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2024-11-25 18:50:54
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 40
DAMIANFor the next few hours, I bury myself in the confines of my office with the door shut against everyone else. Even Alice knows better than to come knocking at a time like this.Today, six months ago. A memory that shakes me to my very core, one I have forced shut in the recesses of my brain, now bursting forth like a barely contained explosion.Images keep pouring into my head…all drenched in red, red spilling onto my hands and soaking the rug, seeping into the lines on the tiles. The maid's mortified expression when she ran into the scene with Alice. A lot of the household staff had resigned the next morning. A chuckle slips out.I lift my head to stare drunkenly at the almost empty vodka bottle on my desk. The third one. I'm reaching for it when a knock sounds on the door.“Go away!” I slur. Pouring myself a half glass, I spin around to study the thick drapes on the window.“It's Mel, baby.” Another rap. “Open up.”I only see more red. “I said go away!” Without remorse, I g
Last Updated : 2024-11-27DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 41
DAMIAN “You don't wanna know what I'd do to you if I take the first step.” I warn with an eyebrow cocked at her. My voice drops so low I barely recognize it. She tilts her chin even higher, nose flaring in a nonchalant display of her stubbornness. “And if I don't want to?” I dip my chin with a pointed stare at her. “I’m tempted to think you love the idea of defying me just so you can get punished.” There's the unmistakable catch in her breath just as a blush erupts in her face. Her gaze falters and she looks away with a frown. “That is not true!” She sounds horrified yet, the language her body spoke a few nights ago was a different tale. “Whatever makes you wet, Milaya. Mel?” I give Melanie a gentle push to the side when she wouldn't stop trying to land a kiss on my cheek. She pouts, but complies and moves off to one side, mumbling. She's not even in the least bit on my radar. I roll the sleeves up on my navy blue button-down shirt. “Get over here, Liliana.” I order
Last Updated : 2024-11-28DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 42
LILIANAI'm a blushing mess by the time I dash out of the space where Damian is, the scent of his release lingering in my nose like a forbidden elixir. My body hums and thrums, the ache in between my legs pulse and my knees nearly give out before I disappear into my bedroom. Thankfully, none of the workers are anywhere in sight to witness my skin blushing red. What would they have thought? Cool water cascades down my body from the gold shower overhead, hopefully washing all the scenes and sins I'd concocted in my mind…and wished for.Trapping my bottom lip in between my teeth, I think back to the heated gaze in his eyes as he trains them on me with the gun pointed at me.I doubt I needed a gun to keep me rooted to the spot. The hunger in the mismatched hues of his eyes was weapon enough. “Fuck, Liliana.” I curse as a forbidden image pops up. Damian and I but the roles are reversed with my hand controlling how he laps up my…“What is wrong with you?!” I nearly scream to myself as I
Last Updated : 2024-11-29DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 43
DAMIAN She stares at me like a criminal caught right in the middle of a crime scene, eyes wide and color spreading itself across her features in guilt. Her mouth opens and closes dumbly.I step further into the room. She takes one back. Another. Until she hits the bed and falls onto it. The growth in my pants make my movement difficult, almost painful.Her gaze strays downward to the front of my pants and I have to grit my teeth to keep from spilling. The heated gaze in her eyes.“Gospodi, pomiluy,” I breathe when she makes a bold action, brushing her hands over the outline of my cock in my slacks straining to be let out. {Lord, have mercy}It feels like a wild fantasy when she scoots further into bed and lets those creamy thighs fall open. Through the aid of moonlight, I catch the way her petal glistens and quivers. More signals fire straight to my cock and I'm almost brought to my knees. Raging lust burns through my skull, ricocheting into my spine and gliding downwards. ‘I must
Last Updated : 2024-11-30DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 44
LILIANAI'm doing it again. Wasting away in the balcony and gazing at the landscape, listening for the sound of Damian's voice, zoning out and not listening to Andros droning on about something irrelevant. He's really a chatterbox today. Or maybe it's me getting irked by his voice. Whatever be the reason, I'm irritated by everything including his jokes that I suddenly don't find funny. For the umpteenth time, I stroll back into the bedroom and lower myself on the bed, staring at the ceiling.What the fuck has come over me? Why do I find myself thinking about that jerk? Why this sliver of sensation anytime my thoughts revert to him?Regret, shame and disgust morphed into one unpleasant ball, shoves itself down my throat. Alice had come to serve me breakfast as always and I didn't have the balls to look her in the eyes while she commented on me looking pale. Well, how was I supposed to? When last night, I touched myself shamelessly with Damian watching like a creep in the shadows.
