ã€ŠA Vow So Beautifulã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Dyed in Blue

    Weddings were supposed to be dyed in white. Hers was dyed in ocean blue tears watering away at visions of happily ever¡ªWho was Prisana trying to fool? Her engagement to Giovanni was a far cry from happily ever after.

    Friends congratulated them, envious and enamored at their open displays of affection. The media showered them endlessly as they¡ªthe star couple of New Jersey''s wealthiest pair of the century¡ª radiated their fake beautiful smiles. Smiles so beautiful you''d think you would start to believe in the crystal sheen lies.

    Scratch beneath the surface.

    Giovanni was Prisana''s happily ever after from the moment she breathed life. The only choice like other only choices she had been given. Prisana loved the idea of him. Rich, intelligent, and handsome Giovanni as her husband to be.

    He loved the idea of her too but Giovanni chased skirts on Sundays. Prisana attended church on Sundays.

    But that was okay because her father said so. His words were always right. Always the impeccable guidance that she trusted but shouldn''t. But he''s all Prisana knew. All she had.

    ''Dear, it''s alright for men to indulge in their desires. Giovanni is young but he loves you.''

    ''You''ll marry him. When you do...I''ll be the proudest father in all of New Jersey.''

    ''You''re my daughter. The daughter of the man who has built his empire from the ground up and will marry into the Blair''s. This is for you. Your bright future.''

    Prisana Visalyaputra was a senator''s daughter, born and raised in the southern upscale part of New Jersey. A daddy''s girl¡ªwell mannered, smart spoken, and sheltered. Never went against her daddy''s wishes from birth until she was old enough to understand where her foundation came from.

    Her foundation was built to ultimately stream down a one track hill diving for safe, security, and comfort. But that foundation has begun to crumble into harrowing bits and pieces.

    The pearls once lined elegantly among the folds of her up-do lay scattered onto the marble wooden floorboards. Hours of makeup now streamed down under the dim vanity lights.

    Prisana''s breath hitched in between sobs as his voice boomed through her ears.

    "Prisana," his crisply rough voice cut through from the other side of the door. "Open the door. Let''s talk about this."

    Talk? Talk about how her best friend of twenty years was writhing underneath her husband to be''s cock? The news might already be spreading.

    ''Woman''s best friend sleeps with her husband on the day of the wedding''.

    How classic.

    Oh betrayal hurt like a bitch. It cut through her heart like a thousand razor sharp edged arrows. Ran her eyes swollen dry. Tore at her until she could do nothing but stare motionlessly at the wall.

    Of course her dear father would tell her everything was okay. She would not blame him. Prisana could never blame him. After all he was her only father and was only doing what he thought would be best.

    Yet she knew that if she opened that door, then her fate will be sealed. The pair would still be married in the next fifteen minutes. They would smile so beautifully, say their vows, and kiss under the grand white arch of blooming roses overlooking the lakeside.

    Prisana turned to look at the door.

    At her future.

    For the first time in her life she didn''t want to listen to his beautiful lies. They say people can''t choose their families but they can always choose where their loyalties lie. Before the clock struck five, she would have never believed this saying. When the clock struck five and Prisana witnessed more truths, she knew she would have to choose her own loyalty.

    Choose.

    Make that long overdue choice.

    Prisana slipped off the ten thousand diamond ring. She shed off her heels. Tore off the long over skirt meant to grace the walkway of forever.

    The silky bountiful layers felt like thick ice to her fingers as she gathered them in fistfuls.

    Then she finally made a choice.

    Not the door.

    The window.

 Chapter 2 - Misfortunes

    As one of those classic runaway brides, Prisana had envisioned her journey to be graced with uplifting hope. But that was far from the kind of journey that shed it''s skies and bled her muscles numb. She fought with the raging currents of the rivers, and paddled against rocks and large wooden logs.

    But, all to no avail.

    The thunderous storm ripped apart the canoe at her knees in two. Rising splashing currents engulfed her body, it''s ice cold waters numbing every joint and bone. Prisana struggled to breathe out air as ripples of water came relentlessly crashing down on her one after the other.

    This¡ªsob story catastrophe¡ªwas her punishment. The bible taught one to be selfless and always forgiving. She chose her heart. Her selfish desires. Maybe the heavens were angry. Specifically, those at her wedding expecting the bride to be at the altar.

    Father.

    Giovanni.

    Prisana wondered if her father was worried. But she knew the truth. It wasn''t his darling daughter that he was worried about but his reputation.

    News of his runaway daughter would tarnish his celebrity reputation as the grand wedding of the century is called off. Maybe Prisana could be wrong. She hoped to death she was wrong.

    Would Gio come look for her, beg for forgiveness, and pledge his undying love? Maybe. His future connections and assets depended on this marriage. He''s done this before.

    The cheating didn''t matter. It only tore and bled at her as the one person she trusted as her own sister turned her back on her. Erica knew it hurt to see the man Prisana would marry, love other women. She knew it hurt but that it wouldn''t break her. Erica knew it wouldn''t break her unless it was Erica herself.

    Prisana clasped her hand onto the dirt landing, wheeling herself onto her feet. Wet drops continued to pour and smear at her already tear stricken face.

    "I''ve been a good daughter! A good bride to be! An obedient stick in the ass! This is how you treat me? Come on, give me everything you got. I''ll take it."

    Her words were met with a flash of lightning. Her spine jolted in response, not to the lightning but to the large feral being glowering from inside the pine tree shadows.

    Another flash of light illuminated monstrous grizzly features¡ªsmall roundish black eyes, large nostrils, and a snarling jagged open mouth. Her father did not teach her survival skills. Something, she supposed she should have taken into consideration when running out into the wild.

    Large male hands stifled her screams.

    "Trust me. I would not do that if I were you."

    The voice of the owner was gruffly deep, tinged with laboring huskiness. Prisana dared to glance behind to a man whose stature was almost as large as the bear before her. He resembled a caveman. He had long dark hair that reached his elbows. There were scruffy, untamed, wild unruly locks of beard covering his prominent jawline.

    Her eyes were completely drawn to the hideous bulging scar that cut through his right eye and slanted down across his cheek. Prisana twisted underneath another flash of lightning that further illuminated large jagged brown scars around his right dark smoldering eye.

    Prisana''s stalker from the shadows removed his hand from her lips but brought them down to clench one of her shoulders. She wasn''t sure that she liked his over the casual touch but frankly at the moment, her shaking gradually subsided.

    He seemed to notice her staring intently at his scar and covered it with a half ski mask¡ªthe kind with no mouth and a slit opening for the eyes.

    On anyone else, it would have looked sinister.

    Oh him, it looked stunning as sin underneath the starless clouding black sky.

 Chapter 3 - Man in the Woods

    "Let''s not startle a natural predator, hmm?"

    Prisana glanced over at the shotgun holstered onto one of his shoulders. Then, her gaze panned over at remains of animal fur dripping wet with blood thrown over his other shoulder. She took a step torward the bear.

    Compared to the bear, her stalker appeared to frighten her more with his caveman like features and mere shotgun at his disposal. Her spine stiffened as the feral beast crunched over a log. The bear regarded them with disinterest. It crawled over to her satchel of items.

    "My belongings!"

    Her masked stalker shook his head and stuck his hand out to prevent her from approaching the bear.

    "Too late. You should have thought twice before venturing out into these woods alone like this."

    The masked stalker now stepped closer to the bear, cautiously raising his voice.

    "Shoo, go away now."

    "Didn''t you just say¡ª"

    "I said not to startle it. I''m being assertive."

    "Oh for Christ''s sake! It''s a bloody bear," Prisana hissed.

    "It''s a coward. You could scare off a bear with a stick. Statistically, you could get killed by bees out here."

    He continued to lure the large black bear into the forest; her phone, wallet, and keys being carried away with it. Prisana looked down at the only valuable thing she had left which was ripped and soiled wet.

    By now, her wedding dress could pass as a Halloween costume, the corpse bride. Ironic considering it was custom made by designer Laura Wade. However none of that mattered anymore.

    What mattered now was the terrifying stranger before her, his scarred face covered only by the thin layers of a ski mask. Terrifying albeit the fact that he was out in the woods during a raging storm killing innocent animals and putting them on his back to take home.

    Or worse.

    He could be burying bodies in disguise! Her heart told her to go, go, go somewhere far away from this man. Yet her mind told her that if he wanted to kill her, he didn''t have to rescue the day by warding off the bear.

    "T-Thank you. Where you w-watching me somehow...f-following me?" Prisana asked, scouring the areas for a possible exit in case the worse possible scenario struck.

    "Both," the masked stalker brazenly admits this. "It was to keep you from expiring out in these woods. This is my property. I noticed a body flailing about in the waters on my cameras."

    "T-Thanks. I-I''ll be f-fine now."

    "You''re shaking."

    "C-Canoe flipped. T-Then that whole o-ordeal with the b-bear. G-God I''m so cold."

    His fingers threaded lightly around her back. "Follow me. You need to be indoors."

    Prisana flinched away from the warmth that pooled from his fingers. Her arms helplessly wrapped over her chest to generate warmth, but to no avail. Raging storms had eased up over trickles of raindrops. Still, her body continued to fight against the chill air intermingled with the ice cold water melting along her skin.

    "I am no more than enthusiastic than you are about this whole affair but we would both regret it if you develop hypothermia and die out here in these woods¡ªMy woods. I don''t need a dead body on my property."

    She managed a bitter smile. A real smile for the first time in months.

    "H-How very h-hospitable of you."

    "Come, follow me."

 Chapter 4 - His Cabin

    The masked stranger briskly walked off into a narrow pathway covered by thick bushes and long tree branches. Prisana followed suit and stared at his large muscular frame that shadowed the bear from earlier. He must work out an awful lot or eat like a ravenous beast for his body to become so ripped.

    He towered tall and stretched his frame wide to match those body builders she once explored on television.

    This man was a lot larger than Giovanni or any other man she ever laid eyes on. Giovanni was less built, more lean and harbored less of the burly caveman like hairs.

    They crunched through a few more patches of trees before confronting a small wooden cabin overlooking a spacious patch of luscious green grass. The scene was very picturesque. It resembled a secret garden hidden within thick patches of woods. It was obscured and shut off from the rest of the world.

    As they reached the porch landing, Prisana observed pots of orderly lined flowers near stone steps. Petunias, lilac, poppies, and black nightshades.

    Did he grow these himself?

    The masked stranger slipped off his green camouflage jacket dripping wet with water and tossed it over to the side. He proceeded to lift the underside of his white T-shirt.

    "Wait!" Prisana shouted, eyeing his hands. "You''re going to take off your clothes. Here?"

    "Is that a problem? This is my porch we are standing on."

    The man smirked as he noticed her obvious discomfort. His piercing gaze roamed over her wedding dress. Under the porch light, Prisana''s misfortunes were shed to light. The low dipped bodice and ripped sleeves and tattered ruffles that fall as shriveled folds of moistened fabric.

    To him, Prisana probably look like a wet disastrous mess.

    To her, Prisana looked like a thousand sweet promises broken and forgotten.

    "You look like you had a rough day," was all he could manage to compassionately offer on her obvious state of distress.

    More than a rough day, she had a rough future to worry over. Prisana followed him inside, noting he kept his shirt on. She''d be lying if she said she wasn''t the least bit curious on how he looked like raw and bare underneath his shirt but wouldn''t dare voice it out loud.

    The cabin was small¡ªalmost too small when comparing it to his large weight and build shrouding the room.

    A small cozy fireplace. A bookshelf lined with color coded alphabetical ordered books. A kitchen and two rooms which she presumed were the bedroom and the bathroom. The cabin didn''t harbor any pictures. Just walls lined in black and windows plastered with drab grey curtains. There was almost no feeling of warmth.

    Only a detached house full of necessities to go on. It felt sad. Lonely almost. To think a large man such as himself lives out here alone by himself. What for? There were questions rolling out at the tip of her tongue but once morning came then this mysterious caveman wouldn''t matter to her anymore.

    "Here. Feel free to use my shower as you like. I''ll be outside gathering wood for the fire."

    He tossed her a towel and some of his clothing. Then, left her standing there in an unfamiliar cabin, vulnerable and alone. Prisana''s whole life, her father would never allow her to step foot into a place like this.

    It was all grand mansions and luxurious vacation houses off the coasts of Florida or Hawaii. Not deep into the woods of New Jersey with some caveman that looked as if he would devour her.

    She walked into the bathroom and undressed, relief filling her lungs as the heavy folds of the dress fell down onto the ground.

    A wedding dress was every woman''s dreams.

    Not Prisana''s.

    But her father''s dreams, that he set out for her.

    Now she didn''t have to wear that burden anymore.

 Chapter 5 - Hospitality

    After she showered, she put on his oversized T-shirt and his baggy sweatpants. She sniffed the shirt. The smell was oddly comforting, that of musk and pine trees. Then she walk out of the bathroom and found the man feeding wood to the hungry blazing fire.

    "Er," she mumbled awkwardly. "Nice place."

    Prisana you idiot, that''s all you can think of? Nice place?

    He regarded her with a guarded expression so she couldn''t tell what he was thinking. She didn''t think she would ever be able to read his mind. But of course, she won''t have to after tonight.

    "You can stay for the night but you have to leave tomorrow," came his placid tone.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t impose on you for long. I''ll leave once the sun rises."

    When the sun kisses the sky, she''ll be gone. She had no clue where she would go but she couldn''t go back to living a lie. First, she would contact Aunt Florence. Hopefully Aunt Florence would take her in until she could find a job, finally go to college, and support herself like she''s always dreamed of.

    Then Prisana would never have see this man again or think about all the mysterious questions plaguing her mind.

    She peeked at him sideways like a child trying not to get caught, at his mask.

    "Why do you have to wear a mask?" she asked, eyes roaming over the black ski mask.

    There was a moment of silence before he answered.

    "To hide my scars."

    Prisana knew that part as the scar was the first thing she noticed about him.

    What she wondered was why he felt the need to wear a mask. Even with the scar he wasn''t terribly handsome but then he wasn''t terribly bad looking either. Striking, that is to say from the way his rugged unshaven features inhibit this raw masculine hardness. He intrigued her. He implored her to unravel what layers she could before the morning light arrived.

    She''d never met anyone like him. Her inquisitiveness continued. A bad habit of hers since she did enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes novel.

    "What''s your name?"

    "Why do you ask so many questions? I prefer it that we don''t ask personal questions."

    "Since when did asking for one''s name become a personal question?"

    "Just now," he somberly stated. "Because I said so. Listen. I don''t care about your story. You shouldn''t give a damn about mines either."

    That will be be as much as she could pry out of him. The beastly feral man had his limits. Limits she was not willing to push. The crackling blazing fire cut into the silence filled air. Both sat in silence, soaking in the fire''s crackling warmth. Prisana fiddled with her cold toes and twirled the lock of strand foolishly covering her mouth.

    "Dane."

    Her ears immediately perked up.

    "What?"

    "My name is Dane."

    So, he wasn''t completely shut off to the world. Prisana was beginning to think he would never open up to her if even his name were off limits. She rolled his name quietly on her lips.

    Dane. Dane was a fitting name for him. It matched his beastly like features that resembled the great white Dane.

    "Prisana. Why do you live here alone?"

    Dane finally looked at her in the eye after avoiding them this whole time. He motioned over to his shotgun positioned near the door.

    "If I tell you then I''d have to kill you."

    An uneasiness gnawed at her bones.

    "Surely you jest. Seeing as I already died the moment I ran away from my vows, try me."

    "So you''re a runaway bride. I''m housing a fugitive," came his sardonic reply.

    That wasn''t too far off the mark. By now her father probably had his men scouring the depths of these woods in search of her. She wouldn''t tell him that. It seemed like he didn''t like bothersome things. Prisana was one of them. Her reasons could not be blown away. She still needed a place to stay for the night.

    "Yes," she proceeded cautiously, not surprised as her wedding dress probably pointed that out as such. "I''m all yours to deal with for the night. Rest assured, I don''t snore nor do I make an awful lot of noise. You''ll find that I am a good roommate."

    The corners of Dane''s lips almost broke out into a smile. Almost, but not quite. The man was made of impenetrable ice. What really, could get under his skin?

    "That''s reassuring to hear. It''s getting late. You can sleep on my bed. I''ll sleep on the sofa."

    "Oh. I really don''t want to impose on you! You take the bed. I''ll sleep on the sofa."

    "No. My cabin. My rules. You are to sleep on the bed."

    "But¡ª"

    Dane stepped forward and suddenly she was aware of how condescendingly large he was again compared to her. He made her feel utterly small and vulnerable standing next to him.

    "If you keep arguing with me, we will both sleep on the bed."

    She licked her lower lip. His eyes followed the subtle action. What would it feel like? Dane''s muscular arms enclosing around her body, his large feral body entwined above hers as they meld into deep passionate kisses?

    Their lips would foreplay a never ending battle. Prisana''s insides quivered just thinking about the caveman in front of her, his eyes dancing with a playful fire. He probably knew she was attracted to him. Maybe he already knew that women in general were attracted to him.

    It was hard not to be.

    "If that''s what you want...I can warm the bed and various other places on your body. Take it as my being hospitable."

    "No thank you! I''ll take the bed."

    Prisana leapt off toward the bedroom, far away from the beast and his hospitable offer.

 Chapter 6 - Distance

    When Dane awoke, he woke to soft cheery singing spilling into his ears like fine silk. A woman hadn''t graced his presence in weeks. Until now, that is. He made it a point to cut off every single person that knew him, spoke to him, and heard of him. To them, he was dead. To him, he was also dead.

    Only an empty shell operating on means to exact revenge.

    Emotions like compassion left him the moment when those dear to him ceased to exist. Yet when he peered through the security cameras and found someone battling their will to live, he found a lingering spark of compassion that resembled a man he used to know. Compassion which drove him to a moment of weakness and presumably, a lifetime of regret.

    The recollection of her in her wedding gown, broken and sullied beyond repair flooded Dane''s memories.

    A fugitive¡ªA rather temptress looking fugitive ¡ªnow stood inside his kitchen. Her regarded her warily. Prisana. She stood barefoot, clad in his oversize black T-shirt and baggy sweats. She had long black hair that fell in massive waves against her waist with the most light brown eyes he''d ever seen.

    If the woman wore an empty potato sack, she would still look pleasing. He has seen many women. Many of them beautiful. But Prisana''s beauty was different. Her beauty captivated him from the the moment he first laid eyes on her unwavering striking brown eyes.

    When most women see his scar they flinch or immediately distance themselves. She didn''t waver as she looked straight on at his hideous scars. She radiated poise and speech much more refined and delicate than all the other women he was used to associating with. And, she was dangerous.

    Maybe it was the fact that he hadn''t lain with a woman in months but his body responded last night when she seemed so sweet and inviting. But Dane didn''t like to associate with women who had ''runaway bride'' labeled on their foreheads.

    He knew as much as the next man that she was off limits and clearly precious goods. The only women he ever went to bed with were soiled goods.

    Dane stalked her movements from the wall, his arms folded against his chest.

    "You''re still here. In my kitchen. What are you making?"

    Prisana''s startled expression threw her off balance. A loud crash sounded throughout the small kitchen. She steadied herself and grabbed the pan at the ground. Something greatly bothered him watching her as she invaded the privacy of his cabin and the heart to his stomach. Some woman he barely knew was worming their way into his life.

    "S-Sorry. Well the storm isn''t settling down. I figured to ease my presence here with you, I''d be useful and cook. I''m making eggs by the way. How do you like them?"

    Dane glanced out at the window. Much to his complete disdain, the storm was even worse than yesterday. A tree or two in the distance leaned and bushes toppled over as the wind and rain continued to rage on relentlessly.

    Storms in New Jersey were rare but when they happened, they were long and ferocious.

    Not good.

    The sooner he got rid of her, the better. She didn''t need to stick around to find out his story. He sure as hell didn''t want to find hers out either.

    "Don''t tell me...The style of eggs is another personal question I shouldn''t pester you about?" she asked, her nose crinkling to one side.

    "Eggs over easy."

    Her hands awkwardly fumbled on the stove handles. She set the pan onto the stove and huffed and puffed a smile once she managed to successfully place the pan on the stove. No sooner when the smile appeared, it left. She proceeded to crack an egg but all the shells crumbled and fell to pieces inside.

    "Would you like some help?"

    "Don''t laugh. Can you show me how to crack an egg?"

    Her face was turned down in embarrassment, rightfully so. A sheltered miss? Dane believed normal people like himself first learned to cook eggs as their first dish. Still he didn''t question her. He didn''t want to know why she''s never cracked an egg in her life. Rather he didn''t care to know.

    Dane''s body raked around her small petite form, predator over prey. Suddenly he was aware of how good she smelled, like lavender hindered by scent of pine trees and musk. Her nape was also slender and bare, ripe for smothering. He watched her ears turned red and nipples in her shirt perking up enticingly.

    Trying to appear distant, he ushered her body to the side. Then he grabbed the egg from one of her hands and positioned the shell against the bowl edges. She watched on in dumbfounded amazement at the sheer easiness of cracking an egg.

    If she couldn''t crack an egg then she wouldn''t be able to process eggs over easy.

    "Let me take over. You can just sit."

    She shook her head. Stubborn woman.

    "Please. Sit," he motioned at the wooden chair off to the side. "I don''t want my cabin dissolved to flames and ashes."

    Prisana finally complied by walking over to the dining chair and took a seat. She breathed a sigh of relief as she was in one spot where she could watch and make sure nothing was going to explode. She wanted to be useful. Dane wanted her to be gone and out of his life. The raging weather sure wasn''t helping much with the situation.

    "You must think I''m a sheltered snob," she draws out in what sounds like embarrassment.

    "I don''t think anything of you. You might have your own reasons and frankly, I don''t think I care about that either."

    "Ha. You don''t seem to care about anything."

    "I used to. You learn to stop when life fucks you over so much."

    "You cared enough to help me out in that storm."

    "Again. I didn''t want your dead body on my property. Don''t get so ahead of yourself."

    By now Dane presumed she was becoming sick and tired of him. Good. He was beginning to grow sick and tired of her endless attempts to make small conversation with him.

    He wasn''t a man of many words and when he did speak, nothing but the despicable truth came out. No sugar coating. No games. That''s not the kind of men she was used to. She didn''t need to get used to those kind of men. Of him.

    "You don''t have to make conversation with me."

    Her voice grew more distant, more reserved. "Well excuse me for seeking human interaction. It''s only you and I until this storm calms down so I figured I''d try and get to know you more."

    "Stop figuring things," he said coldly while setting down the eggs and bacon in front of her. "I''ll drive you to the nearest town, or rather the nearest phone booth after you eat."

    Prisana pushed away the meal he prepared for her. Now he''s done it. Somehow he felt like a beast who after countless attempts has finally managed to harm his prey. Her pretty brown eyes were streaked with brimming tears but she didn''t break down. Instead her fierce gaze met his, letting him know that he hurt her and that now she was angry.

    "That''s not necessary. You can drive me now. I lost my appetite and I''ve grown entirely sick of this cabin."

    Sick of Dane. She brushed past his shoulder and went into the bathroom. Was he too harsh? No. He gave her what she deserved. The truth. For her to realize that he was a despicable man who wanted nothing to do with her. There was no more room for heartache. No more room for liabilities. Only room for careful deliberation.

 Chapter 7 - Charming Property

    Dane''s growing agitation led him to kick the large truck tire and send the monster rattling. He was unsure of what has been gnawing at his patience¡ªthe tempting fugitive inside his cabin or the dead truck battery.

    Each time he stuck the key into the ignition, a loud crank vibrated through his ears. It didn''t help that the sky was dark and pouring down with fast incoming droplets.

    Another kick to the useless monster sent it rattling once again.

    The truck was an old monster, found abandoned and left to rot in an old alleyway. Dane took it in, fixed it up, and polished it to working condition and this is how it repaid him? When he needed the monster to work the most, it decided to die on him.

    The universe must be playing tricks, raging storms and killing car batteries to keep the fugitive and Dane stuck with one another. But he always went against the universe and what it wanted. He used the tools in his hands and dabbled with the monster''s guts.

    The universe must have listened as the raging storm seemed to calmed its cries, the droplets disappearing all together. Dane glanced upwards and found an umbrella that did little to shelter his large frame. Shadows of a petite fugitive stood from behind him as her feet tiptoed to match his staggering height.

    "You looked like you needed a little help. Here, I hope you don''t mind. I poked around for a flashlight."

    He grabbed the flashlight and turned it on, setting it underneath the car hood. It illuminated the car parts he needed to take out much easier.

    "Thanks," he muttered under his breath, flicking his head upward at the umbrella. "But you don''t have to do that."

    "But I want to do this."

    "Even after I flatly told you I wanted you gone? You have more heart than you should."

    "I did consider letting you continue to get soaked and come down with a terrible cold but oh, that would mean I''d have to stay here longer. We both don''t want that. That''s why I want to do this so don''t get so ahead of yourself."

    The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. Indeed. She had less heart than he gave her credit for. At least they were finally agreeing to something. That she should get as far away from him as possible and return to wherever the hell it is that she came from. Possibly, back to her husband. Back to her shimmering upscale life that did not involve a beast and his cabin.

    And so they stood there, their frames sheltered beneath the umbrella for what seemed like minutes until time ceased to exist. This time she didn''t speak a word. She only watched his hands work away at unscrewing the car''s batteries. The pouring rain fell onto the ground splashing a rhythmic beat to her low deep voice.

    Prisana began to hum another one of her blasting tunes underneath her breath but Dane didn''t mind it as much as he did this morning. He found her aimless humming endearing almost, save for the fact that it was too cheery for his tastes. When she stopped humming altogether, he finished retrieving the car batteries once and for all.

    "You stopped humming. It was nice. You have a nice voice."

    Her cheeks flushed a bright red. The kind of red he''d imagine tainting her rosy skin with in his bed sheets. Did she not receive compliments regularly? Her husband must be a fool to not shower her in affection. Dane wondered if he even knew she has the voice of a goddess...No, an angel.

    "I used to take singing classes," she shyly admits, then lowered the umbrella. "Dane, it stopped raining. I didn''t notice it before but your cabin, no...Your property is all very charming."

    Prisana was right. The rain did cease to bleed from the skies. Raging winds did not calm but the orange red sun glowered from behind the clouds and shone down on their silhouettes like night and day until shadows stretched tall.

    The cowering sun brought life to their surroundings and life to her pretty and wet dripping delicate features which he didn''t think could leave him any more breathless.

    Her crooked nose crinkled as she smiled and when she smiled, the beast inside of him purred.

    She was more charming than his cabin, the property or anything else around.

    "Right, charming," Dane managed to utter as he shut the hood. "Let''s head back. I''ll fix the batteries then send you off."

 Chapter 8 - Welcome to Cranbury

    The beast that saved Prisana''s life was eager to rid of her. That shouldn''t come as a surprise. Her presence was only a chess piece in father''s and Giovanni''s game of power. She''s not wanted. She''s needed goods. Prisana has been coming to terms with that the entire night of mulling, mulling again, and planning.

    When she would deemed as a useless wife and have completed what she was meant to do, both father and Giovanni will rid of her as well. Rid of her by keeping her housed in luxurious mansions grinning happily beside a man who does not love or care for their children.

    She would have been content with her happily ever after if not for their betrayal. Running away was spontaneous and unplanned. Meeting him was also spontaneous and unplanned.

    Despite the brooding beast inhabiting the vicinity, she quite like the woodsy, grassy, and pine tree odors. The small cozy cabin in the middle of thick patches of flower blooming greenery. Even the peaceful lullabies of birds chirping and faint rustling of trees, Prisana has found them all to be endearing.

    Just not the man himself that owns her solace and hates the idea of her.

    Two can play at the hating game. If he was so hell bent on hating and getting ridding of Prisana, then she would be just as cruel. She had never harbored as much as a cruel bone in her body but he meant business and to deal with men like him, she had to mean her feelings like a transaction.

    This was not a heartwarming tale of a beast who saves his princess.

    No. This was a story of a beast who refuses to save a princess and the princess who doesn''t need saving. She''s tired of being a princess and being the good girl. The good girl who always listened to her father, went to church, and attended all private girl''s academies.

    Prisana''s body and mind were groggy but the moment she stepped foot onto Dane''s truck, she knew she had to grow a backbone somewhere as the next move was drawing near.

    "You can just take me to the nearest phone booth. Then, I''ll wait until someone comes to get me."

    His eyes were locked onto the dirt road. "How far is your home? If it isn''t too far, I can drop you off there instead."

    "You have more heart than I gave you credit for," she jested, referencing to his earlier statement.

    Again, hints of a smile threaten to leak out but do not. Were his lips dysfunctional?

    "But don''t bother. I live at least a good six to eight hour drive from here."

    Dane didn''t say anything else for the whole ride. She didn''t bother to either. He despised small talk. Talk about his life or hers. When he spoke, it wasn''t that he wanted to but that he needed to. She realized he wanted to keep a distance.

    Clearly Dane was a man Prisana found to be interesting but she knew if she wandered too far off then it would be difficult to find the way out. He was right. The way out to falling too deep into his story and for him, too deep into hers.

    Prisana restlessly stared at pine trees for a good hour or so until a sign that read ''Welcome to Cranbury'' surfaced. Similar to Dane''s cabin, the small town reeked of a woodsy lakeside retreat. Houses and shops were built with wood and laced with tourists bustling the roads. Folks even passed along the monster truck with horses.

    This was all new to her, save for the fact that her wedding was situated on a mansion overlooking hills. She had never stepped foot on areas that weren''t streets brimming with money.

    Dane parked his truck in front of a tavern called the Iron Horse. The bell rang upon opening its doors. They were both greeted with a ''hello'' from an old woman behind the counter but the woman''s face soon fell in horror as she laid eyes on Dane.

    Probably at his half ski mask covering his scar or his long tied black hair. Prisana couldn''t blame the woman for having such a fright as Dane''s figure towered above her like a bear, so condescending and so reclusive.

    "D-Dane my boy? Is it my eyes playing tricks on me?" the woman asked to no one but herself as she rubbed her tear filled eyes.

    She looked over to catch any hint of emotion in Dane''s features but to her expectation, there was none. Dane regarded the old woman coolly with disinterest. He walked over to the stool and took a seat behind the counter. Prisana only lingered by the doorway as she felt out of place.

    Seeing as she was only twenty years old, bars or places that associated with alcohol were beyond her years. The closest she''s sampled to alcohol was wine but that was an acquired taste most elites in New Jersey ought to master.

    "Don''t. I''ll explain later," Dane warns the old woman as he quickly wiped away her tears. "Give me the usual. Make it strong. I also need a phone. Now."

    Poor old woman. Her eyes panned over repeatedly at Prisana, then to Dane. Words were caught in her throat as she struggled to breathe in air. If she didn''t know any better, it seemed like the woman could faint at any given moment.

    Even before the woman managed to speak, her hands were already deliberately working on fixing Dane a drink.

    "A-A-Alright," she stammered out, watching me kick the dust on the floor. "Miss, you can take a seat anywhere you''d like. And Dane, we have a phone in the back that you can use."

    "Not for me, for Prisana."

    She glanced over to Prisana. Then Prisana looked over to Dane for help but she should have known better. Dane turned his face away so that Prisana was left stranded to feign for an explanation. If this woman were his relative or someone that knew him well, how did she even begin to explain their relationship?

    That she was a runaway bride who by unfortunate coincidence, fell into an unwanted beasts property? They didn''t know each other well and what Prisana knew of him, she didn''t particularly like. Finally, Prisana deviously grinned.

    "It must be a lot for you to take in but Dane and I, we''re engaged."

 Chapter 9 - Common Ground

    If Prisana thought the old woman couldn''t be any more surprised regarding Dane''s sudden arrival, then she thought wrong. The woman almost flew backwards from the shock of their fake engagement announcement but steadied herself against the counter.

    And Dane''s reaction, Prisana didn''t dare to look in his direction as she could feel daggers shooting at her.

    But what did he expect? That she tell the woman the truth? That would hamper Prisana''s own plans as any news of her will send father or Giovanni rushing over to retrieve her. Just as much as him, she needed to be cautious about her whereabouts.

    The woman glanced over at Dane to confirm the news. "Is this true? You went off into bloody god knows where and got engaged?"

    Dane, who she still didn''t want to look at but could feel him burning holes through her body, stood from the stool and stalked the side of her frame. His arm wrapped around her waist, sending waves of alarm crashing among one over the other.

    She tried to wiggle out of his hold but it was useless. The beast had her trapped inside his arms. Prisana despised how she could do nothing but smile at the trouble she stirred.

    "Yes. She''s my lovely fiancee. Please treat her very, very well."

    The way Dane emphasized ''very'' made her blood run cold. The old woman smiled as she rushed over to push me forward.

    "Any one of Dane''s lovers are always welcomed into my tavern. Come, I''ll show you to the phone."

    So, he frequented this place often with women in tow. Any ''one'' of his lovers meant that it wasn''t the first time he brought a woman to this tavern. Prisana wondered how many women he''s seduced, ravished, and then tossed away like second nature.

    She didn''t want to stick around long enough to find out. Didn''t want to end up like one of his many lovers and live through to experience their bad endings. Her bad ending already began and ended. Now she needed to run face forward and choose the happy ending.

    The old woman whose name she was uncertain of, led her into the back of the tavern and into a kitchen. The tavern and a private home were adjoined together, connected through a small hallway at the back. Prisana looked around the cozy kitchen full of pictures which vibrated with life and compared it to the dark lonely cabin.

    A home was not a home without pictures. Dane''s small and desolate cabin harbored none. She carefully studied a picture with a small young boy, whose face looked familiar but his joyous expression resembled that of a stranger.

    "I-Is this Dane?" she asked, fingers tracing over the boy''s dark hair and small build. There was a boyish smile she never thought she''d see on him.

    "That''s him alright. Used to be adorable. Now he''s an uptight brooding man but I suppose I''m glad that even with the terrible things he''s gone through, he''s still found love."

    To think Prisana was fooling a complete stranger...Her guilt continued to sky rocket. This woman would probably kick her out if she knew Prisana was lying. If she knew Dane and Prisana were nothing more than strangers. Nothing more than two people with agendas who didn''t plan on writing each other off as longer than temporary.

    "You can use this phone here," she points to the phone on the wall, then finally rakes over my appearance. "Prisana, was it?...You''re not really his fiance, are you?"

    She was sharp. Prisana nodded.

    "Was it that obvious? Er no, I''m not. We''ve become acquainted by rather unfortunate circumstances."

    "That''s what I guessed. After all, you''re not like his usual women."

    "Oh?" she inquired, an eyebrow arching. "And what are his usual women like?"

    "Older, more exposing, and more... how should I say it? More everything that''s the opposite of you."

    The opposite of Prisana? She should be the one speaking out those words against him. Dane was the older, more dangerous, and everything opposite to a man she''d ever dream of being ''engaged'' to. The pair were the same in that aspect.

    Ironic but a common ground in which their tastes differed.

 Chapter 10 - The Beast and His Fiancee

    Hiccuping, sobbing cries wailed into Prisana''s ears. The first thing Aunt Florence did when she heard her voice spill over the phone, was to break down into a hundred little tears.

    Those hundred little tears carried on for a thousand as Prisana tried to calm her down and reassure her that her life was not miserable.

    Not miserable from raging storms imploring her to the cold waters. Not miserable from washing ashore to a masked brooding beast. And, not miserable for feeling like she didn''t belong anywhere. Not home, his cabin, or this cozy Cranbury town.

    "Oh my little Prisana! Is everything really okay? Let me contact your father to let him know¡ª"

    "Don''t," Prisana interrupted her. "Tell father or I swear I will disappear and none of you will know where I am. Please aunt Florenc...I beg of you to please spare me this one wish. I never once wished for anything in my entire life but for the first time, I am wishing for a new start."

    "Just tell me where you are. I''ll send someone to come fetch you. I promise that if you tell me, you can come stay with me and I won''t say a word. You can believe in your aunt Florence."

    Prisana told Aunt Florence where she was. Apart from Erica, she was someone precious Prisana could never replace. Aunt Florence gave her many firsts a parent should have. Prisana''s father was too busy being a politician so Aunt Florence raised Prisana as her own.

    Aunt Florence taught her how to ride a bike. How to solve those wretched math problems. How to be kind, always forgiving, and never to overstep one''s boundaries.

    But Prisana was failing her already. Being kind to the beast didn''t mean he would be kind in return. Forgiving Erica was a hopeless cause. Prisana''s boundaries were stepped over when she ran away from her vows. These failures of hers, fall so rapid and without remorse which force her to quickly grow.

    Grow and stop relying on him. Deep down Prisana wanted to tell Aunt Florence to call her father. She missed the high end clothing, jewelry, and shoes. Expensive food. Expensive daily outings across the borders or over the continent. That lavish carefree lifestyle, was all she ever knew from birth. But she knew she was only conditioned to that lifestyle. It was comfort.

    She felt comfortable being supported and was used to having things handed over to her on a silver platter. As much as Prisana despised that caged lifestyle, she despised herself so much more for missing each moment because life was easy.

    Never difficult.

    Only suffocating.

    When Prisana finished soothing Aunt Florence''s worries, she returned back to the tavern. By now she suspected the beast would be gone. She suspected he would relish in the fact he could finally rid of her.

    But, she was wrong.

    There Dane was, still seated next to the bar but he was not alone. A provocative, very alluring, and total opposite woman of Prisana as described by the elderly woman from earlier enters the picture sooner than she could even begin to imagine her.

    "...alone for the night? I haven''t seen you here in awhile," the woman smiles as she says this, leaning over so her breasts are on full display.

    Dane doesn''t say anything. Not due to hesitation. His silence was due to his wandering eyes which explored what she had to offer. Long wavy crimson hair fell to the sides of her curvy hips like. Pretty dark eyes fluttered into his. Perhaps he would accept her offer but Prisana didn''t want to stand around to find out.

    "Excuse me," Prisana interrupted them happily. "What business do you have with my fiance?"

    Her features fell down in embarrassment. "I''m sorry. I didn''t know he was taken by another."

    She smiles and even dares to wink at Dane as she scurries off into a crowd of her friends. Dane''s irritated gaze from the alluring woman flicked over to me.

    "To what do I owe you for your persistent badgering?"

    There was no way Dane was going to accompany a woman and have a good time while she was wallowing away in an uncertain future. Prisana smiled with all innocent white teeth, motioning toward the door.

    "You''re still here. Why haven''t you left? I was hoping you''d be gone when I was done on the phone but here I found you flirting not even an hour into our grand announcement."

    Finally, she made the beast bare his fangs. His lips couldn''t help but break out into a smile. Not a genuine kind of smile. The kind of smile that gives you shivers thinking about what could be on his mind.

    "Unfortunately, I need a new car battery. It''ll be sent here by the morning. Luckily for you, your dear fiance will be staying with you all night long. That way, we can do all sorts of things in bed."

    Prisana looked at him in horror. "Surely you''re lying? I know I''ve made a complete fool of you but this is stretching it a bit far."

    Dane shook his head. "Prisana, I don''t lie."

    "You lied when you said I was your fianc¨¦e."

    "That was your lie that you started. If you want to play games with me then I''ll indulge in them with you but just know, you might not like where it is heading. When I play a game like this silly engagement game of yours, I play it hard and I don''t stop until I win."

    Prisana did not doubt him. Every word he said, she knew he meant them. From the very beginning, he has made it clear that he doesn''t beat around the bush and play games. Yet he''s playing this game with her and she wondered why he even bothered to. Perhaps it was his pride that wouldn''t allow him to back down when presented with a challenge.

    The old woman came around the counter after fixing up another customer''s drink. She poured Dane another drink. He devoured the glass in one fell gulp. Prisana itched to tell him it was bad for his health but he would probably dismiss her warnings.

    "Will you two be needing a place to stay for the night? You can rest in my little old cottage down by the river."

    "No."

    "Yes."

    Dane and Prisana leveled their gazes at one another. Her eyes bore into his without restraint. Water clouded her vision until she couldn''t keep them open any longer. She shut her eyes close. The beast won this round but there wouldn''t be a next time.

    He tossed her the truck keys and craned his head toward the door. Prisana narrowed her eyes at him and the old woman. It was code for get the hell out of the tavern so they could speak behind her back.

    Wasn''t he worried she would drive off without him? Prisana walked out of the tavern and back inside the monster truck so she could mull again and again before the morning light came.

 Chapter 11 - Old Memories

    Bailey stood before Dane, her features down turning into a scowl. A flood of memories ran through his head as he gauged in her familiar appearance. Their joyous family gatherings always took place right here inside Iron Horse. Each day, they would spend hours idly roaming each bend in the road.

    But those days were gone. That carefree boy was gone.

    Now the woman before him, eyes once soft and loving turned wary and jaded. There were hard edges around her face structure, wrinkles and spots that were never present before. It was sad watching yourself turn into someone you didn''t know but even more heart wrenching to find a woman you love, look at you with the most unwanted emotions.

    With pity, anger, and disappointment.

    "I thought you were dead," Bailey croaked out under her breath, narrowing her eyes at the ski mask, the unkept beard, and the long hair.

    She reached out to touch the side of Dane''s jaw. He nearly shrank away from her hand. Her warmth.

    "Dane, it really is you. Tell me, what have you been up to?"

    The Dane she knew was dead. He died that day three years ago and it haunted him like a nightmare each waking moment. He swirled the third glass of whiskey, watching as his reflection in the liquid of the young innocent boy he once knew turned into the most ugly, detestable version of himself.

    "I''ve been coping."

    "Coping? Dear god Dane, everyone thinks you''re dead! I thought you were dead but I never gave up. I''ve spent all these years looking for my grandson and out of the blue, you show up here like you don''t know me. Do you realize I almost had a heart attack?"

    "Bailey," he said, gauging the mean looks directed at him as if he were bullying an elderly woman. "I have my reasons."

    "I can''t believe you would treat me so coldly. What happened to the Dane that would call me Nana? And just how can I keep my calm? My grandson," Bailey begins to choke on her words and break out into sobs. "Dane my grandson, you''re really alive. I''m not dreaming, am I?"

    Bailey desperately searched his eyes. She searched for the boy that no longer existed. Dane smiled wryly and gathered her hand into his. Her hands felt the same when they used to hold his hand. Still warm, open, and forgiving. Bailey squeezed back without hesitation.

    "Everything I do is for a reason. Just know Bailey, I will be back soon and when I am back I''ll make sure that I come for you."

    Bailey''s eyes widen, recognition crossing her features. "Dane. What are you planning?"

    "I should get going now. My fiancee must have grown tired of waiting."

    The word ''fiancee'' rolls on his tongue oddly. Oddly to the point that he has become used to addressing her as such. Bailey shook her head and sighed. She tossed the cottage keys over to him. The both of them knew that if she tried asking more questions, she wouldn''t be getting any more answers out of him. Just more questions left unanswered.

    "I''ll be waiting for that day to come. Don''t you go dying on me before your old Nana can."

 Chapter 12 - Losing Control

    Prisana kept her elbow folded against the window as she peered out through the window. Dane fumbled with the radio, tuning into good old heavy metal rock music. Her body flinched as the loud screeching electric guitar blasted through the car.

    This earned a dirty look. Not the kind of sexy ''I want you in my bed'' look that he was used to. She reached out her hand to change the station to country music. He despised country music. The beats and melody were always ridiculously slow and spewed romantic nonsense that did not fit his current agitating mood.

    Dane was supposed to rid of her and long gone. Long gone back into the desolate cabin. Not acting like a fake fiance. Not driving her to stay with him to Bailey''s cottage. Not anticipating her small petite body writhing in pleasure underneath his. He changed the station back to heavy metal. She changed it back to country.

    All he could do was groan.

    "You have terrible tastes."

    "I do have terrible tastes, in the man I claim to be engaged to. We were never going to work out if you hate country music."

    "We were also never going to work out if you don''t like rock music."

    "That''s fine. I never wanted us to work out anyway. Well then again, my real marriage was never going to work out."

    This was the part where Dane was supposed to ask her about her life. Ask her why the marriage wouldn''t work out. Console her. Go in for the kill and grace her with the ultimate pleasure of her life. But he wasn''t that guy. He couldn''t be that guy. She could look elsewhere if that''s what she wanted.

    The rest of the drive continued on in silence. Dane pulled the monster truck into the rocky dirt driveway, overlooking vast greenish blue waters. Again. Memories of more vulnerable years surface.

    Bailey''s little old cottage is where his family used to take their family vacation in the summers. They would stay from the start to the end of summer until their skin would fade to bronze and hair would discolor to brittle strands.

    Dane stepped onto the porch and soaked in the broken tire swing hanging at the tree, sticks standing upright where sand capsules were buried, and found that same large circular stump near the landing.

    "What?" Prisana poked her head from the side and covered the stump. "Feeling nostalgic after living like a caveman for how long?"

    "Caveman is rather rude. I prefer Woodsman."

    "Do all woodsman have scars, long hair, and scruffy beards? I think not."

    Prisana was back to her usual chattering self. She continued to ask questions to answers the both of them knew would go unanswered. Dane opened the wooden door and didn''t bother to leave it open. Her voice cut off as the door slammed shut on her face.

    He didn''t open doors for people. Didn''t like letting people in his life or trying to act like a gentleman on the pretense of keeping appearances. His own appearance should be a far cry from the kept, neat, and orderly men she was used to.

    Dane could hear the door shut harshly from behind. She was merely still a young girl, at most a few years younger. He wouldn''t be surprised if she threw a tantrum. But Prisana didn''t. No she never threw a tantrum from the moment he met her. Instead she brushed past his shoulder which instead threw her off balance. She cursed under her breath, then stalked up the stairs.

    His male attention was distracted for a long moment. He indecently watch her plump buttocks bounce with each step, following every curve and imagining every possible position he could put her in on those stairs.

    No foreplay. No sweet whispers. Just sealing her inquisitive lips with his own.

    Dane would rip off her clothes right then and there, grasp her sweet nubs into his hands then without warning, enter into the sweet folds of her opening. Over and over again until their labored breathing matched to one.

    God, he wanted her.

    Even when soiled goods approached him in that tavern, he didn''t crave for that woman as much as he did her but she was too good for him.

    She was someone else''s precious goods. Yes, he had to keep reminding himself of that.

    Prisana stopped mid way through the stairs. She turned around to face him with mouth pouting, clenched fists. The door slamming shut on her face must have crossed the line. Pushed that button and forced her to finally erupt.

    "Dane, I really do pity your future wife to be," she drawled out, her voice cool and calm.

    Dane''s body reacted even further just by the sound of her angry voice. He was going insane if a woman''s voice was enough to drive him mad with desire.

    "You?" Dane joked, earning an even dirtier look than before.

    "Thank god, no. I don''t know what happened before I met you but you''re intent on pushing people away. Intent on hurting me so you can rid of me. I know that you''re afraid that if you get close to someone--close to me then you''ll break that brooding facade of yours and whatever else you''re trying to hold back inside."

    "And your point is?" he asked, tone no longer playful but irked.

    Irked that some woman he met sullied and broken herself was telling him he would break. Telling him the truth he did not want to open his eyes to.

    But there was one thing that she was wrong about. Dane didn''t want to get close to her but far away from her as possible. That''s what his mind said.

    Yet his heart and body were gravitating toward her. Prisana''s anger betrayed her body as a sigh escaped her lips. Her eyes pooled with lust and ignited him forward.

    By now, Dane was already at the foot of the stairs and Prisana, on top of the very last step. He watched as her legs shook in fear or desire, he would soon hope to find out.

    "Your future wife to be has a lot on her plate from emotionally damaged to intolerable and I''m glad that I''m not her."

    Dane reached her side in seconds. "That''s right. You will never be that woman. Couldn''t even make it to the altar."

    Prisana gasped, hurt flashing across her pretty brown eyes. Hurt that stabbed his guts for words he couldn''t control.

    For once, Dane was losing control, baring his fangs, and tossing out all irrational thought. She raised her hand and slapped his face. The slap stung enough to make him feel like a despicable beast. He could have evaded the slap.

    He didn''t evade it because he deserved it for what was going to come next.

 Chapter 13 - Point of No Return

    Dane''s large frame ushered Prisana against the wall, predator stalking his prey right where he wanted her. Then he leaned in and crushed a forceful kiss onto her lips. Her lips were so soft and plump, molding perfectly to his as if they were made to kiss him.

    When his lips touched hers, he knew he had to stop. Dane jerked back and searched for hurt in her eyes but instead found confusion.

    "Y-You took my first kiss," she uttered.

    Realization dawned on him. First kiss? Now he''s done it. He was lusting after some young virgin who hadn''t even had their first kiss. Regret and self-hate filled his insides as he truly was despicable because he wouldn''t apologize.

    "Hate me all you want. Hit me. Curse at me until your throat runs dry. Anything that you¡ª"

    Prisana tiptoed and grabbed hold of the thin fabric clinging to his chest to close the distance. Dane''s mind couldn''t process what had transpired fast enough but it didn''t have to. She processed it for him. Her lips shyly touched his and pulled back. She craned her neck to search into his eyes and he searched back only to find soul wrenching desperation.

    All hell broke loose.

    This time Dane kissed her with all of the desire pummeling inside of him. His lips found hers in a frantic frenzy of need. He suckled on her lower lip, biting, and then suckled again until helpless groans entered his mouth. She gasped in surprise as his tongue entered her mouth but before long, their tongues were sliding against each other in unison.

    It felt so good to kiss her. Good to feel her body writhe with need just from a kiss. He broke away from their passionate kiss. Dane shouldn''t be doing this to her. She was the one woman he should steer away from. He looked away to regain his composure. Even though he knew it was wrong with all the signs telling him she was someone''s precious fugitive, a part of him still wanted her.

    "Prisana. It''s not too late to stop now before we do something we both regret."

    Prisana''s hands touched his scruffy beard and gently pulled his face toward her. Her striking brown eyes met his. When it did, he knew they were traveling to the point of no return.

    "Break me," she whispered into his lips. "You''re the kind of despicable man I''m looking for that can ruin me for good."

    There was no way even the most stale of men could refuse such an alluring and willing woman.

    "That I can do."

    His body responded to her innocent gestures like a beast who couldn''t get enough. Dane lifted his knee upwards to induce more pressure against her sweet spot. She shuddered, dipped backwards and dug her nails into his back as he continuously rocked his knee against her wet folds.

    The beast inside of him purred as her wetness soaked through to his thigh. It proved that she desired him as much as he did. He urged his rock hard cock against her stomach as he continued to pressure her over her thin sweat pants.

    The moment her head dipped back forward, he showed no mercy and sealed them in endless exploration inside her lips, opening, guiding until her lips craved his just as much as he did hers. Prisana was a fast leaner as she soon met every swirl and lick of the tongue.

    Dane wondered if she knew how open and inviting she was or that he wanted nothing more than to bury her deep with his desires against this very wall. But it was her first time. He needed to take things slow. Make her first time bearable with an ugly, tormented, and despicable beast such as him.

    Her eyes widened as he gathered her buttocks into his large hands. He brought her legs onto his waist as her arms propped over his shoulders. For a brief second as he wrapped her onto him, they shared a brief moment where they found each other''s unwavering depths. They stayed there like that, regarding the other in their own thoughts.

    She opened her mouth to say something but he didn''t let her utter a word. He took her lips again. Uttering would lead to second thoughts. Second thoughts would then lead to ending the sweet escape they''ve tangled themselves into.

    Dane kicked open the door to one of the bedrooms and ushered her against the door once it closed as their mouths remained connected. She slid down against the wall as their lips continued the back and forth dance.

    Biting, sucking, licking, and pecking until Dane finally pulled away in content watching her bruised swollen lips unable to handle any more. He took the time to really look at her and when he did, he regretted doing so.

    Prisana appeared ravishing in quickened hushed breaths, her feverish eyes regarding him with hunger. Her long black hair grew wild as it tumbled messily all over her pretty face. One look was all it took to send him shaking with need. The need to bury his raging hard cock deep inside her. Over and over again until those feverish hungry eyes turned into ones with depletion.

    "Wait," she gasped as Dane tugged away at her shirt which fell onto the floor.

    Now she was half bare before him in her bra and sweat pants. Dane didn''t think he could hold out much longer as everything about her was so beautiful he wanted to claim her before he lost his only chance. But he obeyed and flickered his gaze over hers.

    "You''re backing out now? A bit cruel of you to do so."

    "Can we just establish some things?" she asked, ears bright red as she turned her back to him.

    Dane blinked at her.

    "You''re really doing this now? Okay fine. Let''s establish things."

    "Well, you''ve taken many of my firsts..."

    "Are you proposing marriage? I refuse. We can always stop now. I''m not going take you on the pretense that you''re thinking I''ll marry you."

    "What? No," comes her bitter tone. "If I wanted to marry you..."

    The ''no'' to marriage was enough for him to continue. Whatever else that came out from her mouth flew out of the cabin windows. His concentration was focused onto her hair parting to reveal a slender nape. He leaned in and pressed a feather light kiss onto her nape. She jerked forward and pressed her body onto the door.

    Swirls of his tongue trailed from her neck to the charming dimples on her back. Dane kissed her dimples too, reveling in the fact that her naked bare skin looked just as lewd as he imagined. Rosy. Soft. Tainted by his gradual slow invasion.

    Dane''s teeth eventually found the bra clasps and grazed against them to unhook it free. At last her white lacy bra collapsed at their feet. He peered over her shoulders to discover beautiful pink nubs, admiring how endearing they stood erected under tainted rosy skin.

    His hand cupped her fullness, carefully massaging her round plump breasts in circular motions. She shook her head and slightly turned her body around so her breasts were pressed onto the door.

    "Can you stop for a moment? I''m trying to think."

    "Hmm? Stop thinking. You think too much."

    As Dane said this, he kissed her neck again and grasped her nipples. He lightly twisted an erect nub with one hand while the other massaged the soft shape of her breasts.

    "Shouldn''t...Ah...We....Ah...use protection?"

    "Mhmm...We haven''t gotten to the good part yet."

    "One more thing. Do I have to face you in broad daylight while...nnng...you look at my body? Frankly Dane...It...Ah...makes me a little embarrassed."

    "It would please me. I want to see all of you," he whispered into her ear, watching as the tips became a blush red. "But you can stay in this position too. Now let''s stop establishing things and let me ruin you. Spread your legs for me."

    Prisana continued to play at her shyness, keeping her body and her face pressed toward the door. By morning light Dane would make sure she would be so hammered in pleasure that she would forget about her embarrassment.

    A beastly smile emerged as he watched her slowly spread open her legs for him. She peered over her shoulders and reluctantly bit her lip in the most seductive way he didn''t know was even possible. Dane growled at the erotic sight of her opening herself for him as he sought out her lips. Her breath hitched as his fingers found her most sensitive spot.

    He teased her in circular motions over her underwear until her body sank deeper and deeper into the door. Only then did he slip a finger inside her. Prisana jerked backward in surprise upon his fingers writhing inside her most sensitive place and in doing so her buttocks hiked against his cock.

    Dane used his free hand to grab one of her round buttocks to usher it against his bulging desire.

    Dane licked his lips. She was so wet and so ready for him that he felt as if he himself would explode at any moment. His movements inside of her were slow and gentle at first, probing her insides to become used to the sensation. He used one finger to probe her insides. Slowly, he increased to three fingers until her legs were dripping wet with her flowing juice.

    When she turned back and desperately kissed him, all reason flew out of the cabin windows for the second time and friction from his desires against her buttocks and fingers inside became fast and unrelenting. He fingered her so rapidly until wet splashing sounds among her high pitched moans echoed in the dimly lit room.

    Prisana arched, tensed and screamed into Dane''s lips. He took the screams that she offered and brought her over the brink of ecstasy. Dane wanted to take her right then and there but she deserved better. Deserved all the things he could never give her and wouldn''t.

    He carried her pleasure ridden body over onto the bed and turned her sideways with a leg holstered onto his shoulder. She was spread wide open for his hips to close in on her wet delicious opening. Quickly he fumbled for a condom inside his wallet and wrapped it over his erect cock that leaked with precum.

    Dane''s sucked her nipple as his cock rubbed back and forth over her dripping entrance. Her nipple was so erect and begging for his lips to claim them, to suckle and bite at the rosy buds. She twitched as his hard member slid in between her folds. He tried to rub the tension in her muscles but she still spasmed as he entered her. Slowly but surely, his shaft slid fully into her tightness.

    Prisana moaned out in pain as her nails dug into his skin.

    He stayed there like that, kissing her lips, her neck, her breasts, her shoulders, and every undiscovered crease he could possibly find. Even so her tears continued to stream down. Dane couldn''t bare the amount of hurt reflected in her eyes and immediately retreated from her but she grasped his wrists.

    "You''re hurt. Let''s stop this here."

    "No don''t stop," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I already told you I wanted to be broken. My whole life, I don''t think I''ve ever desired or craved for things until now. I''ve always been a perfect shell so please, I want you to break me."

    Dane could only cover his face as his cheeks grew hot with satisfaction. Her words only further fueled his desires.

    "You tempt me Prisana. I can''t stop myself anymore. Prepare yourself so I can ruin you completely..." Dane trailed off as continued his feather light kisses around each inch of her body to soothe the pain.

    "I know you''re supposed to ruin me but this," she croaked out, wiping away at her tears. "This is sweet ruin."

    "That''s the best kind of ruin I''m capable of. Ruin so sweet that you''ll be begging me for more."

    She wanted him to ruin her. He would ruin her so sweet that she would never forget. Dane''s hips retreated and thrust inside, slow and agonizing. He withdrew himself and ushered forward, again and again. The rhythm repeated itself until her own hips began to meet his thrusts.

    This drove him mad with pleasure so he rewarded her by ushering both of her nipples into his mouth. He loved the sound of her sweet screams becoming unable to bare the merciless stimulation from both his mouth and his cock.

    Her screams turned into breathless raptures so then he began to thrust more hungry, and more vigorously, slapping his hilt against her entrance hard. Then she did the one thing that sent him over the edge. Prisana wrapped her hands around his neck to bring him down to her lips. His mind went blank.

    Instantly his vision was filled in white.

    Prisana asked him to break her, to ruin her. But it''s not her he broke and ruined. She broke his walls, the hard surfaces crumbling from existence. She ruined him so sweet that he didn''t think he would ever forget.

 Chapter 14 - Her Worst Nightmare, Best Fantasy

    Dane, the ruggedly handsome beast, was every girl''s worst nightmare and best fantasy. Prisana''s worst nightmare and best fantasy, nowhere to be found. She awoke to a lonely bed atop furry soft sheets covering her naked body and ran over to peer out at the window.

    His monster truck, was gone. She took a deep shattering breath. He finally went and left. Gone even before the sun could kiss the sky. The early morning rays washed away pathetic notions. She knew it was going to happen sooner or later but it hurt that he left without a proper goodbye after what they shared last night.

    Dane didn''t owe her anything. She asked for it. She asked to be broken and ruined. He was right. He won the game. He tainted her with unforgettable memories. No, Prisana wasn''t in love with him but she also loved the idea of Dane, a stranger who she could eventually come to surrender all of herself. Body and heart.

    Her insides throbbed as she urged herself onto her feet. Losing one''s virginity was both painful and beautiful, lost at the wrong time with the right man. She had no regrets. No regrets when she left her vows or became one with the beast. What was left was embarrassment as she remembered his muscular naked body on top of hers as she openly accepted all of him.

    When the deed had been finished, Prisana could tell he wasn''t yet sated as his desires were still evident but he didn''t push her. He let her sleep soundly in his arms.

    Prisana dressed herself in spare clothes that she assumed he set out for her on the nightstand. She glanced around the room knowing full well she was alone. Then she sniffed his shirt, hating how the scent even reminded her of him. Hating how she even quite liked the smell of musky grass and pine trees.

    Prisana walked down the stairs and looked for a phone to call Aunt Florence.

    "Prisana?" Aunt Florence asked, relief flooding her voice.

    "Yes, it''s me."

    "Thank god. I''ve sent someone to come for you and they''ve been waiting around town. Where are you?"

    "Hold on a moment. Let me walk outside."

    Prisana gave her the address. Aunt Florence insisted she stay on the phone with her until someone arrived. She did but all the questions that were on the tip of her tongue just pummeled out.

    "What happened...after I left?"

    "Giovanni called it off after he found you missing. He was utterly heartbroken..."

    Heartbroken? More like devastated that the woman who would seal his successful future left her vows and broke the deal.

    "What about father? Is he...okay?"

    Aunt Florence didn''t speak for a while. She sighed.

    "He''s fine. Things are fine. Your father already made sure to silence everyone who attended. Your father...He has been worried sick about you."

    Aunt Florence and Prisana both knew that was a lie. She knew the truth. Her father was okay but more than okay, he must be livid with anger at her decision to run. When he became senator of state he also became a stranger.

    It''s no question that her father built his name from the ground up by honorable and respectable means but to maintain his position he only got worse through means she closed her eyes to. The man she loved stopped showing up for her birthdays, performances, and even her high school graduation.

    ''Sorry Prisana, next time. Here''s a gift to make up for my not being there. I hope you can understand.''

    ''You know I''m busy. Don''t bothering me about trivial things as such.''

    It was always an apologetic call with an expensive present to make up for his absence. Prisana wouldn''t ever blame him because at one point he was really her father and building his name to support their little family. Some point down the road and into his career, he lost himself and that was also okay because Prisana would be here waiting for her father to come back but no longer following, obeying his wishes.

    "You don''t have to lie to me anymore because," Prisana trailed off, stopping still in her tracks.

    "What''s wrong?"

    Words caught in her throat. On the table, there was a small piece of paper. She picked it up to read its contents.

    ''Woodsmen duties. I''ll be back.''

    Prisana smiled like the hopeless cause she was because she was wrong about him. Dane was coming back for her. He was coming back when he could finally rid of her. Prisana''s heart leap with joy.

    "I think I might want to stay a little longer. Is that too much to ask?"

    "What? What are you saying, that''s impossible because...Prisana, please listen to me and don''t get mad."

    Loud knocks tap against the door.

    "Sorry! The connection here is terrible."

    Prisana hung up on aunt Florence before she could prolong her any further. Could it be Dane? Her insides bursted with anticipation, excitement, and most of all uncertainty. She reached for the door and anticipated seeing her worst nightmare and best fantasy.

 Chapter 15 - Men She Loved

    When Prisana opened the door, it was not her worst nightmare and best fantasy that stood on the other side but two men.

    One of them, her father.

    The other one, Giovanni.

    Prisana''s bursting heart faltered to one of terror. The first one to act was her father. Her father resembled the one she loved as dark circles prominent over his eyes came to light. His hair was unkempt, the suit he wore crumbled in disorderly fashion.

    On cue, he stepped over the doorway and pulled her into his arms. Prisana didn''t push him away. She could never push away his warm, and familiar loving arms. A moment of weakness prompted her to lean into his broad shoulders. It was everything she needed. Her father''s shoulders that could carry the weight of her burdens.

    "Daddy? Gio? How in the world?" she whispered under her breath.

    Prisana quickly retreated from her father''s loving embrace, scowling at herself for being so weak to his mere presence. She succumbed and even fell into his embrace¡ªhis trap that easily wrecked her resolve.

    "It was Aunt Florence that told you, wasn''t it?" she hissed, regarding them warily as they continued to invade her safe haven.

    "She did it for your sake. Don''t blame her," father reasoned.

    Of course she couldn''t blame Aunt Florence. She only felt betrayed that the last person she trusted went and deceived her. She shook her head and finally, shifted her gaze to the man who would never be able to keep vows or promises to begin with.

    "And Gio? You still have the audacity to show yourself here in front of me, after what happened?"

    Giovanni was the first crush she ever had and the man destined to be her happily ever after. Prisana''s anger subsided to helpless sorrow upon raking over him as he stood there lingering on the porch. For the first time, she didn''t feel butterflies in her stomach.

    Butterflies from those bright alluring blue eyes that once looked at her with wanted passion but over the years wilted to need. From soft and carefree youthful features that shifted to hard edges of greed and power.

    She could feel her heart waver. Two men that she once loved stood before her, breaking her heart all over again just from sight alone.

    Giovanni invaded the cabin, apologetic blue eyes begging for forgiveness. "I''m sorry, for everything. Marry me, I promise I won''t ever do anything to hurt you and make you hate me ever again."

    A beautiful lie.

    "Gio I could never hate you, no matter what you do to me. We both know that. But Erica, she''s like my sister...How could you?" Prisana asked, not anger but hurt pouring out from her voice. "How could she? How long?"

    "It was a mistake. She was a mistake. You were always my first choice. I didn''t mean to," he admitted and she really did hear the sorrow laced in them. "Please Prisana, I''m begging you to come back and marry me. I love you."

    Another beautiful lie. Lies so beautiful she couldn''t stand around to hear them any longer. Giovanni and her father wanted to give her the beautiful lies. She wanted the ugly truths. But Prisana knew they wouldn''t give it to her. To them, she was only worthy of the beautiful lies.

    "No," she uttered, surprising herself.

    The simple one word syllable was something she never uttered once before Giovanni or her father. She had to watch their faces warp into confusion to confirm that she did say those words aloud..

    "No," Prisana repeated, more resolute and more commanding. "I won''t marry you."

    "Prisana," her father interrupted, his politician tone booming through her ears. "This is not a choice. You are my daughter and as my daughter you will do as I say. You will sign the marriage certificate. You will live with Gio as his wife and do as you are told. Don''t make me make things hard on you because I can."

    Prisana''s father was the senator of state. Giovanni was the son of New Jersey''s largest oil company and owned a portion of the stocks. Who was Prisana? She was only a senator''s daughter. No assets or self worth. Both men had endless resources to find her no matter where and how far she ran. Prisana was only a pawn in their game of power. No matter what she did, they would no doubt search the ends of the earth to find her.

    She made the choice. One that she was not proud of but one that only ignited her will to break free.

    Prisana stormed through both men and walked into one of the sleek black cars, slamming it shut behind her. If they wanted to think she was going to be obedient and listen, they could. They could continue to control her desires and her life for the time being but from the moment she escaped her vows, Prisana was never going to become captured again.

    A pawn could rise to be a queen.

 Chapter 16 - Demons

    The old monster purred a delightful roar once Dane turned the key into the ignition. Cranky engines and crisp, blackened hands reminded him of old times. Back when he used to spend hours studying and taking after his father.

    Dane''s expert hands were gifted by his father who when growing up, made it a point to teach his son all of the basics of fishing, hunting, cars, and you name it. That man was gifted with all the heart and knowledge that could fill a body.

    Unwrapped and forgotten because he was too righteous for his own good. Ventured too deep into the point of no return. But that was injustice done to him. Injustice that fueled Dane''s resolve to keep moving forward.

    He wiped my hands onto the towel and flicked off the sweat at his forehead. A whole hour had gone by dabbling with the monster''s guts until the treacherous engine decided to play its dutiful role.

    "You look just like your father standing there working under the hood," Bailey whispered, barely audible as a horse galloped beside the old monster.

    Bailey stood against the tavern''s door frame with arms crossed, eyes sad. Eyes so sad that Dane wondered if they would ever look at him the same again. Probably not. When she looked at him she would only be reminded of the painful memories.

    "That''s to be expected. I am my father''s son."

    "Ha," she laughed, narrowing her eyes at him. "You also have your mothers sharp tongue, though she gets that from your grandfather."

    "Why do you keep talking about the past?"

    "Should we talk about the future then? How long will you be staying?"

    "No longer than tonight."

    Dane wasn''t supposed to show himself until the next month. Not until he gathered enough of what he needed to make his grand appearance. Thanks to the tempting little fugitive that ruined his plans.

    Ruined him for good. She''s different than all the women he had grace his bed. Real, and goods too precious even for his own sake. He couldn''t stop thinking about her.

    Couldn''t stop thinking about driving back this instant, pushing her back onto the furry sheets, and taking her as his all over again until they were both breathless from otherworldly passion.

    "Stay," she pleaded. "Dane, you''re welcome to stay with me for as long as you want. Prisana too."

    The thought was wonderful. The both of them, delving deep into more sweet escapes. More beautiful lies that he could be capable of giving her.

    "I''ll consider it."

    "Who is she to you? You can''t fool your Nana. I know she''s anything but your fianc¨¦."

    Who was Prisana to him? She was someone who came unwanted, knocking straight into his walls without warning. Without caring that he wanted to see her again. Without knowing that he wanted to hear her story.

    All because the beast inside refused to give away any of his real emotions.

    "She''s no one to me," he finally said. "Not the fianc¨¦ I claim to love. Merely a stranger. I only met her two days ago."

    "You say that and yet here you are, still here."

    Dane motioned toward the old monster. Bailey smiled and for the first time in a while, he saw those irises dissipate to contentment. Suddenly it was the same Nana that would look at him with compassion.

    The same Nana who read storybooks to him at night and tucked him in until demons disappeared. He felt like that boy again who vied for his grandmother''s love and attention but only now it was different. The demons found him and they were here to stay in the long run.

    "Sometimes you don''t have to know someone very long to be in love. It can be months. Days. Instantaneously. Before you even know it."

    "Love is painful. I think I''m better off without."

    "Love is worth the pain."

    "Not Prisana. She doesn''t deserve the pain I''ll give her."

    Not that bastards. Not his. No one''s.

    "Listen, I don''t know what happened and how you two happened to meet but she''s a sweet girl. I can see she cares about you even if it''s only a little. Don''t hurt her Dane," Bailey warned, to no avail.

    Too late, Dane wanted to tell her. Last night he broke her. He ruined her for good. She asked him to. Even if she didn''t he would still have broke and ruined her all the same until she begged him to.

    That was the kind of beast he was. Bailey didn''t press him for further answers. Dane wouldn''t give her any further answers.

    Only promises that he would be back. All she could do now was to hang on to that promise. A promise he would do anything to fulfill even if that meant sacrificing his soul to the devil himself to escape the demons.

 Chapter 17 - Pathetic Emotions

    The old monster was back in shape. Dane could leave now. Drive back to the lonely desolate cabin that awaited him. Back to his life, that didn''t involve a fugitive.

    But he couldn''t.

    Not when the damn eggs on the shop display window reminded him of her clumsy attempts to make breakfast. Breakfast which she didn''t eat and haven''t devoured since a full day''s time.

    Beast or not, he didn''t like the thought of some woman dying on his property or in his family cabin. Dane walked into the small remote grocery shop and grabbed a few items. Eggs, milk, bacon, and coffee. When he reached the goodies section, it suddenly dawned on him that she was still a complete stranger.

    What kind of sweets did she like?

    Sweet or sour?

    Did she even like to eat sweets?

    Dane grabbed each candy bar, each sour candy, and each flavor of chips he laid his eyes on until he convinced himself not to buy the entire store.

    The clerk behind the counter spoke to him, looking at the mask. At the ugly traces of a scar.

    Probably in horror.

    Dane was used to to the stares. Only women that use to frequent his bed in the past tolerated the monstrosity because they knew he had wealth to sustain them. Knew who he was before the mask. Before the tragedy stroke their lifestyles and wrung their bank accounts dry.

    "...And the total comes up to a hundred dollars and nineteen cents. Would you like to donate to a local charity? It would only be ten cents."

    He laid down two hundred dollar bills onto the counter. As he gradually glanced up from the counter, Dane noticed a small snippet of an old newspaper hanging beside the cash register.

    The title read, ''Lennox family goes missing from deadly house fire''. Images of the family were plastered all over the paper.

    "Sir?" the lady behind the counter asked. "Is something the matter? You don''t have to donate ten cents if you don''t want to."

    "Keep the change."

    She tried to reason with him but he couldn''t hear a word. A thousand dumbbells weighed down on his shoulders. They pulled down, stretching at his muscles until he was nothing but a quaking young man inside that house. Inside those scorching flames.

    Dane snatched the bag and rushed out of the door with the bell chiming.

    The air around him grew suffocating. He rummaged through the monster''s compartment and fumbled for pain killers. He popped one into his mouth. Then, he counted.

    One.

    Two.

    Dane closed his eyes and continued to count like a mantra, while his hands gripped at the steering wheel.

    Ten.

    The pain that plagued both mind and body dissipated. Dane breathed a long sigh and when he regained his hold on the wheel, he drove. Not to the desolate cabin but to everything wrong he shouldn''t want.

    Warmth.

    Stories.

    Her.

    God, Dane wanted desperately to feel again what he hadn''t in years. Like Bailey said, it didn''t take years to feel again.

    Before Dane knew it, he was already yearning to feel again. Yearning to forget everything for some woman he only knew for two days but it felt right. She felt so right. He never felt more nervous than this moment when he stepped over that cabin door.

    "Prisana?" he desperately called out into the cabin, then to the bedroom.

    Somewhere in him, he knew.

    He knew that she was gone but he searched for her anyway, only to confirm his plaguing suspicions. Dane looked in the bedroom. The bathroom. The vicinity. But her endearing form was nowhere to be found.

    Prisana was gone, just like the wind. She breezed into his life without warning and left as fast as the currents took her.

    Dane didn''t want to care but he did. Some caring bone in his body ached knowing that the woman who warmed his bed and wormed her way into the cracks of his walls, fled without as much as a farewell. In the end, she got rid of him before he could rid of her.

    A mad deranged laugh shook his whole body.

    Ha, you beast. You knew she would leave!

    Dane knew and yet he took her as his and stupidly came back for her thinking they could spill their stories to each other. This is what he deserved. More bitter betrayal and sweet hatred. This was the way that it was supposed to be. No promises. No stories. No nothing between Dane and the fugitive.

    He threw the items inside the plastic bag, down into the trash. Down along with his fleeting emotions. Pathetic emotions were for men that could afford them. He couldn''t afford them. Dane needed to only afford the ugly emotions.

    Thanks to the fugitive, Dane was back sooner than he had intended. Back and ready to destroy whatever pathetic emotions were left inside of him for good.

    "Leonardo," Dane drawled out menacingly into the phone. "It''s me."

 Chapter 18 - Waking Nightmare

    When Prisana was a little girl, she used to believe that nightmares were a fiction of one''s imagination. She was wrong. Nightmares were real, waking, and have been confronting her for the past twenty four hours.

    Perhaps even from the moment she breathed life but not noticeable until this very moment.

    Father.

    His unloving eyes watched her every move. A politician''s gaze that seized the size and weight of their opponent. Yet Prisana was not his opponent, but his daughter. He didn''t see that. He saw his future as the next possible candidate of presidency.

    Appearances were always important to him.

    ''Dress well''.

    ''Act proper and well educated''.

    ''Smile''.

    ''Don''t bring shame and embarrassment to me''.

    Those were his usual words to Prisana when they appeared in the media''s lens.

    He tapped his finger against a piece of paper. Prisana looked away because she knew what that was.

    The dreadful marriage certificate.

    To pledge her future to a man she did not love was not the problem. The problem was that she would be pledging her future to the betrayal both Giovanni and Erica created. They created the defiant woman and for that, she had to thank them.

    "Sign it," he demanded, voice unfit for a father.

    For someone that Aunt Florence claimed to have been worrying over her, he sure was getting straight to the point. That hug was well played as his role of a father but his intentions were obvious from the start.

    "We don''t need to sign papers. It''s proof enough that I am his wife if I live with him, is that not right Gio dear?"

    Giovanni did not give anything away. His expression remained deadpan. Prisana was so sure that he would object and agree with father. The contract after all, would forever bound her to him. She didn''t want that. No matter what, Prisana had to find a way to delay the signatures.

    Delay and curve every ball the two of them planned to throw at her. She needed time, money, and a name for herself. Most of all, she desired all that for freedom. Something a twenty first century woman ought to have in this day and age but it was her own fault. She never went against his wishes and now that she was, it was too late for she was weak and powerless.

    "She''s right," Giovanni finally spoke, astonishing both.

    Prisana narrowed her eyes at him, searching his blue eyes for answers she wouldn''t receive. He looked away to father, who was not pleased. A vein nearly popped out of his forehead.

    "So you both want to delay the marriage? Fuck''s sake. I''ve been blocking away the media''s attention from the disaster you''ve created for long enough. Any longer and my reputation¡ªYour reputations will be soiled. Prisana, you will sign it. Now. Even if I have to tie you down and have someone write your bloody name, I will. Don''t test my patience."

    Chills ran down her spine. She didn''t doubt him. He would. This meant more to him than the measly feelings of his daughter. This meant losing power and favor among the people. His people.

    "But father¡ª" Prisana reasoned, grinding her teeth together from unleashing a tantrum.

    "We don''t need to delay the marriage," Giovanni interrupted. "A marriage certificate means nothing. Prisana will live with me as my wife. She will fulfill her duties as we both need her to do so. Because, we are in love."

    Prisana wanted to laugh. They were in love? She didn''t know how much of his words were true but she did love him once long ago.

    Giovanni lightly threaded his arm around her shoulders.

    "Isn''t that right?"

 Chapter 19 - Last Farewell, First Betrayal

    Beyond a beautiful lie, for the first time she saw the ugly truth unveiled. A man she has never seen before. Who was this Gio? Certainly not the man she thought would be her future.

    His eyes were laced with dark circles and lacked the usual passionate outbursts of love like the night before. He was not pleading for her anymore but she knew deep inside that he was striking a deal with her. Prisana willingly fell into his hands.

    "Yes Gio is right father. We spoke to each other last night. We agreed to live with each other as husband and wife until I can forgive him again. Then, we will sign as lawful husband and wife."

    Prisana''s father didn''t seem convinced. He was satisfied. Not convinced. She should know a hard edged politician like her father read people for a living. He studied them and when the time was ripe, shredded them apart piece by piece until he was the last one left standing on top.

    "Pack your bags and leave. You will live with Gio starting now," he said, watching intently as Prisana''s stiff expression broke apart to pieces.

    Only then did he smile. He knew she lost. Prisana knew it too. Her father had the upper hand. She was still powerless. Still just a pawn that needed to play as the pawn.

