CRYSTAL POVA very melodic sound, slow and unbothered slithered through the haze of my deepest slumber, slicing through the serene fog of my subconscious and gruesomely pulling me back to the cruel land of the living. The steady vibration of the phone creeping across the hardwood top of the bedside table was unmistakable despite how much I succumbed to sleep.“Make it stop.” A deep groan left my throat, causing my forehead to scrunch in confusion at how raspy and parched my voice sounded.Duncan was a fuckin’ beast. It was because of him that I screamed my throat dry. And now my voice was hoarse like one of an asthmatic donkey after it ran a marathon. A small smile crept onto my lips as I slowly ran my hand through the sheets, reaching for him. Sleep washed away like a blanket being yanked off my body as my hand came in contact with a cold, silk pillow; the side of his bed empty. My head erupted from my pillow as my eyes flew open; an annoyed groan leaving my throat when I realized
CRYSTAL POVTime bespoke that it was a little after 11 when Duncan and I pulled up in the underground parking lot of his penthouse before the two of us hopped into the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed us in, shielding us away from the cruelty of the world, we were all over each other. Just a night without him and I felt like Grim Reaper had left with my soul. There was really no hope for me.A deep groan escaped his throat when he thrust his tongue into my mouth, sending a cold shiver down my spine. In the safety of his arms, the recent events came pouring down at me like summer rain, uneasiness creeping into the hollow of my chest and settling there in all of its entirety. My stomach dipped as his arms started caressing my back, leaving trails of hot fire licking my skin even though I had a damn sweater on.“You’re trembling.” He breathed out breaking the kiss, but his forehead came and crushed onto mine as though he dreaded the idea of our skin not touching. His hands
DUNCAN POV The sun crept slowly to the horizon, painting the sky orange with its warm rays as the promise of the new loomed from the distance. I spent the rest of the day trying to gather up all the dirt I had on Felicia; from the drugs, she thought I didn’t know about which she hit in the basement of our house, to very shady dealings that made her disappear for hours without traces.It was right after 5 pm when I left the university campus, my head hot and throbbing with a dull ache right at the base of my neck. If I didn’t get rid of this stain in my life, I was going to lose my medulla. I drove to the penthouse, contemplating whether I should go pick up the kids from Dom’s. Heavens knew I missed them more than words could say. They were the sharp rays of light seeping through the dark green clouds heavily pregnant with the storm; that storm being the shit Felicia put me through. Their little toothless smiles and squishy chubby cheeks were flat out, the highlight of my day. I did
CRYSTAL POVWe were inside Rosehill underground parking lot when Duncan gently shook me awake.“Hey, we’re home.” His voice was feather light, caressing me with its smoothness and washing over me like summer rain. I must have been knocked out at some point in the club.Shit. Why are my ears ringing?I grimaced when my pulse thumped harder than the bass speakers, sending a continuous tide of pain that permeated through the thickness of my skull. I clutched my head with both hands and leaned back into the headrest. The door to my side was wrenched open, right before Duncan’s hands looped around the crook of my knees and behind my back. He effortlessly pulled me out of the car, sending me afloat into the air. My head felt like it was pulled back by gravity as it languidly fell back, pulling some tendons.“Careful.” He warned, shifting me in his hold until the nape of my neck was on his upper man. I was a solid bundle of flesh and bone, but this man carried me like a bag of potatoes. It
DUNCAN POVShe was still sleeping when I opened the door, her hair scattered all over the emerald green silk pillow while the sheet covered her front. Her plump ass was out. I rounded the bed, then muscle curled her and hoisted her up and out of bed. She let out a small moan. The sound shot straight to my groin. It was hard. Morning wood and shit. Now that moan, that little moan she made before settling her head on my chest, it made my body tingle. I walked into the dungeon before gently placing her in the middle of the vast bed. She moaned. Again. I ignored the itch to lean down and pamper her pink lips with kisses, slowly and fuckin’ romantically waking her up.A mental slap across my cheek reminded me why I was here, why I had an unused annihilator in front of the bed.I rounded the bed, pulling her by her arm and securing the leather cuff around her lean wrist.She moaned. What the fuck was wrong with her? I moved to the ne
DUNCAN POVI’d never hated a thing in my life.I had a weird feeling close to ‘not understanding’ my mom because she was a bitch at me after dad left her almost 100 years ago, and she thought she could take control of my life and restrict all the things I do. People I date, people I hang out with. So I withdrew 90% of the money dad left for her, then ran. Never looked back. I remember vividly the day I thought we could mend our relationship; took Felicia to Egypt to introduce her to mom.Worst Mistake of my life. Look, I loved my mother, but she was a bitch in all senses of the word. I never allowed myself to come to a point where I ‘hate’ something or someone because it was just mentally draining not liking someone and wishing bad upon them. But now, It was safe to say I had learned how to hate, and I was doing a perfect job at it.I hated Felicia and everything she branded, Except our daughter,I hated the idea of anything happening to Crystal.And that is why I needed to do what
CRYSTAL POVIt was done.My days as a student had finally come to an end.The very moment I set the pen down before submitting the answer sheet, I felt like I have been revived. I don’t know if it was just all in my head, but I have never felt anything so rejuvenating. I slipped out of the exam hall and into the long corridor, feeling overwhelmed by a rampage of emotions.I didn’t know I was crying until Anna walked up to me and started screaming.“Why the fuck are you crying?” She stood back a foot and gawked at me. I sniffled the ugly snort in my nose before smiling.“It’s my last day being a student,” I announced, and she linked. The cartoon-like kind of blinking.“And?”“And it’s been the hardest time of my life. The four years were like hell. Student loans were like my personal kind of torture, going up and down trying to find something to provide for the cubbies and… and…” and now, the tears were pouring down on my face like a summer stream.“Awwwww…” Anna walked up to me before
CRYSTAL POVI’ve never traveled before.Heck, I’ve never even gone to any place outside Dallas.My whole life has been this little hard coconut shell that had cocooned me inside warmth. Even though I was always staying behind, I never felt any need or even an itch to compare myself to others. We weren’t well off like other families, but I was contented. I had everything I needed and I didn’t feel like I needed to go on weekend outs for me to feel whole. And honestly, I never felt the edge to go out. And when my parents died, I pretty much buried the whole idea and never allowed myself to think of it ever again. Yes, Anna used to tell me about her family outings to their family Cabin in San Antonio where they spent every Thanks Giving, and although she had invited more than once, I was always kind enough to turn down her offer. I didn’t want to drag myself and two children along with a shitload of problems to her family's special day and add unnecessary expenses. Thankfully, she came