BHYRON It’s a miracle that I’m able to arrive at the Hope Fortess completely unhurt. Adrenaline shoots through my veins like a violent missile as I haphazardly park my car right in front of the building and jump out, leaving my door open and the engine still running. The valet will take care of it. I look up, my eyes flying straight to the window of my suite. Although there’s a sliver of tension in the air, there’s no visible fire or smoke, meaning everything is under control. But the sight of residents milling outside in their robes and the looks of worry on their faces ignites the flame of worry in my chest. I survey the grounds in search of Amani but she’s nowhere to be seen. I hurry through the reception with the speed of light. All that runs through my mind is how to get my wife to safety. Nothing must happen to her. She must be safe. She must be unhurt. “Sir!” The receptionist’s voice stops me in my tracks. I turn to her, my heart pounding with a wild frenzy; “Yes, Kaka?”
BHYRON I’m really starting to think this woman doesn’t understand the things she does to me. One moment, she’s upset and locking herself away from me and the next, she’s crying in my arms and begging me not to leave her. Amani Bhyron Macaulay, you drive me insane. *** AMANI I expect him to lash out in anger and push me away. Instead, Bhyron wraps his arms around my waist and holds me so tightly, I’m unable to breathe. And I’m not complaining. His soft, woodspice scent gradually chases my fear away. Three minutes later, I can breathe properly and I’m finally back to my senses. My heartbeat accelerates painfully as I become completely aware of my surroundings. I’m standing so close to Bhyron, my breasts are plastered against his chest. Panicked, I try to pull away from him but he holds on tighter, leans forward and whispers in a voice that sends fear down my spine; “Don’t think you can just use me and run away without giving something in return.” He growls. “Explain yourself
AMANI I’m still staring at the portrait in absolute shock, trying to wrap my head around the madness that’s going on right now. I’m so focused that I didn't notice that Bhyron had taken off the buttons on my shirt. A gasp of utter surprise slips past my lips when I feel his tongue lave against my left nipple. My eyes snap downwards but it’s already too late. Bhyron has my left nipple trapped between his thumb and forefinger, and he’s currently sucking on my right nipple like a savage, starving man. I open my mouth to scream at him, I try to push him away, but my traitorous body betrays me once again. I end up throwing my head back on a strangled moan as he moves from the left left nipple to the right. He takes the sensitive peaks between his teeth and my sex clenches in response. I bite down on my lips, struggling to keep my moan of pleasure hidden. But at the rate they Bhyron’s going, I might never succeed. “Bhyron, you h-haven’t answered my question.” I stutter. “How did you
AMANI Pain shoots through my ass and vibrates through my entire body as Bhyron continuously smacks me with his whips. I grip the sheets with trembling fingers and bury my face in the bed, trying to keep still and stop my tears from falling. Smack! Smack!! Smack!!! Each lash feels more painful than the last, but after Bhyron stops for a few seconds, I feel a tingle of arousal deep in my cunt. Pleasure builds like a slow boiling ring in the pit of my stomach and my pussy clenches in response. I feel the bed depress with his weight as he climbs into it. What’s he up to now? “Lift your ass in the air, baby girl.” He whispers in that husky, seductive voice that never fails to make me cream. I obey instantly. My heart thumps wildly and the atmosphere in the room is suffused with sexual tension as the whooshing sound of the whip rents the air once again. “Unghh, fuckkk!!” I whimper when it lands on my ass two more times. Who knew that pain could be so pleasurable? Bhyron pau
The previous chapter has been corrected. Please read it before proceeding with this one***AMANII swear to the fictional moon goddess in Zuri’s romance novels that it would’ve hurt less if Bhyron had just belted me across the face with a spatula. I can feel my heart slowly become cold and stiff when he walks out of the room without looking back.“I won’t be back tonight. Or tomorrow night. Don’t bother waiting up.” Then he’s gone.I’m fully naked, my body is still warm and throbbing after he literally fucked me raw and he has the effrontery to mention that bitch’s name?I shut my eyes and grab fistfuls of the soft, Egyptian blankets while struggling to regulate my emotions. First, an overwhelming sense of shame and regret settles on my shoulders as memories of how I screamed and encouraged Bhyron to fuck me harder invade my jumbled mind.Next, is exhaustion. And it's closely followed by anger. Raw, fiery anger blasts through my veins, momentarily shattering every other weak emotion
AMANIZuri leaps to her feet and starts pacing the room, her fingers tightly clenched by her sides. She’s slowly slipping into commando mode. I can tell by the ramrod straightness of her shoulders. Finally, she turns to me and heaves a deep, serious sigh. “Okay, then. I’ll help you. But we need a solid plan.” My eyes widen in shock. “Really?”I just informed this woman that I plan on running away and she’s already up and ready to help. I don’t deserve her.She shrugs. “What’s with that shocked face? You know I’m your realest bitch, baby girl.” She flips her hair for an added bitchy effect. “I’d help you hide his body if you asked nicely.”I nod slowly, my lips twitching with a smile. “We’re not showcasing our serial killer skills just yet, Zuri. Calm down.”“Forget that.” She huffs, hurrying to my side. “Where do you plan on running to? What are you gonna do there?”Images of Bhyron’s cold face flashes in my mind and a pang of regret shoots through my chest.“I’m going to La Mariée
