로그인Aria POV We showered together, like always, but the difference was he seemed withdrawn while we got ready, almost guilty and that started a prickle of alarm at the base of my back.I didn’t know what he was up to or why he wanted to go to church with me, but I was beginning to think it was for nefarious reasons.We stepped into the church, side-by-side, with his hand on my waist. If the entire congregation didn’t turn to stare at us, at least ninety-five percent of it did. The heat of all their stares lit my skin and then the whispering began.Liana eyes went wide as we passed and her with an arm resting on the back of the pew, only raised a brow in amusement.“wow didn't know the almighty Viktor was a christian?” Aurora leaned in to ask, after we took a seat beside her and Ivan.“No,” I bit out stubbornly.She laughed, Viktor jaw tightened, though he didn’t say a word.During the service, he rested a hand on the bare sliver of skin between my dress and thigh-high boots.I thought I
Aria POVAurora had promised to stop by for lunch, and I found myself looking forward to it more than I wanted to admit.She had been writing exams for weeks, which meant we barely had time to talk, and I had missed her.I was especially curious about the Italian spaghetti I had taught her to make. I had insisted she prepared it for Ivan, and I wanted to know whether it had turned out well enough for him to enjoy it or a disaster.For a little while, I wanted something ordinary to think about.Ethan hadn't come to visit over this weekend either, and that had left another little ache in my chest.Alexei had assured me that he had come down with a cold, and I had even video-called him, but seeing his sleepy face on a screen wasn't the same as having him running around the house. I missed him more than I wanted to admit.Lately, everything seemed to remind me of children and that was the problem.Ever since I had told Viktor that I wanted us to start trying for a baby, the thought had qu
Aurora POVSomething smelled like pancakes and it made my stomach churn, I loved pancakes.I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair, then padded out to the kitchen to find Ivan at the stove, shirtless, his hair wet. I loved him like this, the casual side of him not many got to see and like this, he was mine but when I wrapped my arms around his waist, he tensed.Uncertainty flickered through me because he’d been quiet the past couple of days, and an insecure part of me was obsessing over what it could mean.Things had been well since he’d came back from Viktor house and thankfully his wounds are almost healed now.It was pathetic, I knew, but I was scared that the next time the blacktop has another war, he might not come back for good and even the thought felt like toeing the edge of the dark.“Are you hungry?” he asked when I stepped away from him.I looked at the plate of pancakes on the counter and wrinkled my nose. “Not right now.”Grabbing the orange juice from t
Ivan's POVAurora had been smiling for the last ten minutes not just smiling but grinning and the funniest part was that she wasn't even looking at anything interesting rather she was staring at the refrigerator.I leaned against the couch with one arm draped lazily over the backrest, watching her as she stood in front of the open fridge, completely lost in whatever memory she was trapped in.A laugh almost escaped my mouth. "You look ridiculous right now."She blinked as though she'd forgotten I was even in the room then she slowly turned to me, still wearing that impossible smile. "I know."I narrowed my eyes. "What happened at school today?"There had to be something, she walked over to the counter and closed the refrigerator with her hip, then rested both palms on the marble. "Nothing happened.""I don't believe you."She laughed. "You never do.""No."She rolled her eyes before shrugging. "I was just thinking."She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I was thinking abo
Aurora POV My next class was rescheduled and I found myself thinking back at my first time with Ivan after we started fucking in my small room. He wore a condom the first night, but the next, he’d gotten me so hot, so desperate, to feel him bare inside I’d begged for, “Just the tip.” The tip had become a few more inches, and then we were just fucking.He liked to take me from behind, sometimes with me on all fours, sometimes kneeling, with my back pressed to his front and his hands on my breasts. I loved it any way, but my favorite was missionary. With his arms braced on the bed beside me, with his stomach muscles tightening every thrust, and the intensity in his eyes burning into mine.Trying to be semi-responsible, I didn’t beg him to come inside me again. He always pulled out, coming on a new part of my body every time and then, for a moment, we just breathed, heavy puffs against each other’s skin.While still breathless, he kissed me, short and sweet, before pulling me to the bat
Aurora POV When I first came into new York to live with my father, I never thought I will run into a Russian mob who is actually an Italian.When I started working at Peccato, I thought I will never see him again only for him to appear the next day but what makes the entire situation more surprising was that everyone seems to be scared of him except me.Few days later I got to discover he was actually an enforcer to the most popular Mafia group in New York but despite everything he stuck to me and we ended sleeping together three times.There were rumors that no matter how sweet a lady was, Ivan won't go more than three times and just like that have because another third but that day Ivan sat on the foot of the bed, his elbows on his knees.The presence emanating from him didn’t feel like regret and I imagined this was how plans for world domination were made.I sighed and stretched out like a cat. “Gosh, I’m starving.”“You have no idea what starving is.” The words were pensive, lik
Aria POVI immediately looked away from him and fighting the weak tears at the corner of my eye.I saw him remove his boxers, and then he climbed on the bed naked. I trembled because couldn’t stop myself no matter how had I tried. His hand touched my waist then slid up slowly, the touch was light b
Aria POV“Who is it I am going to marry?” I forced the words out, but they sounded strangled.That was the first question I asked my uncle when he came into my room and informed me I was getting married. I was an orphan so finding a notable member of the Crown Syndicate is almost impossible.“Vikto
Aria POV I flinched every time my uncle’s stifled cries rang out as Alexei and Viktor broke each of his fingers. My eyes weren’t on my uncle, though, but instead on my husband’s face. His expression was unreadable as he watched my uncle like he was conducting some sort of experiment.Soon, they b
Viktor POVWhen Alexei first told me about a marriage with the Crown Syndicate, I thought he was pulling my legs as usual but when Nikolai sent me the picture I was surprised, marriage was the last thing on my mind right now and an orphan, I didn't know what to say about that. I should have known s







