LOGINARIELLA I held his gaze. “I can’t survive without you,” I said again. “You won’t have to,” he replied quietly. “I’m going to be okay. I’ll come back. I have to. You and Leon are waiting for me. I won’t break that promise.” He lifted my chin gently so I had no choice but to look at him. “I just
ARIELLA I woke up to feel light kisses on my face. I opened my eyes to find Asher hovering over me, pressing soft kisses against my skin. I let out a small laugh as he brushed his lips against mine before straightening. He was already dressed. Tie in place. Hair perfectly styled. Everything about
ARIELLA When Asher is finally, fully seated inside me, the bed groans beneath our combined weight. He pulls back out just as slowly, and the friction is enough to make my head swim. He’s doing this on purpose; I can see the intent in his eyes. He’s paying me back for every stolen glance and silen
ARIELLA That did it. Asher's expression shifted, something deeper, more certain. And this time when he kissed me, I didn’t hesitate. Didn’t hold back. Didn’t think about later or tomorrow. Or anything waiting for us outside that room. I let myself go into Asher's arms. I shiver beneath his touch,
ARIELLA The moment the flash went off, both of them stirred. Leon shifted first, letting out a small, confused sound as he buried his face deeper into the pillow. But Asher.... Asher woke instantly. His hand tightened instinctively around the book on his chest, the other bracing slightly at his si
ARIELLA I couldn't believe him right now. “None of the above,” I replied quickly, turning away from his smug face and back to Leon. “Okay, listen. Dad is coming upstairs to read you a book.” “Yay!” Leon said instantly, already turning around and running out of the room. The moment he left, I le
Rather than answer me, he swooped down, drawing my lower lip inside his mouth, sucking hard, stealing my breath away. The kiss was different this time. Cruel and demanding, teetering on the brink of frenzy. “I want to fuck you right here. Right now.” His tongue stroked the roof of my mouth. “I don
We stared at each other, neither of us blinking, neither of us breaking until Asher’s voice finally cut through the tension. “Back to the issue at hand,” he said coldly. “I want to know what you were really thinking. I want to know why Luca was here. And I want to know why you were practically nake
When Asher came into my room the next day, I was ready for him. I stood silently beside the door, watching. He didn’t notice me at first. He scanned the room, a slow smile curling on his lips as if he knew something I didn’t. Then he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. That’s when he saw
Things got worse, so much worse that I ended up feeding Leon dry bread with water. I had baked the bread myself, scraping together what was left of the flour. I tried to make it soft, tried to make it taste like love, but it was just dry, tasteless. That night, after I tucked Leon into bed and kiss







