CHAPTER TWO: The Devil Himself

Irene Pov 

The towering iron gates of the Dimitri estate parted like the silver jaws of a mythical beast, gleaming beneath the harsh glare of halogen floodlights and cutting through the dense evening fog. As Bella’s beat-up sedan rattled across the slick, cobblestone driveway, my stomach churned in violent, nauseating flips. Every yard we drove further into the estate felt like stepping completely out of my own skin, leaving behind the innocent girl who drew fashion sketches and dreamt of quiet, ordinary love.

In the seat beside me, Bella gripped the leather steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned ghostly white. "We can still turn around, Irene," she whispered, her voice cracking with pure guilt as the towering silhouette of the glass mansion rose before us. "We can find another way. I’ll sell my car, I’ll beg my parents for a loan, I’ll—"

"No," I cut her off gently, my voice surprisingly steady despite the rapid, painful hammering of my heart against my ribs. I looked down at my lap, staring at my trembling hands that still bore the faint, lingering scent of hospital antiseptic. "Your parents don't have three hundred thousand dollars, Bella. And my dad doesn't have another forty-eight hours to wait for a miracle. Uncle Richard is probably changing the locks on our house as we speak. This is the only door left open to keep my father breathing."

The sedan came to a quiet crawl beneath the expansive, dark marble portico of the main residence. Up close, the Dimitri estate didn't look like a home; it looked like a fortress of absolute luxury, built from tinted glass, polished titanium, and unyielding ambition. It radiated a silent, suffocating power that demanded total submission from anyone brave or desperate enough to cross its threshold.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief second, visualizing my father lying motionless under the harsh lights of the ICU, his frail pulse fighting against the cancer destroying his chest. I held onto that image like an anchor in a stormy sea. I’m doing this for you, Dad. I’m giving up everything so you can live.

"Irene..." Bella reached over, her hand shaking as she squeezed my shoulder. "If he hurts you... if it's too much..."

"I'll survive," I whispered, forcing a faint, brave smile onto my face, though my knees felt like water beneath my dress. "Just stay near the hospital. The moment the wire transfer clears, tell Dr. Holland to prepare the surgical team immediately."

"I will. I swear I will."

I opened the heavy passenger door and stepped out into the damp, crisp night air. The rain had softened into a fine mist, clinging to my skin and making the fabric of my dress stick to my curves. I didn't allow myself to look back as Bella’s car slowly reversed down the long driveway, leaving me completely alone at the foot of the Devil's sanctuary.

I took a deep, trembling breath, pulling the collar of my jacket tight around my throat, and walked toward the grand entrance constructed of polished black oak and frosted glass. Before my hand could even reach out to touch the heavy bronze handle, the doors swung open with silent, mechanical precision.

The assistant stopped dead in his tracks. The moment his eyes fell upon Irene, he was completely dumbstruck. Standing before him was a goddess of heavenly, breathtaking beauty, her large golden-brown eyes radiating a pure, untouched innocence that didn't belong in a place this dark.

"Sir... hello, sir?" she called out softly, trying to get the attention of the completely absentminded assistant.

"Oh... Yeah... I mean, sorry... come inside," Julian stuttered, clearing his throat hastily as he stepped back to clear the entrance. Irene offered a small, nervous nod and quickly followed behind him, her boots clicking softly against the pristine floors.

She was led deep into the residential wing and shown into a massive, luxurious bedroom. Julian turned to her, his expression serious. "Have your bath and prepare yourself. The boss will be in shortly."

What Irene didn't know was that the very moment she stepped over the threshold, she was already caught in the trap.

Lucian was already there. He sat majestically behind a massive, one-way full-length mirror partition that divided the room, his dark eyes locking onto her like a predator watching its prey. The exact second he set his eyes on her, a strange, violent thrill stirred deep in his gut. The soft, nervous cadence of her voice had instantly got him hard, sending a confusing wave of heat straight to his groin. Her sexy golden-brown eyes made an intense, possessive need flare to life inside him.

He sat in the dark and watched. He watched with bated breath as she slowly began to undress, letting her clothes fall to the floor.

