Selene's Pov
The question hung in the air like a blade waiting to fall, heavy with implications. My cheeks flushed crimson as I turned my gaze away, fixating instead on a small imperfection in the polished marble floor beneath my feet. The roughness of my throat felt like sandpaper, scratchy and uncomfortable. “He was busy,” I murmured, the words bitter and reluctant on my tongue, as if they carried the weight of my own denial.“Oh, don’t try to make excuses for him.” Ronan's voice transformed, dropping to a dangerous growl that rippled with barely concealed anger. The tension was palpable, a taut string ready to snap. “He’s an asshole, Selene.”I bit into my lower lip so hard I could taste the metallic tang of copper, my fists clenching at my sides. The sting of his words pierced deeper than I dared to acknowledge. Truth was a bitter pill I struggled to swallow. What could I possibly say? That Damien preferred his grand ambitions over our fragile connectiSelene's PovI let out a long, shuddering sigh, watching as Lena's silhouette gradually faded down the hallway. Her footsteps echoed with a deliberate rhythm, each sound a stark reminder of the distance growing between us until they were swallowed by a heavy silence. A suffocating weight of guilt settled on my chest, like a stone pressing against my lungs, making it hard to draw a full breath. How had everything spiraled so completely out of control? The haunting image of Ronan lingered, forever etched in my mind—blood trickling down his arm, his expression twisted in agony, and something far more sinister flashing behind my eyelids every time I blinked.Maybe it really was my fault, an unsettling voice whispered in the back of my mind. I should have recognized the signs, should have peeled back the layers of Ronan's façade to uncover the troubled soul lying beneath that charming exterior. He wasn’t the type to brush things off with a laugh or let comments roll off
Selene's PovThe question hung in the air like a blade waiting to fall, heavy with implications. My cheeks flushed crimson as I turned my gaze away, fixating instead on a small imperfection in the polished marble floor beneath my feet. The roughness of my throat felt like sandpaper, scratchy and uncomfortable. “He was busy,” I murmured, the words bitter and reluctant on my tongue, as if they carried the weight of my own denial.“Oh, don’t try to make excuses for him.” Ronan's voice transformed, dropping to a dangerous growl that rippled with barely concealed anger. The tension was palpable, a taut string ready to snap. “He’s an asshole, Selene.”I bit into my lower lip so hard I could taste the metallic tang of copper, my fists clenching at my sides. The sting of his words pierced deeper than I dared to acknowledge. Truth was a bitter pill I struggled to swallow. What could I possibly say? That Damien preferred his grand ambitions over our fragile connecti
Selene's POV I was melting into him, each heartbeat echoing in the charged air between us. My hand moved of its own accord, fingers tangling in the soft, tousled hair at the nape of his neck, drawing him closer as if the act were magnetic. The world around us seemed to tilt, time stretching out into a blissful eternity, and all I could focus on was the intoxicating warmth of his mouth against mine. His breath mingled with mine, a heady cocktail of longing and desire.The kiss deepened, transforming into something raw and consuming, igniting a fire within me that sent sizzling electricity racing through my veins. Every nerve ending in my body came alive, responding to his touch with an intensity that both excited and frightened me. This wasn’t just a kiss; it was a claiming—a silent conversation woven from threads of passion and longing I didn’t yet understand but felt in the very marrow of my being.When he finally pulled away, the air crackled with
Selene’s pov“Having a nice time admiring the stars?”The deep, husky voice sliced through the night’s tranquility, sending an electric shiver down my spine. I spun around, heart racing, only to find Ronan standing just a few steps away from me. He was shirtless.The silver moonlight bathed his skin in a soft glow, highlighting not just his sculpted muscles but also the intricate tattoos that danced across his chest and arms—each inked detail told a story, dark and alluring. His dark slacks hung low on his hips, accentuating the powerful lines of his physique, while his signature jacket and polo were discarded somewhere unseen, forgotten in the warmth of the night.Yet, it wasn’t his chiseled body that held my gaze; it was the angry wound on his side—still raw and red, the skin slightly swollen and conspicuously unbandaged.“When did you get back?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper, laced with worry.A low chuckle escaped him, reverberating in the quiet air. “A few minutes ago,
Selene’s POVThe night air wrapped around me like a cool embrace, the faint scent of jasmine wafting up from the garden below, a delicate reminder of beauty amidst my turmoil. I stood alone on the balcony, the marble railing chilling against my fingertips as I leaned forward, my gaze drawn upward, lost amid the stars.They sparkled insistently in the velvet expanse of the night sky, like distant promises made long ago. Silent sentinels watching over the world, unaffected by the chaos and heartache that churned within me. Yet, no matter how earnestly I tried to admire their celestial beauty, my thoughts spiraled far away, swallowed by an internal storm that felt insurmountable.I wasn’t really seeing the stars—I was gazing into an abyss that lay far more treacherous and unreachable. I was staring at the fractured pieces of myself.Regret.Anger.These two words, so simple yet so weighty, coursed through my veins like wildfire, igniting every corner of my heart and soul. I could feel th
Ronan’s POVThe air in the room wrapped around me like a thick, smoky blanket, infused with the familiar scents of rich cigar smoke and aged whiskey—a concoction that felt grounding, almost familial. I leaned back in my leather chair, fingers playing absently with the cool glass in my hand, watching the amber liquid inside swirl with a lazy deliberation. It was a moment suspended in time, a brief interlude of stillness before the storm.Then came the subtle creak of the door.Luca stepped inside, his expression a mask of calm vigilance. He moved with a sense of purpose, setting a heavy duffle bag down on the sleek black table with practiced ease, the sound of the thud reverberating through the room's quiet tension.“Here’s the goods, boss,” he declared, stepping back with a posture that screamed military precision—a habit he never seemed to shake off, even here.I nodded slightly, not needing to peek into the bag. Trust wasn’t just given; it was earned, and I trusted Luca, as solid as