LOGINKayla's and Lucien's POV-
Kayla's Pov-The door opened, revealing a man who seemed to command the very air in the room-Lucien Throne. He was breathtaking tall, with broad shoulders wrapped in a perfectly tailored suit, dark hair swept back, and a jawline that could cut glass. But it was his eyes that froze me in place: cold, piercing, and a deep, stormy grey.
He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my simple, modest dress which was hardly what he expected from a girl sent by Sarah. His voice was a low, deep sound that vibrated in my chest. "Are you the one?"Unable to find my voice, I simply nodded.
"Get in," he commanded, stepping aside. I obeyed, walking into the room.Inside, I moved to the corner, arms tightly folded across my chest, Shy and vulnerable
My hesitation clearly irritated him. He let out a sharp, irritated breath and began to close the distance between us. I stepped back until my back hit the hard surface of the wall. He reached out, his fingers tracing a slow, deliberate line along my cheek, his touch cold. "You're wasting my time!" he murmured.He didn't wait for a response before his hands moved to my clothes. As he began to undress me, panic surged. "Wait," I stammered, my throat dry. "I... I’m a virgin. I’ve never done this before."
His hands stilled. He pulled back, his brow furrowing. "What?"The gravity of what I just said hit me, and in a moment of absolute terror, I tried to cover it up. "I—I just said that, I didn't mean—"
His hand shot out, his fingers gripping my chin firmly, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Do you think I'm a joke? Do you think I have time for games?"Before I could answer, he shoved me toward the bed and descended on me, his lips crashing against mine. The kiss was so intoxicating, that it made me crumble instantly. I felt myself melting, my own body betraying me.
He removed his own clothes with efficient, impatient movements while my heart beat faster against my ribs like a drum.He pinned both my hands above my head, trapping me, and began to trail kisses down the my neck to my collarbone. A moan escaped my lips before I could stop it. I went stiff, desperate not to enjoy the sensation, but his mouth moved lower, finding the curve of my breast. My moan grew louder, sharper, and I heard his low, satisfied growl.
When he finally entered me, I gasped, a sharp cry tearing through the quiet room. He began to move, his pace rough and demanding, yet his rhythm was captivating. He seemed surprised by me, his eyes darkening as he leaned into the tightness he found. I was overwhelmed, the pleasure hitting me in waves until I finally shattered, gasping for air. He pushed harder, harder, until he reached his own release, a low, deep, "Oh, fuck..." escaping him as he collapsed against me. He slid out, his breathing rough, He glanced down, noticing the faint, undeniable faint of blood on the sheets. He stared at it for a long, silent moment, his grey eyes softened with sudden, dark realization. "You really are a virgin," he whispered, his voice barely audible before he turned away and drifted into a heavy, exhausted sleep.And I too was drained and tired that I fell asleep immediately
Lucien's POV-
I woke up in the middle of the night and stared at the ceiling, the silence of the room heavy. Beside me, she was curled up into the sheets, fast asleep. My pulse was still coming down, my mind struggling to process what had just happened. The sex... it had been completely off-script. She was clumsy, her body stiff and entirely uncoordinated at first. She lacked the polished, practiced rhythm of the women I usually paid for. There were no calculated moans or perfectly arched angles. Every flinch, every breath had felt raw, terrified, and entirely inexperienced. It had driven me insane in a way I hadn't expected, but none of it added up. I slipped out of bed, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. I dialed my fixer, Marcus. He picked up on the second ring. "Sir?" "The girl you sent," I said, keeping my voice low, as I glanced back at the bed. "Are you absolutely sure she’s a professional?"There was a beat of panicked silence on the other end. "Y-yes, Mr. Thorne," Marcus stuttered, his confidence instantly crumbling. "Sarah, the stripper at the club, set it up. She swore the girl knew the deal. Is... is there a problem, sir?"
My gaze drifted from her exhausted face down to the unmistakable faint stain of red on the white sheets. "No," I said flatly, my jaw clenching. "No problem." I ended the call, tossing the phone onto the armchair. I walked back over to the bed and stared down at her. She looked so damn innocent, a sharp, glaring contrast to the dark reality of what I had just bought and paid for. I let out a heavy sigh, pulled a thick envelope of cash from my inner coat pocket, and dropped it onto the nightstand. It was far more than the agreed upon rate.Without another look back, I threw on my clothes, adjusted my tie, and walked out the door.