Lucian couldn't stay calm. His eyes raked over her stunning silhouette, completely captivated by her sexy ass and the two cute, distinct dimples sitting just above it. He sat in his hidden chair, his mind instantly flooded with the dirtiest, most wicked things he was going to do to her body the moment he crossed the glass.

After completely undressing, Irene walked with hesitant, steady steps right up to the full-length mirror, entirely oblivious to the monster staring back at her from the other side. She stood there for a quiet moment, simply admiring her own curvy body in the glass. Unlike the other girls her age, she had been blessed with incredibly voluptuous, sexy curves, but she still carried a completely innocent mind.

Slowly, her fingers rose, trailing down from her breasts and moving downwards over her flat stomach. She closed her eyes, imagining how the infamous Lucian Dimitri would touch her. She wouldn't lie to herself; the man was a sexy god among mortals, and the sheer, terrifying thought of him kissing her made a sudden wave of heat pool between her thighs.

Her hand slipped lower, touching her pussy, playing with her wetness as she bit her lower lip to suppress a quiet whimper. Every single movement she made drove the man behind the glass completely insane. Lucian was panting, his jaw clenched, his rod completely hard as he gulped down his saliva. He couldn't wait a single second longer. He had to have her right now.

Irene yelped in sudden surprise when the massive mirror partition smoothly slid to the left, revealing the towering, sexy demi-god hidden behind it. She froze, her breath catching as she took in his features. She couldn't deny how devilishly handsome he was—far more striking and dangerous than any photo online could ever capture. His beautiful, piercing eyes had her instantly drowning, and the sight of his large, veiny hands made her wetness drip instantly.

Her wide, startled eyes made Lucian feel an unprecedented surge of power, as if he were the only man alive in the universe.

He stepped forward, closing the distance instantly, and drew her soft, naked body flush against his hard chest. "You're really interesting, kitten," he murmured darkly against her lips before slamming his mouth down onto hers in a fierce, possessive kiss.

Irene was completely shocked at first, her mind spinning, but the raw heat of his mouth took over and she quickly responded, her lips parting for him. Lucian didn't waste time; he quickly scooped her up into the air, his large hands holding both of her thighs firmly to support her weight against his hips.

She was incredibly small compared to his towering frame, but she carried an exquisite, curvy body that filled his hands perfectly. He kissed her deeply, devouring her mouth as he strode purposefully toward the massive bed before throwing her down onto the soft silk sheets.

As she landed on her back, her succulent breasts bounced beautifully against her skin. The sheer visual sight of it sent a jolt of pleasure straight to Lucian's groin, making him want to cum right then and there. He mentally cursed, praying that he would last tonight so this girl wouldn't think he was some two-minute amateur.

He crawled onto the mattress, hovering over her trembling form before diving back down for another deep, bruising kiss. Irene felt incredibly good underneath him, peeking up at his perfect muscles. His big, veiny hands began to roam her body slowly, mapping every curve before landing firmly on her breast, squeezing the soft flesh gently. It felt perfect, fitting into his palm as if it were made just for him.

He settled himself heavily between her thighs, shifting his focus down to kiss her neck. She smelt intoxicatingly sweet, her skin tasting like paradise, and the quiet moans escaping her lips made him feel completely invincible.

Lucian dived lower, latching onto her left breast and sucking on the hardened nipple like a starved man who had finally found water. He shifted, doing the exact same to the right breast until she was writhing beneath him, before moving up to kiss her slowly once more.

He finally straightened up, balancing on his hands as he looked down at the breathtaking goddess pinned under his weight.

"Are you ready for this, girl?" he asked, his voice thick with heavy lust.

"Yeah... but I haven't done this before," she whispered shyly, her eyes darting away as a deep blush covered her face. "Maybe... maybe you can lead me."

Lucian didn't find her innocence annoying at all. Instead, a strange, unfamiliar wave of happiness washed over his chest—a feeling he didn't even notice himself registering.

"I'll be gentle, kitten," the almighty Lucian promised, a dark, possessive smirk returning to his face. "And I'll teach you exactly how to satisfy me.”