LOGINARIELLA The room was still dark, the faintest hint of early morning barely touching the curtains, and for a second I was too lost in the feeling of him even to think properly. By the time he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, completely flushed, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I tri
ARIELLA "What do you mean?" “Tonight..... My mother humiliated me in front of everyone. Creating problems for you publicly... in front of everyone.” I looked away from him. “I know how these people are. I know how they talk and you have a reputation to uphold. I am supposed to....” Asher's enti
ARIELLA My voice cracked completely after that. “She is my mother." I began, trying to hold it together. "She's the only relative I have left, the only parent I have left, and I know my dad loved her. And as much as my mom was... that to me...” I swallowed painfully. “She was there for my father.
ARIELLA Leon had been a very welcome, loving, and warm distraction from all the emotions and the pain I was fighting inside. He had occupied my mind when I helped him to bed, when I read him a story, and when he fell asleep and I just sat there on his bed, watching him sleep, seeing him taking in
ARIELLA Asher helped me into the car carefully, like I might shatter if he moved too fast. The second I sat down, he followed after me, pulling the door shut behind him before anyone else could touch it. Outside, I could still see movement near the ballroom entrance. Men collecting phones and Guar
ARIELLA Asher lifted his hand slowly toward my face. For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to wipe the spit away himself.... Instead, he took out a handkerchief from inside his jacket and placed it gently into my hand. Like he knew I would break completely if he touched my face right n
ARIELLA Maria held my hand tighter. “Go back with your head high. Show them how strong you are. Stop feeling guilty for wanting good things. Family comes first.” I smiled faintly. “I don’t think they mean one's own family when they say that.” She laughed, pulling me into a hug, and then I left h
ARIELLA Luca nodded slowly. Maria slipped beside me, pressing a handkerchief into my palm. “Here,” she said. I dabbed my eyes. “Don’t worry, the makeup’s waterproof,” Maria added with a little smile. “You can cry all you want.” That actually made me laugh, a small shaky laugh that broke the ten
ARIELLA I looked up at Asher, a small, secret smile playing on my lips even as I kept him in my mouth. I didn't slow down. I didn't want him to regain his composure. I wanted the raw, unfiltered version of the man who claimed me. "I’m going to come in your mouth," he warned, his breath hitching.
I went towards the kitchen. Maria was in there, and the moment I walked in, she turned towards me. “Is he here?” she asked. “Yeah, he is.” “So, you’re leaving, huh?” “Yeah,” I said softly. “But, why don’t you come with us?” “No.” She shook her head. “I think you guys need this moment. Just the







