’s brows furrowed, his chest burning with jealousy. “You guys are so typical.” Veronica rolled her eyes, following his line of sight. “It’s boring to watch the same thing happen again.”Luke clicks his tongue in annoyance, facing forward. “Then why did you insist on coming along?”“Isn’t it obvious?” Veronica smirked as watched Ezekiel and Aurelia. “I also made a bet on who would win, and I’ll be damned not to see it for myself.”“Tch.”
Ezekiel was in high spirits. The final event of the Fashion Week had ended at the crack of dawn but he wasn’t the least bit tired. After escorting Aurelia to her hotel room and bidding her goodbye, he skipped happily to the hotel bar to get himself a drink. Now that he knew he had genuine feelings for Aurelia, his constant struggle with denial was over, lifting a load off his chest. He was as chirpy as a schoolboy in love. “Oh?” On spotting a familiar face, Ezekiel stopped at the entrance of the bar, a mocking smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the door frame. “Who do we have here?” Luke ignored him, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. They were the only ones in the bar. “Mind if I join you for a drink?” Ezekiel straightened up, and Luke side glanced at him, his gaze sharp. But he remained silent. Taking his silence as a go-ahead, Ezekiel sighed in contentment as he slipped onto a stool beside Luke, signaling for the bartender to serve him a drink.
“Here.”Aurelia hesitated before taking the cup of water from Veronica, staring at it like it would come alive and bite her. “I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking.” Veronica mused, sarcasm dripping in her tone. Giving the cup one last wary stare, Aurelia accepted it, and Veronica flopped on the sofa beside her. They were in Veronica's hotel room, and the supermodel had taken it upon herself to tend to Aurelia's wound, taking responsibility for her fall. Veronica observed Aurelia's scraped knee, then she moved to her closet, returning with a tube of ointment. Aurelia silently watched as she squeezed the open cut, her fingers spreading it against her skin. “That will do.” Veronica nodded as she sealed the cap on the ointment, letting out a small yawn as she straightened up. “Thank you.” Aurelia kept her head low, spacing out as she looked down at her feet. “Now that's out of the way, shall we begin?” Veronica suggested, leaning back in her seat as she crossed her legs
Aurelia didn't sleep a wink. Dragging herself out of bed, she sat up and just stared. Her mind was blank, the events of the previous day dawning on her. Ezekiel’s confession. Luke’s rejection. And Veronica’s……Aurelia winced as she recalled the kiss, her fingers absentmindedly skimming over her lips.‘I prefer women.’Aurelia squeezed her eyes shut, then she opened them. She slapped herself out of her daze, hoping to dispel the warmth that tickled her cheeks. That damned Veronica, she thought, recalling the satisfied smirk on the model’s face. The boldness of that woman. Kissing her out of the blue like that. It was the biggest plot twist in her mangled story, one that she had never seen coming. A subtle knock on the door cut through Aurelia’s thoughts. Her brows furrowed. She didn’t order room service, so who could be knocking at her door at this time? Wait…she paused. What time was it? Aurelia’s lazy gaze searched the walls for the clock, and when she spotted it, a gasp esca
“Do you have feelings for me?”The question cut deep, reopening the wound from last night. She had slapped a bandage on it to face him, and here was, mercilessly ripping off the fragile bandage. Luke wet his lips, his expression grace. Aurelia didn’t know which was worse, was it the expression on his face or the coldness in his tone? She didn’t want to remember that he despised the thought of her. She didn’t want him to say it openly, to reject her officially.But was she hoping for? Aurelia knew the complication of her feelings, she knew it would break the final thread that held them together. Yet her heart ached. Her despair was determined from the moment he came into her life, like a rippling tornado, fast and powerful, shattering the beliefs she’d believed in and leaving just as quickly as it came. She hasn’t forgotten how he’d acted throughout the week. While she yearned for him, even after their fallout, he ignored her like the plague. Aurelia wanted to laugh at her foolish,
