\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
when\u2019s the wedding?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
Women are hot. I\u2019ve always known that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope, for example, God, sometimes I\u2019d just stare at her and think, damn, what masterpiece work of art is this? And when I teased her about dating her if she wasn\u2019t taken, I meant it. If she were single, I\u2019d absolutely try my luck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve met all types of women before, but none like the one standing in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t even place what it was. Was it her gaze, curious in a way that made me feel stripped bare? The way her lips curled with interest? Or maybe it was the way she was looking at me like I was a meal and she was already deciding where to take her first bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed, suddenly unsure what to do with myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew who she was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d seen her face before, plastered on glossy magazine covers. This was Sierra. The Sierra. Owner of this mall, and one of the richest women in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t expected to see her in person. People like her didn\u2019t exactly cross paths with people like me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d heard the rumors about how she was only interested in women, how she had girlfriends she spoiled rotten They even said she built this mall so her lovers could shop for free anytime they wanted\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were just rumors\u2026 right?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hand was still holding mine, her thumb brushing lightly against my skin. She tilted her head as though she could read every single thing going through my head, and for a moment, I was terrified she actually could\u00a0<\/p>\n
She opened her mouth, as if about to speak but Hades stepped between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra\u2019s gaze slid from me to him, and that\u2019s when I realized just how tall she was. I was shorter than Hades, that much was obvious, but Sierra wasn\u2019t much shorter than him. Her lean frame nearly reached his shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades\u2019s voice was low and calm. \u201cDon\u2019t even think about it Sierra.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her perfectly arched brow lifted as she smiled innocently. \u201cThink about what? I don\u2019t understand what you mean.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades only grinned. \u201cShe\u2019s off limits. I won\u2019t tolerate anyone flirting with her, even if that person is you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. Flirting? Was Sierra actually-?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra\u2019s eyes flicked to him, then back to me, before her smile widened. She flashed her white teeth, bright against her painted red lips, and laughed softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWoah, I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d live to see the day a woman would have my cousin wrapped around her fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCousin?\u201d I muttered, blinking at Sierra.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded casually, like she\u2019d just mentioned the weather \u201cOh, this man of yours is my cousin. It\u2019s\u2026 complicated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Man of mine? My brain tripped over that part, but it barely had time to process because the word cousin kept echoing in my head. Cousin. If Sierra was really related to Hades. Just how who is he?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could fully spiral into that thought, Sierra stepped closer, brushing past Hades with a confidence that\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
when\u2019s the wedding?\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
made him seem like he wasn\u2019t even there. Her hand slid over the side of my neck, and she pulled me forward until I was close enough to smell her expensive perfume.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know,\u201d she said, her voice amused, and her lips far too close to my skin, \u201cI was quite surprised when he called me. He hardly ever calls, never asks me for anything. But because of you, he told me to close the entire store, and entertain you. And to make sure the woman he was bringing was well taken care of. Or else, he said, he\u2019d cut off my head and put it in an auction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes widened. What the hell-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra chuckled at my reaction, her eyes glinting. \u201cAmusing It seems as though you don\u2019t know the type of person he really is. This is more interesting than I thought.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to Hades, my heart hammering, but Sierra didn\u2019t let go of me. Instead, she tilted her head, those sharp blue eyes narrowing slightly before she said, \u201cYou should wait here. I\u2019ll make sure she\u2019s perfect and bring her back to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades arched a brow at her, skeptical.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra pressed a hand over her chest. \u201cHuh? You don\u2019t believe me? I promise, I\u2019ll be on my best behavior.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As if on cue, his phone rang. She smirked, seizing the opportunity. \u201cAnd besides, you seem to be quite busy\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not giving either of us time to think, she laced her fingers through mine and tugged me forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stumbled after her, glancing back at Hades in panic but he didn\u2019t move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He just stood there, phone in one hand and the other tucked in his pocket, watching us with that calm smile, as if silently telling me I was in good hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good hands? With this woman?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even as Sierra dragged me away, I could still feel his eyes on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra led me straight to the elevator, her hand still loosely clasping mine as if she had no intention of letting me go. She pressed the button with an elegant flick of her finger, and the doors slid open with a ding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment, but the look she gave me left me little choice but to step inside. \u201cCome in, darling. I promise I won\u2019t bite, unless, of course, you want me to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
God, this woman.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped in, and the doors slid shut behind us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the elevator began to move, she turned toward me, her smile dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively took a step back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2013what are you doing?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I retreated again, my heartbeat loud in my ears, until my back hit the wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was trapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra braced one hand against the wall beside my head, leaning close enough that I could see the playful curve of her lips. My throat went dry, and I swallowed hard, staring p at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d she purred, tilting her head. \u201cWhen\u2019s the wedding?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
when\u2019s the wedding?\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWedding?\u201d I blinked rapidly. \u201cWhose wedding?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t pretend. I already know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cI\u2019m not pretending, I have no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her brow arched. \u201cHmm. You genuinely look surprised. Bu I heard rumors that he was going to get married soon and finally give that old bastard a grandchild.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades? My thoughts scrambled, unable to piece it together Was she talking about Hades?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you talking about Hades?\u201d I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra pushed back, giving me a little space, her smile only widening as if she\u2019d gotten exactly the reaction she wanted. She crossed her arms, studying me, \u201cYou don\u2019t have the faintest idea who the man you\u2019re with really is?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat crawled up my neck. I was embarrassed. Was I really admitting to following a man around without knowing his true identity?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded stiffly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s possible,\u201d she mused. \u201cThere are hardly any pictures of his face in public anyway. He keeps himself hidden.\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a spark of excitement in her eyes as she looked at me, like she had just found the missing puzzle piece she\u2019d been searching for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do this then. You get three questions. I\u2019ll answer them, if they\u2019re good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words were familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sierra noticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d she said. \u201cAlec, right? Well, when Hades\u2019s mother saved his life and brought him into our family, I used to say it to him all the time.\u201d She chuckled. \u201cWhat a hot man he was. He was the only man I\u2019d ever been interested in, before I realized women are much, much better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned in again, her blue eyes glinting. \u201cAnyway, you can ask me anything. I will answer three questions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 48 \u00a0 3\/3\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 when\u2019s the wedding?\u00a0 Violet\u00a0 Women are hot. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-craving-the-guardian-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}