Kayla's POVThe morning sun barely showed through the thick, grey mist covering Oakridge.I placed a plate of warm French toast in front of Amber, watching her little boots swing under the kitchen table. She was bouncing in her seat, her small hands sticky with syrup as she talked nonstop about her school drawing project. I smiled softly and leaned down to wipe a bit of butter from her chin, but my mind was going in circles.After breakfast, I dressed her in a neat trousers and top and brushed her curls, and put on my thick wool coat. I picked up her small yellow backpack, ready to walk her down the gravel lane.RUMBLE.A deep, heavy sound shook through the floorboards. A huge black luxury SUV slowly passed the window, blocking out the morning light.My heart jumped. I didn't need to look outside. I knew that engine.The driver's door opened, and Lucien stepped onto the gravel driveway. He wore a blue suit, his dark hair combed back. His presence filled the quiet country air."Daddy!"
Kayla's POVLater that night..The bright colors of the cartoon on television flashed across the dark walls of the living room.Amber was sprawled on the couch, bouncing happily on the cushions while singing along to the cartoon theme song at the top of her lungs. Her little hands clapped together with pure joy. Seeing her so unaware of the trouble around us gave me a short moment of peace, but my mind was spinning.Bzzzt.My phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. I picked it up, my thumb sliding across the screen to reveal a text message.Julian: I’m outside your cottage, Kayla. Can we talk for a minute?My stomach tightened. I threw on a heavy wool coat, checked on Amber one last time, and stepped onto the front porch, pulling the door shut behind me.The night air was freezing. Julian stood near the hood of his car in the gravel driveway. His hands were deep in his jacket pockets, his shoulders hunched, his head lowered. He looked worn out, nothing like the confident, relaxed man I h
Lucien's POVThe air in the quiet living room went completely still.My eyes moved from Kayla’s tear-stained face to the tiny, girl standing at the end of the hallway. She looked so small, holding that faded stuffed rabbit against her bright yellow dress, her sharp eyes searching mine with a mix of fear and curiosity.I didn't think. I didn't care about my tailored suit or my pride.I dropped down onto both knees on the wooden floor, lowering myself until I was completely at her eye level. The cold, dangerous presence I had carried for years disappeared in a single second.Amber took a slow, unsure step forward. She reached into the little pocket of her dress and pulled out the worn, folded photograph again. She looked down at the paper, then raised her head to look at my sharp jawline and dark hair. She looked back at the paper, then back at me, her little brain trying to put the pieces together.She took three tiny steps until she was standing right in front of me. Slowly, her small
Kayla's POVAt home-minutes later...My key shook against the brass lock of my house- cottage 4. My whole body was trembling so badly that I could barely get the key into the lock.Amber’s tiny face was buried against my neck, her little arms wrapped tightly around me. Her soft, frightened cries went straight through my shirt. Behind us on the narrow porch, I didn't even have to turn around to know Lucien was standing there.The lock finally clicked.I pushed the door open, rushed inside, and kicked it halfway shut behind us.Lucien didn't care.He caught the wooden door with one hand and stepped inside.His tall, broad body seemed to take up the whole room.The low ceiling and light floral wallpaper suddenly made my cozy home feel like a cage. His dark suit and cold presence destroyed the simple warmth I had built here over the past five years.His eyes slowly moved around the room, taking in the small wooden coffee table, the basket of Amber’s colorful toys near the rug, and the fra
Kayla's POV"She isn't yours!" I snapped, my voice high and frantic as I got up from the gravel, yanking Amber firmly behind my skirt. "She's not your daughter, Lucien! You don't know anything about her!"Lucien didn't flinch. He slowly rose to his full height, towering over us, a bitter, dark chuckle escaped him."Really?, She has my eyes, Kayla," he said, his voice terrifyingly calm as he took a slow step closer. "She has my hair. She carries a five year old photograph of us in her pocket, and her legal school file lists your maiden name. Do you really take me for a fool?""Mommy?" Amber whimpered, her small hands clutching tightly to the back of my floral skirt. Her big doe eyes darted back and forth between us, terrified by the sudden tension between the two adults. "Who is the big man? Why is he mad? And why does he look like the picture""He's nobody, sweetie," I said, tears burning my eyes as I backed away until my shoulders hit the wooden fence post. "Just stay behind me, okay
Lucien's POVThe hallway felt like it had no air left.I stayed down on one knee on the cold floor, completely frozen as Amber’s tiny fingers reached into the side pocket of her yellow dress. She pulled out a small piece of worn paper, folded into four uneven squares.With care, her little hands unfolded it and pressed it flat against her knee before holding it out to me.My heart slammed against my ribs so hard that my vision blurred and I thought I was going to collapse.It was a photograph. Printed on glossy paper, the edges worn from years of being touched. It had been taken five years ago in Paris, on a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower.Kayla was wearing her emerald gown, her head thrown back as she laughed. It was a soft, genuine laugh.And right behind her was me, holding her waist like she was my entire world.Five years old.The dark, messy curls. The proud tilt of her chin. The unmistakable eyes staring straight back at mine.The pieces came together in my mind.The flig