Aurelia huffed as she looked down at her watch. 6 am. The airport was filled even at such an early time, and as she made her way through the crowd, her mind drifted off to the night before.She had taken a bold step, confessing her feelings to get out of the contract with the CEO. It was out of impulse. His words stabbed her more than his reaction, and she wasn't strong enough to just sit and bear the pain. She was done feeding into his ego, dancing on his palm like a puppet. Luke had talked about owning her fully, and it was nothing but an insult. Maybe it was her mistake for falling for him, for setting herself up for heartbreak, but she had enough. Although she was somewhat satisfied, seeing the shocked expression on his face was like a soothing balm to her wound. She had completely caught him off guard, and among her bountiful losses, this was a fair win. She left the restaurant without looking back or waiting for a reply. Luke didn’t stop her, and she was grateful for that. If
LUKE’S POV The warehouse was in flames, the acrid scent of burning wood and gunpowder choking the air. Smoke curled around us, thick and blinding, but it didn’t matter. My eyes were locked on one thing—her. Aurelia was on the ground, her body trembling, Will sprawled a few feet away from her, coughing through the debris. Her bruised wrists and the terror in her wide eyes made something inside me snap. My fingers tightened around my gun as I stepped forward. The world had narrowed to a single, unrelenting focus: kill them all. The man coughed, spitting blood onto the floor, his face twisted in fury and disbelief. “Well, well. The bastard prince decided to show up.” He wiped his nose, grinning despite the blood leaking from his mouth. I didn’t hesitate and fired another shot. He barely had time to register what happened before he collapsed, the bullet lodged in his shoulder. His scream echoed through the chaos, but I wasn’t done. I stalked forward, shoving my gun against his
AURELIA POVMy breath came in shallow gasps, each one laced with the sting of panic. The moment the door slammed shut behind them, I lay still, too afraid to move, my body curled in on itself as if making myself smaller would somehow make me invisible.I instinctively reached for my stomach, my fear multiplying by tenfold. Little did my captors know that they threatened two lives and not one. Six hours.That’s all the time I had before they killed me and my baby. A sob built in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Crying wouldn’t save me. They said they had sent a ransom note or Luke, but would he come? To risk his life for me? He had already told me to know my place, and whatever we had ended when I confessed to him. I tried to sit up, trying to my breath steamy as my fingers twitched, testing the ropes around my wrists. I winced and the rough fibers bit into my skin, leaving behind red blisters. But I ignored it. I didn’t want to sit around, waiting like a damsel in distress. Thi
LUKE POVThe words blurred as my vision swam, the ache in my chest deepening into something unbearable. I read it over and over again, processing the words that felt impossible.She loved me?She loved me and not Ezekiel.All this time….and I was too blind to see it, or maybe she was just that good at hiding it. The weight of Seraphina’s words weighed heavy on my shoulders, and there was one part that confused me. My father. He was the one who had taken her in after her father’s death. That was what I had always been told. That was what I had believed.But these words… this confession…It told a different story. She loved me and hated herself for it. All because she thought I was the son of the man who killed her father.A sick, twisting feeling curled in my stomach. Realization sunk in like paint spreading on a white cloth, tainting whatever perception I had been fed before. It was all a lie. My hands trembled, not with grief, but with fury. Rage bubbled in my chest, threatening
LUKE POV“What an unpleasant surprise.”I pushed past Ezekiel and entered his dorm room, my jaw clenching as my grip on the file unconsciously tightened.Ezekiel had just stepped out of the bathroom, casually drying his hair with a towel, while I stood there glaring at him. A few moments of tense silence passed between us before I strode over to his couch and dropped the file.“That’s the transfer of ownership document for the port,” I said, my voice gruff. I had lost the challenge, and now I was here to fulfill my end of the deal.Ezekiel hummed in interest, leaning against the wall with a taunting smile. “I guess you’re a man of your word, then.”I ignored his remark and turned to leave, but my steps faltered when his voice rang out again.“No hard feelings, right?”My patience cracked. I looked over my shoulder, my gaze burning with malice.“Fuck you, Sterling.”***I slumped into my car seat, tipping my head back and staring up at the ceiling. I hadn’t been home for the past week,
