Semua Bab SHATTERED AND TEMPTED: Bab 11 - Bab 20

STEVE POVI let out a deep, shaky breath as I finally got Freya settled on the bed. I never meant for things to go this far—I just couldn’t stand there and watch her completely lose control of herself. I still don’t fully understand what the hell is happening, but seeing her like this… It fucking breaks me.Why does it have to be only tears? For the past few days I have met her.Her tears keep replaying in my head, and every time I picture her face crumpled in pain, something inside my chest cracks a little more.“Luna…” Freya mumbled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper as I tried to ease her down properly onto the pillows.I paused for a second. Luna, her daughter. The way she said the name—so soft, so broken—it hit me hard.I stayed patient, moving slowly so I wouldn’t startle her. I adjusted the blanket over her, made sure her head was supported right, then gently brushed the damp strands of hair away from her face. My fingers lingered there a moment longer than they should ha

FREYA POVIt had been about thirty minutes since Steve left me alone in this room. I’m actually embarrassed by how fast I polished off that full plate of grilled chicken breast glazed with honey and herbs, roasted sweet potatoes, and a crisp garden salad with cherry tomatoes and feta. He’d even left a glass of fruit wine and two painkillers on the tray. I caught myself staring at them for a second—the guy was a brute, but he didn't miss a single thing.Another ten minutes passed, and I was losing my patience. I couldn't just sit in this silence anymore. I stood up to find him, but before I could even reach for the handle, the door swung open.I jumped back, my heart nearly thudding out of my chest.Steve was just standing there, filling up the whole doorway with that massive frame. He didn’t say a word, just gave me a look that felt like a weight."I wasn’t running away," I muttered, my voice sounding small even to me. "I was just checking… I’ve been here alone for a while."He only k

FREYA POVI knew I lacked any sort of steeze right now, simply because as they led me inside, my eyes got wider—every hook, every corner, I was staring like a tourist. There were men in suits everywhere—at least one or two standing guard at every single entrance we passed.It made me straighten my back without even realizing it.We walked deeper into the house until we reached a quieter section of the hall. My attention snagged on a large framed portrait hanging alone on the wall. A massive framed portrait of a woman in her late 50s. She had these sharp, piercing eyes and dark, elegant curls that fell perfectly around her face. If I wasn't mistaken, there was a striking resemblance to Steve.One of the men reached for a set of double doors and pushed them open. I stepped in and literally lost my breath. The living room was majestic, with ceilings so high I felt like I was standing in a cathedral. Everything was marble, gold, and glass. I was still trying to take it all in, my brain st

STEVE POVThe kiss grew slower, deeper, and crazier. I shoved my hand into her hair, gripping the roots to pull her head back, exposing the long, pale line of her throat. I attacked her neck, my teeth grazing the skin right over her pulse point. She let out a jagged, raw moan that vibrated against my mouth, and it was like gasoline on a fire.I was being gentle even though I didn't want to be. I wanted her to feel the sheer weight of how much I’d been holding back since I first saw her.My mouth stayed glued to her throat, sucking slow and deliberate at that sensitive spot until her skin turned warm and pink under my lips. Every time I let my teeth scrape just a little, she arched hard, pressing her body flush against mine. Through the thin silk of her robe I could feel everything—the soft swell of her breasts, the hard points of her nipples brushing my chest with every shaky breath she took. My hands moved on instinct. One stayed tangled in her hair, keeping her head tilted back so

FREYA Nana finally turned and headed for the stairs, and I retreated back into the room to change. I felt a small surge of pride that I’d managed to push back the urge to ask about Steve. Because why should I care? I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of him being the first thing on my mind.I pulled on a simple tank top and a short bum skirt, then spent a few minutes brushing my hair until it actually looked decent. I checked the mirror and actually smiled at the woman looking back.This was how I’d always wanted to dress—walking around my own home, feeling pretty for my husband. It was the version of marriage I’d imagined before I actually got married. But that dream had sold out barely three months in. And my reality is waking up to a husband who was already fully dressed and halfway out the door by the time I opened my eyes. The constant loneliness of those mornings had made me lose myself.“Mark,” I muttered his name, the word feeling cold on my tongue. I shook the thoug