    "Three months. I''ll give you both three month''s time when Gio is commemorated to my council. Then, you''ll sign it."

    "Why?" she asked desperately. "I''ve already agreed to this whole ordeal and you won''t even grant me the option of not signing the certificate?"

    "You are my daughter. I would never trust a politicians daughter. Especially not when your fiery eyes remind myself of who I used to be."

    Prisana''s hands snaked up the sides of her face. Fiery eyes? Did she really have such an expression on her face? When she looked at herself in the mirror, all she would ever see is that same stoic woman staring back at her. Staring into listless brown eyes without a soul. Without a backbone to hold the irises together.

    "I''ll have the car ready by the hour. Wait for me love," booms Giovanni''s sweet voice.

    It was the same Giovanni she was used to. His tone was loving and sweet, blue eyes promising tender surrender and change. She wanted to believe them. To melt underneath his gorgeous blue eyes. Fall under his spell all over again but she knew better.

    Giovanni took her hand into his lips to kiss her knuckles. Then, she stiffly smiled in return, wanting nothing more than to wash her hands off the filth that explored Erica''s lips, her skin.

    "I should also get going then. Farewell father. Take care of yourself."

    She rose up from her seat and turned to the door. At another choice that has been made for her. Only that she would not follow along with that choice but would find a way to destroy it piece by piece until both her father and Giovanni were left cowering in shreds.

    But in truth...She didn''t want to go against either of them. Not her father whom she loved dearly no matter how much of a robotic politician he has become. Not Giovanni whom she considered her oldest crush and longest friend no matter what woman he has had sexual relations with.

    Right now more than anything before she reached that door, she wanted her dear father to tell her to stop. For Giovanni to unveil all the ugly truths to her and remain friends.

    Most of all, she wanted her father to pull her lovingly into his arms again but this time in the most ugliest and the most beautiful of truths. To tell Prisana that he was sorry. Then, plead for her to stay so they can work out their crumbling father daughter relationship.

    However, he didn''t even spare her a glance as she looked back one last time to reach out for the loving father she once knew and still believed was there.

    "Listen to your husband''s words and never pull a stunt like that again," was his last farewell and first betrayal.

 Chapter 20 - Ugly Truth Unveiled

    The makeup did no justice to Prisana''s swollen red eyes or her snot filled nose. She broke to tears but this would be the last time for him. No more tears for that man who no longer deserved the title of father. No more hope to find his lost soul and rekindle the fire from ashes and smoke.

    Prisana inhaled a deep breath and stepped into another fated door.

    Departure came crashing fast and hard. Prisana watched the large privately owned mansion spanning acres fade away from view, turn to roads and livestock. The stunning mansion situated in New Jersey''s most elite Wellington Estates was where she grew up in. Many of her firsts. Now, many of her lasts.

    It was heartbreaking leaving behind so many memories. All she could salvage were clothes and her mother''s portrait. Her mother was the only family left that would not betray her.

    However if her mother were alive, then things may not have been different. Prisana''s mother was born from a respectable family who like Prisana, arranged for her to marry into her father''s family. And so she did but in doing so, passed away during childbirth. It was both a blessing and even more so a tragedy.

    Prisana''s mother was her own person.

    She would not lead the life her mother led. Prisana''s father was also his own person. They said the man you marry always resembled your own father. How sad. Looking at Giovanni beside her now, he much resembled her father.

    "Prisana, as my wife I will make sure that you are the happiest woman alive," Giovanni assured her, placing a hand on top of hers.

    Prisana instantly recoiled from his touch.

    Where was the happiness on a marriage built upon a lie? Forget the dashing features gracing his face, the riches, and material things. She didn''t want his concrete promises. She wanted what looks and money could not buy. His love, his devotion, and his true sincerity but he wouldn''t be able to give her any of those things.

    Not one.

    "Won''t you say something? Anything, please. Talk to me."

    "I''m suppressing my emotions," she stonily answered, keeping her gaze locked onto the window.

    He was the last person she wanted to talk to right now, save for Erica. It took every fiber of her being not to lose her composure. Not to lash out at him and jump out of the moving car this very instant.

    "What sort of emotions?" he dared to ask.

    "The list is endless. I''m tired...Listen Gio, you''re someone I''ve known since diapers. Can you answer me honestly?"

    "If I can do anything to ease our future together, you can ask me away."

    Giovanni was a good man. He never physically hurt her. The hurt lied in the emotions. The difference between their relationship and others were that they were promised. Not given. Prisana was promised. She once gave him her heart. He was promised too but you couldn''t force someone''s heart to be given.

    "You never loved me even once, did you?" she sadly breathed out these words, finally turning to look at the side of his frame.

    Giovanni kept looking straight at the road. Her gaze continued to focus on the side of his distant yet close frame. A mad silence counted on the song verse from the radio speakers to fill in the thickened air. His grip tightened on the steering wheel after taking a deep breath.

    "I love you, even now. I love you so much I will do anything. I''m dropping the women. Dropping my past wrongdoings all for you, because I love you."

    "Because you need me," Prisana venomously spat, immediately choosing to lower her voice because he wasn''t worth her time and anger. "I am sick and tired of your lies. As my future husband, don''t you think now is a good time to start telling me the truth? Or do I not even deserve that much from you?"

    The corners of his mouth twitched. Slowly, Prisana felt as if his facade were finally falling apart.

    "You''ve changed. Since when did you grow a backbone?"

    "From the moment you took someone who I regarded as my sister. Both of you could fuck out the brains of anyone you wanted but you chose each other. You both chose to give me the backbone. Not me."

    "You keep insisting I don''t love you, why is that? I''ve told you so many times and I will say it again. I love you."

    The three letter words coming out of his mouth sickened her to the core. It boiled her to lengths she didn''t think were possible. She kept her fisted hands to her sides.

    "Whenever I look at you, all I see are beautiful lies. If you loved me, you would have never did what you did. Not just with Erica but with half of New Jersey''s female population."

    "So you knew," was all he muttered.

    Giovanni''s facade has finally begun to crack. His lies were falling apart and coming to light. He thought she didn''t know. She would have to be a fool not to know that the man she once loved was busy night after night loving other women.

    Obedient might have been true of her but certainly not a fool.

    "Let''s strike a deal. Why don''t you just remain the obedient little Prisana like you should? Then when we are married, you can go off and do whatever your heart so desires."

    "Right, obedient. I was scorned from birth to be obedient yet you were scorned from birth to always surpass that brother of yours. Know this. My worth, my status will always be above yours! I will never legally marry a bastard''s son."

    Those words were meant to hurt him as much as the both of them hurt her. His expression was no longer civil but darkened to vexation. She gasp as he slammed down on the breaks. Her body lurched forward from the sudden impact. She turned to glare at him.

    The car following from behind honked but all she could hear was the sound of her heart beating rapid fire. This was it. The ugly truth she had been so dying to hear.

    "You''re right. I never once loved you. In fact, I hate you. Prisana, I''ve hated you from the moment I first met you."

 Chapter 21 - Only Jewel, Greatest Diamond

    "Y-You hate me? What did I ever to to you?"

    "Because you were always so naive about our relationship. All you are and all you ever will be, is a tool to further my ambitions."

    This time, he smiled wickedly. A wicked smile that aligned with the burning anger in his eyes. Prisana didn''t know this side of him. Maybe, she never knew him. She only thought she knew him because he was feeding her lies so beautiful.

    All those smiles, how many of them were genuine? All of those women, how many times did he feel guilt to think of her? She was beginning to understand the version she know of him less and less. This new version of him, more and more.

    "So everything between you and I, they were all...lies?"

    "Believe that if it makes you hate me. This makes things easier on me now that we''re on the same page."

    "I can''t believe you could be so despicable like this! Gio," she begged, searching his eyes for the boy she used to know. "Please, let me go when the three months are over."

    "I need you."

    Prisana abandoned her pride. She clutched the side of his suit jacked and found cold, stern blue eyes staring back at her.

    "I don''t care what you or Erica did to me anymore. Please, I don''t want revenge. Nothing. For the first time, I only want my freedom. Let me go! I beg of you, I''ll do anything."

    "I said I need you."

    Her strength crumbled along each ugly line that came out from his mouth. It didn''t fall but hardened. She dug her nails into her flesh from hurling out at him.

    "Fine," she hissed, hurt in her voice betraying anger. "From now on you are my husband and my worst enemy. Don''t ever look for the girl that you used to know. As of now, she''s dead."

    "Know this. That bastard''s son Gio you knew has been dead for a long time...Rather, he was never real to begin with."

    The sky blue eyes that gaze down at her were ones of mutual contempt. Giovanni turned his gaze away to resume the long drive. She faced the window and broke again. Broke because her eyes and her ears could not believe that this was the same man who would steal innocent kisses along her hands, her cheeks.

    Whisper her sweet nothings, wish her goodnight, goodmorning, and for all of her worries to wash away. He would call hours on end until unattractive snores spilled into his ears.

    This was that same man. A waking, breathing nightmare that did not love Prisana but needed her captive and obedient for whatever fortune it would bring him.

    These are the last broken tears Prisana would ever shed for Giovanni or her father. To Giovanni and her father, she was weak. These tears were proof of that. But now the ugly truths were in her grasp. Clear and vivid. To Prisana, these tears were proof of men she once loved. Men who underestimated and would lose their pawn. She stopped the aimless broken tears before they could turn to more than one.

    Giovanni pulled into a long narrow driveway of pine stakes and trees. His mansion was also situated in the Wellington estates, not very far from her own home. The mansion was just as grand if not more, standing tall and serene above acres of grasslands.

    The men waiting out front began to retrieve her bags from the trunk. She waited until Giovanni made a full circle to the door before opening it herself. He nearly toppled backward from the impact of the door swinging open into his shoulder.

    "Sorry," she said, trying her best to sound apologetic. "I didn''t see you coming."

    Prisana brushed past him, hearing him swear a few curse words under his breath. Giovanni didn''t need to escort her. She knew his estate like her own backyard. Her father would bring her often to discuss business with Gio or attend the grand parties.

    At every chance the pair could get, Giovanni and Prisana would sneak off together into the isolated balcony at his study or any empty room where it would be just them. Now she was walking away, without him and somewhere far away where he would not be present.

    Clarice, one of his personal maids who she thought dear of, stood at the top of the entrance. One look was all she needed to grasp the situation. Prisana''s tear stricken, beaten down face spoke faster than words could convey. She rushed over to her and opened her arms. Prisana stopped her. She held up her hand.

    "Don''t," Prisana warned her. "Don''t come any close to me or I swear I''ll break all over again. It''s the last thing I need right now."

    "What can I do for you?" was all she asked and that''s all she needed.

    "A room with a tolerable view. Furthest from his and with a hundred locks to keep despicable men like him from entering."

    The old maid wasted no time at all. She turned around and led her into a new castle. Large, beautiful, and suffocating. Prisana followed her along the foyer and up the spiral staircase, down a long hallway of marble statues and elaborate watercolor paintings. Clarice stopped at large white double doors. She opened the doors and led her further into a room that fit the description.

    A view overlooking the gardens and considerably the last and furthest room down the hall to Giovanni''s room. It would have been perfect if not for the missing ninety nine locks.

    "I won''t ask," she said and for her patience and understanding, Prisana was grateful.

    She settled herself down onto the silken bedsheets.

    "I will tell you some other unfortunate day. I''m tired."

    "Dear, you look so, so... "

    "Ugly? This appearance suits me well. The beauty underneath are all lies anyway. Hell, I think I''m beginning to understand my very existence is a lie."

    "Don''t say that. Remember? You are your father''s only jewel and Giovanni''s greatest diamond. Now let me help you freshen up your appearance a little."

    Clarice left no room for refusal. She began working on the wild tangles at her hair. Prisana looked at herself in the mirror.

    ''You are your father''s only jewel and Giovanni''s greatest diamond''.

    This was a saying she has heard countless of times. Prisana was her father''s only jewel but now he has given her away. She was Giovanni''s greatest diamond but thrown among other pretty little diamonds.

    A jewel, a diamond on the outside but a bruised rock through and through.

 Chapter 22 - Elias Blackwell

    THREE MONTHS LATER

    Three months. That was all Elias Blackwell needed to land himself upon New Jersey''s most elite group of wealthy and successful individuals.

    Or rather, individuals who possessed hand me down wealth. Elias? Self-made to the very last bone. He was the man that would bring fruit the painstaking labors of what it meant to murder and underestimate a young boy. That young boy, now a ruthless man who would sacrifice his soul until ugly truths unveiled.

    Every single last one of them. He would stop at nothing. Stop at bloodshed wringing victory.

    That victory was so close and just beneath arms reach. Tonight was the night that would change everything for gain or for loss. The both of them had to play their cards right. They needed the support of the most powerful man in New Jersey who stood mere steps away. He was close but far and surrounded by all eyes and ears.

    "Senator Visalyaputra! Long time no see! I''ve seen what you done with the charity collaboration. It was truly magnificent," Harry beamed at the senator.

    ''Pompous toothpick''. Meet Harry Plaskitt, a pompous toothpick in Elias''s ass who spent his days on hand me down wealth. He chased skirts and often, took skirts without consent. Harry was one of his competitors. One of the far easier ones to take down but still a pain in the ass because he hated Elias ever since they crossed paths. Understandably so, since he did take a grand amount of his dirty fortune.

    The senator regarded him with disinterest.

    "Thanks. Ah, excuse me and you are?"

    Another man that stood next to the senator nodded at Harry. "Sir. He''s the man who aided you in Jersey''s grand celebration in North Arlington. Ahem! Plaskitt''s son."

    "Ah, Plaskitt''s son," he finally beamed back with a bright smile. "I remember you now. If I recall, you were one of the men running to be a part of my committee, were you not?"

    "That''s right! I hope you can consider me as it would put me at a great advantage... I-I mean, choosing me will prosper our state''s prospects."

    Elias could intervene but patience was virtue. The iron has yet to be hot. Striking now would be good enough but more than good enough was what he needed. He needed swift and deadly.

    "Not going in?" a familiar and unexpected voice asked. "Come on, the competition''s lookin'' fire. A bunch of animals seizing in for the kill! You''ll lose your opportunity if you don''t act soon my friend."

    "Friend?" Elias questioned him. "I don''t remember being friends with you. Please don''t lump me into something I am not."

    "That''s harsh but you''re wrong. We''re alike in many ways... Tis true! Both wolves blinded by our goals."

    "Wolves don''t blindly charge in. They prey. They wait. Then they attack when the time is right," he muttered, turning to face him dead in the eyes. "Why are you here? You don''t belong."

    "We both don''t belong. That didn''t stop you. It won''t stop me either. Don''t worry. I''m just here to enjoy the show so relax D¡ª"

    "Elias."

    "Pardon me, Elias. Ha! Really that name doesn''t suit you. You look more like a Franco, Adam, and..."

    The irksome fellow beside Elias, Leonardo Duval, continued to list names one by one. Elias didn''t pay attention. He didn''t curse him either. This man was the devil. Cursing would not do his soul any justice. The only reason he tolerated Leo was because he held Elias''s secrets. Leo held his promises.

    Together they were no more than two men with hidden agendas, neither friend or foe. But Leo was almost too calculating. Too cold for them to be grouped as alike. Wolves, maybe. But Leo was on a far cynical standard than Elias. He believed Leo did not possess an ounce of human.

    Elias leaned against the wall and took in the large sparkling white chandelier hanging over the ceiling.

    What did people find amusing about these grand over the top parties? The food even at its finest, tasted bland. Women were bland as well. They were too fake with their barbie doll makeup and designer dresses. This kind of high end and well bred society and it''s atmosphere were simply distasteful compared to his desolate cabin.

    A waitress walked past them and immediately Elias knew she had her eyes set on either him or Leo. She panned between them repeatedly. Drool threatened to leak out the side of her lips. Her gaze lowered to see what they had to offer. Leonardo Duval, stood beside Elias in a crisply cut oxford blue suit. He radiated slick black blue hair and hazel eyes which in turn made the waitress fall into his charms at a puddle of their feet.

    The waitress wasn''t overly attractive but still, Elias found her body more than a curvy fit inside his arms. The thing was, he didn''t want her. Hell he hadn''t wanted anyone since that night. Elias was becoming a monk and it was all because of her.

    All because she ruined him for good.

    "Would you men like a glass of wine?"

    Elias extended out his hand to take a wine glass, blatantly ignoring her suggestive eyes. He looked over to Leo who stepped over to her side in mere seconds.

    "It seems like the show must go on without me," Leo purred toward the waitress, slipping an arm under her waist. "Let me know later, how the introductions went."

    The two of them walked out of eyesight and blended in among the crowd.

    "Looks like it''s just you and me. Women here aren''t to my tastes like you are anyway," he mumbled to no one but the wine glass twirled around his fingertips.

    Elias twirled the glass of wine within his fingertips, watching the blood red color form into a familiar silhouette.

    Into her.

    He remembered her body vividly. Every curve and sensitive spot. The way her petite and slender form perfectly molded to his caresses and kisses. Through the imaginary reflection, she wore that same color of blood wine. Slowly, he tipped the glass into his mouth and looked forward to where he saw the illusion, only to have his breath utterly taken away.

    Was it his eyes playing tricks on him? The universe was cruel because some gut feeling told him that it was no illusion from the wine glass.

    There she stood among the crowd next to Senator Visalyaputra. Her looks and stature appeared the same as in his memories. Instead of that soiled wedding dress or his baggy clothes, she was primed beautifully and clad in a scantily red high low dress that touched the marble flooring. Elias couldn''t believe his eyes so he simply stared, wishing and praying that the sight would forever be burned into his memory.

    Then he felt something inside of him sting.

    It really was her, but not alone. Her hand was encircled under another man''s arm. She was smiling a warm smile he''d never seen before, at another man. Gazing into that other man''s eyes with utmost adoration and respect. Perhaps, her husband. He looked like the dashing prince out of a fairy tale. One that suited her right. Elias could never suit the prince of her fairy tale.

    He flagged down another waitress for a drink. Something stronger this time, as to numb the stinging that inflamed his insides.

 Chapter 23 - Separate Lifestyles

    Senator Visalyaputra''s daughter running away from the biggest wedding of the century, did not catch wind in New Jersey. Prisana''s father being her father, managed to hush all of those well established families. Must have paid each lucky person present a hefty sum to keep their mouths sealed.

    Faking their private ceremony was not difficult. Her father and his circle of friends could use any means necessary to manipulate the media. Manipulate the entirety of New Jersey''s population if the need arose to do so.

    The only hard part came when Prisana had to play her role as Giovanni''s loving wife. She was not a loving wife. He was not a dear husband. During the day, he would leave for work or whatever business until night came. She would hole herself into her room and indulge in the online college classes she enrolled herself into.

    They shared separate meals. Separate bedrooms. Separate lives but all intertwined to be the same. Giovanni was supposed to be her forever. She could avoid him and she could hate him. But in the end, she would have to face him.

    Like tonight. Tonight was special because the man called her father would be hosting an auction for all the elites in New Jersey. It was to commemorate future candidates into his board of members.

    On orders from Giovanni, Clarice had urged her to sit still in front of the mirror for two straight hours. Clarice groomed her as if she were one of those well bred Pomeranian straight out of Beverly Hills.

    "Finally, we''re done. Take a look. You look beautiful Prisana."

    Clarice spun her around. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. At the girl who seemed to have it all in everyone''s eyes. Did she really? Was a life of luxury and lies something one should be proud of? Right now the woman before her resembled the most ugliest version of herself.

    "Thank you," came her lifeless reply.

    "I''m sure Giovanni will be so pleased when he sees you! Come on, let''s get you down there. He''s waiting for you. I''m sure you''ll leave him breathless."

    Clarice urged Prisana into her heels and led her down the jail of a castle that has now become her home. Clarice was wrong about one thing. Giovanni won''t have the slightest reaction. Giovanni hated her. He''s made it clear months ago when he finally obtained her.

    Forget the past. The two were simply strangers married and living together to keep up appearances. Only that and nothing more.

    Prisana walked down the stairs and for the first time in a month, she saw her husband at the foot of the stairs. Giovanni''s back felt unfamiliar to her. He may look the same but she knew better than anyone that he wasn''t. She took a deep breath as they reached the landing.

    Giovanni didn''t seem to notice her, too preoccupied with his phone. His back was turned on both Prisana and Clarice as he continued to ignore the pair. Prisana took note of how revolting his suit matched her wine red dress. It was as if they were a real couple who matched one another at public events.

    Clarice coughed loudly. "Excuse me. Prisana is ready."

    "...Yes. Sorry, we can talk about this another day. I have to go. Thanks. Bye. A pleasure doing business with you."

    Giovanni hung up his phone and finally turned around. She met his icy blue gaze. He stared at her for what seemed like a full minute. Prisana scolded herself for thinking he was handsome for a moment but then he was always insanely too good looking for his own good. She thought her eyes played tricks on her as he opened his mouth to say something but closed it.

    There was a slight hesitation in the way he gradually looked away from her.

    "You look presentable."

    Presentable...Of course. He needed her to look presentable in front of all of the damn elites so his reputation wouldn''t falter. Gio was becoming just like her own father. ''Prisana, you fool''. What did she expect from him? That he call her beautiful like all the other times? Those were the beautiful lies. It was Prisana that told him she wanted the ugly truths and now she was getting them.

    She balled her fists at her sides. God, how irritating. Her heart was still too soft. When would she stop being a fool and becoming hurt at every single word he fed her? This time, Prisana had to get even. No more tears and no more pathetic notions of the man she used to know.

    "Thanks dear," she angrily mumbled under her breath, brushing past him. "You look terrible, as usual. Do me a favor and make sure you don''t embarrass me tonight hmm?"

    He caught her wrists Before she could flee to the car. She flinched because his nails dug into her skin.

    "My wife, I must say the same to you. Embarrass me..." his voice trailed off as his fingers threaded lightly over her lips. "...And I will punish you. Ha! You were always beautiful but I hated you so much I never wanted to touch you."

    Prisana turned her face away, hurt betraying every vile emotion that should have hurled out at him.

    "Punishment could never exceed being trapped in this jail of castle as your wife. I can handle anything. Go ahead and try me."

    "Oh?" he whispered and when he gazed down to her exposed cleavage, she gasped and forced his hold to loosen. "Perhaps...I can punish you in bed. Looking at you now, I realize I''ve been a fool to neglect you."

    Giovanni and Prisana never went beyond holding hands. She used to think it was because he greatly cherished her. Recalling those memories now and knowing how he hated her, it must have been because he didn''t wish to touch her. Even now he probably only saw her as an object and his wife who he could do with whatever as he pleased with.

    But to go so far as to propose such humiliating and degrading things with a woman he wasn''t fond of, he must really despise her.

    "You dare try to violate me? See what will happen. I''ll scream, bite, and scratch like a madwoman. Don''t say I never warned you."

    "Then, I would tie you so you''d remain obedient in my arms."

    She couldn''t believe how disgusting he was. It sickened knowing her that this Gio she used to love was saying such crude words to her.

    "Have you no shame or mercy? How could you...Never mind, I realize you truly are despicable. You can have any woman you want. Anyone but me...Unfortunately I was once yours. Mark my words Gio, I''ll never become yours again."

    Prisana pushed him backward so he was caught off balance. He let go of her as she held her chin up high while walking to the car. She wasn''t sure if he was serious but it put her on edge. If he really meant to violate her then she would get even. She would prepare weapons of all sorts just to deter him from laying his filthy hands on her.

    Mark her words, she would never become his again.

 Chapter 24 - More Lies

    "Meet my daughter, Prisana Visalyaputra. Her husband, Giovanni Blair."

    Prisana''s father proudly beamed this, as he motioned toward the both of them. It was the first time in three months she had seen her father ever since his betrayal. Under the sparkling chandelier, her father''s well-being came to light as he was healthy and happy as ever. He still harbored the politician''s glint and voice that drove her mad.

    Compared to Prisana, he must be dwelling in the wealth from the marriage and gaining publicity in his candidacy. Prisana was a walking, miserable object that held the arms of her husband only in appearances.

    Giovanni had his arm wrapped over her. She could only fake a smile and then when time allowed, glare at the intimacy she could not refuse. When her dear husband beamed his fake smile, it was a smile so fake it made her want to expose him for what he truly was.

    And then there was her father...The man that threw her away to further his own ambitions. He was acting like they were loving toward one another. First, praising and then doting upon Prisana like he was the number one father in the world.

    Everything made Prisana sick. Father. Giovanni. This shimmering upscale atmosphere. Music that sounded like scratching nails upon floorboards. All she wanted was to go back to the cabin and perhaps, to the beast inside the cabin.

    Now Prisana knew that she would never meet him again in this lifetime and it would be for the best if she wanted to live a life of seclusion by herself. Away from everything. Time was ticking as it was the third month that her father reminded her she would be forced to sign the certificate. By then she would hope to be long gone.

    Prisana looked to the man her father introduced her to. Harry Plaskitt was someone she knew very well as he sought out her hand in marriage once before. He was a very persistent man. She heard a lot of nasty rumors about him. The rumors proved true as Harry cornered Prisana before, trying to kiss her.

    Of course her ''loving husband'' beside her did stop him once before but she wondered if he even cared about any of that now.

    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Plaskitt," she stiffly spoke to him, giving him one of her most dazzling smiles to hide the disgust she felt inside.

    Mr. Plaskitt boldly took her hand without permission. He grasped it against his lips and kissed it. She could feel his slobber leak onto her hand. It took every ounce of self control not to vomit. But father and everyone else who loved to kiss up to her father was watching her every move.

    "The pleasure is all mine. Why Gio, I didn''t know you were married to such a beautiful woman."

    Lies. He knew full well Giovanni and Prisana were engaged since the beginning of time. It must be due to her father''s hawk like gaze that made him act like a stranger. The moment his lips retreated, Prisana quickly pulled away. When doing so, another man she even more so despised wrapped one arm over her shoulder. She almost gasped but held her smile.

    Her hips stuck unnervingly close to Giovanni as she watched his fiery blue gaze rain down on Harry. Surely he wasn''t...angry? No, it was due to the fact that he wanted to play a doting husband in front of her father''s followers.

    "Hands off my wife, Harry. You''re making me jealous," Giovanni said with slight laughter in his voice. "I don''t want another man to touch her."

    Prisana''s father and the crowd bought his beautiful lies.

    More lies on top of lies.

 Chapter 25 - The Auction

    A loud voice erupted from the stage, fortunately silencing the circle that Prisana was part of. Any more lies, then she would surely puke all over her ''loving husband''. Some man dressed formally coughed under his breath.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to the initial candidate party and auction held in regards to Senator Visalyaputra''s council. Now the moment you have all been waiting for...We will begin the auction."

    Prisana yawned as rare and intricate items were presented. But as three of the items were bought, her attention grew more and more interested. The crowd, including Prisana, began to grow amazed as they realized a certain man was buying each and every item at ridiculous prices. He allowed no room for anyone else to bid.

    "...Going once," the announcer standing on the stage shouted. "Going twice...And sold once again to the man in black!"

    The crowd clapped their hands and some even cursed as they could not outbid the man in black. The man in black stood against the wall. One couldn''t help but be drawn to how dark his attire fit him with his short black hair and dark eyes. He was easy on the eyes but perhaps, lethal to the touch. The man in black regarded everyone with an aura of disdain.

    Her attention caught hold of another item that the announcer wheeled out. A glass rose was situated inside a clear case, so elegant and regal. Prisana''s eyes sparkled like a million shining suns as she observed such fine details. The glass rose before her was beautiful, unlike anything she has ever seen before.

    "This item here is a rose made out of diamonds. It''s shape and style was carved none other than the one and only...Ah! We have a bidder."

    A woman at the front of the crowd offered 1 million. Prisana looked to the man in black to see if he would spew another ridiculous offer. She gasped, startled that his glossy dark eyes found hers among the throng of the crowd. Prisana swore that he was staring directly at her. That wasn''t the strangest part.

    The strangest part happened when her heart beat a fire so rapid it knocked her breath away. She shook her head. What was wrong with her? He wasn''t the most handsome man in the room and definitely not the most hideous. And yet, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Prisana couldn''t take her eyes away when she continued soaking him in, even when he turned to the announcer.

    "Ten million," the man in black shouted as the crowd gasped at such a high offer.

    "Okay going once, twice, and...Sold to the generous man in black! My my, I wonder who the lucky girl tonight is to receive this ten million rose¡ª"

    The announcer stopped speaking as the man in black walked toward the crowd. Toward what Prisana in all her insane thoughts, believed was toward her. He kept looking at her without pausing a beat. The crowd made way as he stalked through until she found him mere steps away from her. One of her arms were draped under Giovanni''s so he took her other hand into his.

    When his hands touched her own, it was as if the sun and the stars crashed to align in the universe. He placed a soft kiss against her knuckles and compared to Harry, she didn''t mind how long he lingered because she felt this indescribable hotness rushing over her. She let out her breath as his gruff voice spoke the next words.

    "The lucky girl is her."

 Chapter 26 - May I have this dance?

    Those that were close enough to hear the commotion watched on in stark silence. No one said a thing. Not even her father. Their faces were ones of shock and confusion. Prisana couldn''t pull away herself, as she was too mesmerized in how achingly familiar he seemed. When he touched her hand, it felt right. It felt as if now all was right with the universe.

    "Tell me, who are you and why are you openly flirting with my daughter in front of her husband?" her father''s voice was the first one to command him.

    "Elias Blackwell."

    Immediately after Elias revealed his name, the crowd erupted to hushed whispers. They quieted down as Prisana''s father shot them a stare. He turned to his bodyguard Sam and they began whispering among themselves. No one dared to speak a word as many were frightened of her father''s wrath.

    "...Ah, I heard of you. You''re that new and mysterious CEO of Silver Linings, are you not? Ha, no wonder you were able to splurge on all those items without a second thought."

    "Yes. As for your daughter, I knew she was the one and only Senator Visalyaputra''s daughter so I gifted her the rose to show my conviction. And everything else I bid and obtained this evening...I would like to gift them to you Senator."

    Prisana''s father regarded him warily.

    "...To what do I owe you for such generosity?"

    "Pardon me, I am one of the newer candidates running to become a part of your board of council members. My intentions weren''t to bribe you from the start but now that it''s come to this, I''m bribing and begging you to consider me as I have connections and ties to politics that would benefit this country."

    Prisana''s father, the wicked and straight laced politician, laughed. He laughed and at that moment Prisana couldn''t believe her ears because he never laughed ever since mother passed away. This laugh was the genuine kind. For a split second she believed that it was her father. But her father she once knew disappeared as he cleared his throat and reverted to the current version of himself.

    "You humor me. A politician never speaks the truth but you''ve already broken that rule."

    "Senator. I''m not a politician. I''m a business man and the way I do things," Elias paused and once again Prisana had this unsettling feeling that he was watching her because his gaze flickered over to her for a brief moment. "Once I have my sights set on something, I will never let it go. I''ll desperately drive forth to get what I yearn for even if rules must be broken. I''ll push boundaries and wreck havoc on earth until victory is mine."

    "Hmph. You speak grand words. I thank you for the items you gift to me and my daughter. But you must know my son in law here Giovanni is running for the position too. I favor him so everything you do must exceed everything he does if you wish to act upon your words tonight. Elias Blackwell huh...I shall remember you in good faith."

    Elias nodded toward her father to bade him farewell. Prisana''s father walked off into the crowd to greet others who yearned to obtain his attention. The large crowd that gathered dispersed and only a few lingered as some realized the man in black stood rooted next to Prisana and Giovanni.

    "Elias Blackwell, know your place. I don''t know who you think you are but keep your hands off of my wife," came Giovanni''s low and threatening voice.

    Since when did Giovanni become so obsessive over her? He shouldn''t even care that some other man was giving her attention because Gio hated her himself. To Prisana, his extreme possessive husband act was truly beginning to get on her nerves.

    "I am not yours. I''m no one''s," Prisana hissed under her breath so it could only reach Giovanni''s ears.

    He squeezed tighter over her waist. She flinched as he was almost suffocating her. Prisana glared at him and clawed her nails into his skin in which he held her other hand. The scene to other''s viewpoints must have resembled two large feral predators fighting over their prey. But Elias won this round. Or rather, Giovanni never stood a chance.

    Elias was larger and far stronger than Giovanni as it took him only one tug for Prisana to fall into his arms.

    "You''re right," Elias gave in and Prisana felt a little disappointed. "She''s yours. I''m only borrowing what''s yours. Won''t you allow me a dance for gifting your wife a ten million dollar rose?"

    Prisana nearly did a double take as her heart leaped. The gall of this man! Was he not the least bit intimidated by Giovanni? Even Harry backed off earlier when Gio warned him. And for the life of Prisana, she couldn''t ballroom or dance in general to save a life. He was asking for the impossible.

    Elias spoke these words out loud so nearly every person within arms reach could hear. They even began to gossip about Giovanni.

    ''A loving husband is one thing but an extremely possessive one?''

    ''He should let the man dance with his wife as he did gift her a ten million rose.''

    ''Surely one dance won''t end their marriage...''

    A flashing smile from Elias prompted Giovanni to grind his teeth together. Giovanni panned over the audience and to Prisana. He frowned deeply at first but a smile began to creep onto his lips and when it did, Prisana grew restless.

    "So be it then. You can borrow my wife but," Giovanni made a show of tugging at Prisana''s arm so she was held captive by both men on either side. "I must remind her before she is swept away in the arms of another man, who she belongs to."

    Giovanni leaned in and Prisana could only wonder why his face was coming too close for comfort. He stopped right before he reached her lips as if he were hesitating and thinking deeply about something. No one predicted the ''loving husband''s'' next move.

    Without mercy or warning, Giovanni placed his lips over hers to claim them as his. In front of everyone present. In front of Elias.

 Chapter 27 - Think of Me

    The media and the entire damn elites of New Jersey could rot in hell. Screw her father''s and her ''loving husband''s'' reputations. They jeopardized their reputations the moment his filthy lips touched hers. God, she never thought her blood could boil and rage so violently. Prisana''s conditioned reflex prompted her to raise her arm so she could slap her despicable husband.

    But of course, he didn''t allow her to. Giovanni caught her hand mid air and lovingly entwined it with his. Prisana grasped it so hard in hopes of ripping it off. Then she quickly jerked her hand away from his, only to place it against the suit jacket of Elias, the man in black who watched this all expressionlessly. She made sure to wink at Giovanni as their back turned to him.

    "I''ll do my best to behave dear. So stop being so jealous because I''ll have my way with you tonight."

    By having her way with Giovanni, she meant that she would curse and torture at him in every way possible. Prisana was so furious that she forgot about the man that led her to the dance floor, who helped shuffle her through other prancing couples. That was wrong of her to forget about him. She should have known the man leading her into the dancing den was far more dangerous than her own so called husband.

    "Stop that," interrupted her thoughts was that voice that caused her to forgot how to breathe.

    "Excuse me," Prisana muttered, forgetting that her arm was wrapped under another man''s. "Stop what?"

    "When you''re with me, I don''t want you to think about another man."

    All thoughts of Giovanni ceased as she tilted her head. Prisana almost jumped, startled that something carnal burned in those dark irises which were tinged in milky hues of golden lights from the chandeliers. She coughed, then wrapped her arms over his large and broad shoulders as he wrapped his over her waist.

    "...But he''s my husband. I should be allowed to think of him. And why must you, a complete stranger, ask me to dance with you? I do appreciate the gift but I never asked you to do that."

    "So you''re in love with him. I see...You never asked for the rose but I knew you desired it from the way your eyes lit up like early morning Christmas day and I''m no stranger."

    Elias leaned in so that his lips hovered above her ear. He brushed away the lock of hair covering her ear so that his hot breath could tickle her eardrums.

    "Don''t you remember me? I am the beast that ruined you."

 Chapter 28 - His Seduction Dance

    "Don''t you remember me? I am the beast that ruined you."

    Prisana watched in complete shock as the mirror image of her caveman reflected next to the man who called himself Elias, surfaced. They were the same man. Only that the man she once knew has abandoned the long hair, beard, and the jagged brown scar. Now Dane was replaced with the man named Elias who harbored short raven hair that fell to his neck and was clean shaven with a scar less face.

    She wondered why there was an even more rugged hardness than ever before reflected in his eyes.

    Things began to fall into place as she recalled how her body reacted to the mere sight and voice of him. She couldn''t believe her eyes or her ears that the beast was truly holding her in his arms. There were so many questions running through her mind that the first one almost escaped her lips but he held a finger to her lips to silence her.

    "Shh," he whispered. "You wouldn''t want to cause a scene in front of your father and dearest husband now, would you?"

    Suddenly she was flooded with hot rushing memories of the intimate night they both shared¡ªHis large muscular arms flexing with each thrust inside of her that conjured both pain and pleasure. Her memories then flooded to the tickling of his raspy grunts and moans that she readily devoured without shame. It was all too much for her to bare.

    But, it was too late to run. The next song played and his arms wouldn''t release her as they brought her forth closer. She could only desperately search his eyes for answers.

    "W-What do you want? Why do this to me when you could have just passed by like we never knew each other?"

    "Why...Haha," he laughed like a madman and shook his head. "I wonder that myself."

    The pair began to slow dance, their footsteps matching to the tempo of the fast beat. Ironically the beat of the song was very upbeat, unfit for the uneasy and dark mood plaguing her mind. Prisana stared at his chest as she tried to collect her thoughts.

    Yet, collecting her thoughts proved to be hard when she noticed her now groomed caveman was so close and so strikingly seductive. Before she knew it, she was becoming consumed by his charms.

    ? When marimba rhythms start to play?

    ? Dance with me?

    ? Sway with me?

    Dane ushered her hips to move forward and backward almost in a salsa step like motion so they were taking steps forwards and backwards. She grew flustered and looked away but that didn''t deter him.

    ? Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore?

    ? Hold me close. Sway me more?

    He sought out her eyes as his hands gently prodded her head to turn back to him. His arm wrapped over her waist as he used a finger to tap her collarbone so he could fully dip her backwards as her back swayed around in a glorious full circle.

    ?Like a flower bending in the breeze?

    ?Bend with me, Sway with ease?

    ?When we dance you have a way with me?

    ?Stay with me, Sway with me?

    The moment she was brought back to him from the breathless swaying, he twirled her so she was hugged closely from behind. One of his arms draped over her stomach as his cologne scent carried to her nose. She sighed at both hints of familiar and unfamiliar scents. Prisana gasped as he ushered both of their bodies sideways so they swayed side to side in unison, their footsteps mimicking each one another.

    Her back rubbed against his chest as they continued to endlessly sway, the casual touch sending shivers more than one down her own feverish body.

    "Why the bloody hell is a caveman like you so good at dancing?" she incredulously asked, finally taking a moment to catch her breath.

    "You''re just terrible at dancing."

    To this, Prisana''s cheeks flushed as she kept her head down in shame because he was right. She not only almost fell if he hadn''t guided her with those twirls but she almost stepped on his feet during the salsa moves.

    "I don''t understand. There''s so many questions I have on my mind..."

    "You always think too much."

    "And you surely didn''t think much when pulling a stunt like that. I-I always believed you wanted to rid of me. Now that you have, why are holding me in your arms?"

    "It''s true, I never wanted to meet you again in this lifetime. Believe me when I say that''s what I wished for and I told myself to stay away but when I saw your beautiful form in front of me...Everything I tried so hard holding back just...shattered."

    "...Perhaps, I could seduce you so you''d gain me favor in your father''s council. Yes, that''s all this is."

    Was she yet again another pawn, even to this man who she once thought they could share something more with one another? It stung that, like father and Giovanni, he saw her as some object to further his ambitions. She bit her lip in anger and hurled her face around to give him a piece of her mind.

    Yet she couldn''t give him a piece of her mind. Prisana inhaled a deep breath and found him staring down at her with sad eyes. It was the first time that she felt as if she could catch a glimpse of his emotions. She wanted to reach out and console him but all eyes were on them. Why did he look so sad?

    Soon, they turned raw and inviting once his finger slowly cupped her chin so her head leaned back onto his chest. He settled his gaze on her lips.

    "Your lips, have already been taken by another. How pathetic of me. I don''t even deserve jealousy. From the very beginning we started this, you were always his."

    Prisana thought about telling him the truth but it was already too late. He was three months too late and there was nothing the both of them could do even if she spilled all her ugly truths.

    His finger trailed to her flowing dark hair, then to the sides of her breasts and her waist. When they did so, she could feel her own nipples harden at each caress. Dane was teasing her and she knew it as that devilish smile abandoned all reason. She couldn''t help but breathe and pant with each subtle caress he hid in between their upbeat dancing.

    It didn''t help that she actually felt Giovanni''s gaze burning through them.

    "Your dear husband must be burning with jealousy about now. I wonder, has he touched these places as well? Over and over again, he would probably relish in the fact that your skin is pale as snow and easily blushed, tainted by every soft touch. I''m sure he also knows," Dane pauses and he lightly hovers his hands over the shape of her buttocks. "That you have the most endearing dimples here and..."

    "Stop that," Prisana chided him, voice betraying anger in breathy sighs.

    "Stop what?"

    "Seducing me. I''m a married woman."

    "Not a very happy one. Or else, you wouldn''t have ran away from your vows or tried to slap him when he kissed you."

    "Just...Leave me be!"

    Dane''s hold on her waist loosened as their bodies separated from the endless swaying. The spell has been broken, reflected in his startled eyes.

    "We should act as if we''re nothing more than strangers because at the end of the day," Prisana took a deep breath and regarded him sadly. "At the end of the day you won''t save me from this unhappy marriage. I also don''t need any saving."

    "Prisana..."

    "That night was a mistake. So you can forget about everything and so will I."

    A beautiful lie that hurt even her. That night was everything she wished for. The only mistake she made was when she left the beast and his cabin.

 Chapter 29 - Lust Not Love?

    Truths had been unveiled and his identity as Elias Blackwell was already hanging by a thin thread.

    What was Dane doing, risking and unveiling his entire resolve? A single petite woman now returned in the arms of her husband was not worth the trouble.

    He wasn''t his usual stoic self. The moment he saw Prisana''s endearing form reflected onto his wine glass, a part of him knew that he should steer away. He knew and yet...When he saw her enchanted by the diamond rose, his body moved faster than his mind and lips could think. Even now as she was wrapped inside his arms, Dane couldn''t help but become enchanted.

    The reception hall danced with it''s white walls lined with royal red tapestries draped gloriously over rows of gold chandeliers that hung over them. Couples beside them wore similar suits and evening dresses in all styles and colors, gracing their dazzling smiles upon the upbeat song. However Dane couldn''t find it in himself to smile as Prisana struck him where it shouldn''t even hurt but it did.

    For that, he cursed himself because unlike her, he was the more experienced one. When you had sex with someone, it didn''t give rise to any promises. It must have been his fault because he pushed her away so that''s why she left. That''s why she thought everything was a mistake.

    "A...mistake?"

    "It seems like the song has ended. I need to refresh myself, if you''ll excuse me..."

    Before she turned around to leave him stranded on the dance floor, Dane saw a streak of tear fall down to her chin. He reached out for her but his fingers only scratched at the sleeves of her dress.

    Again, she was leaving him. His heart ached for words couldn''t even begin to explain his inner turmoil.

    "Wait! Prisana!"

    Dane quickly panned over to Giovanni and found him watching them intently from the sidelines. Everyone else was too immersed in the senator or their own jolly grand conversations. Not him. Dane followed after her discreetly, finding that Giovanni wasted no time at all doing the same. He didn''t understand why Prisana was still unhappy if her husband seemed as if he were still seeking out her every move.

    He knew as much as the next man that one didn''t waste their time on a woman if you weren''t invested. But Dane was closer as he pushed through those large white double doors. He briskly tread through the wide open hallways and caught her arm.

    Their bodies tumbled over into an empty room that he intruded on¡ªA small dimly lit storage room that contained moving boxes and supplies of sorts that resembled decorations in the reception hall. Only Dane and Prisana were present in the lone room. She twisted beneath him and glared at his hand that held onto her wrist.

    Once he heard what sounded like Giovanni''s footsteps, pass by the room they were in, he immediately let her go.

    "You said everything was a mistake. Is that really true?" he asked, brushing away the tears at her eyes.

    She turned away from his touch.

    "All of it. Every last moment spent with you was a mistake."

    "Then tell me, why do you keep crying?"

    "B-Because," she stammered, her tears finally halting. "I don''t like the way you make me feel."

    "And how do I make you feel?" he asked, quietly admiring how pretty even her stricken tear filled eyes seemed underneath dim orange lights.

    "You make me feel wanted."

    Those words struck a chord in him. Dane shook his head, wondering what fool of a husband could not make his own wife feel wanted. He would gladly take her off of his hands. Dane didn''t ever love women but he felt lust as all men do. He lusted after Prisana and desperately wanted to fuck her right here and now where his body relished in the fact that it could finally feel hers against his once more.

    Dane banged one fist against the wall and slowly buried his face against her neck. He was breathing like a beast who after so long, finally found it''s prey.

    ''You beast, control yourself. She''s a married woman!''

    Prisana was everything he shouldn''t want. What''s more, she stirred up feelings inside of him that he was scared of having erupt because there was still his life''s purpose. His thoughts then flashed to his ex-girlfriend, his grandfather, and even his parents. God, his grief and their tombstones were etched into his memories. He could never love someone ever again. His heart forbade it.

    "...You ruined me, Prisana. I want you so bad I can''t even think straight. It''s like a fever that I can''t get rid of. I can''t ever love you but I have wanted to see you again every day, every hour, every second, and even now for the past three months. So please, please don''t push me away. If you do, I''m afraid that it''ll..."

    Hurt.

    For the life of him, Dane was unsure if he were even asking her for permission. Still he placed a feather light kiss against her trembling nape. Her breathy sigh nearly drove him mad with desire but he took it slow. Held all his needs back so she wouldn''t flee. When he hovered near her lips, he stopped.

    Prisana regarded him with inviting eyes. Something about this both felt so wrong and so right at the same time. He never experienced such a thrilling yet disastrous feeling coursing through him.

    His fingers traced over the outlines of her lips, as if to remember each subtle detail of them. He terribly missed the feel of his lips against hers. Yet, Dane didn''t kiss her. He couldn''t. A kiss felt too personal at the moment as it would further shatter everything he was trying to hold back. Perhaps if he fucked her once then this insatiable lust he had for her would disappear.

    He worked to undo the flimsy zipper of her wine red dress that aligned with how blushed her skin appeared before him. To his dismay, Prisana clutched the dress against her chest so it wouldn''t fall.

    "W-What do you think you''re doing?"

    "Hush. I''m doing my best to commit adultery right now. Though, it''s a bit difficult as no matter how beastly I am, I still have morals plaguing me."

    Prisana used her free hand to push him away but he easily caught it. He even kissed the fingers which pushed him away and the beast inside of him purred as her ravishing expression fell victim to his seduction. Dane didn''t stop there. Her breath hitched as he licked in between her fingers, expertly flicking his tongue as he imagined it was her dripping wet pussy.

    He continued this sweet torture until he went through each finger and crease.

    "You''re hardly resisting. Does that mean I can take it as you want this as much as I do?"

    She nodded and he nearly stumbled back as she wrapped her arms over him. He covered his flushed face with a hand. God, how he wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her that she shouldn''t be so easy, especially to a man she''s only met a few times! Then again he would be inducing gender roles on her.

    Men and women should be allowed to openly fuck whoever they wanted without strings attached. It''s only that their strings were still attached if they tread over the point of no return a second time.

    Prisana boldly pried off his fingers from his face. He composed himself as she broke his quick composure again by tugging at his tie. For a moment Dane greatly wondered where she got all her daring behavior from? He noticed it before but she kept staring at his lips.

    "Kiss me."

    "No."

    "...Why?"

    "Because," Dane''s voiced trailed off as he leaned and used his teeth to tug away the thin cloth covering her chest.

    Because he was afraid.

    "There''s more pressing things I want to kiss right now. Like these cute pink nipples. See?" Dane pointed out by flicking one of the nubs with his index finger so her breast jiggled. "They''re already erect and begging for my lips to kiss them."

    Dane didn''t kiss them. Not yet. He blew at her nipple, satisfaction spreading over him when seeing her shiver just by his breath alone. Only then he began to touch them with his hands, squeezing them and hovering his lips over them to blow against it teasingly. He liked watching her legs squirm as he did this.

    One of his hands crept in between her legs to find her most sensitive spot. He wasted no time at all. His finger entered her and she jerked in surprise. Hot. She was so hot and wet for him that it pleased him to great lengths. Prisana''s legs were shy and closed at first. But the moment Dane finally brought one of her cute pink nipples into his mouth, her legs twisted open for him.

    He devoured her nipple as if sweet honey dripped from them. Dane licked them softly, and in turn nipped them with his teeth roughly. He repeated the same torture as he licked and bit at her nipples. At the same time, his finger stimulated her wet insides. Her back arched and tensed every time his finger found the pressure inside that drove her wild with shaking pleasure.

    She scratched at his arms as the sensation kept jerking her body around.

    "Oh wait! Dane, wait! Ah...Mmh...It''s that weird feeling again. Please stop, I''m scared."

    "Prisana, know that I would never hurt you and I would stop anytime you don''t want this but..." Dane stopped focusing on her lovely breasts and leaned upward to kiss her forehead. "I''m only giving you pleasure. It will make you feel insanely good. Do you trust me?"

    He could see the hesitation in her eyes but nevertheless she nodded her head again.

    "Yes, I trust you. I can''t believe I''m trusting you but," Prisana begins to lower her voice in embarrassment. "Everything you do, makes me feel insanely good."

    God, he wondered if she knew what she was doing to him. Yet her adorable eyes still feigned innocence. His erection stood much harder now and against the entrance to her pussy which was separated by her dress and soiled underwear.

    "Then," his voice nearly came out as a growl. "Take a deep breath and give all of yourself to me and if you would...Touch me here."

    Dane guided her hand toward his bulging cock. Prisana''s finger lightly brushed over his pants. She took a deep breath as she began sliding her fingers up and down over his cock and immediately, he could already feel her body relaxing and giving in to him completely. His movements inside of her resumed as well, causing her to flinch.

    "Prisana...Oh Prisana I''m so damn hard that I want to be inside of you. Can you feel it aching? It''s this big because of you. The way my fingers are moving inside you, imagine that it''s my cock thrusting relentlessly....Ah. Do you still remember that passionate night we shared?"

    "I''m so ashamed to admit it...But of course I remember, you....Ah...irresistible...beast! How could I forget?"

    To his surprise, Prisana hiked her pussy against his cock as both their hands worked hard to stimulate one another. She indecently rubbed her pussy up and down against his cock, even as his fingers explored her. Prisana held the outlines of his cock through his pants even tighter than before. She was no longer shy and it excited him of other things they could do in bed.

    "I want you. Dane...Ah...I want to feel you inside of me again. It''s wrong and it''s everything we shouldn''t even do right now after having just met but god I can''t turn back now and¡ªOh!"

    Dane couldn''t even hear her next words. Not after she told him she wanted him just as much as he did. He suckled her nipple and plunged his fingers deep, fast, and hard inside of her without warning. Her hands gave up trying to pleasure him as she was becoming too hammered in her own ecstasy. She was practically moaning and screaming all at the same time as he drove his fingers inside of her.

    He frowned as he noticed her bite her pretty fingers so she could stifle her moans.

    "Sorry but let me cover your mouth instead," he whispered, his own breathing unstable.

    "Ah! Mmh...W-Why can''t you just kiss me?"

    He ignored her and brought himself down to his knees. Usually acts like lowering himself for another woman was degrading and required much work on his part so he never did this but at the moment it felt right. Dane continued covering her lips as his fingers sweetly tortured her. He tugged down her underwear and settled her dress over his head.

    Prisana''s color was a beautiful pink. It twitched and leaked with her sweet honey that trickled down her legs. She gasped as his tongue flicked around her crevice. He began his invasion with her folds on the sides. Then, to her most sensitive and throbbing clitoris.

    At last he found it and as soon as he sucked the living daylights of her clit, her body slid down as her legs became too weak to hold herself up any longer. It didn''t stop him as he only changed their position so her back was pushed against the wall with her legs spread wide open for him. His body lay flat on the ground so he could fully explore her, both tongue and fingers.

    Once Dane''s tongue made contact with her pussy and invaded her insides to slurp the honey from her core, she bit his fingers hard.

    And then, she went and gave all of herself to him. When she did, Dane knew they were yet again traveling to the point of no return.

    Only this time he wouldn''t make the same mistake to let her go.

 Chapter 30 - His Proposal

    Prisana didn''t remember what happened after she gave all of herself to him. She only remembered being consumed by a pleasure so strong that it brought her over the edge of insanity. She also didn''t quite remember when Dane helped urge her back into her panties but he did. Even as she was still having trouble breathing, he already wiped her clean and began to dress her.

    When she heard the sound of the zipper coming from her dress, being sealed and felt his fingers along her back, she knew the time to part was near.

    "That''s it? You''re going to leave me like this?" she asked, her voice disappointed.

    Her caveman and beast that just gave her the ultimate pleasure of her life, ended things before it could even start. Then he laughed. She frowned because she didn''t think it was funny to leave her hanging when he was the one that began this seduction game.

    Dane motioned toward his still hard cock that threatened to bulge out from his pants.

    "I should be the one complaining, don''t you think? And," he turned her around to face him. "I won''t fuck you until we''re married. I can''t take you if I know you belong to another man. Not until you''re mine."

    Married?

    What was he talking about?

    Did he get his head hit during the three months they were apart?

    Dane wasn''t making any sense to her right now.

    "Uh, who''s getting married?"

    "Do you love your husband?"

    Love him? Prisana loathed him to her very core. She shook her head.

    "No, I don''t."

    "Then marry me."

    Dane''s proposal was so smooth. It was so smooth that she had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn''t joking around. He wasn''t. His face was serious as can be as he stared right at her. She took a few moments to watch him closely.

    "Why? You never wanted anything to do with me so why?"

    "If I said it''s because I want to spend my days with you, fucking at every chance we can get, would you hate me?"

    How could she hate him when she desired the same thing? Yes, blame her wanton desires for wanting to be with him sexually as she didn''t even reject his advances. But in all their love making, it wouldn''t make her happy.

    That''s right, she would only be roped into another loveless marriage. Dane told her earlier. He could never love her. She bit her lip from saying anything.

    "You''re a damsel. If you could, I know you would have left this marriage a long time ago. Why are you trying so hard by yourself for? Marry me and I swear, you will always feel wanted."

    It was tempting. To marry someone who wanted her and could give her pleasure. Even though it was tempting, she lost too much trust with her own family. How could she trust a complete stranger to not abandon her when he grew tired of her body? First, it was Giovanni. After, it was Erica. Then, it was her aunt Florence. Lastly, it was her own father. Everyone she knew and loved, betrayed her.

    In the end, Dane was no different than them. He may have her feel wanted but she needed more than temporary. If Prisana was going to be tossed either path she chose, she''d rather choose none and walk her own path. One could only rely on themselves. Prisana was no fool. There was already a plan she had to escape her cage.

    She was close to finishing her general education courses online. Everything was coming into place nicely. All she had to do was avoid the marriage certificate and survive another month. It wouldn''t be long before she could disappear. Dane didn''t know what he was talking about. Or rather, he didn''t know her.

    Prisana glared at him.

    "Stop insulting me. I may be weak like a damsel in distress. I may have no means to support myself yet but you forget, I am a woman and still a romantic at heart. My feelings are fragile. I only want the simple things in life. A husband who loves me. A normal house. Kids. Can you give me any of that?"

    "No," came his sad reply which she expected but it still hurt to hear him say it without a shred of hesitation.

    "That''s what I thought," she said, as she brushed past him. "Thank you for your proposal but I humbly reject your offer. Have a good life...And thank you Dane, you''re the first person who''s ever made me feel wanted."

 Chapter 31 - Rejection

    In all his years of being alive, this was the first time that a woman rejected him. When he was still a sought out bachelor, all women desired to marry him. Any one of them would kill to be her right this instant. But he was flat out rejected.

    Dane was wrong about her.

    She wasn''t the damsel in distress he thought she was. Prisana was a wild cat with claws.

    And he wanted the wild cat in his bed. Why? He couldn''t sleep with another woman ever since. When he tried to, at the most crucial moment, his erection would falter as he always thought about her. He kept thinking that after fucking her one time then perhaps he could satiate this bothersome lust. That had to be it.

    The door swung open and for a moment, his heart leaped a little as he thought his little kitten returned.

    "Oh Leo, are you sure we should be doing this here?" a woman''s voice asked.

    "Relax. There''s no one¡ªOh. Elias, you''re here."

    Dane saw the devil and what looked to be a different woman compared to the waitress from earlier. Something must have went south with that waitress. The cut at his cheek indicated as much since there wasn''t a blemish there earlier. But of course the devil worked fast and he never grew short of seducing other women.

    "I was just going to leave."

    "What were you doing here? Ah haha perhaps, a rendezvous with a secret lover? Where is she? She left already?"

    "None of your business."

    "I hold all your secrets so it''s somewhat my business."

    "It seems like the more your mouth moves, the more the lady beside you is growing tired of waiting."

    It was true. The patchy dark blond haired woman frowned as her brows furrowed. She clicked her tongue and narrowed her eyes at Leo.

    "Excuse me? Did you completely forget I was here?"

    "Yes, but it was only for a moment my sweet. Why don''t we give him a private show¡ªAh."

    The blond haired woman pushed him away and stormed out the room.

    "Why the long face?" Leo asked, not the least bit dejected that the woman ran away from his clutches.

    Dane walked past Leo and into the hallway. The devil didn''t stop there. He followed Dane and even fell into step beside him. Eventually he sighed and gave in as the devil wouldn''t leave his side until he got answers. At the moment Dane didn''t have any friends to confide in so he felt anyone would do to ease his mind''s worries.

    "Let''s say a friend I know proposed marriage to a married woman and he was rejected."

    "Hmm okay so...Wait. You did what?"

    "It''s my friend, not me," Dane growled and Leo nodded.

    "Well, what is your silly friend thinking? It''s only natural. She''s a married woman. Of course he would be rejected."

    That silly friend was Dane. Of course he knew she was married. He knew and that was why he felt he couldn''t touch her anymore until she was finally his. They both wanted each other. But she was too smart. Prisana knew there were only so many things he could give her. Dane couldn''t ever love her but if he could give the world to her just to be his one and only wife, then he would.

    He could give her the world. Just not his heart. He was afraid she would end up like everyone he''s ever loved.

    "But what if she were unhappy and clearly devising crazy plans to escape by herself?"

    "Then that''s a different story. All women dream of being saved by their dashing knight in shining armor, do they not?"

    Dane recalled how independent she was when she vowed she didn''t need his help.

    "Not her."

    "How did your friend go about proposing to her?"

    "He told her he wanted to fuck her at every chance they could get..."

    "That''s why! How crude and unromantic of him to do so. He might as well propose for her to become his mistress!"

    "That doesn''t sound like a bad idea either."

    "The point is, if he has any deep romantic feelings for her then¡ª"

    "He doesn''t," Dane interrupted him, refusing to tread that territory.

    "Then hell, tell your friend to go into a ditch and rot or propose for her to become his mistress."

    "A mistress wouldn''t be good enough. It would be degrading. She deserves more than that."

    To this, Leonardo Duval, neither friend nor enemy, stared at Dane as if he were the hardest puzzle to ever figure out. Regardless he tossed up his hands in the air and even dared to brush past Dane''s shoulders as Prisana did so earlier.

    "I think I understand why your friend was rejected. He''s too goddamn stupid to realize he may actually be in love with her."

 Chapter 32 - The Loving Husband

    Ever since she left the dimly lit room that inhabited her long lost caveman and beast, her heart wouldn''t stop aching. It ached but her mind knew that would be the last time she would easily fall victim to his charms. When Prisana knew it was him, she couldn''t contain the whirlwind of emotions that came as she finally saw him again.

    Of course her delusional mind made thoughts that he would vow beautiful truths so she gave herself to him. Instead, he vowed the ugly truth. He couldn''t ever love her and that opened her eyes to another loveless marriage.

    As Prisana stumbled out into the reception hall, she lay eyes on the loveless marriage. That loveless husband who ran toward her in quickened hushed breaths. It must all be an act¡ªHis hazy blue eyes desperately searching her messy ruffled dress. Even the way rage boiled its way onto his bronzed skin was well played.

    "Prisana!" he shouted, his rage quieting as he found her swollen red eyes. "...You were crying."

    Giovanni tried to touch her face but she smacked his hand away. She didn''t want him to touch her. Not the hands that touched Erica and all the women in New Jersey. Then, his expression darkened again.

    "Was it him that made you cry? Elias, was it? I''ll kill him. And your dress...It''s all disheveled."

    "Don''t act like you care about me," Prisana hissed under her breath. "And the tears? I ran away because he stepped on my foot during the dance and I was too embarrassed to cry in public. He only chased after me to apologize. That was all. Don''t make such a big deal out of it."

    "Was that really all that happened?" he asked, using a finger to cup her chin so he could stare at her beautiful lies.

    His gaze roamed over her face and down to her body.

    "Why is it that your skin is so flushed? Why is it that your dress is in shambles, with the back of your zipper undone? Why is it that..." Giovanni further tilted her chin so he could gaze into her eyes but she refused. "You won''t look me in the eyes?"

    "Because, I fucked him. When I left our vows, I made it with another man. With him."

    Now Prisana was looking directly at him. Hurt flashed across his blue eyes. As much satisfaction that it gave her to tell him the truth, it made her feel like the bad guy to have someone look at her with so much hurt. But she had to keep reminding herself that Giovanni hurt her too.

    So why should she feel remorse for him?

    Prisana didn''t falter as he was the first to turn away. Giovanni turned around as his hands that held her chin, fell to his sides.

    "This suits us. I''ll sleep with other women and you can sleep with other men. I just need you to play your part when the time comes. Then, I''ll toss you away."

    "I won''t play my role. I''ll be long gone before then..." Prisana covered her mouth.

    ''Prisana, you stupid woman!''

    She accidentally blurted out her plans to disappear. Giovanni grinned and arched one of his eyebrows as he heard her.

    "Oh really? Then, it seems I''ve been giving you too much freedom. I''ll make sure to increase the surveillance."

    ***

    The ride back home was almost too quiet. Prisana could feel Giovanni''s wrath from beside her as he never spoke another word after their exchange at the reception hall. There was an uneasy feeling that plagued Prisana as she climbed into the car. She couldn''t help but feel like something was wrong.

    Her intuitions were right because when they arrived at his house, what greeted them nearly made her fall to her knees.

    Erica. She stood by the entrance to the mansion. When Erica saw the both of them come out of the car, she sauntered over to Giovanni and draped an arm over his shoulder. She made a show of kissing him on the lips and it took a moment for him to respond but then he soon returned her kiss until they were sickeningly long and passionate.

    They were both boldly making out in front of her. Even the servants of the mansion were stunned. Prisana only stared at Erica, trying to gather what she wanted to say.

    When they pulled apart, Erica began looking at Prisana while she said these next words.

    "Gio dear, I''ve packed my bags just like you asked. Where will I be staying?"

 Chapter 33 - Ugly Emotions

    Screw trying to come up with words. Prisana''s blood boiled furiously as she stomped over to where Erica stood. She didn''t even say anything. Her hands went straight toward pulling Erica''s red hair and she even managed to pull off some of the fake extensions which fell onto the floor. Erica screamed as Prisana slapped her across the face.

    Prisana was a little surprised herself as she never thought she''d be this angry. She had to look at her hands to make sure this was really her, bursting out of anger and pulling on Erica''s hair. Every time she ran the scenario of meeting Erica in her head, she always ended in a puddle of tears. Reality was much violent than she imagined.

    "Giovanni! Get your crazy wife off of me! Ah!"

    He only sighed and covered his face with his hand. Then he flickered his gaze over to Clarice who peeked from out the entryway with other servants, at the scene unfolding.

    "Clairce! Could you separate the two from each other?"

    Clarice appeared at their sides in a flash. She plucked Prisana away and into her arms as she clawed for Erica''s blood. As Prisana was held captive by Clairce, Erica took this chance to slap Prisana''s face. One of her long nails scratched her cheek and she could feel the blood run down to her chin.

    Why did things turn out like this?

    Before, they would spend each day gossiping about their daily lives and went on outings with one another almost everywhere across the world. Now, once her sister and best friend, clung to Prisana''s own so called husband. Prisana held her cheek. She looked at the blood smeared on her hands to confirm this was reality.

    How terrifying. Feelings of hatred and revenge replaced love and filled her entire insides in an instant.

    "Giovanni," Erica whined. "She hit me."

    Prisana refused to look at Giovanni or she feared her claws would find him too.

    "Erica, you hurt her. I said I never wanted you to hurt her. Only I can hurt her."

    What sort of twisted things was he spouting? God, she didn''t know if she could survive the month with her deranged husband and Erica, in the same house. Maybe she should have considered being Dane''s mistress as that fate was better than this one. She was already still feeling sick from watching their passionate kiss moments earlier.

    "B-But she started it."

    "It doesn''t change the fact that you hurt her. If you do it again I won''t be so forgiving," he turned to Clarice and reached out his hand to touch Prisana''s cheek but she glared at his hand until he eventually gave up. "Clarice, put Erica''s bags in my room."

    "From now on, Erica will be living with us. I love her dearly so please treat her well hmm?"

    "She''s your mistress. It shouldn''t matter if I torture her or skin her alive," Prisana stated.

    Revenge was the last thing on her mind but as she saw the two of them together it only brought about this ugly side of her she never knew existed.

    "What happened to you? Why are you so crazy?" Erica asked, her voice tinged with a sadness that made her blood boil even further.

    "The both of you made me this way."

    "Sorry," Erica apologized and Prisana could really see the remorse laced in her eyes.

    She took a deep, heart shattering breath upon hearing that one word.

    "Sorry? That''s all you have to say to me?"

    "I love Giovanni. I''ve always loved him. I''m sorry that I betrayed you but I don''t regret a single thing because I want to be with him."

    "Hah! It''s too late for apologies and it all makes sense now. You chose a man over me. Anyway, I''ll disappear soon enough so go ahead and prepare that marriage certificate."

    "Fine," was all Giovanni said. "Do whatever you want. You can try and escape but I will always find you even if I have to scour the ends of the earth in search of you."

    "Just let her disappear. Haven''t you already gotten what you wanted?" Erica pleaded him.

    "No, not yet. I still need her..."

    "For what? Is it because you still love her?"

    There was silence that met her question. Prisana knew the truth. He hated her. At this moment in time, Prisana really wanted to pack her bags to live out in the wilderness. Why? Because Giovanni kissed Erica again and this time, he carried her so her arms and legs were wrapped over him.

    "The one I love is you. We still need to make our relationship public but I need to see the look on his face when he sees news that his darling daughter is being pushed aside as her husband is taken by another. I need more...His ultimate ruin."

    Her father? What was his role in this? Prisana wasn''t able to ask any further as the pair she once loved, continued their passionate kisses.

    The pair walked off inside the jail of a castle, leaving behind a trail of disgust directed toward them. Prisana always believed meeting Erica would be anti climatic. Erica would ask for her forgiveness and tell her everything was a mistake. To this, they would work things out and be best friends once again.

    But Erica knew what she was doing. Prisana also knew Erica''s betrayal was that of a lifetime.

    She could only stare at their backs furiously and curse herself for being unable to do anything. This was it. The last straw. If she wanted revenge, she needed to leave her loving husband and his mistress.

 Chapter 34 - Her Resolve

    UPDATE: I fixed the previous chapter to suggestions/complaints I agreed with lol which align with this chapter. I know Prisana is still weak by showing her thoughts but that''s because she just met Erica for the first time in a while so I made that hard choice for her to show her emotions. Thanks for your comments I really do listen!!

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    Prisana couldn''t bare to remain at their home any longer or stand to watch as the pair shamelessly flaunted their love for each other. Everything she planned out, shattered after his next move all because she spilled her ugly truths. But Prisana was tired of beating around the bush so that''s why she was giving Giovanni the truths.

    These three months were a living hell. It would become living in the depths of hell if she continued to linger and beat around the bush. Prisana packed a pair of clothes, her mother''s picture, and even that diamond rose she couldn''t throw away.

    It was cowardly of her to run but if she wanted her revenge then she would have to take that first step toward independence. She would turn to the one person who she believed would take her in.

    Aunt Florence. Her aunt betrayed her once before but just this one time she desperately prayed her aunt would take her in until she could find an apartment or apply for the dorms. It wasn''t much but she already sold a good portion of her wardrobe and high end jewelry and shoes which would help sustain her living expenses for a few months until she found a part time job.

    Giovanni or her father could fake some story about why she disappeared. They could tip off the media. She didn''t care anymore. When Prisana saw Erica and Giovanni kissing and imagined them making love under the same roof, she couldn''t stomach to stay around any longer.

    Prisana left during the dead of night, before he could even think to increase surveillance on her. She quietly tiptoed through the glossy marble floors. Every now and then, a squeak in the floorboards would make her heart jump. Finally, she reached the back door of the jail of a castle.

    At last she would be free!

    Her heart soared knowing that freedom was so close and within arms reach. All she had to do was grasp the door handle.

    "Where do you think you''re running off to? I already told you I wouldn''t make the same mistake twice," came that voice that she loathed so much.

    Her heart beat so loud it hurt her eardrums.

    She didn''t waste time to turn around. Instead, she fumbled for the door handles and rushed outside to the night cold air that blew away at her hair. The cold didn''t bother her much. What bothered her was Giovanni''s shadowy figure chasing after her. By now she was carrying her own suitcase so it wouldn''t drag against the grass or dirt to slow her down.

    Only when she passed by the gates to the mansion, did Prisana sigh in relief. Her relief ended when one of her foot tripped over a small pebble and threw her suitcase scattered onto the floor.

    No!

    It was the only memento she had of her mother. She fumbled for her mother''s picture in the dark. Giovanni took advantage of the moment to cease her relentless escape. He took her away toward an area where shadows were dark and light was scarce. Giovanni pinned her down with both of her hands held over her head.

    She kicked him and squirmed and opened her mouth to scream. He sealed her lips with his, taking in her screams. Prisana couldn''t believe what was happening as she felt his disgusting lips on hers. She was the main character of a horror story. With all her might as he stuck his tongue in, she bit both his lip and tongue and watched as moon shadows reflected blood coming from his mouth.

    The terrifying and loving husband didn''t stop there. Giovanni ravaged her neck in endless kisses as his hands lightly brushed over her clothes. He traced his fingers over the neckline of her shirt.

    "I''m sorry for I am sinning...But I can''t stand it. I can''t stand that another man has taken you as his. I can''t stand that you''re probably running off to him, again. If I have to, I''ll take you by...force!"

    The sound of her shirt tearing echoed. Her breasts were now indecently exposed.

    Prisana''s hands wriggled free just in time to strike him on the head as her knee slammed against his groin. This left him writhing in pain. Forget her mother''s picture! She dashed out the gates as fast as the night breeze could carry her. When she finally lost him, she took a deep breath to hold back the shaking that wouldn''t stop.

    She hugged herself to cover her chest and kept going forward.

    It only took her a good hour or so as she walked through the Wellington estates, large and grand mansions situation in the hills, to find civilization. Car lights flashed through her as she struggled to make out cab drivers. She waved down what looked to be like a cab driver. A sleek black car honked from behind but she paid no mind to the angry driver.

    Prisana climbed in the cab, looking at every direction in fear that Giovanni hired men out to find her.

    He had every means to.

    Her heart sank and her body stiffened when large male hands grabbed her from behind. But she flailed about helplessly to cause a scene so he wouldn''t take her back to that jail of a castle.

    "Stop! Let me go!" she shouted, angrily glaring at Giovanni but her face fell in relieved tears as she laid eyes on him.

    "Shh, relax Prisana. It''s just me. Dane."

 Chapter 35 - Beast in Shining Armor

    That fateful night when he found her soiled and ripped in her wedding gown¡ªDane thought that would be the worst of her misfortunes. But he was wrong. Her misfortune shed to light under moon shadows and passing car lights that honked at them to move but he didn''t care about them. All he cared about was the fugitive before him

    He took in her sweet tears that fell once she saw him, her bruised lips, the dreadful marks on her neck, and how torn her shirt appeared so it revealed her breasts. There was this dangerous fire that burned inside him watching her become so broken in front of him. His breath hitched when she ran into his arms.

    Prisana''s little petite body trembled as she clutched his chest. She sighed as she sniffed his familiar scent. Dane''s hands almost wrapped over her but he stopped when the cab in front honked at them. The window rolled down to an elderly Asian man staring them down.

    "Tsk. If you lovebirds finally made up, get in the car and move on. You''re causing a hell of a traffic!"

    The both of them were standing in the middle of the street, encased in car and city lights. Dane slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over her body so she could cover her breasts. He quietly led her inside his car as his secretary, Cleo drove them in silence to his residence.

    Her face was turned away. He kept staring at her from the side. He kept waiting for her to speak first because he didn''t want to push her any further than what she deserved. Even from her disheveled appearance, he didn''t want to ask her why she was soiled and broken yet again. If he did, he was afraid of the things he would do the very instant he heard the story spilling from her mouth.

    Dane knew she would escape, as her eyes told him she had no fear of doing so when he proposed marriage. That''s why he hired a man to watch the house at all times until she made her escape. It was wrong of him to do this but he never wanted to lose her again. Not when he finally found her after yearning to see her, for so long.

    Was it love? No, it couldn''t be. Even if it was, he would never admit it. Leonardo Duval was the devil so he could be raving nonsense to throw Dane''s life into further turmoil.

    Dane only knew that when he received that call, he dropped everything he was doing at the office to come searching for her. His hired man already taught Giovanni a lesson which was why Prisana''s escape was made possible.

    He ordered his man not to kill Giovanni because important men like him left a wake of well trained investigators he didn''t want at his tail.

    Yet looking at Prisana now, Dane regretted his decision. He wanted to kill Giovanni with his own two hands. It frightened even him, that a petite little fugitive drove him mad with emotions he himself couldn''t control.

    "...Dane. How...Why...What are you doing here?" she finally spoke, as his heart sighed in relief.

    "I''m your beast in shining armor. I find you when you need it the most. When you need any saving, I''ll always be there at your beck and call," he lightly joked, trying to ease the tension in the air.

    She chuckled but only a little.

    "...That''s actually kind of sweet of you."

    Prisana cautiously glanced over to Cleo who kept his eyes on the road.

    "That''s my secretary. You can trust him."

    She bit her lip and Dane could see how hard she was trying to hold back her tears. Under the dim shadows that flashed through her face, she appeared frustrated.

    "I don''t know how you found me but...thank you. And, I''m sorry for being so weak. I never wanted you to save me, especially like this because it only goes to show how weak I am to rely on a man."

    Dane sighed and shook his head. Did she really think she was weak? The way he saw her, she was the strongest woman he''s laid eyes on. Even as her tears threatened to keep falling, she held them in. Her body stopped shaking and reflected in her eyes were ones that wished to survive. Ones that held his captive because he found her stubbornness irksome yet praiseworthy.

    "Weak?" Dane repeated her words, cupping her chin so he could explore every misfortune detailed on her body. "You''re wrong. Every strong woman has their own weaknesses. So does every man. Your whole life, you were a bird in a cage. You are not weak because the way you were raised, stripped you of every ambition you would have been able to take on. Prisana I swear on every word, you are not weak because you ran from an unhappy, forceful marriage. That is what strong women do. They leave before they can further be broken."

    The hand that held her chin now brushed away a strand that tumbled over her forehead.

    "Do you want me to save you?" he asked, surprising even himself.

    He expected her to spout more refusal because she was determined to be strong. But he was proved wrong yet again.

    "I''m begging you Dane. Please, save me," she whispered, as she pleaded with her pretty brown eyes.

    Dane wanted her to keep her silly notions of strength so he stripped down his own dignity. He stripped down just for her. Something he was afraid of doing but did so anyway.

    "Use me. I am but a man that you have ruined and all I want is your body. Use me because I would give you everything I own just so I don''t..."

    He turned away from her disheveled appearance as he couldn''t contain the flurry of emotions rushing over him.

    "...have to see you broken like this again," he finished.

    "But I can''t bare to use you. Not when I¡ª"

    Dane didn''t want to hear her next words.

    "Use me to your heart desires. For now, you can use me then toss me away when you are tired of me."

    "What if I never get tired of you?"

    God, her words were too sweet. He frustratingly ran his hands through his hair.

    "You will. I''m a beast," he growled under his breath.

    "A beast wouldn''t save a damsel in distress."

    Dane gave up.

    He gave in to her because when he turned to argue with her, the smile on her face lifted his dark mood. Suddenly, he began to believe in Leo''s words that plagued him since morning light.

 Chapter 36 - Tenderness

    There was no cabin situated in thick patches of woods. That disappointed Prisana, just a little. A little, because anyone would be rendered in awe after gracing their eyes on such an exquisite mansion. They arrived to his modern residence, stylishly designed in black and white walls.

    Large open windows caught her attention among an outdoor pool and a odd staircase that spiraled from the side.

    His secretary pulled over onto the driveway and Dane walked around to open the door for her. She nodded her head in thanks and took one foot out to step onto the ground. However, he didn''t let her feet touch the ground. Dane leaned down and carried her bridal style into his arms until she clutched at his neck for dear life.

    "Woah Dane! I can walk on my own. Let me down. You''re embarrassing me..."

    "You can leave," he ordered his secretary as he quietly walked away into another car, then turned over to Prisana. "Shh, he left. Stop struggling when I finally have you right where I want you. Hah. Are you still embarrassed?"

    "Um well the thing is, I can walk. My legs aren''t crippled."

