เข้าสู่ระบบNikolai’s POVThe lazy day we had agreed on stretched comfortably into the early afternoon. We had spent most of the morning in the suite - slow kisses, quiet conversation, and long stretches of simply existing against each other without any urgency. By the time hunger finally made itself known, Liora was curled against my side on the sofa, idly tracing patterns on my chest.“I could eat,” she said softly.I looked down at her. “What do you feel like?”She thought for a moment, then gave a small, almost sheepish smile. “Pizza. Something simple. No fancy restaurant.”I smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Pizza it is.”We got dressed casually - her in a soft sundress, me in a plain shirt and dark pants - and left the suite without any real plan beyond finding somewhere good. The resort had a few casual spots, but I chose a quieter path that led toward a small stretch of local shops just outside the main grounds. The walk was unhurried. Her hand stayed in mine, and every so of
Nikolai’s POVThe first light of morning slipped into the suite in thin golden lines, soft enough that it didn’t fully pull me from sleep right away. I became aware of it gradually - the warmth of the room, the steady sound of the ocean beyond the balcony, and most of all the weight of Liora’s body against mine. She was still deeply asleep, one of her legs tangled with mine, her face tucked into the space between my shoulder and neck. Her breath brushed against my skin in slow, even intervals.For a long time I simply stayed still and watched her.Her features were completely relaxed in sleep. The usual softness she carried when she was awake was even more pronounced now - lips slightly parted, lashes resting against her cheeks, one of her hands curled loosely against my chest. I could still see faint traces of the night before on her skin, and the memory of how she had looked beneath me, open and trusting, settled warmly in my chest. I reached up and carefully brushed a strand of
Nikolai’s POVThe stars above us remained sharp and endless, scattered across the dark sky like they had been placed there just for this moment. Liora was still tucked against my side on the wide daybed, her head resting on my chest, one of her legs draped loosely over mine. The blanket covered us both, and the cool night air moved gently around the clearing. I kept one arm wrapped securely around her, my hand moving in slow, absent strokes along her back.We had been quiet for a while, simply existing in the shared stillness. Every so often she would shift slightly, pressing closer, and I would answer by tightening my hold or pressing a kiss to the top of her head. There was no urgency in it. Just the deep, steady comfort of having her completely to myself under an open sky.“I don’t want this trip to end,” she said softly after a long stretch of silence.I looked down at her. The starlight caught in her eyes, making them look darker and softer than usual. “We still have time,” I
Nikolai’s POV The path I led her down was quiet and deliberately unlit, winding away from the main buildings of the resort until even the softest outdoor lights faded behind us. When we finally stepped into the small clearing I had arranged, the sky opened above us completely. No trees blocked the view. No artificial light competed with the stars. A wide daybed had been placed in the center, layered with thick blankets and a few cushions, positioned so that whoever lay on it would have an unbroken view of the night sky. Liora slowed beside me, her hand still in mine. I watched her face as she tilted her head back and took in the stretch of stars overhead - dense, clear, and sharper than they ever looked in the city. “This is incredible,” she said softly. “I wanted somewhere with no interruptions.” I guided her forward. “Just us.” I sat first on the edge of the daybed, then drew her down with me so she was settled between my legs, her back against my chest. Once she was comfor
Liora’s POV By the time we stepped back into the suite, the pleasant ache of the hike had settled into my legs. My clothes carried the faint scent of sun, grass, and open air, and my hair had come slightly loose from the walk. Nikolai closed the door behind us and immediately reached for me, pulling me into a loose embrace. “You did well today,” he said against my hair. “How do you feel?” “Tired in a good way,” I answered, resting my forehead against his chest for a moment. “But sticky. I need a shower.” He gave a low hum of agreement. “Go first. I’ll sort a few things while you’re in there.” I pulled back and looked up at him. “You’re not joining me?” A small smile touched his mouth. “Not this time. If I get in that shower with you, we won’t leave the suite for the rest of the evening. And I still have one more thing planned.” The quiet promise in his voice made my stomach flutter, but I nodded and headed into the bathroom. The hot water felt perfect against my skin, washing
Nikolai’s POVThe viewpoint opened up in front of us like a quiet reward after the climb. The land fell away in a wide, natural slope, giving an unbroken view of the coastline and the ocean stretching far into the horizon. The late morning sun sat high enough to make the water glitter, but a steady breeze kept the air cool. I watched Liora’s face as she took it in - the soft way her eyes widened, the small, almost disbelieving smile that pulled at her lips. That expression alone made the entire hike worth it.I stepped up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, drawing her back against my chest. She leaned into me immediately, her hands resting over mine.“This is beautiful,” she said quietly.“It is.” I rested my chin on her shoulder, looking out at the same view she was. “I wanted you to see it with me.”We stood like that for a long while, not speaking, just breathing in the open air and the silence that only existed this far from everything else. Eventually I guided h
Liora's POV Sunlight pierced the heavy velvet curtains like it had no right to be there. I hadn’t slept. Not really. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt that icy gray gaze dragging over my body in the study. The silk robe still lay draped over the chair where I’d dropped it last night, a silen
Liora's POV The black silk robe felt like a punishment.I tied the thin belt with shaking fingers, the fabric whispering against my bare skin. No bra. No panties. Nothing but this flimsy shield between me and whatever the Mafia King planned to do with me tonight.Ogura’s mocking video still echoe
Liora's POV The black SUV smelled like expensive leather and barely contained danger.I sat rigid in the back seat, Alora pressed so tightly against my side that I could feel her little heart racing. The video of Ogura mocking me still played on loop in my mind, his laughter, the other woman’s mo
Liora's POV The cheap bottle of wine felt heavy in my hand as I pushed open the apartment door. I had scraped together the last of my money for it — a pathetic little celebration after Ogura’s death. One night to toast freedom. One night to believe the bruises on my arms would finally fade and I