Last Updated : 2024-12-01DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 45
LILIANA The knock at the door is soft but firm, and it startles me awake. My eyes snap towards the sound, but I don't respond. Why do I get the feeling that I might know who it is?A second later, the door cracks open and Rachel steps in with a tray of food. Speak of the devilShe inclines towards the tray. “Alice's orders,” she clips as she walks in uninvited. She places the tray on the small table beside me, the aroma wafting toward me, rich and savory. My stomach betrays me with an audible growl, and I hate how my body folds so easily under the simple spell of food.I hesitate, staring at the tray for a bit longer before averting my eyes. “I'm not hungry,” I lie, even as my mouth waters. Rachel scoffs, crosses her arms. “Punishing yourself by not eating isn't going to affect me. You're the one at stake here so if I were you, I'd get something in my stomach at least.”“Or I can just suit myself since it's none of your business, you traitor.” My tone is sharp and derisive.“Fine
Last Updated : 2024-12-02DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 46
LILIANA A few moments later, Rachel bursts in without knocking, her arrival as sudden as a slap, and my heart clenches in response.Her face is a mask of purpose, bright and unbothered, but I know better. I sit frozen on the edge of the bed, my thoughts still circling that single, searing truth: I'm going to be sold. Like livestock.‘How did I get here?’ The question is there in my mind, gnawing and accusing. My pulse drums louder in my ears. I swallow hard and my nails dig into my palms.“Take a shower,” she instructs briskly, tossing a bag onto the chair. “We're heading to the mall. We need to pick out some dresses for you.”A hollow laugh rises in my throat, bitter and jagged, but I choke it back. A dress. That's their solution? As if wrapping me up in silk and lace, and parading me around would lessen the blow of what's coming. Rachel catches my expression and misreads it—or maybe she just doesn't care.She leans closer to me as though this is some sort of bonding moment. “I'm
Last Updated : 2024-12-03DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 47
DAMIANThe light streams through the window, golden and lazy, settling on Zip's manicured fingers while she gestures wildly. Her voice lilts with that unmistakable blend of arrogance and charm.The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the room but I barely notice it over the chatter between Alice and Zip. Their voices flit back and forth like tweeting birds and despite myself, I can't help but pick up fragments of their conversation.“Monaco,” Zip resumes in a dramatic drawl, dragging the word like it's a fine wine she is savoring. “You've never seen anything like it. I mean, the yachts, Alice. My God. The wealth isn't just palpable; it's intoxicating.”Alice tosses an amused look at me. “She's been raving about Europe for months now,” her words laced with humor.Zip dramatically places a hand over her forehead in a swoon. “Oh, my darling Alice, you wouldn't understand. Not like I expect you to.” I shake my head. Typical Zip.Alice arches an eyebrow, leaning back against the co
Last Updated : 2024-12-04
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 137
LAJLA/STELLEZAThe muffled sound of gunshot still rings aloud in my brain, hours after I’d bathed and settled on my bed. Sleep refused to take over and now I’m left to stare at the ceiling and wonder what next.A gentle knock has me sitting up. Red comes in with two mugs of something steamy. Perfect for the cold weather. I grab one, then immediately go to work distracting myself and trying not to look in her direction. If I don’t, then maybe she won’t recall the calamity that happened at the club.Again, this is Red we’re talking about. Nothing goes past her nose without deep scrutiny. Better than I am who would rather pretend not to see it. I don’t care about a lot of things.“Let’s talk about what happened earlier tonight.”“Hmm hmm, this tastes better than all the others you have made, don’t you think?” That’s my pathetic attempt at diverting the topic, of course this will make her prod for words.She gives me a serious look that strips away every trace of amusement from my face.
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 136
LAJLA/STELLEZA“Table four in the aisle next to Bri.”“Got it.” I pick the tray, trying to keep the drinks from spilling as well as maintaining my balance on the killer heels on my feet. The place is teeming with hyped, drunk men enjoying the show that the dancers give them.Although there’s a no-touching policy enforced here, some of these men have no idea what it means to keep their hands to themselves at all times.I smile at the customers around the table and they return it as I serve their drinks. They’re still nice and friendly until the booze kicks in. On my way back, I find myself looking at Red as she glides around the pole in that lingerie set I got her. She’s magnificent when she dances and that’s probably why she’s at the centre where most men are spraying her so much cash with reckless abandon.They all love her.She’s Fin’s golden ticket and I’m proud of her. I walk into a hard wall the moment I turn. The apology falls out of my lips before I can stop it. The stranger
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 135
LAJLA/STELLEZA“Who is that?” Red asks, with a squint at the woman.Ignoring the dread which has now pooled down at the bottom of my spine, I straighten my posture and tug on her hands. “No one. Come on.”Red complies thankfully. But she still has that thinking look on her face. One where her lips curled into her mouth in thought.“You can’t ignore me forever, Lajla. Me and you have to talk and we have to do it now.” The woman’s stern voice commands again, rattling me in my steps. “Or she gets it.”On another thought, I change my mind about ignoring her. “Um, Red? I’ll need you to be on the lookout for the uber. I’ll be with you in five minutes tops.” I’m already on the move before she can voice her protest.The woman’s lips are curled into a sneer when she sees me approaching. “I knew you’d be a fool to not answer your mother’s call.”“My mother’s dead.” I reiterate, cold and calmly. “I don’t have all night, Arbana. What do you want?”“It’s been what, eight months? Six? You left with