    "They''re bruised. What if you fall?"

    ''I''ll continue falling for you if you keep holding me like this!''

    That''s what she wanted to tell him but she didn''t. Prisana squished his cheeks and she watched on in laughter as it seemed out of his character. Yet Dane didn''t flinch as he kept a straight face.

    "Let me fall, you beast! I can''t escape getting hurt."

    "Not if I''m around. I''m supposed to be your beast in shining armor, remember? Prisana, let yourself be saved. Let yourself be carried away in my arms into a sweet escape..." he trailed off while using both his large hands to grab her buttocks to usher her even closer to his body. "If I''m also being honest, I simply like holding you in my arms like this."

    "You''re ridiculous and yet..." she sighed into his shoulders. "This doesn''t feel so bad. You''re lucky my energy is drained or I would have put up more of a fight."

    And so she stayed in his strong arms that made her feel strangely safe. His scent further fueled her comfort as she nestled into his arms. Dane stuck his fingerprint on the door and he grabbed her hand to position it on the black box.

    "What are you doing?" she asked.

    "As my wife, you''ll need access to our home."

    "Oh okay...Wait. Wife? Our home?...You''re still going on about that?"

    She watched Dane nod, as he brought her inside his modern mansion. The lights flickered on which each step he made inside the hall. Even though his residence screamed with strange and exquisite taste that harbored its own beauty, it still felt too perfect and lonely for one man to live in.

    Dane brought her over into a room¡ªTo what looked like his, as she discovered the large open windows from outside before her. There was a round king sized bed lined with black velvet sheets on top of a white deck. Across from his bed was the closet and the bathtub directly facing each other. Then, past them seemed to be a large shower room.

    Down the steps of the white deck separated by glass walls, a small lounge room consisted of a couch and a flat screen television hooked up onto the wall. The layout in his room was simple yet the furnished items were lavishly modern and expensive.

    He gently settled her down onto his bed as it was the closest seat from the door. This gave her wild imaginations. Dane did say he wanted her body. She looked down at what little worth she had to offer him in return for his valiant acts.

    But it wasn''t her body he asked her for. Dane gathered her hands into his. Underneath the night stars from the open windows, the light shone down on his desperate dark eyes and rugged features she has come to adore.

    Prisana inhaled a deep breath because he looked at her so seriously.

    "Won''t you marry me? If you do, then no man can ever break you again until you rid of me."

    This warmed her heart. He cared for her, so much so that it drove her mad with confusion.

    "You could break me," she softly whispered, watching his lips curve into a deep frown.

    "...Ah. That''s true. I never thought about it that way..."

    Watching the turmoil spread across his features, Prisana smiled as she never thought she would see him so conflicted.

    "Okay, I''ll marry you. It will stop both Giovanni and my father from forcing me to sign as his wife."

    "I know. Your refusal was expected...Huh?"

    "I think you''ve demonstrated, you''ll be worth every heart ache and pain. Take my body, but you must let me go to college to pursue dreams I can finally chase after until I can fully support myself. Then..."

    She couldn''t even bring herself to say it but she didn''t have to because he finished for her.

    "If you marry me, you can do whatever your heart so desires until you toss me away. "

    He nodded and to this agreement, she looked away.

    "There''s also something I need to tell you. Giovanni and I, we never signed a marriage certificate. We were only living a public lie."

    Sometimes Prisana wondered what was running through his mind. She wondered that now as he just stared at her without saying a word. Dane sighed and gathered her into his arms but this time in the most beautiful of truths. His hand lovingly stroked her head.

    "It must have been so hard. You were strong. Good job Prisana. You did great holding on for this long."

    All of the tension in her shoulders relaxed. Prisana didn''t know how much she needed to hear those words. It was as if everything she was shouldering by herself was eased. God, why was he so sweet to her? She wanted to do something for him in return. So, she lightly pushed him away. Prisana slipped off his coat jacket to reveal the torn shirt and her black lacy bra.

    Her nervous and shaking hands made things hard but she was determined. She would shed all until she was bare for him. But, he was the one that stopped her. His hands prevented her from unclasping her bra.

    "No. This isn''t right. I won''t take you tonight. Not when you look so broken."

 Chapter 37 - Shower With Him

    "Is it because I''m," she sadly looked at the bruises on her neck and how her shirt was torn. "Dirty?"

    She took his silence as a yes. Dane continued to quietly undress her as he unhooked her black bra, the undergarment falling sideways onto the bed. He helped slip off her jeans and panties so that they lay strewn on the ground. Now, she was fully bare before him under the night stars to peer down at them.

    Still, Prisana covered herself because his gaze made her shy. But, he didn''t make a move on her. Instead, Dane picked her up bridal style into his arms yet again. He carried her to his large shower room.

    A slight pang in her chest vibrated as it confirmed that Dane did see her as dirty just because she was touched by another man. After placing her on a small stool, he used the shower head to splash it right onto her face. Prisana nearly choked so she glared at him but his sad eyes melted her anger.

    "Never say you''re dirty. Because to me you''re..." Dane''s hand softly touched the side of her face. "You''re always beautiful in my eyes."

    Her heart twisted to knots. Any more and she''d have a heart attack.

    "W-Why say such sweet words and then give me a shower?"

    "Even a beast like me has his...sweet side. And, I do wish to clean the filth that grazed upon you. So allow me," he trailed off as he gently began to rub soap on her body.

    The bright shower lights easily shed all her fortunes and misfortunes to light. As her body was covered in soap, he used the shower head to wash her body at the same time. Prisana wanted to tell him that the water pressure was too strong but she was doing her best to stifle moans. Her hands also worked hard at covering her hardened nipples and to hide the honey that leaked from in between her legs.

    "If you cover yourself, how can I wash you?" he softly asked, his gaze penetrating through the places she covered.

    "I-I''ll do it myself."

    "Okay," he quickly agreed while grinning and gave the shower head to her.

    She grabbed the shower head with both hands and forgot about covering her hardened nipples which only stood more erect once the warm water ran through them. When she remembered he was still there, she used an arm to cover her breasts and turned toward him.

    "Why are you just standing there? You can leave as I wash myself. Ah, you''re wet! Oops sorry...I didn''t mean to do that. Are you angry?"

    Prisana couldn''t read his expression because his face turned down to look at his suit. It looked very expensive and similar to the high end brands that Giovanni would wear. Now it was soiled wet when she scolded him and turned the shower head on his body. But it was his fault! He should have left her to shower alone.

    "You can say I''m angry. Call this revenge."

    Dane held her hand that covered her breasts. He entwined it with his so they were holding hands. As he did this, he retrieved the shower head from her with deep satisfaction laced in his expression after her breasts were exposed. The tips were hard and itching for his hands to touch them. To her dismay, he didn''t touch them.

    He cruelly splashed the sizzling hot water against her nipples, one at a time. The thin yet fast running water pouring from the shower head tickled her nipples. He tortured both of her breasts starting with the left one until she was writhing with need, squishing her knees together to hide her wetness. At first, Prisana believed he was doing it on purpose but Dane eventually focused on every part of her body to fully wash away the soap.

    So then, she let her body relax to his gentle caresses with the water running along her skin. But of course, she should have known better than to trust the beast.

    He tricked her again because he splashed down to her core and she moaned so loud that it took her by surprise. How shameful of her as she couldn''t wait for him to touch her again like before! When the shower head reached her most sensitive spot to probe even further, she closed her legs and shook her head.

    "I can clean down there, myself."

    "Okay," came his fast reply as he grinned that beastly smile once again. "Let me see how you wash yourself. Come on, I''m still angry my suit is wet."

    "Ugh lies! You don''t look angry. You look like you''re enjoying yourself."

    He chuckled and the sound filled her ears with delight. So, he could genuinely laugh too. She didn''t like the sound of it because it made her want to hear more.

    "Because I am enjoying myself, very much."

    Prisana shyly looked away as she leveled the shower head to her most sensitive spot. Her body trembled as the water pounded in between her legs. It ran along her clit and dripped near her entrance. Even though she was ashamed that another person was watching her bathe so intimately, there was a part of her that was overcome with excitement because it was none other than Dane watching her.

    How wanton but she couldn''t stop herself. She liked the fact that Dane was watching her as the large outlines of his cock became much more prominent under the bright bathroom lights. She slowly crept her fingers near her core, flinching as her fingers opened herself for him to see all of her.

    One of her fingers hovered right above her entrance and she was shamefully aware of how throbbing and hot she was already becoming without even sticking her fingers inside.

    She was only cleaning herself.

    That''s what she was trying to convince herself of but as his stare penetrated her finger probing her insides against the running water, it aroused her greatly and made her abandon all shame.

    Prisana inserted a finger inside her water filled entrance and sighed in ecstasy. Her body jerked repeatedly as she moved her finger the way that she imagined his cock would repeatedly ram into her. She bit her lip to suppress her embarrassing moans as she watched him with hungry, feverish eyes.

    God, it wasn''t enough. Prisana wanted something thicker and longer inside of her to fill her up until she reached where he took her that night.

    "Dane. Are you going to..."

    "Fuck you?" he crudely finished for her in a ragged breath, not sparing her the gentleman speech. "You were hurt and broken today so I wanted to wait until you were ready...Prisana. Would you allow me to fuck you?"

    It felt both funny and strange for a man to ask her permission if he could have sex with her, especially since he held the upper hand in this relationship. Still, she relished in the fact that he was worried about her well-being.

    Even though she clearly wanted him, she still wanted to play hard to get just because he was the one always teasing her.

    She grinned as she found him so eager and ready as she considered her next move.

 Chapter 38 - Untamed Beast in Bed

    "Hmm, I don''t know. I thought you didn''t want this," she teased.

    "I changed my mind, just now...Men are simple creatures. I didn''t want to touch the broken you but when I saw your beautiful and naked form, all rational thought flew out the windows."

    Is that what he saw her as? Broken? Prisana wasn''t broken. She was only frustrated at her shortcomings for baring her emotions to Giovanni and Erica. She was frustrated that Giovanni''s strength overpowered her enough to even lay his hands on her. The next time, she would keep a gun or knife nearby in case he ever came near her again.

    Most of all, she was frustrated that she made the beast strip down for her sake.

    "Dane I''m not fragile. That''s where you''re wrong. Sure, he hurt me and I broke to frightful tears but I can handle whatever that bastard did to me," her face grew dark so she took a deep calming breath to calm her fury. "And besides, you already broke and ruined me once before, I wouldn''t mind if you were to do it again."

    "And here I am, trying to hold back my desires but you always tempt me..." Dane took a deep breath and began to take off his soaked shirt.

    Prisana admired how sexy his long sleeved white collared shirt stuck to his body. It was wrinkled and soiled wet as it outlined his fine lines of a six pack. Her eyes roamed over to his own hardened nipples which protruded over the thin white fabric. She licked her lips in anticipation but waited until his shirt fell onto the floor.

    Just before he could unbuckle his belt, Prisana exacted revenge and splashed water onto his face. He appeared just as undone and a hot wet mess as she did. His surprised gaze flickered over to her.

    "I never said you could fuck me."

    He laughed again but this time, it sounded dangerous to her ears.

    "God, you''re playing so hard to get that my cock is crying."

    "Hmm is that so? Tonight I''ll be the one to fuck you unless you can convince me."

    "You''re playing a dangerous game, lynx. You''ll lose so hard that I''m afraid I''ll bring you to tears, as you shamelessly beg for my cock to enter you."

    At that moment, she really didn''t know what he meant when he spoke those words. But there was something else nagging her.

    "Lynx?" was all she could think about asking him.

    "You''re like a wild cat. Sweet and loving one moment and then, wild and dangerous the next. I never know what to expect."

    "That does suit us. If I''m lynx then you''re the wolf who prey on them."

    "My sweet lynx, I''ll give you ten seconds to rethink this dangerous game you started. I''m the big bad wolf and if you don''t run to bed where I''ll treat you gently then I''ll have you writhing under me in a pool of regret."

    Dane never took away his gaze from hers. He slipped off his belt and tossed it away onto the floor. The moment he got rid of his soiled pants and stood over her in his beastly and glorious half naked self, only then did he begin to stalk her. But she never moved from her spot. She remained there, meeting his lustful gaze head on.

    He gathered the sides of her face with his hands and he hovered above her lips. There was a moment of hesitation like he seemed to think better of it, and then placed a kiss on the corner of her lips instead. Prisana whined as she tried to find his lips but he wouldn''t let her kiss him.

    "Why won''t you kiss me, you mean beast," Prisana''s question almost came out in a plea.

    "Why didn''t you run?" he only met her question with another and to this, she gave in to him this time.

    "Because I want you to devour me."

    To award her honesty, Dane ravaged her body as he said he would. It was strange. When Giovanni kissed her neck and touched her, she felt sick to her core. But when Dane''s lips touched her skin, the honey that flowed from her legs came greedily pouring out for more stimulation. She didn''t notice it at first but he was kissing the areas that Giovanni touched.

    Dane kissed the hickeys at her neck, as if to erase any trace of another man that has touched her. He sucked on her tender white skin as he lightly trailed his fingertips along the trembling ridge of her waist. Her body caved in to his touches, craving for more but she acted as if it didn''t bother her.

    Prisana''s hands crept to his bare cock. She gulped as she really took the time to look at it. It was thick and long, dripping out with cum at its tip.

    So that was the thing that went inside of her. How did it even fit the first time?

    Her hands directly stroked his cock as she held the shaft with her whole hand. She rubbed the entire length in an up and down motion.

    Dane growled and lightly nipped the round shape of her breasts.

    He found her core and his fingers slipped inside. She arched her back and then leaned into his shoulders, suppressing the moan that almost escaped. His fingers began to twist deep inside of her.

    "What is this? The water I wonder, or perhaps," Dane grinned as he saw her wide eyes. "Your dripping wet pussy begging for my cock to pound deeply inside?"

    God yes, that''s what she wanted but she didn''t want to admit it. She was having fun in this silly game of theirs and didn''t want it to end just yet. Prisana forced a smiled and continued her own torture on him as she curiously rubbed the tip of his cock with her finger. He flinched himself as a heightened blush crept onto his cheeks.

    "Water, don''t flatter yourself beast...mmh. You''re not doing...Ah...A very good job of convincing me," she lied.

    "Trust me lynx, you won''t need very much convincing by the time I''m done with you...And you can fuck me next time. Tonight, let me fuck you. I want to have you all to myself because it''s been so long."

    Little did she know how right he was because he roughly sucked a nipple into his mouth and twisted his fingers inside her to find that sweet spot which drove her mad with pleasure. She could only increase the friction from her fingers along the length of his cock and pant with each obscene sound that his fingers against her water and juice filled insides made.

    She didn''t want to lose to him but that heightened feeling was rushing over her both body and mind. Prisana did her best to suppress her screams and then finally, she shuddered into his arms.

    Their body heat and the smoky, sizzling wet atmosphere of the shower made her a bit faint. Dane ushered her out of the shower room and before she knew it, he was using a towel to dry her wet locks.

    "Wait," she breathed, finally regaining her composure from the pleasure he gifted her. "Let me pleasure you."

    "I''ll have my fill of pleasure soon."

    "What?" came her disappointed voice as he kept nonchalantly ruffling her hair into the towel. "You''re stopping again?"

    "I never said I was stopping. I''m only taking a break to dry your hair. You''d catch a cold...Now that I''m finished," he paused to throw the towel at their feet. "Put your hands on the window and close your legs tight."

    "Why?"

    "I did tell you I wouldn''t treat you as gently," he said this, while forcing her to turn around so that her hands were clutching the glass window.

    "Oh my god, what if someone sees us?"

    "Then they see us. You think and you worry too much."

    "But Dane¡ªOh!"

    Prisana felt that familiar molten heat hiking against her butt. His cock was pushing between her legs and settled in between her butt and soaked entrance. She heard his breathless sigh once he completely settled in and it tickled her ears, making her jump inside her skin. Her legs still trickled with her own cum from earlier so he used a finger to run along her juice. He teased her sensitive clit with her cum on his fingers.

    While he worked to pleasure her, he brought her thighs close so they were squished tightly against one another. He began to move his thick and long erectness along the back entrance of her pussy until she whimpered in disappointment and leaned forward into the glass in raggedy breaths. Yet the cold glass pane window only completely stimulated her nipples as it pressed against them.

    Dane moved agonizingly slow. The length of him barely touched her yet rubbed along her as she felt his liquid flow down between her.

    "I like this position because the glass reflects every obscene part of you I''ve yet to see."

    He was right. As Prisana turned to look at the window, she found herself reflected on the glass with the most wanton expression she''d never imagined she could even make. Her eyes were glossy with lips parted in aching need. Dane''s own face was flushed as he ushered both of his hands on the glass wall to increase the friction from his hungry cock between her depths.

    "This...is...mmh...too embarrassing!"

    With expert and swift hands, he turned her around toward him and settled in easily between her once again.

    "As I thought, even though the back of you is sexy, I love it when we''re facing each other like this. That way, I can see everything directly...nngh!"

    Dane ushered himself between her as his own breathing labored with hers from his fast and relentless probing of his fingers rubbing over her clit. She was losing her mind all over again, so much so that it brought few tears to her eyes as she didn''t think she could cum so soon after but he did it again. He sent her over the edge as his own body shuddered between her.

    They both panted from their release as Dane leveled his forehead against hers. Prisana lazily lifted one eye open to capture his rapturous expression. The dangerous glint in the beast''s eyes told her he wasn''t yet satiated.

    She thought they were done. God, she was wrong. She was wrong for daring and pushing him so far because he carried her over to the bed so she lay on her back. He sprawled her legs wide open and propped down onto his knees.

    The moment his tongue found her clit to lick her cum, she reached down and grasped his unruly dark layers.

    "Dane!" she begged, tears streaking down her face because the stimulation felt incredibly good. "Stop being a cruel beast and take me."

    "To this beast stripped of his armor, your wish is my command."

    The beast did as she wished for, her insides twitching beyond insanity for his hard heat to be inside of her. When he returned from fumbling inside the drawer, he ripped off the condom with his teeth in impatient movements. God, he was so insanely alluring as he panted with need while slipping on the condom.

    Prisana came the instant he entered her twitching insides. He cruelly smiled and kissed her salty wet tears away as she writhed underneath him. He patiently waited. Prisana noted he was still being gentle even though he claimed he wasn''t. As soon as Prisana regained her composure, she lost it all over again as he drove himself deep out and then, deep inside of her.

    He was right as she was doing just as he said she would. Crying and begging for him to enter her.

    For now, she was still no match for the beast in bed.

 Chapter 39 - Workaholic CEO

    Under her milky white skin, the black velvet sheets over her seemed surreal. Almost too angelic, as it nestled and hugged her petite form atop his round bed. After he sweetly made her surrender, he had wiped every inch of her clean and settled her down so she could sleep.

    Dane stood from the bed and loosely draped on his black silken robe and thin slippers. He left his wild cat, sound asleep to the world behind as he stepped down into the living room area. A frown on his face surfaced as he realized Cleo stood by the foot of the spiraling and spaced white stairs.

    The tip of Cleo''s ears were red and suddenly, Dane wondered if he had heard all that went on between them. The walls weren''t soundproof so it wouldn''t be much of a surprise if he were to hear their passionate love making.

    "I came back to deliver what you asked for," he said, keeping on that straight laced face.

    Cleo handed him a small dark blue box. He nodded to express his gratitude and stuck the blue box inside his bathrobe pocket.

    "Cancel all of my appointments tomorrow. I''ll be staying in to tend to some important matters."

    "You can''t. Tomorrow, the board of directors require specifically that you be present. Also, you have many pressing matters..."

    Even though Dane wasn''t specifically angry at Cleo, his dark mood was enough to silence Cleo altogether. There were important matters he needed to take care of¡ªSpecifically, Prisana. He couldn''t abandon her so soon after he finally got a hold of her.

    Or rather, after three months of nonstop working, he finally wished to take a break just so he could be with her for one day. As CEO of Silver Linings, Dane worked close to seven days a week. Even on weekends he would occasionally travel and greet his competitors or strike more deals with potential contractors.

    Sleep was short lived for him because even when he slept, the demons found him in his sleep.

    So, he preferred to stay up all night working or took occasional naps during the day. Today was another usual night except that the wild cat was beyond arms reach in his bed.

    "I said, clear my schedule tomorrow. The board of directors can suck it. And as for my work," his gaze fell onto his laptop. "I''ll finish all of the pressing matters tonight so you don''t need to worry about it."

    "Understood. Also, there''s one more pressing matter I forgot to mention."

    "Yes?" he asked, already sitting down on the couch and flipping open his laptop.

    "Bailey said she would visit and and stay over for the weekend. She complained about how lonely she was at the shop and how she was going to close it just to come see her grandchild''s lovely face."

    Any other time, he wouldn''t mind Bailey''s careless barging in but this time, she would surely fall ill in shock if she learned he really went and got married. He shook his head at Cleo, rubbing his fingers along his chin to think of an excuse.

    The old woman was persistent. When she made up her mind about something, she always saw it through.

    "Tell her I''ll be on a business trip this weekend."

    "Understood. Then, I''ll stay behind and assist you in your work."

    "No need. You can go home, I''ll finish the work by myself."

    "But¡ª"

    His poor secretary suffered from lack of sleep as much as him. The dark circles under his eyes and unkempt appearance pointed that out as such. On top of being Dane''s secretary, he paid Cleo a little extra to keep the house clean. Dane hadn''t paid attention until now since meeting Prisana again opened his eyes to a lot of things.

    And at this very moment, Cleo looked like a wreck. He was worse off than Dane.

    "Leave. Go home," Dane growled and Cleo''s whole body shivered in fear as he turned around to leave by command.

    "One last thing. Buy a dress for Prisana to wear...She''ll need the most expensive and prettiest dress you can find at the mall."

    Cleo saluted Dane as if he were some commander in the military. Then Cleo finally left, allowing Dane to sigh and soak into the couch with his own thoughts. There was so much on his mind¡ªWork, Bailey, and Prisana.

    The wild cat in his bed. His soon to be wife that he couldn''t get enough of. God, how incredibly lovely she was in and out of bed.

    He thought one time would be enough but it wasn''t. Dane wanted nothing more than to stir her from her sleep and bury his cock deep inside of her over and over again until he could get rid of this insatiable lust. Even then, he wanted to talk to her and ask her the questions plaguing his mind.

    For the first time, he wanted the stories. He wanted to ask her why she tore out his heart and left that day but was afraid of the answer.

    Dane wasn''t even sure if he could give her his story so that''s why he didn''t want to press her. Not now, when there was so much at stake. Meeting her in this lifetime was unplanned. Proposing marriage to her was out of this world, unplanned. She was throwing his life upside down and he was willing to risk it all because he¡ª

    The beast inside roared at him to stop thinking so much like the lynx and so he did. God, maybe he was catching her thinking disease. He went to more pressing matters at the moment like work. He responded to emails and made several calls abroad to clients that he was supposed to call tomorrow night.

    By the time it was 6am in the morning, Dane yawned and closed his laptop. He walked upstairs back to his chambers and his heart sighed in relief to find her in his bed fast asleep. It surprised him as she was a loud snore in which he could hear her from outside the door before even entering.

    He gazed at her blissful face, which was painfully unaware of the turmoil she was inflicting inside of him.

    His fingers brushed away the drool that leaked out from the corner of her mouth. As he did the subtle action, his eyes couldn''t break away from her enticing plump lips that were parted.

    He knew exactly what he was doing. Neither the beast or he could stop what happened next.

    Dane found her lips in a soft kiss, so tender and irresistible that it shook him to his very core.

 Chapter 40 - Cleo, Secretary and...Butler?!

    The moment Prisana awoke atop a round bed of black velvet sheets with a beastly arm holding her captive, she panicked. She panicked because everything felt like a dream. Dane, her worst nightmare and best fantasy, saved her and gave her waves of pleasure among pleasure until she couldn''t handle it anymore.

    Speaking of dreams, there was a beautiful dream she had last night. Her hands lifted to touch her lips. The beautiful dream was of Dane. She dreamt that he had kissed her so sweetly and softly and then stroked her head for minutes on end. But that wasn''t possible.

    He hated kissing her.

    Looking at him sound asleep, he looked like any other vulnerable man. She poked the wrinkles on his forehead and then found him relaxing. Satisfied, she nestled deeper into his beastly arms. But the peace didn''t last long as she opened her eyes again in horror.

    There was another man in the room with them!

    What looked like his...Secretary?!

    The quiet man that drove them to Dane''s residence was holding a colorful fluffy duster and crouched into the corner. He clipped his silver grey hair in a hair tie and covered his mouth with a medical mask.

    When Prisana screamed, he turned and screamed with her.

    "What are you doing?!" she shouted.

    "...C-Cleaning. It was the last room I had to c-clean and I didn''t wish to bother the t-two of you but there''s an important m-meeting at 12 I need to fill in for Elias."

    Oh. That''s right. To the world, Dane was still Elias Blackwell.

    She regained her composure and looked to Dane who was still dead asleep.

    Had he not heard her petrified screams at all?

    His secretary walked closer to inspect Dane and Prisana clutched the velvet sheet closer against her naked body.

    "He doesn''t sleep at all so it''s actually a surprise that he is..." he trailed off, poking at Dane''s chest as no reaction came through. "When he does sleep, it''s like he''s dead."

    The secretary and butler was right. Prisana pinched his right cheek as hard as she could and she received nothing on his end. She leaned in to check if he was breathing and he was. It wasn''t healthy for a man of his age to abandon sleep and then sleep throughout the day. She would have to do something about his wacky sleeping schedule.

    "Er sorry for shouting but I think anyone would be surprised to find someone in the same room with them as they are...naked. So, what''s your name?" Prisana finally asked.

    "Cleo. And," Cleo motioned toward a bag at the table. "He told me to buy you a dress so there''s a change of clothes for you in that bag you can change into."

    "Thanks. Uh, could you stop dusting for a bit and leave so I can get changed?"

    "Gah! I''m sorry, forgive me I was just so focused. I''ll leave now."

    Cleo gathered his supplies and scrambled out into the hallway. After the door shut, she pried off the beast''s arm and climbed out of his bed. Or to be more correct, ''their'' bed. She walked over to the bag and reached inside to find a stunning dress.

    Her eyes sparkled as they observed a pink and white floral maxi dress. There was a pretty sash in the middle as it was tied into a bow. Her fingers ran along the thin fabric as she relished how it would look on her.

    She grinned happily and clutched it to her chest as if it were the most precious gift she has ever received.

 Chapter 41 - Good Morning Dearest

    For the first time in years, Dane had the best sleep of his life and the demons were kept at bay.

    He slept like a beastly wolf in hibernation. Of course, he could hear every single thing but his mind and body refused to stir awake. His body did flinch when he heard Prisana''s scream but if it were important then she could kick the living daylights out of him.

    Dane wanted more sleep. More warmth.

    He sighed in disappointment as her body left his side.

    Where did she go?

    No matter, he would continue sleeping until a natural disaster struck the walls. He slept some more until bliss ended so soon and warped into sweet torture.

    Dane felt her petite body writhing over him as his erect cock responded to the innocent gestures. His body shook by her hands but he still refused to stir awake.

    But when her voice spilled into his ears, he couldn''t sleep any further.

    "Good morning dearest, wake up so we can go and sign our marriage certificate. I''m afraid you might change your mind so I need to hurry and pull you into my trap now."

    His eyes lazily opened and he peered up at the wild cat who wore a gorgeous floral dress. It snugly fit on her perfectly to show the outlines of her full curves that his hands itched to explore. She straddled him with her legs and clutched at the opening of his black robe.

    It took nearly everything he had in him to remain composed.

    God, she was so fucking beautiful before him that it took his breath away first thing in the morning.

    "...Fine and I would never change my mind. Especially not now."

    Dane''s hands were already groping her, yearning to feel her lovely skin against his. His hand slowly snaked up her legs. It found the sash at her waist and expertly untied it so her dress came undone to reveal her black lacy bra. She strongly protested but in his hazy mind, all he could think about was ravaging her.

    He lightly lifted up her bra and then leveled his face to suck her nipple until it hardened under every flick and grinding of his tongue. But to his dismay, she kept pushing him away.

    "Beast! Stop...I''m hungry. Let''s go eat."

    "But," he lifted his mouth away from her breast but only for a moment to speak. "I am eating, right here and it''s filling me up with insatiable pleasure...mmh."

    He desperately tried to continue but a loud growling sound interrupted them. It came from her stomach. As much as he wanted to take her, it would be rude of him to keep a lady in hunger waiting to eat.

    Reluctantly, he let her go and she quickly moved off of him to fix her appearance.

    "You really are a beast," she grumbled as she tied her sash together. "We just had sex last night and you''re ready for more?"

    How pitiful. She didn''t even know the lengths to his desires. If only she knew, then maybe she would surely run or grow tired of him.

    "I always want you. Be it now, the next second, or minute to an hour."

    "...That''s frightening, even for a joke. I would get sent to the hospital at this rate if you don''t calm yourself."

    "Then I would nurse you back to health," he joked, liking how even her disapproving frown was adorable in its own way.

    "No thank you! I think, the moment you nurse me back to health...You would only ravage me to my sickbed yet again."

    Little did the lynx know how right she was. The beast inside already longed to hold her inside his arms and forget about the rest of the world.

 Chapter 42 - His Enticing Lips

    Before one assumes that Prisana is a princess being doted upon by her beast in shining armor, don''t get the wrong idea. It was against her will. She flailed about and fought against him to put her down but all to no avail as he nonchalantly carried her down the stairs.

    "Beast!"

    "Lynx, shh," he cooed and as he did so, she pouted.

    "I have my own two feet. Let me walk."

    "There''s still bruises on your feet. What kind of husband to be would let their wife walk as she is injured."

    "But I''m not injured!" she shouted, huffing and puffing out each word.

    Prisana believed he was being ridiculous and simply joking but as she gazed into his unwavering eyes, she knew the beast wouldn''t back down. He kept staring at her like she were some tiny creature that would easily become hurt to every small thing.

    He couldn''t keep doing as he pleased with her. She pinched his cheek and regarded his enticingly perfectly structured lips. God, how she wanted to kiss them. Prisana yearned for them to take her own lips in a sea of endless waves that crashed over one another.

    "If you don''t let me down this instant, then I''ll...kiss you."

    It worked! Painfully but quickly so, Dane''s arms fell rigid and released her so she fell down onto the ground with a loud thud. She rubbed her behind and glared at the mean beast.

    "Dane!"

    "Sorry, you surprised me."

    More than her aching butt, what ached more was her heart.

    "I know you hate kissing me but to that extent...?"

    Dane''s face fell as he shook his head. He opened his mouth but closed it. It was as if she were watching him encased in inner turmoil, battling whatever words that he was having a hard time saying to her.

    "You don''t need to sugar coat your words. As your future wife, I can handle the truths."

    He sighed and turned his face away.

    "From now on, let''s not kiss. It''s better that way."

    "Alright," she said, hurt laced in her voice but she quickly covered it with a smile. "Now what do have here? It smells delicious!"

    Dane ordered Chinese takeout from some place which had difficult pronunciation to even dare say. They sat across from one another and ate in silence. She felt awkward as everything from last night finally caught up to her. Prisana didn''t even know her husband to be well and she remembered he never liked small talk.

    She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes and to her complete surprise, found him eating like a ravenous beast. Dane, the ravenous beast, ate with his hands as he gobbled up the chow mein and stir fry meat. Prisana chuckled a little which earned his attention.

    Once a caveman, always a caveman.

    He stopped for a moment to gather her expression and then slowly grabbed the chopsticks as if finally realizing how uncivilized he was being at the table. Yet, she didn''t mind it much. It only took her by surprise.

    "...It''s become a habit. Three years in the woods can change a person."

    So, he spent three years living in that desolate cabin. For what, she wondered? But she could never ask him about it because a part of her knew the beast still had his limits she wasn''t willing to ever push.

    Prisana set down her chopsticks and she picked up the chow mein with her hands. She put it into her mouth and licked her lips. She found him watching her intently, especially the subtle movement of her lips sliding over her upper and bottom lips.

    "This isn''t so bad. It actually tastes ten times better like this."

    "You don''t have to do that for me. I know you must find it somewhat repulsive to eat with your hands."

    "But I want to and there''s nothing you can do about it. And when did I say it was repulsive? You''re simply being true to yourself and I would never judge you for it."

    "....Really...Everything I think I know about you, you always end up proving me wrong but I forget you''re a lynx."

    Dane picked up a piece of the chicken stir fry and he ushered it along to Prisana''s lips. She hesitated for a moment but eventually opened her mouth. His fingers touched her lips as she devoured what he gave her.

    Then, he kept staring at her lips. She licked them in anticipation. Even though he said they shouldn''t kiss, she couldn''t help fantasizing about sauntering over to him this instant and forcibly claiming his lips as hers.

    She wondered how it would taste?

    Sweet?

    Or mixed with the aftertaste of their breakfast.

    "There''s sauce on your lips."

    She sighed as she tried wiping her lips with the napkin.

    "Here?"

    "No, let me," he trailed off as he reached out for her again.

    They found each other''s depths as he lightly brushed underneath her lips. He brought his fingers over to his own mouth to lick off the sauce at his fingers.

    "Tasty."

    God, he was driving her so mad with yearning desire that it was difficult to even look at him. Prisana continued eating away at the food while thinking of unattractive things to distract her from his enticing lips.

 Chapter 43 - Unfinished Breakfast

    Dane regretted calling Cleo to come back after filling in for his meeting but that was their only option as he was his closest confidant and saw all that transpired last night. He called Cleo to come back and act as their witness so they could sign as lawful husband and wife.

    His regret¡ªCleo, was being hugged by his soon to be wife. As soon as he stepped over that door, his soon to be wife ran to Cleo and pulled him into her arms. It was only for a second but still, he never even got that far with her.

    His cold, murderous gaze fell on Cleo as he wondered how to go about drafting a new position in search for a female secretary.

    "Cleo! Thank you, I love the dress. It''s beautiful," she shouted in glee, then pulled away from the stunned Cleo who stood rigid as a rock.

    He recovered all too quickly, Dane noted.

    "Oh, it''s nothing heh. I have a little sister so I tend to know what kind of things she..." Cleo trailed off as he felt Dane''s murderous gaze emanating.

    "I mean, it was all Dane''s idea! Yes! He was the one that told me to find you the most beautiful and expensive dress so I only did as I was told. You should praise him, not me!"

    Cleo panned over to Dane who nodded in satisfaction. But Cleo''s relief was short-lived as Dane''s chopsticks nearly broke apart in two at her next words.

    "But still, you went and chose it for me so the credit should go to you."

    By now, the draft he was writing in his head was finished. He only had to type it onto his laptop and send it out. Dane stood from his seat, startling Cleo as he himself pulled at the strands of his hair. He turned to Cleo and almost opened his mouth to tell him he was fired.

    But he never got the chance to do so.

    Prisana skipped over to Dane and hugged him tenderly from behind so that he forgot all about that draft. He almost choked on his food but managed to swallow it. One day, she would kill him with her sweet nature.

    In the corner of his eyes, he saw Cleo praying in the corner.

    She boldly leaned down and kissed Dane''s cheek. It nearly sent him over the edge as his heart did that thing where it skipped a beat.

    "Thank you...Elias. For everything. Meeting you has changed my life for the better and about what I said yesterday, I never regretted a single moment spent with you. Even if this marriage is built on lies, I hope we can be great...friends and play our roles as they are meant to be."

    He pulled her into his lap so that she squealed in surprise. God, it was dangerous. She was dangerous because he could get used to the feel of her in his arms like this.

    "As do I. The thing is...I can''t give you a fancy wedding or undying vows but I can only give you something simple."

    Dane rustled into his black robe pockets. He opened the small blue box and she gasped as she lay eyes on the heart shaped diamond ring. This was his mother''s ring and something very precious to him as it was the last keepsake he had of her. He wouldn''t give this to just any woman. No one but her.

    "It''s beautiful," she whispered.

    "This ring is my devotion and my promise to serve you so please accept it and be my wife so I can..." his gaze trailed to her blushed skin that looked more delectable than the Chinese takeout they ate together. "Devour the rest of my breakfast."

    Prisana accepted the ring and continued to admire it with sparkling eyes. The moment she allowed him to slip the ring onto her ring finger, he felt this feeling of deep satisfaction knowing that she was his even if it was a beautiful lie.

    Dane raised a hand to shoo away Cleo so he could wait outside as he eagerly tried to undo her sash but she held his hands.

    "I-I thought you wanted to finish your breakfast."

    "My silly wife, I am finishing my breakfast."

    "Oh."

    She clutched the sash so her dress wouldn''t come undone. The same mistake wouldn''t happen twice. Then, she went and smiled.

    "Don''t be so impatient, dear. When we are officially married, you can have me but not now. I''m eager to sign the certificate."

    "You''re driving me mad. I''m a man of my word and I never go back on it."

    "Oh but," he saw the wild and playful glint in her eyes. "Isn''t it so much worth the wait when we finally become husband and wife? And, I feel insecure about Giovanni and father. Every second that goes by as they are looking for me, I''m scared something bad will happen if we postpone this...If we sign right now then you can do whatever you want. That''s my only condition."

    "Don''t go back on your word my lovely wife to be."

    The beast picked up his fussy lynx and he quickly walked out their den and past Cleo until he had her seat belted and ready to go. She huffed and puffed and narrowed her eyes at him.

    "Stop picking me up. It makes me feel like a princess and I don''t like it."

    "But I like having you in my arms and it''s alright to feel like a princess when you''re with me," he admitted, turning back to Cleo.

    "Cleo! We''ll depart immediately. Drive as fast as you can, as if your life depends on it."

 Chapter 44 - The Storm Without Calm

    The small piece of paper was her fate. It was strange to think that all of her life''s hopes and dreams depended on this paper. She could only stare at their signatures listlessly when the deed was done. Her heart sighed in relief because now she wouldn''t have to go back to that jail of a castle.

    Even though signing the marriage certificate wasn''t dramatic or heart filled as she imagined, it was still everything her future wished for.

    To be the wife of a CEO and former caveman, she never thought it possible as Prisana believed it would always be with a man that she loved. After ugly truths shed to light, she found him and now that their lives were intertwined, it was the beginning of their tragic yet beautiful love story.

    Tragic because he could never love her and she would keep her heart guarded until the very end of this contract. It was simple. All she had to do was not fall in love with him and leave him as soon as she entered college and found a place to stay. Then she could divorce him and toss him away like he said.

    Underneath, it was beautiful because some part of her believed that he cared for her enough to give her so much. It confused her greatly as he has gone beyond what a beast should be capable of. But she shouldn''t be fooled. She could trust his devotion but she couldn''t trust undying vows of forever.

    He wouldn''t give her forever and only temporary solace.

    Prisana regarded his large frame warily from the side, her heart lurching for she knew she had to become a cold and calculating wife yet loving as a front. Dane found that exact moment to turn and leveled his gaze to hers.

    She sucked in her breath because every resolve she had would always disappear when she looked at him and the way he looked at her always made her believe that there was something deep inside of him that yearned for that forever.

    "What is it?" he tenderly asked, searching her eyes.

    "We''re married. I always thought it would be something joyous and heart filled but it''s not. It''s sad that I''m using you and that in the end, we are still going into this knowing we will break our promise to god."

    "God," he scathed that very name. "Do you believe in god?"

    "That''s debatable. I''ve been brought up by his teachings so there was no other option but for me to believe in him. But yes, I believe in him even when there are times I question my faith."

    "If there was a god..." he sadly trailed off and Prisana thought that would be the end of it as the car ride was encased in silence until they reached ''their'' home.

    By now, there were droplets of rain slowly coming down. It was supposed to be joyous in that she wouldn''t find herself trapped inside Giovanni''s schemes but she knew what she signed up for when coming into another loveless marriage. She was signing up for more heartbreak that she felt he was worth.

    It wasn''t hurt from him that she was afraid of because she was prepared for it like she was prepared for Giovanni''s lies even before marriage. Prisana was afraid of loving him because if she did love him then she couldn''t be cold and calculating enough to leave him when the time came.

    As soon as Cleo parked, she opened the door herself and stood on her own two feet. This time, he didn''t try to open the door for her or pick her up.

    "It''s raining," she said, rushing along into the house.

    He wordlessly followed after her. Their footsteps clashed against the wet stone pavement and echoed throughout the vicinity. She slipped off her shoes and turned back to look at him before going inside but he was far away. His back remained turned from her as she called out to him.

    "What are you doing? Aren''t you coming in?"

    "No."

    "Dane! You''re getting drenched," she said, walking over to him so that she could tug onto his arm. "Come inside."

    "Go away," he growled and to this, she jumped a little as she hadn''t heard the beast bare his fangs for so long. "Let me be alone for a while."

    Prisana wouldn''t budge. She walked over so she could get a good look at him but he nudged her aside lightly.

    "I said, go away," he growled louder this time and she accidentally lost her balance as he nudged her.

    Prisana fell onto the ground and the sound was met with concern as the beast reached out for her. She scooted back and gasped as she found that hideous bulging scar at his eye come fading into view with each trickle of water that washed it away. Dane tried to cover his face but it was already too late as she saw his scar she thought he might have surgically removed.

    It was undeniably that scar she saw the first time she met him. Like that night, the skies were dark and pouring down heavily. The only difference was that the beast looked so much more afraid and vulnerable than how she remembered him.

 Chapter 45 - At Long Last

    "Don''t look at me. I''m hideous," Dane whispered, his hands still trying to cover his scar as his voice grew louder and more beastly. "Just...go away. Leave me be already."

    Dane heard the sound of the door open and then close. He sighed as she went and disappeared inside, somewhere far away from him. Good. She should be revolted by his scar and turn away from her beast of a husband.

    The rain raged on heavier as his trembles and headaches grew even more painful to bare. Like that dark and fateful night, it also rained after he was almost scorched to death. When the icy droplets fell onto his skin, he only received a flash of images from searching through that blackened rubble for his parents.

    It was hard to breathe as he imagined that scorching hot flame engulfing his body as he desperately searched beyond no hope. He clutched against his chest and took deep shattering breaths.

    He needed his pain killers but even more so, his chest hurt because when his lynx lay eyes on his scar, she turned away in disgust. She was the one person that he didn''t want to see his ugly scar like this when he was trying hard to be the knight. God, remembering the look on her face twisted his heart. It proved that now she must hate him for he was still an ugly beast under the disguise.

    The sound of the door opening sounded throughout his ears, mostly obscured by the sound of the rain. His vision was clouded as something soft was thrown over his head. It was his lynx. She came back for him as she forcefully led him into their den and ruffled his hair with a towel. Dane waited a few moments before speaking, until she was done drying his hair.

    She threw the towel off to the side and cradled his face with her hands but he recoiled from her touch.

    "How many times must I repeat myself? I want to be alone," he tried to take deep breaths but felt himself shaking so much it was hard to look composed. "Leave me alone."

    He held in his breath as she grabbed hold of his hand and then found her watching him without fear of his scar. Prisana''s eyes were determined to stay. This frustrated him to great lengths because he was so weak and so vulnerable that it scared him to have her see this ugly side to him.

    "I can''t leave you alone, not when I saw you crying inside for help like a wounded animal."

    "Stop. I don''t need your sympathy or your help."

    "I''m your wife so you must let me in," she huffed, squeezing his hand even tighter. "It''s not sympathy I have because you have saved me once before. Now....it''s my turn so let me save you."

    His lynx pulled him into her arms into an embrace. The universe must have stopped working as the raging storm inside his heart calmed it''s fury. Tension in his shoulders relaxed as he took in her familiar scent and felt her petite body sweetly soothing him. His head gradually leaned into her soft chest. Dane''s hands hesitatingly circled around her waist as she gently stroked his hair.

    When he embraced her in return, it felt like all would be okay. He wished time would stop like this forever with her holding him in her arms. A sigh escaped his lips as the shaking subsided.

    "Are you done throwing a fit?" she finally asked.

    "Yes...I get strange episodes during heavy rain without my pain killers and my scar, I''m sorry you had to see that ugly side of me again."

    Dane''s hand crept up to his face so he could cover that hideous scar that may frighten her away.

    "Dane...Dane! It''s alright. I was only surprised because I thought you had gotten surgery. Believe me, I don''t hate your scar."

    "Lies. I wouldn''t want you to force yourself to like this detestable version of myself."

    "Look at me."

    "No."

    His heart stopped when he felt Prisana''s lips against his hand that covered his scar. She continued her sweet torture as she kissed the ridges of his fingers until they slowly pried away from the scar. When he was left bare before her in his ugly beastly self, the lynx dared to kiss the brown jagged scar.

    "See? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. On the outside, you think you look hideous but I know that deep down from your valiant acts, that you truly are...beautiful inside and out. No matter how hard you try to fool yourself, you''re not a beast!"

    Why was she so sweet? Her words made him want to believe that he wasn''t the ugly beast he thought he was. Dane bitterly chuckled, surprising even himself.

    "You''re wrong, I am a beast to the core and be careful dearest or I may never let you go because no woman but you has ever called me beautiful...Hah. My sweet lynx, tell me, why must you try so hard for a beast like me?"

    "Did you forget that from today onward, we are husband and wife? As your wife, I wish to accept all of you because you have stripped yourself down for me so that I can use you. Please, allow me to shoulder your burden and ease your pain. Allow me to be your shield when you are weak."

    Prisana squeezed his hand tighter.

    "Dane, allow me to save you."

    Perhaps it was because he saw the desperation laced in her eyes or perhaps it was because he yearned for the stories from the moment she ruined him. So he did the one thing that scared him. He told her fragments of his story all because deep down, he did want someone to save him.

    "...If there was a god," Dane continued the talk from earlier on in the car. "Then I wouldn''t have suffered burning in hell to lose all those I''ve ever loved. I wouldn''t have been consumed in this evil cycle of hatred and revenge. And, it wouldn''t have been possible for a beast like me to take you as his in this lifetime. I don''t criticize your faith but I know deep down that surely the lord has forsaken me. That must be because I am a selfish man who won''t give you your undying vows yet wish to have you by my side even if it''s for a short while. That''s why Prisana, don''t say you''ll shoulder my burden and ease my pain because you don''t need to do that for someone who won''t give you promises. Just use me and toss me away when you are done so I can hurt once more yet would be content knowing that you must be happy somewhere else. So leave me, the wounded beast, alone."

    God, he was baring so much emotion. Baring so much plea for her to leave his wounded beast aside and return only when he was the beast in shining armor.

    "No, I won''t leave."

    "Why?"

    "Because, you stupid beast, it sounds as if you are saying that you are in love with me!" she shouted, then soon covered her mouth.

    Dane blinked at her, repeating her words in his head. It struck him so hard that he had to take a step back because all the signs were pointing to her words. Why was the universe bent on having him love her? He shook his head and looked away from her.

    "Never. I won''t ever love you."

    He regretted saying every word as he could see harm inflicted in those pretty light chesnut eyes that stared down into his very soul.

    "Oh really?" she taunted him as anger shrouded her eyes. "Then don''t blame your dear wife for what will come next."

    The lynx was the one that caught the beast in her trap this time. Her hands grasped his shirt so that he was within inches of her. Prisana then did what he was most afraid of.

    She forcibly demanded a frustrating yet sweet kiss upon his lips.

 Chapter 46 - Earth Shattering Kisses

    The kiss shook him to the core as it shattered everything that he was trying to hold back. When her lips innocently touched his, he sucked in his breath as his hands awkwardly lay fisted at his sides. Her lips were just as he had imagined them on that first night he claimed her. It was irresistible.

    A surge of desperation engulfed him. It didn''t take long for his body to react and run his fingers through her long flowing locks of dark hair. He returned her kiss without mercy. Dane returned her kiss like a beast who after so long, finally got what it wanted.

    He was so hungry and deprived for her lips that he crazily sucked on her upper lip and then her bottom lip for minutes on end just to savor the taste of them. She accepted every heated touch of him melding into her.

    Dane''s tongue danced with hers as she opened for him and craved him just as much as he did. He kept sucking on her lips, nibbling to graze at the softness, and then finding her lips in a sweet escape. Even when he separated from her lips, he always managed to find her so soon from departure and begin the torture all over again.

    And god, the way she responded by wrapping her arms over his shoulders and twisting her body deliciously beneath so that her breasts pressed to his chest made it impossible to pull away.

    Even though that irritable beating of his heart wouldn''t stop drumming through his ears as he kissed her, he couldn''t stop. Not now, when she pushed him so far. She broke what little he was trying to hold back from admitting the truth.

    Somewhere in him, Dane knew the truth all along.

    And yet, the stubborn beastly wolf would still never tell his lynx because he was cursed.

    "Dane, I can''t breathe. Let me catch my breath."

    "No," he refused her and grazed his teeth against her lower lip as she sighed into his lips. "You should have thought twice before attacking me. Don''t you know your husband is a beast? And don''t go back on your word because you said I can do whatever I wanted after we signed."

    "...This is what I want, I want to give you earth shattering kisses that''ll leave you so breathless and bruised that you will be ruined for any other man," he said into her lips.

    She pounded against his chest so that his hold on her loosened. Finally, he let her take a few deep breaths but never broke away his gaze. His carnal eyes raked over her bruised, sore lips that were attacked relentlessly. The beast inside whimpered. Dane already yearned to feel her lips against his after parting so soon.

    "You''re so cruel. Why must you always tempt me so that I yearn for things I shouldn''t..."

    "I''m cruel? You''re the one who won''t let me...mmh...breathe!"

    The alluring way she bit her bottom lip in frustration at his sweet attack made him want to devour them once more. And so he ended her mumbling and hungrily kissed her again without permission, nibbling at her soft plumpness she bit so earlier.

    She tasted like the sweet and sour pork they ate for breakfast. Sweet, as he couldn''t get enough of her lips. Sour, because he wanted to turn away from such bliss. His lynx tasted like a million things he shouldn''t want but found himself already abandoning all reason just because he wanted her on his bed sheets this very instant.

    Dane loosened the knot to his tie and regarded her with feverish, ravenous eyes as they caught her breathy depleted expression. A lock of hair tumbled in front of her face as it fell into the folds of her lovely breasts he wished to soon touch.

    Even her bare shoulder became exposed as the pretty floral dress nearly draped down from its rightful place. He kissed her bare shoulder, relishing in the fact that he was the one making her skin blush in rosy pinks. Excitement filled his insides as he realized tonight he would be able to make love with his new wife under beautiful lies.

    His control nearly snapped apart in two as Prisana untied the sash at her hips so it became undone and fell at her feet. The dress parted to reveal her lovely black undergarments and that lovely porcelain white skin begging to be touched all over. She shyly walked over to him.

    "Are you...going to fuck me now? I''m growing impatient dear," she tempted him.

    He shook his head.

    "No. Tonight, I''m going to make love to you. And when I do," he whispered as he tenderly ran his fingers over her lips he so wished to devour once again. "You''ll surely be ruined by me and unable to be with any other man."

 Chapter 47 - Heart to Heart

    The universe and the night stars sparkling outside must have crashed beyond recognition as he spoke those words for Prisana to hear. Her heart soared knowing that the beast may be in love with her and she knew that she in return, was somewhat falling incredibly fast and hard.

    They tread past the point of no return one too many times.

    "...Mmh...Dane...."

    "Yes?"

    "Are you...in love with me?" she reluctantly asked, breaking away from their kiss as he once again had her carried into his arms.

    They trudged along the stairs and as she asked him this, he paused in his steps to look at her in all due seriousness he could deliver her. Both looked at each other for a brief moment of agonizing silence. She held in her breath as the answer scared her.

    "We''ve known each other only for a short time and I feel greatly attracted to you," came his reply. "If I''m being honest I don''t want to love you. You shouldn''t love me either...At least know this, I care for you deeply."

    "I care for you too."

    "Prisana, do you love me?"

    His bold question struck her for a moment as she took the time to really think about this intangible thing called love.

    Was it love or dependency? Prisana felt comfortable in his arms because she felt safe from the world as he was none other than her beast in shining armor. Yet she wasn''t sure if this was love as the only love she believed in was Giovanni and that love failed miserably.

    Now that she was faced with that question, it was like everything she thought she knew before about love, was wrong.

    "It''s funny...I used to think I loved Giovanni but now when I think back to our relationship to truths unveiled, I''m not so sure what love is anymore...Have you ever been in love before? To you, what is love? Ugh, I don''t understand it well."

    The wounded beast in shining armor wordlessly continued to carry her into a room. To her dismay, it wasn''t the bedroom but it was a game room. The game room had a large flat screen television on the wall with different game consoles hooked onto it.

    Her eyes skimmed over board games of chess and checkers laid out onto the table. In the center, a large pool table caught her eyes as it exuded a brown exterior and bold red velvet interior. How pleasing it was to the eyes. Even elements to the game room were fashionably lavish to the modern aesthetic of his den.

    Only when he settled her onto one of the leather couches, did he take a seat next to her.

    "Why did you take me here and not the bedroom?" she asked in disappointment.

    "Because dearest, I can''t concentrate clearly when I know I''ll want to push you down on that bed and make love to you until it turns into mindless fucking, all night long which I don''t think you can handle. At least here I''m in better control of myself...I think."

    Before she could tackle another question on him, he spoke first.

    "...Love, huh? Sometimes, I forget you''re still a young girl taking on this ugly yet beautiful world."

    "I''m not a young girl," she pouted. "I''m twenty. I''m almost legal to drink alcohol soon."

    She heard a loud crash and found Dane lost his balance and sprawled out onto the floor. He quickly fixed himself and settled himself beside her once again. Then he coughed and turned away, not allowing himself to look at her.

    "...This was something important I never even considered. I believed you were a bit older. God, I''m so sorry Prisana. I truly didn''t know."

    "It''s not your fault. I was the one who kept tempting you into this relationship."

    "I should be more responsible. You''re so young and have yet to experience the joys of youth. Before I married you, I should have..."

    Prisana shook her head as she grasped at his hands.

    "Don''t you dare go and regret this now. Not when we are this far in. I still...need to use you!"

    He peered up at her and bitterly smiled.

    "I''m only regretting this because you have a whole life ahead of you and like that fateful night, I took yet again another innocence away from you."

    "You''re right, I have my whole life ahead of me and you''re only a fraction of it so don''t worry," she began to lower her voice as she realized he winced at her words. "I still have my dreams to pursue like college."

    "We should have you enroll in actual classes soon. Did you take the entrance exams yet?"

    "Soon. This month, I''ll be done with my general education courses and then I can register for the exam....Speaking of it, when did you lose your innocence?"

    Dane almost spilled the truth to her as the conversation became casual but he caught himself in the act. He regarded her with a funny expression. His fingers ran along his hair as he looked away from her.

    "Are we really having this conversation right now?"

    "Yes," she said, scooting closer to him so that her determination burned a hole through him.

    "Sixteen."

    "...Sixteen?!" she shouted, then cleared her throat as she actually wondered how incredibly cute he must have looked at sixteen.

    It made her mood darken as she realized that some other girl around his age was able to experience the shy and inexperienced Dane. Who was she? Did he love her? Suddenly, it dawned on her that she didn''t know this man in front of her she came to care for, at all.

    He was her husband yet still a stranger because their story came crashing down so suddenly without mercy.

    "You asked me if I was ever in love. I was."

    Disappointment washed over her. But, her eyes sparkled as she heard the beast open his heart.

    "I was young and foolish and unaware of how harsh the world could be. It was a simple kind of love built on innocence and truths. I think, love is something you can''t put into words. It''s a gut feeling you have that renders you captive as you find yourself thinking about that person day to day. You long for their presence and not just the sex," Dane paused as he searched her for something in her eyes she was unsure of. "You long for...stories."

    "The thing was, we lived different walks of life and eventually grew apart. The heart can sometimes stray off the right path. Hah, it''s ironic how life works. When I finally tried looking for her after all those years, I found out she already passed. So you see? Don''t love a beast like me. I''m cursed."

    Cursed? She shook her head because she believed he was spouting nonsense.

    "Too late, I don''t care if you are cursed or whatever," she whispered, shyly gazing at him. "I''m falling so fast and so hard that¡ª"

    Dane stifled her words with a kiss. She struggled against him as she tried to get the words out but he pinned her down onto the couch so that she was held captive beneath her beastly husband. Her legs were spread opened as he ushered his arousal against her. A hot blush crept onto her cheeks, knowing he yearned for her.

    Even though she craved the stories, she craved him just as much too. When their lips separated and she tried desperately again to tell him the beautiful truth, he gently put a finger over her mouth.

    "Shh," he cooed, soon burying his lips over hers again and by now she couldn''t even keep track of the amount of times he''s kissed her. "Anything but that."

    "I''ll spare you my words only if you make love to me," she tempted him all over.

    "Temptress lynx, don''t be so hasty. After all, we have all night to make love...But right now, I find myself wanting the stories."

    No way in the universe was this truly happening. The beastly husband who always pushed her away, wanted the stories.

    There was an erratic pounding coming from her heart. Soon, her heart would fail to work because he attacked it so many times within the hour. Her heart or mind couldn''t process it fast enough because for now, the way he purposely grind against her was making her abandon all rational reason.

    "Dearest, can''t stories wait? You''ve led me past the point of excitement and I want you."

    Dane chuckled at how impatient she was. He then chucked the underside of her chin with his finger. She touched her chin in wonder, wondering what that whole chucking under the chin ordeal meant. Her beastly husband''s large frame abruptly unglued their bodies and walked over to the pool table.

    She stared at his back and blushed in embarrassment. Was she just pushed aside?

    God, she was sounding desperate but he was the one feeding her promises of making love and seducing her by looks alone. It wasn''t fair to look that ruggedly handsome even with a jagged brown scar at his eye. In fact, she thought the scar made him look even more dangerous and enticing.

    Though, she would never admit that to him.

    "As much as I want to delve into a sweet escape with you, I also want to know my dear wife more before our honeymoon night. And my devilish side honestly quite likes the conflicted desire painted on your skin."

    What was her dear husband up to now?

    He pulled away two pool cues off the wall before turning to smile at Prisana. She just looked at him and the pool table curiously.

    "So, why don''t we play a little game?"

 Chapter 48 - Mischievous Game (1)

    "A game?" Prisana incredulously asked, wishing she could throw the pool cue at his infuriating grin. "You seriously want to play a game right now, when your lovely wife is begging to be taken?"

    "That''s exactly why. We''re still strangers. You''re my wife now, so I want to know you more. They do say, you learn more about your partner when you play a game together so indulge with me."

    "Do you know how to play?" he asked, cleaning the cue with a small white sponge.

    "Yes but..." she followed how incredibly breathtaking his attention to detail was as he cleaned the pool cue. "What on earth are you planning?"

    "When I said I was going to make love to you, I didn''t specify in bed."

    "Oh," came her stunned response.

    "The cruel beast in me wants stories but he also wants delicious foreplay watching as his lynx suffers with need."

    "Cruel beast you really are!"

    So he wanted to make love to her here?

    She looked around the game room and felt odd as they''ve only ever made love in bed so this was something forlorn to her. Her mind wandered to where exactly they would make love. The ground? But it would hurt her back and he didn''t seem the type to be that cruel.

    The couch she sat on? That seemed like the most reasonable place. As she looked to the couch, she was brought back to more pressing matters. Her dress fell downstairs when she untied it completely off as she thought they would dive straight into love making.

    Prisana was painfully aware now that she was exposed and only covered by her thin black undergarments so her arms snaked up to hug her body. It didn''t help that his heated and intense gaze kept making her more blushed and more moist in her sensitive spot she didn''t want to admit to.

    "I''ve already seen everything there is to see so why do you feel shy?"

    "The thing is, I''m the only one naked because I thought we were going to do...bad things."

    "What kind of bad things do you want me to do to you?"

    She licked her lips as she took in her fully clothed beast. What sort of bad things did she want him to do to her? Oh, all sorts of things where he took her to bliss every time. Prisana looked him in the eye as she imagined what exactly kind of bad things he would do to her. She imagined, that he was right beside her and not so far away.

    First and foremost she wanted him to go easy on the kissing. Her lips were still bruised beyond saving. After a few light kisses, she would offer her body to him as he would expertly touch along her breasts and wet core both at the same time until she would be panting with need for him to be inside of her.

    Their bodies would at last meld passionately under a beautiful rhythm.

    He broke the spell and flickered his gaze over to the pool table. Frowning, she reluctantly grabbed hold of the pool cue he handed to her and stood across from him.

    "The rules are simple. If you make a shot, you get to ask the question and the other person has to answer honestly. But if you miss..." his fiery gaze roamed over her already bare body from head to toe. "If you miss, then you have to take off one piece of clothing until you''re completely bare."

    "But that''s hardly fair!" she gestured at her black bra and undies. "I already took off my dress and you''re still fully¡ªWhat are you doing?"

    Dane tossed away his suit jacket at her complaints and proceeded to loosen his black tie until it fell at his feet. God, even the way he loosened his tie and shook it loose to reveal hints of his glorious chest muscles was simple yet alluring. He made sure to slip off his shoes and socks. Now, he stood before her in his white collared shirt and black dress pants.

    "There. Now we''re even," Dane said as he gestured with a hand of courtesy. "Ladies first."

    Prisana gulped down the air and shamefully extended her arms with the pool cue as she aimed for the white ball. Her bare and naked body was forgotten altogether as she focused seriously on her aim. She struck the ball as it hit the triangle of balls in all directions. A green striped ball fell into the hole and she squealed as she silently mouthed a ''yes!''.

    He chuckled at her enthusiasm and she coughed under her breath.

    "You should be afraid that you are playing against me. Alright so," she pondered over what to ask but her body moved over to him as the question was already made up in her mind.

    Prisana''s hands trailed over his brown jagged scar and this time he flinched but he remained still under her intense gaze. How ironic. She believed that he was her beast in shining armor but in truth he was a wounded animal and needed saving just as much as she did.

    "That scar...How did you get it?"

    "A house fire. You can say it was an...accident of sorts," came his quick and dark reply and Prisana couldn''t find it in herself to push further.

    Dane''s large and muscular body with arms stretched out wide resembled a Greek god statue as he intently focused his aim on the colored balls. His concentration leveled to the corner of the bold red, and velvet interior of the pool table. He slowly withdrew the pool cue and then struck it against the white ball.

    The white ball first hit the corner and then it scored two balls down the hole simultaneously. Her eyes widened as she realized he expertly hit the corner on purpose to kill two pool balls with one strike.

    "Two questions. The first one...That day three months ago, why did you leave?"

    Prisana looked past him, to the wall. To tell beautiful truths to her husband of a stranger, she was hesitant. Hesitant because when she told him, she didn''t want to rely on him for her troubles. When time came, she would have to be brave and face them on her own.

    "My father and Giovanni have endless means to find and capture me to save their image or further their objectives. Even now," Prisana shuddered. "I know they have men looking for me and they won''t stop until I face them head on."

    "Let me face them for you," came his dark and terrifying voice.

    "No!" she shouted, lowering her voice. "No. You''ve done enough. I''m using you for protection and shelter already. I have to be the one to do this or my demons won''t ever rest."

    A brilliant idea surfaced into her head.

    "When is the next time you will attend one of those gaudy candidate functions?"

    "This upcoming weekend."

    "Perfect. Your lovely wife will attend too."

    "But¡ª"

    "Are you afraid of your image being tarnished? The media and the public speculating our whirlwind of a marriage? The CEO of silver linings going against the senator may put all that you aim for, at great stake."

    "Of course not. I could give a damn about any of that."

    "That''s what I thought. My husband is fearless," she said with a knowing and satisfied grin.

    Regarding her husband''s little smile that lifted at the corner of his lips, she knew she had gotten her way with him.

    "Fine. Do as you wish. Next question. Why did you run from your vows?"

    "...Giovanni always loved other women. I think I tried so hard to believe that we could still be happy after marriage but when he loved my best friend and sister, it opened my eyes to ugly truths that I couldn''t bare to live in them anymore."

    She was a little worried about how he would take it but his expression never betrayed how he was feeling inside. Only his next words stirred her heart for she didn''t wish to tell him the ugly truth.

    "Did you love him?" he asked and to that question, she remained silent as the air thickened with indescribable tension.

    "It''s my turn now," Prisana interrupted his question as she aimed for the purple stripe ball.

    Prisana missed and suddenly, she felt a shiver trickle down her spine as his impatient eyes raked over her bra and her undies. Her hands slowly hovered above both her bra and undies as she was unsure of which to take off first.

    His continuous stare nerved her as it caused her to tremble a bit in embarrassment. The lights were so bright and her imperfections were shed to light for him to see but the beast before her wouldn''t show her any mercy.

    "What will it be?"

 Chapter 49 - Mischievous Game (2)

    Ultimately Dane watched as she made the decision, either favorable as she turned to face him head on and then reached to her back to unhook the clasps so the bra fell behind her. It landed onto the ground with a soft thud. As it did so, Dane couldn''t help but sigh at her exposed breasts under bright lights.

    Why hadn''t he realized before, how incredibly beautiful she was? In her naked form, he found perfection even at imperfections through every inch and angle. His heart was pounding like mad the moment she released her breasts from torment of the useless fabric covering it.

    Who made bra''s and why when a woman''s nipples should be free of such a flimsy thing? She should just be naked before him as the days that would come, he would relish in having her so many times they wouldn''t need clothes.

    Prisana, with all her tough talk moments earlier, still shyly covered her hardened nipples with her arm. He wanted to stop the silly game but he could have already taken her earlier when she asked. Dane kept his lust at bay because he wished for the stories that plagued him three months ago the moment she ruined him for good.

    He broke away his intense gaze from her bare, beautiful form and it took everything he had in him to concentrate on his next aim. So close yet so far was his shot as the white ball only grazed at the side of the ball he aimed for.

    "What will it be?" came Prisana''s mocking voice as he asked her moments earlier.

    "You''re way too lovely for your own good."

    "What?"

    "I don''t think I can control myself, even where there isn''t a bed."

    "Who said you had to control yourself..."

    "Dearest lynx, the moment your undies come off, the beast in me will be making love to you until it turns into mindless fucking all night long. I wanted to hold myself back but," he trailed off as his fingers began to undo his shirt buttons. "As I thought, just the sight of you alone is enough to send me over the edge."

    Dane unleashed each button one by one until they undid themselves from their clutches. He watched as she licked her lips once he tossed away his shirt onto the ground. She was staring at him, her eyes admiring his hard chest muscles. By now, she already worked hard to aim victory as now there were nearly both down to their last few shots.

    He found her sighing in utter relief as the striped ball fell into the hole.

    "What are you hiding from that you were living in the woods and then changed your name to some man named Elias Blackwell?"

    "I have demons, just like you. Ones that killed my parents and thought I was gone for good. Elias Blackwell is a man that will drive forth what it means to kill a young man who had everything, then lost all in the blink of an eye."

    "Please. Tell me the story of Dane. I will listen with eyes unclouded and won''t tell a soul."

    "My turn," Dane continued as he disregarded her plea.

    He quickly forgot about the temptress lynx before him because something else was nagging at him. Something that he knew shouldn''t have mattered but it did as the image of them linking arms and smiling at the public was burned into his memory. It burned so bright that he wished he could forget and crush that memory altogether.

    The ball fell into the hole with ease as a thin line of uncertainty upturned on Dane''s face. He stalked her from where she stood.

    "Did you love that bastard?"

    "Yes," she whispered almost in a low hush like scatter.

    By now, Dane stalked the back of her frame and put both of his arms over the pool table so that she was trapped on either side. She twisted around to look at him and almost shuddered as she saw a flicker of something dangerous burn inside of those dark eyes.

    "I-I loved him. That was then. This moment here with you, is now."

    "Even though you don''t love him anymore, it drives me mad knowing he got to experience sides to you I didn''t know."

    "Like?"

    "Everything in your younger years. Like," he trailed off as he touched her hair. "Like how your hair looked under pretty brown eyes and inquisitive lips.

    His fingers outlined the sides of her face.

    "Like, how he got to see every expression on this lovely face. If I could turn back time and meet you first, I would. I don''t even deserve this burning jealousy for a man I''ve only met once to but god, it might scorch me alive."

    "Don''t. That man isn''t worth your time and anger. The truth is, it also drives me mad knowing I''m not your first...How many?"

    "That''s three questions too many."

    His lynx frowned deeply as she leaned forward onto the pool table and away from his body. She aimed at her target. Something about her deep and serious concentration further fueled Dane''s desire. There was something so erotic yet beautiful as she stood bare trying to strike aim at the ball. She narrowed her eyes and released the pool cue.

    One of the striped balls fell into the hole so she twisted around to face him as he blocked either exit so she stayed trapped inside his arms.

    "Why do you...Refused to be loved and give love in return?"

    "Game over. Look," he pointed out to the white ball falling into the hole after the stripe ball. "It''s my win. Give me my reward, dearest. I want you."

 Chapter 50 - All Night Long

    The wait was agonizing as Dane ushered his body forward against Prisana with his fully erect cock pushing against her entrance. He leaned near her face as he regarded the lips he so wished to devour. But he waited and stared down to everywhere he would rather kiss at the moment. She shyly crept her arms over his neck.

    When she leaned forward to kiss him, he put a finger to her chest and slowly and carefully led her down so her back was against the red velvet interior of the pool table. As her hair lay sprawled onto the table with bare nipples out for him to taste, he thought that she was the finest work of art he''d ever laid eyes on.

    Immediately, she tried covering her body. His hands cupped her lovely face so that it turned more to every perfection he could find and he breathed a sigh.

    "Prisana, why do you keep covering yourself? You''re beautiful."

    "Lies."

    "Truths. Every word is true because I''m floored that you exist and are here in my arms."

    He grinned soon after finding her at a lost for words. Then, he used a finger to tug at her undies.

    "You lost so you should take it off or I may accidentally tear it away."

    Even though her pursed lips graced him, she continued to tug away at her undies until she was fully bare before him. She gasped as he wasted no time at all in spreading one of her legs open so that it dangled over his shoulder.

    Every part of her seemed too tasty to resist. He began with licking her slender calf.

    Dane licked her calf, nibbling at the tender skin as she twitched. He relished underneath her moans as he ran his hands over the entire length her legs, continuously tormenting her calf and thighs until it reddened with his marks.

    This torment led to her already slightly wet core leaking with need but he only hovered above it without touching. Instead, he kissed around it. He heard her sigh in disappointment as he proceeded to kiss her belly.

    Her chest fell and rose upon every kiss and when it rose, he suckled against her arm that covered her nipples. Until he gently pinned away her arms with his hand, he was finally able to suckle on her enticing nipples which begged to be ravished. God, she always tasted so sweet and inviting that all he could think about was fucking her but he wanted to make love to her first as he said he would.

    He kissed her nipples for minutes on end, flicking with his tongue, and gently grazing at it with his teeth. When he sucked on them as if he would tear her apart, her hands held his face to push him away. But he never relented to her struggles. Instead, he squished her breasts together and found both nipples inside his mouth to torment.

    She nearly rolled off the table if he hadn''t blocked her exit and lay captive to him. He sucked both nipples into his mouth, stretching her breasts to fit right where he wanted her.

    At last he broke away from her nipples and invaded her neck in kisses until it was serenaded with his marks. Like the beast he was, he found her lips. Her lips were still bruised but no matter, he devoured them endlessly with his tongue swirled against hers.

    Their breaths mingled a rhythm as he continued the back and forth dance of licking and kissing. Soon, he forgot all about love making and got lost in her lips. He kept pecking them and prying them open which she always gave in to more torment.

    A slight sting hurt his lips as she bit on him hard.

    "Too much kissing. Not enough love..." Dane chose this moment to casually lean down and kiss her clitoris. "Making!"

    The way she shuddered and gradually opened her legs wider for him to taste all of her was making his pants constrict in pain. Instead of using his fingers, he used his tongue to make love to her insides. He drove his tongue in deep in and out of her so that she was twitching and shuddering both at the same time.

    Her juice was filling his mouth and dripping down the sides of his chin as he slurped her leaking core.

    It was damn tempting to enter her raw and bare so he stood over her. Dane rubbed against her entrance longingly, wishing he could just take her like this. He held himself back and grabbed his condom from his pockets. While he made love to her with his tongue, he grasped his cock and slid on the condom. By now, he was breathing like a hungry beast ready to devour his feast.

    "Sorry," he breathed, moving her lovely butt to hung off the edge of the table. "I don''t think I can properly prepare you today."

    His cock pushed against her wet pussy as she was spread over on the edge of the pool table for him as he closed in on her. Her leg deliciously dangled over his shoulder so he kissed her thighs once he fully settled his length. The sound of her moaning entered his mouth as he serenaded her in endless kisses.

    God, it was both so terrifying and beautiful as he was shattering everything with a kiss and stimulating his desires with her warm and wet insides. Just the sight of her was enough to send him flying so he looked elsewhere as he felt the sensations swarming over him.

    He stayed inside of her without moving because he knew what would happen next.

    "Don''t move. Stay like this for a moment..."

    The temptress lynx shuffled underneath him and he immediately released as he fell forward to lay on her body. He covered his face from her inquisitive eyes.

    "I told you not to move."

    "...You came already?" she asked, and then a smile formed.

    He quickly retreated from her and threw down the condom.

    As soon as he looked to the marks he made on her body and how disheveled and ruined she look because of him, his cock shot up with desire all over again. Now, he was abandoning all reason. His raw and bare cock settled against her entrance. She widened her eyes as he rubbed his cock over the folds of her pussy.

    "Dane!"

    "I won''t come inside."

    "You can''t!" she shouted this but her moans as he rubbed against her betrayed reason.

    "We''ll have you checked and on birth control tomorrow."

    "What if I get pregnant?"

    The thought was beautiful. Her pregnant with his baby as they would lead a carefree and happy life. God, how much he wanted that.

    "Then I''d take responsibility," he trailed off as the tip of his cock already entered her. "May I?"

    For a moment, he were a small beastly wolf pleading his lynx to enter her. He leaned in closer with puppy eyes to beg her for permission. A smile went on his lips as she turned her face away from him.

    "I will surely rob you of everything if you give me a baby!"

    "Fine by me," he responded as he pushed his hips forward and heard her let out a long breath.

    Without the condom, it felt as if they were truly connected. It felt amazingly better than normal. He barely even began to move and she was already digging her nails into his flesh. Her eyes widened with every thrust he drove into her. Even her moans were louder and rapturous than ever before.

    "Why does it feel so...? Ah!"

    "Good?" Dane finished for her as he purposely withdrew his cock out of her and inside. "That''s because we''re truly connected with nothing to separate our union."

    Dane began his slow rhythm inside of her as he sealed her moans into his lips and found her hands intertwined with his. He was rocking her to bliss, pounding deep and agonizingly slow to remember every sensation of their bare union.

    He growled into her neck as he sucked against her skin to make another mark.

    "...Ah...Mmh...It feels so good inside of you. Do you feel good? Tell me, what makes you feel good?"

    Prisana nodded and she wrapped her arms over him in an embrace so that he was pushed closely against her warm, petite body. He could see the tips of her ears redden as she turned away from his eyes.

    "You. Just you. All of you makes me feel good."

    Her sweet words prompted him to lean into her chest as he hesitatingly but surely held her in return. His arms slowly wrapped around her back. He kept thrusting his cock into her as they kissed and held each other. Every thrust shook her body as his demanded release inside.

    Their rocking creaked the table so much that she lost her balance and slid off the table.

    But the beast in shining armor caught her and settled her gently onto the ground. He plunged deep into her again and sighed once he was able to continue the delicious rocking of his hips into hers. Dane''s breathing grew more ragged as he moaned into her chest and began to thrust more hungrily until she shuddered beneath him.

    His whole body was shaking so he took out his cock from her and rubbed out his come all over her stomach.

    It was so erotic.

    God, the sight of his desire stained onto her white porcelain skin only made his cock respond no sooner than it had depleted. His heart wouldn''t stop beating at the lovely sight of her as his body couldn''t keep away from her for one moment.

    Dane carried her pleasure ridden body onto the couch. He sat down and urged her over him so she could nestle into his lap. When he found her glossy and glazed eyes starring into his, he grabbed her hips to lift her over him. Without warning or mercy, he settled her down once more onto his cock. She nearly lost it as she moaned and regarded him with surprise.

    She was straddling him like a cowgirl with his cock buried deep.

    "Wait, I just came," she said, pushing at his chest so he could pause in their lovemaking.

    He turned her body around without ever taking out his cock so that she was in a reverse cowgirl position. The clear skin devoid of bruises displayed at the nape of her neck drew him forward to plant kisses and suck at the tender area.

    "I can''t wait," he said as he sucked her skin. "Claw at me all you want but it''s your fault that you have a face and body that drive men wild. Now, let me fuck your sweet brains out darling."

    Since she had her back turned to him, he grasped both of her breasts with his hands and thrust himself into her from behind. He relentlessly drove into her as she nearly screamed because he drove into her so fast and rough.

    The room was filled with their heat and intense love making that echoed upon breathless moans. His hips slapped hard into her butt as he rammed his cock upward into her over and over again until he fingered her clit. Only then, she came and fell backward into his chest.

    Dane lifted her from him so that he could stroke his own cock at her ruined expression.

    Release found him as he twitched and grunted against her but he didn''t stop there. The beast finally brought her over onto the bed but Prisana greatly protested even under hazy eyelids.

    "Not again," she groaned as she saw his hard cock when he stood over the edge of the bed.

    Prisana dared to kick up her legs in a fuss so that he would stay away and let her rest but he wouldn''t. He was too smooth. Dane easily grabbed both of her legs so that she would stop kicking him away. The beast even kissed her fussy legs and turned to regard her with insatiable eyes.

    "Tonight''s our honeymoon," he said as his cock was already sliding along her insides. "I''ll be in your care all night long."

