Miriam’s POV)It had been seven days.Seven long, suffocating days since I last heard from Alina. No messages. No calls. Not even a damn emoji. And that was just... not her.At first, I’d told myself she was busy. Italy was romantic. Maybe Darren had finally swept her off her feet like he was supposed to, and she was living out her fairy tale. But now, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. She didn't even tell me the outcome of everything that led to her to Italy in the first place. The duress call and everything.She always found time for me, even when she was exhausted, or emotional, or overwhelmed. That silence? It felt wrong.My gut twisted as I stood by the window in my small flat, staring out at the dull gray sky, hoping for something. Anything.I picked up my phone again. No new notifications."Okay, that's it," I muttered, grabbing my coat. “I'm not sitting here all day and going crazy.”A coffee run. That’s what I needed. Some fresh air and overpriced caffeine to distract my spir
Third person's POV…His breath mingled with hers as the silence between them thickened, charged and electric. The golden glow of the bedside lamp cast flickering shadows on the walls, painting our bodies in a soft, intimate light. His hand remained splayed across my waist, grounding me, but there was something deeper in his eyes now, hunger… longing… restraint fraying.“I shouldn’t be doing this,” he whispered, voice hoarse. “But you have no idea what you do to me.”Alina swallowed hard, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. “Then don’t stop.”That was all it took.His mouth claimed hers with a desperate intensity, lips brushing hers, then deepening into something raw and possessive. The kiss was fire, untamed and consuming. Alina found myself clinging to Darren, tangled in his warmth, in the way his touch ignited something inside her she hadn’t felt before.His hands moved up her back, fingers threading into her hair as he tilted her head for better access. Their bodies pressed to
Alina's POV…“You look stunning and amazing” Darren complimented as we sat down. He had already arrived before me and reserved a table.“Thank you” I said and smiled. The dress looked really good on me. It was a knee-length dress.The waiters brought our food and I guessed he must have ordered before I came. The food looked palatable and smelt delicious. It should be really tasty considering how it looked and smelled.“I've got a question for you” I said as I gulped down my wine. “Hmm” he said as he put a spoonful of food into his mouth. He was eating like someone from the royal family. Chewing carefully as though someone was watching or monitoring him.“If your identity is secret, what about your domestic staff? I mean…don't they know who you are?” I asked. That question had always disturbed me. “They don't know it's me” I furrowed my brows. His words didn't make any sense. “They don't know I'm that Darren Blackwood. They just know me as a business man and their employer. They don’
Alina's POV… I was determined to give myself to Darren last night. Nothing too intimate had happened between us. We've kissed, cuddled, hugged and done some other things that couples did but, we were yet to get to the deeper level of intimacy. We hadn't really talked about it and Darren hadn't pressured me into having anything. He does care for me. I have heard stories of men who forced their wives into having a sexual encounter with them even when the woman didn't want to or wasn't ready. I just laid in the bed, the sheets covering my body as I thought. What did he even mean but he doesn't want to touch me here in Italy? Honestly, I felt disappointed. I was left restless and wanting more, but he just left me like that. I touched the back of my ear where he kissed and a moan escaped from my lips. I quickly covered my mouth. Thinking about it alone made my desires go haywire. A knock came at the door and I knew who it was. Darren. I was going to give him an attitude. “Come
Darren's POV…Alina just gaped at me, mouth wide. I had just finished telling her everything. She deserved to know at least.“So, wait…wait” she blinked multiple times in unbelief. “You're telling me that you're the heir to a mafia empire…but you don't want the title and then…you ran away?” She asked as she smiled a little in unbelief.Laughter? That was the last thing I expected when I decided to tell her the truth. That wasn't the reaction I had presumed.“Well, yes” I shrugged and smiled to myself bitterly at the ran away part.Suddenly she had a look in her eyes. She turned away, probably to think or hide and emotion before turning to me, eyes wide in realization…of what?“Six years ago. Was that why…” she stopped and breathed deeply, hesitating, but I knew what she wanted to say. “Was that why you left?” Even though I knew that was what she wanted to say, I still felt bad when she did.“At that time, my family here in Italy were threatened and my father's position too was threate
The mansion Darren lived in was huge. It was like five houses in one. It resembled the one back home but a little bigger. Throughout the drive, I was quite. I felt like I was getting married again because this particular scenario was like that of when I got married and was taken to Darren's house…Men in black driving, the car silent as a graveyard, the only difference now was that Darren was there with me and he held my hand. We got into the house…rather mansion, and we all alighted. I took in a deep breath twice. I had wanted to step down and receive the fresh air all through the ride. I stretched my body as I took in the wonderful sight before me. It was so beautiful. Flowers were planted along each side of the driveway. I could see the swimming pool in a distance. I was sure this house would have more than thirty rooms in it and must have cost a fortune. Darren held my hand again and led me inside. My breath hitched in my throat when we reached inside. His house here was way