All Chapters of His Dark Desire: The Devil’s Bride : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

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

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

Bella’s POVThe car rolled through the dark streets, the low hum of the engine doing nothing to drown out the pounding in my ears.Matteo’s fingers hovered in front of my face, glistening with my wetness in the faint light from passing streetlamps.He stared at them like they were evidence.“Why are you wet?” he asked again, voice dangerously quiet.I forced myself to breathe steadily. But no words came out.“Do you want me to ask you again?” Matteo said, his voice rising now.I sat straighter, then swallowed.“I… I was tense. So I touched myself a little before you came to the roof. That’s all.”His eyes flicked to mine, searching for the lie. I held his gaze, willing my face to stay blank.He studied me for a long second. “Did you touch yourself while Zayden was on that roof?”“What? No.” I gasped. “He wasn’t there. He only came up moments later.”“Do not fucking lie to me Isabella.” “I’m not lying.” I scoffed. “I swear. He wasn’t there.”The corner of his mouth lifted—slow, and pr

Zayden’s POVNico glanced at me in the rearview mirror but said nothing.He knew better than to question it.The drive took less than twenty minutes.Matteo’s place was lit up like a fortress—guards at the gate, lights blazing in every window.They recognised my car and let us through without a word.I stepped out, coat open, hands loose at my sides.One of Matteo’s men met me at the door.“Please get me your boss,” I said smoothly to him.“He’s aware you’re here,” the man replied. “However, he said you should wait in the study.”“I don’t wait, I need to see him now,” I said impatiently. I started to move but the man blocked my way.“Step away,” I said firmly. “Before I break your neck.”I saw him swallow before he finally moved.I didn’t waste another second. I walked straight through the foyer, past the marble statues and the gold-trimmed mirrors, until I found Matteo in the living room—shirt unbuttoned, glass in hand, a woman on her knees in front of him, head bobbing rhythmically