 Chapter 51 - Morning As Newlyweds

    The moment that Prisana stirred awake from her sleep, she woke up to Dane holding her fast asleep like before. It frightened her that she was becoming so used to waking up in the arms of her new husband. She gazed at the face of her husband, letting the reality sink in that she went and signed a marriage certificate to more beautiful lies.

    The beautiful lie before her seemed like the beautiful truth. She lightly trailed her finger over his scar, admiring how it actually fit his ruggedly handsome looks.

    Prisana pried out from underneath the beast''s arms and tried to get out of bed but ended up stumbling and crashing onto the ground. Her whole body ached, all because of the beast that held her so passionately to the point of ruin.

    When the beast said all night long, he really did mean all night long because somewhere during their love making, she fell asleep due to utter exhaustion with his cock still inside of her. Prisana rummaged through his drawers for clothes as she had none and hurried to the shower room.

    To her annoyance, the beast still hadn''t woken up when she returned from washing herself. He was yet again dead to the world. She walked over to the bed and tried poking him and gently slapping his face to wake him up. When she observed his blissful sleeping face, she almost felt bad but remembered how much her body ached so she threw away the bed sheets hugging his body.

    As she did so, she gasped to see his cock still rock hard and standing up so early in the morning. After all they went through, he was still aroused! She lightly threw the bed sheets over the lower half of his body and pretended not to see.

    "Dearest, wake up. I need to buy clothes."

    He grumbled and tossed the sheets over his head.

    "You don''t need clothes. They''ll all eventually come off anyway."

    She frowned at his logic and decided to play a mean prank.

    "I''m pregnant."

    Dane''s large frame towered over her so quickly with eyes wide open.

    "What? How do you know?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

    "I don''t but after what you did yesterday, I might be!" she narrowed her eyes at him in slight annoyance as her body ached so much. "My body hurts. Soothe me dear."

    "Where does it hurt?"

    "Everywhere, you beast! It''s even hard to walk..."

    He wordlessly pulled her into his arms and began massaging her with his hands. First, he started with the tension in her shoulders so the wrinkles on her forehead would disappear. He rubbed in circular motions until she sighed in comfort. Then he ushered her down to lay on the bed soon after so that he had her legs in his lap.

    Dane lifted one leg so that he could gently massage her bruised calves and thighs covered by his kisses. The feeling of his hands rubbing along the length of her leg reminded her of last night but her aching body refused to let him have his way this time. To her surprise, he behaved and simply did as he was told.

    "Thank you, that felt good. Now that you''re awake, take me to the doctor so I can ensure that I''m not pregnant."

    "I need to replenish my energy first."

    "And, how will you do that?"

    "Turn over here."

    Prisana turned to look at his face and when she did so, he leaned in and kissed her quickly on the lips so she just stared at him with a stunned expression.

    "There, my energy has been replenished," he exclaimed as he tossed away the bed sheets and appeared bare before her.

    In all his glorious and ruggedly handsome naked self, she couldn''t help but gawk at him. Her eyes followed his naked form into the shower room. She never realized before but even his butt was firm and possibly better looking than hers.

    He turned around.

    "What?" he asked, smirking. "Did you want to shower again, with me?"

    "No!"

 Chapter 52 - Beautiful Truth

    "Sir, you must go to work," came Cleo''s strict and commanding tone.

    "Tomorrow."

    Prisana could only stare wide eyed at the two men arguing with each other. Yet, they were pressed so closely to one another that she wondered who was the real wife.

    Cleo or Prisana?

    In this Case Cleo would win as he was good at cooking and cleaning. She looked to her hands as she realized she had no idea how to fix up a tie. Cleo stood before Dane as he wrapped a tie around his neck and pulled it into a knot. The pair looked like lovers as she stood off to the sidelines.

    After Dane abruptly called a doctor to the den and had her examined and put on birth control, Cleo popped in like a ticking time clock to fulfill his cleaning duties. Prisana didn''t know getting Dane dressed was another one of his duties on top of secretarial and cleaning duties.

    Cleo patted the suit jacket until he was satisfied and Dane nonchalantly just let him do as he pleased.

    Suddenly, Prisana felt as if she were the one intruding.

    "There''s only so much things you can do working from home but there are pressing meetings face to face which require your immediate attention."

    "You deal with it in my stead. I need to take my wife shopping."

    His secretary and butler only blinked at him.

    "I''ll take her shopping," came his logical and secretarial reply.

    "You will not take her shopping," he warned, then frustratingly ran his hands through his hair. "So be it then. After I take my wife shopping, I''ll return to the office."

    Her beastly husband turned to wink at her.

    "Do you hear that dear? Don''t miss me too much."

    Deep down inside, she rejoiced knowing that her heart and especially body, would be able to rest.

    "Oh, I''m already depressed just thinking about it," she said sarcastically.

    "That won''t do."

    Dane briskly walked over to her in few easy strides. He leaned in and she stepped back as she regarded Cleo who was still in the room with them. No matter, Dane pecked her on the lips. For a moment she forgot about their audience.

    That was it?

    When he retreated from her, she felt disappointment cloud over her features. Prisana tugged on his tie and caught him by utter surprise as he kissed him in return. But her kiss was the passionate kind as she shyly snuck in her tongue and grazed at his lower lip. He responded by sighing into her lips and wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer.

    A cough prompted Prisana to break the spell.

    "I hate to remind you both that I''m still here but I am...Also Elias let me remind you, the charity event this weekend will be very important for publicity to the elections. We''ll need to set up proper donations before then."

    "Donate XXX amount of dollars. All proceeds should be held until investigation on the charity organization is conducted. Do make sure to arrange a new suit for the event as well."

    The charity event would be where she would have to face her demons. So far, there has been no news of the Senator''s daughter running away from her so called husband. She was uncertain about how her father or Giovanni would retaliate. The only thing she knew was that she would face them as the wife of Elias Blackwell.

    Her heart stammered viciously simply thinking about it, knowing that peace would only last so long. It began to feel like she was suffocating as she tried to take deep breaths. A nice and soothing touch prompted her to look up to her husband. Warmth pooled from his hand as he settled it over hers reassuringly.

    "Fear not, your beast in shining armor is none other than the Elias Blackwell, CEO of silver linings. There''s nothing I can''t do."

    Prisana chuckled and the uncertainty washed away, "Oh I don''t doubt that dearest...I''ve seen what you were capable of last night. I''m only gathering my willpower to face men I''ve once loved."

    "The moment you falter, I''ll be there."

    She searched his eyes.

    "You won''t always be there."

    "Then call out my name."

    "What if you don''t answer?"

    "I will. I vow the most beautiful truth that when you call my name, I''ll be there."

 Chapter 53 - The Role Of A Doting Husband

    New Jersey''s Eden mall was one of the largest and well known malls in the country. It generated much of the country''s wealth as high end brands only the rich could afford were situated there. The newlywed couple were part of the rich and so they walked hand in hand into Shisein, a high end clothes store that targeted women.

    "Welcome to¡ª" the female attendant standing at the entrance was at a lost for words.

    "The CEO of Silver Linings...?! Forgive me for being so rude. Come in and have a seat. We can discuss what you are looking for that fits your date''s needs."

    "She isn''t my date," Dane said sternly, as he regarded the side of Prisana''s frame lovingly. "She''s my wife."

    "Y-Your wife..."

    Along with the female attendant, Prisana could have sworn she saw the other women in the back clutching their hearts in utter and complete heartbreak. Hushed whispers already began to erupt among the women and when Dane looked to them, they stopped gossiping and resumed their work.

    "And no need, we can shop by ourselves."

    God, was her so called husband some sort of celebrity here? Sure he was filthy rich but she didn''t think many would know the face of her husband without proper research beforehand. Perhaps he was just that well known and she never thought to think twice about it.

    Regardless, Prisana felt excitement bubble up her insides. She never went and bought her own clothes as it was something her father always ordered the maids to do so she was a bit excited.

    Her excitement faltered however when she looked at Dane who seemed more excited than herself. He was the one choosing and picking all of the dresses as they browsed through one of the most expensive high end stores in the mall.

    The price tags were something that she was used to seeing so it didn''t bother her but when adding up the amount, it exceeded anything she was ever allowed to own.

    "Darling, I get your enthusiasm but I can pick my own clothes."

    "If Cleo picked your clothes, then I will do so too. After all, you did seem quite happy about that dress he chose for you. So please allow me," he trailed off as he continued violently throwing more dresses into his arms.

    "Are you perhaps...Sulking that I gave him the credit for picking out the dress?"

    The clothes in his arms tumbled onto the ground. He quickly retrieved all of them one by one as he refused to look at her.

    "Never. I''m only playing my role of a doting husband."

    "...Right," she mumbled but thought he was taking this too seriously.

    Dane walked to the hat section and carefully browsed through the colorful array of stacked hats. He picked one out and extended it over to Prisana. The hat he chose was a cream colored straw hat fit for the summer and had a perfect bow tie at the side.

    "What do you think about this one?" he asked, gently putting the hat on her head.

    She walked to the mirror and inspected it by turning her head.

    "It''s cute."

    "Try this one on too," he offered, already handing her another similar looking hat.

    When they reached the lingerie section, he dove straight forward without a shred of embarrassment. Prisana felt embarrassed for him. Even the ladies in the store couldn''t help but stare at his every move and giggle or turn away as he browsed through the lingerie section.

    The role of a doting husband should have it''s limits!

    "...Elias dear. What do you think you''re doing?" she asked this as she held him back.

    "I''m going to choose a lingerie for you."

    "No you''re not. Stay put here and watch."

    As Prisana turned back to look at him, Dane resembled a sad beastly wolf that sulked in the corner with a mountain of dresses in his arms. When the staff tried to approach him to soothe him, he nearly roared at them and told all of them to go away.

    He was beginning to scare away the female customers. At this rate, it would be her fault that Shisein was losing it''s customers.

    She sighed and quickly chose two lingerie hanging without much thought.

    "I''m having a hard time choosing. Which lingerie do you think I should go for?" came her ploy to ease his mood.

    It was as if his beastly ears perked up and he was at her sides in seconds. Her beastly husband was so easy to please and displease.

    He inspected both lingerie so intently that it made her uncomfortable. The way he carefully considered every detail made her squirm a bit under his wandering gaze. It was as she were in the lingerie and he was watching her dressed in it.

    "This one," he pointed to the black one piece lingerie, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I didn''t know that my new wife is so daring."

    "What do you mean¡ªAh," she didn''t finish her sentence because she looked at the black lingerie he chose.

    The black lingerie could pass for a scrap of clothing presented at the freak show circus. It was thin and lacy as the bra connected to the tiny strap of thong. Her eyes bulged in horror as she realized that it was no panties and that there was a single thin line of ribbon that covered down there. As for the bra, it was so indecent to the point that it bared an opening for one''s nipples.

    Her face blushed as she imagined wearing such a frivolous nightgown before him as he would easily have access to all of her. Prisana quickly stuck the nightgown back onto the shelf.

    "I''m never wearing that thing. Is that even supposed to cover anything? It looks like scraps someone cut up."

    Dane picked up the black lingerie and threw it back into his arms.

    "Well then...This isn''t for you. I''m buying this for me."

    "Ha. You''re going to wear that," she pointed out, pretty sure his large body would tear it apart.

    "Don''t judge me," he joked with her. "Just know that it''ll be hanging in my closet if the need for you to wear this ever arises."

    "That is never."

    That never would actually become a someday but she didn''t know that.

 Chapter 54 - Dont Buy Everything!

    Finally, after what seemed like an hours of browsing for clothes, she was led to the changing room by one of the female attendants.

    "...Excuse me for being nosy but are you really the wife to Elias Blackwell?"

    "Yes, I am."

    "There goes all of the heartbroken females here at this mall..."

    "What do you mean?"

    "You don''t know? Silver Linings is one of the most well known men''s suits store located here and every woman at the mall knows Elias Blackwell because he is...Well, he used to be a sought out bachelor."

    She considered the female store attendant''s words as she left her to change alone. That really did mean her husband was a celebrity at this mall. Even if women didn''t know who he was outside of this mall, he had this aura that attracted one to him. Be it his wealth or his irresistible tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome vibe, it was easy to be charmed by such a slick beast.

    Obviously, she didn''t know what kind of husband she was signing up for.

    Prisana eventually changed into one of the dresses Dane picked out for her. The dress was bright red, cut off at the shoulders and it traveled all sleek and royal onto the ground. She was amazed at how beautiful the dress graced her eyes with touches of elegance presented in every nook and cranny. Her hands struggled to reach the zipper at the back.

    "Excuse me, could you come in and help me with the zipper? I''m having trouble with it."

    The curtain to the dressing room opened but she didn''t look at the woman because she was having a hard time standing straight in such a tight fitted dress. Her fingers ran along Prisana''s back as the zipper was sealed.

    "Thank you...Dane!" she shouted at her husband as she found him behind her while glancing at the mirror.

    She found him grinning into the mirror as she was pulled into an embrace. Dane buried his face into her neck and then he sniffed her.

    "...Finally."

    "What?"

    "I finally have you in my arms. You don''t know how long I was dying to hold you like this."

    The warmth that radiated from her back made her feel safe and sound. But she tried twisting out of his hold because there were appropriate time and places for such things.

    "You held me in your arms the entire night and this morning."

    "That was then. This is now. It wasn''t nearly enough."

    She gasped as he kissed the back of her nape because the light scruffy beard he had tickled her skin.

    "Are you insane? We''re in the ladies dressing room!"

    "I am insane. Prisana, you make me insane and not to worry, I''m only holding you or were thinking of something far more along the lines of..." he trailed off as his fingers hovered above her most sensitive place.

    Prisana grabbed his hand that lingered dangerously close to where they would travel to the point of no return. It was tempting. God, he was so tempting that it was hard for her to hold back but one of them had to be sane or all hell would break loose.

    "Not yet. I want to try on these dresses."

    "Okay," came his fast reply. "Then change¡ª"

    She pushed him out of the changing room so that he stood outside.

    "Out, you beast! Just stand there and give me your honest opinions."

    Her husband actually obeyed and waited patiently outside. To her surprise, he never complained about how long she was taking or if they could leave. Instead, Dane was actually urging her to try on every dress and she was the one that wanted to leave.

    After every dress Prisana slipped on, Dane only quietly observed each one without saying a word. His dark eyes captured all of her as she nervously fiddled under him. As she thought, perhaps none of them looked that great on her if he were being so quiet.

    When she finished trying on the last dress, Prisana boldly tested him, "I want all of them."

    Ha! Surely he would protest and throw a fit about how unreasonable she was being.

    "Hmm, you think so too? Maybe I should just buy the entire store. No, the entire mall."

    Her jaws nearly dropped down because a part of her believed that he would actually buy the entire mall for her.

    "Don''t you dare buy the entire mall. Dane, you mad beast! Don''t let me take advantage of you so easily...Get angry. Scold me or tell me that I am unreasonable."

    "But why would I do that when I wish to spoil you."

    "Fine. I''ll end up taking everything you...own."

    The moment when she blinked after telling him ''fine'', he was already gone from the dressing room. When she changed back into her clothes, she found him making purchases at the register. Prisana sighed.

    The sad truth was, she probably could take everything he owned with the exception of his heart.

 Chapter 55 - Unwelcomed Visitor

    "Good afternoon, Mr. Blackwell!"

    The Silver Linings employees stood from their seats and stopped whatever they were doing as Dane walked past by them. He nodded toward the employees and resumed walking toward his office.

    Silver Linings Office was situated in the heart of New Jersey and was one of the tallest towers, spanning six hundred feet tall. As CEO of silver linings, he came into the world by storm and steadily rose up into the business world with sheer hard work.

    Everyone knew him as this charismatic leader who focused solely on work. He never went out to work functions or had any known relationships with the female employees or women in general. So when he missed one day of work and a half, it was no wonder that his employees watched him with a tumble of emotions laced in their eyes.

    Confusion, suspicion, and shock.

    One of his female employees who regularly dropped off coffee walked up to him before he could reach his office.

    What was it again?

    He didn''t quite remember her name. She walked up to him while other female employees lingered at the back to watch their exchange.

    "Mr. Blackwell, h-here''s today''s coffee."

    "Thanks," his eyes skimmed over her nameplate. "...Francesca. I appreciate it."

    "Mr. Blackwell!"

    As she called out his name and tugged on his suit jacket. He looked at her hand that held his jacket. Then, he politely brushed her hand away.

    "Yes?" he arched an eyebrow.

    "Is it true, what the rumors are saying?" she asked him, as he saw the other female employee''s ears from the distance, grow larger. "...That you''re married?"

    Rumors spread like wildfire. He only left the mall and his dear wife a few hours ago and word already reached the company. Dane sighed and nodded.

    "It''s true. If you have time to discuss personal matters at work, then please use it wisely on work."

    Dane left her and the other female employees standing there, dejected. Perhaps his employees did have too much time on their hands if they had the time to gossip and spread rumors within a matter of hours.

    He opened the double doors to his office.

    On top of the highest floor, the CEO of silver linings office was slathered in modern white and black furniture overlooking large open windows. It was tailored to fit his exquisite tastes with strange and intricate collections of statues and trinkets. The door shut close behind him as he slipped off his suit jacket and placed it onto the coat hanger.

    Dane was greeted with a mountain of folders and documents on the brown mahogany desk that required his attention.

    Everything was normal.

    Except, one thing.

    He nearly stopped altogether in his tracks as he noticed a silhouette of a man sitting on his black chair.

    The man in question swirled around to face Dane.

    Leonardo Duval.

 Chapter 56 - Neither Friend Or Foe

    "So, this is how it feels like to be the CEO of a large and successful company? It feels like I''m on top of the world!"

    The devil came to pay him a visit and he himself was happy. Watching him invade the privacy to his office without permission, his happy mood fell apart completely.

    Who was it that Dane needed to fire?

    The entire female population in Silver Linings?

    If he tried, Leo could probably seduce a goat. Dane folded his arms across his chest and arched an eyebrow at him.

    Leo nonchalantly sat in Dane''s black chair with legs crossed and eyes glowing like the devil.

    "Who let you in? Get out," came Dane''s quick reply.

    "I let myself in. After all, I''ve become rather well acquainted with the ladies of this company," he added with a knowing smile.

    Dane immediately picked up the phone and tried to dial for someone but there was no ringtone. He turned and found Leo holding up the disconnected phone lines.

    "What do you want? I thought I paid my dues already. I''m certain visiting your clients in person is not part of the deal we agreed on."

    He opened his arms and moved with the rolling chair to hug Dane but he evaded it so Leo could hug air.

    Don''t be so cruel. I missed you."

    "Like hell you missed me," Dane growled in annoyance. "What. Do. you. Want?"

    He made sure to emphasize every word.

    "I''m bored. You''re one of my most interesting clients so I thought I''d drop in after hearing a funny rumor."

    "I got married," Dane finished Leo''s plaguing thoughts before he could even ask.

    The devil only stared at him for what seemed like minutes. And then, he simply laughed. He laughed like a deranged mad man.

    "Surely you jest?"

    "I don''t joke round, especially with the likes of you."

    "...Who?"

    "Why should I tell you? Besides, I know you love suspense and surprises. It''s better I keep you in the dark."

    Leo chuckled and the laugh sounded almost dark to his ears, as if the laugh were too genuine for his own good.

    "You know me all too well."

    The devil finally stood from Dane''s chair and walked over to the glass window to peer out under at New Jersey''s bustling city which looked like miniature ants. Dane moved over to sit in the chair so that he could start rifling over the documents.

    "That''s not the only reason I came. I found that man you''ve been looking for."

    His heart almost stopped but his face never betrayed his emotions. He paused what he was doing and swirled around in his chair to face the devil.

    "Enlighten me."

    "Everything I do, comes with a price."

    "I promised you everything I own after this is all over. Do you wish to have my soul too?"

    "What about your...Wife?" he smiled and Dane felt an anger so horrid that it moved his body faster than he could think.

    The moment Leo spoke of her, Dane had him pinned down against the glass window pane in seconds. His arm trapped Leo''s neck so that he had trouble breathing. And still, the devil continued to smile even as he faced the beast. God, Dane wondered what if anything, could rattle this devil and leave him grovelling to repent for his sins.

    "Don''t you dare. If you touch her, I''ll forsake everything and end you with my own hands."

    "...Hah. Is that the one? The woman that you love?" a knowing smile crossed his features.

    "No," Dane refused to admit no matter how much the universe willed it to be.

    There was a mad deranged laugh that shook Leo''s whole entire body. Then, his face turned starkly serious and devoid of that laughter.

    "So she is. I''ve never seen you bare so many emotions. But what will you do, when you have conquered your demons and and lost all, riches and soul, again in the blink of an eye?"

    Some part of him knew that the devil was right. He knew this happiness wouldn''t last long and that beautiful lies they''ve built would later come crashing down to ugly truths. But he was selfish. He wanted to experience a life with her even if it was temporary. Then, he could let her go without regrets when she got rid of him.

    "What you said...She''s not something I own but her own person. She will never be mine. Not yours. No one''s. We''ll be divorced before you can lay your sinful hands on her."

    "Ah~ What a tragic yet beautiful love story headed straight for ruin. I can''t wait to see how the story will unfold."

    Leo pushed Dane back so that he could escape his arm hold. He patted the area away that Dane touched and then reached into his suit pocket. A piece of paper emerged from his fingertips.

    "Here you go, my friend. An eye for eye. A tooth for a tooth. When I ask for you after your complete ruin, you will do my bidding."

    "Foe," Dane said, snatching the piece of paper. "We aren''t friends."

    "How rude. Though I do like it when you play hard to act like we''re not friends."

    "You''re twisted. Unbearable. A walking devil without disguise. We could never be grouped as anything but foes working the same agenda."

    "Heh. We''re alike in many ways. Though you won''t admit it, men like us can never have a chance at true happiness. In the end, we''re doomed for the bad ending."

    Leo''s words struck him hard in the gut. They rang in his ears like bell chimes relentlessly repeating in his head. The devil dealt the final blow before making his way out the door.

    "Did you hear? There was this rumor that the Elias Blackwell gifted a woman a glass rose from that auction. My sources told me this woman in particular disappeared that same night. Do let me know if you have any idea where she has gone. After all, it''s one of my most recent clients that are on the lookout for this woman and I want to make sure he is well informed.

    His back was toward Dane as he waved a hand farewell.

    "See ya friend."

    "Foe," Dane mumbled under his breath as the door shut behind the devil.

    On this piece of paper, what was inside, would lead him one step closer to finding the ugly truth on what happened that fateful night. Dane''s trembling fingers opened the small piece of paper and his eyes uncovered an address.

    That man he spent three years looking for has finally emerged from the shadows.

    Images of a future with his petite lynx and him began to slowly fade away as he considered his next move.

 Chapter 57 - Why Dont We Stay Home?

    "Are you ready yet?" came Dane''s impatient voice, as he knocked on the door.

    "Almost," she replied as she put on her diamond earrings. "Don''t be so impatient dearest."

    "The longer I don''t see you, the more I miss you."

    Her beast of a husband was too needy!

    It had only been thirty minutes and here he came knocking on her door just so he could see her. Although, she would be lying if she said she wasn''t the least bit happy that he wanted to see her so soon after they only just departed.

    She looked to the mirror.

    The mirror reflected a young girl who was happy and showered with beautiful lies. She wore that long sleek dress with a slit opening on one leg as it was shadowed a color as wine black that fell to her feet.

    It draped gracefully to bare her shoulders and highlight the curves of her petite body. Prisana turned her head around to look at her hair which was done in an elegant bun with a curled hair or two dangling at the front.

    As much as she was nervous about how Dane would perceive her, she was more nervous about facing men she once loved.

    That man called her father.

    And, Giovanni.

    Today would be the day where she left her feelings at the den and came out as his wild and formidable lynx.

    She slipped on her glittering silver heels and turned to grabbed the door handles, at the choice she has made.

    "Are you ready now..." Dane trailed off as she opened the door and graced him with her beauty.

    Prisana walked past her beastly husband and paused in her steps so that she could twirl around and face him with a smile.

    "What? Are you taken away by how utterly beautiful I look?"

    Dane simply stared at her. She blinked at him, expecting him to shower her with compliments. He didn''t. Instead, he remained quiet. This made her frown a little as he only tugged at her hand so they could move along down the stairs.

    "Dane?" she asked, watching the back of his large frame as he continued leading her down the stairs.

    Fiinally, Prisana refused to take a step down until he answered her. He paused in his steps and turned to look at her. For the first time, she began to see his face portray his emotions. A mix of uncertainty and desperate longing escaped him. They both stared at each other as she was on the upper step and he was on the lower step.

    Prisana took another step toward him after gauging his emotions but the universe made it so she lost her balance. Her beast in shining armor stepped in to shoulder her fall. She fell right into his chest as his large arms wrapped around hers.

    He leaned in to whisper into her ears.

    "Should we stay home darling? I don''t think I want to leave, not when you look so ravishing to devour."

    She pushed against his chest.

    "D-Don''t joke around. Cleo may scold us for taking so long. We''ll be late. Let us hurry..." her words trailed off as he ever so slyly dared her with this mischievous look in his eyes.

    Dane pushed her body closer against his chest so that she was trapped with nowhere but to look at those daring eyes that made her want to abandon all reason.

    Her legs turned to jelly as she felt his desire poking against her stomach and rub along her clit. Her own body quivered just as much as his because she remembered his every sweet sensation from the night before. She rubbed her thighs together and leaned away from him.

    It was shameful how she was becoming a woman suited to his needs and even desired all the wanton things he would do to her.

    Then, she did the one thing that she regretted doing as at last, Prisana raked his whole body over.

    She licked her own lips as she took in his beastly handsome appearance. God, how ravishing he himself looked to devour! Her beast of a husband was clad all in a tight fitted clean cut silver blue suit. Even his hair was slicked back and insanely sexier than when it was all loose and wild at his shoulders.

    For a moment, he resembled a beast disguised in gentlemen''s clothing. The lynx inside of her purred at how right here and now, this man was all hers.

    "Make it quick," she whispered shyly into his shoulders, watching as he loosened his black necktie from her words. "We don''t have much time."

    His hands trailed along the open slit of her legs until it reached her underwear. Dane never wasted any time like usual and urged aside her underwear. He stuck a finger inside her most sensitive area already leaking with need. Quickly as he did so, he took his finger out as she shivered before him while leveling his finger to his mouth to taste her juices.

    "You''re still so soft and inviting from last night. It seems like you don''t need any preparation so if we''re to make things quick like you wish..." she heard the sound of his belt becoming undone. "Hold the railings."

    "You want to do it right here?" she gasped, looking around as it was out in the open where someone could potentially waltz in.

    "I want you now and I can''t stand another minute holding myself back as you look so..."

    "So, what?" came another one of her questions.

    He nestled his lips to nibble onto her ear as if to distract her from her thoughts he plagued her with. It did distract her greatly as it tickled her ears so much she forgot about her question until he answered it himself.

    "...I didn''t think you could any look more beautiful than you already are. Prisana, time and time again, you always prove to me that you are beautiful every day."

    She wondered if he could feel or hear the sound of her heart beating against his chest.

    "...You too...You look so handsome, I almost forgot you were a beast."

    Dane didn''t spare her any further words. He turned her around.

    Her urged her hands to hold onto the railings of the stairs and she shyly turned back to look at him taking out his hard cock from his pants. His excited and flushed face made her melt with desire as she willingly spread her legs for him in an awkward position.

    One of his hands grabbed her butt as it rubbed along her shape. She nearly jerked forward as he lightly smacked her butt cheek. God help her, Prisana bit her lip to suppress a moan from being slapped like some foolish woman crazed for any kind of touch from this sole man.

    Her juices continued to pool in between her legs once she felt his heat and long cock rub against her underwear. His rough and ragged breathing tickled her eardrums but made her soar knowing he was dying to have her. He leaned down and carnivorously gripped the long red dress with his teeth so that her lovely back and enticing legs could be exposed before him.

    Instead of removing her underwear, Dane hastily tugged it aside with his cock so he could enter her pussy as the thin fabric rubbed along his entire length. The moment their bodies felt the connection, it was as if she had been waiting for a long time.

    They both grunted and gasped as she was still so tight for him even though he pounded her so sweetly the night before.

    When she opened her mouth to gasp, he found her lips in a passionate kiss to seal her screams as he plunged his cock fully inside of her.

    The familiar and raw feel of him inside of her made her shiver with delight and she gripped onto the railings even harder as he drew back without pausing a beat and entered her fully to the hilt again. Her heels dug onto the stairs as her legs kept spreading wider and wider from his sweet invasion behind.

    "...Ah! Dane...Mmh! I''m going to fall!"

    He grabbed hold and spread one of her legs open wide as he could so that his hips could draw in closer and ended up pushing her hips deliciously against the railing. She sighed in relief as he steadied her.

    "Trust me, if you fall it will only be because of the intense pleasure I give you."

    Dane purposely pushed her closely against the railing so that her clit rubbed against one of the circular poles. She shuddered and tried twisting back because every thrust that he rammed deep into her tightness, her clit rubbed against the pole to stimulate her like crazy. God, he was driving her completely insane.

    Both, with his sweet beastly words and his insatiable cock.

    Before long, Prisana began to arch her back and meet each of his thrusts he drove into her from the back. Dane let her dress fall and crumble between their connected bodies. He grunted into her neck while showering it in kisses despite her protests. He kept sucking on her tender skin and bared open the hickeys on areas she previously covered with makeup.

    The beast even kissed her hair. The hair she spent long on perfecting fell down in a tumbling curly mess at her back. Now, she was his wet mess rocking to his invasion against the railing.

    Soon, his fingers found her mouth and began to outline her lips. Bruised from his relentless pestering, she was tired of giving them to him but his pleading gaze made her weak.

    She turned back and offered him her lips so he took them without remorse. As he fucked her roughly from behind, Dane tortured her lips by swirling his tongue over hers but she never faltered and tried desperately to match his expertise.

    He couldn''t help but sigh in satisfaction at how earnest she was and sought to reward her. Dane gripped onto the railing with both hands and thrust into her hard, rough, and fast. Their desired pitched moans echoed with the indecent sounds coming from his cock pounding feverishly into her pussy.

    This time, she couldn''t kiss him anymore when he thrust like the beast he was and broke away into moans and tears. The insane pleasure was too much to bare. Dane took out his fully erect cock from her pussy so that she was left aching for him to fill her inside once more.

    Prisana was begging for more and whimpered when he pulled away from her. He turned her feverish body around so that he could look at her ravishing expression. Dane held her buttocks to usher her body upwards while her legs wrapped around his waist.

    "Hold tight," he growled and Prisana could only obey.

    She grasped both his shoulder and the railing at the same time as his cock entered her again from the front. Now, her back was pushed against the railing as he had her in a sweet trap.

    "Dane," she repeatedly moaned out his name as he rocked her closer to release.

    "Da¡ª" she tried to moan out his name again but he greedily bit her lower lip.

    "Don''t call out my name so enticingly," Dane immediately withdrew himself fully from her pussy, again and it was driving her so mad she even pounded her fist against his chest in frustration.

    "Ah!...Why?"

    For a moment, she felt his body shaking as his chest trembled into her.

    "I''ll cum inside of you."

    "Dane," she boldly said his name and reached down to grab his cock to guide it to her twitching entrance.

    The beast shook his head in frustration and ripped down her tight fitted black dress so that her nipples could be exposed. He sighed as he lowered his head down to harshly bite at her nipples. After he did so, he licked them and then he bit it harshly again as he continued his earlier violent thrusts. Both her body and breasts were jiggling to his delicious momentum as he picked up her legs wrapped over him.

    He drove up into her pussy in the air as she grasped at his shoulder and the railing, sucking hard at the fully erect buds. Dane was panting into her breasts as his cock was getting swept away by her sopping wet tightness closing in on him.

    "Oh Dane, that feels good. Dane! Dane," she continued calling his name and it only fueled what he was trying to hold back as he wished to stay inside of her forever.

    Prisana clawed at his skin as she convulsed and twitched. She felt him freeze next to her, his cum slowly filling her insides to the brim. He slowly continued to fuck her and ram his hips into her butt until every last drop filled inside and even began to trickle down the sides of her legs.

    Her legs became weak as he withdrew his cock from her. She began to slip and fall down onto the stairs in a sitting position.

    "You''ve fallen," came her beast''s snarky voice that whispered into her ears as he bent down to carry her into his arms.

 Chapter 58 - The Mightiest Lynx

    "The event has begun nearly thirty minutes past. Being on time and punctual¡ªOh never mind," Cleo finished as he looked in the rear view mirror and found Prisana''s glowing and radiating skin so obvious.

    So flushed and messy from their escapade, as she climbed into the backseat with Dane. Cleo began to drive off with ears red as a tomato and when he did, she felt uneasy. As they passed by streets and arrived closer to their fated destination, it only gnawed at her bones. Her uneasiness however, washed away when her dearest beast and husband put a hand over hers.

    "You''re shaking. The offer still stands. I can face your demons for you."

    Prisana shook her head, "I''m only cold."

    "Even though I''ve just warmed you?"

    She gave him a discerning look as Cleo coughed and pretended not to hear anything.

    Dane chuckled. Then, he simply pulled her into his arms so they were in a sideways embrace. Again, that beating of her heart was so loud that it vibrated through her ears.

    Her shaking however, seemed to have subsided as she discovered his large and muscular warmth soaking all of her worries.

    "We''re here," Cleo stated as he pulled into the open parking lot overlooking vast blue waters.

    The charity event was intended for a boat show where rich guests paid a hefty amount as entry towards women with breast cancer. This event made guests sit and watch high performance yachts sail around the ocean. Prisana had never personally been to one but her father attended similar events in the past so she was familiar with the rich and their strange hobbies.

    She looked at Dane who walked beside her.

    What were his intentions?

    Dane, mysterious beast of a husband, was one of the candidates for her father''s board of council members. More than anything, this charity event''s true purpose must be to increase public opinion in all the candidate''s favor. After all, the media would be present.

    No sooner than they had arrived, the cameras were already shining down on them. One of the media persons reached out their hand with the microphone so that Dane could speak into it. Cleo desperately tried to shoved the crowd away but it was of no use.

    "Excuse me! Elias! Yes, you''re one of the candidates are you not? Since you''re here to support women with breast cancer, could you give us some thoughts on..."

    Prisana couldn''t hear what the reporter was saying or what Elias''s response was to the reporter. She could only focus on eyes as blue as the ocean. Except, his blue reflected a mix of stark surprise which then soon warped into unparalleled anger.

    For the first time, she never betrayed her emotions as she linked her arms under her new husband even more tightly while convincing herself he was only a tool to further her own ambitions.

    She smiled with lips curved as the mightiest lynx awakened from a long sleep.

 Chapter 59 - Worlds Collide To One

    "What the fuck is going on?" Giovanni roared, tightly grabbing Prisana''s other free arm and robbing the spotlight so the media stared at him in confused silence.

    Or rather, everyone stared at him in confused silence. His eyes followed their arms linked together. Rage boiled even further through his hands as his grip tightened on her arm so hard that it made her flinch. She kept trying to twist away from him but he wouldn''t let go of her.

    "Hands off my wife or I''ll make it so that you can never touch her again," Dane''s menacing voice cut through the silence.

    This made even Prisana jump inside her skin as she never heard anger so menacing come out from his lips. But the stark silence that met the both of them chilled her to the bone even more.

    " ''Your wife?'' " came his incredulous voice. "...Yours?"

    Giovanni chuckled like mad and regarded the both of them with tired and deranged eyes as if he hadn''t slept for days.

    "Did I hear you correctly?...She will never be your wife. Prisana has always been and always will be, mine."

    In a similar sense of D¨¦j¨¤ Vu, she felt Giovanni tugging at her arm. How dare he! She glared at him but calmed her fury as she felt fury boiling much more than her own. Prisana stood between two men who pulled her apart like that fateful day she finally met her beast once more.

    Only now, she was his wife and her beast of a husband was fighting for her.

    The beast was so close to making a move but he held himself back because his lynx stepped in front of him to face the demon herself. She smiled and twisted away her arm from Giovanni''s hold so that her hand was rubbing over Dane''s chest. The disbelief clouding over Giovanni brought her satisfaction beyond delight.

    By now, the media fed on the sudden outburst and began to take pictures of the trio as Prisana wrapped herself all over Dane. Hushed whispers began to fill the entire area and the commotion crashed so violently that onlookers migrated to eavesdrop.

    One of the media persons shouted, "...Oh my god. Isn''t that New Jersey''s golden couple?"

    "But, why is she in the arms of another man?"

    "We eloped!" she finished everyone''s plaguing thoughts in a split second without allowing room for complete shock. "I divorced Giovanni and married a richer and more handsome man that could give me the world."

    Prisana dealt the final blow as she tenderly cupped Dane''s cheek. This man before her was now her husband who offered his body to her disposal. She shouldn''t feel guilty but her heart twisted to knots watching as he never bat an eyelash of regret.

    Dane only searched her eyes while lifting a questioning eyebrow at her next move. His dark eyes full of conviction told her he would ever evade what would come next.

    Instead, the beast gave her easy access as she leaned in to kiss him in front of both Giovanni and the media.

    When she felt Dane''s lips against hers, her heart sighed as it gave her strength to be strong. Yet her heart aways faltered when it came to Dane. Her heart always wanted what it knew it shouldn''t. Knowing that he was allowing her to use him made her feel like the worst villain of a play. Except, the man that she was using continued to play with the little game she started.

    Dane grabbed her hair and pulled her in closer by the waist as they were making out so passionately. His hands crept to grasp around her back as he ushered her closer to remind her of the passion they shared moments earlier.

    Heat began to pool between her legs and already, she yearned to feel this bold, handsome man all over again even if it brought waves of glorious shame upon shame.

    The cameras began flashing. People gasped. The media became enraptured and hung onto her every next word.

    "Go on and draft that the senator''s daughter left a man only to marry the CEO of silver linings because she''s simply a gold digger," she looked Giovanni straight in the eye. "One that threw away her old husband because he would never be enough. He has always been and always will be, a tool...a stepping stool to further greater ambitions."

    Giovanni''s eyes raked over hers and for a moment she really saw an inhibited flurry of emotions like sadness and anger and recognition of the media rush through him. He only blinked at her. The man she once loved and now despised with all of her being, couldn''t fathom words to speak as he watched Dane''s arm protectively shroud her with utmost care.

    It was as if the moment that Giovanni made another move, Dane wouldn''t hesitate to pounce on him and truly end it all right here and now. So then Giovanni shook his head in denial and appeared like the victim of a cheating marriage. The tables have turned but Giovanni was the one who began this endless cycle of betrayal.

    "Dearest, I know you are just having one of your wild episodes...I''ll forgive you but your joke has gone too far. This isn''t funny anymore. Stop putting on this show for whatever deal you''ve struck because this man only wants what your father can give him. Come, return to my arms."

    Prisana stepped back and evaded his disgusting invasion to hold her once more. She firmly gripped Dane''s suit jacket as the media intently listened.

    "This man can have what my father can give him. He can take my pride. He can strip me of all things I am afraid of giving. If that guarantees my freedom then I''ll sacrifice everything just to spite the both of you. Giovanni this is no lie because for once this is the beautiful truth...Elias and I are legally married."

    Even though she was prepared to face one of her greatest enemies, she truly wasn''t prepared for that familiar voice that over the years continued to wilt to need as he saw her warp into an object. The media began to disperse as men dressed in black paved way for the one and only man that showed her she was now a stranger.

    Her ''father''.

    "What the devil is going on here...At my function?" he finished but as soon as he laid eyes on Prisana and Dane, that fake politician smile came off for the first time in front of the media''s lens.

    The man known as her father had a thin smile that betrayed eyes of wrath which met her own in rebelliousness.

 Chapter 60 - Confrontation

    How does one go about forsaking one''s own father? The very man that has raised you, gave you shelter, and warmth until fame struck country glory and created a rift.

    Prisana knew the answer.

    Though she knew the answer, when her eyes met brown eyes shaped and colored like hers, she couldn''t help but feel all her resolve crumbling to little pieces.

    Images of her younger self and her doting father would resurface to mind. Memories of younger and more vulnerable days that weren''t filled with politics and greed truly depicted happier times. Times when he was her father.

    Warmth pooled from her husband''s fingertips. She looked at his sideways frame.

    That''s right. Prisana has come so far to leave the cage so losing resolve now would be a coward''s choice. She resolved to let go of Dane''s hand. This time, the mighty lynx inside wasn''t going to back down. Before she could make her move, the media went in for the kill.

    "...Senator! Is this true? Your daughter has fled her marriage and eloped with another¡ª"

    Some media person offering the microphone to the senator was whisked away by one of the men in black.

    "Remain three feet away from the senator or I''ll personally deal with you," came the response of one of the the men in black.

    "Prisana," was his emotionless reply.

    She never broke gaze the moment he entered the scene.

    The senator and man known as her father emerged from within the circle of men in black. They protected him like flock of birds drawn to the most hard edged moth. Her father moved with poise and dignity in his posture. He left a trail of known importance and sought out after media in his wake.

    "Senator," Prisana spoke in return, the word feeling foreign to her as this man before her remained indifferent.

    "And..." he trailed off and found Dane with his arms wrapped over Prisana. "...Elias, was it? The one from the auction."

    Dane nodded toward him as his arm grew more protective over Prisana.

    "Pleased to make your acquaintance again, Senator."

    "What brings the two of you here, and together? I believe my daughter belongs in the arms of another man. Namely, her ''husband''. Prisana dear, come over here. You''re causing an unnecessary scene. We need to clarify things to the media."

    Then he leaned in close to her ear to whisper, "We can discuss the details later. All will be forgiven if you remain obedient and listen to my orders."

    "No," she breathed loudly, every fiber of her being rejecting the thought of returning to Giovanni and Erica''s castle .

    "No?" he had to repeat himself so everyone including Giovanni and Dane could hear his displeased voice boom through their ears. "No? It seems like you''ve been gone for too long, with silly disobedient notions inside that head of yours."

    Giovanni spoke for Prisana and loud enough for the media to hear in which they were still within hearing distance, "They''ve eloped. I''ve been cheated on by Senator Visalyaputra''s unfaithful, cold and heartless daughter!"

    Giovanni turned his face away as if he were a pained lover and it made her feel sick. His act was well played. By now, the media was in sorrowful tears and siding with that deceiving man.

    She could only stare at him in disgust because they both knew their relationship after his betrayal was all a lie. Giovanni made sure to look at her. That triumph look directed to her demonstrated that he was playing the victim in front of all eyes and ears. Prisana''s father shook his head and simply laughed away his claims.

    "It''s all simply a misunderstanding," came his fast save for his status and reputation.

    "No it''s not a..."

    Prisana''s words were muffled by the sound of camera shutters flicking off by the media persons, to which the men in black all but finally silenced. Then, some announcer man spoke into the microphone. The announcer man stood far away to the dock with yachts and boats overlooking the vast ocean blue waters. A crowd steadily gathered to listen to him but all Prisana could hear was her heart pounding.

    "Ladies and gentlemen! It''s time for the boat race to begin. Place your bets. Choose your boats to board on and get ready for the ride of your lives!"

    Whatever else that came out from the announcer''s mouth was washed away by the vision of the men in black blocking off Prisana from Dane. She was so focused on the announcer that she didn''t realize when her father separated her away from Dane.

    "...Prisana!" called out her beastly husband who was enraged beyond doubt.

    The men in black blocked off access between the two from reaching each other. She tried to run over toward him but one of the men grabbed her by the shoulders. Prisana flinched. Dane''s face warped into menace as he shoved away one of the men onto the ground. And then, he fought and grappled with another man and tossed him to the side like a sack of potatoes.

    Her beast was large and ferocious, too formidable for the normally built men before him. Yet, Cleo came in from thin air to help restrict him from causing a further scene even though now all eyes and ears were directed at the open display of rift.

    She looked at him and desperately pleaded for him to remain calm.

    "I''ll be fine dearest!" she didn''t know who she was reassuring but her insides were quaking in waves of emotions. "I''m the lynx. You''re the beast. Surely, the lynx will find a way to fall back into the arms of her beast. That''s how it should be."

    "Damn it Prisana. Don''t you dare try to shoulder everything by yourself!" he muttered, then turned to her father as he held up a piece of paper from his pockets.

    "Senator. She is now my lawful wife. Must you deprive her own husband away from her?"

    One of the men in black snatched the paper from Dane and gave it to her father. Her father blankly stared at the piece of paper that was proof of their marriage.

    "So it''s true," Giovanni said while observing the piece of paper next to her father, voice growing considerably broken.

    "Even more reason to have a conversation with this disobedient daughter of mines so that she can divorce you immediately!"

    As he shouted this, her father harshly threw the paper down onto he ground. He stepped on it.

    "Please," her heart broke when she heard Dane beg in such a twisted voice. "I''ll do anything. Let her return to my side."

    "Kneel down and beg me before the whole country. Heh only then, I might consider it."

    Prisana gasped and slowly shook her head at the scene unfolding before her very eyes.

    In a heartbeat, Dane calmed his rage and sorrows.

    He slowly bent down onto the ground.

    Prisana''s rage unleashed the moment her beast abandoned his pride all for a washed up daddy''s girl who never found it in her will until now to fight against him. This was her fault. If she were more strong and fearless in the beginning like the main heroine in a novel, then her story wouldn''t have been driven to hurt her beast.

    Most of all, it hurt her.

    Dane kept abandoning his pride until his knee clashed to the stone pavement.

 Chapter 61 - The Plea Of A Beast

    "Senator Visalyaputra, I beg of you to give your daughter to me," came her beast''s plea.

    Every word shot through her like double sided arrows. Her ears couldn''t fathom that he was actually begging her father for approval. She shook her head but the scene displayed in front of her was no doubt a nightmarish reality. These feeble arms and legs of hers weren''t capable of changing fate.

    "Why!" Prisana shouted. "He doesn''t deserve your pride or worth."

    Prisana couldn''t stand it any longer. She moved faster than her mind could think but a man in black held her back.

    "Elias! Stop! Get up. Don''t do this for me or I will never forgive you," her tears threatened to come down like furies of waterfall.

    "Prisana, he''s still your father. Unlike mine, he''s alive."

    So that truly meant his father was dead. Questions plaguing her like ''what happened'' wanted to surface but she was enraged beyond help for her beast.

    She turned to her ''father'' and scowled at the very word, "Father? That man is no father of mine."

    The senator glowered his eyes at her and stalked her so that he could forcefully grab her wrist. She was trapped in her father''s hold, not bothering to search for the man she once knew. Only staring daggers at his whole being.

    "My blood runs deep inside you. Hate it or love it but Prisana you are undoubtedly my daughter. This hair, those fiery eyes, and a mighty will unfit for a woman resembles me."

    God, this man was a version she has always seen but blinded herself from truly discovering until now. She shoved his touch away.

    "I''m my mother''s daughter. These traits are cursed misgivings from a man I reject..."

    "Reject me all you want but is this the man that will solve your troubles? Look at him shamelessly begging. That''s more like it...Don''t you see Prisana? Before me, all are powerless. He can''t give you everything like Giovanni or I can."

    In all her life, she has done her best to control her burning emotions. Not once has she grown angry at her father for the lack of care and attention. Nor for the way that he has become a man unknown to her. Yet, he chose to strip away the beast of his pride. Her beast. Anger burned through her as she swiveled her head to look at her father.

    She glared at her father, "So now you''re a tyrant? A mighty ruler who has all and yet owns not a shred of love I see! Elias may have given you his pride. He may have stripped himself of worth in front of you. Yet I know that pride and worth is not demeaning another human being when he is pouring out his soul and heart. It''s true, Elias might not be able to give me everything like you''ve handed to me on a silver platter but his convictions are the most beautiful pride and worth there is to admire. Yours, is an ugly facade brought upon this greedy glory for fame."

    "Such thoughtful words! But, pride and worth is determined by one''s will to not back down in the face of obstacles unlike the man before you grovelling," he disregarded her words. "And why pray tell Mr. Blackwell, should you be asking me for my blessing when you''ve already done the deed? I want your divorce."

    "A bird must be allowed to one day leave the nest and fly. I promise to care for and cherish her until the time comes when she has wings to soar. Senator, allow your daughter to soar because she has been stripped of all she could have become."

    "Ha! Do you now regret the choices you''ve made? It''s pathetic. You''re groveling on your knees and begging so nicely all for a mere woman," came his father''s amused remark.

    "None. If I had the chance to take her away again, I would do it all over in a heartbeat."

    "...Why you insolent man!"

    "I''m giving you my pride and worth not because of regret or fear. From a man speaking to another man, I am asking you for your sincerest blessing out of respect for your daughter''s feelings."

    "Then you must know...Fathers love their daughters. In turn, they have the hardest time giving them away, especially to a thief like you! If you want my blessing, then you''ll have to earn it by beating me at my own game."

    The senator motioned over toward the yachts that crowds began to shuffle into after the announcer urged them to do so. There were at least several yachts lined up next to the dock overlooking the waters. Many of them were tall, serene, and white. There was one familiar yacht Prisana has seen once before as it had streaks of blue and gold etched onto the very front of the yacht.

    She knew before even her father spoke, "Let''s wager this impudent daughter of mine. That yacht in particular is mine. I''ve never been beat in a race. You can choose any yacht you''d like and if you win, I will grant your request."

    "If I lose?"

    "Divorce her."

    "Elias¡ª" she tried reasoning because her father''s yacht was the front runner in every competition.

    "Deal."

    Dane stood from the ground and shook off Cleo who silently held him back. His back faced Prisana as he turned around to indulge in this game. She tried desperately kicking and flailing her arms about but all to no avail. Finally, she got the courage to bite the man in black''s arm. The man in black let her go so she ran as fast as she could even as Dane kept walking without looking back.

    But by now it was too late, he was already boarding onto the yacht and she was still at the lower steps fighting to board on but the determined look in his eyes made her waver.

    "...Dane!"

    "Let me go with you."

    "Stay."

    "Dane! I''ve called your name twice now. You said you would be there for me but you''re not," she could feel frustrating tear slide down her cheek because watching her beast abandon his pride hurt her beyond recovery.

    "Then, that was your husband speaking. Now, it is the beast in shining armor who wishes to win you over fairly."

    Prisana looked down at her glittering silver heels to calm her flurry of emotions. She took a deep breath.

    "You''ve already won me over, you stupid beast!"

    "Dane, I''m in love with you."

 Chapter 62 - Loyalty

    Silence met her so she glanced up into surprised dark irises shrouded in utter confusion. A look of denial crossed his features.

    "No," he whispered.

    "No?" Prisana''s heart ached as she questioned his words.

    "You can''t love me."

    "Miss," one of the yacht crew members blocked her from entering. "I''m afraid we''ve reached full capacity. Please step back from the yellow line."

    Prisana refused to take a step back. She stayed rooted on the spot.

    "Why?"

    For the love of god, why? Prisana loved this husband that thought himself to be a beast. He was the most valiant knight and gentleman she has ever been granted to meet in this lifetime.

    Her dearest husband climbed down the steps. His large arm whisked her into a tight embrace. A sigh escaped her because his warm loving arms encased her from all worries. She returned his eerie gaze, pondering for questions she knew may return unanswered.

    And then, he did the unexpected even though she was used to it. A kiss. He leaned forward to kiss her. It was not the kind of showy kiss meant for the media or filled with desperation like he needed it. Instead, it was a simple kind of kiss where he slowly savored her lips, her mouth, and tantalizingly stroked her with tender passion.

    Dane was telling her to wait patiently. She wouldn''t, of course. When her arms draped around his shoulders, he chose that moment to pull away from their sweet escape among turmoil.

    "I''m cursed."

    Cursed? That silly notion of his again?

    Before she could ask him how he was cursed, Dane tipped her back by putting a finger to her chest. This prompted to make her step back and become alone and broken from his nonsense. The yacht went on and closed its doors despite her feeble protests. His silhouette faded away from view.

    Fine!

    If the beast was trying to take matters into his own hands then the lynx wouldn''t hesitate to take matters into her own hands as well. The lynx would not simply stand around and do nothing. Prisana immediately turned to the one yacht that she never imagined ever stepping foot inside of ever again.

    However, she paused in her steps before walking up the stairs to the yacht. The senator and Giovanni were immersed in a discussion with one another off to the side of the yacht. She lightly tiptoed off to the side trying not to get caught like a child.

    Giovanni smiled, "...I''m a heartbroken man senator. Your daughter has betrayed me in the worst way possible. Ha! With this, I''m afraid it won''t save even your reputation and may even cause some loss of fame. The headlines will read ''senator''s daughter has an affair and elopes with another man''."

    "What about the deal we made between your father''s stocks?"

    "Everything associated with you could burn down and crash to ashes for all I care."

    "Gio! You''re willing to lose everything all because my daughter made a silly mistake? We both know you''re better than that."

    "It runs deeper than that and we both know why. Oh, did I forget to mention that one of your most prized shareholders have decided to join hands with me?"

    The relationship between the senator and Giovanni was always been believed to be on good terms. Now, Prisana wasn''t so sure of that as the look on Giovanni''s face resembled the worst kind of malice. Malice that even chilled her to the bones because it was not a look she was used to when she has known this man her whole entire life.

    The senator''s face even grew twisted to turmoil. Turmoil that was never granted even to Prisana''s unfortunate situation. Care drifted among his features, which sent an uncomfortable gut feeling pass through her.

    "Does this have to do with that wench? You''ll forsake everything for her?" came her father''s startling accusation.

    "...It seems like your daughter has been eavesdropping," Giovanni pointed out as he looked to her and she suppressed a startled gasp. "Quite another terrible hobby to add to her list of growing crimes."

    "Murder might be next on the list!" she boldly retorted, then coughed under breath.

    Prisana hurried past the two men she despised most in the world and toward his yacht that would be going against her own husband. To defeat the enemy, one must side with the enemy first from the inside.

    "Where do you think you''re going?" the senator questioned. "You''re to stay until I personally deal with you."

    "What else does it look like this impudent daughter is going to do? I''m trying to sabotage this yacht from winning."

    "What can a weak daughter of mine do?"

    "Your greatest mistake will be to underestimate this weak daughter of yours. If you''re afraid of me then I can remain but like you said , I pose no threat so it shouldn''t be a problem that I attend my dear father''s own yacht race."

    Prisana continued walking again but his voice called out to her, in the most cooing ''father'' sound that kept stirring up unwanted emotions from surfacing.

    "Prisana. Hear me out."

    Her heart beat so rapidly that it hurt. She paused.

    "Senator. What do you want?" she asked coldly.

    "Where does your loyalty lie?"

    "Ha!" she mocked as she turned around. "Are you seriously asking me about loyalty?"

    "I''m your father. Your loyalty should be with me."

    Loyalty. That question stunned her beyond belief. That word shouldn''t even be spoken out from that mouth of his. She clenched her fists from balling it into him.

    "You talk of loyalty yet I abandoned mines the moment you sold me off to a man that has loved other women. The moment you fed me ugly truths thinking that I would be blind forever rendered this loyalty invalid and I buried it away with the word ''father''."

    The senator knew what he was doing and Prisana saw it coming. She didn''t evade it. He raised his arm and slapped her across the face, hard. It took her a few moments to register what had happened. But it began to slowly register when the pain stung and throbbed at her cheek so that her hand lifted to cover the bruise. A slight trail of blood trailed down to her fingertips.

    Prisana blinked a few times, realizing at last that it was true because her vision was impaired by an angry yet sad tear trailing down to her lightly blood streaked chin. Her ''father'' was domineering and calculating but never once had he hit her.

    "What the hell?" uttered Giovanni, seemingly frustrated for her sake, for no good reason at all.

    "She deserved it," he said to Giovanni, turning to Prisana. "From now on, we are no longer father and daughter but merely strangers. Do what you want but if he loses then you both divorce to save my reputation and just as well, you can disappear from my sight forever."

    She clenched her cheek and her teeth together to harden her voice even further, "That suits us. And fear not, my dearest husband will win and when he wins, grovel yourself before him. I want your full humiliation for hurting him."

    "Deal. You''re playing a losing game. I never lose."

    "That''s because you''ve never angered a lynx."

    "You''ve changed," he uttered, shaking his head with a disproving sigh.

    Prisana looked to the eyes of Giovanni as he walked over to reach out to her cheek, "Does it hurt?"

    She slapped his hand away in complete disdain, "Don''t touch me."

    "You can slap me all you want but it won''t bring back the girl you both once knew. You spoke of loyalty. Mine has been won over by a so called beast who tore apart his pride and worth," and before she left them standing at a stunned trail at her wake, she also flashed them a confident grin.

    "I''ll see to it that you lose, senator."

 Chapter 63 - Meet The Devil

    Expectation greeted her when Prisana made way onto the yacht because she was all that the social elites were gossiping about. The media, including those present, must have witnessed the open display of drama that transpired moments earlier. When she walked inside of the yacht, she found people making way for her like some famed celebrity.

    That famed celebrity around Jersey''s elites was usually her father. Ironically now, it was her.

    She haughtily strutted over with head held high despite hearing stuff like,

    "The senator''s daughter is a gold digger?"

    "...That poor man. Giovanni Blair, was Reed''s son who owns that oil company right? What a shame for this to happen."

    "Now she''s married to...What''s his name again?"

    "Elias Blackwell," Prisana finished for everyone, hearing some startled gasps throughout the audience. "I am the wife to the CEO of silver linings. He''s quite generous actually. I get whatever I want, when I want. Why, he''s also a much better lover in bed than Giovanni!"

    Her answer seemed to hush everyone present and all immediately continued to chat about something else. Good. She walked to the edge of the yacht to be alone but ended up taking in the horrid views before her. The yacht inside was just as grand as it''s outside appearance.

    There was a luxury swimming pool with lounging chairs situated in the very middle of the deck. The seats were made of the most expensive leather and linen as it sparkled brilliantly underneath the blazing sun. Men and women around the pool showed off their expensive suits and dresses while holding wine in their hands. A live band played outside as jazzy music spilled into her ears.

    God, as luxurious as it was, it still made her sick. These functions were each the same. Fake and composed of the rich flaunting off how well they were doing in life. Namely, the two women in front of her. Prisana rolled her eyes at the two women bickering with one another just a few feet away. They were bickering about how expensive their dresses and jewelry cost.

    "Everything I''m wearing is far expensive than that cheap shabby dress of yours!" flaunting woman number one shouted.

    Flaunting woman number two with a sparkling gold dress far from shabby made a huffing sound, "It is not! You''re just jealous that Leo hit on me first."

    Oh, now they were arguing about a man? Out of curiosity, Prisana turned her head. Only, to find a devilish man lounging against the wall. He had this striking hair color of jet black yet appearing dark blue within different angles. She could be fooling herself but for a moment, she felt his peculiar hazel eyes meet hers.

    However of course, both flaunting women were next to her so his focus must have been on them.

    The man that the two flaunting women were fighting over finally walked over to them with flashing bright white teeth, "Ladies, no need to fight over me. Why don''t we all just have a great time together?"

    Flaunting woman number one frowned, "But you told me that I was the only one for you tonight..."

    "Hey..." the other woman frowned immensely too as they looked to each other in unison. "He told me the same thing."

    Both flaunting women turned to glare at said devilish man. In a matter of seconds, Prisana''s eyes widened as both women slapped him across the face. The devilish man grunted and regretfully watched the women walk away from his grasp. She couldn''t help the little laugh escaping from her lips.

    That earned a knowing look from him and this time he really did turn to face her, "Is this a hobby of yours? Eavesdropping?"

    She cleared her throat at his unexpected confrontation, "Excuse me unfortunate sir, I was merely standing here when it happened. This area is free for all to bask in, is it not?"

    The devilish man quickly found her swollen cheek and he frowned. She tried to cover it but it was too late.

    "You''re right. And it seems, we were meant to meet by similar circumstances. Rather, it looks like I''m not the only one that has gotten hurt tonight."

    She turned her face away, "It''s none of your business."

    For a moment, Prisana thought that the devil had left and that she was finally alone. But she was tricked. She heard his footsteps fade away into the distance. So she gazed at the ripples of water overlapping one over the other. She even quite liked the sound of the calming waves but her heart stormed when she found the yacht that Dane was on.

    God, please let him win. She would believe in her husband and beast in shining armor. Her sabotaging the senator''s yacht was something she was resolved to do if the need arose to do so because hard edged politicians like that man never played fair.

    Then, the footsteps she believed would be gone forever, actually returned.

    This time, he leaned in too close for comfort so that his lips hovered near her ears, "That man is always good at surprises."

    Soon after, an ice pack lifted to touch her swollen cheek. She gazed into emotionless eyes of the devil.

    Prisana nearly jumped but she only scooted away, then questioned him with her brow and rejected his kind gesture, "What are you talking about?"

    "Dane Lennox, he is your husband is he not?" he whispered into her ears with that alluring low vibrato and she really did jump.

    All she could hear was the trembles from her heart telling her that this man was dangerous.

    "How...?"

    "Shh, I''m the devil without disguise and I know all his secrets," the devil admitted. "I''ve been looking for you Prisana Visalyaputra."

    There were a barrel of questions rolling at the tip of her tongue.

    She shook her head in confusion and asked one of them, "W-Why have you been looking for me?"

    "You''re prized goods, dear. Ha! All along, I never imagined you''d be in the hands of that man."

    "Leonardo, what do you think you''re doing?" came that sickly familiar voice she wished to all but erase.

    Giovanni found the pair in a lover''s secret rendezvous to his eyes. The devil named Leonardo stepped back and offered his hands into the air as a sign of surrender.

    "Relax, I was only becoming acquainted with the celebrity of the hour. Shouldn''t you be thanking me? I''ve found the woman you''ve been looking for."

    "The deal is off, devil. I found her first."

    "I suppose you do make a good point," the devil winked at Prisana while infuriating Giovanni, then waved a hand goodbye before leaving the scene.

    "Alright, well then, if you ever need me, you know where to find me, hmm?"

 Chapter 64 - Sabotage

    "Ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready? Let the race begin!" the announcer shouted and at that moment, the engines to the yacht began to run.

    The yacht steadily breezed along the ocean waters, tipping Prisana off balance. She didn''t fall into his open arms but instead evaded it to hold onto the railings to steady herself. Prisana immediately turned away from him and began to walk off to somewhere far away from this man.

    Even though it would be a coward''s way, she was still afraid of him from that night when she left his chains. Her body shook as she could still remember his unwanted kisses on her skin and his forceful hands grabbing her arms and ripping open her shirt. She shuddered while both body and mind warned her to run.

    Giovanni caught her wrist but this time she didn''t hold any emotions back and raised her arm to slap his face. This sent a look of complete surprise flash across him, just as she had when her own flesh and blood did the deed. They were blocked off by the shadows to the side of the yacht so merry chatter continued even though she felt both rage and fear storm inside of her.

    "I hate it when you touch me. Don''t touch me," she whispered.

    He shook his head and laughed through deranged eyes, "So you despise me that much huh? You let him touch you. Do you love him?"

    Prisana looked at him dead in his soul, "I love him."

    Giovanni didn''t listen to her warnings. He briskly walked to where she stood and encircled her into an embrace where he held her from behind. Her first reaction was to grip onto the small knife she had holstered around her hips. Prisana wouldn''t make the same mistake again.

    She learned her lesson the last time so she prepared this knife just in case Giovanni tried the same stunt again. But, she stopped completely when she felt water droplets fall onto her skin. Her first reaction was to pause and look up into the sky to see if it was raining.

    It wasn''t raining. Recognition entered her. Not the rain, but his tears which fell and slid down to her neck.

    "...Prisana, oh Prisana, don''t push me away."

    "...Stop this. Move."

    "Prisana, I love you."

    These were the very words that she wished to hear from her beastly husband. Not from a man betrayed her trust beyond help. Prisana twisted away from him in disgust so that his arms were shaken off. She shook her head in disbelief.

    "Lies."

    "Painstaking truth."

    "I don''t want to hear what a man like you has to say," she began to walk away again, her heart stammering so loudly it was terrifying.

    "Even though I want to bury all of these feelings for the sake of his complete ruin, I can''t seem to do it."

    "His?...That man''s?" she paused and thought to her father and wondered what his role played in Giovanni''s turmoil yet thought better of it because he shouldn''t matter to her.

    "I was wrong for the way that I realize he doesn''t care for you. I was wrong about everything and I want to start over even though the gods forbid it. Prisana, I love you."

    "Stop! It''s far too late. I will never forgive the both of you for what happened."

    Prisana never looked back as she walked out of the shadows.

    Giovanni loved her?

    Lies!

    That wouldn''t even begin to explain the betrayal he''s created. That''s right, no use mourning over his regrets that made her who she has become. She was already sick of the senator and Giovanni. God, Prisana couldn''t wait any longer for the beast to win so she could go back to his arms.

    Her insides quaked with uncertainty, because the beast refused to accept her love while the man she despised was confessing ugly lies she wanted to hear. Also, her insides quaked with anticipation.

    Beyond the short distance, Dane''s yacht was in close second place among the five yachts that set for sail. And the senator''s yacht was of course, the front runner. She knew all about her father''s taste for yachts and this one in particular was modeled and designed to win races. Prisana continued walking along both the upper and lower level of the yacht to survey how fast each were progressing toward the close finish line.

    She spotted the senator in a large crowd once again feeding into his every word as the media asked him a barrel of questions.

    Onlookers began to grow increasingly more loud as the race drew closer to its end.

    Prisana kept shouting and squealing as now, Dane''s yacht and the senator''s yacht were neck and neck. Both were so close to reaching the finish line.

    "...the yacht that has a chance of winning."

    By coincidence she found familiar men in black in the glassy control room where the pilot steered the yacht. The door was creaked open so her ears could pick up some words that gathered her attention. She kept slowly creeping closer to the room. One of them whispered into a phone.

    "Correct. Make sure that the pilot is distracted. Per senator''s orders, drug him or use whatever means you can to make the yacht go on auto pilot."

    "...What? The pilot is gone and another man has taken over?"

    "It''s Elias himself? Hell, do whatever it takes to gain control over the yacht."

    "Filthy cheaters!" Prisana knowingly accused as she burst into the room.

    One of the men in black caught her by the arms no sooner than when she entered. The man talking moments earlier slipped his phone away and grinned.

    "The senator''s daughter, eh? So you''ve found out but it''s too late there''s not much you can do now."

    Prisana struggled to turn around. She did the one thing that would render a man twice her size, unable to keep her captive. Her knee slammed up as hard as it could in between the man in black''s most sensitive spot. He groaned and before he fell, Prisana grabbed the gun holstered onto his shoulder.

    She aimed it at the now irritated man in black left standing.

    "Ha! What can a...Ah!" he shouted as Prisana clumsily pulled onto the trigger and nearly missed his ear by an inch.

    The poor pilot watched everything transpire with wide open eyes but nevertheless continued his mission to steer the yacht to victory. God, the feeling was strange. She never touched or fired a handgun before but it gave her immense power she was both relieved yet afraid of.

    "Give me the phone!"

    He handed her the phone in mere seconds. She heard struggling on the other side of the phone. Then, ragged breathing filled her ears.

    "Nice try but I''m still going to win by my own hands. I knocked your man out. Tell the senator that these nasty little tricks won''t work on me," came that beastly voice she missed dearly.

    "I''m glad that you''re okay."

    "...Prisana," he breathed. "It''s you. How..."

    There wasn''t a moment to explain. Footsteps barged into the room and the phone was snatched away into his hands.

    "It''s me," the senator drawled into the phone. "Lose or I''ll hurt the girl you love."

    "No! Don''t do it!" she shouted.

    "Hey you," the senator called out to the pilot.

    "Y-Yes sir!"

    "Launch the soft, tiny missiles into the heart of the yacht, just enough to shut off the yacht''s control system. Hah perhaps, we can cover up Mr. Blackwell''s death as a terrible accident."

    Missiles?!

    Prisana, out of desperation, aimed the gun at the senator and so called father. The man in black tried to subdue her but the senator held his hand up to stop him.

    "No need," the senator smiled wickedly. "My own flesh and blood would never shoot me."

    "You''re right. I won''t shoot you. That''s because I have a better idea."

    She walked over closely and turned her aim to the control system. Her finger unleashed on the trigger and the sound filled her ears with delight as the yacht began to slowly come to an abrupt stop.

    Prisana crazily picked up the phone among the unexpected chaos that shook the entire yacht and nearly screamed, "Win or I will divorce you myself!"

 Chapter 65 - Help From A Stranger

    The lynx said the words that the beast was trying so hard to suppress inside for so long. He didn''t want to feel happy at her words but god, he was beyond soaring with unwanted emotions. It hurt that he had to leave her behind but it would hurt him even further if he let her blindly come along to face danger.

    This was for the best. Even though it was for the best, he did find himself missing her endearing petite form. He already wanted to turn the yacht around and go back to his lynx. But, he was determined to win fair and square.

    For her sake and most of all, for his own sake to prove his worth as a man in front of her father.

    Now, the first thing he had to do was to look for the yacht''s control room. His father taught him all the basics like cars, fishing, hunting, and this list included steering an engine moving along water. Dane was no expert like his father but he idolized him and considered himself a diligent student. All he had to do was find the yacht''s control room and¡ª

    Dane accidentally bumped into a man, out of his blind resolve to find his sole goal. He knocked off the man''s glasses onto the ground. Out of apology, Dane leaned down to grab the elderly man''s glasses.

    "Pardon me sir, I''m in a rush."

    The elderly man with bright ash blond hair and eyes as azure as the sky squinted at him, "No worries. I''m also at fault for not paying attention to you coming my way."

    He accepted the glasses and put it on, his eyes widening as they fell on Dane but he was in a rush and paid it no mind. There were more important matters he had to tend to, like securing victory in hopes of obtaining his lynx''s freedom once and for all.

    It was a few moments before footsteps travelled after him.

    "Wait! Your name..." he whispered. "What is your name?"

    Dane paused and impatiently swiveled his head around to the man.

    "Elias Blackwell. I''m sure you''ve heard the gossip from the media and whatnot. Do you have business with me? I''m in a hurry so..."

    Those deep azure eyes of his temporarily searched Dane''s as though there were a string of secrets untold. Yet, they thinned to realization.

    "You remind me of a man I once knew but it''s clear now, I do remember seeing your face on the news. A pleasure meeting you, Mr. Blackwell. My name is Reed Blair and I''m on the senator''s council. If you win the elections which I am sure of that you may, I''m sure we will be seeing a lot of each other from now on."

    Dane slowly nodded and regarded him with a mutual feeling of interest, "The feeling is mutual Mr. Blair. Thank you for your kind words."

    A nagging feeling prompted him to pause and look at the back of the elderly man as he walked away. He shook it off as nothing when he finally stopped in front of what looked to be like the yacht''s control room.

    He barged in, "Sir, allow me to take over."

    "What the hell..."

    The pilot turned around with his mouth open agape as Dane threw money at him like early Christmas snowing dollar bills of fifties and hundreds. The pilot immediately looked over at the pile of money piled onto the floor and panned over to Dane, as realization dawned over him. His eyeballs began to look like money sockets themselves.

    "CEO of silver linings, Elias Blackwell. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Entrust this ship to me and you can have everything worth a few thousand or you can suffer from your refusal. I''m not the most patient man today so it''s best if you make the easy decision."

    "O-Okay!" he shouted, as he scurried to collect the money on the ground.

    After the pilot left with his riches and Dane was finally left to his own devices, he spent time becoming familiar with the controls. Dane reminisced to his father''s basic teachings and whatever bluffing brains he could muster to steer the yacht. Moments went by and before he knew it, the yacht was actually on par with the senator''s yacht.

    He paused deep in his cautious thoughts however, when he heard a soft creak to the door slightly open behind him.

    "Who''s there!" he shouted, shoving the chair to the intruder.

    The intruder in black resembled one of the senator''s men that had been protecting him upon his grand entrance and arrival. The chair that Dane pushed knocked the man off balance and Dane used that chance to walk over in two easy strides. He towered over the smaller built man like a tall statue and found pleading eyes of mercy.

    Mercy didn''t find the beast as he quickly knocked the man out in one single blow with the strike of his hand against the man in black''s neck. The man in black never got to lay a hand on him and eventually grunted. He fell onto the ground. Some small object fell along with him, tumbling out of his hand.

    A phone.

    It must be what the treacherous senator was using to communicate with his men.

    Dane reached out to grab the phone and leveled it to his ear.

    "Nice try but I''m still going to win by my own hands. I knocked your man out. Tell the senator that these nasty little tricks won''t work on me," Dane hissed.

    There was a slight heavy sigh on the other end, "I''m glad that you''re okay."

    His heart stammered and his hard features softened. It was none other than his dearest wife and lynx.

    "...Prisana. It''s you. How..."

    No sooner than when he had heard her endearing voice, did it leave him.

    Unexpectedly, the next voice caused him to shake with worry, "It''s me. Lose or I''ll hurt the girl you love."

    His heart all but stopped. The senator. Would he truly hurt his own flesh and blood? There wasn''t a clear answer on how serious the senator was when it came to his own daughter. He couldn''t bear to risk anything else as he looked to the controls and debated letting everything go so his lynx could be spared.

    Hope was lost but it reappeared at the last moment.

    "Dane, I know you''re his son," came a familiar voice that prompted him to turn to the door.

    Dane looked into that same elderly man with ash blond hair and azure eyes, who began raking over the situation with ease.

    "I can offer a helping hand because I owe your father for an old favor."

 Chapter 66 - Falling To Victory

    "We have a winner!" the announcer shouted.

    A joyful tear slid from Prisana''s eyes as the senator''s yacht came to a stop a mile away from the finish line. Her beast had won, fair yet unfairly. All that mattered was that they won and she would soon be in his arms again.

    The sudden and abrupt stop however, shook the entire yacht in turmoil, so much that Prisana herself was thrown onto the ground. Screams could be heard in the distance. Soon, panic from outside reached heights that mimicked her unfortunate situation.

    Prisana held onto her head and steadied herself to stand. It took a few moments before her head stopped spinning. She slyly slipped the phone around her belt wrapped underneath the sleek black dress she had on so that Dane could hear every word and envision her whereabouts.

    It would have been perfect if Prisana hadn''t forgotten one important thing as she tried to run to her only escape route. That one important thing, was not to underestimate the enemy. She was underestimating the man that would readily forsake his own daughter.

    Prisana and the pilot eyed one another as they both bolted toward the door.

    Only the pilot managed to escape unscathed. The senator furiously grabbed Prisana by the hair, yanking her towards him. She screeched from the harsh tugging of his fingers pulling along each strand.

    The man in black took this chance to swipe the gun out of her hands, leaving her nearly defenseless. Damn! She still had the knife holstered around her hips. Yet, the bullet from a gun could impale her faster than she would be able to stab any man.

    "Would you truly kill your own flesh and blood," she mocked his earlier question, her voice full of venom as it tried to hide the trembling in her voice.

    Prisana didn''t know this man anymore. She didn''t know which were truths or lies. Therefore, she didn''t know what he was capable of.

    "You don''t think I would?" he dared her with threatening eyes. "Watch and see! I never cared for a daughter that looked like a splitting image of that wench and only ever wished for a filial son, unlike you."

    "What do you mean...Mother?"

    "I loved your mother dearly and gave her the whole world! But in the end, that wench betrayed me. You''re no different! I should have known you would become just like her."

    He motioned to one of the men in black, "You, take advantage of the chaos and throw her off into the ocean."

    By now, nothing surprised her anymore. It was sad that her heart was becoming numb to this senator that all of New Jersey looked up to.

    "Coward," Prisana spat. "You can''t do it yourself?"

    "Don''t fool yourself. I''m only making sure evidence or witnesses won''t come back to haunt me."

    The senator angrily yanked her by the hair even harder and threw her into the arms of one of the men in black. The man in black continued to grab hold onto her hair as the other one kept his aim pointed directly to her chest.

    Mighty as the lynx wanted to be, she was still afraid of death as all beings were.

    She put one hand over her other arm to calm the shaking that persisted even though she kept screaming to herself, ''death comes to those who accept it!''

    Ironic.

    Her whole life, she didn''t think her ''father'' ever truly meant his feelings of love for her. Ugly lies flashed across each memory of him as the men in black dragged her out of the glassy control room.

    Her breath hitched as her belly rubbed against the railings to the yacht. She gulped down the air in a frightening stark of realization that this may be the end.

    The ocean waters seemed almost too blue from below, swirling her eyes as the yacht rocked her final moments.

    "Look in the sky! What''s that?" asked some elite folk in the far distance.

    Her heart leaped when a loud vibrating sound of something flying vigorously caught everyone''s attention. It blew away at her hair and dress, to the point where she had to hold her dress from becoming undone.

    A helicopter!

    She squinted at the heicopter and found a large beastly frame that resembled her husband.

    It was like an unbelievable picturesque scene straight out of a movie. Dane''s hair was tousled from the wind. By now, he had shed of his silver blue suit jacket and bared his arms. He used one hand to hold onto the ladder while the other one reached out to Prisana.

    His appearance was grander than any knight to behold!

    All she had to do was stall for more time and jump into his arms. However, time was out as her body dangled dangerously over the edge.

    "You''re too late Elias! Any last words, unfilial daughter of mine?" the senator''s voice boomed behind her, like death glooming near.

    Prisana slowly reached underneath the slit of her dress and hovered her fingers over the knife. She gripped it as she glared at him.

    "Go to hell."

    It took everything she had to let go of something so precious but it was that or her life. The sound of the blade severing the long locks of strand at the man in black''s grasp, sounded throughout her ears. The strands swayed and fell at her feet, some falling away into the ocean.

    At last, she was free.

    "Don''t let her get away!"

    By god, if she was going to die by a bullet or fall into the ocean, then she''d rather it be by her own will.

    She believed in her dear husband.

    Prisana gathered her dress into her hands and dove head first into the ocean waters.

    "Dane!"

    "Prisana!"