Luke waited in the room for Seraphina to wake up, the doctor who had examined her said she passed out from exhaustion, but her situation was stable for now. It made him wonder how many times she had pushed herself so hard. He hadn’t even found out until later, so it only meant that she had been hiding it for a long while now. Enduring the pain in silence and forcing smiles. Maybe that would explain her impulsive mood swings. Luke glanced at her, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. Her hair bun was still in place, and even in slumber, she looked beautiful. He subconsciously leaned in, taking in every detail and curve of her face, from the freckles on her nose to the little scar on her left brow. His gaze flickered to her lips and lingered there. They were painted hot red with lipstick, adding a dangerous allure to her soft features. Luke flinched as her eyes fluttered. Startled, he straightened up, clearing his throat to regain his composure, but his cheeks were flushed with
Seraphina was discharged from the hospital two weeks later, and during the time she was hospitalized, Luke visited her often, but Seraphina never allowed him in. It hurt him deeply, especially when Ezekiel was allowed to see her. The bet between them was still active and Luke feared he might have made a grave mistake. He still watched her from afar to protect her, because now that he knew about her illness he couldn’t afford to slack off. Soon the annual banquet was held as a way for the heirs of influential families to make their debut, and this year, it was held by Montauge’s, Veronica’s family. The night was in full bloom, and both Luke and Seraphina had received an invitation. Luke saw this as the perfect opportunity to finally talk to her, and he looked forward to taking her, but his plans were thwarted the moment Ezekiel came to pick her up instead. Of course, he also got an invitation. Ezekiel stepped out of his sleek BMW, dressed in a tailored white suit and crimson
Veronica planned to make Seraphina jealous, so she accompanied him to an exclusive club in the heart of the city, one that could only be accessible to elite members. Veronica was his date for the evening, and as they reached the location, he began to regret his decision. “How is this going to help again?” He grumbled as they stepped out of his car. Veronica held his arm, dressed in a hot red dress that left little to the imagination, while he wore a black dress shirt and pants to match. Veronica rolled her eyes at his hesitance. “Just follow my lead dumbass.” The club was as sophisticated yet wild at the same time, and Luke was surprised to see Seraphina and Ezekiel making out in the VIP section. Luke’s jaw clenched at the sight, but Veronica tapped his jaw to get his attention. “Don’t look at her.” She scolded him, dragging him to the dance floor. “If not it won’t work.” Luke took a deep breath, stealing one last glance at them before moving on. As they stepped onto t
Third Person POVWeeks later…Luke moaned as he felt her palm against him. He grabbed her hand to stop her, pulling back from the kiss with a dazed expression. “We can’t do that here.” He muttered, his wary gaze darting around the library. Seraphina blinked at him, her brows slightly furrowed in frustration. “Just shut up and kiss me.” And with that she crashed her lips against his, angling her head as she deepened the kiss.Luke gave him, feeling himself get hotter with each passing minute. His hands tightened on her waist, wanting to wander. But he couldn’t because she hadn’t permitted him yet. Seraphina spread her legs, letting him grind against her at least, her back pressed against the wall as Luke's tongue danced with hers. The air between them was hot, and Luke groaned, feeling his erection straining against his pants. Seraphina pulled back from the kiss with a smirk, her fingers combing through his hair.“Beg me.” She demanded, and he gulped his spit, wavering for a bit. L
Luke’s POV “A date?” I was in the gym of the mansion when Seraphina skipped in and started going on about her date with Ezekiel. The topic was none of my business, but she wanted me to tell her more about Ezekiel.“Ask him yourself.” I tightened the bandages on my wrists and swung at the punching bag, my brows furrowed in irritation. That bitter feeling was stirring in my chest again. Ever since they met, Seraphina’s attention was fixated on Ezekiel, and Ezekiel, he was milking the situation with his God damned charm. I raised my hands to deliver another punch, then Seraphina blocked my view. It was a good thing I managed to stop my fist before it made contact with her face.“Careful,” I warned her, already growing tired of the conversation.“Tell me.” She insisted. “I want to know what kind of guy he is.”A dry chuckle escaped my lips. “He’s a man whore.” I say simply. “And you are nothing but another fling to him, so you better stay away.” Seraphina tilted her head to the side.