Areston thinks he can shield me from his past, but what he doesn't realize is I'm already part of it.
The darkness that haunts him? It's the same one that's been chasing me for years.
I've given him everything-my body, my heart, my soul-and still...
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It's a super long 8,368-word update, so bear with me.
Writing this chapter caused me some emotional trauma.
If reading emotional mess isn't your thing, well, I don't know what to say, but I'd love it if you could continue reading. Things are about to get serious from here onwards, so consider yourself warned.
need some quick answers because while you're reading this, I've started editing the final version for publishing, starting book 1. Your feedback will help me retrospect things and fix them if needed because you guys are my beta readers of sorts:
What are your thoughts on Areston's character at this stage of the book?
What are your thoughts on Juliette's character at this stage of the book?
Maximum participation is encouraged here and at the bottom section.
💗💗💗
"I am not pleased that you've kept your hair tied up." Areston trails his hand up my neck with an unhurried deliberation that leaves my pulse racing.
His fingers graze my skin before wrapping around the base of my ponytail. He tilts my head just enough to have complete access to my throat, a vulnerable stretch I feel deep in my core. He lowers his head to the sensitive spot behind my ear, his warm breath teasing against my skin.
"You know how I feel about it," he murmurs darkly in a velvet-like voice as he presses a kiss there. "The dress, the missing rings, and the ponytail. Did you do it all deliberately to pick up a fight with your husband?"
His other hand is on my belly, playing with my bejeweled Buttercup belly button ring he got custom-created for me along with the rest of the Powerpuff Girls and Peppa Pig characters.
"Maybe?" I smile, turning to face him. "But mostly because it doesn't go with the look. Celia spent thirty minutes behind it. You're not to spoil it."
"I had an inkling that having your makeup artist and stylist fly down to assist you for dinner tonight was going to bite me in the ass." He continues raining kisses on the side of the column of my throat.
Oh, god. It's a struggle not to shudder and melt when he kisses my skin like this with a dangerously teasing edge that tells me he may leave a mark if he chooses to.
"And yet you did it because you love me. I am not allowing you to leave me a bite mark either. Behave," I elbow him gently and watch his eyes grow narrowed. "I'll let you bite me wherever you want tonight post-dinner if you behave."