 Chapter 67 - Kissed By The Ocean

    The cold ocean waters engulfed her body, like giant blue flames overtaking her entire being. Until, she was left panicking in choked cries as her body kept floating down into the deep blue depths.

    She closed her eyes.

    This was it.

    Prisana''s pathetic life flashed as an obedient daughter who thought she had it all. All, which disappeared in the blink of an eye on the day of her wedding. Then her life warped into truths which were opened by Giovanni, Erica, and the beast who shed all for her to use him.

    Who would miss her?

    Aunt Florence, perhaps. Prisana had been avoiding her since returning to New Jersey. If she knew her life would end so soon then she would have easily forgiven her aunt so they could come to good terms.

    Her mother''s portrait came to mind. If she were alive, then perhaps her own mother would have missed her dearly as well.

    Would the beast miss her?

    She wasn''t allowed any more last thoughts because those thoughts turned to a dozen as she felt a cold touch pool around her shoulders.

    Prisana opened her eyes to Dane holding her close against his chest.

    She choked on more water because she still wanted to tell him she loved him if this was all a dream before her final moments. Yet the next moment when she opened her lips, he kissed her so that air could fill inside her lungs.

    Gradually, her body rose along with Dane''s as he continued to usher the both of them upward along the crashing currents. By now, she couldn''t seem to understand if this was life or death and if the universe was gifting her with a beautiful dream of her beast giving her an earth shattering kiss under the ocean.

    When their bodies were floating among the surface of the water, her consciousness faded away to another plea filled scream,"Prisana!"

    ***

    "...calm down, sir."

    "...she''s not breathing!"

    "...can''t go to the hospital until we find a safe spot to land."

    "Prisana...Open your eyes...Please."

    Prisana felt a harsh pressure pumping against her chest. She could hear and feel his every warmth calling her to life. Something was pressing against her chest, vibrating her whole body to register her surroundings.

    "Dearest lynx, don''t you dare leave my side like this. I won''t forgive you. Not this lifetime or the next."

    She shuffled inside his arms as she began to choke out water onto her body. It was disgusting as she sat upright and kept choking among water that spilled out of her throat like a waterfall.

    "Prisana!"

    "Is...this a dream?" she managed through choked sobs. "Dane, is it truly you right here in front of me? Dane..."

    He put a finger to her lips, "Shh, you''ve called my name so many times. I''m so sorry that I''m late but now, I''m finally here."

    The whole ordeal still felt like a strange dream as she looked around and eyed the pilot navigating what was most likely a helicopter. She quickly turned to the side to stare down at the large body of water circling them to confirm they were some feet up high into the air.

    "You won..."

    "We won," he corrected her, then softened his gaze as he stroked her head. "Prisana, you were so brave out there."

    It was like all her earlier misfortunes were washed away by that simple touch of his hand reassuring her.

    "Of course, I''m none other than your mighty lynx. Heh, consider yourself lucky. That means I won''t divorce you," Prisana joked this but winced under another cough.

    Dane lightly chucked the underside of her chin and kept his serious expression aimed at her misfortunes. The misfortune detailed the bruise caused by her own flesh and blood, her now choppy short hair, and the way her black dress wilted against her skin.

    He first leveled his touch to her cheek, "Who did this?"

    "This is nothing that I can''t handle."

    Immediately, she could feel his body shaking beside her. She reached out a hand to cup his face that had turned away from her.

    "...Dane, what''s wrong?"

    To her surprise, she turned his face to hers only to find helpless anger directed at all around them.

    "You''re hurt," he whispered, low so that it was almost like a hushed anger threatening to erupt. "Does it hurt?"

    "It did. I''m fine now," she tried to reassure him but his shaking kept persisting.

    This beastly husband in front of her was more angry for her own sake, than herself.

    When it happened, she felt numb to the senator''s dirty actions and filthy words that violated what she thought she knew of him. Today proved he was capable of killing his own flesh and blood.

    Prisana in turn, patted her beast''s head like he had done to her. She kept stroking his wild unruly locks kissed by the ocean, until the shaking subsided to a helpless sigh.

    "...I''m afraid of this feeling," he finally spoke. "When I see you so hurt, I think I would do anything. I would even readily put an end that man who did this to you...And the man that pushed you to cut your beautiful long hair..."

    "This?" she motioned to the choppy layers in a cheery voice. "I was beginning to grow sick of it. Doesn''t this style suit me?"

    Then, Prisana''s eyes widened as she had to choke out more water.

    In the midst of her puking out every last gut she owned, Dane grasped her petite body and hugged it tight.

    So tight, that she felt as if she would break apart but her body was relieved of more water.

    "I was most afraid of when you jumped and when you were back in my arms...that you would never wake up again."

    Prisana equally squeezed him closer to her, clutching her hands against his wet suit.

    "I''m here," she tenderly whispered back.

    He sighed into her neck, "...Do you remember when I said I was cursed?"

    She nodded, silently listening as he held her tight. It was as if he was trying to keep her from slipping away even though she wouldn''t go anywhere.

    "My ex-girlfriend died before I could even begin to reconcile with her. And my grandfather, he passed away during a terrible car accident. It was my fault. I kept calling him to hurry home," Dane''s expression darkened as he recalled the memory. "My parents, they too died from a house fire and I was the only survivor...My dear lynx, do you see where I''m going with this?"

    Prisana inhaled a sharp intake of breath.

    "I''m cursed. All the people I''ve ever come to love, eventually die."

    She let out her long breath.

    Then, she shook her head, for her heart ached for how he was blaming himself.

    "None of that was your fault. Dane, I won''t die. I didn''t die. I''m right here and I won''t go anywhere as long as you allow it."

    Her beast shook again but this time, he finally laughed and found her in a beautiful truth.

    "Truly, I was going to bury these feelings and let you use me until it was time to part but when I saw you so lifeless before me...God, it scared me to death because I haven''t even told you how I felt about you."

    Dane leaned and tapped his forehead against hers. She didn''t know what to expect. Perhaps, she would never have been prepared for his next words.

    "Prisana, lynx, and dearest wife. I''m madly in love with you."

 Chapter 68 - Sweet Dreams

    Prisana did what any rational woman who had just been rejected, would have done. She pinched her own cheek.

    It hurt.

    Then, she looked to her smiling beast in awe at how handsome he seemed as the orange red sun highlighted his bright smile. He lovingly chucked the underside of her chin.

    This was real.

    Her beast truly loved her. All she could do was smile and blush like a young school maiden in return.

    Dane lifted a finger to gesture to his own lips.

    "This is the part where you''re supposed to kiss me," he teased but Prisana motioned over to the man steering the helicopter.

    There was a time and place for such things. To make out in front of a complete stranger, would fill the entire helicopter in awkward silence. She put a finger to his lips and shook her head, watching as he complied to her commands.

    The pilot coughed and shouted, "We''ve almost reached the hospital."

    "Wait," Prisana shook her head. "I''m fine. Can we just go home?"

    There was this devilish glint in his eyes, "Home? You want me that badly, dearest? I won''t let you rest once we reach our home."

    "On second thought, maybe I broke a bone..." she lied.

    His eyes widened as he carefully inspected her body, "Where? Why didn''t you tell me sooner?"

    "It was when you hugged me earlier."

    The beast actually looked at his own hands in horror and to this, Prisana laughed. She decided to chuck the underside of his chin.

    "Relax, I''m stronger than I look," she assured him and pulled her hands into hers. "Let''s go home."

    "I want to make sure that every inch of you is alright. If I don''t, I''m afraid I won''t be able to sleep tonight."

    "Who said you were sleeping tonight?" she was the one to tease him this time but soon bore into his eyes with all seriousness. "Please, I''m really fine."

    "Allow me to send for a doctor first thing in the morning."

    "Deal and Dane?" she asked, peering up at him with uncertainty. "I''m sorry, I never wanted to use you. I think I knew all along I loved you but I was afraid of trusting another man...after Giovanni. I''m so stupid because you''re nothing like him. You''re the greatest beast, knight, and husband I could have ever wished to hope for."

    Before she could stop them from falling, tears of happiness began to fall from her eyes. She tried to wipe and turn away from him but her beast of a husband was too fast. His finger found the droplet and brushed it away to nonexistence.

    "Why do you look pretty even when you cry?"

    Her heart could have burst any moment now. Yet, it didn''t. She turned her attention to the window in hopes to distract herself from his sweet words.

    "Lies. You always know the right words to make me swoon."

    "Truths. Don''t I deserve a reward for capturing your heart and making you swoon?" he said while looking at her lips.

    She pursed her lips though grinned ear through ear, "No way, I was the one that captured your heart first and made you swoon. I only braved my heart to be the one to tell you first."

    "Dearest, I''ll allow you to think you''ve won. After all, doesn''t the saying go, ''happy wife, happy life''?"

    ***

    No matter how often Prisana pinched her cheeks, she couldn''t stop smiling or giggling like a young maiden in love when she thought to his confession. God, this was all foreign to her as the only man she had ever loved was Giovanni and they never professed their love so openly.

    She lay in wait for Dane as he was immersed in a conference call.

    Earlier in the shower, she believed he would have made a move on her after seeing her naked form. He didn''t. Instead, even after they both went through hell and heaven to reach mutual feelings, the love of her lifetime simply bathed beside her.

    Before she knew it, they had done nothing and here she ended up on the bed, alone as he had an urgent call to take.

    Her plan as she lay in wait, was to seduce her husband.

    Prisana went in for the kill.

    The classic boyfriend''s T-shirt!

    She had rummaged through one of his drawers and slipped on his shirt. His smell from the shirt only aroused and excited her for what was to come next. Prisana lay on her side as she propped her head on one hand.

    The door swung open, "Sorry, that call took...longer than I expected."

    "You''re wearing that to sleep?" he motioned to the shirt she had stolen.

    "Do you have a problem with it?"

    "Yes, you could catch a cold."

    Prisana frowned as her plan faltered because Dane only rummaged inside one of his drawers and helped her dress into some dark sweats.

    "I think that I''m working a little too hard to seduce you, foolish husband. Didn''t you warn me you wouldn''t let me rest or was that all talk?"

    Dane tipped her chest so that her back lay flat against the bed and he was hovering above, merely a breath away.

    His whisper was dangerously seductive next to her ear, "You yourself should know best if it would be all talk."

    He tossed the blanket over her shoulder so her whole body was wrapped in warmth. Next, came his large arm that rested over her stomach.

    "A beast can joke. He know''s his lynx''s limits too."

    "But I''m fi¡ª"

    "Some bastard sullied you face, cut your hair, and you almost drowned. If that''s not reaching your limit''s then I don''t know what is."

    Now, Dane was finally hers. Body and heart. The daring lynx inside of her was eager to further confirm his love for her by becoming one.

    "I really don''t mind."

    "Shh, sleep."

    "You don''t want me? Oh..."

    Her voice trailed off as she could feel his hot heat rub over her buttocks. Then he continued giving her warmth from behind as one of his hand covered her eyes.

    "What man wouldn''t want to take the woman they love, laying beside them?" he boldly admitted but refused to give in. "Sleep."

    "Dane?"

    He laughed, "Stop talking. Stop...thinking, at least for now."

    "You said you loved me. The universe was our witness. There''s no way you can take it back."

    Dane squeezed her body tight, tucking away a a choppy strand of hair so that he could fully gaze at her face from above.

    "And you said you loved me...Worry all you might because when I fell for you, I knew that in this lifetime, I would be forever yours."

    "Sweet beast," she whispered with a giddy smile as she slowly felt fatigue take over.

    She yawned before nestling back further into him, "And I am forever yours."

    "It''s been a long, long day. Sweet dreams, lynx."

 Chapter 69 - A Kind Of Love

    If there was one word to describe this still dark Sunday morning among a bird or two chirping¡ªDifferent. It was different because he told her beautiful truths yet was still hiding ugly lies he never wanted her to discover.

    How beautiful yet scary this creature of a lynx seemed before him. Sound asleep through soft snores unperturbed by the world, her petite body fit snugly into his arms as if they were made just for her body to mold into.

    He trailed a finger along Prisana''s slender waist and her small neck, marveling in the fact that she was all his. Every inch of her to touch, was all his sole sight to behold. He sighed.

    The beast wasn''t sure if the lynx knew what she was getting into. Rather, he would protect her at all costs until he could shed all truths to light.

    What remained was the truths and the deal with the devil.

    All which he never wished to burden upon her with because she was accused of burden from birth. Now that she was free, he wanted her to properly experience the joys of youth. He wanted to give her the whole world to the best of his abilities lest the happiness they tried so hard to build would come crumbling down.

    God help him, he loved her.

    It was true.

    He knew it all at once, as he kept gazing at the beauty of her very being. A man''s greatest weakness was his woman.

    His was Prisana.

    Prisana, which he felt reluctant to let go of but he had to shed the truths.

    Dane looked into the mirror, at one of his truths as the makeup fixed onto his scar began to wilt off. The scar reminded him of the truths so he washed it off completely to reveal his ugly detestable self. Moments passed by as he recalled how his lynx fed him beautiful lies of tolerating his scar.

    His fingers brushed over to where she sullied her lips with. She was too sweet for his own good. His lynx only deserved his beautiful mask, not the ugly real and true face.

    Then he rummaged to find his mask supplies.

    He felt like a silly woman who awoke to do makeup every morning but it was to hide his identity. Using his skin''s foundation and powder, he expertly concealed the monstrosity away.

    A creak to the door jolted him to cover whatever else left he hadn''t yet finished concealing with his hand.

    "Who''s there?"

    "Cleo."

    "It''s just you," he breathed and finished apply his mask.

    "...Excuse me sir," Cleo whispered, as to not wake his lynx because his narrow eyes instructed any loud movement would be the end of him. "Your suitcase has been packed into the car. Was there anything else you needed?"

    Dane chuckled to himself as he turned away from Prisana, "If only I could pack her with me inside my suitcase, then I would."

    "That would be illegal," Cleo dared to point out, then cleared his throat.

    "It was a poor joke. Of course I know it''d be illegal," Dane began to unbutton his shirt and slip on something formal like a light grey collared sleeve. "What about the doctor?"

    "The doctor has been taken care of and will arrive when the morning sun rises."

    "Oh sir! Allow me," Cleo said as he ran inside the room to grab the tie from Dane.

    As Dane stood comfortably watching Cleo make the tie for him, he began to grow nostalgic.

    Since when did Cleo begin his mission to make his ties?

    Ah that''s right.

    His secretary, Cleo Mancuso was originally clumsy. Cleo wasn''t always perfect. In fact, he was the worst secretary in existence but Dane hadn''t cared much as he chose the first person that he interviewed. Time was of essence when Silver Linings hadn''t even rose to it''s abrupt fame so the timid man before him had immense luck.

    At one point during the three months that Cleo worked for him, he nearly quit. The duties were demanding. Even more so, Dane pushed him to his limits and treated him like an equal. That meant he showed Cleo no mercy at all.

    Before he resolved to quit, Cleo asked Dane why he chose him.

    Dane said to him, "You''re terrible at your job...But, no matter how terrible you are, I need persistent and headstrong men like you to work for me. You''ve demonstrated ability to persevere so I never gave up on you. So if you decide to leave, I won''t stop you. Thank you for all your hard work."

    "...Boss," his eyes teared up but Dane roughly patted his shoulder.

    "Not to mention, you''re quite good at cleaning."

    "That''s the real reason you kept me around, huh?"

    "More or less."

    "Your tie is crooked," Cleo then fixed his first tie on Dane.

    After that day, Cleo became a capable secretary and made it his job to assist him with presenting Dane in utmost professionalism. When Cleo finished, he smiled and patted the tie at Dane''s chest. Soon after the smile turned up, did it soon wilt as he found Prisana sound asleep.

    "Are you sure you sure you want to leave without saying goodbye?"

    "It''s for the best."

    How silly.

    Dane wouldn''t be gone forever. At most, a week''s time. And yet even though he knew this, Dane could still feel this dread wash over him knowing they would be apart. It was cruel of him to part without saying anything but it was for the best. The moment he saw her waken form then he would wish to abandon even the truths.

    "The look on your face is like a lover parting from his beloved."

    we To Cleo''s surprise, Dane didn''t glare at him but smiled tenderly toward Prisana, "Cleo. Have you ever been in love?"

    "Why, yes sir. I have two female cats."

    "Not that kind. The kind where...a man loves a woman."

    It was embarrassing that his darn secretary pushed him to say it out loud.

    Cleo shook his head and eagerly leaned in to whisper, "No. Have you?"

    "Twice. The first time, I was young and ignorant. Now, I''m old but still ignorant," Dane walked over to his lynx still so sound asleep to the world.

    His fingers brushed over her lips.

    "Only that this time, I vow to love her with all my heart and soul until the end of time."

    Before Dane completely left Prisana''s side atop his black velvet sheets, he planted a light kiss against her lips. Cleo recieved zero warning and bulged out his eyes, while immediately turning to look the other way.

    When Dane pulled away, the devil''s words called out to him like a plague that wouldn''t leave his thoughts to rest.

    ''Men like us can never have a chance at true happiness. In the end, we''re doomed for the bad ending.''

 Chapter 70 - Gone Boy

    It was like deja vu all over again as she rushed out to peer at the window. Gone, was the car and she was left all alone trying to search for him in the vicinity.

    Her beast was nowhere to be found. This made her cower in angst to believe that everything that happened yesterday may in fact be a dream. Fleeting however sweet it felt, wasn''t enough if he weren''t there before her to confirm the strange turn of events.

    She faintly remembered watching through heavy lidded eyes however, Cleo making a tie for Dane as her imagination played them like a pair of doting lovers. Her hand then crept to her lips as she also recalled the feel of his lips against hers right before his departure. His kiss was full of gentle longing.

    Cruel beast.

    How could he leave her without waking her goodbye?

    The sound of the car engine running caught her attention and she bolted to the door. Before her, the car pulled up into the driveway but the only person that greeted her was Cleo. Cleo walked into with his bucket of cleaning supplies and a colorful striped orange apron that made him look like a kindergarten school teacher.

    "Where''s Dane?" was her first question as she expectantly peered over Cleo''s shoulder but all to no avail, did not find him.

    Cleo handed her a phone, "He left to attend to...pressing work matters. Here, this is for you."

    Prisana surveyed the rose gold colored phone. It was the latest Samsung galaxy model, exactly similar to the old phone she lost to that bear in the woods. So he even remembered the kind of phone she had although the model she owned was at least two generations behind.

    "He said he wanted you to call him when you got the phone. Press one to dial his number."

    She pressed one and nearly flushed in shame as Cleo also found the words ''Hubby'' with a heart attached next to it on the phone screen. Cleo picked up his cleaning supplies and left her alone to talk with Dane.

    "Good morning love," came that sickly sweet voice she was already dying to hear.

    "Cruel beast," she sadly whispered. "Why didn''t you wake me up before you left to work?"

    "If I''ve woken you up, I would have never wanted to leave you. I''d quit my job and stay home with you forever."

    "That''s silly. You make it sound as if you''ll be gone forever."

    "I''m on a plane as we speak."

    "P-Plane?" she nearly dropped her phone and slowly repeated her thoughts to him. "What are you doing on a plane?"

    "...Business related matters. I''ll be flying to California for a week. Don''t miss me too much, hmm?"

    "So you''re already trying to divorce me, huh?" Prisana joked, but then turned serious. "...Is it bad that I already miss you terribly?"

    "Then, it should be even worse that it''s taking everything I have not to cancel my flight and find my way back to you."

    "Don''t," she chided him through a smile. "Although, that doesn''t sound like a bad idea in itself."

    ''...Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of this flight. Thank you for choosing XXX Airlines. Enjoy your flight.''

    "I must go now."

    She heard the announcement but pouted anyways, "So soon? We''ve only just begun our lover''s talk."

    "Don''t get cute on me..." he chuckled and cleared his throat. "Prisana, before I left, I made sure to enroll you in orientation. I know you''re almost done with the online classes and I thought you might like XXX University. It''s...where I went to college too."

    A wondrous thought popped up inside her head. The college Dane, how did he look and act like?

    "Oh Dane, thank you but you didn''t have to."

    "But I wanted to. And, one more thing before I forget."

    "Yes?" she asked, thinking he took it upon himself to do more for her.

    "I love you."

    Prisana''s beast of a husband was too smooth. So smooth that it really took her breath away and turned her into a flushing mess first thing in the morning. Those three letter words were simple. Simple yet filled her insides with complete delight that yesterday was not a dream.

    "And I too, love you," she had to whisper this low so that Cleo wouldn''t hear her embarrassing confession as he was still in near vicinity. "Take care, beast."

    "Take care, lynx."

    It was difficult for her to press the end call button but when she heard the beep, her heart faltered. Prisana slapped her cheeks. A week without the beast should be joyous! Why? She''d been deprived of sleep night after night with the exception of last night. Her body would be able to fully recuperate from being so wanton until his return.

    The first thing she wished to do upon Dane''s absence required Cleo''s help. She went straight for Cleo as he dusted off the furniture in the living area and grabbed him by the shoulders.

    "I need your help."

    "Wah!" he squealed, then plucked off her hands from his shoulders. "P-Please refrain from doing that in front of his truly. I''m afraid my lifespan would be shortened considerably."

    "Teach me how to make a tie."

    "What?...Geez, that''s it? I thought you were going through love sickness troubles or something..."

    "You always make one for Elias. I don''t see why I shouldn''t be able to either."

    "Oh aha, don''t tell me it''s jealousy?" he arched his eyebrow.

    Jealousy?

    Prisana mulled over it for one moment. Perhaps she was jealous. When she thought about someone else making a tie for Dane, it made her wish to do the same for him. After all, it would really make them feel like newlyweds as she made a tie for him right before he headed out to work.

    "I-I just want to do things that might please him," she admitted, clearing her throat. "Please, I need your expertise."

    Cleo smiled, "There''s no way I can refuse when you''re asking so earnestly."

    "Alright then, why don''t we get started?"

 Chapter 71 - Surprise Visitor

    No sooner than Dane had left her, did the chaos arrived. It happened the morning after. A visitor came barging in in the early hours of the morning when it hadn''t yet turned to dawn. The morning which Prisana eagerly awoke to practice her tie skills.

    She faced the long brown coat hanger with utmost flare.

    Yesterday, no matter how many times she tried to perfect making a tie, all her hard work would turn into a knotted mess. If she were to first make a tie on Dane without any practice, then she was sure she''d choke him on the spot.

    Nearly a few hours ago, she finally managed to make it look presentable and therefore fell into deep slumber from some satisfaction of creating something decent.

    Now, Prisana stared at the coat hanger as if it were Dane himself. Of course, Dane were much larger and full of vibrant life. She draped the tie around ''his'' neck, imagining him being surprised as she would lightly tug him forward like so.

    "Dearest," she said out loud to no one but her imaginary coat rack of a husband. "Allow me."

    Prisana comically answered for her husband in that deep husky voice she so loved, "Lynx, what do you think you''re doing?"

    "Why beast, I''ve been tasked with an important job by Cleo himself. I''m going to make the most stylish tie you''ve ever had the pleasure of receiving."

    "Try me," she answered again in what she perceived as his chuckled reply.

    Then at last, Dane would simply stand there patiently and watch her make a tie to her so called stylish standards. And so, she carefully began to mimic Cleo''s instructions from the day before. It took her some time to recall his instructions, her fingers pausing every now and then to make the correct judgements.

    ''Drape one end over the other.''

    ''Loop it around in a circle.''

    ''Bring the end up into the circle at the neck and into the knot.''

    ''Lastly, secure the tie into a knot as you pull along the other end. And...There you have it. Simple, isn''t it?''

    Making a tie was far from simple. Even though Prisana had gotten the hang of it, making a tie look flawless like Cleo''s was nearly impossible. Cleo''s ties made hers look like child''s play. She frowned as she made the tie and found it to be entirely crooked.

    At most, the tie was presentable.

    Surely, her dearest beast would still commend her for her troubles but even so, Prisana couldn''t help but want to perfect the tie making. She frustratedly undid the tie all over again until she grew right back where she was in the beginning.

    "...I know that cruel man must be here. At least let me confirm this for myself!"

    "Wait! Don''t go...in there."

    The door to Dane''s bedroom swung open without warning. Both Cleo and a familiar face caught Prisana holding the coat rack lovingly. There was a long and awful silence as she looked to Cleo and the familiar woman, then to the coat rack. Explanation to this strange scene would probably be of no use.

    She had to step away and clear her throat before finally taking in the situation before her.

    The familiar woman in question, as she noticed, was the elderly woman she met three months ago. She recognized that grayish dark hair and eyes that quite possibly, discerned the whole world.

    Dane''s...grandmother!

    What was she doing here, of all places?

    His grandmother seized her with the same eyes she had¡ªfull of questions.

    Dane''s grandmother spoke first and all Prisana could do was to blink away what was no doubt reality, "Y-You''re that girl."

    "And you''re..." she looked to Cleo and coughed. "Elias''s grandmother."

    "...Yes, I am. I didn''t mean to intrude on you but..." she began to look around the room. "Where''s that cruel man? He should say hello to his own grandmother."

    "You mean Elias? He went away on a business trip. I''m afraid he won''t be returning until next week. Perhaps you can come...Wah!"

    Dane''s grandmother''s eyes bulged out in surprise as she laid eyes on Prisana''s ring finger. Namely, at the diamond heart shaped ring on her ring finger. She inspected the ring at Prisana''s finger and then her gaze flew to Prisana herself in utter astonishment.

    "Dear, why do you have on my daughter''s ring?"

    Her daughter.

    That meant, this ring belonged to Dane''s mother.

    Prisana pulled away and shook her head in mutual surprise, "...I didn''t know it was his mother''s ring."

    Cleo cleared his throat, stepping in between the two of them.

    "Now that things have come to this, we might as well tell you the full truth. Bailey. Elias got married."

    Bailey made no move to speak. It was only when Cleo tapped her shoulder, did she regain her strength to speak. She threw her hands into the air to rub along her temples as if to crease the wrinkles that kept forming along each truth shed.

    "...To who, might I ask from you instead of my own bloody grandson?" she incredulously asked in fits of annoyance and surprise.

    Prisana almost felt bad as the surprises just kept streaming along without pause.

    She then meekly raised her hand and smiled while being slightly afraid of becoming lectured, "I''m that wife he married to."

    "Dear, you said something similar last time. I won''t be fooled again."

    "It''s all so sudden to accept but we''re unthinkably...and truly, in love. Elias was the one that gave me this ring, you can take a look to confirm that it''s indeed your daughter''s."

    When Bailey was done inspecting the ring, she slowly nodded.

    "I''m getting too old for surprises. One day I tell you, I might just drop dead! Won''t you youngin''s warn me before you go off and do something like marriage? Hah forgive this old woman, I guess I''m a little hurt even my own grandson refuses to tell me these things."

    Her eyes then sparkled, "Oh never mind that...You said you were in love with him?"

    Prisana shyly nodded.

    She completely took in Prisana''s appearance and for a moment, she wondered if this was the part where his grandmother was going to disprove of their marriage and offer her a huge sum of money. Of course she was prepared because she''s seen it in the movies all the time.

    But instead, Bailey gifted her with a strange yet wonderful surprise.

    To her complete surprise among all the surprises today, Bailey pulled her in for a hug.

    It felt a little strange that some woman she barely knew had her arms wrapped around her but there was something endearing about the way that Bailey came off as. Sort of like a nice and warm motherly figure that embraced anyone and everyone in her way.

    "...Oh!" she was unsure of how to respond.

    "Call me Nana. I''m your grandmother now...Goodness! You don''t know how joyous I am to know there''s an unfortunate soul out there that loves this dark and brooding grandson of mine."

    She pulled back to search Prisana''s eyes, "I know you''re confused that some old woman is just squeezing you out of your right mind but that''s just how I am. Hah. Thank you my dear, for loving him. It''s what he needs the most."

    Prisana could only stiffly return the hugging gesture because no one other than Dane really showed her this kind of gesture. Not even her own father. They pulled away from one another as she shook her head to deny the thanks.

    "I didn''t really do anything that deserved to be thanked for."

    "Don''t shrug away my thanks," she sternly chided, then smiled. "Accept my thanks because this man you love is a difficult one. He will test you to your limits and render you so far away all because he is afraid of opening his heart where scars never healed."

    That sounded exactly like the Dane that Prisana knew.

    "Hell, he tries to push me, his own grandmother away! Yet I know he has secretly funded the Iron Horse to it''s fame and popularity as it stands today. It''s a lot to ask of but please don''t give up on him. He needs time and patience and with you by his side, all will surely come to place. Every suffering you go through to love this man will be worth it. "

    "Know this my dear. When...Elias loves, he loves hard with all of his heart."

 Chapter 72 - An Unexpected Encounter

    "...landing in twenty minutes. Please remain seated and..."

    Dane slowly rubbed the sleep away from his eyes. Passengers in first class were gradually shuffling about in the plane. It had been one hell of a day and a half as there were multiple delays. By now, Dane was feeling groggy and jet lagged.

    He shuffled from the large queen sized bed atop white sheets covering his groggy laden body. The first class plane was slathered in hues of checkered blue on the seats and white among the ceilings.

    It was comprised of a medium sized sony television screen before him, a personal bed, and one''s own mini closet. If he were to request it, champagne or the like could be brought by will. And right now, Dane needed spirits that could stir awake his anxiety that gnawed at his bones.

    He pressed the call button for a flight attendant.

    "I''d like the strongest whiskey you have. Or rather, if you could make it the strongest whiskey you have."

    The flight attendant was different from the elderly one he had yesterday. She was the classic tall, blond, and hourglass shaped into the perfect body all fitted into what should be a scantily short flight attendant dress. Dane didn''t care that she was obviously fluttering her fake lashes too long too be sincere. Nor her attempts to lure him in with her breasts.

    Of course, Dane would never boast about being devilishly handsome like Leo. At most, he was ruggedly decent looking. It was just that he had wealth which was something most women saw as more than enough to flaunt themselves over.

    It was a pain. He dealt with these women more often than he wished to.

    "Anything for you, sir," she unprofessionally leaned in to make him absurdly uncomfortable. "I could also get something else that''s strong...A little bit of me."

    Dane could choke any moment now from secondhand embarrassment.

    "I appreciate your enthusiasm. Look Ms..." he looked to her name tag. "Devonshire, you''re a beautiful girl and I''m sure any other man would want you. Any other man but me."

    "Psh, and why don''t you want me?"

    He casually crept up his hand with the ring on his finger, to his chin so that she could clearly see the evidence. "As you can see, I''m a married man."

    God, never had he thought that in his entire life, he would be shooing away a beautiful woman in a flight attendant costume. Surely it was in one man''s fantasy to engage in an affair with a beautiful attendant. But that was because she wasn''t Prisana.

    The beast only wanted his lynx, for now and forever more.

    A silly thought then popped into his mind. Prisana in a flight attendant outfit would rock his world.

    Literally.

    "So?"

    Dane nearly did a double take because this woman was irking him to his limits. "So...Pardon me for being rude but I don''t want you. I''m loyal to my wife."

    She just stared at him like he were this undiscovered creature. As if, she had never once been rejected by a man and today was the first time she had ever witnessed such a thing.

    "Your wife must be a lucky woman," as she said this, he could see the displeased look in her eyes from being rejected.

    "No," Dane smiled foolishly as he thought to her endearing petite form and then began to miss her terribly. "That''s where you''ve got it wrong. I''m the lucky man."

    "Oh god, it''s love isn''t it? I was in love once but love is fleeting. You''ll soon grow tired of her and then, look for another. Or she will grow tired of you and leave you. It''s this vicious cycle of love that we live in, which is why I don''t dabble in it."

    Who was this ignorant flight attendant? He immediately propped open his newspaper as a sign for her to leave him be. Thankfully, she left him.

    The attendant only returned to set down his drink and quietly this time around. He almost choked to death upon the first sip. It''s scent carried into his nose yet he continued finishing it in one gulp, the bitter taste washing down his throat like the strongest acid. Dane did say strong but he didn''t bloody mean enought to kill him.

    He leveled the newspaper down to his chin. There was no time to glare at the attendant as she already disappeared off somewhere into the back.

    The plane began to soar downwards. His phone kept vibrating all at once when the plane shook and landed. Dane scrolled through his phone, finding that Bailey called him at least twenty times.

    He looked at Cleo''s texts and calls, completely disregarding it. God knows it was for real work.

    Twenty calls meant it must have been something urgent. Bailey was an old yet still perfectly capable woman. Perhaps, it was an emmergency no one could have forseen. He hesitated but eventually dialed in her number.

    "Bailey," he waited on a baited breath as he shuffled out among the other passengers.

    "Dane."

    "What''s wrong? It''s not everyday I recieve twenty calls from you."

    The tone of her voice indicated she wasn''t too happy. That couldn''t ever be a good sign. When Bailey wasn''t happy, the whole world turned upside down with her.

    "Why didn''t you tell me such joyous news! That you got married? Why is it that I had to find out from your secretary and wife themselves? It wouldn''t kill you to give a call to give notice to your sole family member."

    "Don''t tell me," he groaned under his breath as the realization dawned on him. "You''re there right now?"

    "Yes, your new wife and I are getting along quite nicely. I told her I would embarrass you and bring over baby pictures the next time I came to visit."

    "Please refrain from doing such things. Could you...let me talk to her for one moment?"

    There was a moment of silence and then her breathing filled his ears, already enough to turn him into a puddle of regret as he was countries away from her.

    "My grandmother isn''t treating you too harsh, is she?"

    "It''s the exact opposite. She''s so lovely, just like you Dane."

    "I suppose I''m the lovlier one?" he joked.

    "Pfft. She might''ve beaten you in that regards. You''re too much of a beast to be considered lovely."

    "Lovely always looks good on you."

    He could hear her little surprised gasp but he meant every word. Prisana was the embodiment of lovely because he had a hard time keeping his hands off.

    "Got that right!" Bailey interjected without concern that he dearly missed his lynx''s voice. "The moment you become lovlier than me is when you start calling me Nana again. Hmph, I''ll be monopolizing all her time while you wallow yourself in work. Goodbye now!"

    This left him standing there, wondering if he should just abandon this mission altogether. Yet when he slid his phone into his pocket, it crunched against the paper. The piece of paper which began his journey to shed the truths.

    He fumbled for the paper and read the devil''s delivery once again,

    Jake Devonshire,

    XXX

    Parker Lane.

    Devonshire...Where had he heard that name again?

    The ignorant attendant!

    Dane walked back into the plane, trying to squeeze through the throng of people at the airport. He found another woman standing where he had gotten off from earlier. She flashed him her bright wide smile.

    "Sir. Is something the matter?"

    "Is there a flight attendant woman with the last name of Devonshire inside that plane?"

    She placed her hands onto her hips. "I''m sorry but we can''t just give out personal information like that."

    "Could I at least, have a word with her?"

    "At the moment, all of our flight attendants are scheduled to board other passengers and require them to be inside the plane at all times so we can''t have anyone leave their post. Please step back as we are getting ready to make the announcements. Thank you."

    Dane stepped back from the robotic red haired attendant standing at the entrance.

    Perhaps it was just a coincidence. That''s right. A coincidence that implored him to believe she may be a family member or a relative. Many people had the same last names and beared no relation to one another.

    Dane turned on his heels.

    With or without that ignorant woman who beared a striking last name resemblence, he would find Jake even if he had to drag him from the depths of hell.

 Chapter 73 - Kind Of Cute

    Prisana happily fiddled with her fingers as she sat in the car next to Bailey. Bailey offered to drop her off. It was beginning to seem as if Bailey was her mother who was dropping her off at her first day of school. Not even her own ''father'' did this as he had always hired someone to drive her to the all girl''s Christian academy.

    This was a sweet first.

    She peered through the window at XXX University, where Dane enrolled her for orientation. The campus both alarmed her and filled her with needless anticipation. XXX University stood as exquisite tall grey buildings surrounded by acres of trees. There were students outside talking to each other and zipping through with the bikes or skateboards.

    "...Nana," the name still seemed odd to roll on her tongue. "I''ll be off now. Thank you for being so sweet and kind to drop me off."

    Bailey squeezed her hand lovingly.

    "Dane''s wife is my beloved daughter too. I''ve also told Cleo to come fetch you since I have to go back and take care of things back at the Iron Horse."

    "Do let me come visit soon!"

    "...That depends on Dane. It''s probably not a place you should frequent alone. You''re not even of age yet, are you?"

    She shook her head, "I''ll invite you next month to come over and celebrate."

    "Next month huh?" Bailey''s eyes darkened and Prisana wondered why.

    "Why the long face?"

    "...It''s nothing. Have fun dear!"

    When Prisana was signed up for orientation, she recieved notice about signing up with a group based on a similar field of interest. She read the directions from the orientation chatgroup and marched onward to the center of campus where a large fountain with stone angels sprung out with water.

    She turned her head to look out for the large sign like others who held out numbers like Group 2 and Group 8. Hers was Group 10 and so far, no sign resembled it.

    "...Hmm, I think this is it but no one is here yet," she mumbled to herself.

    "Excuse me..."

    "Me?" she asked while turning to the owner of the voice, pointing to herself.

    The boy in front of her nodded. He was almost as tall as her, with a long lanky body. There were at least two of his friends giggling to themselves off to the side. She felt a little uncomfortable but nevertheless, offered a friendly smile.

    "If you''re going to ask me for directions then I''m afraid that I can''t help with that since I''m a new student here too."

    "No, it''s not that," the boy sheepishly scratched his head. "Can I get your number?"

    Her number?

    Prisana blushed. The elite gentlemen of New Jersey never approached her for something like this as she was always stuck closely beside Giovanni. Rather, no one has ever asked for her number before. If she were an unmarried woman then perhaps it would have been alright to give out her number but she was already married to that brooding yet sweet beast.

    "...I''m flattered but sorry, I can''t give you my number."

    Suddenly, his two friends walked over to them.

    One of them smirked, "What? Too pretty you can''t even consider going on one date with my friend?"

    The other friend boldly snatched her phone away. Prisana was so confused as she did nothing to deserve such treatment. She glared at them and trudged over agrily. Just as she tried to reach for the phone, the boy lifted it up even higher.

    A hand firmly gripped onto her shoulder. The stranger from behind, swooped in and snatched the phone from the boy.

    "Tsk Tsk. I leave you alone for one second and you''ve already attracted pests?" his caramel colored eyes met hers as he winked, then turned to the three boys. "Leave my girlfriend alone."

    "...I didn''t know she had a boyfriend..."

    "Or what?" one of the boy''s friends dared to shout.

    "Or," the stranger continued, showing them his phone screen as something played in the background. "I''ll post this to the Dean and have you all ridiculued or expelled for bullying a girl. I think I can pull at least one or two witnesses here to prove my point, boys."

    By now, they were recieving dirty looks by those in the near vicinity. The three boys shuffled away the moment they finished watching the video. When they disappeared from sight, the stranger sighed to himself.

    "...They make the male population at XXX university seem like thirsty wolves preying on lone women¡ª" he looked at his hand on her shoulder and pulled away. "Sorry, I was only trying to make this lovers act beliveable. You''re not hurt, aren''t you?"

    Prisana sighed in relief as she observed her phone. This phone was something Dane gifted to her. She cherished it with her life.

    "I''m okay. I''m really thankful for help just now. Honestly, I don''t know how to deal with these kinds of situations."

    "Really? It''s natural for a beautiful girl like you to get hit on."

    He quickly continued on even though Prisana bulged her eyes out at him from the sudden compliment. That was almost too smooth but he made it more of a statement than a compliment.

    "Anyway you know, you have the right to refuse men. It seemed like you were just standing there passively without refusing which was why no one stopped to help. I only came to rescue the day because I notice more than the average person."

    "Well, I did refuse to give them my number but things just kind of...escalated."

    "Is that so? Well in that case, I should find those boys and teach them a lesson about chivalry...Cripes. Now they''re long gone. Anyway, my name is Theodore."

    "Prisana," she returned with a smile.

    The man then began to inspect her closely. It was painfully difficult to not look at another man right there before her an inch away. As he looked at her closely, she couldn''t help but notice he had a beauty mark right around his right cheek. There was even a slight dimple she''d only ever really seen on a woman but on him, it was somewhat attractive.

    He was kind of cute.

    Cute?

    She stepped back, not liking how close the proximity between them faired and that she was forsaking her own husband. Surely it wasn''t a crime to think of another man as good looking. It was only due to the fact that she had no time to oogle men other than Giovanni while growing up.

    By god, she swore her heart belonged only to Dane!

    "...Prisana. Ah! You''re one of my students," he held up the a poster that read ''Group 10 Music and Theater Arts''.

    Well, that explained why he was examining her so closely like a hawk.

    Theodore flashed her a bright cheeky smile and extended out his hand to her. She took his hand. So this was Theodore. Prisana recalled him texting most of the instructions on the group chat. She hadn''t realized him since his profile picture was of a cute dog.

    "Let me reintroduce myself. Theodore Vaughn. I''ll be your group''s assigned leader today."

 Chapter 74 - Break The Ice

    The dean of XXX University stood on top of the stage to make his opening remarks. The crowd inside the large hall were either nodding off or intently listening to his words. Prisana was one of the few who paid close attention to the dean''s remarks.

    She was always the studious kind of student, even during her time at the all girl''s Christian academy she attended.

    Prisana flipped open her notebook and took note of important insights that the dean spoke of.

    "...There will be times that you will shed blood, sweat, and tears to your path but all will be worthwhile under XXX University''s guidance. So tread on to your aspirations as you are the future of New Jersey''s bright workforce! Thank you...Please, go on and follow your group leader to experience what XXX University has to offer."

    After the dean finished, the audience along with Prisana erupted to an a round of applause. New students steadily went to swarm the dean. Prisana looked around and for the first time, she wasn''t sickened by the atmosphere. The atmosphere was not the elite and full of fake smiles. It was a bright and lively vibe among genuine people from all walks of life.

    Prisana walked over to the meeting area Theodore instructed all students to meet at. She flipped over her notes earnestly.

    "Pfft."

    She turned to the sound of laughter to find Theodore leaning over her with amusement.

    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen any student take notes so vigrously during an opening speech. It''s quite refreshing... and cute."

    Prisana blinked at him a few times.

    "Did you just call me...cute?"

    "Relax, I''m not trying to hit on you. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Er, it''s a terrible habit of mine. I tend to just blurt things out...Anyway, even if I found it okay, you should be careful though as others might find it disturbing to their concentration and might try to start some trouble."

    "Hah. Believe me, I was afraid someone in the crowd was going to break my pencil apart."

    "That would be battery and assault. I''d tackle them down and take them to our local campus police."

    This earned a small laugh from Prisana, "You''re like some kind of vigilante."

    "I tend to stick my nose into business where it doesn''t belong more often than not...Alex! Over here," Theodore called out to one of the students in group 10 and turned to Prisana. "Stay put. I''m going to look for the rest of the kids. Ugh. Why can''t everyone be as diligent as you and make my life easy?"

    Theodore rushed off to look for the other students as Prisana stayed put like he asked. The girl named Alex walked over and stood with Prisana. Alex was a girl that definitely stood out from the crowd. Her clothing expression indicated punk rock with hues of black and purple stripes. There were multiple piercings on her ear, lips, and nose.

    She was the first one to flash Prisana a bright smile, "I was late earlier so I didn''t get to introduce myself to anyone. Hi, I''m Alex."

    "Hello I''m Prisana. And, why were you late if you don''t mind me asking?"

    "I was cussing some bald jerk in the parking lot for stealing my parking spot when I was turning in first. Long story short, I got the parking spot because some kind soul witnessed the whole ordeal. But I fucking swear¡ªmmph?"

    Theodore walked into the conversation and covered her mouth, "Watch your language, oh young one."

    "Okay dad," Alex responded while rolling her eyes and Prisana couldn''t help but laugh at their interaction.

    "Dad?" he repeated, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do I really look that old to you guys?"

    Someone else from group 10 added, "You treat us like your kids yet aren''t you a senior still in school?"

    "That''s right kids. I still have a long way to go before I can be called ''daddy'' although, my ex-girlfriend used to call me that in bed."

    Everyone laughed at his disturbing comment with the exception of Prisana. She looked around. Prisana was the only one who didn''t get the joke. The elites never made such kind of jokes and even then, her so called friends were people chosen by her father who only talked about knitting and the like.

    "Gross," Alex commented.

    Some other girl raised her hand, "You said ex. Does that mean you''re single?"

    Only the girls in the group dared to giggle. All but Alex and Prisana who weren''t remotely interested in his relationship status.

    Theodore chuckled wholeheartedly and shook his head, "I''m married to my career. Let''s just put it at that. Okay listen up, since you kids will be seeing a lot of each other in the upcoming school year, we always do an ice breaker to make everyone better aqcainted with one other. Follow me."

    All the students walked behind Theodore as he led them into what looked like a classroom. There were rows of desks lined next to each other and a large whiteboard facing the front of the class. He instructed everyone to pick a desk and face one another in a circle. And so, Prisana chose a desk and aligned it with the person next to her which happened to be Alex.

    "I think ice breakers are so stupid," Alex whispered to Prisana.

    Theodore walked by and karate chopped her head. As he did this, a toilet paper roll fell onto Alex''s desk. Prisana had to do a double take as it really was a toilet paper roll sitting on her desk.

    "Alex seems enthusiastic about this so she''ll start first. Take the amount of toilet paper that you would normally use in the bathroom and then give it to the next person."

    Someone asked, "...Like shitting or peeing? Or, Both?"

    People all giggled or directed more jokes with one another.

    "Whichever one you want," he stated, imploring Alex to start.

    She furiously rolled a large amount into her hand and handed it to Prisana, "There."

    Prisana looked at the roll and the curious gazes that were directed to her. She carefully considered how much she would use and Theodore chuckled at her distress.

    "You don''t need to think so hard about it."

    She finished taking her roll and once everyone finished, Theodore announced, "Okay young ones. Tell us about yourselves as you rip away each strip of toilet paper. It can be something deep. Something not so deep. Your interests. Favorite color. Anything!"

    Prisana looked to Alex''s large roll of toilet paper folded at her desk. She began to rip off each strip of toilet paper.

    "This group leader is damn nosy. I like black. I like purple. I like dark colors. I hate annoying people..."

    The list went on and on until Alex picked away at the last strip of toilet paper. Prisana gulped as now it was her turn. She shakily lurched for her strips.

    Something deep...

    Something not so deep...

    It was confusing so she went for the deep and beautiful truths about herself. These people might not care about her life but if she were going to tell a story about herself then she didn''t want to feed people the ugly lies as her forsaken father had done so to her.

    She took a deep breath.

    Each strip of toilet paper shed like beautiful truths at her fingertips.

    "...I used to be a rich daddy''s girl. We didn''t end on such good terms but I feel as if the weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I''ve experienced the classic, ''my lover cheated on me''. That person he cheated with was my sister and best friend. Instead of revenge, I think I''ve found it in me to move on and strive forth to greater things. And then, I met the love of my life and we''re happily married..." she smiled happily while looking to the ring. "Hah, I realize we all don''t know each other well for me to be saying these things but even so, I''m grateful to be here in this room with such beautiful people unlike those fake elites I once knew."

    When she looked up, she found everyone staring at her in complete silence. She then felt like cowering away as how she gave out too much of her life story to complete strangers. But then, they did the unexpected and clapped for her. The sound filled her ears with delight.

    Alex had her mouth open agape as she kept on clapping, "Man, that was deep. It made mine sound like shit."

    "Language..." Theodore walked over to pat Prisana on the shoulder with a smile. "Sometimes, all you need is a stranger''s ear. Thank you for telling us your story. If anyone has problems they''re dealing with, we can all talk about it now too, as long as time allows before I have to take you along the entire campus."

    A few others came out with their life story resulting in different hardships and the life they wanted to live from here on out. There was a feeling that burned inside Prisana. A feeling of acceptance. Like, she was starting to belong.

    With her beast, and at this university that took her words with great deal of compassion.

 Chapter 75 - Hooded Man

    "Sir. We haven''t found Jake."

    Dane frustratingly banged his fist onto the table. Bloody hell. Chasing after Jake was like chasing after an irritating fly that left no trace at its wake. He ran his hands through his hair and kept looking out the window.

    He took a deep, calming breath.

    "He''s a detective and surely it would take another detective to catch the man. So you''re telling me, not even the best detective in town can catch him?"

    "Yes sir, that''s exactly what I''m saying."

    Two days in sunny Los Angeles proved to be useless. The best men he hired couldn''t even scratch at the surface for his whereabouts. Day in and day out, he grew restless as he only had two days left before he had to return to New Jersey.

    Dane was a busy man and that meant he couldn''t linger long even if this was his life''s purpose. Also, he missed his lynx more than he wished to admit.

    "We do have one lead..."

    He eagerly turned to face the man, "What is it?"

    "There is actually a daughter. Her name is Clarissa Devonshire. She works as a flight attendant on the weekends and on weekdays, she works as a bartender. It seems however, she hasn''t contacted Jake for years. Suspiciously, men that had been persistently ''close'' to her were all taught a lesson by some stranger."

    That ignorant flight attendant was someone that was dear to Jake after all. He tapped his foot against the ground and pondered over the information.

    "...An ex-lover perhaps?"

    "It''s possible but we have no evidence to prove so. It could be one of her many admirers. Ah, where are you going sir?"

    There was this hunch and gut feeling that his thoughts would be right.

    He briskly draped on his coat jacket and went for the door, "I''ll find that evidence tonight. Send me the location now."

    ***

    There were a flurry of emotions running inside him¡ªUncertainty, Anticipation, and Fear. Fear that all of his efforts as Elias Blackwell would be gone to waste. Nevertheless, he made the next move for all would be gambled on this decision. Dane looked to the sign that read ''Atomic Liquors''. The bell chimed as he walked into the bar.

    "Welcome to¡ª" her voice paused as she looked up to Dane, her smile faltering as recognition flashed across her features.

    He took an empty stool, watching as she tried to blink him away from existence. "Oh. Ms. Devonshire, what a coincidence."

    Dane looked around and his heart nearly stopped. There was a hooded man sitting on one of the tables at the corner. It could be his imagination but he paid far more attention that one should. Dane kept trying to gaze at the woman as if she were his beloved Prisana. It was difficult. No one could replace his lynx.

    The now ignorant bartender leaned in and kept that smile plastered onto her face, "...Coincidence, my ass...Why...How did you find me?"

    "You''re right. I couldn''t stop thinking about you. Let me take you home with me. Come on, one night would do."

    "What the...Are you some kind of rich CEO that investigated me?"

    She wasn''t too far off the mark there.

    "I-I thought you said you had a wife and that you weren''t interested."

    "My wife would never know," Dane reached into his pockets and threw money down onto the counter like some tyrant.

    He grabbed her by the wrist, watching from the corner of his eye that the hooded man made a move to stand.

    "Come with me," he turned to what looked like the owner that just gawked at the bills onto the counter. "I''ll be borrowing your bartender."

    Dane waited until they were both outside and somewhat alone before he let go of her arm. God, it was even revolting touching another woman. He needed to replenish his energy but his lynx was countries away. It was as if he was drained without coming into contact with her.

    The night air was chilly and when the ignorant bartender glared at him and spoke, her breathy huffs escaped as smoke in the air.

    "You''re creeping me out! I don''t want..." her lips were put to a stop as Dane put a finger to silence her.

    "Shh," he urged her, motioning behind them as he kept tugging her forward. "Don''t make a fuss. We''re being followed. I''ll explain. First, I still don''t want you."

    Her mouth opened agape but she tried looking back. As she did so, Dane used his hand to tilt her head face forward.

    "Jerk."

    "I''m stating the facts, Ms. Devonshire. And don''t look back. The moment you do, our little follower will bolt away."

    "Are you any better than that man following us?!"

    "Jake Devonshire," he whispered low so only the two of them could hear.

    "...That name. It''s my father''s."

    "Scream."

    "What do you...Ahhhh!"

    "You have every right to hit me. Forgive me for this, Ms. Devonshire."

    Dane lightly yanked her against the wall, around a closed area between some abandoned alleyway. He grinned in satisfaction as the hooded stranger ran toward them as fast as he could. This man had to be who Dane thought he was.

    The hooded stranger confirmed his suspicions and pulled out a gun.

    "Let go of her. Now," the stranger demanded.

    Both Dane and the ignorant bartender turned to their follower. Streetlight shadows illuminated a man that matched his target. Jake Devonshire. Dane immediately separated himself from her and watched as he began to cover his face with the hood.

    "...Dad?"

    She ran over to him in seconds, "...What are you doing? Dad! I know it''s you!"

    The gun dropped to the ground, "Sweetie, listen. I can explain..."

    "Explain what? Have you been stalking me this entire time?" she then scowled at both Jake and then, Dane. "You were never there my whole life and now you want to suddenly play dad? And you! Fuck you for using me. Fuck you both!"

    The ignorant bartender threw her hands in the air and stalked back to Atomic Liquors. Perhaps, Dane deserved that. He shouldn''t have treated a woman so roughly but it was a race against time and he was desperate by any means. The next time, he would fully express his apology as she didn''t deserve to be treated the way Dane handled things.

    Jake tried to go after her but Dane stepped in front of him.

    "Wait!" Jake turned to glare at Dane in front. "...What the hell do you want from me?"

    He wasted no time at all because he finally found the man he had been looking for to shed the truths.

    "Jake Devonshire, ex-detective of New Jersey''s police force. You worked alongside Elliot Lennox as his partner. The both of you were unstoppable. Justice got into your heads...Something terrible happened and you ran back home to Los Angeles. But Elliot, his sense of justice was too strong. He kept poking his nose in where it didn''t belong. So, they eliminated him and his family...You''re a coward. You buried justice and your best friend!"

    Jake shook his head and plugged his ears with his hands. "No! It wasn''t my fault. I told him to back down and to leave the country with me but he stupidly chose to stay himself. Who the hell do you think you are to be telling me these things?! Another detective...huh, is that it?!"

    Dane grabbed Jake by the collar of his hoodie and stared at him with the most chilling expression that could render even the mightiest animal helpless.

    "I''m that son of that stupid detective who couldn''t burn down to ashes. Dane Lennox."

 Chapter 76 - Taste Of Coffee

    Jake Devonshire seemed like a man who had all and lost all, reflected in those wary jaded, dark orbs of his peering deep into the coffee mug. There was an awkward silence in the way the two of them faced each other across the glossy tan marble table meant for exactly two.

    Inside this late open hour coffee shop whose name Dane didn''t bother to remember, it was only the two of them with the exception of a dozing waitress behind the register.

    When Dane revealed his identity, Jake did what any sane and rational man would do. Jake bolted. Of course, Jake was no match for Dane. He seized the trecherous man in a matter of seconds and brought him back to where they were at the present time.

    Dane took a sip of his coffee, watching Jake stare motionlessly at his coffee.

    "You''re not going to take a sip?"

    "I don''t drink coffee. Not since I retired from being a detective."

    He took a deep breath and asked the one question that has plagued his mind for years, "Jake. That night three years ago, what happened?"

    It was somberly frightening the way shadows under his eyes sucked Dane inside.

    "...That night was the same night I left for good. It was when I abandoned everything. Elliot and I, we were the best of the best. But our last case took a turn none of us would have expected. Our task was to go undercover and exploit an underground black market...Shit. I know those scum had clues that Elliot and I were on their tail. They sent me pictures of my daughter and ex-wife to prove it, saying if I didn''t leave Jersey then they would hurt them! And so I took the coward''s way out to save my family. I left. In the end, my wife cheated on me and my daughter had been suffering from neglect. God, how I wish I could turn back time."

    "Even if you turned back time, it still wouldn''t stop the unfortante disaster that struck my family. What happened killed both our familes...For better or for worse, I don''t know. I do know that the bastard is still out there. Jake. Who was my father tailing?"

    "I...I don''t know."

    Dane fisted Jake''s sweater into one hand and brought him close so he could rain down demands that wouldn''t rest without answers.

    "What the fuck do you mean you don''t know?"

    Jake flinched. "I''m sure you know Senator Visalyaputra!"

    His heart sucked in air, "What about him?"

    He knew where this was going. Looking through his father''s clues, he knew that those fake politician''s were involved. That was why Elias Blackwell needed the support to gain into the council''s favor. Probably now, more than ever.

    "The last time I ever spoke to Elliot, he said he had a lead. It involved the senator. And then, he went on about some imaginary figure running the scenes...The  Golden Deer.  I can''t remember what his words were. I became frustrated with him and then stormed out."

    " The Golden Deer ," Dane repeated those eerie words, shaking his head.

    No matter how much he tried to make sense of them, he couldn''t. What worried him more was that this all just had to tie back to the Senator. The world was beginning to seem small and cruel. Small because they were all players in this elite circle. Cruel because the lead was the man of his most beloved lynx.

    Dane had no father. Prisana still had one left in this world, no matter what kind of rotten politician he has become. It only changed when Prisana''s father tried to kill and rid of his own blood. There was going to be much hell to pay to anyone who hurt her regardless of who they were. Even if that person was her so called father.

    Yet, he was afraid his emotions would drive him to kill the only parent she had left. He didn''t want her to experience words left unsaid. He didn''t want her to hurt because he knew her heart was soft. His lynx could be wild but deep down, she had heart made of feathers. It was her biggest downfall and his biggest knightly duty to preserve.

    "Is that truly all you know?"

    "That''s it! I swear..."

    Dane slapped some bills onto the counter and stood from his seat.

    "I''m sorry Dane...It must have been hard. You...Elliot and his family didn''t deserve such injustice."

    "Sorry won''t bring them back. I take back what I said. You''re still a damn corward Jake...But it''s not your fault. You''re not responsible for what happened to my father but you''re responsible for how you fucked up your own life."

    Perhaps, his lynx was spreading him with compassion disease on top of thinking so hard about Jake''s unfortunate family situation. He didn''t know why he even cared but some part of him did care. It was like his heart had softened to feathers too..

    "...You should at least make up with your daughter. She works as a flight attendant on the weekends. If you need a ride, I have a plane to catch at the airport in two day''s time."

    Dane watched as Jake covered his eyes. "...Thank you."

    "The coffee''s getting cold," Dane commented without much thought.

    Jake, who had claimed he never taken a sip since his departure, picked up the cup of coffee. He sipped it. Dane didn''t have to look to know that there were tears running down his face. The door closed behind him but Jake spoke through choked sobs.

    "Coffee doesn''t taste the same without you, pal."

 Chapter 77 - Late Night Magic

    A house was not a home without her beast. Bailey never returned from what, could be her busy affairs from the Iron Horse. Cleo left to tend to his beloved cats. That left only Prisana alone in this large modern mansion. She plopped herself onto the bed after a long day of orientation.

    She didn''t even realize but she kept smiling, recalling how she was able to exchange numbers with a few of her upcoming classmates. This was only the first university she explored and yet her heart knew it was the one. Her giddy excitement took over and she fumbled for Dane''s number.

    The call went straight to voicemail.

    God, how she missed her beast. The bed was lonely. She was lonely. Prisana tossed and turned and before she knew it, Dane had appeared before her.

    Her beast of a husband was standing there in front, fully naked. She seized his glorious chest muscles and those perky nipples, like a lynx ready to pounce at any moment.

    Dane, you''re back?

    He walked over to her like clouds drifting on by, ushering him to her until they were locked into a lover''s embrace.

    I''m back, lynx.

    Dane! I''ve missed you.

    And I, missed you so terribly too.

    Dane would choose that perfect moment to kiss her. He would then undoubtedly growled into her mouth as the kiss turned more hungry.

    Lynx. It''s been way too long. Let me have my way with you. I won''t take no for an answer.

    Why must you always ask? There''s no need to ask when I''m already yours.

    Like always, her beast crept his hand along her body until it reached her most sensitive area.

    *Ring Ring

    *Ring Ring

    Prisana opened her eyes, wide. Her cheeks flushed because between her thighs, was something wet of desire. She looked to the side to see and hear her phone ringing. There could be only one person calling. The caller ID read Hubby <3.

    Dane!

    She fumbled for her phone, "Dane?"

    "Prisana. Turn on the tv."

    "The tv...Why?"

    "Please, just do it. It''s serious. I want you to check the weather for me."

    Prisana wanted to keep questioning further but she gave in to the beast and his silly demand. She reached for the remote and turned on the tv. What greeted her on the other side of the screen was the night sky sparkling with a million twinkling stars. Large tall buildings spanning acres after acres filled her vision.

    "I keep pressing buttons but I can''t seem to get to the forecast channel."

    His chuckle sounded like melodic waves going through her ears. "That is the weather. So, how''s it like?"

    "...It''s beautiful Dane. The weather looks magical. I wish you could see it too."

    All of a sudden, the tv angles began to flip and turned around to what looked like her husband and beast! He was clad in a light blue robe that perfectly outlined his large feral body with those glorious chest muscles peeking out from underneath.. His dashing smirk caught her off guard.

    It was almost unreal how the man on tv looked like Dane. She shook her head in disbelief.

    "Oh but I can see the same view. Nothing is as beautiful as you, Prisana."

    Prisana almost dropped her phone. She gasped and a tear slid from the corner of her eye.

    "Prisana! What''s wrong?"

    She picked up her phone again. "I''m...so happy. Today has truly been a gift. I made new friends and got to see that face of yours I adore so much...Wait. How are we even seeing each other?"

    "It''s ''magic''," he mocked her words earlier with a smile. "Kidding. I had Cleo install the video cam when you left for orientation. How was it, by the way? The orientation."

    Surely Dane wouldn''t be too happy some boys asked her for a number and then an attractive vigilante came to save the day, who...Prisana now realized Theodore''s number was in her phone. Yet, it wasn''t like she was hiding anything. She shouldn''t continue to hide it either.

    "The orientation was wonderful. I met some new friends and even exchanged contact numbers with them."

    There was silence on the other end before he responded something like, "That''s great."

    Prisana decided to test her beast''s limits. "One of them is a boy."

    From the screen, she could see his expression darken but he sighed it away.

    "I know what you''re scheming, lynx."

    "You''re not jealous? Not even a little?"

    "Not at all."

    "What?"

    The beast grinned wholeheartedly while tenderly leaning his face against the palm of his hand, "I trust you."

    Those simple words made her happy yet guilty, more so because she was even trying to start something with him. She just wanted to see him get riled up but he already knew what game she was trying to play at. It seemed like her plan had failed so she pouted.

    "Jealousy in a man is kind of hot, you know...Well, to some extent."

    "I don''t deserve jealously. If I were any other man, I''d be floored and yearning for you. How could I criticize another who I''d understand."

    "So...You''d let this same boy flirt with me and call me cute?"

    "On second thought, delete his number."

    "He''s harmless! Okay, putting away me trying to get a jealous reaction out of you, Theodore is just my group leader who like everyone else today, made me feel insanely welcomed. Dane, I think I want to go to XXX University."

    "That''s honestly, all I want. For you to be happy and enjoy your youth. I''m glad you''ve made the choice."

    "Aw, Dane..."

    "Look lynx. Let''s set some things straight here. It''s alright to recieve compliments and talk to other men. I won''t control your every damn move like your father or that bastard Giovanni. Jealousy is jealousy. It might happen to the worst of us but at the end of the day, we belong to each other and I trust that you cherish me enough to not cross that line."

    Who was this Dane?

    From the beginning of time when they met, she would have never imagined him saying these words. He was bulldozing so far into her heart that she had no room for any other. God, this beast was as sweet as his words.

    "...Credit is due."

    "What does that mean?"

    She rolled onto her side to stare at him sideways, giggling like a maiden.

    "Congratulations! You win the award for being the best beast and husband. Your reward? A kiss from yours truly awaiting your arrival. Heh. Come back home soon, hmm?"

    "If you beg for it cutely, I might really consider it."

    She thought his words to be a joke and cutely squished her face to him at the screen, earning a rough chuckle from him.

    "Oh pretty beast, please? I''ll die of heartbreak if you take any longer than tomorrow."

    "That does it. You''re too cute for your own good!" he almost entirrely growled this. "Be prepared. I''ll be taking the earliest flight I can."

    "Okay. I''ll be in bed waiting for your return darling."

    "You do know I''m serious, do you?"

    Prisana sat upright in bed, her excitement unable to contain itself. She shook her head in disbelief once again.

    "No way."

    Dane was silent for a few moments as she saw him pull away from the phone and type furiously for a minute or so. He showed the phone to the screen, with flight details heading straight for New Jersey first thing in the morning. Her beast wasn''t playing around!

    "Yes way."

    "W-What about work?"

    "...I''ve finished everything I needed to do here. Now, I need to come back and...do you. I''ve been abstaining for way too long."

    Suddenly, Prisana felt guilty. She could still feel the wetness in between her thighs and rubbed it together as her cheeks flushed.

    "There is one confession I have to make..."

    "I might have not abstained and cheated on you, just a little."

 Chapter 78 - Naughty Foreplay

    "What?" came his incredulous voice, sparked by the video cam nearly falling down.

    "Promise me you won''t laugh."

    "...This isn''t a laughing matter lynx, but I vow it."

    "It''s shameful but I had my first...sexy dream of you half naked. You kissed me and then went to...tease me! I mean, it was still you but then it was the Dane version in my dream."

    "Pfft. Hahaha!" he laughed wholeheartedly as a beautiful smile upturned that brooding facade.

    "Hey," she scolded him through pointed eyes. "I thought you vowed not to laugh?"

    "That was before I heard your troubles. Prisana, you shouldn''t be ashamed. It''s natural for one''s body to feel aroused and seek pleasure."

    "I know but god, I''m so embarassed because it made me so wonton! It''s all your fault. This body was aroused by the dream version of you...So I''m sorry, I haven''t abstained at all."

    "Don''t be sorry," he chuckled this and then looked at her seriously.

    "The Dane before you is no longer a dream."

    There was no longer laughter burning in those dark irises. Now, what burned was something entirely different. Raw and uninhited with this heat, that burned even her flushing skin that ached for his touch all over.

    "Are you still aroused? " came that low and deep husky whisper that came out in one long breath.

    She shyly looked away and lied, "No."

    "Why won''t you look me in the eye when you say so?"

    Prisana reluctantly peered at him between her hair and breathlessly sighed. "Fine, beast. My body has been craving for you all this time."

    It was like an addictive drug that once tasted, she could never readily forget. Truly, it was his fault as he imprinted himself night after night. Days that he let her be felt empty and almost devastatingly otherwordly even if he were just to sleep beside her.

    "Show me how your body is craving for me."

    Her eyes widened but gauged his dare with careful consideration. "...Now?"

    "Oh god, yes. Right now, dear."

    Prisana couldn''t believe she was actually considering this. It was strange. Dane was before her yet he wasn''t. What greeted her was only him across a screen. Even so, it made her insides quake with nervousness as it felt like she were broadcasting herself for all to see. Yet the only one that stood behind that screen was Dane himself.

    She slowly bit her bottom lip and regarded him with this playful yet still shy glint in her eyes. The lynx would induldge in this sexy foreplay but she didn''t know where to start. She wanted his guidance.

    "Just do it the way you normally do it. Show me how you pleasure yourself," he gently urged.

    "I never pleasured myself before," she admitted.

    There was a moment of pause until he laughed like mad.

    "...God, you''re so innocent it drives me mad like I''m corrupting you. It feels like I''m sinning."

    "Corrupt me. Sin. Tell me, how should I pleasure myself. I won''t know if you don''t tell me."

    "You''re always so eager lynx...Alright. Take it off."

    She knew what he was talking about but she smiled it off anyway.

    "Take what off? There''s so many layers that I have on."

    "Your clothes. All of it. I want to see your beautiful form completely naked."

    Her heart was beating while her body was burning with a feverish desire to have him truly right in front of her instead of invoking this strange foreplay without his touch. Nevertheless, she complied to his needs and of course, to her needs as well.

    Prisana looked away from the embarrassment and began with the buttons on her plaid long sleeve at her chest. Every button she undid only continued to cause her heart to thump with each that fully unraveled her bare skin. The shirt fell to the bed and gifted him with her plain white bra.

    If she knew she would be doing such a wonton thing, she''d have worn something sexier.

    She reached to the back of the clasps to unhook it as it unleashed her breasts that spilled out to his inspection.

    "...Beautiful," he breathed. "So beautiful. Every goddamn time."

    His compliments truly made Prisana feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

    Her fingers flew to her blue jeans as she slipped them off. Down went her underwear as she tugged it off the same so her clothes lay strwen at a pile on the bed, leaving her completely bare before him as he wanted. His gaze penetrated everywhere. To her face, breasts, and the honey kept in between her closed legs.

    It was minutes as he just inspected her rosy bare skin, sensitive to even the eyes.

    And then he spoke, "Close your eyes. Imagine I''m right with you."

    Prisana did. She imagined that her beast was sitting in front of her.

    "Touch your breasts with both hands, the way I would massage them gently at first."

    Her hands crept up to gently massage both of her breasts as he instructed. Was she doing it correctly? She looked down and felt it so awkward as Dane was the one that usually touched her. Of couse this was her body and she washed her own breasts before but god, massaging them with the intenion of feeling pleasure felt foreign to her.

    "I don''t think it''s working¡ª"

    She looked and nearly every nerve in her body reacted to Dane''s flushed face among him tapping one finger against the other arm. His eyes were paying attention so closely that it skyrocketed her shame. But somewhere deep within, satisfaction stirred knowing she was making him crave her just as much she craved him.

    "See, your nipples are hardening. Touch them."

    Prisana''s right hand ran over her hardened nipples and she breathed a sigh of a hitch as her cold fingers sent a shiver down her spine. She was becoming immersed in pleasuring herself through half lidded eyes regarding her beast, one hand massaging the shape of her breasts as the other went to the swirls of her right nipple.

    Before she knew it, her thighs were spreading by themselves.

    Dane didn''t miss the subtle approval for invasion and growled, "Turn around on all fours. Stick your fingers in so I can see..."

    She could see his face warping to control his flushed desires.

    "Prisana, we can always stop now. I don''t want to force you to do these indecent acts. Hah, things just got out of hand for a moment here."

    Prisana ignored him and twisted her body around to all fours. This made things easier because she could concentrate more on the pleasure than the embrassament when facing away from her beast. Her hand slid down to her most sensitive spot already writhing with helpless need.

    The moment when her fingers probed her insides, she slightly gasped as she was already so moist from his intense gaze. Just him looking at her was enough to send her aching for him.

    A rustling sound caught her attention and she turned back to find Dane''s light blue robe open ajar wide to fully reveal his beastly chest. She kept pleasuring herself the way he would do to her, only fully realizing what was going on when her eyes found his hand gripping onto his fully erect cock.

    "I''m sorry, you look so enticing it''s hard to hold myself back...Hah..."

    The vision of him becoming excited and touching his own cock drew that last straw. Prisana moaned as she found a delicious rhythem to move against her insides.

    "Spread your legs more."

    She spread her legs more.

    "Wider," he breathed.

    Prisana spread her legs open so wide that it forced her stomach to fall onto the bed. She clenched the bedsheets with one fist as her high pitched moans echoed with the indecent juices spilling out from her core.

    She could faintly hear him purr amidst raggedy breathing through repeated strokes of his hand matching her own thrusts.

    "That''s it. Good girl...Hah...Mmh...Hah...Imagine, my cock pounding deep into your pussy."

    Her fingers weren''t nearly enough to compare to his cock. Yet, she kept thrusting for her climax, eagerly turning her head back every so often to capture the lewd sight of him stroking his cock to her own invasion.

    He was panting through heavy lidded eyes trying to capture her as well and at that moment they both held the other''s gaze, release found the both of them at different times close to each other.

    When they were done, Prisana had covered her face and slumped to roll herself into a ball under the blankets with the realization of what they had just done.

    "Goodnight lynx."

    After mustering her courage to say something by peering over the bedsheets, she found that he had left her with a dark screen.

    Perhaps, the beast was embarrassed too?

 Chapter 79 - Reconcilation

    The rearview mirror reflected a man who was both trembling with nervousness and uncertainty. Dane watched as the hooded Jake with the same grey jacket bit on his nails like mad. All he could do was sigh watching his unfortunate struggles to calm himself down.

    Dane had picked up Jake before his flight, out of his good guy conscience. That conscience was now not so sure he made the right choice as it seemed Jake would melt to a puddle of mess any second.

    They both left the taxi cab and entered the airport together with Jake trailing behind him like some criminal on the loose. According to his sources, Clarissa Devonshire worked at XXX Flight and would be getting ready to depart an hour before Dane''s own flight. He looked around and expectedly found the plane she was scheduled to be on.

    He sighed as he realized that Jake hade stopped walking entirely, "What are you doing, getting cold feet now?"

    Jake began to pull his hood over his face more than before, as if to completely shield himself from confronting any of his troubles.

    "O-On second thought, I''ve changed my mind! She''ll never accept this failure of a father. I''m better off dead in her eyes..."

    It was beginning to seem like Dane owed some responsibility for thinking this man could even go through with redeeming himself. So, he dragged Jake by the hood and toward the plane. Yet, Jake kept resisting and ran off the other direction.

    "Dad?"

    Clarissa stood behind him just as Jake had turned around. He paused in horror and took a step back. Their fated reunion even surprised Dane himself as he had to let out an unknown breath. She slowly looked to Dane and then back to Jake, as a scowl upturned onto her face.

    "...Clarissa. Please listen to me."

    She began to turn and walk away the moment she heard him speak. Jake almost gave up but Dane pushed him forward with a hand, unable to watch such a pathetic scene unfold before him and do absolutely nothing.

    Jake nodded to Dane as he leaped toward his daughter and grasped her from behind into a fatherly embrace. The hood of his jacket fell back and revealed a clean shaven face compared to nights before.

    So, this failure of a father had somewhat tried to freshen up.

    Her eyes widened as she took a deep shattering breath, "Let go of me."

    "Hear me out for one minute. Clarissa, you don''t need to forgive me! ...I know I''ve failed you as your father. I know that what happened between your mother and I was my fault. I know I''ve forgotten your birthday too many times to count. I know I never returned any of your calls. I know that I was never there when you were sick or were well enough to achieve great things. I know that if I let you go now, god...I''m afraid one day I''ll never get to tell you that I love you before it''s too late yet again. Clarissa..."

    "Your one minute is up."

    Jake''s arms fell to his sides as he took a step back to remove himself from the fatherly embrace. Just as Dane had thought things were done for good, Clarissa turned around and lightly punched his chest.

    Tears rained down from her eyes, "...You stupid failure of a father! I hate you for leaving mom and I behind but I hate even more that I still want to try and...love you."

    It was almost endearing the way that Jake puzzlingly had to look over at Dane to confirm if what was happening, was truly real. Dane nodded as a form of farewell and turned to walk away from the father and daughter duo that brought light at the end of the tunnel. Before he turned, he saw Jake awkwardly pat his daughter''s head.

    "Please, let us start over. I promise to make more of an effort to be in your life."

    "When''s my birthday?"

    "That''s easy. August 26th."

    "...Wrong. It''s September 26th dad. Ugh actually, I was wrong to even consider taking you back in my life!"

    "Wait! I''m..."

    Her chuckle reached even Dane''s ears as he kept walking away, "You were always forgetful. That last part was a joke. If you''re really serious, then stop lurking behind the shadows and face me head on from now on..."

    Dane smiled to himself, feeling some self satisfaction knowing he was able to help his late father''s old friend. Surely, it would be something his father would have wanted him to do. He climbed the steps to the plane but paused in his steps when he heard Jake''s voice.

    "Dane!"

    He turned, "What?"

    What met him was determined eyes amidst a flashing bright smile.

    "Thank you Dane!"

    "No need to thank me, Jake. I didn''t do anything. In fact, I was merely doing things for you both to my own benefit."

    Jake''s face grew startingly serious, resolved and determined than the Jake he was used to moments earlier. Watching him now, Dane thought that he could see what the former detective beside his own father looked like.

    "I promise, when I''m done with things here I''ll return to New Jersey and finish what your father started."

    "That''s a lot of talk for someone who almost ran away at the last second," he jokingly pointed out.

    Jake was left pulling his hood over his head again.

    "..I-I mean it and that back there, was an accident of sorts."

    "I''ll be looking forward to it. With or without your help however, I''ve already been planning to take justice into my own hands."

    "You''re not planning anything dangerous, are you? This...Wouldn''t be what your father would have wanted."

    Dane looked him dead in the eye, betraying no emotion. "This isn''t about what my father would have wanted. This is about sweet cold revenge on my forsaken youth that won''t dissolve until anyone who touched their deaths melt down to ashes before me."

    "Dane, I''m sure it was hard but revenge, it isn''t always the best answer. At the end, you won''t feel satisfied. It won''t bring them back."

    "Don''t you dare cross the line!" now he was baring the ugly emotions. "What right does a faiure of a father have to say about my affairs?"

    He spoke the painful truth and watched Jake''s face contort to wretched pain.

    Dane''s hand crept to his face to cover the ugly truths he spat out. He had to take deep breaths to stop baring emotions to this man who left his father to battle justice alone. Quickly this time, he turned around and began walking into the plane without pause.

    "...Sorry. My emotions got the better of me. You can help me or go against me, there won''t be no in between."

    "You''ve never truly mourned, have you?" this question made his heart lurch but he continued on without looking back.

    "I''ll return and once I do, we can at least seek the truths together...That way, I can put an old friend''s soul to rest."

 Chapter 80 - Reunited Looks Different

    Prisana yawned, eagerly awaiting her beast''s arrival. She grinned to herself while she stood beside Cleo outside of the airport, wondering what Dane''s reaction would be. He would perhaps be so overjoyed that the first thing he would do could be whisking her into his arms into an embrace.

    She had told Cleo she wanted to surprise Dane and so she went along with Cleo in the early hours of the morning to wait for Dane''s arrival. Her heart couldn''t stop pounding in giddy excitement.

