DAMIEN'S POVThe morning light, thin and hesitant, crept through the gap in the heavy curtains, painting faint stripes across the opulent hotel room. I woke first, as I always did, my senses instantly alert, my mind racing even before my eyes fully adjusted. Then I saw him. Adrian. Naked beside me, his dark hair a messy halo against the crisp white pillow, a faint flush on his cheek from the warmth of the expensive duvet.A shiver traced its way down my spine, not of cold, but of a profound, dizzying mix of elation and dread. It was like a cruel, beautiful déjà vu, a mirror image of a morning that had haunted my every waking moment for over a year. Back then, waking up to find Adrian beside me, naked and vulnerable, had filled me with a primal disgust, a deep-seated fear of something I couldn't yet name. I’d recoiled, my stomach churning with revulsion at the mere thought of a man. But now... now, there was no disgust. Only a fierce, soaring happiness that made my chest ache. I had
ADRIAN'S POV My hips were gripped, strong hands pulling me up onto my knees. My ass rose, high in the air, a familiar vulnerability already settling deep within me. Sweat slicked my back, a thin film against the cool air of the bedroom, and I could feel a knot of anticipation tightening in my core. Damien’s hands, so sure and possessive, spread my cheeks wide, exposing me fully. I felt a flush creep up my neck. I knew what he saw – my hole, glistening slightly, stretched and used from our frantic rounds moments before, yet still ready, still inviting. His fingers dug into my thighs, a pleasurable ache, as he positioned himself behind me, the blunt head of him brushing against my entrance, a delicious, agonizing tease.“You’re mine,” Damien growled, his voice a low, rough rumble that vibrates through my bones. “All mine.” The words resonated deep within me, a possessive claim that, despite everything, sent a complicated shiver down my spine. Mine. All mine. It was a surrender, a pro
DAMIEN'S POV My heart thrummed against my chest, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs, as I watched Adrian kneel before me. His lips, full and soft, were wrapped around my cock, and he let out a soft groan as the drug coursed through his veins, blurring the edges of his reality. His eyes, when they flickered up to mine, were glassy, unfocused, but there was something in them... a flicker of recognition, or maybe just confusion, something that made my stomach twist in a way that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.“What—what’s wrong?” I asked, my voice rough, deeper than I intended. My fingers tangled in Adrian’s hair almost instinctively, a familiar softness I hadn't felt in years. I tugged lightly, pulling Adrian’s mouth off me for a moment, needing to see those eyes, wanting to know what was going on inside that beautiful, messed-up head of his.Adrian shook his head, a slight tremor running through him. His breaths came in short, uneven gasps, each one a tiny tremor against my thighs. “I—
ADRIAN'S POVThe heat started as a flush, a pleasant warmth blooming in my chest after a sip of wine. I’d been nursing the glass for twenty minutes, trying to build up the courage to approach the guest of honor’s brother. Gayle had been my best friend for a year, but her family was on another level entirely. Tonight, at her lavish birthday banquet, I was supposed to finally meet the crown prince.Then the warmth curdled. It turned prickly, invasive. It felt like a thousand tiny ants were crawling just beneath my skin, a frantic, desperate itch I couldn't scratch. The crystal chandelier above bled into a smear of gold, and the polite murmur of the ballroom warped into a low, menacing drone. My vision swam."I... I need some air," I mumbled to no one in particular, setting my glass down with a hand that trembled.The short walk to the restroom felt like a marathon. Each step was heavy, my legs thick as cotton. I gripped the marble countertop of the sink, staring at my reflection. My pup
DAMIEN'S POVThe clench in my gut was so tight it felt like a knot of barbed wire, twisting and tearing. Disgust. That’s what it was. A bitter, metallic taste coating my tongue, not from the expensive champagne I’d been offered, but from the depths of my own self-loathing.I stared at my reflection in the polished surface of the grand ballroom’s marble pillar, barely recognizing the man staring back. My jaw was tight, my eyes shadowed. I had stooped so low, lower than I ever thought possible. I was becoming the very person I’d once despised, the kind of person I’d always accused Adrian of being – selfish, manipulative, willing to hurt others for my own gain. My fists, already clenched at my sides, tightened further until my knuckles gleamed white.It was done. The order had been given, a discreet sum passed under the table to a server with eyes like a lizard and a smile that promised discretion. The drugged wine. Adrian had just taken it. A cold wave of panic, sharp and immediate, wa
ADRIAN'S POVThe final notes of the waltz faded into the opulent air, leaving behind a shimmering echo of strings and a soft flutter of applause. Gayle, a vision in crimson and gold, leaned ever so slightly into my arm, her smile a beacon that outshone the ballroom’s chandeliers. I felt the familiar weight of the laurel crown on my blond hair, a delicate golden circlet that seemed to hum with the lingering magic of our dance. My suit, a deep maroon edged with intricate gold embroidery, felt less like fabric and more like a second skin, perfectly mirroring the rich, shimmering flow of Gayle’s gown.“You were magnificent, Adrian,” she whispered, her voice a warm caress against the hush of the room.“Only because I had the most magnificent partner,” I replied, my voice a little deeper than usual, trying to sound as regal as I felt. It was easy to get swept up in the fantasy. Here I was, Adrian Gabriel Raines, a man who usually spent his days poring over corporate reports, walking side-b