And that morning…Between kisses on my shoulder, our bodies moved once more in a rhythm only we understood. There was no music in the room, but the ticking of time seemed to fade. All that remained were slow movements, drawn breaths, and heartbeats syncing like a symphony no one ever taught.He treated me as if I were the most beautiful secret he wished to unravel, piece by piece. His lips moved over my skin with reverence, as though treading sacred ground. And I allowed myself to soften, to yield.On the floor of the living room, surrounded by gently swaying white curtains and birdsong from the garden, we built a small world where wounds seemed to have no power.“Hugo…” I whispered between shallow breaths.He looked at me, his eyes clouded with desire. But behind it, there was a tenderness that made me tremble, not from fear, but from falling too deep into something I could no longer pull away from.“Don’t close your eyes when you’re with me,” he said softly, almost pleading. “I want
I shook my head softly, but I couldn’t hide my smile. His gaze was like that of a satisfied wolf, still wanting to play with its prey. Not out of hunger, but because he enjoyed every second of what had happened the night before.“You never get tired, do you?” I murmured as I picked up a knife and began slicing fruit. Hugo only smiled at me briefly, then turned to the ingredients he had gathered, moving with ease as he began preparing our breakfast. He’d become addicted to cooking for me ever since we stayed at the old Cassilas villa in Spain.He came closer and placed the dish he’d just made in front of me. His left hand found my waist, and his chin rested once again on my shoulder. This time, his breath was warm against the skin of my neck.“I’m tired,” he whispered, “but it’s the kind of tired I’ve longed for. And I know I’ll keep longing for it every time I wake up.”My hand slipped, the blade nearly grazing the tip of my finger. I hissed quietly.“Careful,” he said quickly, taking
His scent still lingered on my skin, like warm incense, quiet yet persistent. Sunlight spilled gently across the marble floor, and the coffee cup in my hands did little to warm the fingers that were still trembling. Not from the cold, but from everything I felt inside.I glanced at Nicky’s message once more.“Has it begun? Then be prepared. There’s no turning back now.”I let out a long breath and tucked my phone into the deepest drawer. This morning, I didn’t want to be the Ana consumed by vengeance. I just wanted to be me. The woman who had just surrendered a piece of her heart to the man who had always stood at the center of the storm in her life. But in the end, it was all part of perfecting the character I was building. The role of a good wife, played to perfection.Soft footsteps echoed from the hallway. I turned around.Hugo stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but fitted boxers and a sleepy smile. His hair was tousled, but his face... his face was like a canvas of peace I nev
His hand lifted my chin, and this time, his kiss did not attack. It did not demand. It pleaded. As if he knew that what he was touching tonight was not just lips, but a heart that had been locked away for so long.His kiss traced a path from my lips to my cheek, then down to my neck and collarbone, leaving behind gentle marks like a painting that only the skin could understand. His fingers glided down my back, slowly untying the satin knot, as if uncovering a secret buried deep for years.“You can still say stop,” he whispered again.I looked at him. “Don’t stop.”“Don’t regret it, because I won’t be able to hold myself back,” he murmured hoarsely.His hands, lips, and body moved in rhythm, dancing along every curve of mine. And when he began to touch the most vulnerable part of me, I winced. But he didn’t stop. He continued with tenderness until he reached the depths.Hugo went still. He looked into my teary eyes, and in them, I saw surprise.“You’ve never been touched?” he asked. I
“You’ve already decided to ignite the spark. If you want to burn it all down, you’ll have to play with the fire. Or, step back and extinguish it.”Nicky said the words without looking at me. This time, he was more serious than ever.“I suggest you walk away. Leave that bastard behind, and I’ll find you a man far better than him.”I fell silent, weighing every word.“But if you’re still committed to the scenario you’ve crafted,” he continued, “then you shouldn’t just be a good wife to him. You need to be irresistible. Let yourself drown in the role. Let him savor every part of the performance. And then destroy him, right at the peak of his devotion.”Exactly. That’s what I wanted.But to give myself to him completely...“Total commitment or retreat. Both are equally risky.”I remained motionless in front of the large glass window, framing the golden-orange sky of Lyon’s dusk. The colors spilled across the clouds and cast soft reflections on the wooden floor. Nicky stood behind me, hand
I stirred my tea, now lukewarm. I wasn’t even sure since when. My gaze was blank. Hugo’s words echoed in my mind.Was that how it should be? To stop resisting the feelings that arise, to simply accept and savor them?Wouldn’t that mean allowing myself to become weak? Accepting these feelings meant letting myself drown in a lullaby I couldn’t control. I didn’t know whether I’d resurface, or be pulled deeper and deeper.“Were you planning to drink the tea?” Hugo’s voice cut through my reverie.“Yes,” I replied, sipping the cold tea without even glancing at him. The man was still strutting around this apartment with nothing but tight boxers, as if his confidence had no boundaries. Even though it was just the two of us here, he could at least feel a hint of modesty. Just the tip of a fingernail.“In romantic dramas, the husband usually takes care of his sick wife. And then he gets a hug, a kiss, and…”“And?” I raised a brow, finally looking at him. Well played. He always knew how to get m