[Juliette's POV]"Put me down!" I cried, and I was dropped on the bed. The second my back hit the soft sheets, my hands were pinned above my head, and my body was pressed against the mattress with his. My anxiety skyrocketed. "Get off me!" I pushed at him, trying to conceal the fact that his masculine scent and body heat was turning me on. Did he hit the gym after work? How can he be in the office the whole day and still smell of fresh oak and spice as though he had a run through the woods? And his handsome face irked me too! It made my insides flutter…. "You want me, Juliette…," he muttered hoarsely, his eyes boring into mine. "No, I don't! And let go of me!" I spat and tried to wriggle free to prove it. "Yes, you do. Your eyes betrayed you." His grip tightened. Pain shot to my elbow, numbing my cries, freezed my movements. In that brief moment, he pulled off his tie in one swift motion and twirled it around my wrists"What the hell are you doing?" I cried out in alarm, twisti
[Juliette's POV]I turned from the darkness beyond the car window to the Mafia King in the driver's seat."So we're going to a restaurant for food because we're not waking up the servants who are already paid to do so," I recited what I heard from him while we were dressing up thirty minutes ago. "Yup." Ralph stared at the road ahead. "Because…?"A weary sigh came through and then he explained, "I don't trust them, especially the other people that they served."I was confused. "But aren't they all your family?" "My family died when I was nine." The sudden admission was appalling and puzzling at the same time. Is he not a Virtus? I stared at him when he placed another hand on the steering wheel. "You didn't hear that," he ordered. "What did I hear?" I feigned ignorance. He glanced at me quizzically and then turned back to the road. "What?" I shrugged. "I'm honouring the bet I lost. I'm doing whatever you say." A brief awkward silence later, I asked again, "So you don't trust y
[Juliette's POV] That son of a bitch used me as a tool to test for poison! He waited for me to take a bite off my plate, saw that I was fine, which meant that my food wasn’t laced with poison, and then switched his plate with mine! I scowled at the empty chair beside me. Last night, after what he did for me, bringing me back to the places of my childhood and giving me a peaceful moment, I thought, maybe deep down he’s actually a kind person. Well, kind person my ass. “Madam, are you done?” Margaret’s stone cold voice pierced the air above me. Ralph had left thirty minutes ago so there was only Margaret and I in the dining area. I looked up from my own empty plate at her frosty face, then rearranged my features into a bright smile. “What is it, Margaret?” “It’s time for your chores, Madam.” Did I hear wrongly? “Chores?” I asked. The corner of her lips lifted wickedly. She stepped closer and lowered her voice to an almost inaudible range, “Being the Don’s wife doesn’t make
[Juliette’s POV] I couldn't believe my ears. Heat of solace seared the back of my eyes. This man spoke my mind. He should be my ally! But he still can’t be trusted. All Virtuses can't be trusted—not when one of them used me to test his food for poison and another took advantage of my ignorance. Let's see what he's got first. "Do you have any evidence ?" I crossed my arms with a defensive frown. "Of what Ralph did to me and my father." He looked surprised and then furious. "How can there be when he never leave a trace of his crimes, Miss Juliette!" Darn. This guy has nothing. "You can't expect me to believe you when there's no proof, Mr. Sandy. Goodbye." I turned from him. "So you're saying you trust Ralph?" He shouted after me. I halted and then turned back with the sweetest smile I could fake. "I'm his wife, Mr. Sandy. Of course, I trust him." "Well, you're putting your trust in the wrong man!" I knitted my brows, pretending to be offended. "Excuse me?" "You want to
*WARNING: This chapter contains explicit mention of violence.* [Ralph's POV] "Give me the goddamn algorithm, Edward!" I thundered at the man kneeling on the floor before me. "Or I'll blow her brains out!!" I nodded at Ben, and his lips moved to give the order into the phone. On the screen behind me, the masked man pressed the barrel of his gun at the back of the hostage's head. I watched as blood drained from the man's face. "Alright! I surrender! I'll give it to you! Let my baby girl go, please!" The senior engineer clasped his hands together, begging and shaking in raw fear. "Don't hurt her! She's all I've got! Please, Mr. Ralph!" I forced myself not to look at the screen—and that frightened fourteen-year-old, blindfolded and strapped to a chair. "You'll hand over the files for the algorithm, Edward…," I muttered quietly. "Yes, yes, I'll do it….I swear….," he sobbed. "And give me your word that you'll never speak of this to anyone, not even your daughter, then I give
[Juliette’s POV]Ralph sucked my lower lip long and hard. His yearning tore through me, paralysing my limbs. When he released my lips, I sighed a mixture of relief and delight, and he grabbed the sides of my face to lock me for another kiss. I shouldn’t part my lips. But his tongue kept prodding and his body kept grazing mine. It felt good. Very soon, I succumbed and he entered, stroking me leisurely and deeply. We kissed fervently for God knows how long. And somehow, his hands got under my blouse, skimming up my abdomen, fondling and caressing my skin like he was touching me for the first time. Streaks of shuddering impulses scurried up my spine, and my insides twitched with need. But the moment his fingers brushed the undersides of my breasts, warning bells sounded in my head. I tore my lips away as my palms pressed on his broad chest. “Enough, Ralph," I whispered, panting. "We need to stop." I couldn’t let him go on. He’d know that I lied about my cycle, and a catastrophe would
[Juliette’s POV] Ten minutes! I need to be quick! Jesus! Can his study room be any bigger?! It's twice the size of my bedroom! Ah! There must be something at that vintage military campaign desk. I rushed over to the other end of the room. Damn! It’s empty! Not even a speck of dust! As expected of a man with trust issues… he wouldn't want to have anything out in the open. I yanked open the drawers, one by one, and they were all empty. Goddamn it, Ralph! I arrived at the last drawer… and it was locked. Bingo. It's too easy to be true, yet it felt right—people don't lock up the things they want to share. There must be something in there.I surveyed the area for something I could use to break open the drawer. But there was nothing. Shit! I should've brought something along. What can I use to pry this thing open? I glanced at the closed door, anxiety was beating against my ribs. Time is running out! Forget it! I'll take this drawer another time! I turned around to the bookshel
[Juliette’s POV] Oh God.... He was embedded deep inside me as I straddled him in the middle of the enormous bed, our bodies locked tightly together, my arms around his neck and his around my back. My body felt so hot and numbed with electrifying bliss, I could hardly hold myself up and had to lean against him for support as we kissed long and hard. Finally, Ralph tore his lips away and pressed his forehead against mine. We gazed into each other's eyes as our warm breaths mingled. "Ralph…," I whispered breathlessly, barely able to form a sentence in my head, much less remember how long ago since he took my clothes off. "What is it, kitten?" he asked hoarsely. "Please…," I pleaded, not knowing what I was begging for. His gaze grew fiercer. "Shall I stop?" No! My mind screamed. But this slow pace is killing me! I need him to go…. "Faster…," I squeezed out a tiny sigh. "I can't, kitten." His gaze darkened. "You made me wait so long… It’s only fair that I savour every bit