"I want to talk to my dad again," Riley demanded.River narrowed his eyes. "I don't take orders from my hostage."Riley rolled her eyes. "Mr. Kidnapper, Sir. Could I please speak to my father? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" she asked again, her voice dripping with mockery.River glared at her. "That mouth of yours will get you killed one day.""That's nice. Will you allow me to talk to him or not?" she barked.River looked thoughtful. But then, he handed her the phone. "Go ahead and call him."She snatched it from his grasp, her heart pounding against her ribcage like a caged bird desperate to break free. Steadying her shaking fingers, she punched in the number, each digit a lifeline to her father.The line crackled to life. "Dad?" Her voice was steady, belying the desperation clawing at her insides."Riley? Thank God you're still alright. I've been-"She cut him off, the words tumbling out in a frenzied rush. "Why haven't you done what he asked? Why are you just sitting there w
River sat at the dining table, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge, his mind churning with the weight of the decision before him.Alexander didn't seem to be cooperating so that meant deciding what to do with Riley.River's jaw clenched as he considered his options, each more distasteful than the last.He could not bring himself to kill Riley despite the leverage it would give him over Alexander.He had killed numerous men before. But an innocent like Riley? Never. Riley was an innocent girl, and he figured that out. No matter how strong she acted, how much attitude she gave him, he knew she wasn't a tainted soul like him.He couldn't violate her either. The very thought made his stomach turn. He was a father to a fourteen-year-old girl, for fuck's sake!Ellie's face also flashed through his mind, her kind eyes and gentle smile a stark reminder of the man he used to be, the man she had loved. He could not betray her memory, could not cross that line and become the very monster h
River’s mind was a storm of fury when he thought of his children in danger. It pushed him to the brink of his control, but he forced himself to remain composed.This was war, and he couldn’t afford to lose his head now.As River made his way to the car, he couldn’t help but think of Ellie. She had always been the one to keep him grounded, to remind him of the man he wanted to be, not the man he had to be. But Ellie was gone, and all that remained was her memories.He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. Antonio’s place was only a short drive away, but every second felt like an eternity as they sped through the darkened streets. River’s mind was racing, calculating every possible outcome, every potential threat.When they arrived at Antonio’s estate, the scene was chaos. The front gate had been blown open, and smoke billowed from the burning wreckage of a car. River’s heart pounded as he jumped out of the car, his pistol at the ready. The sound of gunfire echoed thro
Riley tried her best to escape. She really did.It wasn’t her fault that the stairs got in the way and made her trip!She touched her ankle again and groaned as sharp pain shot through her body, intensifying with each step she took. She gritted her teeth and fought through the agony, determined to break free at any cost.But then, she was greeted by another locked door.“Fuck my life!” she screamed at the door as she jiggled the doorknob.Riley’s heart pounded as she frantically twisted the doorknob, willing it to turn, but it wouldn’t budge. The pain in her ankle was unbearable, each throb a cruel reminder of her failed escape. She leaned her forehead against the cold metal door, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears welled up in her eye.“Come on,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please, just open…”But the door remained stubbornly locked. Riley slammed her fist against it, her anger bubbling over. She felt so powerless, so trapped.She limped back to the center of the room,
River carried Riley through the grand entryway of his sprawling mansion, her eyes widening as she took in the marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and expensive artwork lining the walls. “Admiring the decor?” River asked, his deep voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. “It’s…quite the house,” she mumbled, avoiding his penetrating blue gaze. The intensity in his eyes unnerved her, hinting at a barely contained rage simmering beneath the surface. She had no doubt this man was capable of terrible things in his quest for vengeance. But right now, it felt good being carried by him like a princess. River’s lips twitched, but there was no humor in it. “Amazing what blood money can buy, isn’t it?” He walked toward a room. Riley’s heart hammered in her chest as dark thoughts swirled in her mind. Was he leading her to another prison to lock her away in? Would she still be tortured for information about Alexander and his organization? She swallowed hard. “Where are you taking me?” Her voice soun
"I will not watch my mouth." River couldn't believe the audacity of this girl. What would it take to show her that she is still in danger and that defying him would only make things worse? "You have no idea what I'm capable of," he threatened, hoping it would help her realize. "Oh? Are you capable of cooking? Because I am starving," Riley announced. He heard Tiffany giggle behind him, and his anger flared even more. River's jaw tightened. This girl had a nerve, that was for sure. He was accustomed to dealing with people who were afraid of him, not those who taunted him outright. The thought of her sitting there, so calmly demanding food, while his world was falling apart, made him seethe. "Fine," he snapped. "I'll have something brought up for you. But don't think for a second that you're in any position to make demands." Riley's lips curved into a small, triumphant smile, but she said nothing more. River turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind h
