Page 28 of Influence

Cali, still trying to catch her breath, knelt beside Artemis, who had tiny droplets of blood trailing from her mouth but sat obediently.

“It was these beautiful babies who saved the day.” Cali reached down to pet Artemis, who happily wagged her tail. “You’re such a good girl, Artemis. Let’s go get you a treat.”

Cali stood up, and immediately all three dogs perked up, moving to her side and following her out of the room.

Laya stood there, the cold steel of the gun still clutched in her hand, her presence a shadowy force in the dimly lit room. I approached her, prying her fingers from their viselike grip. The gun clinked against the table, the sound sharp and final.

“You didn’t flinch.”

Her eyes gleamed with fierce, unyielding intensity. “When it comes to protecting myself and my family, yes.”

The tension between us crackled—visible, electric, and alive. Her boldness sparked a primal instinct in me—a dark, simmering urge that tugged at my self-control, threatening to break the promise I’d sworn to uphold: to keep my hands to myself until marriage’s sacred bond.

In that instant, she became a goddess of fury and allure, a powerful force poised to destroy anyone threatening her haven. The doubt I once felt was shattered, giving way to a fierce warrior spirit rising from the depths of her past.

In a quick movement, she seized my shirt collar and drew me near, her resolve unmistakable. Her emerald gaze locked onto mine with a force that reflected the storm inside, poised to engulf us both. Our breaths intertwined, each pulse amplifying the undeniable attraction between us. Chaos thickened in the air—a fierce energy igniting between us that embodied our unsaid feelings, until nothing else existed but us.

Seven

LAYANA

I was amazed by my own boldness. Grabbing him with fierce urgency, I couldn’t hold back the desire and need that had been simmering between us for the entire week.

Our close proximity, separated only by a thin wall, left me drowning in overwhelming desire. Every fiber of me burned to feel him—his heat, his scent, his mouth. Every stolen glance and lingering touch heightened my craving for him, electrifying the air around us. I yearned to close the distance, bridging the gap that felt both intimate and maddeningly far. I needed his skin against mine, his scent in my lungs.. I tried to respect his desire to wait, yet every second apart felt like pure torture.

One kiss—just one—and I’d combust. At the very least, it would light up the night, and I knew I could no longer resist. My heart raced at the thought of finally surrendering to my feelings.

The moment I made my move, time halted. This visceral need overwhelmed my senses. However, just as our lips drew near, I hesitated.

Fear surged. What if this was a mistake?

Nonetheless, our chemistry crackled with an electrifying intensity, propelling me beyond my fears. One glance at the longing in his eyes melted away any uncertainty I felt. With the flavor of his breath so near, I realized I had to take the leap. Our lips hovered, breath mingling—heat coiled tight between us, ready to snap.

But Niko was anything but frozen. He responded as if I had ignited a fierce inferno within him.

His dark eyes momentarily widened before transforming into a deep, primal hunger. A low, guttural growl escaped, and in an instant, he seized control.

His hand crashed against the front of my shoulder as he violently shoved me backward until I slammed into the wall. I whimpered as the shock of impact coursed through me. With a swift, authoritative motion, he pinned both my wrists against the wall, his strong grip leaving me completely immobilized.

And I found myself loving its demand.

He captured my lips, sealing my momentary gasp. Gone was the tender, lingering kiss from before. In its place was an urgent, blistering conquering—hot, hard, and impatient.

I pulled back, gasping for air as I whispered, “I thought…you wanted…to wait.”

“I did.” His reply came out in a near growl that echoed inside. “But when you entered my world, you became mine, Laya. Marriage is just a formality."

All of a sudden, my heart raced as if ready to jump from my chest, and my skin felt as if it were on fire.

His piercing gaze turned to me again, and with a fierce, possessive growl, he captured my mouth again. His tongue slipped between my lips, searching, probing, and battling with mine in a teasing, seductive dance.

Instantly, my nipples hardened, and my clit throbbed in a way I’d never experienced before. My core clenched, and arushing flood of need overflowed like a tidal wave deep inside me.

He pressed on, deepening the kiss and awakening every one of my nerve endings.

I never anticipated such an unrestrained, voracious surge of sensation, but I lost myself and surrendered completely. The raw, mesmerizing, primal dance of his tongue stirred something deep within me, unveiling a depth of desire I had yet to uncover. It was not merely a kiss but a passionate embrace that pulled me into an abyss of need.

This was a seduction in itself.

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