Page 59 of The Nephilim's Finesse

Disappointed, I shook my head.

Victorija whirled on me, rage etched into every line of her face. “Then there is nothing between us! You are a Nephilim, sworn to destroy my kind, and I am a vampire. We are enemies.” She stabbed a finger at the door. “Now, get out before I kill you where you stand.”

I stared at her, unable to form a response. How had I allowed myself to be so blind? Was she so hurt that I couldn’t let her go that she reacted like this? Not to show me how she felt? Or was it all a farce on her side? Would she never care for me, not truly? Was I just another pawn in her game, a tool to use and discard?

Without saying another word, I left. The ache in my chest intensified with every step, but I held my head high. She may have played me for a fool but wouldn’t break me. I still had my duty and my family. The Nephilim needed me, even if she didn’t. I’d endure, as I always had.

I was sitting in the office when someone knocked on the door. Azariel and Andrew came in.

“We have some disturbing news.” Andrew looked paler than usual. His formerly shorn hair was slowly returning to its former length, and his dark blue suit seemed to submerge him into gloominess further.

I remembered how, a few weeks ago, Eldred had captured him and his sister, Charlie. My mind raced with a million questions as they approached me. What news could have them so concerned? Whatever it was, I knew it was serious. I guided them to the chairs and waited for what they’d tell me.

Andrew cleared his throat. “I had a meeting today with what I think was an ancient vampire.” He gulped. “He looked about thirty, but his eyes were so old…. He was terrifying.”

His voice trailed off as he struggled internally with the weight of fear his encounter instilled.

After taking deep breaths to compose himself again, he continued, “Anyway, he wanted me to liquidate property and shares to invest. He said he inherited it from his dear aunt. That’s not so unusual, but the aunt's name was Victorija Flameheart.”

I let that sink in for a moment. Andrew continued. “His solicitor is dealing with the inheritance. It should be his by the end of the month. However, he gave me the list of belongings for which I should find a buyer.”

“That name is not so common, and her property liquefied by a vampire? That can’t be a coincidence. Someone is trying to take over Victorija’s empire and needs money,” Azariel concluded.

I nodded. “What was the name of the man?”

"Thorne Ashcroft," he responded quietly, almost in a whisper, as if saying his name would bring him back here again. The room was silent following this revelation as we all thought of the possible outcome of this situation.

“That’s her sire. What did you do?”

Andrew sighed deeply before finally answering my question. “I said that I have to check the details and then I would start looking for buyers. He urged me to be fast.”

17 Victorija

Laying the book I read on the table and standing up from the chairs, I watched as Raph came to me and pressed his body against mine, his eyes full of desire. My heart raced every time he was near me, and my palms got sweaty. It was a strange feeling, one that I couldn't quite understand. Why did a man make me feel like this? Especially him, who held me captive? It was like I was drawn to him against my will.

Those eyes of purest sin focused on my lips, capturing them in a fiery, hot kiss. He kissed my neck, his cock already pressing against my belly. I wrapped my arms around his neck, tracing my fingers over his shoulders and then running them through his soft hair.

Raph leant in closer, his breath hot on my neck as he pressed me against him. "I've wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you. And now that I have you, I can't let you go," he whispered.

I pushed him away, trying to ignore the way his touch made my skin tingle. "You can't keep me here like this," I said, trying to sound strong.

Raph's eyes turned dark, his grip on my arms tightening. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you with me," he said, his voice almost a growl. No hint of humour, nothing but stark possession.

What was wrong with him? He hadn’t acted like this before. If he truly meant this, I’d be imprisoned for life, never free again. As much as I wanted Raph, my freedom was more important. I knew then that I had to escape, no matter what it took. As I turned to bring space between us, Raph grabbed me from behind, pulling me tight against his chest. "You can't leave me," he whispered in my ear. "You're mine now."

Why was he so possessive all of a sudden? I struggled against him, but his hold was too strong. And deep down, a part of me didn't want to leave.

“You don’t mean that,” I whispered. “Please, don’t lock me up here for eternity.” Something in Raph’s eyes shifted, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

"I mean that I want you more than anything in this world," he murmured, his hands tracing down my arms. "I know it's wrong, but I can't help the way I feel. You drive me crazy, how you look at me and how you move. I need you, now."

I responded to his touch, my heart racing as he pressed me against the wall. I knew I shouldn't want him, but the way his lips felt on mine made it impossible to resist. His hands wandered over my body, pulling me closer as we lost ourselves in the moment. Raph’s lips crashed onto mine, and I let out a moan as he deepened the kiss. I knew I should push him away, but his touch was too intoxicating. Undressing himself and then me, his hands roamed my body, igniting a fire within me. He lifted one of my legs under my thigh, his length lightly entering me, just the tip.

"You're so fucking beautiful."

I kissed his lips; he kissed mine back as he hitched my leg higher, entering me, and I felt his shaft begin to fill me completely.

Raph grabbed me by my hair and pulled my head back. “Now, your pussy is mine.”

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