River woke with a start, his body on fire. The sheets were soaked through with sweat, clinging to his skin like a second skin. His head pounded, vision swimming as he struggled to orient himself. With trembling limbs, River pushed himself up and swung his legs off the side of the bed. The room tilted and spun, but he gritted his teeth against the nausea rising in his throat. River stood on unsteady feet, clutching the bedpost for support. He took a deep breath and steadied himself, jaw clenched in determination. He was fine. He was not getting sick. He never got sick! One step. Then another. His muscles screamed in protest, and the wound on the shoulder hurt like hell, but he pushed onward. He made it to the door and paused, vision dimming for a moment. When it cleared, his gaze sharpened with purpose. He put the key in and unlocked the door. He found Riley in her room, staring out the window. Her shoulders were tense, and her hands curled into fists at her sides. Waiting. Watch
Riley quickly pulled the phone from River's pocket, her heart pounding as she fumbled with it. The device felt foreign in her hands, but she had to focus. Her father had to know where she was, and she needed to figure out her next steps. She dialed the number, praying that her father would pick up. The phone rang several times before a familiar voice answered. "Foster!" he growled. "Dad, it's me," Riley said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Riley! Where are you? Did he hurt you?" he said. Riley hesitated. The logical thing would be to tell her father she was at River's house so he could send his men to rescue her. But there was another part of her, that didn't want to do that. If she did that while River was lying here, weak and vulnerable from fever, her father's men would easily overpower him and could possibly kill him. As much as Riley claimed to hate River, she couldn't just get the man killed! Riley took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Dad, I'm okay.
“Amy, you are back! I am so sorry about your grandma,” Joanne exclaimed, giving Amy a big hug.Amy blinked. “My grandma?”Joanne released her from her embrace and looked at her, her eyes full of sympathy. “Brian told me you called and told him you needed a week off to visit your sick grandma in Tennessee.”“I did?” Amy asked but then quickly recovered. “Ah, yes. I did. Poor granny,” she said, thinking about both of her grandmas, who had been dead for years now.Joanne patted Amy’s arm. “You did a good thing by going to her. Family comes first.”Amy forced a tight smile. “Thanks, Joanne. She will be fine. Where is Brian?”Joanne glanced toward the back office. “He’s in the back office.” Joanne gave her another sympathetic smile. Amy swallowed down the guilt bubbling up inside her. “Yeah… thanks, Joanne.”Amy made her way toward Brian’s office. So she wasn’t fired because someone called Brian and made up the fake grandma story.She lightly knocked on his door.“Come in,” Brian called o
Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness in his chest as he drove away from Amy’s apartment and back home. He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly in such a bad mood, but the hollowness in his chest only grew stronger with each passing mile. It was as if something was missing.And the car ride was too quiet.Lucas leaned back against the seat, rubbing his temples. His fingers drummed against his thigh, restless, irritated.His mind kept drifting back to the face Amy had made when he had left her at her apartment. She looked so sad, almost near tears.The little Harpy.His jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply. He should be happy she was back home and away from him. He was finally from her constant chattering.Then why did it feel like he’d lost something instead?Silly.He hadn’t lost shit. He could see her whenever he wanted to. It’s not like she lived in another state or something.Lucas nodded to himself. That’s right, he will just go see her. Maybe bother her at the litt
Lucas’s car halts to a stop outside Amy’s apartment building.Amy’s heart raced as she stared at the building, realizing their unexpected adventure was coming to an end. She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.Lucas cleared his throat. “Well, here we are.”“Yep. Home sweet home,” Amy replied, her voice unnaturally high. She fumbled with her seatbelt, fingers trembling slightly as she tried to unlatch it. The damn thing seemed determined to keep her trapped in this moment.“Need some help?” Lucas asked, his voice laced with amusement.The seatbelt finally released with a soft click. Amy’s hand lingered on the buckle, her mind racing for some excuse…any excuse to prolong their time together.“I, uh…” Amy started, then trailed off, unsure what to say.Lucas turned to her, one eyebrow raised slightly. “Yes?”Amy’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes met.She opened her mouth, then closed it again. What could she possibly say that wouldn’t make her sound desperate or clingy? This