    Just as she saw his beastly form emerge from the double glass sliding doors, she decided to greet him most unexpectedly. She quickly hid behind Cleo like a lynx trying not to get caught.

    Cleo had to hold back his laughter and clear his throat. "Sir. You''re back. How was it?"

    "It was¡ª"

    She chose that moment to jump out from behind Cleo''s large coat that blocked his view of her.

    "Surprise!"

    Dane tried blinking her away, then rubbed the sleep away from his eyes. "Prisana?...What are you doing here?"

    Her face faltered, "Boring. Not even the slightest reaction out of you!"

    He began to slowly chuckle as his features softened, "I was still waking up. You...surprised me."

    "It didn''t look like I did...Woah!"

    Her beast briskly walked to her in few strides and carried her bridal style into his arms like so many times before. Unfortunately, she was becoming so used to it that she didn''t mind. Still, those around them walking past in the airport still made her remember the embarrassment of being doted upon so openly without a shred of remorse.

    "Dane," she whispered into his ears. "People are looking at us."

    "So? Let them look."

    He briefly turned to Cleo who had been busying himself bringing Dane''s belongings into the car, "Give me the keys. Here, take a taxi back home."

    "Sir...?!"

    "Please, it''s urgent."

    Cleo reluctantly gave him the keys and in turn, was given dollar bills of some amount Prisana couldn''t fully count. What she was sure of, was that it was more than enough for a simple taxi fare. The two lovebirds left Cleo there standing dumbfounded as Dane continued carrying her and settled her into the passenger''s seat. He even reached over to seatbelt her in.

    "Why are we just leaving Cleo? That''s a bit rude, isn''t it?" her eyes widened as Dane climbed into the driver''s seat and stepped onto the gas to drive forward. "Uh, what do you think you''re up to beast?"

    "Hotel."

    H-Hotel?!

    She peered at him sideways. "I-I thought you were still waking up..."

    He returned her worried look with a smug one. "The sight of you woke me up. Prisana, I''m starved. I''ve been abstaining for a week. I don''t think I can wait any longer. I did tell you to be prepared, didn''t I?"

    Even though her body craved him, she wasn''t sure she was prepared for the beast''s insatiable hunger.

    ***

    "Sir. Here''s the room key. Please enjoy your stay at XXX hotel and thank...you."

    The woman behind the front desk didn''t get to fully finish her sentence as Dane brushed past by with Prisana, hand in hand. He fumbled for the floor button of their room. The moment the elevators doors opened, she nervously looked his way as they strode inside.

    It happened like wildfire. Dane kissed her right then and there just as the doors to the elevators closed. Her eyes widened for a moment but closed as his lips invoked a familiar sensation that drove her wild with passion. She could never refuse his sweet invasion as she fully let him in and even draped both arms around his neck to pull him closer to her.

    By now, they were glued to each other against the elevator walls, bodies molding to each other perfectly as lips found each other over and over again. He kept kissing her senseless as she kept trying to recieve them and catch up to his hungry feverish kisses.

    Ding!

    The elevator doors opened to another floor and someone gawked at them, quickly pressing the button to close the elevators on their lover''s scene. Both beast and lynx looked at each other in unison and slowly burst out in laughter.

    However, they didn''t stop.

    Laughter twisted to passion yet again as he showered her in endless serenade of yearning. Dane went further to hike her body up against him so her legs were wrapped around his waist. Only this way, he could quickly carry her faster to their destination as their floor was only one stop away.

    They continued licking and kissing each other in a never ending foreplay that would only end when they were both bruised beyond help. When the elevator doors opened, he carried her into the hallway while keeping her busy with his tongue teasing her senstive mouth sighing and aching every second.

    It was the same scene like the first time they held each other. Except, different place and beautiful truths that connected them together.

    He expertly slid the card reader in front of the door. The sound of the door clicking shut mixed with the loud thud of their bodies tumbling and tripping into the doorway entrance of the hotel room so that they were on the ground sprawled all over each other.

    His hands crawled underneath her back until her waist crushed up against his in a lover''s long awaited embrace.

    "...Hah...I missed you," he whispered into her lips for a moment of breath, then leaned in to bury his face into her neck to regain his breathing completely. "So damn much."

    "I missed you too," she kissed the side of his face.

    At last, both beast and lynx had finally found each other.

    It was strange though. Something was different. Her heart couldn''t stop beating. Every place he touch burned this indescribable heat that never happened before. It was like she could feel so many emotions spilling into her all at once.

    "H-How was work?" she asked, trying to calm the nerves of her rapid beating heart.

    "Work? That''s the last thing on my mind. Because right now Prisana, you''re the only thing on my mind."

    He leaned over her to casually brush her hair out her face as he leaned in some more. She twitched from his simple touch.

    "I don''t know why but this moment we''ve come to so many times, feels different...looks different."

    It wasn''t just Prisana''s imagination after all. She nodded to agree and released a sigh as Dane lightly tapped his forehad against hers. They held the other''s depths with great intensity.

    "Why is it that I can feel every touch and every sensation?..." she twitched again when he outlined the strokes of her lips while soon kissing them right after as she moaned vigrously. "Why is it that you''re more sensitive than usual when I touch you?"

    "Maybe it''s because of what we did last night," she admitted because truthfully Prisana was still ashamed to truly look at him without remembering every vivid detail.

    He chuckled. "I wasn''t the embarrassed one."

    "Why is it that am I the only one this nervous?"

    Dane shook his head and grabbed her hand. He leveled her hand to his heart. "You''re not the only one. See here? My heart is beating like crazy. I''m being driven crazy by a single touch. God, it''s like my heart might fall down to the ground."

    Suddenly, as Prisana kept on hearing that beat of her heart take over her eardrums, she finally understood why tonight looked different.

 Chapter 81 - Waves Of Pleasure

    The scene was the same many times before. Dane knew just like any other man how a woman''s body was supposed to feel. How it was supposed to recieve and give pleasure. The wonders and inner workings were imprinted in his beastly mind. They''ve already explored each other too many times to count and he knew her body like the back of his palm.

    It was supposed to be the usual. But it wasn''t. The moment they dived into that sweet escape in the elevator, lusting for each other like beast and lynx unleashed to the world, Dane thought he knew how things would play out.

    God, how wrong he was.

    Falling into the hotel room into silence that forced him to take all of her beauty in, everything looked different. Everything felt different. He held her hand to touch the murmers of his heart as it frightened him to all ends. Just like what he told her, it really felt as if his heart would drop down onto the ground at this very moment and cease him from existence.

    She spoke the most beautiful truth ever that took his breath away, "We''ve always held each other but this moment feels different...looks different because now we''re connected by the beautiful truths. Dane, husband, and beloved beast of mine. My body and heart belongs to you."

    The beast in him purred at her confession knowing every word was indeed meant solely for him but the Dane before her could only run a hand along his face. He was no match for his lynx.

    "You''re killing me lynx."

    "Hmm?"

    "Every word you whisper, every truth you are, is what has ensnared me in your little trap. I''m completely at your mercy."

    His lynx turned the tables on him and deliciously urged his body to roll over so that now she was straddling him. Instantly, his cock responded in a matter of seconds. Her flushed cheeks knew full well what she was goading him to over pursed lips which fueled the rekindling desire that had paused demonstrated truths.

    "...Like this, you''re completely under my mercy."

    Dane arched an eyebrow, making no move to deter her bold efforts of pinning him down. "When did you become so...aggressive?"

    "Do you not like it?" she asked, an innocent frown upturning her features.

    Oh, he liked it.

    He chose that moment to roll the both of them over so that now he could be on top of her. In doing so, both their heads clashed against the wall of the narrow entrance hallway. Even though Dane hit his head, he used that last second to shield her head with his hand. He sighed in relief. What he recieved for his knightly deeds were...laughter.

    Prisana pointed to his head and began to erupt to fits and giggles.

    "What''s so funny?"

    "Your hair looks funny...haha...as if a tornado ran through it."

    He peered up and lightly touched his well groomed hair that truly must have looked like a tornado. She was making him turn into this disastrous mess at her sole mercy. Dane lightly returned the exasperated laugh but then halted all laughter as he pinned down her hands with one hand.

    "...And who''s fault do you think that is?"

    Prisana''s breathy sigh made him grow impatient. "Mine. What are you gonna do about it?"

    He leaned down and lightly nipped the tip of her earlobes, watching as she shuddered. His low deep voice reached her eardrums. "Anything that you want me to do."

    "I want to give you pleasure. You always make me feel good, so I want to return the favor."

    Dane didn''t think he deserved her for all her sweet glorified words. He was going to readily refuse her sweet attempts but failed because he wasn''t rough enough.

    She broke free from his hold and twisted to usher him along the wall so they were yet again at this nonsense standstill of tussling one over the other. But this time, the battle had made a breakthrough. The lynx had him perfectly trapped as she wrapped herself on top of him with his back against the wall and nowhere to turn to.

    Her finger tugged at the buttons on his shirt one by one until his chest was left bare and hardened to her gaze.

    She paused, as he held her hand from going further.

    "Lynx, do you know what game you''re playing at?"

    "Yes" "You don''t."

    The both of them spoke in unison.

    It seemed like his lynx was irritated that he was deterring her. She grinned and for some reason, Dane knew she was already up to torture him to no end. Her next move was viscious as her lovely core still covered by those wretched undergarments, hiked deliciously up against his hard as a rock cock.

    His head fell to the folds of her breasts while breathing heavily into them. Prisana kept torturing him by rocking her body hard against his painful erection. The both of them were panting and looking the other way until he easily found his teeth tugging down at her shirt, all the way down until her bra was exposed before him.

    Just before he could fully taste those rosy buds, Prisana stopped him from unleashing her bare naked skin by holding his hand from unhooking the clasps. She pushed him back with a finger so he was right back at the wall, never pausing a beat to her agaonizing rocking as she moaned in pleasure.

    "Ugh..Hah..." the beast both inside and outside whined. "You''ll be the death of me someday."

    For the barest of moments, the beast relinquished all the power to the lynx. She ignored his complaints and grabbed his unbuttoned shirt by both sides to open it wider. There, she was looking intently at his own erect nipples.

    She leveled her head to his nipple and flicked a tongue over it. It was ticklish at first so he chuckled but grew increasingly strange as she grazed him. His lynx was mimicking him as she sucked against it and used a finger to tease the other nipple.

    Prisana was too focused on his chest that she forgot about the other pressing matter. Her pleasure ridden pussy was writhing against him and free to touch.

    His hand found the thin little cloth and stroked her clit in a circular motion. She couldn''t contain the sigh of pleasure as he found her most sensitive spot, already leaking with trickling need the moment he invaded her insides with his fingers. Her body lifted upward as she grabbed onto his shoulders for more.

    She was still sucking his nipple but was broken away by the impatient beast.

    He was tired of waiting. Any other day, he would indulge with her silly games but right now, his heart and body wanted to confirm every soaring emotion as he had been apart for her almost a week.

    First, he kissed her lips to distract her from her own deviant torture that was to come.

    Dane''s other free hand roughly tore away her bra so it was quickly tossed aside to reveal those erect nipples he claimed in a matter of moments. She gasped just as he sighed into her nipples. Prisana twitched and protested, all to no avail because his skillfull fingers probing inside her pussy found a fast rhythm that allowed no room for speaking, only moaning.

    Her voice spilled like the most erotic music into his ears as he never relented to her shuddering against his hard torture. Dane lightly took his fingers out all at once while never parting his mouth from her buds just as she cutely whimpered but he wanted her on the bed and not the cold hard ground.

    So he rose up with her legs already wrapped over him and brought her down onto the bed. He went down with her and kept teasing her nipples by sucking them hard and then licking them gently, his fingers only light rubbing over her thighs. She knew what he was up to and tenderly nipped his shoulder.

    Dane pulled away to relinquish the lewd sigh of her disheveled clothes.

    She laid sprawled atop rose petals on the white sheets that resembled her flushed skin, made that way by his touch.

    "Beast, let me pleasure you."

    "Lynx, you''re pleasuring me greatly," he assured her.

    "...What are you!"

    Without warning, he positioned his knees on the bed and lifted her body in the air so that he had full and easy access to her pussy. He was holding her legs high up in the air as she feverishly shook her head at him.

    Mercy left him a long time ago. The beast ripped her underwear away. His knees closed in on her as he gripped each leg and spread them wide apart in the air. He continued to uplift her body for complete access. Then, it only took the light dip of his head to find her clit outwardly exposed to him.

    And then he sucked. And when he sucked, his mind went blank to her feeble moans and the world.

    A woman''s taste never usually aroused him. But Prisana''s taste drove him wild that he could explore her insides over and over again without getting the least bit bored. Her screams echoed with him moving down to slurp the honey that spilled just for him to taste. She shuddered and writhed all at the same time, just as he inserted a finger to aid his conquest to have her become undone.

    To his utmost satisfaction, he eyed her even as he kept his mouth fixated on her flowing honey at her twitching entrance. Prisana''s back kept arching as she offered herself to him, all the while biting her finger and stimulating him mad when she briefly returned to sanity to exchange glances. Her eyes were clouded in carnal esctacy, begging him for release.

    By all means, he would give her that release. Dane fucked her with his tongue invading her pussy, with the aid of his finger touching her sensitive clit. Her honey began to trickle down his own chin as he slurped more earnestly, savoring every last drop. Only when he left her insides to finally suck at her clit, did she finally find her release.

    He gulped the last of her honey and wiped his lips.

    Dane gently lowered her pleasure ridden body down onto the bed and fumbled for his belt buckle. He was momentarily taken aback as Prisana held his hands, still lost to pleasure her shoulders wouldn''t stop twitching. She was trying to unbuckle his belt, awkwardly unzipping his pants so his cock came into full view.

    He kissed her twitching shoulder and urged her to pause, not wanting her to degrade herself for a beast.

    "Today looks different so I want to savor it as it is. Perhaps, another time I''ll show you how to pleasure me. Not now. I want to give you waves of pleasure and be inside of you. That''s already the greatest pleasure I could ever ask for."

    She sweetly nodded, to which he kissed her lips for allowing him to be the one to give her waves of pleasure.

    A wicked smile crossed his lips as he turned to the side and glanced at the large open windows looking down the entire city of New Jersey. It was still dark out in the early hours of the morning so the lights resembled night lights sparkling over the entire landscape.

    "Dane! Why do you keep picking me up as you please?"

    "We should enjoy the view. I find myself curious about the weather outside lately."

    "...The view? At a time like this? Seriously?"

    "Serious as can be."

    He brought her over to the glass and pressed her bare breasts over the window pane.

    She flinched, "...Oh, this is what you meant but...It''s cold!"

    His chest hit her back. "Before long, you''ll be so warm you''d have wished you remained cold dear."

    Dane purposely leaned over her until her nipples glided against the window in an odd motion. She turned her head back to pout at him so he paused.

    "I don''t like this. It''s like someone might figure out what we''re up to."

    "This is a hotel. Shh relax, doesn''t this arouse you? Being put on display where someone could potentially see you, getting pleasured out of her sane mind...Of course, I''d never allow that to actually happen."

    Some part of him wanted the mindless fucking first and then the part where they made love. He sealed further conversation by tipping her chin up and devoured her lips. They tasted so good he could go on kissing her forever. But his cock slowly entered her from behind. Both let out long sighs as he fully found himself buried inside.

    Just as much as his cock was throbbing, his heart beat even louder.

    Again, he felt her spasm and arch her back uncontrobally. His lynx was so sensitive that all it took was his cock to make her come. He waited until she regained her breathing before withdrawing and thrusting all in one swift movement.

    To ease the friction, he fingered her clit even through her protests.

    Dane touched her still twitching clit. He continued fucking her from behind, pushing her breasts deliciously against the widow pane. By now, they were both grunting and panting from his feverish thrusts until she came again by his unrelenting fingers.

    He chuckled as she finished twitching from the last wave of pleasure, "By the way, how''s the view?"

    "The bloody view...hah...I can''t even think...mmh...straight!

    Prisana turned back and glared at him through half dazed eyes. There was something so hot about her blushed yet angered expression, exciting him even more. He used the honey that dripped from her pussy and rubbed it along her clit for the endless time. She protested by holding his fingers to stop him.

    "Don''t. I can''t anymore. Beast, when will you be satisfied stroking pleasure from me?"

    "Until I come. I haven''t even come once."

    She grew silent for a moment and this implored him to wonder.

    Dane turned her around and thrust into her while they were facing each other, earning a jerk from her body. That was the first wrong move. Seeing her face tortured yet diving deep to otherwordly pleasure by his cock sent him treading closely over the edge. He began to halt his violent thrusts and move slowly, as if to savor the moment of being inside her longer.

    Yet, he still stroked pleasure from her clit, watching as she lovingly tried to fight against it. She clung onto him for life and death, clawing into his flesh.

    The second mistake occured when he let her pull him close so that she could whisper into his ear.

    She breathed, "Dane, I lo¡ª"

    "Don''t," he warned her while lightly covering her mouth.

    Dane''s thrusting all but paused.

    Her smile proved that even in the end, he was still at her mercy.

    "I love you."

    Those three letter words sent him over the edge.

    The beast shuddered against his lynx, wrapping his arms around her safe and sound from the world.

 Chapter 82 - Disparity

    Now that Dane was ready to shed more truths, there was one major problem. Ever since the public caught wind of the CEO of silver linings being engaged in a whirlwind of a marriage with the senator''s daughter, his ranking in the polls dipped to the bottom. He had the lowest popularity out of all the candidates.

    More than ever, he needed the public''s favor in winning the elections. The headlines went ''CEO steals wife of Oil Company''s Son Giovanni Blair'', ''Senator Visalyaputra''s daughter elopes with CEO of silver linings'', and even more absurd headlines painting him as this marauder.

    "What are you looking at?" his lynx''s voice prompted him to turn back and glance at her yawning.

    "Propaganda."

    Dane sat at the edge of the bed as she lay off to the side, gradually waking and crawling over to snake her arms around his waist. She kissed the side of his cheek which eased the wrinkles on his forehead to crease from existence. He turned around and leaned to give her a kiss on the lips. Watching her beautiful naked form press up against him, something sparked inside of him.

    She peeked over his shoulder and frowned, "We''re hated by the enitrety of New Jersey. How great...Are you worried about your reputation?"

    "Reputation isn''t something I want but it''s something I need. I need to gain favor into your...the senator''s council."

    "Why?"

    For a moment, Dane almost forgot himself. He was so dissolved into happiness that he never considered shedding the truths to his own lynx.

    There was a slight vibration of hesitation in his voice as he turned away. "To shed truths."

    This wasn''t a lie. He told her the truth.

    "What truths?"

    He remained silent.

    "We are husband and wife. If there are any worries or concern you may have, then I''ll readily lend an ear. Dane, let me face your demons with you as you have with mine."

    It was as if his lynx knew there were still dark secrets he was hiding and that this was one of them.

    "No."

    Dane thought she would understand. He still wasn''t ready to go there. The beast loved his lynx and his form of love was to be the knight as he would do his best to give her the world. Instead, she unlinked her arms around his waist and climbed over to the other side of the bed. They both sat there in silence, each in their own thoughts.

    She was the one that spoke first and twisted his heart to shame.

    "The moment we vowed our love, I thought we passed the point of secrets. I know this might have something to do with your revenge but I want to hear it from you. Dane. Why are you always pushing me away? Please, for the love of god, let me in."

    "This has nothing to do with you."

    The white sheets were thrown over Dane''s head.

    "Okay, fine you''re right. It has nothing to do with me at all."

    He heard the bathroom door slam behind her as the white sheets slipped down from his face.

    Surely, she couldn''t be angry at him. Dane disregarded her unloving tone of voice and went to dress himself.

    ***

    Prisana was definitely angry. The whole ride back and up until they reached their home, she hadn''t spoken a word to him. When they arrived, she walked into the house and shut the door behind her to their room.

    Cleo watched the whole ordeal unfold before him and had to whisper to Dane, "What in god''s name did you do to invoke that?"

    He shook his head and sighed.

    "Tell me something Cleo, when a man has secrets to hide for the better good of his own wife''s sake, is that such a bad thing?"

    His secretary yet currently butler who had on his apron, mulled over this as he rubbed his chin.

    "Hmm, it depends. Are you..."

    "It''s not me. This is about a man I know."

    "This man you know...Is he hiding the truth from her because it would protect her or because it would protect himself?"

    Protect himself?

    Cleo''s words struck him like a dynamic chord that proved just how cowardly he was when compared to his lynx. He was claiming it was because he didn''t want her involved but the frightening truth to the answer lay dormant in his heart.

    "Forget it. Could you tell me the state of affairs inside the office?"

    He sighed and gradually walked over to pick up his notebook.

    "Yes. Since you''ve been gone for a few days, I have made sure to attend meetings and record them in your place. Two new appointments have been made. There will be an additional..."

    Dane grunted and listened to him speak on for minutes on end until Cleo''s eyes widened. Cleo pointed a finger in the air, as if remembering something.

    "Ah!" he spat. "Also, Leo said he''d meet you at the Iron Horse tonight."

    The devil was already calling but the beast didn''t want to answer his hellish demands.

    "Tell him the sight of him sickens me and that I don''t have any more soul to give him."

    "Leo actually said, if you said something like that then for me to tell you that it has something to do with the Golden Deer. "

    His ears immediately perked up. Why was it that the devil always knew when and what buttons of his to push so that Dane would come crawling for more? It was all too calculating under Leo''s part, as if he already had some prior notion where this was all leading to. He frowned immensely, silently cursing the devil in all kinds of ways possible.

    "Tell the devil that I''ll be there."

    "Understood."

    Footsteps descending down the stairs, caught his attention. Dane''s heart already lurched to hear his lynx lovingly call out to him. Instead, he turned to find a very persistent lynx nearly brushing past him and to the door.

    "Where are you going?" he incredulously asked.

    "I''m visiting Nana. We''ve made some plans today and I won''t be back until late."

    "Prisana, I''m¡ª"

    "Sorry? What do you need to be sorry for? You didn''t do anything wrong. After all, you were only stating the facts. That whatever you are involved in, has nothing to do with me."

    She was rubbing his hurtful words into his face yet again. Dane loved his lynx but at this moment, she was frustrating him to no end. By now, Cleo had migrated into another room, somewhere upstairs as the pair were having a standoff by the entrance of the door.

    "Stay," he pleaded, watching as her fingers hesitated on the knob.

    "If I stay, will you answer all of my questions? Will you stop pushing me away and spill the beautiful truths?"

    He couldn''t make up his mind. He couldn''t do what she wanted because this was his most conflicting truth.

    The lynx left his grasp and turned on the doorknob.

 Chapter 83 - Iron Horse

    "Are you angry at him?" Bailey asked, peering at her through understanding eyes.

    "Angry?" she paused and stuffed the piece of cake into her mouth and smiled. "Mmh, delicious."

    Angry? Prisana mulled it over as the stawberry cake distracted her for a moment. She could never be angry at her beast for long. At first, she was truly frutrated that he was still holding things back from her. Then, she realized her young heart was being impatient and now she was too embarrassed to go back home to apologize.

    So here she was, accompanying Bailey so she didn''t have to face the truths that showed her ugly side of wanting all of the beast without secrets, no matter how ugly they were to be.

    "No, I''m only frustrated with both him and mostly, myself. I''ve thought about it and I should be the understanding wife. It''s just difficult to think logically and control one''s emotions all at once."

    Bailey''s warm and loving hands reached over to grasp her fingers. Immediately, Prisana''s heart sighed. She lovingly gazed into large and clear, rounded eyes that only seeked to give comfort and recieve nothing in return.

    "Remember. Once a beast, always a beast. And my dear, no wife is perfect. It''s alright to get riled up sometimes but just remember that at the end of the day the beast already loves you. There must be a good reason why he''s still hesitant on shedding the truths before you. In due time, he will surely tell you all."

    She returned Bailey''s loving gesture. "Thank you."

    "No, I should be the one thanking you."

    "Huh? Me, why?"

    "Did you know? The other day, I recieved a boquet of flowers. It was for my birthday and it touched this old heart of mine to the point of tears! The greatest gift for me is to know my grandson has someone like you to take over the role as his family."

    "What are you going on about? I''d never be able to match up to you."

    "I''m old. There will come a day when I''m no longer in this world and when that happens, you''ll be there. Gosh, do give me children before this body gives up on me, hmm?"

    "C-Children?" she incredulously asked.

    Prisana was already blushing thinking about her and Dane having children. Even though they were using birth control, it was embrassingly evident that they weren''t using protection of the sorts.

    "It''s getting late. I''ll have to return to the Iron Horse soon..."

    Bailey was interrupted by a phone call. She picked up her phone and frowned, "It''s work. Let me answer it really quick."

    "What is it? Mhm...Huh? Really? I''ll be right there!"

    She hung up and apologetically looked over to Prisana. "I''m sorry. If it''s alright with you, I need to take care of something urgent."

    The Iron Horse was the first bar she frequented in their old hometown. Now, Dane had setup a new location for her right in the heart of New Jersey.

    Her eyes sparkled, "Oh, I would love to go with you too!"

    "What? You''re twenty."

    "The owner must have some connection to pull me in. Oh pretty please?" she joking begged.

    "Do me a favor and never tell Dane...Truly, I think he may murder his own grandmother."

    She patted Prisana''s shoulder. "Dear, you''re a beautiful and married woman. You shouldn''t frequent these types of place as many mostly come to find another to spend the night with. Unfortnately, bar establishments turn into some kind of whorehouse meeting! Anyway, this is girl''s night out and will be our little secret."

    ***

    Their little secret was actually a big seret as Iron Horse, compared to its predecessor, stood over them so large and serene that it took her off guard. It was truly located located in the high end and heart of New Jersey. The sign was painted in curly font and bustling with customers shuffling in and out.

    The bell chimed as Prisana followed Bailey inside. The Iron Horse was a sight to behold as it was englossed in fine elbaroate walls of paintings and mirrors. Bailey''s bar shouted class and elegance on all levels, with ladies and gentlemen coming dressed in nice clothing. Some wore suits and dresses while the large majority dressed decent as Prisana did.

    "Wear this," Bailey offered her a thin black mask to cover her eyes.

    "A mask?"

    Bailey nodded, gesturing to a hallway with a gold outlined door. "This is the VIP room. All VIPs are required to wear masks."

    Prisana slipped on the mask. When they entered though the gold doors, what greeted her was something even more elbarote and classy as the walls and floors were covered in a shiny yellow gold. Everyone in the room wore a suit or a fancy long dress. Now, she felt out of place as she only wore casual clothing.

    Bailey led her into what looked like a back dressing room. She sat in one of the chairs and someone came to serve them drinks and even helped Bailey change out into a simple lack dress. Prisana couldn''t believe her eyes as the sweet bailey before her transformed into one of the elites of society. It was like a scene out of a movie.

    Then again, she was none other than Dane''s own grandmother. Bailey motioned over to one of the cocktails the server brought them.

    "He''s waiting outside. Apparently, he has a new offer he would like to discuss with you."

    "Of course. Let him know I''ll be out there shortly," Bailey responded, shooing him off.

    After the server and dresser left them alone, Prisana leaned in to whisper into Bailey''s ear, "...You didn''t tell me it was going to be like this! This is not what I was expecting. It''s like I walked into somewhere I''m not supposed to be in. I really don''t belong."

    She leaned in to whisper into Bailey''s ear, "Come, at least change and have a drink with your old Nana before I send you off to marriage life again."

    "I''m twenty," she pointed out even though Bailey warned her earlier.

    "This is my establishment. You can do whatever the hell you want dear."

    Prisana shrugged, secretly yearning how it would feel to be like an adult. The taste of wine was something the elites in New Jersey were accostumed to. Her ''father'' or Giovanni found it to be looked down upon if she were to even consider alcohol. It was tempting.

    "I suppose you''re right. This is our little big secret after all."

    She grabbed the cocktail and smiled while clinkng her glass to Bailey''s, "Cheers to obtaining a lovely grandmother like you."

    Suddenly, she grew teary eyed before she could even take a sip, watching Bailey endearingly pick out a simple cocktail dress for her. This woman she barely knew made it feel as if she had known her for her whole life.

    "Nana...I really do love you. If my mother was still alive, I''m sure she would be just like you."

    Bailey stopped looking through the dresses hanging and walked over to wrap Prisana into her loving arms.

    "You remind me of my daughter. If she were still alive, I''m sure she''d love you too."

    Their warm heart to heart talk was interrupted by a phone call. This time, it was coming from Prisana''s phone. There could be only one person that was calling her. She looked and saw Dane''s name run through the front screen. Bailey gave her a squeeze of reassurance before leaving her alone to face the beast.

    She took a deep breath and answered.

    "I''m sorry..." the beast began to speak but she also wanted to be honest.

    "And I''m sorry too, beast. I''ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. When you''re ready, you can tell me the truths. It''s enough for now, to know that you love me."

    "Thank you lynx."

    The little big secret had to be shed. Prisana couldn''t keep something like this from her dearest husband and beast.

    "One more thing. Your dear wife has been a bit mischevious and is currently with Bailey at Iron Horse."

    There was silence that met her.

    "What?"

    "I knew it. Are you angry now?"

    "God, no. I''m only surprised...I''m heading there now too," he actually chuckled because the coincidence was frightening. "Don''t let me find you or there will be sweet hell to pay."

    Sweet hell?

    She bit her lip in anticipation, "If you catch me before the clock strikes twelve, then you can have your way with me. But this time if you can''t, then I''ll be having my way with you."

    "Sounds like a game I''ll be winning."

    "Catch me, if you can."

 Chapter 84 - A Gifted Favor

    The VIP area of the Iron Horse was like some secretive elite gathering, yet primarily different as it wasn''t about the elites centered around politics. This was elites from a different range that she wasn''t the least bit used to. It felt lighter and less straight laced than when the senator himself was present.

    There were more young people as well. Many masked strangers stood beside each other of opposite genders in a somewhat flirting manner that was looked down upon in the usual elite gatherings.

    She trailed behind Bailey and took a seat next to a dark haired gentlemen as Bailey walked around the counter to greet him.

    The gentleman had that same black mask covering his eyes and the similar black suit that matched a number of men in the room. This must be the man that the server had mentioned about earlier. Prisana could feel his eyes on her like a hawk and it left for moment as Bailey leaned in to give him a good long stare.

    "I see that you''ve trespassed yet again into my establishment. What meaning of no do you not understand?" Bailey inquired to him intently.

    Prisana couldn''t see behind his mask from peeking at the side but knew that something about him seemed strangely familiar. Maybe it was the way his dark hair shimmered a dark blue under the bar lights or that he looked at her just as puzzlingly.

    The man chuckled, still watching Prisana. "I''ll pay you double. Even more than what I offered last time."

    "I''d rather die before I sell this place to your hands," Bailey then hit his shoulder. "And quit oogling my important guest, she''s a married woman!"

    And then, the flames within those dark irises lit up to reveal recognition. He chuckled like a madman and sent both Bailey and Prisana to look at each other in confusion. This went on until he coughed under his throat.

    "The irony. It''s like we were fated to meet yet again. Allow me..."

    He reached over to grasp Prisana''s hand and tugged it to his lips. The man she''d only just met had stolen a kiss on the knuckles of her hand. She could only quickly reflex by snatching her hand back. Bailey whacked the side of his frame, to which he winced.

    "Kiss other wreteched women. Not this one. She''s off limits to you and every single man here," she spoke this as she glared at another gentleman who was making quick glances at Prisana, then turned over to gauge Prisana''s reaction. "You know this devil?"

    Prisana innocently shook her head. Bailey patted Prisana''s shoulder and scooted her over to the next bar stool.

    "Good. Make it stay that way. This devil is the enemy of women..."

    The devil of a man clutched his chest and dramatically fell down to the counter.

    "Ah! You wound me," he dramatically exclaimed. "How could you forget this dashing face of mine?"

    Prisana shrugged unsympathetically. "You''re wearing a mask. I don''t make it a point to remember people at those gaudy elite gatherings if that''s what you''re referring to."

    "...On a yacht from the distant charity event we attended, I met the cheating wife of Giovanni Blair and the new wife of CEO Elias Blackwell. Ah yes, she was a forbidden fruit and beautiful as..."

    Suddenly, it all came flashing back. This eerie and mysteirous man on that yacht which knew things no one ever should. He knew Dane''s true identity. He was in league with that horrid man once called her play pretend husband. Most of all, he was right before her where she could ask him that question which kept haunting her.

    "Who are you?" Prisana interrupted him.

    He leaned in so Bailey wouldn''t be able to hear. "Devil. Friend. Foe. I can be anything you want me to be, dear. If you find yourself needing a ''friend'' about the secrets I know, here''s my contact information."

    The devil slipped her a card underneath the counter. She quickly glanced at it''s contents as it read something along the lines of '' Leonardo Duval XXX ''. There was no reason for him to give her this information. Prisana refused and slapped in onto the table before both Bailey and Leonardo.

    "I don''t need this."

    "You don''t want to know the things that I know about your husband? All I require is a piece of your soul. It isn''t too much to ask for, really."

    One''s soul? A frightening thought wandered into her mind but she shook it away from existence.

    Prisana shook her head and turned the other way. "If I want to know something, I''ll ask him. If he wants to tell me, then he''ll tell me. Why should I trust you, a complete stranger to tell me the truths?"

    "You''re a difficult one to trick. I like it."

    "Why on earth would you want to trick me?"

    "Because I find it amusing."

    She couldn''t understand this man. There wasn''t a smile to his laughter. Not even a direct and concise answer to what his motivations were for trying to trick her. All she saw was a devilishly handsome man which no women couldn''t help but stare at even covered by the mask but lies all around which warned her of the dangers that lurked within.

    Bailey sighed and shook her head at Prisana. "I told you dear, he''s the enemy of women. I''ve seen him break more hearts day after day in this ol'' bar."

    "That''s because women always come back especially when I''ve made it clear that it''s a one time thing."

    "The worst of the worst."

    "Yet, you''ve been paying sweet attention to me dearest Bailey."

    "It''s hard not to when you''ve been hassling the higher ups about buying me out. And I suppose, you''ve become a rotten regular whose company is rather somewhat enjoyable. I just can''t leave troubled men like you alone and there''s actually something urgent I wanted to give you pertaining to what we spoke about last time...It''s why I rushed back in the first place because we found it."

    Bailey handed him an alcohol bottle of sorts. "I heard you were looking for this. That''s why you wanted to buy this place out huh? You could have just asked. I don''t have value for these kind of ancient trinkets."

    For a moment, it was as if Leonardo''s facade broke under Bailey''s motherly and tender gaze that could melt even the coldest iceburg.

    He laughed it off and warily eyed the bottle. "Is this a trick? That gift...Why are you saying this to the devil that is still trying to buy this place and kick you out from existence, regardless if I''ve found what it is that I''m looking for?"

    "You wouldn''t do that. I know it."

    "You sound so confident."

    "Leo. I was once a mother. Still a grandmother. Everytime you are with a woman, a different one every night if I might add, I notice you''re only looking for temporary comfort. Even if you''re a devil, you''re a lonely one that I can''t help but want to nag at you for being the worst of the worst!"

    "Bailey, you''re too good for your own good. I will end up trampling over that good and remaining the worst of the worst...But I''m decent man enough to thank you, so I''ll gladly take this off of your hands. So be it. What do you want in return?"

    She looked over to Leo and Prisana, grinning merrily as she slid Leo''s contact information back to Prisana. "I''ve given the thing you most wanted and you accepted it. You will owe her a favor. When you are to do her bidding, you must follow it through to the end."

 Chapter 85 - The Golden Deer

    Dane had exactly two hours to find his lynx and take her right where he wanted her. He briskly walked through the Iron Horse and nodded toward those he was acquainted with.

    But first, he had to find the devil to find exactly what he knew. Thanks to Jake, Dane now had a lead on what might have caused the death of his parents. It was like the truth was so close within his grasp and yet so far out of reach because everyone was keeping the truths from shedding.

    When he reached the golden doors to the VIP room, Dane showed his card and was immediately let in.

    "Why hello Mr. Blackwell!" one of the employees shouted.

    Most knew who he was. After all, he was the person who made the Iron Horse alongside Bailey. He nodded toward the man and continued walking through throngs of elite men and women dressed too formal that it hurt his eyes. His eyes couldn''t help but pick out the crowd for his lynx even as he found his destined meeting spot.

    The devilish silhouette of a man prompted Dane to take a seat next to him.

    Instead of greeting the devil, he went straight to asking Bailey, "Where''s my mischievous wife?"

    "Don''t know. Don''t ask me. Don''t think you can just waltz in here as you please demanding sensitive information!"

    "Ah," Leo cooed longingly, finally making Dane look him in the eyes. "Your wife is so lovely but you are too late. She ran off the moment you appeared. Lover''s quarrel, perhaps?"

    "A lover''s game, you can say but I''m in no rush. You said what I most wanted to hear so why don''t we find a private room. Bailey, could I borrow one of your rooms in the back?"

    "I fear that every time you see me in person, it''s just one demand after the other."

    "Please Nana."

    Bailey''s mouth opened wide, like she couldn''t believe she just heard him say that word. Not since years ago had he uttered that one simple word.

    She slowly raised her arm in the air to point to the door, but still clearly in shock as she did so.

    "...Over there. Zachary there will escort you to a private room then."

    Bailey looked after them, still dumbfounded as Zachary led both Dane and Leo through the door. They traveled through a dimly lit wnd narrow hallway with a few doors greeting them. Dane followed wnd walked to a simple room that had an open window area. In the center, there was a large rounded table with chairs.

    Leo nonchalantly strolled over to one of the chairs and took a seat. He spun around in a full circle before coming to contact with a very grave Dane.

    "What is it? Why so somber?"

    "Youre toying with me, aren''t you?"

    He feigned innocence and shrugged. "Why would I want to toy with you?"

    "Then why the hell did you know the exact moment to pull the trigger when I returned from LA?"

    "It was a lucky guess."

    "Lucky guess, my ass. I''m going to find the truths myself. I have nothing more to owe you."

    Dane quickly turned on his heels, noting he had an hour and thirty minutes left to catch his lynx. For some strange reason, he found himself more eager to return to his lynx than to actually discover more truths.

    But of course, the show had to go on.

    "Wait. Hear me out...The condition is free."

    He quickly turned back around to serious eyes. "...Free? The devil I know does not give out his secrets for free."

    Leo chuckled but kept his gaze hardened. "I''m the one in a blind this time. I want to find this personified deer as soon as possible and eliminate them. You see, they''ve become somewhat rivals and even after all these years, I can''t find the mastermind."

    "In other words," Dane quickly deducted. "You need someone else to do the dirty work for you and who else to send than a willing beast."

    "Ah, how could you think like that? I truly do consider you as a friend you know."

    "The moment I falter, you''ll use that chance to stab my back," he knowingly whispered and to this the devil didn''t respond because he was right on the mark.

    Dane began to turn around again but this time took a seat across from the smiling devil. That infuriating grin of his made Dane want to throw it upsidedown.

    He clicked his tongue. "I''m listening though ''friend''."

    "The Golden Deer is a person. The name Golden Deer refers to something tricky like an organization but sources tell me it is a single mastermind running the scenes. Much in the same way, it hires spies and trained assasins to eliminate individuals through those with wealth. They stole something of value from me: my business as my clients have been migrating to this Golden Deer. At least, I''m an innocent devil but the Golden Deer is involved in dangerous games like drugs, prostitution..."

    Leonardo Duval himself, was a man who knew secrets. He had dirt on all the elites and non elites of New Jersey. This man was the epitome of guilty, as he took souls and everything until all that was left was the clothes on his victim''s backs.

    It was refreshing watching karma unfold.

    Dane was the one to laugh like mad this time. "...So there is something that even the devil like you is afraid of? Tell me Leo, did they take away a secret of yours? Something so dire that you''re resorting to means to confide in this only friend of yours?"

    It was the first time he could see the truth reflected in those hellish glowing eyes. "The end of me, my friend is also the end of you. I won''t hesitate to take anyone down with me."

    "Foe."

    Leo rummaged through his pockets and slammed down a paper. Dane looked through and followed the outlines of a deer. It''s intricate design etched into his memory as he somehow knew where this was going.

    "It has a tattoo on the right upper arm. That''s how we''ll take the Golden Deer down. We find it first before it takes the both of us out."

    He extended out his hand and Dane didn''t hesitate to shake it.

    They were always friend and foe, once again working the same agenda that put both their aim on the line.

 Chapter 86 - Fated Encounter

    Peace and happiness were always shortlived.

    Even though Prisana has chosen to abandon her old life and start anew with her life''s hopes and dreams, life always came crashing down when you least expected it to.

    When she spotted Dane''s beastly form emerge from the golden doors to the VIP room, she quickly ran from Bailey and the devil to make her escape. She was grinning as she escaped but soon bumped into a girl in front of her and accidentaly knocked her purse down. Prisana bent down to retrieve it and hand it over to the girl but her smile faltered.

    Her breath was nearly knocked away by life''s surprises.

    Erica.

    Compared to the last time they met and were digging the other''s throats out, she had dyed her hair a brilliant platinum blond.

    She stood in front of Prisana with a deep and dark purple dress that hugged the curves of her slender waist and large bossom. The dress elegantly draped onto the floor in ruffles. Erica''s dark eyes reflected the same amount of emotions such as surprise and complete uncertainty.

    To Prisana''s relief, Erica wasn''t the man of her regrets but instead Erica held the arms of another man.

    Erica and Prisana both stood there, each slowly taking the other in.

    She whispered something into her date''s ears and then walked over. But Prisana made the first bold move to turn away.

    "Wait," came Erica''s sad voice.

    Prisana ignored her and kept walking, making sure to keep a low profile from the beast.

    By now, Erica kept following her and she grew so frustrated she had to turn over and nearly hiss out, "What do you want from me?"

    "I''m not with him anymore."

    "Good for you," she tried to turn around again, thinking Erica was finished.

    Erica caught her arm and pulled her to the side. "Listen to me. I need to tell you something."

    "I don''t care about you or Giovanni. I''ve moved on. Now let me go!"

    "I''m sorry."

    Her heart faltered. These words were like a sharp knife. Sweet yet deadly.

    "...Too late."

    "You don''t have to forgive me but I want to confess my sins and move on too."

    Prisana kept quiet, balling her fists to her sides.

    In every story there was always the protagonist who seeked revenge. Revenge was too overused. She found her happiness in Dane and through her new school life that awaited. Her fists softened to her sides as she gazed at the woman she once loved, who would never become a part of her life in this lifetime.

    She sighed wholeheartedly because she was simply tired.

    Tired of her past that kept finding it''s way back to her when she wanted to leave it all behind. It was like the universe was bent on having her face things left unfinished. There was still the senator and Giovanni but she was running away and she knew it.

    The first step to facing her past would be to end things with Erica. This was it. She braced herself.

    "I''ll never forgive you but if we can end without any uneccasary face slapping, then confess your sins."

    "I''ve always been jealous of you. Why did you have everything and I didn''t? Even the man I loved, loved you. It was like I was your shadow. Truly, I was going to be content just being your shadow my whole life if my best friend and sister and the man I loved lived happily together. And yet...That night changed everything. It was when I found Gio passed out drunk. He was with one of my male friends so I recieved word since he knew I liked him. It was never my intention to betray you because I loved you both but Gio...That night, he was truly broken and he asked to hold me so I gave him everything and even now!...Even now, he still loves you. Giovanni loves you."

    He loved her?

    Lies.

    Prisana''s hand crept up to her face as she slowly shook her head, memories flashing back to Giovanni crying before her. "I-I don''t believe it."

    "Something happened that night. I don''t know what but it has something to do with you. Since I''ve confronted him, I haven''t talked to him since and found someone else..."

    She patted Prisana''s shoulders and bitterly smiled. "I wish the both of you happiness, I really do."

    The three of them have known each other since they were kids. In a way, they all began as childhood friends. Things went downhill not becuase of that night. It was because of their betrayal. Prisana was still bitter but in away she actually smiled too.

    Without that night that changed their relationship as Erica foretold it and without their betrayal, she would have never found Dane. She would have never been blessed with the husband and beast that consumed all of her heart so she could soar to her limits.

    "...You too, Erica," she bitterly whispered and fought the words out so Erica couldn''t hear as she walked away.

    Maybe in another lifetime they could start over and be friends but the wound was still fresh and cut deep where she couldn''t ever trust Erica again.

    Prisana turned the other way as they walked separate paths.

 Chapter 87 - Game Of Catch

    "You look silly, my dear."

    "Shh," Prisana put a hand to her lips. "This is the best spot in the house!"

    The best spot in the house in general was underneath the bar table counter where Bailey and other servers stood. She was growing tired and bored of waiting. The VIP guests already began to shuffle out and now there were only a few lingering. Prisana yawned as she looked up at the clock. There was only a good fifteen minutes left.

    A part of her felt relived yet a part felt angsty as her beast was taking too long to come and chase her. The more time went by, the more she grew agitated thinking he must have forgotten about her. What was more important than her?

    She sighed. Of course, it must be work.

    The door creaked open and from the corner of her eye, she spotted two familiar figures. One, her freakishly hadsome beast dressed in a usual simple black tux with his hair elegantly slicked back. God, he was downright handsome that something carnal already began to pool in between her in anticipation for what was to come.

    The other one, the dangerous devil that halted all temptations and implored her to wonder what exactly kept these two men associating with each other. The beast and the devil walked side by side, a sight to behold. Both emanated such air of sparkling contrast of outstanding personalities that both the men and women lingering stopped to stare.

    Bailey stifled a laugh and tried her best to appear as if Prisana wasn''t under her feet even though she pretty much was.

    "Indulge in a drink with me?" the devil asked.

    Prisana could hear her beast continue walking even though the devil took a seat. "I''ve got a lynx to catch."

    The moment her beast couldn''t spot her, he returned to the back doors of Iron Horse.

    "You best hurry along somewhere else dear," Bailey suggested, smiling. "Before he turns this whole place upsidedown looking for you. Here Leo."

    "Just who are you..." Leo''s voice trailed off. "Talking to."

    She climbed out from her spot and breathed out against the table, earning a few curious glances. The one most startled was Leo himself as he nearly choked on his drink that Bailey had set down for him.

    "Safe! You''re right, I shouldn''t remain here for long."

    Leo chuckled long and hard, then leaned in to fully mess with her train of thought. "...The lynx was here all along. Clever. Can I join this game of yours?"

    She frowned at the smiling devil. "For some reason, I feel like you''d sabotage and thwart my chances at victory."

    "What? How rude. I''d make a good decoy. It sounds like fun."

    A brilliant idea surface in her head as she turned to glance at Bailey. "Is this man trustworthy in the company of a woman?"

    "No." "I like my women willing."

    Both Bailey and Leo regarded each other, one wary and the other one serious. Nonetheless, Prisana sighed and decided to trust the devil. There was only so much time left and she wanted to win tonight. The beast was always having his way with her. This time, she wanted him to relinquish all of himself for her.

    It was a silly yet important game she had to win.

    She turned to Leo with determined eyes, "Take me home."

    Now this earned deathly confused and surprised looks from both Bailey and Leo. Silence met her and only when Leo spoke, did she truly understand what her words twisted to.

    "I''m sure that man would kill me..."

    "I never said you were going home with me. Just take me home. If you try anything with me, then yes he''d probably kill you."

    "...I''m not sure who to most be wary of. That beast or you, his lynx."

    Bailey hissed at Leo, "You''ll be on two people''s murder lists if you dare do anything. Be a gentleman and send her off properly, hmm?"

    "That''s two more lists I''m on," this earned a hit on his shoulders as he winced through a chuckle. "Relax. Married women are an acquired taste. I haven''t surpassed that point of no return, yet."

    Bailey whacked him on the side again. Leo extended out his arm to her but Prisana simply walked past him, not particularly interested in linking arms with another man other than her beast. He shrugged and followed after her.

    They walked out into the hall until they reached the double doors outside of the Iron Horse. It was chilly outside as they waited, watching cars and lights flash them by. She watched Leo from the side as he made a phone call. Finally, he hung up and looked at her while his serious eyes aligned with that grim thin straight line at his lips.

    "...You sure you should be letting another man take you home? The devil himself? Aren''t you afraid?"

    "Afraid?" she thought about it, and to this man she didn''t know and only met twice. "I don''t know you and you could harm me but the way you interact with Bailey makes me think I can trust you."

    "You''re almost too trusting, then."

    "Is it bad to trust you? I trust that you wouldn''t forsake your friendship with Dane."

    From out of the night cold air, Leo held his stomach and threw out the most hearty laugh she never thought she''d ever hear from this devil. The devil may be dangerous but he was Dane''s friend. Any one of Dane''s friend could then become hers, as well. She didn''t have many friends and wasn''t too picky about them even if it was the devil himself.

    He wiped away a nonexistent tear from his eyes and resumed the devil act, "Friend?"

    "Isn''t that why you know his true identity and even visited the Iron Horse with him for a drink?"

    Leo suspiciously looked behind her before awkwardly cradling her face with his hand so her cheek lay against his palm. He whispered low, "You''re so innocent and delightful that I think getting killed may be worth it."

    An angry voice boomed behind Prisana as familliar beastly hands smacked away Leo''s hand, "Don''t touch her."

    She turned around to find a very sexy beast who burned with that hint of jealousy. Dane sighed as he laid eyes on Prisana. He then reached out to catch Prisana but she knew where this would end. Prisana felt a tinge of guilt overtake her but nonetheless ducked from his clutches and hid behind Leo.

    This caused the most strangest sight that Prisana ever beheld, considering Cleo and Dane already crossed off that deed.

    Dane leaped forward to catch her but instead, wrapped his arms over Leo''s broad and lean build.

    Two grown men were hugging each other, all three widening their eyes at the intimate high levels of bromance that managed to spark the gazes of curious onlookers.

 Chapter 88 - Relinquished Beast

    The two men, beast and devil, slowly unglued themselves from one another. Prisana had to resist laughter as she grinned ear through ear while displaying her phone to the beast. The time was undoubtedly a minute past midnight!

    She wanted to kiss Leo on the cheeks like she had done so to Cleo but in the back of her mind, a gut feeling told her not to. Instead, she gave Leo a high five. He dumfoundedly high fived her back and laughed all the while doing so.

    "My win!" she clearly rubbed this in the beast''s face.

    Leo grinned. "Does this mean the favor was owed?"

    "No. You offered your body as a decoy, remember? I never asked you to do this."

    "Hmm, good point."

    A long sigh from her beast greeted her. "...Lynx, that was a cheating game."

    "There were never any rules to begin with. Now I''ll have my way with you in bed..." Prisana''s cheeks flushed as she looked over to an amused Leo because she stupidly blurted out their private matters.

    "You stupid couple. Is that was this was about? I willingly offered my body to her just so she could ''have her way with you in bed''?"

    Dane smiled and at that moment, before both devil and lynx, she really thought that the universe among the night stars crashed into the moon. She thought this because she didn''t think her beast could look any more dashing but he did as his features brightened his already rugged looks that she so adored.

    Her husband and beast lovingly walked over to Prisana and chucked the underside of her chin. This habit was becoming too much for her heart to bare. Any moment now, Prisana would melt to a puddle of mess over how much she adored him.

    "Do as you please. I''ll be looking forward to it."

    Just as Dane leveled a death stare at Leo''s hand that patted Prisana''s shoulders, Leo leaned in close to whisper into her other ear. A moment went by as Dane questioningly raised an eyebrow because Prisana''s reaction painted it all. Leo''s whispered words only further fueled the flushing shame at her cheeks.

    He lifted his hand in the air to wave goodbye, leaving Dane practically hissing at him as he walked away. Soon after Leo had left, Dane placed his hand over her cheek.

    "What is it?" she asked, eyeing his hand on her cheek.

    "Disinfecting the devil''s touch and you shouldn''t let a man you barely know take you home."

    "But Leo is your friend, is he not?"

    Dane simply stared at her and laughed. "We''re foes, dearest."

    "Oh," she trailed off. "...That was terrible judgement on my part"

    He let his hand fall down to his side as he frowned even deeper. "...What did he say?"

    She turned around to avoid all eye contact. "He gave me...a little advice."

    There was this dark and dangerous glint in his eyes. "What, dare I ask, kind of advice was it?"

    Prisana thought back to all the times he chided her and smiled at his distress. "Oh dearest beast, why do you ask so many questions?"

    "Very funny lynx," he said this in a tone that wasn''t shrouded in humor. "I really must insist that you don''t listen to anything he says."

    ***

    Throughout the whole journey home, Prisana couldn''t stop blushing and thinking about the devil''s words. It echoed in her mind like bell chimes even as they reached their destination and traveled to the point behind closed doors.

    "I''m sorry," Dane said as the bedroom door closed.

    Prisana turned to look at him and shook her head. "No, I''m the one that should be sorry."

    "You''re wrong. I know I''m a frustrating beast. I know secrets are unbecoming of the truths we''ve vowed to be. I''m the one that''s sorry beause there''s still so much I''ve to tell you yet...A part of me is torn. Prisana I¡ª"

    This beautiful truth, she put a finger to his lips and smiled. "No more apologizing. We''re both at fault. At the end of the day..."

    Words couldn''t even begin to explain her feelings anymore. Prisana leaned in and tenderly kissed him on the lips, pulling back to search his eyes for that same intensity. He sighed and when he sighed, he pulled her into his arms into a sweet embrace. Even though they''ve found the other''s arms just the night before, rekindling after that hot fire dissipated was something else entirely.

    This time, Prisana was the one to sigh as the loving and warm familiar feel of his arms soothed her beyond end.

    Was this the end of the tunnel, such as happiness in the arms of one''s beloved?

    Prisana pulled away from this fleeting happiness and grabbed him by the hand. She nervously led him to the bed where she forced him to a sitting position. Their breathing meshed with the beating of her heart as she shakily spread his legs apart.

    The devil''s whispered words prompted her.

    Her hands flew to his pant zipper but he sucked in a breath and gripped her fingers from going further.

    "...Prisana."

    "Dane, allow me," she repeated his sweet words like every time before.

    "But¡ª"

    Her hands crept further to undo his zipper until his black briefs appeared. "Beast. Relinquish yourself. Allow me to have my way with you."

    Reluctantly, Dane let go of her and she tugged down his dark briefs until his fully erect cock sprung to her vision. This was the first time that she actually observed his cock up close. She gazed at it, admiring how it''s thick size and long shape actually stirred something within her. One of her hands reached out to touch the base of his cock.

    This caused him to nearly jolt as he heaved a long sigh.

    He leaned in to whisper in a low shaky breath, "Grip it tight...Hah...Stroke it."

    Prisana did as he instructed, gripping it with one hand tighter and stroking along his entire length. Just as Dane would pleasure her, she leveled her lips to the tip of his cock. She lightly kissed it and when she did so, Dane let out an arousing moan.

    His hand reached out to lovingly run along the already tussled strands within her hair. He played with her ears as she stuck out her tongue and timidly licked the tip. This prompted another jerk and moan. A strange feeling of satisfaction coursed through her knowing that she was the one making him become so sensitive to her every move.

    She grew more bold as she slid her hand to the base in a up and down motion while trailing her tongue along the entire length of him. She looked up at him as she licked his cock, watching as his flushed cheeks and parted mouth agonizingly turned away from her. By now, his slicked back hair was coming apart to messy strands all over the place.

    Her beast and husband was so devastatingly sexy that she had to sigh and hold herself back from jumping on him.

    Dane''s hand then gently guided her head and mouth along the entirety of his cock as they exchanged heated gazes. She had him wrapped over inside her mouth as she slowly and gently swallowed his cock. To make up for the lack of englufing him to the brim, Prisana used her hands to continue gripping the bottom as her mouth did work on taking him fully in.

    All the while she relished in making him come undone, Dane continued lightly gripping her hair and rubbing her head in encouragement. The sight of him becoming undone by her mouth made her shift uncomfortably on the floor. She could feel her wetness soak through and spread her legs apart wontonly the more Dane''s grip on her hair hardened.

    "...Hah...Fuck lynx...Mmh, yes just like that. Good girl," he purred and continued this delirious back and forth of panting and moaning with every torture she kept giving him.

    He tried to pull her back, "Prisana, I''m gonna come...Nnh...Let go. Please."

    Even though he was begging her, some part of her wanted to push the limits of having relinqished the beast. She relented and continued fucking him with her mouth in the sweetest way possible that drove him wild with breathless esctacy.

    Then finally, Dane made the move to slowly thrust his hips upward into her mouth as something began to fill the insides of her mouth. She gulped his semen, it''s salty and bitter taste leaving a strange feeling imprinted behind. Only then did Prisana open her mouth and let out the long breath she had been holding in.

    She peered up at him and nearly turned weak. Dane was dissolved in esctasy so sweet that he was staring at her through lazy half lidded eyes among breathy parted lips. He momentarily leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead then deeply frowned.

    "...You swallowed it...Hah...As I thought, it tasted strange, didn''t it? Let''s wash it out."

    Prisana shook her head and quietly pushed him down onto the bed with a finger at his chest. He landed against the velvet sheets with a soft thud just as she climbed over him and settled herself over him.

    Her fingers trailed over his slightly bare chest, "Not yet. I haven''t exactly had my way with you. Just lay there and let me take over."

    Dane rubbed his half hard cock over her pussy atop him and smiled, "I''m an impatient beast. Hurry and have your way with me already lynx."

 Chapter 89 - Way In Bed

    Dane was head over the moon when his lynx went and gave him the ultimate pleasure of his life. The way she pleasured him wasn''t that of an expert and not poorly but it was still her nonetheless and just knowing she was making efforts to give her all really stirred that hot desire pummeling out of him.

    He was an impatient beast but the truth stood, that he had lost their game of catch. The inner beast truly relinquished himself as she entincingly stradled him. Dane wondered if she knew how crazy she drove him. The crazy was overtaking him both in their day to day life and now mostly, in bed where she grew wild before him.

    Prisana leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Her soft and plump lips always touched him hotly and tenderly, to the point where he could just feel the raw emotions overtaking the both of them. At first, she started slowly, pecking him and grazing at both upper and bottom lips. Then, she expertly drove her tongue inside of him and initiated a passionate foreplay.

    As she did this, she kept rubbing her pussy against his bare and quickly hardened cock that had recieved pleasure just moments earlier. She was too irresistable everywhere. Dane didn''t ever think he could have enough of her.

    When his hand slyly crept along the glorious length of her legs, she held them to stop him because she knew where it was going. Hell, he wanted to fuck her hard with his fingers so he could loosen her for the sweet escape they were heading into.

    "No using your hands. I''ll do it myself. Just let me pleasure you beast."

    By herself?

    The beast inside purred. It purred because he was anticipating every single truth she just vowed, riling up his restraint even more. He let her do as she pleased. Dane couldn''t believe his eyes as she grasped her dress and slipped it over her head. She unhooked her bra to reveal those hardened and round bouncy breasts which his hands so itched to fondle.

    He was already panting with need like a deprived beast but Prisana shook her head at him just as he fisted his hands at his sides. This was the worst torture ever.

    She finished baring herself before him by stripping herself of her underwear, shuffling over his cock as she did so. God, there was something so insanely sexy watching her strip in front of him, making him sigh with tortured need after need once each shed off to bare her beautiful naked form.

    And then his eyes widened when she made the move to stick her own finger inside of her most sensitive spot. Her little gasps delighted his ears just as much as the sight of her brought him over the edge of insanity.

    Prisana continued slowly writhing her fingers inside herself as she leaned forward to trail kisses along his neck. The kisses went from neck to chest as she wickedly licked his nipples. He jolted from the stimulation, as she wrapped her tongue around the buds and switched off between them.

    Dane softly nipped at her shoulder, to which she pulled back and narrowed her eyes at him.

    "You said no hands. I''m using my mouth."

    He used the moment when she pulled back to slyly bend forward and suck one breast at his disposal. She jerked forward, her fingers still exploring her insides as she looked over to him with the most ravishing expression. It was like she was already begging him to fuck her and to his comeplte surprise, she guided his cock to her entrance.

    Without much warning, she stradled his cock and slid down along his entire length until he filled her to the brim. Her legs were shaking just as both their breathing hitched feverishly. God, she was so wet and hot that it felt out of this world, good.

    They looked at each other and mutually leaned to kiss one another, with Dane patiently waiting for her to stimulate him even further. When she paused their kiss, she dipped back and began rocking herself against his cock.

    All of his senses were getting fucked. His sight, for she sat atop him riding him like no tomorrow. His ears, because she was moaning without unrestraint in that sweet voice of hers that spilled into his ears like silk. His touch, on her soft blushed skin. His taste, because her breasts were so delicious to devour. And lastly, his scent, because cradling his head against her chest enveloped the tremors that exuded from his body.

    What''s more, the way she slammed her pussy back and forth over him while gazing at him just made it hard to breathe.

    "You''re so fucking beautiful," he breathed as he began to overstep his boundaries and slide his hands over the ridges of her waist.

    He wanted to simply touch every part of her skin, to memorize and imprint the feel of her body. Prisana quickly grasped both of his hands and held them so that their fingers were intwined into each other. She kissed him on the lips and moaned just as she fully slid down on him.

    "You make me feel beautiful."

    That was it. The last of his restraint that he could muster just flew out of the windows.

    He gripped her hands even harder and roughly whispered, "Hold on to my hands tight."

    Dane never let her question him. He only let her screams fill the room as he thrust his hips soft and deep into her core. They were moving against each other, finding a rhythm that only suited them. He slapped her buttocks with one hand, as she wildly twisted his cock in a circular motion to tease him beyond end.

    "Oh god Dane, that feels so...good!"

    "Dearest, you make me feel good. No matter how many times I''ve had you, I just can''t get enough...Ugh...Nnh...Prisana."

    "Dane."

    They found each other''s lips in a passionate back and forth dance of a lover''s sweet escape that it nearly made him forget they were inside each other. Her lips could make him simply forget the world they were in. Dane grasped both the sides of her waist as he drove into her harder. Harder, rougher, and faster because hearing her moan out his name always twisted his heart to knots.

    She was practically screaming into his mouth and clawing her nails into the flesh of his hands when he relently drove his hips up into her. Prisana was so wet as he increased the friction that he could feel her juices soaking through to his thighs.

    By now, she couldn''t follow his rhythm as he was seeking out both of their release. Dane froze when he slammed deep into her one last time before watching her back shudder and arch as his desires filled her insides completely. She fell on top oh him and cradled further into his arms as they both were heaving and taking breaths from the wild passion they''ve just invoked.

    When they found a steady breathing, Dane lovingly chucked the underside of her chin which made her turn up to smile at him questioningly.

    "...Prisana, you never let me finish earlier. I want to try and tell more truths."

 Chapter 90 - Shedding Truths

    Prisana immediately jumped up from his arms and sat upright to search his eyes. Their bodies were still connected so this small and innocent movement made her beast flinch. The lynx flinched herself as she detached herself from him which earned a slight frown on his part but it faded away. She was staring at him with the most roundish sparkling eyes that even made him chuckle.

    "Really?" she asked him.

    Her husband and beast took a long deep breath and met her unwavering gaze. "Yes, really."

    "...That work trip I went to, it actually had to do with my demons."

    This was it. More ugly yet beautiful truths would be shed by her beast. She patiently waited for him to speak as he stroked strands of her hair, as if trying to formulate his words.

    "I went to look for a man. This scar on my forehead, I mentioned it came from a house fire. It was that same fire that killed my parents when I went in to search for them. My parents died from that ''mysterious'' house fire but I know that there was something more to it. Something to do with my father. You see, he was a detective. I''m not sure if whoever went and did this silenced the whole police force but it was ruled as an accident. I couldn''t stand the injustice so by an means possible, I rose to fame and power and I went to California to find that man who used to work alongside my father to uncover more truths."

    There were these haunting shadows that almost scared her.

    He sighed, "Prisana. The reason I need to win the public''s favor is because some bastard, I''m not sure if it''s your father..."

    "Senator," she quickly corrected him.

    "I''m not sure if it''s the senator or some other damn politician but I think the person who murdered everything I knew and loved, is in that council."

    The senator was involved in this grand scheme of things that birth a man of revenge.

    For some reason, it didn''t surprise her. The only thing that surprised her was that the world had to be as little just to be cruel on fate. Her own flesh and blood that raised her, could be the same exact monster which ruined this man she loved. Ruin everything that turned him into this vulnerable beast before her at this moment.

    Rage boiled inside but even more, a feeling of uncertainty gnawed at her bones.

    "Is it revenge?"

    Dane turned away, as if to avoid the question both knew the answer to. "I''ll bring that person down, even if that means I''ll lose everything."

    "Even if you lose me?"

    He met her sad gaze and she knew those pained eyes were torn. This was what he meant. Torn because of her.

    "Lynx and dearest wife, falling in love was never in my plans. But you broke and crumbled my walls from existence. I''m torn because I never want to lose you and yet, I can''t let my family continue to suffer this injustice until I put their soul and mine to rest."

    She didn''t say anything for a long time. Both beast and lynx simply lay in each other''s arms, with Prisana mulling over every truth he shed to her. The love he had for her was great. She at least knew that much. But it was starting to seem as if his demons were greater than their vowed love. Even more, her heart was hurting so much for him.

    Prisana imagined him being stripped from his parents without warning and without remorse. She imagined him all alone in those woods bent on revenge. He must have never truly mourned but hardened himself to become a walking revenge

    Droplets of tears stained against his chest.

    He grew flustered and nearly rolled off the bed from guilt at how he was unsure of to respond to her sorrows, "Prisana. What..."

    She sniffled and nestled deeper against him. "It must have been so hard. Beast, you endured so much all alone. I hate that you had to go through something like that. But I''m here now. You''re not alone anymore. If it''s revenge you want, I''ll be there with you to lose everything. Where you go, I''ll follow."

    His arms tightly wrapped over her, so much that it felt as if she would break but then he sighed into her neck, tickling her skin. There was this powerful sensation that coursed through her as she returned his embrace, sucked in and lost to the world to forget about all worries that plagued them both.

    To her, her husband and beast was ugly yet beautiful. He had his ugly side which pushed those he loved away and then, he even had this beautiful side which captured her heart endless times because only she truly knew how sweet he was. Bailey was right. She needed to give him her patience and in time, his love would fully blossom.

    He already demonstrated he would strip himself down but until then, she would do the same and strip herself for this blinded revenge of his until he could see otherwise. For now she was content on how things were. Happiness never lasted long but in this very moment she wanted to believe that everything would eventually turn out okay.

    "I don''t deserve such beautiful truths...Thank you, wife and dearest lynx," he kissed the crevices of her hairline. "Where I go and where you follow, I promise that if it''s you and I, then we''ll surely conquer all."

    "I love you," she whispered, wanting to cry all over again because he was too sweet for words.

    Prisana blushed as she felt his cock harden against the entrance of her still soaked core as she lay on top of him. He sighed breathlessly and kissed her as if to confirm that he loved her too. When he twisted her so that she was urged sideways with a leg dangling over his shoulders, she shook her head because she could feel his cock pressing over her with the tip already sliding in and out.

    The husband of a beast was almost never satisfied.

    He was teasing her body yet begging with pleasure ridden eyes, "One more time?"

    She turned away to refuse his kiss but he shrugged and went to sucking at the tender skin at her neck he bit on earlier.

    "Nnh...No, I''m tired," she lied because one more time usually result into a whole night of love making. "Don''t you have work tomorrow?"

    "I''m my own boss. I can tell myself what to do."

    "Cleo would get angry with you. After all, you didn''t leave for work but on personal matters."

    "Let him be angry with me. Let me show you how much I love..." she found it cute that he had to look away from her. "...How much I adore you."

    Prisana chuckled and urged his face toward her with a hand. Now Dane was flushing with bright red cheeks. Perhaps, he still wasn''t used to professing his love in front of her. It was still fresh and new so she didn''t fault him. After all, women naturally had an easier time expressing their love than men did.

    "So even the beast can act cute, hmm...Ah!"

    She yelped out as his cock slowly invaded her insides in one swift thrust. It felt so good as she was still so sensitive from his sweet pounding moments earlier. Like the beast he was, he began to lick her calf. Dane even made it a point to bite at her skin once he withdrew and thrusted deep inside of her again.

    Only when she oozed complete surrender, did he chuckle in return.

    "Cute? I dare you to say that again."

 Chapter 91 - Too Much Love

    "Cute," she really dared it.

    "What a bad girl you are. I should punish you a little, hmm?"

    He withdrew himself from her and then she already began to whimper and wanted him back inside. Yet, she tried her best not to show her desires. Dane twisted her around so she was on all fours, with her butt in the air facing him. The cold air passed through her body and she shivered because it was craving for his warmth.

    She bit her lower lip in anticipation as Dane positioned both hands on her buttocks. First, he leaned down to kiss one of her butt cheeks and nibbled at it, like he was trying to eat away at every part of her body. He then rubbed his hands along the plump shape, giving both sides a gentle slap.

    Prisana''s eyes widened and she tried to surpress a moan in thinking it as improper to feel even more wet just because he gave her a little pain. But she was, because some part of her was getting wet pleasure from his torture.

    "Oh!" she hiked forward as he gave her another slap, a little harder this time since it stung.

    He leaned down to kiss the area where he roughly slapped. "Sorry. Was that too rough?"

    She wiggled her buttocks in the air toward him, turning back to look at him with a shy look. When she quietly shook her head, he instantly slapped her again as she screamed out in pleasure. The moment he slapped her hard, he entered her from behind. His thick and long cock invaded sweetly even when his semen was still inside of her.

    It lubricated his thrusting and made it easy to move so she wasn''t pained but rather driven into another wall of esctacy.

    When he slapped her again, she nearly shivered from delight as pain mixed with the pleasure of his cock pounding deeply at the back of her. She was already rocking her hips back to meet every agonizing thrust that drove her wild.

    He paused and she eagerly tried to move closer and back against his cock but he abstained.

    Dane nibbled her earlobes and chuckled as she twitched from his delicate teasing. "You''re so tight dear. More than usual. Do you enjoy a little pain?"

    "I don''t know."

    "Lies."

    The beast unleashed his nonsense punishment and slapped her again until she could feel both of her buttcheeks sting and this time, Prisana let out a lustful moan without trying to surpress it. She was haywired to every sensation he was feeding her with. It was shameful but her whole body was shaking just as she felt her most sensitive spot feverishly leak with need.

    Need to have more of him than just his sweet torture but he only rubbed her with his heat that desired her just as much as she did him. He was driving her crazy. Dane showered her back with kisses. He kept simply kissing and sucking at her skin, like trying to cover every part of her with his marks.

    Before morning light, Prisana was sure she''d be covered in his marks to where she''d bare no untouched skin.

    He chomped on her neck again at the area that he kept torturing earlier and she shuddered. "That hurt."

    "It''s your fault for having the body of a goddess. You''re so enticing I could eat you all up. Not to worry, I''ll make you feel good real..." he had to sigh as he slipped his cock inside her pussy all over again to produce that lewd and obscene wet sound of their union. "Soon."

    Prisana was clutching and scratching at the bedsheets as at last, his cock buried fully into her so it hit through to her stomach. She couldn''t even let out a moan as it came out more like an exasperated grasp. Like this, with her butt facing him, he had full enjoyment to her. He smacked her roughly again yet kissed the area around the neck he bit all at the same time.

    With both hands gripping her buttocks, he held her still and slammed her vigourously as he kept trailing hickeys along her entire back view he had access to. Their pants and moans began to match each other. She screamed when he grasped both of her breasts to lift her upright so he could drive his cock into her in an almost sitting position with their knees buried into the cushion of the bed.

    Dane harshly twisted both nipples with his hands as he sweetly rocked her from behind. Slowly, he crept his fingers above her clit and rubbed along the senstive area to induce even more high pitched breathing. Her head was thrown side to side as she grasped both arms to wrap it backwards around his neck.

    She pulled him down to kiss her and completely chomped on his lower lip as he rubbed her clit in a fast and merciless motion to his fucking that matched it. When he tugged at her nipples to stretch her breasts, she completely dipped back and spasmed over him as her beautiful features enlightened even more desire.

    He didn''t wait for her to finish coming like all the other times and instead, continued thrusting his cock even as she was still twitching from passion. His hands left her nipples and crawled over to both sides of her waist so he could focus on making sweet love to her pussy. He held onto her waist he he thrusted deliciously into her, forgetting she was still so sensitive.

    It was like he was driven by the sole desire to continue coming inside of her.

    Dane wasn''t listening to any of her feeble protests as he claimed her lips and meshed their tongues together. He rocked back and forth. Until, he slapped her butt again and when she tightened around him, only then did he relinquish himself inside of her. She could feel him growl unpleasantly as she tried to wiggle out from him.

    When she successfully wiggled out from his hold, Prisana clumsily fell onto the ground with a loud thud and had to rub her stinging butt. She backed away as the beast crawled down and closer toward her but she kept trying to scoot away.

    The exit to the bathroom was far. She couldn''t just exactly escape outside without any clothes.

    "You said one more time. That was the last...Ah!"

    He had her legs pinned over his shoulders in seconds, chuckling low and beastly. "Lies. I can tell them too."

    Dane licked her legs and played a knowing game as he rubbed his hand along her thighs, in between where the thing he most desired lay as a wet mess in wait.

    "One," he paused. "Last time."

    He never touched her inside yet and only hovered there, trying to invoke more desire by massaging the area around her pussy. She was tired but watching his expectant eyes full of unrivaled heat made her a bit weak. He looked like a sad beast, eagerly doing his best to seduce her. Dane kept nibbling around her legs to make more marks as his hands played with her pussy.

    "Allow me to at least take it out," he said this with a grin she didn''t trust.

    His finger tugged on the folds of her pussy, gently sliding it up and down along each tantalizing fold. The way his gaze just observed her down there closely fueled something she was trying to resist. Dane''s fingers immediately went inside and moved to scrape out his come that continued leaking out so it trailed onto the ground.

    Her body was shaking as he kept fingering around her pussy to take out every last bit of the remains. She was sighing and surpressing little moans as he helped finger out her come.

    "Done," he said as he withdrew his fingers from her even though he was hard as hell.

    There was a knowing smile to his lips because surely he knew what he stirred up inside of her again.

    Prisana reluctantly spread out her arms so that he could lean down,. It seemed like this time he was truly asking her for permission as he didn''t just enter her. The lynx tricked him by grabbing onto him and when he leaned forward, she chomped him on the shoulder in return.

    "Insatiable beast! I really will end up going to the hospital."

    "Like I said before, I''ll nurse you back to health....Nnh!" he wasted no time and slipped his cock into her pussy, still throbbing and filled with the last invasion.

    Dane paused as she was gathering her sanity and looked over to the bed. She wondered what he was thinking as he pulled down the bedsheets but realized when he caught hold of the pillows. The sweet yet frustrating beast with endless appetite, clumsily settled the blanket and pillow on her back.

    How sweet.

    He was worried her back would hurt.

    Prisana frowned because it was hard to be mad at his sex drive when he was treating her with sweet and torturous care. She abandoned thoughts of sweet when he resumed the long and drawn out foreplay of sliding and thrusting his cock feverishly inside her pussy. Within minutes, the beast was growling against her lips as she screamed and shook her head because his fingers flew to her clit.

    "Dane! No more. I can''t come anymore. Please, don''t."

    "I know you can," he purred. "Please. Come, for me. I love it when I see your face awashed by euphoria."

    ''What an easy woman'' she thought to herself. Simple words from this man were enough for her to relinqish herself.

    They both came as tears from her eyes drew that finishing line.

    After that, the lynx never trusted the beast again when he would beg for another round.

 Chapter 92 - Even In The Morning

    The beast was truly insatiable.

    When Dane awoke, he was hugging Prisana within his arms into a sideways embrace. It was easy for him to become stirred because his cock slightly hardened against her buttocks when he caught sight of her bare breasts.

    Once his gaze rested on her beautiful face, it was beyond the end of all as his cock fully hardened.

    Dane shuddered because it wasn''t nearly enough. It was both terrifying and beautiful but he yearned for her all the time. Love made a man become strange. He never craved for a woman like this before. He longingly rubbed his cock against half awake eyes, entincingly watching her flinch cutely and moan in her slumber.

    Something overtook him. His insatiable lust for her won over as he slowly cupped both breasts into his hands. He loved the feel of her soft breasts in his palms. The way it perfectly fit and streched to his liking. Dane massaged them, admiring how her pink nipples began to protrude from her breasts. He continued massaging her until he could see her nipples harden in full view.

    Even more than feeling her breasts, he loved tasting them. He lowered his head and claimed a nipple into his mouth. He sucked on her nipple like sweet milk spilled from them, sucking intensely as sounds filled the room with his conquest of waking her.

    When she jolted awake and tried twisting out of his hold, it forced him to part from her breasts. Yet, he continued with massaging her breasts as he saw the realization slowly dawn on her features that he was seducing her even in sleep.

    He went to nibble on her ears instead, "Mornin'' my wife."

    "..Dane...Ah...First...Thing in the morning?" she tried elbowing him away but he was strong as it didn''t deter him from showering her in kisses.

    The moment that she ever seriously refused him, he would never forcibly take her. He knew there were limits not to push too. It was only that he wanted to tease her to show her how much he thirsted for her and if her reactions were ridden enough with pleasure, then only then would he truly penetrated her like mad.

    He chuckled into her shoulder as he kissed it. "Why not? If you give me a good reason to stop then I''ll stop. But truly, I would never push you if you really want me to stop."

    "Work," was the awful truth she came up with.

    "You''re beginning to sound a lot like Cleo. You''ve been hanging around that stoic secretary for far too long."

    "The college placement tests are in...." she checked her phone for the time as Dane kept seducing kisses on her skin. "Two hours! I...Ah...really need to get ready."

    "Not nearly a good enough reason to stop."

    "What?" she both complained and laughed hysterically at the same time, trying to slap his face away for they knew he was stirring up wanted passion.

