The drive through the winding country roads seemed to stretch on endlessly, the oppressive silence inside the van only broken by the occasional creak of the old springs. My heart pounded in my ears, nerves frayed as I waited with bated breath for our destination. Beside me, the nameless driver kept his gaze fixed ahead, his expression carved from stone. I couldn’t help but glance nervously towards the back, where I knew Kian sat, his intense stare burning into the back of my head. The tension was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken threats and the looming uncertainty of what awaited us. I had to resist the urge to squirm under the weight of Kian’s scrutiny, knowing any sign of weakness would only further embolden him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the van rumbled to a stop in front of a sprawling, nondescript safehouse. Kian’s men sprang into action, efficiently unloading Luca’s unconscious form and hustling him inside. I hesitated, unsure if I was supposed to fo
The hushed silence that had settled over the study was deafening, the air thick with unspoken tension. Kian leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart race.“Well, principessa?” His deep voice was deceptively soft, a subtle warning lacing each word. “Don’t you have something you’d like to say to me?”I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Kian’s blatant challenge hung heavy in the air, and I found myself drawn to the raw power in his every movement. The memory of his earlier threats still weighed on my mind, but the thrilling pull of his unwavering attention was becoming increasingly hard to ignore.Steeling my nerves, I met his gaze steadily. “Why…?” My voice wavered slightly, and I paused to clear my throat. “Why did you bring me here, if you knew I would be so much trouble?”Kian’s expression remained un
As Kian continued detailing his plan, I found my focus wavering, my mind returning again and again to the intensity of his earlier confession. The raw, uncompromising possession in his voice had awakened something deep within me - a desperate yearning to be the sole object of his twisted obsession.I watched him intently, cataloguing every subtle shift in his expression, the way his brow furrowed when he grew frustrated, the way his jaw tightened when he brooked no argument. It was as if I couldn’t get enough of him, this dangerous, captivating man who had so completely ensnared me.Kian paused, pinning me with a piercing stare. “Isadora, are you even listening?” he demanded, a hint of annoyance in his tone.I blinked, realizing I had once again become lost in my own thoughts. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, forcing myself to focus on his words. “Please, continue.”He studied me for a long moment, his gaze searching. “If you can’t take this seriously, perhaps it would be better if you weren’
Later that evening, after Kian had finished explaining his plan, we returned to the home in relative silence. The air between us was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of his earlier possessiveness still lingering.As we stepped through the ornate double doors, I couldn’t help but look around, searching for any sign of the others. “Where’s Luca?” I asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of my voice.Kian’s lips curved into a small smile. “Resting, with Sabine.” He paused, his gaze burning into me. “I thought it best to leave them alone for now.”I swallowed hard, the mention of Sabine’s name stirring an unexpected feeling of… something within me. Jealousy, perhaps? I pushed the feeling aside, unwilling to think about it.“I see,” I murmured, my gaze drifting to the staircase that led up to the private rooms. “And what about us?”Kian’s eyes narrowed, a slight tilt of his head showing his curiosity. “What do you mean, principessa?”I felt a flush creep up my neck, suddenly self-c
I woke up on the couch in the hallway, feeling disoriented and exhausted. The events of the previous night came flooding back to me, and I shuddered at the memory of Kian’s wild, panicked state.As I sat up, I noticed Kian kneeling beside me, his hand gently stroking my hair. I flinched instinctively, recoiling from his touch, and immediately regretted it when I saw the hurt flash across his face.“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “After last night, I…”Kian held up a hand, silencing me. “You have nothing to apologize for, principessa,” he said, his tone gentle but tinged with sadness. “I should be the one apologizing.”I couldn’t help but shake my head. “What happened to you?” I asked, my brow furrowed with concern. “It was like you were living a nightmare.”Kian’s jaw tightened, and he averted his gaze for a moment. “Demons from my past,” he said finally. “Memories that still haunt me, no matter how hard I try to escape them.”I reached out, tentatively placi
“How dare you?” he growled, grabbing my arm. “You have no right to -”“No right?” I cried, my voice shaking with rage. “You betrayed me, Kian! You made me believe that you we had something, and all this time, you were just using me!”Kian opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.“Save it,” I spat. “I don’t want to hear your lies. You can get back to taking care of business .”I wrenched my arm free from his grasp and turned to leave, but Kian grabbed me again, his grip tightening.“You’re not going anywhere,” he hissed, his eyes narrowed.Suddenly, Kyle appeared, his expression filled with concern.“Isadora, are you alright?” he asked, his gaze darting between Kian and me.Kian’s lips curled into a sneer. “Mind your own business, boy,” he growled. “This is between me and my… companion.”Kyle’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his posture tense. “I think it’s time for you to let her go,” he said, his voice low and steady.Kian let out a harsh laugh. “And what if I don’t?” he
After my confrontation with Kian, I was a nervous wreck wondering what he might do next. But to my surprise, he actually agreed to my demand for no more intimacy between us. Kian made it clear that although he had purchased me from the auction, he wouldn’t force himself on me anymore if that wasn’t what I wanted. “Consider it a free choice, principessa,” he said with his signature smirk. “Though I must admit, I’ll miss having you warm my bed.” I shuddered at his words but felt relief that he was respecting my wishes, at least for now. Our relationship, if you could even call it that, would be strictly professional from this point on. The next morning, I awoke to the sound of insistent knocking on my bedroom door. “Up and at ‘em!” came Kian’s gruff voice. “Training starts at soon.” Groggily, I glanced at the clock which read 5:45am. What was he talking about? I pulled on some workout clothes and opened the door to find Kian already dressed in athletic gear. “Good morning, gorgeous
I watched Kian storm out of the training room, his broad shoulders tense with barely contained frustration. My own body still hummed with a confusing mix of adrenaline and desire, leaving me feeling flustered and unsure of what to do next.As the days passed, the heated moment between us on the mats lingered like a thick fog, making every interaction feel charged with unresolved tension. Kian maintained a cool professionalism during our training sessions, but I could sense his eyes lingering on me a little too long, his touch a little too firm whenever he corrected my stance.Despite my best efforts to ignore it, the magnetic pull between us only seemed to grow stronger.Later that evening, I decided to clear my head with a late-night swim in the indoor pool. The rhythmic laps through the cool water helped ease the tangled knot of emotions swirling inside me.I had just finished my a quick meal and workout when I heard the door to the pool area creak open. Thinking I was alone, I emer