“…and then I told her, ‘If you think that’s bad, you should see what happens when I try to use chopsticks!’” Amy’s words tumbled out in a frantic stream, her hands fluttering like startled birds as she gestured wildly. Her leg bounced incessantly, causing the entire row of airplane seats to vibrate subtly.Lucas gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the e-book displayed on his tablet.Amy had not stopped talking ever since they boarded. At this point, Lucas was used to her talking too much, but this time, it was excessive.“Oh! And did I ever tell you about the time I accidentally used dog shampoo for a month? My hair was so shiny, people kept asking if I’d had work done!” Amy let out a high-pitched laugh that set Lucas’s nerves on edge.He exhaled slowly through his nose, thumb hovering over the tablet’s screen as he debated whether to increase the volume on his noise-canceling headphones. It wouldn’t make a difference, he knew. Amy’s chatter seemed to defy the laws of physics, penet
“Sit down on that little table, and I’ll go get your drink,” Lucas offered, shrugging out of his jacket. “Hot chocolate, right?”“Right,” Amy said with a small smile.Amy turned her gaze to the window, focusing on the view instead of the flutter in her chest. This was just a fun day out. Don’t overthink it. This was one of her many flaws. Overthinking things.A few minutes later, Lucas returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, each topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream. “One for you and one for me,” he said, sliding hers across the table.Amy took a sip, the warmth spreading through her and momentarily chasing away her thoughts. “Mmm, this is amazing.”“Told you this place was worth it,” Lucas said, taking a sip of his own. “So, how does it feel to have conquered your first ski slope?”She set her mug down and leaned back in her chair. “Honestly? It feels good. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did.”“Told you you would,” Lucas said, his eyes fixed on hers.“So…
Amy’s eyes widened as she took Lucas’s hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. “Skiing? Are you serious?” she exclaimed.Lucas smirked, enjoying her surprise. “Completely serious.”She bit her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. “But I’ve never skied before. No, it is too scary. I can’t.”He chuckled, tugging her hand gently. “Don’t be a chicken. I will teach you.”She shook her head no. “I will fall down the hill and break something. And then, you will be forced to take care of me for another six months. You will never find the time to woo Alicia at that pace.”Lucas stared at her in amusement. “You have no confidence in yourself, do you?”“ZERO. Now, can we do something else? Like…I don’t know…something does not involve me rolling down from high places?” Amy asked nervously.Lucas tightened his hold on her hand. “Nope. We are going skiing, and that’s final.”Amy groaned loudly, dragging her feet as Lucas led her toward the ski rental area.He rolled his eyes, ha
“What’s wrong now?” Lucas asked.Amy looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean? Nothing is wrong.”“Bullshit,” Lucas said, furrowing his brows. “You look like you are about to cry again. Is it something I said?”Amy shook her head no.Lucas stared at her for a long moment before clearing his throat. “Well…” he started. “Maybe you don’t need to leave just yet. I mean…there’s no rush, I guess.”Her eyes lit up. “Really? I can stay?”Lucas shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, I mean, if you want to. The mansion’s big enough, and it’s not like you’re taking up space.”Amy’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”He rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the smirk creeping onto his face. “You’re already a pain, so what’s a little more? Besides, you shouldn’t go back to the USA without doing some sightseeing in Sweden. There are some cool stuff we can do here during winter.”Amy’s eyes widened with surprise, and th
Lucas woke up to the bright sunlight assaulting his eyes and the feel of a plump ass pressed against his groin.He groaned inwardly as he looked at the time. It was already past noon.He couldn’t believe he let Amy talk him into having sex for the second time.And then again this morning.Lucas sighed, running a hand over his face as the events of the past twelve hours replayed in his mind. He had no idea how Amy managed to seduce him so easily.Little nymph.He shifted slightly, trying not to wake her, but the feel of her bare skin against his sent a jolt through him. His cock stirred despite his better judgment.Get a grip, he scolded himself.Amy stirred, letting out a contented hum as she stretched lazily, pressing her body even closer to his. “Mmm, morning, Slut,” she murmured sleepily, her voice thick with satisfaction.Lucas groaned, burying his face in her hair. “It’s noon, and don’t call me that.”“Sorry. I shall call you Timmy’s Dad instead,” she muttered.Lucas sat up. “Tha
Amy had never been taken like this before - with such raw, animalistic intensity. It was overwhelming, all-consuming, obliterating every thought beyond the feel of him inside her, stretching her, claiming her.She could feel the coil of tension winding tighter and tighter in her core, threatening to snap at any moment. Her thighs began to quake, her walls fluttering around his thick length as he hit that sweet spot inside her again and again.“Lucas,” she gasped. “I’m… I’m going to…”“Not yet,” he commanded roughly, reaching between their sweat-slicked bodies to circle her clit with his thumb. “I want to feel you come on my cock. I want to watch you fall apart.”A strangled cry escaped her lips as she came.Lucas didn’t let up, pistoning into her with deep, powerful thrusts.“Oh god,” he rasped. “I can’t control myself.”With a guttural groan, he buried himself to the hilt one final time, finding his own release. She felt the hot spurts of his seed painting her inner walls as he shudd