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 134
UNKNOWN POVIt’s been one hell of a week running around, bussing all these tables and getting these drunk men to keep their wandering fingers to themselves. How can they even when the only things Phineas lets us wear is some shiny, barely-there silver slip that clings like a second skin. The hem barely brushes the tops of my thighs, and the neckline dips low enough to tease but not reveal it all.Just enough to keep the tips flowing. Thin spaghetti straps dig into my shoulders, sometimes falling off and keeps me wondering when my shift comes to an end. The stupid uniform keeps flashing skin from the right side of me where there’s a high slit.“This is bait, Fin,” I complained one day. “The shoes are killing me. Can we switch to maybe sneakers or something?”“It’s what keeps this place running, honey.” He patted my hand and batted artificial eyelashes at me. “You’re doing just great in them. A few minutes more and I’ll let you off.”So, I suck it up and take it like a good girl. Not
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 133
LILIANAI can’t bring myself to look at Theodore as he sits opposite me with legs apart, elbows on knees and head bowed. Is that supposed to be the posture of remorse? What the hell did I walk into?He sighs and raises his head. “Lily, what happened? How did you escape that monster?”I say nothing. Just sit there and stare, wondering if I’m in my right senses if I decide to trust him once more. However, I’d be a fool. Time should have taught me better.“You knew my husband sold me off to the Russian mafia, didn’t you? You were aware of it all. You listened to me get kidnapped by the men Kyle used to mingle with and you did nothing.”His features scrunch up in anger. He shakes his head. “Sold you off? Kyle sold you off?”Irritation flares hot. “Don’t try to make me look foolish, Theo. If it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it can happen again. Tell me the things I need to know. Did you know Kyle was involved in dirty dealings with these men?”He opens his mouth to say something, then s
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 132
LILIANA“Don’t feel bad, Liliana. Certain things happen and we have no control over them.” Those are my sister’s words that I try to console myself with. It didn’t matter what situation we were in, she knew the right things to say.But as I sit in this car and gaze at the house I have abandoned for months, I feel like I have lost everything all over again. What words would she have for me if she were still around?Eric gives me a look from the mirror. “I’m sorry if you had to be caught up in the middle of the heat like this. But if there’s anyone to blame, it should be Kyle.”“I don’t think I need that information anymore. Kyle is dead and I’m back home.” Even if it doesn’t feel like one. “You don’t need to apologize. We are all tethered to something one way or the other and owe dues.”He shrugs. “I guess you can put it like that.”Squaring my shoulders, I open the car door and step out. Before I can take more steps, Eric halts me. “I’m not in the best position to say this but you sho
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 131
LILIANAI’m looking into the face of the man who was my bodyguard appointed by Theo to watch me after my husband died and can’t seem to fathom what he’s doing in the home of my captor.Does Damian know he’s in here? The answer comes to me almost immediately; yes, he does. Yet, the truth in that doesn’t stop me from asking my own questions. “W-what are you doing here?” I stammer out.He’s Eric alright, but at the same time, he’s not. His face lacks the warmth I trusted. That character has fallen out of place and here is the man he has always been.Wait, who is he? “I need to ask you come questions and I’ll need you to be completely honest with me.” He sounds detached.Says the lapdog masquerading as a double agent to feed information to his master. Can’t a woman trust anyone these days?“You both know each other?” Rachel looks between me and the burly man still patiently waiting for my attention. When nobody gives her a response, she excuses us and shuts the door.“Liliana—”“Don’t t
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 130
LILIANAThe journal feels heavy as it sits in my palms. Not because it is thick or leather-bound or anything grand. It’s just heavy…filled with my sister’s wordings–Well, I don’t know that for sure until I open it and that’s what I’m scared of. I stare at it intently and it’s almost like I can hear it whispering at me to open it and face what I’ve been running away since I returned to this cursed house.Rachel watches me from the corner of her eye, not saying a word until I sigh. “You should come with me. I don’t think you want to be in here as much as I do.” Her eyes are filled with untold tales. “Let’s go to your room. You don’t want to be seen like tis in the hallway.”I nod, then rise to follow her stiffly, following her down the corridor like a ghost. My limbs are moving, but my mind’s reeling. Even my heart isn’t beating right. Once we’re inside my quarters, I drop the journal on the bed and start grabbing my things. “Liliana.” Rachel approaches me gently. “What did he tell
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 129
DAMIAN Her eyes widen in caution as I approach her. Like she’s scared of me, or maybe scared I’d hurt her even when I’m certain she knows I can’t. She doesn’t really know the power she holds over me, does she? I should say I am disappointed but how can I when I can’t even tell her how I really feel about her? That’s just hypocrisy. Behind her is Stelleza’s wardrobe full of her things which I stowed away in her memory. “I couldn’t throw her things out, neither could I burn them.” I remember the exact angle where I kept the journal hidden. Since this is her blood sister we’re talking about, then perhaps she has a right to know what it entails and the truth about how she died. Reaching further into the back, my fingertips graze a hard leather. Bringing it out, I flip the leather-bound journal and hand it to her. She gazes down at the book, not taking it yet. “What is this?” “She wrote this,” I murmur, recalling the dark words that birthed my rage. “She wrote every word on every