AMANIThe grand entrance to La Mariée is heavily guarded just like I expected, and unfortunately, I do not have a solid plan on how I intend to get in.I survey my surroundings, taking in the new addition to security with a rapidly pounding heartbeat. The first night I came here, the only form of security was the doorman and two armed guards. Today, I can count at least fifteen armed guards all with similar dark scowls on their faces as they patrol the grounds.Shit! What to do? What to do?My planning skills only ended at how to escape The Hope Fortress. I left everything else to my guardian angels and they don’t seem to be of much help at the moment.I take a deep breath, about to try my luck when my phone rings. The sound alerts one of the guards and he turns, pinning me in place with fiery green eyes. My heart nearly stops beating.I retrieve my screaming phone from my pocket with shaky fingers and answer the call once I see Zuri’s name flashing across the screen.“Zuri…”“Girl, t
AMANIA gasp of shock slips past my lips and I slap a hand over my mouth to keep the sound inside. My world is tilting on its axis. The universe is falling apart and I’m trapped inside.An invisible, sharp, heated blade slices through my heart with a force that almost sends me to my knees. I’m shaking, my throat is closing up, my fingers are trembling. I can’t breathe. For a second, I have no idea how to react. My heart melted when Bhyron told me he couldn’t live without me just a few hours ago. Now he’s planning on throwing me back to the streets? He’s planning to hurt me?Sharon lets out a victorious chuckle. I’m sure she’s enjoying this.“How do you plan on taking your revenge? Her parents are dead now. She’s the only one left.”Summoning the last bit of courage I possess, I finally peer into the office. The sight that greets me sends a horrible blow through my chest.Bhyron is seated on his chair and Sharon is standing so close to him, she’s literally plastered against his should
AMANI God, everything hurts. The wild banshee in my brain is back, and it’s screaming at the top of its lungs. I feel like shit and I’m pretty sure I look like shit, too.My eyelids flutter open and I wince as the bright white light pierces my poor eyeballs.“It hurts.” I whisper softly. “The light’s too bright.” Then I hear his voice. It slips through the fog in my brain, calming me and soothing my aches like nothing else ever will.“She’s awake! Adjust the lights, Duke. Her eyes are hurting.”The lights are adjusted immediately and my heart beats frantically as my eyes rove the room in search of him.Bhyron Macaulay. My husband.Finally, his face fills my vision and I break into a loopy smile. “Bhyron…”“Hi, my pretty baby.” His voice, strong and husky and soft all at the same time wafts over me like a comforting blanket.Wait. His eyes are red. Was he crying?Even if it hurts like hell, I raise my hand and trail a finger across the wet tracks on his face.“Were you crying?”“Don
BHYRONEIGHT MONTHS LATER…“I’m sorry, sir, but your wife’s condition is extremely critical. She will not be able to push this baby. We’ll have to perform an emergency C-section if we want both of them alive and healthy.” Five hours ago, Amani’s water broke. We were having a mini family dinner with everyone in attendance when it happened. She was only eight months and two weeks along so it came as an unexpected surprise. I’d tried my absolute best to keep her healthy during the course of the pregnancy. I don’t understand where I went wrong. I’m pretty sure I read every pregnancy book on the earth’s surface. My wife is stubborn as hell but I always managed to keep her on a good diet and ensure she exercised daily. Right now, a part of me registers that I’m panicking. This is all my fault. Definitely my fault. I must’ve done something wrong. I didn’t take care of her properly. I missed a step. I overlooked something…“Mr. Macaulay, I’m still waiting for your response.” The doctor’s u
AMANII’m scared, shocked and shaken to the core, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over the cold expression in Mrs. Emily’s eyes when she spoke about her late sister. Grandpa Ayutthaya never mentioned that he had a daughter who died during childbirth. How strange.But the main reason for my fear is Bhyron.He hasn’t said a single word since we left Beauty and Roses. Not one word.I tried to talk to him, to cajole him into saying something…into telling me how he felt. But I got nothing. Nada. Zilch.He just urged me into the car, wrapped me in his arms, pressed his nose to my neck and remained that way until we arrived at the penthouse. Now he’s inside his office behind closed doors, and he’s been there for the past two hours.I’m gradually losing my mind.“Duke, I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t wanna disturb him. I’m scared that he won’t speak to me. Help!!.”I’ve been on the phone with Duke for the past five minutes, explaining what happened.“Take him on a mini vacation, Ama