    His longing and hard heat slipped in between her thighs right below the entrance to her pussy. Just a little and he could be inside of her but he wanted her to say the words.

    "It is however, a good reason to continue. We have two hours," he tried to convice her as he rubbed alongisde her, to which she moaned. "All I need is one hour."

    "Tempting. Why don''t you seduce me a bit more so I can think about it further?"

    It was almost ironic how Prisana was the one who was teasing him. Truly, she had the upper hand since although he wanted her, he never wanted to forcibly hurt her. The daring look in her eyes however, was all it took for him to know she was purposely holding him off. She even glided back against him which sent a shiver down his spine and made his cock stiffen even more.

    At last, he kissed her on the lips and growled, "You won''t be able to think when I''m through with seducing you."

    They were faced sideways, so it was hard to see her expression that he so adored. Nevertheless, he grasped a breast into his palm and leaned down to tenderly suck on her nipple. Dane tugged her nipple and stretched her breast as he fondled the other nipple which craved for his touch. She was already kicking out her legs as he continued deriving pleasure from between her thighs.

    The beast deftly licked her ear and whispered, "Every part of you is perfect. Your lovely face, that is probably blushed beyond ruin. This slender neck and how petite this waist of yours twists beside me can make a beast lose his cool. Your breasts, they''re perfect too. So breathtakingly beautiful. Like a puzzle piece fitted to my hands. It hardens so cutely and always tastes...mmh...hah...sweet like the finest milk pouring from within."

    He kept torturing her nipple as he flicked his tongue over the areola. And then his hand crept along her roundish buttocks.

    "Even your butt excites me beyond end because it''s plump and endearing," he focused his fingers to slip inside of her steadily moist pussy just as she jerked beside him. "And this hellish little hole of yours is always so tight and inviting. I want you so bad I can''t stand it...I wish I could take you with me to work."

    He was so sure he accomplished the deed of seducing her as the tips of her ears were blush red and her moans were drowned with need. "T-Then you wouldn''t be...Ah...Working."

    "Let an insatiable beast dream."

    Dane increased his sweet invasion to two fingers and instantly rocked her world, as the bed creaked with the wet sounds coming from within her.

    She abandoned her shyness and looked back to nod at him. "I''ve been madly seduced."

    With the two fingers still inside of her, he stretched her open wide as his cock easily entered her from behind. He then began to rock her world sideways as the heightened creaking of the bed meshed with the passion filled moans that erupted from the pair of lovers.

    Dane nibbled at the bruise around her shoulder which he tirelessly inflicted upon in their endless lovemaking. He held both breasts to push her back against him more solidly so he could ram up into her innermost deepest parts. Every moment spend with his lynx in bed drowned both his heart and body in pleasure.

    The beast held his lynx for the entire hour that morning until they had to depart.

 Chapter 93 - Half Naked Coincidence

    The university school bell chimed just as Prisana finished marking the last answer to the last portion of the placement test. It was split into three sections. English, Math, and Science. Prisana wasn''t always the brightest kid in the all girl''s Christian academy she attended but she was one of the most hard working students.

    She was able to do last minute studying throughout the week and retain some old knowledge from previous teachings in school. Prisana flexed her hands and immediately shuffled among other students who rushed to turn in their paper in front of the class.

    "Psst," a woman''s voice prompted her to look back.

    Alex!

    She did recieve a text from Alex that she was going to take the placement tests on the same exact date. Truly, she never really had a friend so it made her a little giddy when they exchanged phone numbers and began texting one another. Now that she saw her in person, it was a little nervewrecking but nonetheless she offered a shy and nervous smile.

    "Wanna grab lunch with me?"

    That was so simple.

    Prisana nodded with a bigger smile this time. "Sure."

    They grabbed lunch at the campus cafeteria. Prisana wasn''t the least bit displeased with her choice of food as the campus cafeteria sold a wide variety of common food ranging from sandwhiches, soup, salad, and other such things she never really had the chance of fully appreciate as she always ate food made for an elite senator''s daughter.

    Both Prisana and Alex found a table outside and chatted about anything and everything.

    "So, you''re married?" popped out that question Prisana indeed revealed during that ice breaker game.

    Prisana happily nodded. "I am."

    "Ugh, you look so happy. Women in love are often so vibrant and I can tell just by looking."

    "Are you in love with someone?" Prisana asked in return.

    "Love? I used to be in love with someone but now I learn it''s better to stay away from it."

    "It''s a beautiful thing Alex. One day like me, I''m sure you''ll find a man that will love you unconditionally."

    "No it''s a trap..." Alex''s voice trailed off as she gawked at a familiar figure in the distance who ran near past the both of them.

    The figure running in question was Theo. A half naked Theo gloriously basked underneath the sun''s rays, revealing fine lines of a lean six pack dripping wet with sweat. He was a sweaty mess of a running man, trailing after a few other boys who were also gloriously half naked. Prisana had to blink her eyes and wonder if they were shooting a commercial.

    No media was around. She was at least good at spotting the media''s lens.

    Theo spotted both Alex and Prisana, then ran over to wave and greet at the two who couldn''t help but stare at how their group leader from the orientation had a pretty nice body. Prisana shook her head and moved it to thoughts on her sexy beast of a husband. She smiled as the image of Dane calmed the abrupt and unwelcomed half naked sight before her.

    "Ladies. What are you doing here?"

    Alex looked the other way. "Oh my god. Put. A. Shirt. On. You are disturbing the peace around this campus..."

    She then quickly looked past Theo''s shoulders and Prisana could swear she saw hearts form in them. "Is that other naked guy a friend of yours? Introduce me."

    "Tsk tsk. Now you want to play nice? Too bad. He''s only into big breasted women..."

    To this, Alex whacked him on the shoulder and he winced as an apology. Prisana looked around and was aware how boyishly charming girls found him as what looked like his admirers stood from the distance.

    His admirers either fawned over him or shot Alex and Prisana with daggers. It was a bit frightening being scutinized under so many gazes but she was actually used to it so it didn''t bother her that much.

    The malicious intent was the only thing that bothered her.

    "The placement tests...We just took the tests," she managed to croak out as she focused on his messy hair. "Why in god''s name are you shirtless and running, at that?"

    "I lost a bet during our club meeting. So, me and some other guys have to run shirtless for five laps. It''s a long story...Anyway how did the tests go?"

    "Terrible," Alex groaned.

    "It was challenging but I think I pretty much nailed a good average on them. And uh, it seems like your friend is waiting for you."

    "Stop talking to your girlfriends! Hurry up and run Vaughn!"

    Theo rolled his eyes and shouted back to his friend, "I''d never date the abusive woman on the left."

    Alex in question, was the abusive woman on the left. She hit him on the shoulders again for that remark. That left Prisana remaining. Would that mean he''d be interested in dating her? The way he smoothly said things always surprised her beyond end. She just stared at him blankly, watching as he purposely winked at her.

    "That''s right. Wait for me. Since I''m your senior from orientation, I should introduce you to your other seniors and treat you to something...Boba drinks. Girls like those sweet drinks, right?"

    "Boba? What''s that?" Prisana asked.

    Both Theo and Alex stared at her like she were truly an undiscovered creature. Prisana couldn''t help that she had been sheltered her whole life. She was only beginning to explore the wonders of the world without the senator''s clutches holding her back from doing so.

    "Boba is one of the most delicious and amazing drinks known to mankind that come in a wide variety. It originated from Taiwan and is a sort of tea like substance that has these black chewy gummies inside."

    "You seem to know a lot about boba. I didn''t know boys could be into sweet drinks too," Alex pointed out with a mocking laugh.

    "Leave me alone. This is a free country," he chided her then turned back to the boys in the field yelling at him to finish his laps. "Drinks on me. You both should familiarize yourself with your seniors so you can have some career and campus advantages. Ah, I know what you''re thinking. What a kind senior. Believe me, I wish I had a senior like myself back in my freshman years too..."

    "Theo! We''ll make you run another round!"

    "...Laters!"

    After Theo faded from view, Alex whistled under her breath. "Wow. As much as he annoys me, Theo is kind of hot."

    My husband is still the best , is what Prisana wanted to say.

 Chapter 94 - Life Is Beautiful

    "...Cute."

    "I forgot how nice and refreshing Freshman girls were. After all, the senior girls in our club sure are uncute and scary!"

    The two men that were in the drama and acting club alongside Theo, stared at Prisana and Alex like they were two fresh kittens. Surprisingly, Alex was acting like a demure and cute girl for the first time Prisana has met her. In Prisana''s mind, that was most likely because Alex was indeed crushing on Theo''s friend she spotted half naked earlier.

    Women who were cruhsing on someone, were quite fearsome as they could change from one person to the next.

    Alex kept looking at the man named Elliot which paid her just as much attention, "Senior guys are so mature, unlike immature and stupid freshman boys. Isn''t that right Prisana?"

    "I guess?" she said, not particularly interested in boys her age since she already had a loving husband and beast.

    And besides, men her age among the elites were all mature far past their prime. To Prisana, she didn''t see much of a difference. She did however, keep feeling a penetrating stare directed toward her.

    The other man Theo introduced as Noah was the one to stare intently at Prisana, with awestruck eyes. It made her a bit uncomfortable. As if sensing this, Theo came during the right time with the so called boba drinks and karate chopped Noah on the head.

    "Hey, stop making her feel uncomfortable. Even if she''s pretty, you shouldn''t openly stare at someone to the point of being creepy Noah...See? This is why you can''t get a girl to date you."

    Noah rubbed his head and looked at Prisana with apologetic eyes. "Sorry Prisana, us senior boys aren''t always surrounded by cute freshman girls. And Theo! How could you hide the fact that you''re acquainted with them? Don''t tell me, you wanted to keep them all to yourself!"

    This earned another karate chop, harsher this time since Prisana heard and saw the harsh impact nearly send Noah''s face down onto the table in front of them.

    "Idiot. Alex is nowhere near cute," this earned a death stare from Alex as Theo passed everyone their drinks.

    Surprisingly, Alex didn''t whack Theo on his shoulder and continued batting her eyelashes at Elliot.

    "I think Alex is very, very cute," Elliot grinned as he focused all his attention on Alex.

    She sighed and did this weird thing as she twirled a strand of hair with her finger. "Oh stop. Hah, I mean, you''re not so bad looking yourself Elliot."

    Theo gestured to Prisana. "And Prisana...She''s a married woman. I met them during orientation when I led their group. I''m simply being courteous and exposing them to more resources, namely us if they want to pursue anything in the entertainments seriously. So don''t get the wrong idea."

    "No way..." Noah nearly ripped his hair out. "It was love at first sight too. Why must my life always result to such hardships?"

    Theo shook his head and sighed, then chuckled as he watched Prisana flustered and become unsure of how to deal with the situation.

    "Relax. Noah''s always like that."

    "...Is that right?"

    "He falls in and out of love too easily. That''s his greatest flaw."

    "Your greatest flaw is that you''ve never fallen in love!" Noah shouted, clearly still hurt from hearing that Prisana already had another. "You see Prisana, even though Theo''s had girlfriends, he always chose his career first. That''s not love if you ask me. If it was love, it should be beautiful and you''d abandon everything just to be with that person."

    Prisana thought about it. It was true. If she had to abandon everything and lose all in the end just to be with her one and only beast of a husband, then she would. But Theo seemed like the faithful and caring, compassionate type of boyfriend so it didn''t make sense why he dated them if he didn''t love them.

    "Says the man who hasn''t even had their first girlfriend," Theo interjected.

    Noah fake cried, lowering his voice sadly. "...Don''t remind me that I may die without ever experiencing the joys of having a cute and youthful girlfriend. Curse you and Elliot! You''re like some charismatic and outgoing guy all the girls can''t help but be attracted to while Elliot has the looks of an actor and the body of an athlete. And I''m just the...D.U.F.F!"

    "D.U.F.F?" Prisana asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion.

    She didn''t understand the latest trends the normal youth ought to acquaint themselves with.

    "Dumb ugly fat friend," Alex explained. "It''s bascially like if you go to a party and Noah would be the guy to make his other two friends say Theo and Elliot look like the hottest guys in their group of friends while Noah would end up being some extra cast member."

    Prisana took the time to really look at Noah. He wasn''t the most handsome man in the world but he wasn''t by far, hideous either. Looks were subjective. It wasn''t as if her beast were the most eye catching but it was his sweet yet sour heart that pulled her in. Their love was built on lies that never mattered on looks but turned beautiful to truths that led to unconditional vows.

    She shook her head and smiled at Noah. "Don''t say that. One day, there will definitely come a girl who loves you as you are. Elliot and Theo have their good traits. I''m sure you have your good traits too...Maybe if you start off a little less aggresisve then girls would have an easier time opening up to you and see just what kind of person you really are. Everyone deserves to be in love. It''s a beautiful thing which I agree on you with. Chin up, I''m truly rooting for you Noah!"

    Theo was the one to chuckle and then he leaned in with his palms and just gazed at her in wonder. "Prisana, I think you''re only making him fall for you more."

    "W-Who is this husband of yours? I have to see him for myself..."

    Prisana innocently showed the group a picture upon Noah''s request, of a scandalously caught off guard Dane. He was sitting in their living room reading a newspaper with his shirt robe indefinitely parted to reveal glorious chest muscles. It was a picture she sneaked, thinking the beast himself might as well have walked out of a painting.

    "...I concede defeat," Noah stated devastatingly.

    "He''s more ripped than I am," Elliot commented, admiring Dane''s large muscular form.

    Alex whistled and shook her head in disbelief. "Wow wow wow. Prisana, why have you been hiding such a man? He''s so handsome and he looks rich too. I''m so jealous~ Theo. Don''t tell me, you''re jealous too?"

    Everyone turned over to look Theo.

    He covered his face right before Prisana could gauge his emotions.

    "I concede defeat too. Prisana, I''ve been crushing on you since the orientation. It''s not like I was ever going to act on it...Damn it, how embarrassing. M-More importantly, I brought you ladies here with the intention of bribing you with sweet drinks so you''d join our club."

    Again, Theo was too smooth with his words. Everyone, including Prisana, took some time to recover as he went on to the next conversation so naturally.

    Alex coughed, "What''s in it for us?"

    "Our club goes on free trips and upon graduating, you''ll get experience and reccomendation from former actor XXX teacher in charge."

    "Sounds like fun. I''m in," Prisana answered, already adoring these people she only just met.

    "That easy?" Alex incredulously asked. "I-I mean, if Prisana''s joining, then it seems like fun too."

    It was strange. There was a heigtened sense of satisfaction as Prisana engaged in friendly banter and conversation with common folks around her age. They were all beautiful and harbored none of those fake ugly smiles full of lies like those elites she was once part of.

    She could get used to this.

 Chapter 95 - Conquer All

    There were two big problems in Dane''s hands. First. The public didn''t exactly view him as the most favorable candidate to become part of the council. He had a somewhat plan to revise that but needed more time though ironic since elections were soon. Second. The devil was sitting inside his office yet again and this time, Dane couldn''t really reject his presence.

    Why?

    They were once again working the same agenda, as the devil''s secrets came about free this time around. What irked him beyond end was that the devil has stationed a  brand new desk and chair inside the corner of his office without his permission. Dane was really wondering who he had to fire. His entire female staff or Cleo for overlooking this huge inconvienient matter.

    "...What is the meaning of this?" Dane demanded, with a long sigh as he walked past Leo and took a seat at his own desk.

    He wasn''t even surprised anymore with whatever the devil did. Only irked beyond limits.

    "I figured we should be with each other all day long, even during work hours After all, I came knocking straight into your life as of right now since I was worried you were getting too happy all by yourself with that lovely wife of yours. Ah, Prisana is truly something hmm?"

    "Refrain uttering her name from your sinful lips."

    "Hah, I''m not even allowed to say your wife''s name? You''re a ridiculous beast! It''s not as if I would whisk her away from your side by simply uttering her name alone."

    If Dane could, he would have broke apart the pen in two at his fingertips by now.

    "Are you here to work or to annoy me?"

    "Both," the devil admitted this with a wide grin.

    Dane tried flinging the pen at his hands straight toward that cocky face of his but the devil caught it with two fingers. He even whistled at his own feat.

    "My bad, it slipped out of my hands. It might happen again," Dane stonily answered, wondering how he could sharpen his aim the next time around.

    The devil smirked and began to mock him as he always somehow messed with Dane''s inner thoughts, "Anger, jealousy, uncertainty, and devotion are spilling from your entire existence. What is it Dane? I thought you didn''t love this woman."

    But for once Dane had the upper hand as he uttered without hesitation, "I love her."

    Truly, he loved Prisana so much it kept scaring him that his desires would warp and twist to make it unbearable for her to breathe.

    This time, Leo was the one to slowly blink at him and do a double take, his features crossing disbelief. He slowly shook his head and laughed like the mad devil that he was.

    "You...love her? I''ll be damned! Tell me, does she know your filthy secrets to the very last bone? That you sold your soul to the devil. I always come to collect, no matter how much even I have come to enjoy wrecking havoc upon your peaceful life. Heh, how sad. What you''re playing at is only temporary house and happiness."

    Dane bitterly looked away, "Don''t worry devil. When that time comes, I''ll make sure that she''ll be well off on her own. Even if it''s temporary happiness, I''d gladly die and live again this fate just to render moments that carry my heart a lifetime...Why don''t you stop concerning yourself with me and be concerned about your own life?"

    "...Because we are alike. I''m only doing you a favor and dragging you back to hell where you belong."

    "That might have been true at one moment in time..."

    "Leonardo Duval," Dane spat his name like venom upon even speaking through his lips. "The devil without disguise. A man who owns no heart. Yet it beats and ticks a heartless bomb. A joker on the outside. On the inside, we may never truly know what lies within. More despicable villain character or a sad, pathetic, and lonely soul disrupting hell upon every man because he never had anything. Lost nothing, knew nothing, and therefore trying to conquer all in the most devilish ways possible. If you ask me, the life I led before, made me a man just like you in similar yet different circumstances but now I''m nothing like you. I won''t hand over my fate so easily to my demons, you, or the universe. I''ll bend that fate until the lynx and I truly conquer all."

    Leo began clapping his hands yet his eyes were not smiling in the least. "Bravo Dane. Bravo...It seems like I lost you to the bright side. No matter, only time will tell which one of us is right."

    Then Leo briskly walked over to Dane and tapped his hands along the desk. "Elections are next week. We need to have you do something big and outrageous to gain the public''s favor, all in one extravagant kill at same place and time of the big day."

    "Easy," Dane didn''t even contemplate but a knowing smile crossed his lips as he already thought of the same thing way before Leo mentioned it but turned it into a full blown out devise.

    "Easy? Surely you jest."

    "Devil. Didn''t you say that you liked surprises?"

    "Beast. Didn''t I say you know me too well for us to be considered as foes?"

    Dane had to resist the urge to throw another pen at him but for the life of him, he couldn''t spot one right off the bat. "Just sit back and enjoy the show as you always do. That''s what you''re good at. Watching and collecting the dues at the end of the day, hmm?"

    The both of them discussed more on the Golden Deer and the members of the council for about a good few hours until the sound of rain interrupted Dane''s thoughts.

    He rose from his seat and looked out the window, down at the sight of New Jersey''s bustling city streets. The clouds had begun forming and already, he thought about his lynx suffering from the pouring skies, not wishing for even the slightest of drop to stain her beautiful skin.

    "It looks like it might pour soon," he turned on his heels and left Leo standing there confused. "You''re in charge for the day."

    The devil laughed wholeheartedly.

    At that moment, Cleo chose to walk in and instead of glaring at him for allowing the devil to somehow migrate into his private office, Dane smiled at Cleo.

    "Prepare the car. Leo will be the CEO in charge today."

    "...Wha? You can''t just abandon your duties and give it to some...untrusting stranger! No way, you''re staying here to work until every paper and email gets answered or we''ll be pulling all nighters."

    "Would you Cleo, please care to tell me how some untrusting stranger managed to waltz their way into my office, then?"

    The devil and Cleo exchanged glances and it left Dane wondering for a moment, if Cleo was also caught in the devil''s clutches too.

    "I''ll prepare the car!"

 Chapter 96 - A Foolish Incident

    "Why do you keep looking at your phone?" Alex asked.

    Prisana was feeling guilty, as they were out late with the group of boys. It all spiraled out of control. It began with Elliot and Alex suggesting they all have fun around town, mainly because their attraction persisted they be together. She insisted she wanted to leave and return home to wait for her beast like a doting wife but Alex begged her to stay.

    She remembered Alex''s words that prompted her to stay, ''Oh please stay! I don''t want to be alone. If you''re there and consider yourself my friend, stay so I''ll have courage to talk to the guy I like.''

    And so Prisana left calls and messages telling Dane where exactly she''d be at. It was no secret.

    More like, she wished Cleo or Dane could scoop her up already because she felt out of place. Out of place because her whole life, she''d never been to these kind of fun entertainment places.

    They were at some tiny karaoke and bar shop a little south of the downtown area of New Jersey. It was a chic and hip place as it was decorated with a wide array of colors, showcasing artsy paintings of the sort on every inch of the walls.

    To her surprise, she noticed there were a lot of others around their age probably either in high school or college.

    The reason for Prisana''s guilt was because he hadn''t answered her calls or texts. She wanted to be sure she didn''t miss it when it rang. Not that she was sorry to be out but more like uneasy that she would be inconviencing her dear husband or Cleo for staying out later than usual. Prisana needed to make note of asking him to teach her to to drive so she could further her independence.

    "I''m waiting for my husband to call me," Prisana proudly said without shame.

    Alex took away Prisana''s phone. "This silly idiotic wife! It''s okay to worry about your dear husband''s phone call but have some fun with us too, alright?"

    She sighed, then eventually smiled. "You''re right. After all, this is my first time karaoking."

    Everyone immediately looked at her in puzzlement.

    Noah was the one to ask first, "What...Are you like some sheltered princess from a foreign country?"

    Of course, Theo was the one who shot him a look and raked Prisana over with care. "You don''t have to tell us anything if you don''t want to. We all come from different walks of life. It shouldn''t matter if this was her first time or thousandth time karaoking."

    "Now now," Alex interrupted, shoving the song book into her arms. "Begin choosing a song then. You''ve been sitting there all day and since it''s your first time, you have to at least give it a try."

    All of the music that Theo, Noah, Elliot, and Alex sang were pretty much foreign to her. She didn''t listen to pop, rap, or rock. Prisana was the country and classic kind of girl that delved deep more into the romantic side of music.

    "...It''s embarrassing. I only know old classical music with the exception of a few coutnry songs."

    "At least you have a music preference. And no one will sound worse than Noah there if that''s what you''re worried about," Elliot commented with a laugh.

    "What did you say..? Don''t make me tell Alex all your..." Theo covered Noah''s mouth as his words became muffled and incoherent.

    "Come on Pris, I''m actually curious to hear how you sound like."

    ''Pris''. It threw her back that he was even calling her nicknames. Then again, Theo''s full name was Theodore.

    Prisana narrowed her eyes at him. "So that you can make fun of me?"

    "That too."

    She pouted and reluctantly began flipping through the song book. Her mind always wandered to Dane. She missed him dearly. It was like the moment that they parted, she was fine up until a certain degree in time. There were always things that made her think of him.

    When her eyes ran across that song title, she instantly knew what she wanted to sing and pour her heart out to.

    That exact moment like the universe knew, her phone began ringing. Alex handed it over as Prisana''s face must have lit up like the fourth of July. She excused herself and stepped outside of the room.

    "Prisana, are you still busy?" came that voice she so adored.

    "I''m not busy. You can come get me anytime. When you get here, just come inside we are in room XXX. I want you to meet some of my new friends I''ve made."

    "Okay. See you soon, my love."

    ''My love?''

    Every fiber of her being froze.

    Her heart beat at such simple words that she had to slap her cheek with her other free hand. When the call ended, she was already yearning to hear that rough deep voice again. Maybe Alex was right. Prisana was a silly, idiotic wife who thought nothing else but of her beast and husband. She turned and went back into the room.

    Even the song she wanted to sing, was about him. It wasn''t accurate but it was how she felt about parting from him.

    "Are you ready to sing?" Alex asked as she handed the microphone over to her.

    "Why do I have a feeling she''ll sound like an angel?" Noah declared, still watching Prisana with heartful eyes.

    "Let''s bet on it. I say that she''ll be at most, mediocre like the rest of us. Theo?"

    Theo shrugged and kept quiet as Prisana pressed the buttons to her song and timidly put the microphone right beneath her lips. She closed her eyes and began to sing an instant classic by Ella Fitzgerald, becoming shut off to the world as she imagined saying this to her beast.

    ? A cigarette that bears a lips traces

    ? An airline ticket to romantic places

    ? And still my heart has wings

    ? These foolish things remind me of you

    ? A tinkling piano in the next apartment

    ? Those stumbling words that told you what my heart meant

    ? A fairgrounds'' painted swing

    ? These foolish things remind me of you

    ? I know that this was bound to be

    ? These things have haunted me

    ? For you, my dear, enchanted me

    ? The winds of March that make my heart a dancer

    ? A telephone that ring, but whose to answer?

    ? Oh, how the ghost of you clings

    ? These foolish things remind me of you

    ? The smile of Garbo

    ? And the scent of roses

    ? The waiters'' whistlin'' as the last bar closes

    ? The songs that Crosby sings

    ? These foolish things remind me of you

    ? Babe, these things remind me of you

    When Prisana opened her eyes, her newfound group of friends were all clapping and Noah even whistled. She didn''t care to pay attention to any of them.

    That''s because her attention was focused on her beast of a husband that stood behind the door, that was slightly open ajar.

 Chapter 97 - Under The Rain

    The rain came pouring down fast and hard, as his windshield wipers battled with the heavy downpour. He drove as if he hadn''t just seen his lynx this morning.

    Dane hustled past cars and streetlights, already aching to see his lynx. When he parked right outside of the karaoke and bar place she sent to him, he paused before getting out of the car. It never occured to him to even ask if she were done.

    He was already here but if she were enjoying her time with her friends then the beast would wait forever until she told him to come. He''d never wish to burden her youth.

    "Prisana, are you still busy?" he asked, acting as if he wasn''t waiting outside in the cold rain.

    "I''m not busy. You can come get me anytime. When you get here, just come inside we are in room XXX. I want you to meet some of my new friends I''ve made."

    He smiled to himself, resolving he''d act as if he were still on his way. "Okay. See you soon, my love."

    Dane swore she stammered on her next words, "Hurry love, I miss you."

    Screw pretending as if he were on his way. Her words threw whatever resolve he had out of the car windows. Dane got out of the car with his umbrella and made his way across to the small karaoke and bar. It was full of youngsters and the vibes were almost too hip and fun. He felt out of place but persisted walking to his destination so he could find her.

    When he finally reached the room she was in, he all but froze. The door was slightly open ajar and he heard this familiar yet seductively beautiful voice that screamed inside his arms a thousand times. That voice was singing and each lyric she sang strummed the tremors that shook inside of his heart.

    ? I know that this was bound to be

    ? These things have haunted me

    ? For you, my dear, enchanted me

    The beast inside couldn''t stop purring at how perfect and hauntingly beautiful her voice captivated him and probably every other damn boy inside of that room. God, was this woman truly his wife and lynx?

    He was one lucky man.

    She looked absolutely stunning even in a casual black shirt and ripped jeans with her hair let down. Clad in anythng or nothing, he wondered if she could ever look displeasing. Most of all, Dane wished he could look to her pretty brown eyes but she had them closed throughout the entire song.

    ? Babe, these things remind me of you

    When she finished, Dane let out a long breath that he didn''t know he was sucking in. She found him immediately as a round of applause erupted.

    "Pris, that was beautiful. You could totally audition for one of our roles and win..."

    They were just watching each other, holding each other captive as the compliments kept flooding. Dane''s heart was beating so furious and rapidly that it was difficult to even look at her. He simply turned and walked away. There was no way he could go in there after that.

    Only when he reached outside of the karaoke and bar, underneath the roof that offered shelter from the pouring rain, did he feel like he could finally breathe.

    The doors immediately opened, not allowing him to completely catch his breath.

    Her sweet yet deadly voice bad for his heart spoke, "Why did you...Mmh."

    Her eyes widened as he attacked her without warning.

    Dane unleashed the umbrella from it''s clutches so that the cars passing by or onlookers wouldn''t be able to see. He then leaned down and kissed her before she could even finish her sentence. After pulling back, he made sure to cover her petite frame with the umbrella.

    "...just leave like that," Prisana finished but was reduced as a puddle at their feet. "W-What was that, so suddenly!"

    "I don''t know. I just felt like kissing you."

    She was too adorable for words because her skin from tip to toe was blushed. He chucked the underside of her chin.

    Dane leaned in to whisper and elict something out of her, "Dearest, we''ve done far worse things in bed to blush over."

    He didn''t think it possible for one''s ears to turn a color darker than red but hers did.

    "...Geez, warn a woman when you''re going to do stuff like that...I thought my heart was going to explode! Still, why did you just walk out like that? I wanted to introduce you to my friends and maybe even, show you off a little..."

    The beast quietly wrapped her arm underneath his as he shielded her from the rain they treaded out to. His suit jacket on the side had become wet but as long as she was dry from the weather''s harm, then nothing else mattered.

    When he finally spoke, it sounded almost pained. He waitied until their shoes clacked against the wet stone pavement and until he opened the car door for her. She went to sit inside the car and peered up at him with questioning eyes.

    "Because," he breathed to her endless stream of questions he knew he''d ought to answer now or suffer from later. "I wouldn''t be able to control myself. Your voice, was so enchanting I''m sure you did it on purpose to have me caught up in a spell. Prisana, I''m spellbound. If I remained there any longer, I was afraid I''d simply scoop you into my arms and forget the rest of the world around us."

    Prisana stepped out of the car and did the unexpected, which she was always good at doing to him. She lightly fisted his suit jacket and brought him to her lips.

    Heaven and hell broke loose.

    Dane dropped the umbrella so it landed on the hard, wet stone pavement at their feet so that he could return the kiss twice as passionate. He pulled her into his arms and ran his hands over her now soon to be drenched hair. They were both faced with the pouring rain trickling against their skin and clothes.

    The rain made their kiss taste like salt but he actually rather enjoyed the taste of rain intermingled with her lips.

    Now as he was trying not to do the very thing that drove him away, Dane really did scoop her into his arms so that they were lost to the world.

 Chapter 98 - A Simple Moment

    As they pulled away from each other, bombarded by the onslaught of passing cars, Dane lovingly cradled her face with both hands and tapped his forehead against hers. Both caught each other''s gazes and laughed. The pouring rain kept soaking their bodies as one. Their clothes were sticking to their skin and even, to one another.

    "You''re drenched," she commented, looking between to their damp bodies. "We''re drenched."

    "Who''s fault do you think that is?" he said with a slight endearing smile.

    "You started it," she pointed out with a laugh.

    "Hah, I''ll let you think you''ve won lynx. You''ll get sick. Let''s go in."

    Her beast of a husband was too funny, almost like a mother hen. She wasn''t the only one that would get sick. He would get sick too. She shook her head and sighed at his hopelessness. Prisana wondered if he ever thought about his own well-being. Perhaps, that was the void she filled, to worry for him when no one else would. Even himself.

    Nevertheless, she climbed into the car per his worries and watched as his large frame circled around the car to climb into the driver''s seat.

    Prisana almost gasped when Dane leaned over to grab the seat belt from her. She froze in place. Their faces were hovering inches apart, both holding each captive with Dane having the upper hand.

    Why had she never noticed that up close, his eyes reflected her with utmost care? It was both unsettling yet romantic knowing she was all he saw in the moment. Dane broke the spell and simply clicked her seatbelt into place, making the move to drive.

    "There, all good to go," he all but cooed.

    "...T-Thank you."

    She quietly peeked at him from the side, always like a child trying not to get caught even though he was already hers.

    Dane looked as regally handsome as ever, raven black hair neatly tousled over to one side. His large muscular arm flexed to grab hold onto the steering wheel. Although his rugged chiseled jawline was drawn into a serious fixed curve, she admired how imperfectly perfect his features painted him.

    He was painted rugged without the softness one would typically fawn over in a man but to her, these features meant irresistible through all his hard straight features far from society''s standards of handsome. Handsome was truly her beloved Dane known only to herself.

    She idly looked down even further to try and admire the rest of him but his chuckle caught her off guard.

    "Dearest, do you like what you see?" he asked, a knowing smile crossed his lips.

    "Very," she flusteredly answered, turning away because she was embarrassed at having gotten caught.

    When they reached the stop light, Dane turned over to reach for her hand. He intertwined their wet fingers together. Again, her heart would stop any moment now. It was thumping to his expertfully sweet torture. They were holding hands as he used one hand to continue gripping onto the steering wheel.

    It was so simple, yet filled her insides with satisfaction like she didn''t need much else to make her world go round. Things felt right with the universe.

    He deftly brought both their hands to his lips and kissed over her knuckles, "...Simple moments like these, I think I can die happily."

    Prisana happily sighed as she gazed at the side of his frame, noting he continued to properly look forward.

    "Me too but...Don''t you dare think about dying, not before me."

    "I''m not even allowed to choose my moment of death?" he jokingly answered but then his voice turned gravely serious. "If you were to ever leave this world, I''m sure I''d follow you even in death. Living without you would be death every waking moment. Truly, I don''t know how I was living until I met you. Until you, I was all alone. Until you, I forgot how to feel. Until you, the world never seemed so...beautiful."

    Prisana desperately wanted to kiss him but had to withhold the urges as they were in the car. At this rate, one of them would land them into an accident from each professing their undying love to one another.

    She lightly clawed her nails into his flesh as he flinched. "...You can''t. One of us will have to watch over our children."

    Her beast of a husband dangerously looked over. They both knew he shouldn''t but he did anyway. He nearly bulged his eyes out and blinked at her for moments on end. What soon crossed his features were that of happiness she''d never thought she would see light up his features so beautifully.

    "Prisana!..." he shouted then shyly turned down to clear his throat. "Prisana, I vow that in the end...In the end, I will conquer all with you. We can buy a house on the beach, in the woods, or wherever the hell you want to go then I will surely follow as well. We''ll have lots of kids and live through to see our grandkids¡­"

    Prisana couldn''t believe the sweet words he was vowing from his mouth. Up until recently, she''d never imagined the most beautiful vows uttered from his lips about her. These were the vows she most wanted to hear. She wanted a real and true family different from the one built with the senator. Prisana wanted a place to belong and to this beast, she believed she finally found it. Her whole life, she felt incomplete.

    Complete was now in her fingertips.

    Beautiful tears spilled from her eyes like calm ocean waves finally stirring her heart with serenity. She covered her eyes and heard the beast struggle with himself as the light turned green. Someone from behind honked at them. Dane pulled over, off to the side of the road. He unseatbelted himself and gathered her once again into his arms, for the thousandth time that still drove her whole being wild with endless yearning for more.

    He whispered low and into her ears as she continued crying tears of joy.

    "Prisana my love, we''ll grow old and beautiful together. I vow it."

    How sweet. It was truly a different time as her husband and beast was finally looking forward to the future to the two of them together.

    Dane began to kiss her tears as she even laughed through them. "Sorry. I don''t know why I''m crying. It seems Dane, I''m weak to your words."

    "It''s adorable. In bed, out of bed. I love your crying face."

    She chuckled at his words. "That sounds kind of masochistic, doesn''t it?"

    "Maybe I have a masochistic streak in me...Hah, kidding. When I know you''re crying out of happiness, I think I might break too. I''m truly happy. God...I''m so happy that I''m almost scared that in the blink of eye, something will go wrong."

    Prisana smoothly rubbed a hand along his back. "Even if things go wrong, know that we can work things out together. Have patience. Be kind. Remember to love, and we''ll surely conquer all."

    To ruin the perfect moment they built vowing, Prisana''s stomach had to go and growl. Her face turned beet red as Dane chuckled at her distress.

    Dane pulled away from her and chucked the underside of her chin, "What does my lovely wife feel like eating?"

    On a rainy and cold weather, something hot and warm soup sounded just delightful.

    "Anything with warm broth. Will we be ordering takeout again?"

    Dane put the car into drive and began speeding into the streets as she had to hold onto the sides of the car for balance.

    "Why so fast?!"

    "I don''t want my wife to starve. What kind of husband would that make me?"

    "I won''t die, stupid husband of mine¡­"

    "And to answer your question, no takeout."

    He grinned and turned over to briefly look over at her. "Prisana, will you go on a date with me?"

    "...Sorry, it occurred to me we never went on an actual date. Next time, I''ll make sure we properly¡ª"

    "Dane, I would love to go on a date with you."

 Chapter 99 - Dinner Date

    If one would even begin to wonder why they were at the grocery store, it was also beyond Prisana''s imagination. They were linked with arm in arm, with Dane pushing onto the cart. Call her sheltered but this was also her first time stepping foot into a grocery store. There were cooks and maids that did all the work so she never had to lift a finger.

    She was embarrassed to tell Dane but in regards to the egg incident, perhaps he knew that she was amateur in the cooking department.

    Apparently Dane''s idea of a date was to cook dinner. It was awfully romantic and heartwarming watching him pick out the ingredients. He dragged them from aisle to aisle, carefully reading the ingredients on the package and smiling when each item was thrown into the cart. It was cute how he was taking everything so seriously.

    When he was intently observing the tomatoes as if he were going to serve the queen of the country, Prisana finally uttered, "...Sorry, I should be the one cooking for you. It''s embarrassing but I really never lifted a finger my whole life."

    Dane turned around and shook his head. "The roles of what men and women should do are subjective. A man can cook for his woman too. And it''s fine dear, we can cook together."

    The thought was sweet. Prisana and Dane working side by side, cooking dinner together. It truly made her feel as if they were newlyweds. However, when they reached home and began the cooking process, Prisana was like the worst assisant cook ever!

    She splashed more water onto her already damp clothes while washing the ingredients, nearly over boiling the vegetables, and almost cut off her own finger with the knife.

    "Sit," Dane gingerly ordered her and pointed at the dining chair.

    She eagerly shook her head. "I-I''m sure there''s something else I can do to help you."

    "...Our house really will get dissovled to flames and ashes at this point. Hah, kidding. Also lynx, I don''t want you to get hurt. Don''t take it the wrong way, hmm? Just sit back and relax. Watch your mighty husband take charge in the kitchen."

    He dashingly winked as he said this so she let him do as he pleased. Perhaps he was right. Any more and she''d probably dissolve this place to ashes.

    Now, that was how Prisana began sulking off to the side on the dining chair. Watching him wasn''t so bad though. It was almost an inappropate and erotic sight because Dane had shed off his damp suit jacket and shirt to reveal glorious back muscles. She watched as his bare back muscles with few scars here and there around his tough skin, arched and flexed to every subtle movement.

    Prisana nearly blushed as she realized some of the scars were indeed from herself clawing into him during sex.

    He turned back and smirked, as if he knew he was putting on quite the show. "Go on and shower and change. It''ll be ready by the time you''re done."

    "But¡ª"

    Dane dropped whatever he was doing and stalked her from behind as he leaned in to whisper, "Shh, no buts. Unless, you want me join you? Then, I don''t think either of us would be eating dinner tonight but something far more..."

    She eagerly leaped off the chair and away from her beastly husband''s proposal. Prisana''s body was still aching from their endless lovemaking. The whole day, she was having a hard time walking and feeling fatigued. Any more and she''d surely end up in a sickbed!

    "No thank you!" she quickly answered, already halfway to the stairs.

    The last thing she heard before completely disappearing was his chuckle. Prisana ran up the stairs and dove straight toward the shower. It took her a while to rinse herself. She thoroughly washed her body and even used some scented body wash. Her insides turned giddy, truly like a young maiden.

    She wondered if Dane would notice that she shaved today or that the shampoo was different as Cleo had prepared something new. The shampoo was mixed with butter and rose petals. Prisana happily smiled to herself as she picked out comfy camisole and shorts to slip into.

    When she walked back downstairs, everything was pitch black except for a few glowing candles. What was going on? A blackout? Prisana sucked in her breath as she followed the scattered array of glowing candles on the ground. She let out her breath when she reached the dining table which were lit with at least two candles.

    Dane was sitting there alone, with a wineglass twirled at his fingertips. He looked up at her when her footsteps became more prominent.

    "Dane? Was there a black...Oh!"

    He pulled her into his lap so that she sat on him, the wineglass at his fingertips nearly tipping over at the same time.

    The first thing he did was sniff her, "You smell good, like butter mixed with rose petals."

    "Do you like it?"

    "I like it. Do you like the candles? I thought the candles would make our date a little more romantic."

    She all but blushed and easily settled into his broad and warm arms. Prisana looked again and endearingly imagined him putting such thought into setting the mood. He must have rushed the cooking which she saw the juicy steak nicely set out before them and the romantic decorations. All of this, was just for her.

    Her heart soared.

    Prisana happily sighed and turned back to kiss the side of his jawline. "It''s wonderful. You''re wonderful."

    "Have a taste," he began cutting into the steak. "Say ah~"

    It took her a bit to adjust but eventually, Prisana opened her mouth and said, "Ah~"

    The juicy steak filled her mouth and flooded her taste buds with delight.

    "How is it?"

    "It''s delicious! Here, you try some too," Prisana cut into the steak and offered him some as well in which he also opened his mouth for her to feed him. "My husband is really good at cooking."

    After Dane finished chewing, he laughed. "Living like a caveman inside the woods really put my cooking skills to the test and my wife is really good at tempting me. When I watch you eat, it''s like sweet torture. Honestly, I''d rather devour you than the steak."

    His words were both sweet and funny, yet a part of her knew he probably meant every word.

    "That''s too bad. I don''t think we should have sex on the first date," she said with a teasing laugh.

    Dane however took this seriously and stroked her head. "You''re right."

    "What? That was almost too easy beast."

    "Lynx, I''m letting you off easy today. And besides, I''m content with things as they are."

    Prisana nestled further back to his chest as he willingly fed her more steak. By the time they were done talking about their day and discovering more about one another, she was already falling asleep and desperately trying to keep up with his conversation. She was nodding her head off in the middle of their conversation. He paused to look at her and laughed.

    The last thing she remembered was Dane leaning down to kiss near her sleepy eyelids as he tenderly brought her up into his arms to carry her.

    That night, they slept soundly in each other''s arms with the rain that should have bothered the beast but their slumber was serene.

 Chapter 100 - Tying It Right

    This was the moment that Prisana has been waiting for. She had been practicing per his absence until her fingers grew ridden with fatigue. Finally, as she watched Dane walk out of the bedroom with a striped tie dangling at his shoulders, she quietly lurched down after him. Cleo was nowhere to be seen which was to be expected.

    "...Where the bloody hell is my secretary?" Dane asked to no one but himself, looking around the spotless living area, then dining area until he spotted Prisana at the foot of the stairs. "Prisana, you''re awake."

    He walked over and quickly pecked her on the lips, sighing as their blissful union had to part so soon.

    She deviously grinned. "I asked Cleo to finish his duties early today and wait for you in the car."

    "You...what? Why? Hmm, no matter, I''ll just make own tie then..." his words trailed off as Prisana eagerly grasped both ends of the tie into her hands.

    "Prisana..."

    "Shh, just stand there and allow me to concentrate, hmm?"

    Dane obeyed and stood there still and unmoving, allowing her to work on the tie. His expression was that of concentration on her every move when she overlapped one end over the other, with the thick end over the thin end. Then she easily brought the tie over and down into a perfect knot. Her eyes were shining with the most triumph look that it elicted a hearty laugh from her beastly husband.

    She patted his chest and looked up to smile at him. And then she leaned in to peck him on the lips, "How do you like your tie...mmh!"

    The light pecks they were both giving to one another melded to passionate ones as Dane twirled his fingers into her hair with both hands. He invaded his tongue inside of her. She shamelessly tugged at his suit jacket to pull him closer as she matched his feverish longing. They were both melting to each other, giving and tugging every passionate carress.

    He pulled back breathlessly but she could see the happiness clouded in his eyes, "It doesn''t feel right."

    To her surprise, he loosened his tie and fully undid it so that it lay flat on his palms. She arched her eyebrow at his sudden action of ruining all of her hard work but was silenced as he used the tie to make her his captive. In the blink of an eye, her wrists were well bound into a knot as he carried her over to one of the dining chairs.

    Only when he settled her right where he wanted her, did he grin and say, "Now it feels right."

    "D-Dane!" she nearly squealed as he began showering her neck with kisses, until she soon started laughing and trying to twist out of the knot he had her captive in. "Untie me, at least so I can hold you too..."

    He wickedly put her bound hands over his neck and laughed in return, "You''re holding me just fine, dearest."

    Dane urged his knee between her thighs to close in on her sitting position, while he tenderly sucked at her neck. He nibbled against the skin for minutes on end, despite her feeble protests for him to undo the tie. She groaned as he longingly sucked her neck until she felt bruised to his every caress. By now her chest was falling and rising, panting in anticipation for what wicked, sweet torture he had in store.

    Her whole body was shivering, for his lips were on every bare inch of her he could find. And his hands, had begun exploring through the thin camisole he had on. This time, he didn''t bother to take her clothing off and instead lightly groped over her shirt. She wasn''t wearing a bra so it gave him full access to massage her breasts over the fabric.

    He lightly ran his fingers over her nipples but made sure to only massage and feel her fullness with his hands. She was aleady arching her back to his teasing. Prisana unconsciously spread her legs for him while his knee kept protruding between her to induce that wet honey which was already pooling.

    The wicked beast licked down along her neck and her collorbone. She shuddered because his mouth found her nipples over the camisole. She bit her lip hard, the moment he licked her on one breast and expertly flicked the other with his fingers. He was driving her mad. He was carnivorously tugging upward her camisole with his teeth.

    Just, so that both nipples could be devoured into his mouth. It was as if he couldn''t choose one and had to torture both all at the same time.

    Prisana was already rocking her slightly wet folds against his knee while he kept teasing her breasts and losing himself. He took a moment to sigh against her breasts as his hand crept lower inside her shorts. Dane gently prodded his fingers over her clit through the flimsy underwear, stroking along her most sensitive area to induce sweet sighs from her.

    He harshly tugged on her nipple one last time before fully lowering himself to the ground. His knees were propped onto the cold hard ground of the dining area. With both hands, he nudged her legs wide apart so both were dangling on the sides of the chair. Like this, he could see every scandolous part in complete daylight.

    Dane proceeded stripping her from her shorts and her underwear until she was truly left bare under his watchful gaze that penetrated deeply.

    "...You''re so beautiful. Even down here, it''s such a pretty pink color," he chuckled to himself, low. "See here, how lovely. This hellish hole of yours is twitching, aching, and yearning for me."

    "D-Don''t narrate every single thing!" she tried closing her legs and covering her innermost deepest part with captive hands, "Dane, it''s too bright. You can see everything. Let''s move to the bedroom."

    "I''ve already seen everything."

    "Out in the open, apart from our bedroom feels..."

    "Exciting?" he finished for her, chuckling then resumed his usual serious tone. "Come on love, let me see. The sooner you abandon your shame, the sooner I can give you your wildest fantasy."

    The endless nicknames he was giving to her, including ''love'' really twisted her to knots that was hard to untangle.

    He nearly warped to puppy eyes, as wolf ears imaginarily perked up from behind his head. "Please? I''m dying to taste you."

    Prisana could never refuse his agonizing pleas. She reluctantly moved her hand from her most sensitive area and spread her legs wide open for him.

    "Good girl," it almost came out as a purr.

    He smoothly ran his hands along her thighs. And then he leaned forward to kiss on of her thighs so sweetly.

    One of his fingers flew over to play with the folds of her pussy. For a moment, he looked up to gauge her expression as she dipped her head back and moaned once his finger trailed up and down along her folds. She was twitching by the time his head leaned down dangerously to suckle at her clit.

    Her hands were grasping at his hair once he trailed down to find her core, at the honey that leaked from within. She was writhing to the momentum of his foreplay. As her body kept shuddering and twitching, like he knew she was getting close to release, Dane brought and carried her buttocks higher in the air as her back hit against the seat so he could taste her more deeply.

    He kept fucking her solely with his tongue, in an in and out motion that drove her panting and twisting away to such pleasure. She was rocking into him. At the same time, he was diving and invading her innermost deepest parts to devour every honey that spilled. She nearly screamed out his name once euphoria washed over her.

    Prisana didn''t remember how exactly she got dressed but it seemed as if the beast wiped her clean and urged her into her clothes before unleashing her as his captive.

    "It was wonderfully done, by the way. The tie. Thank you for trying your best," he cooed as he kissed her on the forehead before tucking her to rest on the couch.

    Her thoughts implored her that perhaps, she''d leave the tie making to Cleo after all.

 Chapter 101 - Waiting For You

    Sweet romance stalled, though never faded away.

    While Prisana busied herself with her new friends and the upcoming semester, Dane focused on improving his image. Their relationship was beginning to resemble the sad adult life where they mainly saw each other during hours of the night or none at all.

    Dane was scarcely home most nights, on to matters involving work and the upcoming elections that would either make or break him for the council. Whenever she asked him about the matter, he''d either fall asleep or seduce her into forgetting. The latter part was due to them rarely ever seeing one another as of late.

    She didn''t like that he was still evading her but kept reminding herself that a beast was still a beast. In due time, a wife''s patience would take heed to good things that would surely come.

    His sleeping schedule was that of a night owl too! Prisana never knew her husband was such a workaholic. Sometimes, she forgot that he was the CEO of silver linings. Before, he was being monopolized by Prisana so it made sense that work had piled up beyond his wildest imaginations.

    Her workaholic husband would often come home from work and spend some idle time with her and then, work again late into the night.

    In the monrings, she could never rouse the beast awake. Even when she did, he only attacked her so she made sure to leave him to his slumber or have Cleo deal with the insatiable beast.

    The main thing that she didn''t like however, was the devil Leonardo Duval himself. A man who the universe had tossed and created into one dangerous being, had been monopolizing all of her husband''s time. By all of it, she meant from morning until night. Some nights he never made it home because he was having meetings at Iron Horse.

    With Leo.

    Bailey would tell her stories about how Dane and Leo were in each other''s company every single night at Iron Horse, for hours on end and sometimes in one of the back private rooms.

    Tonight was supposed to be full of sweet romance. Her beastly husband had called,

    ''Love, I''ll be coming home early today.''

    ''Really? That''s great! Hmm...Hehe! Your dearest wife shall make something nice for dinner then.''

    ''...Are you sure? You don''t have to force yourself. And besides, I''m worried you might hurt yourself.''

    ''You worry about every little thing. Trust me beast.''

    ''Alright lynx, I can''t wait then. Hah...I wish tonight could come sooner.''

    ''You''re doing great dearest. Tonight will be here before the both of us will know it.''

    After that call, she took the task seriously as if it was the greatest duty a wife could ever be tasked with. Prisana risked her life to cook and spent a good hour or so making a simple asian stir fry recipe she followed online. Thanks to the mighty cooking skills of Cleo, the house had not dissolved to ashes and flames.

    Cleo was like the perfect wife molded into a man''s body. Of course, she soon learned that was because he had a younger sister and often took it upon himself to care for her while their parents were away on extravagant vacations.

    Her fingers were noticeably covered in scab wounds and bandaids after her and Cleo were done with the mighty task but it was all worth it to please him. Perhaps, her dearest beast would chide her. Yet, he had cooked for her so she wanted to return the gesture to show how much she adored his endless attention and hard work as of late.

    She couldn''t wait to see him eat her cooking and praise her!

    Just as she finish laying out the utensils on the table while humming out aimless tunes, Prisana heard the doorbell rang and her heart lurched thinking it was him. Her heart still soared however when Bailey stood on the other side of that door. They hugged and giggled as their arms found each other.

    "...Nana, you''re finally here to cure my boredom!"

    "That''s what I''m good at. Heh! Causing a ruckus. And I didn''t just come empty handed you know...I brought this!"

    From her back, she pulled out a thick book of some sort. Inspecting it more closely, Prisana realized it was a picture album. They sat on the couch as Bailey began presenting the first page of pictures.

    Dane''s baby pictures!

    The baby version of him was out of this world, irresistible! Baby Dane was in his diapers while he slobbered on a block of toy. She kept flipping over the pages. Prisana inspected every picture with utmost delight. There was one picture as he appeared older, possibly in his teenage years.

    From the looks of things, he reached his hand out as if to block his face and Bailey from taking a picture of him.

    The teenage dane was so breathtakingly dashing with a much younger and vulnerable outlook that it shook her silly. It was like gazing at a half shrunken size of him, yet to become her fully fledged beast.

    Her eyes were sparkling beyond the delight she felt. Each and every picture flooded her with the need for more and more.

    "Nana, these are everything! Do let me have one please?"

    Bailey chuckled as she nudged the album toward Prisana. "You can have the whole album. After all...I even have the digital version and a second album as backup too!"

    Prisana chuckled at how much she adored Dane. "Oh nana, I can never beat you."

    "Oh? But you already have. I couldn''t reach him but you found a way inside of that brooding heart and brought him back to feel again. My whole life, I don''t think I''ve seen my dear grandson so happy. Prisana, you''re truly like a ray of sunshine. Heh, in this old woman''s life too."

    "...Bailey, without you I would forget how to properly love a beast. Truly, I''m really glad he has such a sweet grandmother like you."

    Prisana''s fingers froze as it came across what looked like a family photo. She traced over Bailey and Dane, who''s features were brighter than the sun itself. The Dane in the photo seemed so distant yet close to his appearance now. Then her fingers trailed to what looked like...his father and mother.

    He much resembled his father''s ruggedly handsome features who very much looked like the future Dane with noticeably greyish black hair. There it was, he must have inherited his mother''s eyes. His mother was beautiful and embodied the epitome of graceful as she folded her arms over Dane''s waist.

    They all looked so serene that it further twisted Prisana''s heart to helpless anger. Anger that someone could break apart a lovely family which in turn, bred a vulnerable beast.

    "...Is this," Prisana sucked in her breath as she grew captivated.

    Bailey nodded and sadly smiled. "That''s my daughter and son in law. This was four years ago, a year before they had left this world too soon."

    "I-I''m really sorry for your loss."

    "Don''t be. Things were meant to be. Prisana, do you believe that everything happens for a reason?"

    She nodded to which Bailey continued, "I think the world is beautiful yet cruel. Cruel, because those I loved were taken away by force. Beautiful, because this universe had to take before it could give. It must have happened for a reason. Whether for better or for worse, now that you''re here..."

    Bailey gathered Prisana''s hands into hers, "Now that you''re here, please rid Dane of his hatred! Unfortunately you''re stuck with this frustrating beast and you''re his family now. He''s consumed by revenge and never mourned properly. I know he''s still hurt but I''m sure that stubborn side of his will shed off all eventually to face forward to the future."

    The future Dane spoke of a vow so beautiful. If only Bailey could hear his words from that night in the car where they shared a simple moment.

    Prisana leaned in to grasp Bailey''s pleading hands even tighter and offered her a reassuring smile. "Of course. That frustrating beast is all mine to deal with."

    "...I''m scared, Prisana. Dane loves you but I don''t know what his end goals are."

    Suddenly, it occured to Prisana that Bailey wasn''t the only one afraid. Prisana was afraid too. What if he were to abandon everything, their vows, and even her just to obtain his goals? She shook her head and patted her face with her hands.

    No! She would believe in him. Even when he didn''t believe in himself, she had to be the sole person who did. Every vow they built couldn''t come crashing down that easily. Dane would never forsake it. She believed he wouldn''t.

    Bailey and Prisana spent long on the albums and chatting, though Bailey''s words kept haunting her over and over again.

    As time went by without sign of him, her insides grew uneasy. Even more so as it had been way past time for the beast''s arrival. Where was he? She checked her phone and hadn''t even recieved a single notification. It must have gotten that busy. Prisana didn''t want to bother him like some aggravating wife. Still, it wouldn''t hurt him to send one message to tell her he''d be this late.

    She wasn''t upset. Only a little.

    "Why don''t I have dinner with you tonight?" Bailey asked knowingly, already cirlcing around to tak a seat at the dinner table. "It''s already been two hours past the time he was supposed to get back. I''m sure something important came up."

    Prisana wanted to wait forever for him but she reluctantly nodded and forced a smile, "You''re right! Let''s dig in. I''ll just save some for Dane whenever he returns. Oh Bailey, you''ll be floored at how good my cooking has become. Do go easy on the ratings though, hmm? Since I am still a beginner."

    "Looking forward to it, dear."

 Chapter 102 - Untimely Return

    "Why in devil''s name do you look so happy in the midst of this turmoil? Frankly my friend, it''s ruining the hellish atmosphere in my office."

    Dane''s jaw nearly twitched as the devil uttered those words. Was it that obvious he was brimming with happiness? The bloody elections were tomorrow and yet...And yet, the beast couldn''t help but continue checking his watch for the time as it was nearly time for him to return to his lynx. His smile however faltered to a frown with anything uttered out of the devil''s lips.

    It used to be that the devil''s presence was enough to turn him into a foul mood. Regrettably and most unfortunaely, they had spent so much time in the other''s presence as of late that he was becoming used to the devil. So now, Dane had unfortunately progressed to tolerating his presence. If Leo could keep his mouth shut then perhaps they''d get along far better.

    "...Your office? Since when has my office become yours?"

    "Everything you own and everything you are, will all become mine in due time."

    The beast smirked, no longer afraid of the devil and his taunting. The more Dane faced Leo, the more he realized that some demons were better dealt with head on, right beside you as they were now.

    "...Devil. Watch your back. When that time comes, we''ll surely be foes."

    "Noted. Ah, your happiness. Is it perhaps, that lovely wife of yours?"

    "No, it''s because I''m spending time with you," Dane sarcastically spat out, turning to glare at him and shook his head.

    "...Foe."

    Dane would never dare to utter the devil''s name on his lips.

    "Friend," the devil responded out of habit.

    "Have you ever been in love?"

    Silence met Dane, as if the universe must have surely paused time. Leo then laughed heartily like the mad joker he was, wiping a nonexistent tear away. Then his features turned starkly serious, almost bored. It was like the word ''love'' itself was enough to revolt him.

    "Love is but a game for two. You lose when you heart is taken away and I never lose."

    For a moment of weakness, Dane really took the time to look at the devil. The devil before him knew his deepest darkest secrets and held his soul. To be more accurate, he knew majority of New Jersey''s elite''s secrets and had probably wrung countless of them dry. He didn''t care to know the devil''s story. Actually, what stirred inside Dane''s heart was beginning to stem from his lynx.

    It was the truth that kept haunting his eyes. He hated that this devil and troubled man before him, resembled Dane''s former self. It was difficult watching how he would have ended just like Leo if not for such a fire igniting passion that changed his entire outlook on life.

    "I pity you," he breathed out, raining down on the devil with eyes so sad one would fall privy to it.

    This took Leo aback, as he slowly shook his head. "You...What? Hahaha! How strange, for a man to be pitying another man that he so despises. You should hate me and yet, here you are, claiming to pity me. Truly, what the world come to?"

    The watch on his hand read that it was time for him to leave his duties. Truly, Leo and Dane had done all they could in regards to devising and spreading their efforts to find this Golden Deer figure. It was frustrating however. Leads on the Golden Deer were scarce. The imaginary figure and person they were looking for, was damn good at covering it''s traces.

    At least, preparations for the live elections were complete. It wasn''t as if everything could go as planned. But if things didn''t, then of course Dane was prepared for the worst. He stood from his seat and walked past Leo. Before disappearing, Dane placed one hand on the door and paused.

    "...Mark my words, if there ever comes some unfortunate woman that you love, you''ll suffer the worse hell to obtain that happiness or lose her completely to repent for your sins."

    "That day will never come."

    That''s exactly what Dane imagined but that was where the devil was left unaware and wrong. For Dane, it''s not like love came knocking on his walls. It tore them down without restraint, as everything came crashing down hard and fast.

    If that day would ever come, his words would vow the truth to the devil.

    ***

    Employees of Silver Linings shuffled out with Dane, most stopping by to greet him and others turning the other direction because his gaze radiated the mightiest death doom stare to any who dared to waste his precious time.

    "Excuse me," one brave young man called out to him. "Mr. Blackwell! I had one quick question about today''s meeting..."

    One look was all it took to send the young man flying. He had a lynx to get home to. They could direct their concerns or whatever the hell it was they needed, to Cleo.

    His secretary in question that stalked behind him, sighed. "Would it kill you to nicely turn them away? At this rate, you''ll seriously flip the whole building upsidedown sir. Look..."

    Per his request, Dane looked around and noticed everyone was at least a good distance away from him. Good. Any more delays and he''d have made anyone who dared to cross them, become sorry if his wife were the least bit upset at his lateness.

    They reached outside and he checked his watch again, reveling in the fcat that he clearly still had more than enough time to make it home. Only then, could he grin happily as he opened the car door to climb inside. Just a few more moments longer and he could bask in his wife''s sweet scent and feel and taste her soft skin upon plump, inviting lips.

    His happiness faltered when a hand held onto the car door. He turned around and glared at the stranger that dared to risk his life.

    "...Dane. It''s me...Jake."

 Chapter 103 - An Old Memory

    Jake Devonshire, a man barely recognizable to the man he met weeks ago, sat across from him at one of Iron Horse''s table booths. Iron Horse shuffled with the elites coming in and out, among the VIP room so surely the two, especially Jake who screamed suspicious, stood out from the glittering crowd.

    How strange.

    Same scene, same man, and yet Jake wore a black hat and a long khaki coat that hung to his knees. Gone were the dark circles plaguing underneath Jake''s eyes. Gone were the scruffy beard and in place, he was clean shaven and dressed to finally shed the truths.

    It was like watching the most puzzling change right before his very eyes take place. A few weeks undergoing thought and coffee perhaps did Jake some good.

    "You found me," Dane was the first to speak, his tone hard edged to reveal the surprise that kept flooding him.

    He actually chuckled. "I''m a bit rusty but it wasn''t difficult to find you in the media''s lens."

    "Right. That hardly counts as superb detective work then...Jake, I''m sure you didn''t just find me in a heartfelt reunion for nothing important hmm? Tell me, what did you find?"

    That was how Dane worked. He liked to get straight to the point. No more wasting time and just diving straight forward.

    "I know you''ve been looking for the same thing...The Golden Deer."

    Wretched golden deer!

    Now, Dane was actually tired of this personified individual which was damn good at hiding. If Jake knew about it then that meant there were some cracks. Cracks which were allowing the organization to even come under light. Dane never betrayed his emotions and kept quiet, keeping a still gaze directed at Jake''s serious demeanor imploring him to listen.

    "The senator is the main suspect."

    It felt like Dane''s heart was going to drop and break in two. He kept wanting to deny all the signs but it was there. It really took someone other than Leo and himself, like Jake to balatantly spell the truth out to him for it to really click. The past few weeks had been Leo and Dane finding more sources to make them believe the senator was somehow tied to all of this.

    The ending was never going to go smoothly as he wanted it to. Nothing in his life ever did, with the exception of finally having his lynx right where he wanted her. With him. But now even that was starting to scare him because the truths were so hard to bear.

    "...I know," Dane finally uttered, confliction laced in his voice. "But my sources tell me the senator doesn''t have the tattoo. Unless he had it surgically removed or by other means. It would all make sense but...I have this gut feeling that things are not what they seem."

    "I''m on the same page. I think it''s all strange...Through my own private investigation, the evidence seems as clear as day. And yet...Yet, it''s almost too obvious and clear, as if someone or something wants us to think that it''s the senator himself. It could be. It couldn''t be...Maybe this will help you figure something out with me."

    Jake rummaged inside his coat pocket and he pulled out what looked to be like a thick and old brown notebook. It had been roughly handled, almost crisp around the edges but remained inact with all the pages.

    "Here, this is the main reason why I seeked you out."

    He slid over the notebook to Dane through the table. Dane''s fingers hesitatingly traced over the handwriting...

    It was a bit nostalgic.

    Somewhere in him, he knew even before Jake spoke out loud, "The agency kept it with them thinking you had left this world but now that I know you''re alive, it belongs to you. It''s your father''s private notebook. He liked to carry it around with him wherever he went. Did you know..."

    Jake''s voice thinned out as he kept reminisicng about Dane''s father. He kept staring at his father''s handwriting.

    There were some things one never forgot. For Dane, that was his father''s handwriting because his father would spend hours writing his cases. During his youth, he idolozed his father very much and would even read the papers or recite them out loud.

    Dane''s thoughts flashed back to a moment back in time when he first found his father immersed in work on his supposed day off. His father was a relatively quiet man. Not a man of many words and yet when he spoke to Dane, he had all the knowledge that could fill an entire jar.

    ''Father, what are you always writing?''

    ''You want to see?''

    ''Yes! Hmm...This is boring but if I want to grow up just to be like father, then I should sit and write like you too.''

    He could still hear his father''s low laugh fill his ears as if it were only yesterday. And, even imagine the feel of the rough texture from his father''s palms as they would glide over his hair.

    Dane wished he could have cherished his father''s laughs and treat every fatherly touch as if it were going to be the last one. His mother too.

    If only he knew their lives would come to an end, then he would have been a better son. He would done so many things differently but it was too late. No matter what, mourning was pointless if that bastard that caused all of this was still out there.

    Suddenly, Dane remembered something that happened during one of his moments spent with his father. It was exactly when he was sitting next to his father. They were immersed in the same routine of his father scribbling his case notes and Dane scribbling into his work assigned from school.

    His beautiful mother had knocked on the door one summer evening, ''Honey, there''s someone here to see you.''

    Out walked into the room was a strange man whose face he couldn''t remember. What Dane remembered was that he was a scary yet kind man. But what knocked Dane''s breath away as he searched his memory, was that the strange man who paid his father visits had the golden deer tattoo visible on his arm just like...Leo''s pictures!

    "...Dane! What''s the matter? Is everything alright?"

    He slowly shook his head, trying to calm his nerves that probably showed how much he was shaking with realization. Dane slammed the old notebook onto the table, searching through Jake with desperate eyes.

    "Could you give me a list of all my father''s acquiantances, friend, enemies....everyone! Please Jake."

    "O-Okay. What for though?"

    Dane could only look at Jake with turmoil throwing him upsidedown.

    "I think I might have remembered something important. I-I don''t know how it''s all linked together but if my memory is right, I think....Jake, I might know who did this if you can give me the information I asked for."

    "Dane, I would do anything. You can count on me," Jake reached out to lightly pat Dane on his shoulder. "We''re in this together now. We''ll shed the truths together."

    The Jake before him came in an untimely manner, yet was beginning to resemble a true detective like his father once was. Beginning to even make Dane believe they could shed truths together.

 Chapter 104 - Nana

    Bloody hell.

    Dane had forgotten about his lynx and dear wife waiting at home. At the moment when he saw Jake, everything in front of him had blurred. The only thing he could see was his objective. In the end, he was left with more questions unanswered. He gripped his father''s personal notebook into his hand as he trudged along the steps to home.

    The door swung open before even Dane could process what was going on. He didn''t have to. Bailey processed it for him as she glared at him with mouth pursed and hands on her hips.

    "A man does not make a lady wait. You took so long she fell asleep on the couch and..."

    Bailey''s words were muffled by sight that forced him to really look at her. He quietly listened to her.

    She stood there lecturing him, with a floral long sleeve dress that fell to her ankles. Looking at her, she really did conjure up old memories at Cranbury and the Iron Horse. Ever since gifting Bailey with the Iron Horse in the heart of Jersey and busying himself with his new lovely wife, Dane hadn''t actually had the chance to talk to her.

    This was the first time in a while that they had the chance to talk like this, one on one. Dane''s grip on his father''s notebook tightened. What if one day like his father, mother, and grandfather...Bailey was cursed to die without a second chance at goodbye? He always pushed her away but this time, Dane wanted to make things right before it was too late.

    He wanted to shed vows before it would all be too late.

    "....So next time, at least send your poor wife a call or a text if you''re going to be this¡ª"

    Dane stepped in and gathered Bailey into a sweet embrace. The stars shone down on them just like they finally crashed right where they belonged in the night sky. He took a deep shattering breath before vowing to Bailey.

    "Nana, I love you."

    "...Dane, what..."

    Teardrops began to fall and stain his shirt. He looked down and tenderly tipped up her face to watch as her eyes were blurred with tears. They kept falling as Bailey shook her head in disbelief, almost like not believing he had spoken such truths.

    "Nana, I love you!" he repeated with a warm laugh, clutching both the notebook and her tight.

    She clutched him tight in return, like savoring the moment to the fullest.

    "...Dane, I-I love you too!"

    When they parted, Bailey grew flustered and began rubbing the tears completely away from her face. She had to turn around so Dane couldn''t witness any more of her embarrassment.

    "G-Geez, warn your old Nana before you go and do something sweet like this. I really will have a heart attack, you know," she began laughing through her tears, then turned jokingly serious. "What''s gotten into you? What did you do to my grandson?"

    "I don''t want to have any more regrets. Nana if you were ever to leave this world, I..."

    She smiled and grasped Dane''s hand into hers. "I''ll only leave until after you give me some grandkids. You''re both madly in love! What''s the hold up?"

    Children?

    Of course he wanted them. He wanted a full house of them, all which would resemble his dear lynx. Dane could already imagine her being such a great mother. He yearned for it more than he would ever care to admit to.

    The hold up lied with Dane. First and foremost, Prisana was still pursuing her dreams in university so he wanted her to enjoy youth to the fullest. She was but a twenty year old woman who only knew that caged and sheltered lifestyle. And then, there was the matter of his ulimate revenge. He wasn''t sure it was ultimate anymore because now...

    "What are you trying to do? What is it that you want?"

    His heart was already twisting to Bailey''s words but he never paused a beat. "I want Prisana. I want a future together where we grow old and watch our kids have grandkids. Nana, you''d be there too, with us. You could live with us at a house on the beach or in the woods."

    Suddenly, the tears which stopped began rolling down yet again. Dane flusteredly tried to help her calm down as she covered her face.

    "...About the past, I don''t think I''m ready to give it up," he took a deep sigh and looked at her tearful eyes. "I don''t know what I''ll do when I find the one responsible but...At least know this Nana, I want to shed the truth of what happened. I won''t abandon everything so easily. It''s selfish but I want both."

    "In the end, you''ll have to make that choice. I''m sure your heart already knows what to do."

    Bailey always knew the right words. It was true. His heart was with the future. He knew revenge was something that wouldn''t bring any of them back. Yet, he had every right to know what happened. It gnawed on his bones every single day of life, wondering why the hell they were taken away from him.

    "...I''m sorry Nana."

    "For what?"

    "That night all those years ago, it was all my fault that grandfather died."

    She shook her head and whispered, "Oh Dane, that wasn''t your fault. None of it was."

    "But I was the one who rushed him home."

    "You can blame yourself all you want but Dane, do you believe everything happens for a reason?"

    Dane took a moment to mull it over. "I don''t know. Perhaps."

    "I believe those that were taken away had fullfilled what they needed to do. It was their time, though sudden, it brought us all back together where we started. Everything happens for a reason. Accept it, mourn, and move on to the bright future that awaits."

    Bailey''s words repeated inside of his mind like bellchimes ringing.

    Accept it and mourn?

    He couldn''t.

    Dane remained silent and simply sat down on the steps. Bailey made the move to sit down beside him, as they looked up to the stars. Like this, it was truly like old times when he was younger and would sit inside Bailey''s lap next to his family.

    Except that now it was just Bailey and Dane, side by side, looking up to the same stars, wondering if they were looking down at them too.

 Chapter 105 - Lay On Me

    There his lynx was, laying peacefully on the couch. She was cradled inside the soft cushions, sound asleep to the world. He smiled and touched a lock of her hair, feeling guilty he had let her wait for so long. Her hair slipped through his fingers and fell to her wrist. His smile turned to a frown when he noticed bandaids and scars around her wrist and pretty fingers.

    He then sighed and chuckled a little as he imagined her trying her best to cook for him.

    Dane quietly gathered her into his arms. He slowly carried her up along the stairs, as to not stir her from her peaceful slumber. And then, when they reached the room he gently settled her down so her back lay against the headbaord.

    He rummaged through some drawers to find the first aid kit. Once he found it, took out the alcohol and extra bandaids. Dane quietly unpeeled her bandaids one by one. He used the cotton and dabbed it in alcohol as he gently patted it against her wounds. She flinched every now and then, still deep in her sleep.

    Only when Dane stuck the new bandaids back on her fingers, did she stir awake and yawn.

    "...Dane? You''re back..." she looked to her hands and smiled at him. "And you changed my bandaids. Thank you."

    "You worked hard, sorry I didn''t get to taste your delicious cooking. Some things came up," he leaned in to try to kiss her but she turned away.

    "You''re out late. Again," Prisana sulked off to the side because she sniffed something familiar. "You reek of alcohol too."

    The lynx disapprovingly watched Dane lower his head in shame as he nervously forced an apologetic smile. He climbed into the bedcovers to sit next to her. Ever so smoothly, he pulled her into his arms but she still pretended as if she was untrusting and mad even though they both knew exactly where he had been.

    "I feel like a woman who has been cheated on by a bad man...None other than with the devil too."

    Is this that emotion people experienced? Dane chuckled and teased her, "Are you...jealous?"

    Now she turned to him with her cheeks flushed pink.

    "A little. I''m your dear wife and yet the devil spends seven days a week with you, hours on end," he found laughter dance in those brown eyes. "We''re a newly married couple! How dare you already try and cheat on your lovely wife?"

    "Never," he vowed. "I would be the stupidest man alive to ever do so."

    Only then Prisana leaned in to peck him on the lips as she chuckled. "My husband is smart."

    Truly, if the beast inside was serious, all he wanted to do was monopolize her days, hours, and minutes on end. There wasn''t a moment where she wasn''t in the back of his mind. He''d wondered what she was doing. If she was eating well, if her legs would hurt from walking, or if she''d easily get sick by the cold dreary weather as of late.

    He wondered all of those things and more. After Prisana pulled away, he leaned over her and drilled in a passionate kiss. Pecks were a tease. He longed and missed for her the moment they parted. Dane kissed her like every touch and taste would be the least. He was thinking about his family and about how now, he''d never want to lose her or Bailey.

    She moaned into his lips as he sucked on her lower lip. And then, with a breathlessly content sigh, Dane simply pulled away. He satifyingly pulled away and leaned his shoulder against her. Everything over the past few weeks began to catch up to him, especially since the fated elections were tomorrow.

    Would he succeed or fail?

    "Dane, do you have anything you want to tell me?" she whispered as they sat side by side against the bed. "I don''t want to keep being the pestering wife but the elections are tomorrow and I want to support you any way I can."

    "Okay. Give me your shoulder."

    "What?" she questioningly asked.

    He could hear her sucking in her breath while he chose to diverge some of his heart to her. The lynx had all of his heart but telling it to her was a different story. And right now, he wanted stories with each other until there were none left to tell.

    Dane simply placed his head against her shoulder. When he did so, it felt as if all his worries were being washed away in a single instant. Her shoulder was so small yet could uplift his burdens.

    Was this how it felt, to be in the presence of someone you loved, and they could erase the world outside altogether? It was beautiful. Moments with her like this, really sparked emotions he never thought could arise within him.

    She was truly the epitome of the other piece of him he never knew he needed until now. Everything felt right with the universe when Bailey sat beside him but when his lynx was beside him, he both knew the universe was right and complete within arms reach.

    "...Prisana, I''m tired. I''m tired of being a CEO. I''m tired of pursuing my revenge. I''m tired of...being someone that I am not."

    "Dane Lennox," she sweetly whispered.

    It caused tremors in his heart to beat when he heard his name utter from her lips. No one ever spoke his real name for a long time. Hearing his name really reminded him of who he was. Elias Blackwell was this man in the public''s eyes and here Dane Lennox, was someone in Prisana''s eyes that only she would ever know.

    Bittersweet, it made Dane''s heart sigh in relief that someone like his lynx was there to remember who he was. Sometimes, he forgot his true self. He lovingly chucked the underside of her chin.

    "Only when I''m with you, do I feel relaxed and as if, all my worries are gone. The way you''re supporitng me by being here beside me is enough. If you could do this for a lifetime, that''d be great too."

    She chuckled at that last part, "I charge more if you''re asking for a lifetime."

    "I''d give you all I own and everything I am, just to have you for a lifetime."

    Prisana sighed and narrowed her eyes at him, "You''ve already won me over a thousand times. Now shh, lay on me and rest."

    He did. Dane kept laying down on her shoulder, lulled by the quiet to close his eyes.

    Then, her hand flew to his hair. Prisana simply stroked his hair with her hand as he lay on her shoulder. He didn''t remember how long they stayed there like that but before he knew it, the world grew quiet and dark.

    All he could envision was a future with his dearest lynx before the storm could rage.

 Chapter 106 - Showdown

    "...Elias! Elias Blackwell...Over here!"

    Dane kept a forced smile plastered onto his face, as he stood there still and rigid.

    Elections were in full swing.

    The fake and disgusting elites that prowled the election hall, filled the entire room with the media in tow. Cameras flashed. Media persons swarmed Dane and the other candidates with their microphones, gluing the camera onto their faces. The crowd of elites was fiery with chatter amongst themselves as the amount of votes presented on the screen were displayed live.

    Numbers were going up and down, fluctuating by each candidates''s speeches and interviews.

    Elias Blackwell, known to all as the CEO of Silver Linings and wife stealer of Giovanni Blair, was currently in last place. It hadn''t yet reached his time to make his speech as two other candidates including Giovanni, were headed up to speak. Giovanni Blair, who smugly stood beside him just steps away swarmed by the other media persons, wouldn''t stop glaring at him.

    Even now as they stood side by side, Dane had to hold back every urge from tearing out Giovanni''s throat until his ugly self was shed to light in front of the media. The flashback of his lynx, sullied and broken that night he luckily arrived on time to find her, flooded his memories even when he didn''t want them to.

