All Chapters of His Dark Desire: The Devil’s Bride : Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

The cold night air burned my lungs as I dragged from the cigarette.I didn’t even smoke….I never had.But tonight, I needed something to burn, something to choke down the chaos clawing up my throat.I stood near the side of the courtyard, hidden between tall hedges, the glowing tip of the cigarette bright against the dark.My hands shook hard as I brought it back to my mouth.I exhaled slowly.Smoke drifted up into the sky, thin and grey, vanishing like everything else that ever belonged to me.“If your mother ever catches you doing that,” a voice said behind me, calm and venomous, “she won’t be nearly as gentle as I am.”“Dad!” I said, dropping the cigarette and crushing it under my heel, brushing ash off my palms as I turned.“I just needed to cool off,” I sniffed. “Get the heat out.”My father stood beneath the soft courtyard lights, hands clasped behind his back like a man pretending to be civilised.“I’m sorry for striking you, Bella,” he said suddenly.The words landed wrong. To

Zayden had had more one-night stands than he could count. Faces he forgot before the sun rose. Names he never asked for.But her? Bella. She was different. In his mind. On his skin. In the silence between his thoughts.There was something in the way she fell apart that night—quietly and desperately. Like she was left alone broken and bruised.He hadn’t meant to take her home. Hell, he didn’t even know why he spoke to her.But the moment he saw her sitting alone, her glass trembling in her hand, a storm buried behind her eyes—he couldn’t look away.And when she moaned in his bed—begging, whimpering, pleading with him to screw her—it turned him on more than he ever imagined.She wasn’t like the others. Not some spoiled socialite.Not a woman who wanted his name, his wealth, or his control.She wanted to feel and he let her.Now he couldn’t get her out of his head.He hadn’t even asked her last name. But he remembered the way her mouth trembled when she whispered his name against his ski

Bella’s POVMatteo looked at Zayden with an anger that stopped the entire room.“Zayden…” he started smoothly. “I would say it’s a pleasure but I’m not a very good liar.”Zayden chuckled. “Come on, Matteo.” He said. “Let’s not be like that tonight. In fact.” He paused, sitting across from us, crossing his legs. “Let’s catch up.”Matteo stiffened, then pulled me closer to him like I was an anchor.“Very well,” he said. He waved his hand ordering more drinks for the table.Zayden didn't even look at me, and I didn’t look at him either.I completely drowned in the surrounding chatter hoping this night would end soon.“So…” Zayden started again. “Who’s the lovely lady you have here?” He asked.My head snapped up and that’s when my eyes met his.Hold. Hard. And calculating.“If you must know. She’s my fiancé.” Matteo said. “Her name….is Valentina.”My head snapped toward Matteo. Valentina? Why would Matteo lie about my name?Zayden chuckled but said nothing.“Nice to meet you Valentina.” H