BHYRONThe past few days have just been a rollercoaster of revelations. It’s crazy how so many secrets can be swept under the rug for years. It’s even more appalling how lives can be ruptured by these secrets within seconds.I asked my mother for an urgent meeting and of course, she tried to come up with excuses. But I told her in a not-so-kind tone that we had something important to discuss. Then I hung up. I’m not sure if she’d actually want to see me, but something tells me that I need to speak to her. Today.I want to send Amani home but she’s feeling a bit nauseous so I’ve decided to keep her by my side. I need to keep a close eye on her.Right now, we’re walking through my mother’s clothing company, Beauty and Roses, Amani’s smaller hands firmly clasped in mine.“Oh, Mr. Macaulay. Your mother already informed me of your coming. She’s waiting for you in the office.” I nod at Carla, the receptionist. “Sure. Thanks.”Seconds later, I’m knocking on the heavy oak door. The door swi
AMANI“I want to see grandpa today.” I mutter excitedly as I fly down the stairs.I woke up an hour ago to an empty bed. Bhyron was gone, but there was a note on the bedside table that made my heart flutter.“Little Caramel,I prepared a scented bath for you. Soak in it so you can relax. Afterwards, come downstairs for breakfast. Your husband is waiting.”I literally swooned all the way to the bathroom.If anyone had told me that Bhyron and I would be together today, I would’ve probably laughed on their faces. But here I am, skipping across the penthouse, my heart giddy at the thought of seeing him again after I’d all but slept inside his skin last night.I love him so much. “Bhyron!” I squeal when I arrive at the dining room.My husband looks up and his whole face lights up when he sees me. God, this man is gorgeous. Too gorgeous.He’s clean shaven this morning and dressed in a blue sweater that does magical things for his eyes. I can spot black slacks beneath. Does this mean he’s n
AMANI“Duncan, get the car ready. We’re going back to the Hope Fortress in the next five minutes.” Bhyron’s voice swims like a fog above me, pressing into my tired brain as the sound of sirens fade into the distance. He swings me into his arms and I cling onto his neck for dear life, burrowing into his chest, breathing him in.God, he smells so good. I would give anything to slide under his skin right about now. “Baby, are you okay?” He whispers as he lifts me through the revolving glass door. “How are you feeling?”“Tired.” I mumble pitifully. My emotions are all over the place. Tears currently sting my eyes but I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones.I’m just glad it’s all over. I’m glad that King Murder is finally going to jail. I hope he gets a death sentence for all his atrocities. His death would never bring back the hundreds of children he kidnapped, sold and killed, but its a start in the right direction. A monster like him does not deserve any more chances at life.When we fi
AMANIBhyron hasn’t said a single word since Sharon announced herself. Beneath my palm, his shoulders are stiff as a rock. His gaze, cold and blank, is firmly fixed on Sharon. The bitch doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of herself. She pats her belly with a smug expression, holding his gaze head on.“Sharon.” He seethes. “Start explaining. Now.”She shrugs unapologetically and lifts her chin. “My explanation is simple, Byron. I don’t owe you one. I tried to get us married the first time and you abandoned me at the altar. I tried again but you kept choosing her over me!” She snaps, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You and I went through so much together after she disappeared. I was by your side while you tried to build your business. But the moment Amani returned, you tossed me to the gutters like I meant nothing!”She flicks a glance at her perfectly manicured fingernails and lets out a cold chuckle..“Did you expect me to spend the rest of my life waiting for you? I m
AMANIOkay, what in the actual fuck is going on here?!I turn around and panic grips my throat like a vice as I watch Zuri stumble backwards, her eyes wide and hazy with shock.“Zuri!” Without thinking, I pull away from Bhyron and lunge towards her, grabbing her before she falls to the concrete floor.“Zuri. Baby, can you hear me?” Fear slithers down my back when she doesn’t respond. Her eyes are wide open and she’s looking straight at me, but she seems distant, almost like she’s fallen into a trance.“Bhyron, she’s not responding!”A shadow falls over me and I look up to find Duke staring down at us — at Zuri — his eyes flashing with a deadly mixture of fear, worry and rage.“Give her to me.”It’s a command. Not a request.I don’t bother arguing. I hand Zuri over to him, my heart squeezing as I watch the big man delicately maneuver my best friend into the safety of his arms. He strokes a lock of her curly blue hair out of her eyes, lowers his face to hers and whispers softly; “Zu
BHYRONThere’s something very suspicious about this entire situation. After the disaster of our wedding, I went on a fucking rampage. I burned and destroyed every single last one of King Murder’s properties that came within my reach while he went into hiding. Thinking about it now, my blood heats with the fierce hint of violence.I have to give to him, he was wise enough to hide. Because only the devil would’ve been able to look at his body once I was done with him, if I’d gotten my hands on the bastard then. I hold Amani’s soft, smaller hand in mine, still amazed by her show of strength. Yes, I would rather she stayed back at the office and out of harm’s way, but there was something about the defiant spark on her eyes when she told me she’d like to confront King Murder that stirred my stony heart.I make sure to keep her behind me, shielded by my body as we make our way down the hall. I flick a glance at our joined hands and my heart beats a painful, comforting rhythm.She didn’t p