LOGINAriana's POVIt felt like I was walking toward my own execution. My heart thumped frantically against my ribs, making me lightheaded. I kept telling myself to be brave, but with every step I took toward the shadows of that rusted street lamp, the air seemed to get thinner.He’s not going to hurt me, I tried to convince myself. Not in the middle of a street in Astoria. But I knew my father. I knew the man who had raised me, and I knew that logic didn't always apply to him when he was on a rave. The closer I got, the more my throat closed up, but I steeled my resolve. I wouldn't let him see me tremble. Not this time.I stopped several feet away at a safe distance, though it didn't feel safe enough. We stood there, the orange glow of the street light casting faint distorted shadows on the pavement between us. It was still daytime but the sun would go down soon. "Dad," I said, my voice flat and devoid of emotion.He looked at me, his eyes hooded and dark. A slow, mocking smile spread acr
Ariana's POVI stretched my arms over my head, feeling the satisfying ache in my muscles. I had put in ten hours of work already, my fingers flying across the keys as I processed the data for my remote contract. It was a nice burn, the kind that made me feel like I was accomplishing something on my own terms. The apartment was blissfully quiet since Maya had gone back to work for one of her twice-a-week office days, leaving me with nothing but my thoughts.I instinctively rubbed my stomach, a habit I had developed over the last few weeks. "Baby, you are eating so much," I whispered.I was constantly hungry these days. It felt like my body was a furnace, burning through everything I put into it. Since I had decided to stay with Maya for the time being because it felt safer and more grounded than moving again, I had used a small portion of my signing bonus to make the place more comfortable. I’d ordered some ergonomic furnishings for our workspace and a few high-end outfits for Maya to
Third person POV He had been watching that house for days but the neighborhood was starting to itch. A couple of poke-nosers who couldn't mind their own damn business had already approached him with suspicious looks and questions. He had blown them off with a cool, practiced ease, but he wasn’t a fool. He knew the windows of opportunity were closing. Security was tightening, and he could feel the invisible eyes of whatever goons were sniffing around.It was Sunday evening, and he had been trailing the Donovan girl. She was a busybody herself, flitting from place to place, but today she had spent the better part of the afternoon with an uptight, clean-looking man. A white collar worker, by the look of his expensive shoes and the way he carried himself. They were currently at a dimly lit bar, and by the way the drinks were flowing, they were well on their way to being completely shit-faced.Arthur watched from a corner booth, his mind whirring. He needed to get her alone. He pulled a c
Nathaniel's POVI strode into the lobby of Coop Enterprises with long, purposeful steps. The polished marble floor reflected the high ceilings, but all I could see was today's outcome. It filled me with a sense of wicked joy to know that my father was about to be put in his place. He didn't even know what was coming. I was tempted to laugh out loud, but I caught myself just in time. Walking through my own lobby laughing like a villain wouldn't be a good look for the image I needed to project today.I needed my serious, A-grade persona. I needed to look like the man who couldn't be shaken.Lily met me near the elevators, her tablet already in hand. "Good morning, Mr. Coop. How are you today?""Morning, Lily," I said, feeling the adrenaline burn in my veins. "I’m good. How are you?"She smiled pleasantly. "I’m great. You look like you slept really well."I tried hard not to grin like an idiot. If only she knew that a few minutes of talking to Ariana had done more for my soul than a week
Nathaniel's POVFor the first time since the rescue, everything seemed alright with the world. Seeing Ariana, touching her, and knowing that she wasn't just safe but willing to let me back in, it was the ultimate motivation. I felt like a man who had finally found the ground beneath his feet after months at sea."To the office," I told the driver. Then, I pulled out my phone and messaged Gurner.Nathaniel: Status update on the acquisition?Gurner’s reply was almost instantaneous—a single, mischievous smirking emoji. I didn't want to worry about what he meant by that response, but with Gurner, results were the only thing that mattered.When we pulled into the parking lot of Coop Enterprises, I didn't wait for the driver to open the door. I stepped out and began a brisk walk toward the glass-and-steel lobby. Normally, I breezed through the halls like a god, barely noticing the faces of the people who kept things running. Today, I found myself noting them. The receptionists, the security
Ariana's POV Seeing Nathaniel again, really seeing him, nothing could have prepared me for the ache that rippled through my heart. It was a physical pain, a tight tug in my chest that made it hard to draw a full breath. I looked at him and felt a surge of irrational anger mixed with overwhelming relief.He should have known. He should have understood that I wasn't running from him, but from the chaos his world represented. He should have come for me earlier. I didn't want to stay away or hide in this cramped apartment, I was just scared. Every time I thought about the pregnancy, his family, the media, and my father’s obsession made my blood run cold.But as I looked into his ever-familiar eyes—those deep, dark pools that held so much intensity—my anger began to melt. I couldn't resist him. I never could."You already know, don't you?" I asked, my voice low.Nathaniel went silent. That silence was my answer. He didn't deny it, didn't look surprised. He just watched me with a gaze so h
Ariana's POVMaya and I spent the rest of the day just chilling and watching Friday shows. It felt surreal to be sitting on a comfortable sofa, surrounded by the sound of an air conditioner and the smell of scented candles, after so long in the wild. Maya had taken over the kitchen completely. She
Nathaniel's POVAriana was running in the rain on the island and laughing. She looked beautiful and radiant in the moonlight, her skin glowing with life. She turned toward me, her eyes sparkling, and hugged me. I held her back fiercely, burying my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the sce
Ariana's POV Nathaniel's eyes widened, darkening with a mix of surprise and raw desire as he watched my hands tug the ties loose. The fabric parted easily, and I reached inside, wrapping my fingers around his thickening cock. It was already half-hard, warm and heavy in my palm, the skin smooth ove
Ariana's POVIt’s been nearly two months. I know this because Nathaniel came up with a tally system carved into the side of one of our storage crates. Fifty-eight days since we have been here.We started the morning at the lagoon, our usual ritual. We bathed in the cool, clear water, and I used a b