    Her skin was bruised, just as much as the tears in her eyes stained that beautiful porcelain skin. She had the begging look on her eyes for someone and anyone to save her, even if that meant she didn''t dare wish to voice her pleas out loud. Which was why, he stripped himself down at that moment in time because he knew he loved her yet wouldn''t admit so.

    His eyes scanned the room for his lynx in the worries of his mind and found her standing obediently in the one place where he could see her. Prisana stood alone against the wall, blending in with the audience. He sighed in relief as no media person had disrupted her. And yet, he knew there were looks by men all across the room directed at her.

    Some twisted part of him wanted to keep her all to himself and away from the wretched public. She was all lovely temptress wrapped into a slim fitted ankle length emrald dress. Elegance radiated from her natural relaxed poise, fitting of someone who has known how to blend in with the elites her whole life.

    Light brown eyes fixated on Dane himself made him shudder with delight, knowing she was all his.

    An attractiveness underneath her clothes only known to him seemed like torture to wait as when he laid eyes on her time and time again like this morning when she came out in that emerald dress, he yearned to feel every inch of her. He never knew love could truly turn a man blind to one woman. It made him silly yet it made him strong because with his lynx around him like now, he knew he could conquer all.

    She smiled back at him and that was all he needed to have courage as Elias Blackwell.

    "...Giovanni," Dane''s ears picked up on what was being spoken beside him, blurring out the media person interviewing him. "...About the incident involving your ex-wife, what do you have to say about the other candidate Elias Blackwell?"

    Dane had to ball his hands into fists as they stared into the other''s eyes with mutual contempt. Giovanni continued looking at him while speaking, just as media persons swarming them began to focus both men into the same lens.

    "Elias Blackwell...If there''s one thing I have to say, it''s that....I''m glad that you''ve taken that wretched woman off of my hands. Prisana has always been spolied goods. A woman who only thinks about the worth of her partners. Obedient, stupid, and selfish woman who couldn''t even make her vows last!"

    By now, there must have been a vein that popped out from Dane''s skin because every blood rushing through his body was boiling. Boiling that Giovanni was slandering his dear wife. He could tolerate things that were said about him. ''Wife stealer'', ''mysterious fake CEO'', and other such atrocities. Yet, when someone vile like Giovanni uttered her name on top of lies, he couldn''t stand to take it.

    Dane''s face no longer wore that fake smile but turned into a very thin, displeased straight line.

    "Giovanni Blair. Now that we''re in the same lens it seems like now is a good time as any to shed some truths."

    He looked straight into the media''s lens. "My wife Prisana Visalyaputra never made vows with Giovanni. She ran before they could tie her down."

    By they, he meant the senator but of course slandering that man was yet impossible.

    "L-Lies!" Giovanni shouted. "Where is your proof?"

    Dane openly smirked because he already wanted to clear his wife''s name. He pulled out a list of Prisana''s marriage records.

    "I have her marriage record right here," he showed the record to the media as those witnessing it were gasping and gossiping.

    Gradually, Dane and Giovanni were garnering the attention of all the media. People gradually migrated to them and even left the current person giving their interviews or speeches to focus on the two of them. Now, even the main live elections channel were focused solely on them. Dane''s plans were skyrocketing beyond what he imagined and yet he continued to improvise with ease.

    "Hah," Giovanni scoffed. "You could have fabricted the evidence. Where is your proof now?"

    The media and elites were biting onto his every word. They were even agreeing with what he said.

    "I have someone who was present that night of the wedding that can testify about what happened...Harry, come forward."

    Harry Plaskitt was someone that he hated, and yet another candidate to become a member of the Senator''s council. Hatred was mutual between both men and yet money and greed won Harry over. Dane offered him a sum that he couldn''t refuse. Harry stepped up into the spotlight as the cameras flashed to him.

    "...That night, I as well as several other families can testify that we were silenced on the wedding day. Prisana Visalyaputra never made it to her vows."

    The crowd including the media was going wild.

    Dane continued while he looked into Giovanni''s shocked features, "You can make her as the villain of this story but to me she is the biggest hero of all. She saved me from darkness and continues guidng me toward the good of this world that I didn''t think I deserved. She had to lie in front of the public because of her circustances stripped all that she could become and broke her with few choices. To me Prisana is a wife and lynx who is courageous, smart, and selfless. Not the kind of woman that you claim to know....She is that kind of woman....The kind of woman that I love. If I hear you slandering my wife''s good name again then mark my words Giovanni....Retribution will be given to you a hundreds times over."

    The vile man was left speechless before him. Dane looked to the screen and saw that his votes on the live polls were gradually climbing up to where he stood in third place. Someone''s clap however, diverted all eyes and ears.

    "Nice speech there but I''ll have to rain down on your parade...Could you care to tell us why you have been lying to everyone this entire time?"

    "...It''s the senator!" someone shouted.

    Senator Visalyaputra walked into the room and commanded that the crowd make space for him to walk through until he was facing directly across Dane.

    "Everyone! Listen closely. Elias Blackwell is a fake!...This man''s true identity is....Dane Lennox."

 Chapter 107 - Her Acquaintance

    The lynx was watching her beast, eyes full of trust and certainty that he would conquer all, and even the man who''s very presence revolted her entire being. Dane stood next to Giovanni, both men staring each other down as if they would have pounced on one another if not for all eyes and ears on them.

    Truthfully, the moment if Giovanni would do something to her dearest husband and beast, she was sure she''d forsake everything as well. Love made her silly just as much as it made her insane. Even more revolting than Giovanni was the elites which scattered around the room. She''d never imagined stepping foot somewhere where she''d come across the elites, Giovanni, or even possibly the senator, again.

    The senator.

    Prisana wondered if his heartless soul even dared to repent for almost killing his own flesh and blood. Even to this day, she gave up on looking for the man that never existed. In her memories she always twisted that man to make him out as a father he never even tried to be.

    Before she realized it, Prisana''s attention faded away from supporting her husband to facing both men once again.

    And then, she felt the strangest sensation that prompted her to turn to someone''s gaze who had been on her for god knows how long.

    When she turned, Prisana laid eyes on familiar ash blond hair and ocean blue eyes.

    Characteristics familiar to the man she once loved. She had to search her memories and instantly, flashed back to instances of where she had been introduced to him several times. Prisana had never truly spoken to him but she greeted him on a few occasions during elite parties and simply because she knew Giovanni her whole life.

    Yet, for the first time in her life she was faced with this uneasy feeling that gnawed at her bones.

    Reed Blair. That revolting man''s father stood several feet away from her. He held the same age as the senator, appearing wise yet jaded to the politician views. They both held the other''s gaze, trapped in this stand still until Reed made the first move to walk toward her. Prisana could only back up to the wall. She was surprised that this man was looking to her and even seeking her out.

    Cautiousness replaced every fiber of her being as she looked to her beast who was occupied with the media. She took a deep breath as he reached her because at the end of the day they both had to face demons by their own means.

    "...Mr. Blair, is there anythng I can help you with?

    His blue eyes that almost sickened her because they resembled ones she had been used to being fooled from her whole life. Those eyes raked her up and down. But she couldn''t turn away from gut feeling. It was as if he was savoring everything about Prisana. Trying desperately, to capture her through the way he silently just looked at her. She had to peer up into his eyes in curiousity.

    "I-Is there something you need from me? You''ve been looking at me for quite some time."

    Only now she began to feel strange. Thinking about it from before, she always felt like Giovanni''s father Reed stared at her more than one should. It''s just that before Giovanni or the senator, he always remained quiet like now. It was different as it was only the two of them standing face to face.

    "...Prisana Visalyaputra, we''ve been introduced to each other many times. And yet, I believe this is the first time I''ve been able to talk to you one on one."

    "If this is about Giovanni..." she trailed off as Reed shook his head.

    "This isn''t about my son. I just wanted to compliment you."

    Prisana almost narrowed her eyes at him in disgust but relaxed her face as she heard his full words.

    "Prisana, you look beautiful...Just like your mother."

    Just like her mother.

    She stepped forward, searching his eyes for answers. "Y-You knew my mother?"

    He nodded, offering her a smile that seemed almost too sad. "...We were acquaintances. I met your mother in university....And as for the senator, we are somewhat fated rivals. I''m sure you know I''m on the council, trying to outrun him in the next term."

    Prisana was already beginning to like the man, contrary to the fact that he was Giovanni''s father. That was because the word ''rivals'' was enough to spark a cautious alliance. Most of all, she had been tricked by the fact that he knew her mother. Everyone in her household had refused to speak of her mother. Even the senator.

    And here this man was. None other than the enemy''s father who was proposing that he knew her mother. Right, the enemy. How could she trust someone she barely knew? Reed had the most sincere and kind eyes that held Prisana with the most beautiful truths in his eyes.

    Still, she immediately shook her head as to not fall for his charming words about mother, "It''s a pleasure meeting you here Mr. Blair but I''m sorry, I don''t trust your intentions and it''s best that we don''t associate. Forgive me for what happened to your son."

    Prisana tried to walk away and join the crowd and media that suddenly gathered both Giovanni and Dane in a large massive crowd. But, Reed stepped in front of her with his eyes serious as can be.

    "You had every right to do what you did," he looked away and sighed. "Let me apologize on the behalf of my son in regards to you and...your mother. I''m not sure where I went wrong or where I''ve failed to guide him as his father but if only I knew sooner, then things wouldn''t have...things wouldn''t turned out this way."

    She didn''t have the time to process Reed''s foreboding words. Prisana simply stared at him, at a loss for words. The moment she opened her mouth to say something, the both of them were interrupted.

    "...Attention," one of the announcers nearby began shouting to everyone. "There''s something interesting going on with the two candidates right now. Tune in!"

    The television screen cast to better give Prisana an idea of what exactly going on with her husband and that revolting man. Dane was the center of attention on live television. He was clearly giving Giovanni the death glare.

    "Giovanni Blair. Now that we''re in the same lens it seems like now is a good time as any to shed some truths....My wife Prisana Visalyaputra never made vows with Giovanni. She ran before they could tie her down."

    Prisana''s hands flew to her lips as he uttered the truth.

    "L-Lies! Where is your proof?" Giovanni shouted.

    Just as Prisana couldn''t stand it anymore and was going to intervene, Reed''s hand held her shoulder as he shook his head at her to not intervene. She took a deep breath. Of course, she had to believe in her beast. She waited.

    "I have her marriage record right here."

    "Hah. You could have fabricted the evidence. Where is your proof now?"

    "I have someone who was present that night of the wedding that can testify about what happened...Harry, come forward."

    Harry Plaskitt...Prisana remembered him as the man who slobbered while kissing her hands. That man walked forward from the shadows and spoke, "...That night, I as well as several other families can testify that we were silenced on the wedding day. Prisana Visalyaputra never made it to her vows."

    And then what happened next once again proved why Prisana vowed to love this man until the end of time.

    Dane looked into the media without a shred of hesitation,

    "You can make her as the villain of this story but to me she is the biggest hero of all. She saved me from darkness and continues guidng me toward the good of this world that I didn''t think I deserved. She had to lie in front of the public because of her circustances stripped all that she could become and broke her with few choices. To me Prisana is a wife and lynx who is courageous, smart, and selfless. Not the kind of woman that you claim to know....She is that kind of woman....The kind of woman that I love. If I hear you slandering my wife''s good name again then mark my words Giovanni....Retribution will be given to you a hundreds times over."

    Someone''s clap interrupted and waged hell upon the entire election hall. Prisana''s face warped to disgust. That person was none other than the senator himself who commanded people to pave way for him to face Dane front and center.

    "Nice speech there but I''ll have to rain down on your parade...Could you care to tell us why you have been lying to everyone this entire time?....Everyone! Listen closely. Elias Blackwell is a fake!...This man''s true identity is....Dane Lennox."

    Not even Reed could hold her back anymore. Prisana gathered her purse and trudged forward to face both men with her husband, beast, and the man now rightfully exposed as Dane.

 Chapter 108 - Dane Lennox

    All the plans that Dane and the devil hatched to find the golden deer, as well as the truths, were beginning to slip through his fingertips. Because, the wretched senator had pulled the trigger on his most vulnerable truth.

    Dane took his gaze off of the senator for a moment and regretted doing so.

    The media and the elites were beginning to close in on him, surrounding Dane until he was nothing but an ant forced to face the cruel world alone.

    Alone in the beginning, just like when he had lost those he loved and secluded himself to the desolate cabin in the woods. In his mind while hushed whispers erupted among the crowd, he was that man from three years ago hiding away from the world in a corner. The media persons directed questions at him but it was like he couldn''t hear a single thing.

    "...Dane Lennox?"

    "Excuse me...Elias Blackwell! Er, Dane Lennox. Could you please refute the senator''s claims? Or, is this all true?"

    By now, Dane was sure his votes in the live polls were plummeting but he didn''t dare wish to take a look. Everything had gone dark. There was no way out. Was he truly doomed for the bad ending, like the devil had foretold?

    And then out of hope...Light flooded him when warmth pooled at his shoulders. Dane looked behind to eyes which relieved that cowering man from inside.

    Prisana.

    She reassuringly placed her hand against his shoulder. He sighed when her hand trailed along his arm until it found his hand. The shaking that he didn''t even know was taking over his whole being, began to subside the moment she held his hand tight. The universe was right again and light returned. It was was if she were telling him that in the end, everything would be alright.

    She handed him a glass full of water.

    A glass of water? What was his lynx think¡ªSuddenly, Dane knew what it was that he had to do. He held her hand in return. Dane poured the glass of water over his face. Over that hideous scar which slowly revealed to all eyes as Dane wiped away at the makeup with his hand.

    Gasps surrounded throughout the audience, "...A scar!"

    One last time, he glanced over to Prisana''s petite stature as she nodded at him. In his better days, he''d give her his all to fullfill the promise of their lifetime. And yet, in his worst days she''d be right there to pick him back up to leap forward to their promise of that lifetime. It was truly beautiful. She was all the strength he needed.

    Dane took a deep shattering breath and faced the media in the most destable version of himself he never thought he''d ever bare. Some truths were better left said. This was one of them that Dane was finally ready to peel off until all came off to show the public how much he needed this.

    "The senator is telling the truth...My real name is Dane Lennox. Elias Blackwell is but an elias to fool you all."

    More hushed whispers erupted but Dane continued, "I''ve been lying to you all this time but now...Now, I''m willing to shed the truths."

    He pointed to his scar, "This scar is proof that I am Dane Lennox and it is the reason why I fooled you all so I understand if you can''t find it in yourself to forgive my actions. Three years ago, my parents were killed in a house fire and this was from that night where I desperately tried to bring them back from the dead...Someone...Someone took them away from me and I won''t stop until I find them."

    "The truth is that I am not Elias the CEO you know nor am I a politician because first I am an ordinary person like you who isn''t just a candidate in name. Over the course of a month, I have funded and worked with private and public companies like XXX and XXX to get the homeless off the streets, provide an alternative to our poor infrastructure rotting the streets with gangs and mobs..."

    Dane began explaining the work he had been implementing over the course of the month. Though small in percentage relative to the state as a whole, it was progress on a small part of town that could eventually result in permanent change.

    "...In the end, I was wrong to fool the public and I don''t know who you are but I will find you, the person who has killed families like mine all to cover up dirty lies!"

    For the second time in his life, Dane moved from Prisana and began to strip himself down in front of all of New Jersey. He made the move to drop down to his knees as he hung his head down to abandon pride because it wasn''t needed when he was truly asking for their help. Just as much as the public wanted, he was asking for their forgiveness in the most beautiful form he could think of.

    "...I''m begging you all, as a son who wishes to bring his parents soul''s to rest....to vote and lend me a hand so we can improve our state and shed truths together."

    Everyone, including the media and senator went quiet. However before he could even grasp the situation, there was a round of applause that reached his ears.

    Someone in the crowd shouted, "It''s okay!"

    When he looked up, he noticed that the senator and Giovanni had already left the vicinity. What greeted him was the live screen in the distance that displayed him as being the front runner in the elections.

    Dane Lennox, stripped and shed of all the truths and lies, was actually...coming out victorious.

 Chapter 109 - Taste Of Fury

    The number of votes displayed on the screen kept climbing up until Dane''s name was displayed as first place runner in the elections. Prisana couldn''t believe her eyes but her dear husband was truly conquering all as he vowed he would. Her proud gaze flew to him with utmost belief that he would triumph all until he was the last one standing at victory.

    Dane continued kneeling down. However now, he was also facing the crowd with awe, just as much as she was. The one thing that ruined her mood and caught her attention was the senator who left through the doors with his men in black, in tow. Every voice in her mind screamed at her, "You''ve always been a coward. Now, it is time to face him one last time and end it all".

    Prisana left Dane to the onslaught of media who once again began swarming to gather his attention. She flew away from the crowd surrounding Dane. That same media who caught wind of who she was, began to flood in as they spotted her climbing away from the lens. She didn''t stop them because she needed their help.

    "Prisana wait! We have some questions we''d like to ask you..."

    She leaned in to whisper to the man that was trying to interview her, "Listen closely, if you want a good story then follow me...But, try to keep yourself hidden."

    The man nodded and they both slipped out of the room chaotic with a flurry of voices overlapping the other. Sounds were beginning to make even her, grow dizzy. Prisana gathered every nerve inside of her mind she could muster. She continued following after that man until he reached the end of the hallway.

    Truly, she''d be lying if she said she wasn''t the least bit scared. The men in black next to the senator were the same men who cut her hair and threw her into the ocean. It wasn''t as if she could take all of them on by her weak limbs. And yet, she wanted to ruin him completely in front of everyone.

    This was it. To show the public what the Senator was truly made of.

    "Father," came her voice full of disdain to aid her ploy.

    The senator turned to meet her fiery gaze, "Prisana. What do you want? I nearly killed you, my own flesh and blood¡­"

    Prisana grinned as those were the words she wanted him to say.

    "...And hah! You still have the guts to show your face in front of me?"

    He motioned for his men in black to remain where they stood as he stalked back right in front of Prisana. The first thing that came to her mind as she watched the senator walk toward her, was why in her mother''s right mind would she choose such a man to become her husband. Was there a side of the senator she never knew about?

    Whatever it was, Prisana couldn''t help but think that her mother was blind not to see this version of him. Then again, this gnawing feeling that she knew nothing about her mother except for a picture, kept plaguing her. Prisana''s thoughts flashed to that man resembling the other man she despised. Reed Blair, he could know something but...He was none other than the enemy''s father.

    Prisana shook her head to focus on the senator.

    When the senator reached her, she kept herself deadpan to the lens still focused on them. This was probably overtaking the live elections channel by now. Good. Her spontaneous plan to thwart him without mercy, was flourishing.

    "You nearly killed me that day on the yacht, all because I never deserved to keep those vows. My whole life, you were never there and now I know it''s because you were only concerned about your reputation...I know you will use underhanded methods to thwart my husband so I''m stopping you and your lies to the public before you can hurt me or anyone else that I love. Everyone will know what you are inside. A despicable man only capable of lies!"

    The senator reached out to stroke her chin but she immediately slapped his hand away and took a step back. He chuckled like mad under his breath.

    "The public will never know about this side of me. They are too stupid and look up to me like some kind of god! Heh, revolt me all you want Prisana but..." he grinned as he kept staring straight to her eyes and even her soul. "I am the one who helped bring you into this world. If I did that, I could find a way to bring you out of it too."

    The sting pained her hand as Prisana did the one thing she should have done right from the start. Prisana raised her hand and struck him across the face with all the strength she could muster into that right hand. He incredulously stared at her while she stared at her hand because it felt damn good to do this.

    And then, he just laughed. But Prisana knew his eyes weren''t laughing with him.

    The senator dared to grasp at her shoulder length hair. She yelped out but continued to glare at him because he was putting on the best kind of show for all of New Jersey. He gripped it until she was clawing at his arm to get him to let her go. By now, his hold on her hair was beginning to tug until she could feel every strand stretching beyond her limits. She screeched and shook her head at the media person for him not to step in and continue filming.

    She slyly pulled out the knife from underneath her dress. Prisana always had this with her. First it cut her hair at the time by the ocean. And now, it was going to finish severing ties with this man. At the same moment in time, the senator tried to strike her and he successfully did so. Prisana had to wince at the pain which greeted her cheek. And without warning, she lurched forward to stab his hand.

    The senator screamed out as he held his blood gushing hand. "Ah!...You unfilial bitch!"

    He gestured to the men in black as they began to swarm the senator to help him. The senator screamed out again when one of them pulled out the knife from his hand. Of course Prisana turned around and began running just as a man in black''s hand reached out to grab her. She wasn''t clearly looking in front. And so, she bumped into a lean chest.

    Dane?

    She was wrong. Prisana''s found eyes glowing like the devil. Leonardo Duval was actually holding her in his arms while he completely crushed the man in black''s arm with one hand. She''d never thought she''d be relieved to see him but right now, she was.

    "...I wouldn''t do that if I were you. There''s already a man behind me who will probably kill you all...anytime soon actually," the devil then smirked down at Prisana, his arm still lightly coiled over her back. "Maybe even myself for touching his lynx but oh, I''ll never get the chance to hold you again darling."

    One look over Leo''s shoulder made the man in black twisting under Leo''s hold, become reduced to a puddle of regret.

    Both the senator and Prisana hadn''t realized but when the man in black''s face fell, Prisana peered over Leo''s shoulder to find what she expected. The beast in shining armor! And, he wasn''t alone. The media and the public were swarming the hallway.

    Her heart was relieved to see him. Her beast must have ran here as fast as he could because he was breathing heavily and completely disheveled. Dane quickly eyed Prisana. He sighed in relief when he found Prisana and yet instantly, something changed.

    Prisana could feel the rage burn a mile away, radiating from none other than her beastly husband. One look at him would send anyone shivering. What worried Prisana the most, was that he wasn''t saying anything but kept looking at her without a word. Looked to her misfortunes in which she took upon herself to receive.

    Prisana tried to step away from Leo and call out to Dane but it was like he was in a trance, "...Dane!"

    Prisana''s voice was drowned out by the media.

    "...Senator! What is the meaning of this?"

    The senator tried to run from the media, the public, and Dane but he wasn''t fast enough. The beast caught the senator before he could make a complete run for it. Dane caught up to him in a few easy strides.

    He lunged straight for the senator''s face.

 Chapter 110 - We Did It

    Any other time, Dane would have murdered the devil for wrapping an arm around his lynx but right now, there was another man on the very top of his murder list.

    Senator Visalyaputra.

    One look at Prisana broken and sullied on the screen, forced him to snap. He couldn''t even begin to describe this surging emotion inside of him. Right when he found Prisana facing the senator all by herself on the screen, he dropped whatever he was doing to find her. Looking at her now, he didn''t think rage could boil until every vein popped but it did.

    Prisana''s neatly done hair had been tousled and torn by that man''s hands. Her makeup was in shambles, with the smear of her lipstick outlining the bruise at her cheek. It was too much for him to bear. The beast inside was shaking.

    At first he was relieved to simply find her in his line of sight. And then, he was glad Leo was blocking him from his lynx because he would lose his chance to exact retribution. He would have wrapped her around his arms just to forget the world around them. Right now, there was something he had to do that was past due.

    He was clenching his fist. The senator looked up to the face of his timely end and the moment he did so, Dane was already walking over to him in few easy strides. That''s precisely why when the senator tried to flee, Dane aready had him right where he wanted him. He lunged straight for the senator''s face.

    The sound of Dane''s knuckles hitting his jaws must have vibrated throughout the hallway. The senator was sent flying onto the ground, grasping and crawling for something to hold onto like his escape. But in the presence of the beast, the senator was no match.

    "That was for Prisana," Dane uttered, voice full of venom. "And this one...This one is just because you damn well deserve it."

    He couldn''t land his next fist into the senator''s face. That was because he was pulled back by someone, who would also get tossed if they continued holding him back.

    "...Dane!" Cleo brought him back to the world as he held Dane by the arm. "Stop. The media is getting all of this."

    "Like I give a damn...I won''t be satisfied until I give him retribution for hurting her. No one touches her like that and should expect to get away with just a broken bone."

    Dane lurched forward despite protests from Cleo. He knew the media was watching and yet, his rage wouldn''t quiet down. Ever fiber of his being still burned ferociously. Prisana didn''t deserve that. Didn''t deserve the hell recieved by this horrible excuse for a father. She didn''t deserve anything he did to her and by god, the senator should have known a beast would be waiting to devour him.

    Everyone including the media was just watching this, feeding on every absurd moment passing by. They were stuck in a trance but of course the media kept flashing their cameras, yet keeping a distance as the beast inside was still rampaging.

    He grabbed the senator''s shirt and lifted him high up in the air. "Say you''re sorry. Like you ordered me that day on the yacht, you''ll kneel down, strip yourself, and beg for her forgiveness or I''ll make it so that you won''t be able to speak for a lifetime."

    The senator began shaking but he continued his act of bravery in the eyes of a beast. "Are you angry? Why? It''s not like you were the one whose hair was pulled and whose face was scratched."

    Dane punched him the second time, apparently earning a grunt from him. Now, the senator was screeching and showing true fear as the look in Dane''s eyes must have crossed that line. And yet, the senator dared to strike Dane in return, landing a clean hit in his jaw. Dane wiped away the pain with his hand and exchanged blows with him until the senator was left as the loser.

    Dane turned the senator over to Prisana, "Say it."

    "Sorry," he mumbled, almost mockingly like he didn''t mean it at all.

    Just as Dane was going to strike another hit, a voice called him back from this fit of rage.

    "...Dane!" came Prisana''s voice.

    She ran around him and suddenly, her soft petite form was hugging his back. Something inside of him twisted to relief. Just knowing that she was beside him relieved him of the tension that had seized his whole being, boiling inside.

    "It''s okay now," she cooed, and he could feel her burying her face further into his back. "Thank you Dane but it''s okay now. You can stop now. Let him go. I don''t want his fake apology. I just want you to stop because you''ve done enough."

    Enough? Nearly not enough. The man wasn''t even the least bit remorseful for having almost killed his own daughter or being exposed to the very public standing before them now.

    He shook his head, still holding onto the senator with frightful force. "Prisana, I can''t forgive him for what he did to you."

    "You don''t have to. Just let him go. It''s okay Dane. I''m okay."

    That was all he wanted to hear. That she was okay.

    He had to take a deep breath to calm himself. Only then, did he let the senator go who scrambled away but he was already too late as the media went on to question him about what had just transpired, blocking the exit. Even the security had him blocked, one of them commenting,

    "We''ll be taking you into custody for attempted murder charges, senator."

    Both beast and lynx began to ignore the world until it was only the two of them standing there.

    Dane turned around and cupped her face. He looked to her misfortunes shed to light, feeling the rage boil all over again. Perhaps he should have put more force into that first strike. He went too easy on the senator. Way too easy. The senator was still here. Dane tried to go to the senator again but Prisana pulled him back and held him tight.

    "Don''t. You''re scaring me."

    Scaring her? Suddenly, his hands fell to his sides and he felt like the most hideous beast.

    "Oh Prisana, I didn''t mean to...It''s just that..."

    Her hand flew to his battered chin as the senator had fought back and landed clean hits. "I''m scared that you''ll continue getting hurt."

    Dane finally laughed, which eased tension all because she had been scared of him getting hurt. "But dear, I''m a beast."

    "You''re my beast in shining armor," she declared.

    And in this moment, beautiful was truly in arms reach. Even though misfortunes plagued her, it didn''t rid of the fire burning in those brown eyes nor the wonderful smile that could outdo a thousand suns.

    Truly, Dane was no match for his lynx. She glared at the senator without a shred of fear. Without cowering as he had given in to the senator''s trick earlier. It was like this woman before him had morphed to the most mightiest lynx of them all before he could even recognize the beautiful change happening.

    Dane laughed again in an almost roar like sound, for the one that always needed saving was Dane himself.

    "I was wrong this entire time, my love."

    "Why?" she inquisitively looked up to him.

    Dane lovingly chucked the underside of her chin, per usual.

    "It feels like I''m in need of saving more than you need it. You''re the true lynx in shining armor."

    The announcer interruped the chaos to add more to it. "...And the winner of the elections is Dane Lennox!"

    Winner...

    He couldn''t believe it but he won. Dane had to look at the live screen displayed off to the distance to confirm what the announcer was saying. By now, Cleo had successfully pushed Dane and Prisana toward the elevators as the media and public were swarming to get a word out of him. They were being shouted at from all directions.

    All the while, Dane and Prisana climbed into the elevators with his secretary acting as the bodyguard.

    "Everyone please, move out the way or the elevators will close on your hands! Alao, please refrain from taking pictures, because that would make more work on my part...Oh, don''t come in or I''ll have to use force," Cleo kept warding them away but it was almost no use.

    In the elevator, the two lovebirds were stuck in their own world despite Cleo''s stressful situation where he had to do all the warding for them.

    Prisana''s sparkling eyes met Dane''s as she exclaimed with joy, "You did it. Look at the screen, it''s truly you that has...mmh!"

    In one swift motion, while Cleo was busy blocking the media and public from entering the elevators, Dane leaned in to claim his reward. They were blocked by Cleo''s back facing toward them. He placed a soft kiss against her lips while the commotion kept stirring in front of them from open doors.

    When he pulled back, Dane smiled with her in his arms, "We did it. And, I''d like to have my reward now dearest. You."

 Chapter 111 - Become Seduced

    This stylish grand departure depicted Dane Lennox and his wife Prisana Visalyaputra scurrying to part from the elections in a limo. Courtesy of protecting each candidate as there were many politicians that were targeted for their lives, a situation was arranged where candidates were picked up and dropped off by a driver in a limo.

    As the media and public swarmed over them, they climbed into the limo.

    The driver pulled up and waved a hand among the chaos, "...Over here, sir!"

    Dane looked back to Cleo as the both of them mutually nodded toward one another. Cleo eventually spoke, "Oh alright, I''ll leave you two lovebirds alone."

    "Wait! Thank you Cleo, for warding off the media and public for us."

    Cleo sighed, still continuing to look back over his shoulder as the coast had been clear for a while now. "I''m only doing my job as a secretary and truthfully, I would do anything for you Prisana."

    This earned a death stare but he quickly corrected himself under Dane''s watchful gaze like predator finding prey, "I-I mean it in a caring way because to me sir...Er Prisana''s almost like my little sister who I currently take care of. There''s no other meaning to it!"

    Only Prisana was the one chuckling. "I know. Cleo, you''re more than a secretary. You''re my friend too."

    Over the past times when Dane left and Bailey was busy with Iron Horse, Cleo was her other source of comfort. He frequented the house to clean and during work hours, came back to assist Prisana with anything that she needed. She had come to appreciate this hardworking secretary and butler of a man that dealt more than what his paycheck should be worth.

    But then again, Prisana was sure that if she saw his paycheck worth then it most likely would  surpass anything she ever imagined.

    "Friend?" he repeated with shock, then soon smiled. "Yes...Friend! ...Oh Prisana, I''m honored you even thought of me in such a way."

    "Don''t get too ahead of yourself..." Dane trailed off but before he could say more, Cleo scurried away.

    He shook his head with a sigh, mumbling other such stuff Prisana couldn''t quite hear under his breath. Then, he held open the door for Prisana, "After you, love."

    She climbed in and soon after, Dane climbed in after her. The limo was a spacious and long narrow car that had black leather seats lined up against the sides. In the very back you could see a rack of alcohol from a variety of choices which she wasn''t too educated about. They scooted in to the middle until they were stuck closely to one another.

    He leaned down to kiss her forehead and for a long while, the two simply sat there in silence while the car kept driving on. Both were thinking about the events of the day that had happened. So many things were running inside Prisana''s mind. Mostly, she wanted to apologize because she took things into her own hands.

    The beast was the first to speak as he held her into his arms, "You scared me too, you know."

    He was referencing back to what she was saying earlier when she told him he was scaring her.

    "Sorry," was the first thing she muttered. "I should have consulted with you first but you seemed busy back there. It''s just that I wanted to finally put an end to things and I''m glad because we did it together above all else and beyond."

    His hold on her tightened considerably that it was beginning to hurt. "...I''m glad too but please, don''t do that again lynx. I was afraid that my heart was going to stop. When I saw you like that again...! Truly, I didn''t care about my revenge or all of New Jersey...Only you. Prisana, promise me you won''t face danger alone like that ever again."

    "Okay, I won''t," she whispered and his grip on her loosened.

    She peered up at him like a child but was caught under his tender gaze. Even so, Prisana leaned forward to kiss the side of his cheek nearest his chin. It was like she was begging him for his forgiveness. Without a word, Dane easily gripped the sides of her waist and ushered her along so that she was sitting in his lap facing toward him.

    Prisana took a long moment to gaze at his ruggedly handsome features, especially at his exposed scar. Something about the ugly brown jagged scar evoked this feeling of pleasure inside of her. The lynx purred, all because the scar she adored made him that much more irresistable. Made him that much more sexier.

    God, it should be illegal for him to wear that scar out. It was only adding desire fuel to the fire. No wonder he had it covered all this time. She leaned forward to kiss that scar of his, as he all but flinched at such sweetness.

    "...Prisana,"

    "I love your scar...But now I''m a little sad that the whole world knows about it. I wanted to be the only one, to know how ugly yet beautiful it outlines the rugged features of your face. Selfish, isn''t it? Oh just great, there will be more women flocking over at your beck and call now!"

    He chuckled and endearingly brought his face close to hers. "And yet, you''ve been bestowed the honor of loving this scar before the world found out. Darling, no matter how many women flock over, know that only you''d have my beck and call. Command it and I''d follow it through until my last dying breath."

    She sighed at every word uttered from his lips. Both leaned in at the same time as her eyes must have told him she was going to kiss him whether or not he was up for it. They kissed one another, hot warm flesh invading over the other. God, it felt so good. From a kiss done a thousand times before, she was already swooning.

    They were diving in esctacy inside the limo, though separated by the thin wall between the driver.

    The moment he stuck his tongue in to seduce her, she pulled back and whispered, "Mmh...Any more and I''ll be seduced."

    "Be seduced," he cooed.

    The car must have ran over a bump as she nearly fell backward when the movement jerked her body about.

    "Woah, easy there lynx," Dane''s hands flew over to her back.

    She yelped out a little but felt extremely at ease knowing he was there to catch her in time. In a sigh of relief, he positioned her back against his chest all the while continuing to hold her onto his lap.

    "Like this, you fit against me perfectly," he tipped her head up so he could find her lips again and then briefly pulled back. "Have I seduced you beyond ruin yet?"

    Dane Lennox, her beastly husband was ignoring her protests about becoming seduced. He delved his tongue deep inside of her mouth anyway but she accepted it since she craved for his touch. He was exploring greatly while heavy breathing began to erupt as yearning moans.

    "Not nearly enough," was her lie.

    She was completely seduced just by the sight of his scar painting him as this rougish beast having her as his sole captive. And then, his hand crept along the length of her leg so that it felt ticklish. His hand parted in between the long dress until it crept to rest against the trembling area at her thighs. The beast was obviously playing a dangerous game.

    She gasped as her eyes widened back to reality, "...Dane."

    "Shh," his beastly voice was luring her into a trap as it tickled her eardrums. "Let yourself be seduced even further."

 Chapter 112 - A Bumpy Ride

    Let herself become seduced?

    By sight alone from that hideous yet bulging scar, Prisana had already been seduced a thousand times over. Looking at him now with that attractive scar of his, he really seemed like a true beast.

    His hand rested in between the tender area of her thighs. While doing so to tease her beyond end, Dane''s other free hand found the round shape of her breasts through the emerald fabric. She wasn''t wearing a bra so she instantly felt him on her. He was slow at first. She could tell that her beast was relishing in watching her twitch just by feeling his entire hand grope and massage around her shape.

    He was relentless in his massage at her breasts. Fondling her like no tomorrow until her strap had become undone to drape off her shoulder and expose one breast under his proding gaze. She heard his sigh when her breast spilled to his view and gaze once again. His gaze that heated every spot of skin where it rested upon.

    The touch of his bare hand against her breast only further excited her as she already began convulsing when her massaged her breast directly by kneading in every such direction. She couldn''t even find a steady breathing to follow. It was almost too much to handle and she didn''t know how''d she survive the rest of the car ride.

    Dane''s chuckle filled her ears with delight.

    And then he whispered while he kept torturing her breast sweetly and hovering the other hand in between her parted thighs,

    "I haven''t even fucked you yet. Is being naughty in the car turning you on that much?"

    His dirty talk always made her blush.

    She shook her head to play coy but he whispered again, "Lies."

    The moment he whispered the truth, she had to surpress a moan because the beast knew where exactly to tease her nipples with his two fingers. He dove in without mercy and began flicking and twsiting at the erect nipple, all the while his lips found her neck. Dane was showering any unblemished skin with hickeys.

    He sucked hard on her skin until she could feel her skin sweetly bruising. By now, Prisana''s body was being handled so intensely that before she knew it, her legs had wontonly parted to his probing so both legs spread apart enough as the dress would allow it and dangled over his two legs.

    "I don''t like this dress. You should have worn the one with the sash."

    "...Ah...Why?"

    "Because it''s easier to take off...Mmh...Hah..." he almost growled as he kissed the nape of her neck. "...Sorry dearest, I''ll buy you a new dress."

    The sound of her dress ripping filled the car. Her dress was ankle length so like the beast he was, Dane tore the side of the dress to create a slit. Like this, he had better access to all of her down below. She had to suck in her breath because he chose this moment to harshly tug her nipple forward and run a finger over her most sensitive area leaking with the need to have him inside now.

    Prisana had been feeling wet from that seductive kiss earlier. So when he inserted a finger inside of her, an indecent soaked sound spread. And because sensations from his lips, hand at her nipples and core stimulated her like crazy, a blank washing state of euphoria overtook her whole body when his finger found her soaked insides.

    She arched her back and twitched, moaning loudly as the feeling kept crashing over and over. The beast would never let her rest as when she came back to the world, he was chuckling at her and already creating a steady rhythm of fingering her beyond the edge of no return once again. He was fingering her like crazy, the indecent sounds of them moaning among his wet invasion being the only thing heard.

    Dane leaned down to usher her exposed breast into his mouth. He was tenderly sucking on her nipple. Nibbling, grazing, and licking at it while making sure her body kept opening up for him invitingly down below.

    Prisana yelped out as another bump from the car had her press down hard on his swelling cock bulging in between her buttocks. This time Dane was the one to groan in agony because the movement from the car was making the both of them impatient.

    "Fuck," he breathed, massaging and fingering her roughly than ever before so that she was reduced to a wonton woman who could only cry out and beg for another release already.

    They shouldn''t. Even though the windows were dark from the outside, watching people pass by made their naughty foreplay that much more forbidden.

    The driver was still there too. And yet, some part of her wanted to be daring anyway. It was this strange excitement that was overtaking reason. Passion and desire were winning at this point because Prisana made the bold move to turn around so that now she could face him. She faced him and under all their passionate glory, had tugged away her underwear so it dangled off of her leg.

    Prisana silently dared him with her eyes as she wanted to finish this dangerous game he induced.  Looking at him, he was breathing heavily just as much as she was. His face was flushed with desire and he made the next move to loosen his tie to reveal hints of his chest and unbubkle his belt. Dane''s cock at last sprung out from his pants, as if it had been eagerly waiting this entire time.

    She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and just when she was going to level herself slowly onto him, the car ran along another bump. Prisana moaned so loud she had to bite her lip to surpress the sudden motion as his cock fully rammed up into her pussy. Up to the very hilt in one deadly motion which sent the both of them shuddering. A tear escaped her eye while she all but fell into his chest.

    "Don''t hurt yourself," came his strict voice ladden with passion, as he lightly used his fingers to pry into her lips. "Bite me."

    Prisana did. The very insant that he withdrew and thrust into her along with the rocky movements to the car, she bit his fingers. She bit them softly as possible, trying to surpress her moans because reason had come back to warn her the driver must still be suffering from their wild and unplanned lovemaking.

    He whispered almost comically, "We''ve been giving him an earful already. Abandon your shyness, lynx. Though it is adorable, I wish to hear your screams..."

    She shook her head, to which he gave her a sly smile. Dane positioned both of his hands onto her hips and thrust his cock into her dripping wet core that accepted him fully. Her legs could only twitch as her back shuddered with each tantalizing thrust. Only when his hand hovered over to stroke her clit, did she let go of his fingers and do as he wanted. To abandon shyness and be reduced to screams.

    Prisana was practically moaning, panting, and screaming into his lips as she leaned forward to kiss him. Kissing him helped to surpress the moans. This beastly husband was too vigorous and relentless! Cruel mostly, to stroke out pleasure from her when she was already still so sensitive from the last euphoria. She began meeting each thrust to seek out her own pleasure.

    When she moved with him, he flinched and sighed as their bodies melding to one felt out of this world, good. He was filling her up with his instaible cock, grasping at her breasts, and kissing her away to oblivion.  She could only call out his name like a chant as if trying to bring him over the edge.

    And she did, the both of them finding their release as she collasped into his hairy beastly chest.

    "You screamed for me," came his snarky comment to which she frowned at.

    "...Now I don''t think I''ll be able to face the driver with a straight face," she buried her face even further into his chest.

    "Don''t worry...You can remain as you are in my arms."

    She smiled up at him warmly. "I''d love it if I can just stay here like this forever."

    "When we grow old and have done what our life''s purpose has set out for us then, you can stay in my arms for as long as you''d like dear."

    "That sounds nice. You. Me. In your arms. I think I''d die happily."

    "As do I."

    They both leaned in to kiss each other again, every one like it would be their last.

 Chapter 113 - Greatest Prize

    The very moment that they had parted ways from the driver and climbed into their home, feverish passion never ceased but only ignited further. Heaven and hell already broke loose from the bumpy car ride but Dane couldn''t hold himself back any longer. It was frightening but he wanted to bury himself inside of her yet again even though she seemed so sensitive still from earlier. He lightly touched her arm and reveled that she shuddered sweetly into him.

    The door shut and when it did, he urged her bare back against the door. He found her dark locks twriled at his fingertips. His lips forever found hers in a never ending seduction that sent estacy pouring one over the other until helpless groans were all that surrounded them. Dane could only sigh into her mouth. These lips have seduced him thousands of times and he would never be able to get enough until they were bruised.

    He paused and broke away to survey the damage done to his poor beautiful wife. Poor because he hadn''t yet had his fill. Would never have his fill because the beast had never felt so victorious and anxious to continue claiming his prize. Beautiful, because her wanton expression just exuded this helpless surrender at his mere gaze. Mere touch. Captive to only him.

    Prisana, wife and lynx, had that ripped flimsy dress draped around her waist while her breasts and tender folds were exposed to his liking. She wore his suit jacket but god, his hand crept over to toss it over onto the ground so she was even more exposed to his liking. He stopped looking at her lovely assets and focused on her face. Suddenly all thoughts of ravishing her dissipated.

    He cupped her bruised cheek, instantly feeling the rage boil everywhere inside for the endless time.

    Wretched father of hers! He was right where he belonged. Facing public humliation and serving time for his wrongdoings. If he could have it his way, Dane would make sure the Senator would never live to see the light.

    As always Prisana was always good at catching him off guard.

    In return, she sadly smiled and reached her hand out to trail over his hideous bulging scar.  And then, she did the most beautiful act of leaning over to kiss his scar. Her plump lips brushed against that hideous scar he bared to all of Jersey.

    Dane flinched. At the same time, his hand fell to his side but he stayed there and felt almost relieved. Like his worries about being an ugly beast were washed away in an instant with just a kiss from his beloved.

    Nothing ever felt so refreshing like the first time she kissed this hideous scar under the pouring rain. Except the second time now, he was reassured that he''d found someone to love him regardless of his true face. His heart kept soaring to new heights he didn''t even think was possible.

    She took a deep breath and beat him to his own words while holding his conflicted gaze, "Dane. You''re beautiful. I truly love everything that you are."

    Dane blinked a few times and laughed like mad. It wasn''t as if he remembered when but at the moment, it was like he was falling in love all over again by her confession alone. How could someone in this world take his heart by storm so many times without mercy? He''d have a heart attack soon. Dane had to clutch at his undone shirt where something inside kept pounding.

    "B-Beautiful?" Dane stuttered this while trying to regain his composure she took away, then leaned over to peck her lips again. It was difficult to speak for a moment of silence filled them.

    He gathered her into his arms more snugly and poked at the wrinkles on her forehead.  "Why do you flatter me with such a sad expression lynx?"

    "Because, you don''t realize your worth."

    "My...worth?"

    "You still think you are a beast..." she had to pause to think about it for a moment. "In bed still perhaps but the point is, you are my husband and the beautiful Dane I know is sweet, caring, protective, loyal, kind..."

    Dane''s incredulous chuckle interrupted her heartfelt confession. He chucked her chin as she frowned. "...My dearest, who are you talking about?"

    "You," she boldly claimed.

    He shook his head at her in all seriousness with a firm look. "You must be going delusional from today''s events."

    Prisana twisted away from him in complete annoyance. She waved a hand at him. "Oh forget it, continue thinking you''re a beast to the world. You know what? Let go of me, I''m feeling fatigued from...mmph!"

    The persistent proclaimed beast to the world shushed her with his lips. Just as fast as it had dissipated, desire came plummeting from their tongues intertwining over each other. And then, his contagious laughter tickled her eardrums, a sound she was becoming used to as he used to never laugh so openly before.

    "I was joking...But know this lynx, I am only those things to you. Only for you would I strip down to become a man blinded by love."

    With all of his strength to not take her right this instant on the entrance of their home, he picked her up so her belly was against his chest and shoulders. A sad whimper prompted Dane to chuckle.

    "That''s it?" came Prisana''s disappointed voice.

    "You''re hurt."

    Before she could open her mouth, he put her finger to her lips to shush any retorts. He shook his head at her, "Allow me to take care of it. It hurts me to see even the slightest of scar on this pretty face of yours."

    Prisana tilted her head and remained obedient to his wishes as he lowered her down onto the couch. He crept around for the first aid kit. Even though they had been so intimate moments earlier, he found that the unnerving closeness made her fidget. Dane hadn''t meant to but his chest accidentally brushed over her nipple. A sweet accident.

    She sighed, doing a poor job at hiding how much she still wanted him. When his finger brushed over her bruise to spread ointment over it, her chest fell and rose repeatedly. His lynx was making it difficult not to pounce. After patching her cheek to his satisfaction, Dane purposefully inched his knee between her folds still possibly dripping wet with his cum from that bumpy car ride.

    Desire pooled inside her eyes that he held which made the beast purr. Prisana dipped her head back as he continued rocking her to blissful estacy. As she did so, Dane leaned forward to kiss her neck. God he was rock hard like an animal in heat. Her reactions that told him she wanted him just as much did wonders. Her body knew who was making love to her as not even minutes to rocking his knee over her clit and pussy, she shuddered and screamed out his name.

    He continued to rip of the rest of the flimsy dress until her body was naked at its most vulnerable state. A state he honestly wished she could just take on in front of him for a lifetime.

    "Dane please..." she begged and at the same moment, he already had his cock positioned near her twitching entrance.

    Dane heard that sharp intake of breath once he mercilessly drove his cock inside her. Hell she was so wet and tight that he could cum all at once. She was writhing and panting with shocking need. Instead of moving immediately, both of his hands crept along her arms so that it could find her hands. He held them and lifted one so he could kiss their mingled hands.

    "Do you remember that day how I confessed I was madly in love with you?"

    She nodded, squeezing back firmly. "I do. Would never forget it."

    The beast inside was turning into a puppy as he leaned down to rest his head between her breasts that felt like soft pillows carressing his cheek. This moment and every others was something he wanted to cherish. He wanted to continue professing his love because he never wanted her to look for another or leave this world without her simply hearing or growing tired of it. Dane never knew he was such a sensitive loving man but for her, he''d become anything.

    "That day and every day from then on from today, and even tomorrow, I think I''ll still be madly in love like the first time."

    Prisana lifted their hands and kissed his knuckles in return.

    "Lies. You''ll grow tired of me when the years go by."

    "Never."

    "My beauty will fade."

    "I''m a beast with a scar. Beauty never mattered to me in the first place. It''s a nice addition but all along, I''ve always fallen for what you are."

    "Then I will be the one to grow tired of you," came her cruel response as she laughed at his distraughtness. "Kidding. I''d only grow tired of your stamina in bed. We should lay down some rules about..."

    Dane withdrew his cock and immediately plummeted inside her again with a beastly grunt. She moaned aloud and twisted her body a little.

    "What was that?" he feigned innocence roughly because passion from how insanely good her insides made him feel were beginning to take over.

    Prisana lightly nipped at his shoulder. "Cruel beast of a husband."

    "But you adore this cruel beast of a husband. No rules hmm? You should have known what you were singing up for when you signed that marriage certificate."

    "Is it too late to revoke the signatures...?"

    "Much too late dearest...Shh and let me hear your screams."

    Before he was used to treating her delicately but now he wanted to inflict his raw animalistic desires onto her. He wasn''t the least bit gentle as his cock rammed into her in hard persistent thrusts. Her breasts kept jiggling so he held them and suckled one into his mouth very sweetly, trying to get the honey. Honey spilled into his mouth upon her feverish moans.

    His other hand glided along the ridges of her waist. Her lovely round butt that kept wiggling upon each thrust he rammed into her. Sweat was gleaming down from his forehead as his own grunts were matching her feverish moaning. Dane roughly leaned over to bite her neck and immediately, he felt her turn completely still. Like a songbird, she screamed out sweetly. Her nails dug into his back.

    All he could do was study her every motion when she was washed over in estacy.

    "You''re so fucking beautiful...how?" Dane whispered to no one but himself as she kept sweetly convulsing beneath him.

    Both a husband and a man blinded by love, something told him he was completely at her mercy for a lifetime. No other woman would ever be able to satiate his needs and desires like Prisana.

    "...Prisana."

    "...Yes Dane?" she was finally regaining her composure, sighing as she realized his firm member was still implanted inside.

    "When all of this is over...When the demons I''ve been searching for have been laid to rest...I want to take you on a real honeymoon. We could escape the city life and return to the rural woods near Cranbury. Heck, I''m sure Nana would love it too."

    She slowly nodded and turned her face away but he wouldn''t let her gaze drift away from his passionate one.

    "Why..." he turned her face toward him and realized she was becoming tearful. "Does the thought displease you that much my dearest?"

    "...No...I''m happy...So happy. All my life I never belonged or felt that my future would be meaningful but it is and I''m glad I''ve found you."

    "I was the one who found you," he corrected.

    She laughed, stirring beneath him on purpose as he winced from how good it felt. "I was the one who ran from my vows and ran straight into you."

    "I condede defeat," Dane voluntarily allowed her this because he didn''t care about winning arguments if it made her pleased. "But I''ve already won the greatest prize of them all."

    "And what is that?"

    "You."

 Chapter 114 - Simple Wish

    The news about the senator''s recent downfall in publicity according to his plans to kill his own daughter and elledged filthy crimes, pummeled the media in no time at all. He hadn''t been put behind bars because of course, his wealth could sustain him out of it. Even then, Prisana had watched this man she once knew lose everything all in the blink of an eye.

    In the television, he shunned his face away from the media for the first time as they bomboarded him with questions.

    No more was he a senator but just a wretched man. Jersey was in chaos after the elections to appoint a new temporary senator to uphold balance and structure. Before the screen, flashed a very familiar man she had grown accustomed to seeing over the years.

    None other than Reed Blair, Giovanni''s father, stepped in to fill in that heavy plate. He stood against the podium with a stern smile. Reed Blair...He was a strange man that knew both her father and mother.

    When she saw his stature on television with Giovanni''s striking resemblance giving a speech, her memories couldn''t help but flash to their meeting. It was like he was looking straight at her with the most sad expression flashing through his face. As if he had more words to say that day but chose to withold them back. Foe? Ally? She didn''t want to trust that man''s father.

    Prisana turned her face away and cradled herself into Dane''s broad chest which made her feel safe to the world.

    "What''s wrong?" came Dane''s voice bringing her back to reality as she sat inside his lap on the couch watching all this chaos transpire. "Your brows are furrowed."

    "...Reed Blair. He''s the father of that man I used to love and now despise. I want to hate him too but then wouldn''t that be unfair to judge someone just because your hate of someone close to them?"

    "It makes sense but I believe you can trust him...At least for now."

    "What makes you say that?" she asked, wondering what got into him.

    "That day I flew to save you from the helicopter...Reed Blair actually lent a helping hand. Without him, I''m sure you would have slipped away from my grasp. Terryfying but true, I owe him my gratitude."

    No way. None of this made any sense to Prisana. Why would he help them when he should have known exactly who ''Elias Blackwell'' was before the public announcement of Dane Lennox. He lightly chucked the underside of her chin possibly because her brows were now furrowing even deeper than before.

    "And shouldn''t you be more stressed about your first day?"

    Her first day. Adding on top of the whole mysterious Reed Blair situation, Prisana was a nervous wreck. Today she would be spreading her wings and soaring off to XXX University. She was still texting Alex from the orientation and knew Theo and his friends so she wasn''t too worried. But it seemed troubling that she''d immerse herself in schoolwork while her beastly husband would be immersed in work and newfound council duties.

    Prisana kept holding onto that beautiful vow of their honeymoon. When all of this was over, surely they''d be able to go on a real honeymoon and immerse themselves in each other. For now, reality was hitting hard as the clock hands were beginning to strike the time of her first class.

    In the corner of her eye, she watched as Cleo circled around from the kitchen with a lunchbox in hand.

    He threw it into her arms, "I''ve packed you something to eat for lunch."

    She nearly sqeauled at how sweet the action was. "Aw, thank you mommy Cleo."

    "Mommy Cleo?"

    Dane''s laughter belted through them. "It suits you. More than a secretary, you''re always cackling like a mother hen to us."

    "I don''t nearly get paid enough for what I do..." Dane''s chilled expression prompted him to close his mouth and turn toward the car.

    "Wait," came Dane''s menacing voice.

    "W-What is it sir!"

    "Take the day off."

    Cleo simply blinked at him. "What? Sir, am I hearing things or did you say to¡ª"

    "Do I have to repeat myself again? Take the day off or do you want to work an overnight shift," he nearly growled this out. "And hand me the keys."

    "Sir! Thank you I really do love you," Cleo didn''t know quite what to do to contain his excitement and Prisana''s eyes widened when he clapped both of Dane''s cheeks and kissed him on the cheek before making his grand exit.

    Prisana could only laugh as Dane grumbled curse words under his breath while wiping away at his cheek that Cleo boldly dared to kiss.

    "...That''s it. I''m going to fire him and hire a female secretary..."

    "Dane," she interruped his drafts for hiring a new secretary. "You could try a bit more tact when being nice, hmm?"

    "I told you darling I''m only nice to you. Today I let Cleo off because I want to drop you off on your first day of school."

    "...Oh. That''s so sweet of you."

    It really was sweet as it would give her a boost of courage to get through the day knowing he could be seeing her off. And then, anticipating returning home to her beast.

    "...And up we go!"

    With her already in his lap, he lifted her like a princess while she yelped out and continued draping her arms around his shoulders. She was clearly still not used to him picking her up as he pleased. But instead of protesting, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his stubble protruding at his chin.

    "Lynx, don''t tempt me."

    "How is a kiss on the chin a temptation? I just want to show how much I love and care for you."

    "I''m a simple man. An innocent kiss from you can send me ahcing to feel heaven all over again."

    "Heaven...mmh..."

    She was serenaded by his lips. Serenaded until she was moaning and obviously yearning for something much more.

    "Yes heaven...mmh...hah..."

    Prisana covered his lips with her hand, yet breathing heavily as she could still feel his lips brushing over hers just moments earlier. She could see his puppy longing gaze raining down on her lips but she shook her head and continued covering his mouth.

    "I don''t want to be late on my first day."

    "Should I just buy you a degree? Anything you want, I''d give."

    She had to do a double take and some part of her knew he was half serious about the silly notion of buying her a degree.

    "No. I want to work hard to get my degree. What happened to letting me spread my wings and soar?"

    "There''s this dark thought in my head that I''d want to pluck your wings and have you become my stay at home wife so no man could ever fall in love with you again. But of course, that''s the beast that''s formulating this plan..."

    "Tell the beast...I''m already his for a lifetime. No matter what man would fall in love with me, only he would have my heart. And I''d love to be a stay at home wife, after my degree and career...Are you against career women?"

    "Absolutely not. It was just a selfish thought. If you wished to become a career woman after your degree, I would never stop you. Remember? Whatever you wish for is my command."

    "I wish you would love me until the end of time."

    "Done. The next life and beyond too would be divine."

    And he carried her to the car where he briskly leaned over and seatbelted her in. Just like that, her beastly husband was driving her off into unknown territory.

 Chapter 115 - Ten Minutes

    Today would mark the first day of attending XXX University. She kept fidgeting in her seat, grasping at the sides of the car for support. Even knowing Dane was beside her navigating through the campus wasn''t doing much to help the nerves. He put a knowing hand against hers and chuckled while glanicng at her momentarily.

    "Relax. You''ll be fine."

    "It''s like I''m going into a foreign world. I''ve only gone to all girl''s academies and seen the same people all my life. What if I don''t fit in?..."

    "Of course you won''t fit in. You''re beautiful. You''d turn heads at every corner."

    She didn''t believe a word.

    "...Oh Dane dearest, I take back my words. Buy me a degree."

    The sound of the car pulling over and coming to a complete stop, filled her ears. She knew they were at their destination and soon it would be time for their lover''s parting.

    "Prisana, look at me."

    She looked up at his glossy dark eyes that reflected her. He tenderly cupped the side of her face, lightly stroking her cheek as if to soothe her. And it did soothe her. Prisana leaned into his palm like a lynx giving in to his every beck and calling. Dane did a long take on her from head to as much as he could see below.

    Prisana was dressed in an almost career like outfit with a proper sleek creamy orange dress. It showcased none of her curves but ascentuated with how elegant and bright her features came off as. Fitted loosely against her body, she radiated poise and elegance with that styled straight perfection at her hair.

    "You''re becoming a fine woman."

    A fine woman...Those words really resonated within her. She was swooning into his palms with a sigh.

    "You are none other than my wife and as a fine woman, I''d be damned if you chickened out now. Prisana, take hold of everything you''ve always ever wanted. I''ll be right behind you watching and rooting every step of the way."

    After he kissed her forehead, Dane walked around the car to open the door for her. Only when he left her side was she finally able to breathe normally. She never realized how much of a gentleman he was until now. The gentle sweet beast facade was always disguising his true chilvrous side. Always the knight she never knew she needed.

    It made the lynx inside purr to know he was all hers to discover and know for a lifetime.

    He grasped her hand in his, "I''ll send you off."

    "Oh you don''t need to go through all the trouble. And besides...We''d attract attention like bees to a beehive."

    "What makes you say that?"

    Prisana wondered if he was being serious at the moment. Judging by his innocent expression, he was. If she walked hand in hand next to her dashing newly elected candidate of a husband in a suit that screamed an aura of commanding importance, then of course they''d attract attention.

    "Allow me to walk you to your class...Or are you embarrassed being seen with me?"

    Dane looked as if he was whimpering as he let go of her hand and turned away from her. She frantically waved her hands about and shook her head.

    "Never! I am proud to show you off. I was just saying it''d attract attention because you were on television and don''t exactly look like your average college student..."

    He perked up, "Then you''ll allow me to walk you to class?"

    Dane seemed too reluctant that it was difficult for her to even refuse him.

    "Okay..." came her reply as he quickly had her in his trap yet again, urging her through the car garage and out to the campus lot.

    They strolled through the campus. For a moment, Dane was silent as he soaked in the familiar surroundings. This was none other than his old university that he attended. Prisana was sure he was rekindling old memories and feeling somewhat nostalgic. About what, she wondered but she continued letting him soak everything in.

    To her wild guess, there were definitely people staring. That was mainly the fact that Dane''s sparking suit shimmered brightly under the sun and even through rugged beastly features, still resembled an attractive man exuding confidence. And then there was Prisana, who must have seemed like a downplay of Dane''s aura. She focused on Dane''s gentle smile and forward to her class.

    "When does your class start?"

    "Ten minutes..."

    Before Prisana could even finish her sentence and ask why, Dane led her into what looked like an empty classroom and had her back pinned over the wall. Both of his hands trapped her with nowhere to flee.

    His gruff seductive whisper hovered above her ears, "I have roughly ten minutes."

    Her eyes widened. "You''re going to do that...here and now?"

    "I won''t go all the way. Just touching. I''ll be deprived and longing for you to be by my side all day."

    Dane started with a kiss, like he always did and knew would get her knees bucking in no time at all. She started to slide down as his tongue explored deep and tantalizingly. But he held her and brought her over so she was settled onto the desk. He never made the move to remove any clothing but instead, brushed over her dress knowing exactly where her hardened nipples were. This beast of a husband knew her body too well.

    She gasped as she heard footsteps approaching nearby and what sounded like laughter and talking. The crazy beast still relented though. He muffled her protests with his lips. One hand continued groping her breasts without reserve, fondling and cruelly wrestling through the fabric although she needlessly wished for direct stimulation. When the noise grew close, he dared to trail his fingers up her calf and thigh until it rested between her core.

    Prisana shook her head at him, afraid they would get caught but he whispered, "Do you trust me?"

    Only when she nodded, did he stroke her clit through her underwear. She bit and clawed at his suit jacket to stifle her screams as the pair of footsteps walked by. When one woman asked from outside of the door, ''Did you hear something?'', Dane used a finger to nearly force the underwear fabric gently inside with his finger as he moved inside her pussy. He was shamelessly fucking her with a finger separated by her underwear.

    She was practically shaking and doing her best to conceal her moans. Also wontonly moving into his treacherous finger.

    ''I don''t see anyone inside. Maybe that was your imagination.''

    When the footstps walked away, Prisana finally let out her moans as she dipped back. Dane held her back from falling backwards as she did so, focusing intently on bringing her to release. He kissed her neck bared to him while continuing groping her breasts with the other hand.

    Or so she had thought he was bringing her over to inappropiate release. Right when she was panting and calling out his name as his finger was rocking her over to pure bliss, he stopped. The cruel beast of a husband stopped just when she was on the brink of reaching heaven.

    He straightened her up and wickedly smiled, "That was roughly ten minutes. Off you go, hmm?"

    All she could do was pout at him.

    Wicked husband of hers!

 Chapter 116 - Dangerous Game

    XXX University reminded Dane of his more younger and vulnerable days. He felt nostalgic walking through the campus scenery, remembering fond memories of rushing to get to class on time. Even the halls reminded him of little things. But after glancing at the empty classrooms and Prisana''s petitle little figure beside him, he couldn''t help but urge her into an empty room and tease her.

    But by god, he was only torturing himself. After sepearating from her and sending her off to class properly this time, he was left hard and aching to take her there in that classroom. But all lust dissipated however when he recalled thoughts to calm down his desires like Leo hugging him or Cleo having the audacity to kiss him on the cheek. That settled any and all lust out of the car windows.

    The usual routine greeted him. His employees would rise from their seat and offer something along the lines of a simple ''hello''. It was supposed to be routine except when Dane entered his office, two men greeted him. One, the wicked devil who had once again placed the desk into his office which had been thrown out countless times.

    The other one, Jake who stood by Dane''s desk and peered out into the window. He didn''t quite mind Jake''s presence but it was the devil he minded. The devil Leo who had no business to keep on putting his desk where it shouldn''t belong. It was an odd scene watching the two unlikely pair of men in the same room waiting for his return. Dane had to wonder what if any words were exchanged between the two.

    "Devil," he scoffed the name and turned over to Jake. "And Jake."

    "My dearest friend, it''s been a while. Congrats on winning the elections."

    Dane ignored him as Leo opened his arms wide while Jake spoke, "Yes, congrats. And could I er....have a meeting with you in private?"

    "Oh pardon, I''m Leonardo Duval. His best friend. I''m in on the spicy details so don''t feel the need to talk in private."

    Dane glared at Leo because his jokes knew no limit or end. "Don''t pay him any mind Jake. He''s a lunatic who''s bent on having my soul."

    None of it was false. Dane meant every word but Jake just simply laughed, as if believing the both of them were truly best friends.

    "I''m jealous. The both of you seem to get along well."

    Jealous of what? And well? Dane looked at the devil which shrugged. In what way did they get along well? Surely something was wrong with Jake''s eyes or ears.

    "No way in heaven and hell do we get along well," Dane grumbled.

    He lightly pat Dane on the back, almost fatherly like. "No need to be shy. Your father and I were the same. We bickered to no end but when it came down to the real heart and business of things, we were each other''s best friend and could have a damn good hell of a time with each other too. It worked both ways."

    The devil dared to pat the other side of his back, "Yes no need to be shy in announcing our bromance for each other. Just lay it out in the open. Come out of the closet my friend!"

    "Foe..." Dane grumbled again before finally erupting. "Jake. This devil is not my best friend. I owe him many things and he''s in with us on the same objective, to find the Golden Deer . And devil I swear, more silly words out of you and I''ll throw you and your desk out of this room."

    Leo made a big show of zipping his lips shut with two pinched fingers.

    Jake on the other hand simply nodded his head and cleared his throat. "So then I assume it''s safe to speak?"

    Dane eagerly nodded as he stalked around both men and took a seat at his desk. He beckoned for the two men intruding his office to take a seat. And so they did. The devil irritatingly relaxed himself too much into his seat, putting both feet atop the edge of his desk. There was no time to chide him as Jake began woving his tale.

    "I''ve reached out to some old connections and dug around more and apparently, there''s both good and bad news I need to tell you. Which would you like to hear first?"

    "The bad news," Dane braced himself in a heartbeat without fear.

    "...The Golden Deer has begun to move and for reasons unknown it was during the senator''s captivity...The chief that your father and I used to work under had passed away recently. Both your father and I were good friends with the chief...Dane, it was a homicide and to taunt anyone on its tail the Golden Deer left his tattoo mark on the crime scene. I know it''s not a coincidence. The chief must have found something out too. The Golden Deer is mocking us, warning us that we''re playing a dangerous game."

    There was no readable expression on Leo''s face that Dane could study.

    "Do you have any pictures?" Leo asked.

    Jake showed him a picture to which Leo nodded and confirmed, "That is indeed the mark of the Golden Deer. It seems like the dangerous game has officially begun."

    Dane looked Jake deathly in the eyes. "...So what? Will you cower away again and turn back home to California? What will it be Jake. "

    Jake shook his head and nearly leaped up from his chair. Fire burned intensely, enough to burn through Dane''s own heated gaze. "Of course not! I...I vowed I''d find the truth together with you. I''m not afraid anymore. I owe it to you and most of all to your father to put all demons to rest."

    A sense of praise flickered over watching Jake overcoming his past struggles and finding way to join hands with Dane regardless of the dangerous game teetering near death itself.

    Dane rose from his seat and grinned at Jake, patting him on the shoulder with a hand. A warm smile slowly crept up onto Jake''s face as he stared at Dane''s content expression and hand resting at his shoulder.

    "Those are the words I want to hear. Now tell me, what''s the good news?"

    "...As for the good news, the Golden Deer isn''t the senator. I had an old friend to a check to see if there were any tattoos or if he had them covered but the results came up negative."

    A sigh escaped Dane''s lips before he could seal it, content knowing Prisana''s father wasn''t the reason behind all of their troubles. He wouldn''t have to forsake the man who had blood ties to his wife. And yet, he immediately frowned.

    "That''s hardly good news. We have no leads."

    "But what about your father''s notebook...Did you find anything?"

    Leo''s interest piqued up, "You never mentioned your father''s notebook to me."

    Dane turned to him and shook his head. "Now you know. Anyway, there wasn''t anything of importance. The strange thing was that a few pages had been torn out from the book. Coincidence or not, we''ll never know what was on those pages."

    "Coincidence indeed," Jake mulled over intently.

    "Damn it," Dane frustratingly slammed his fist against the table as both men grew startled. "We''re back to square one."

    "That''s what the Golden Deer wants us to believe," Leo chimed in among the turmoil raging inside Dane''s heart and mind. "Think hard my dear friend, why did they choose to come out now?"

    ...Why now?

    How strange. Dane regarded the devil in a newfounded light. Surely the devil knew something and was one step ahead of both Jake and Dane. It seemed that way regarding that nasty smirk plastered onto his face. He didn''t want to listen to the devil but he did. Dane thought real hard.

    The murder of the chief happened before securing the senator''s temporary position, during the actual sentor''s imprisonment, and after the elections. The perpetrator only chose to come out now...Precisely because they were afraid of something. Enough to get rid of the head of the police force itself. There should be top secret records that would help solve the mystery!

    Dane slowly turned to Jake.

    "...Jake, I have another favor to ask of you..."

 Chapter 117 - Heartfelt Crime

    "Heave ho!" that familiar voice was known to both Alex and Prisana as they walked near the entrance to the acting and drama club.

    Theo had specifially created a chat group through text, eagerly asking the both of them to come by to check out his club that he was an assistant for. And my god, Prisana''s eyes was indecently drawn to him. For some reason again, the man was yet again half naked with only his dark blue jeans on! It was becoming too much of a natural occurence for Prisana''s liking. Theo''s half naked self was on top of the ladder with a bucket of paint as both Noah and Elliot stood below.

    From the back view, parts of his body was covered in red and white paint. Prisana noticed there were a number of female students who swarmed to ask information about the club most likely because of the eye candy in front of them. Both her and Alex had become part of the swarm of females. They were being shoved amongst the pletora of females who were trying to sign their name on the paper.

    "...Hey isn''t that..." Elliot trailed off as he caught sight of Alex. "Alex over here!"

    Heart shaped eyes practically morphed from Alex as she found Elliot waving her over. "Elliot!"

    "And Prisana," Noah finished for Elliot.

    When Noah spoke Prisana''s name, she watched as Theo slowly turned around and flashed her a bright white smile. A smile directed solely towards her that earned more than a few hostile glances. Suddenly she didn''t feel so safe or welcome anymore. He made it even worse by swooping down from the ladder to walk toward her and Alex. Of course, Noah and Elliot trailed after.

    "Ah look it''s the cute freshmen girls again," Noah commented, clearly oogling over Prisana to the point where she felt a bit uneasy.

    Theo came to the rescue and chopped his dear friend on the head. "Eyes off."

    "...Ow. So now it''s a crime to even look at a beautiful girl?"

    Beautiful? Theo''s eyes raked her over but quickly fell to her eyes so she had no choice to look at him in return.

    It was as if Theo read her thoughts because he spoke before she could deny it, "Prisana it should be a crime for you to look that beautiful."

    She could feel her mind and body reeling. Not because of his words but because including those near, the entire female population of XXX Univeristy was now plotting on how to throw her body into the ocean. Those simple words were causing more havoc than necessary as some woman came over to complain, "What about me?"

    He easily chuckled and brushed her off of his arm, "Of course you''re beautiful too. All girls are beautiful in their own unique way."

    Alex hopped in and grabbed Prisana''s hand with the ring to shove it in his face. "It''s a crime for you to flirt with a married woman."

    "I-It''s fine," Prisana finished, having a hard time looking Theo in the eye. "If compliments were a crime then I''m sure half the world would be behind bars."

    "He''s clearly planning adultery..." Alex glared at him and looked to Prisana, as if protecting her friend from a disguised big bad wolf.

    "Am not, I can openly admire and express my thoughts politely in a free country," Theo said with a sigh, then turned to Elliot. "You''re seriously interested in this kind of girl?"

    "Hey...What are you trying to say about me?"

    Elliot nodded and the frown on Alex''s face completely disappeared. "She''s got a lot of spunk I like it."

    "Oh haha, you like it..." she trailed off as they held each other''s hands.

    "By the way," Noah continued as he led Prisana and Alex to the table with sigantures. "Prisana, I never knew you were the daughter of the senator and wife to such an important man."

    Noah went and popped the question as soon as they were away from the crowd of females. Prisana''s eyes widened. It was as if they all knew as none of them were surprised but instead just expectantly glanced at her to confirm all of it was indeed true. Of course it would have been obvious as she had been broadcasted several times on television but the time where she faced her father did make the headlines.

    No use trying to hide it.

    She nodded. "Sorry. It''s not like I was trying to hide anything but..."

    This time, Theo chopped Prisana''s head as she looked at him with a questionable gaze.

    "You''re still Prisana. I don''t think any of us care about your upbringing or status."

    The rest of them nodded while Alex pulled her in for a hug, "It must have been difficult. Know that you can come to confide in me if you have troubles. Like if that hottie husband of yours ever hurts you let me know and I''ll come teach him a lesson..."

    It was a strange feeling to have no one judge her. Mostly her heart was filled with such warmth. Prisana slowly leaned into Alex and squeezed her back, becoming enveloped in even more warmth that her entire being couldn''t contain.

    "Thanks guys..."

    Before she could control it, tears began to fall. The boys were flustered as they all waved their hands in the air awkwardly. Alex continued pampering her like a mother almost.

    "...We''ve..." she was practically choking on her words. "...only just met but I love you guys..."

    The boys exchnaged looks with one another. And then Prisana''s eyes widened as she gasped. Long enough, the warmth increased and her tears stopped as Theo, Noah, and Elliot swarmed in to give a big group hug to Alex and Prisana.

    "Ah see there, you stopped crying," Theo commented cheerfully, smiling down at her reddened face as she was now embarassed for crying in public.

    "...Your arm is choking my neck," Alex grumbled.

    "Your neck is in the way."

    "I''m only making sure you don''t accidentally brush your hand somewhere where it doesn''t belong."

    Finally, Prisana laughed at the two but then found a moment to look at their surroundings. "This is kind of weird isn''t it? Everyone is staring."

    "Let them stare," Theo said without a shred of shame.

    "It''s actually kind of nice. But...Hugging other guys is definitey weird though...." Elliot said with a hearty laugh.

    Noah also nodded in agreement. "It isn''t a crime to have group hugs out in broad daylight."

    And after a few moments she leaned into everyone.

    Prisana meant every word.

    She loved these people and was truly content of her place in the world.

 Chapter 118 - Untrustworthy Friend

    When the devil had left Jake and Dane to their own devices, only then did Dane ask the question on the tip of his tongue, ''Did you look for my father''s acquaintances?''. Jake had finished the task. Now in Dane''s hands consisted of a folder that contained the information he needed. He couldn''t find clues in his father''s notebook.

    That frustrated him to no end. The torn pages could have been a mere coincidence but even then, every other page was perfectly intact. Dane couldn''t help but conclude that whoever the hell this deer person was, knew exactly what it was doing.

    But alas, this folder could aid in jogging Dane''s young memories of that man with the Golden Deer tattoo. This person knew Dane''s father and thus Dane himself. Nothing should be a mere coincidence and with these files, he could be one step closer. The contents implored him to open the folder but he had rushed from the office to his first day at the board of council members.

    No one was yet present. So Dane gave into the temptation. He flipped open the thick folder. Immediately his eyes scanned over some middle aged man with roundish glasses. He flipped again. Some woman who resembled that nearby shopkeeper down the street at their old house. Dane kept flipping through the pages until he heard the sound of the door creaking open.

    "...Well if it isn''t Dane lennox."

    Dane shut the folder and slyly slipped it into his suitcase. He knew that tone of voice as he had watched countless interviews of him on television.

    He turned back to flash the man a polite smile, "Ah Mr. Blair. What a pleasure...You''re here early."

    "So are you."

    Dane regarded him with unsure eyes, while Prisana''s words flashed across his mind. Friend or foe? It was hard to tell. His blond hair and blue eyes resembled the very man who brought ruin to his dear wife and lynx. Giovanni Blair. Of course it was because they were father and son. And yet, Reed had been the one to help him in a desperate time of need.

    "I''m a punctual man. And besdies, I thought I''d soak in my new environment of sleazy politician mind games..."

    Dane never once bat an eyelash as he cut to the chase. "Reed Blair...That day on the yacht, why did you help me?"

    It was like for the briefest of moments, the beast had been able to catch him guard. However Reed only politely smiled in return as he circled around to be seated at the center of the table. Dane wanted his true intentions. He had declared trust the moment help was offered because even though the words were unspoken, he owed this man for saving Prisana.

    But the beast knew better than to give his trust easily. In other words just like his relationship with the devil, he trusted Reed yet would be prepared for the worst case possible scenario as true intentions of this friend or foe game were murky.

    And then Reed finally spoke after contemplating his words, "Your father once helped prove my innocence during a financial fraud. Without his help, I would have surely been sent behind bars for a crime I did not commit...Truly, he was such a rightous man that did not deserve to be so suddenly taken away from this world."

    "So are you telling me...That you would go out of your way to save the very daughter of the man that had forsaken your own son?"

    Dane said it. He boldly challenged the newly elected senator Reed Blair to come out and face him with the truth already. Reed chuckled like a mad man. Almost deranged. He deliriously threw his head back and then came back to his usual reserved and relaxed persona.

    He looked Dane dead in the eye to shed the truth, "Would you believe me if I said I care for your wife?"

    Nature took it''s course as the beastly husband took hold of him and stood from his seat. Dane tightly gripped the sides of the table to keep himself from lurching across the room.

    His voice was gruff and low, almost forming into the most chilling whisper. "What the bloody hell are you getting at?"

    "Exactly what I said. I deeply care for Prisana and my son who for the most part, has never seen eye to eye with me...Anyway, rest assured, I''m not planning anything in vengeance for my son."

    Dane shook his head in confusion. Nothing was making sense anymore. His mind was all fuzzy as he tried to piece together what Reed said. Perhaps the man was only making a fool out of Dane. He was only saying those words to get to his head. That had to be the only possible explanation.

    "I don''t lie," Reed tried to confirm Dane''s plaguing thoughts.

    "What reason would you have to care for her?"

    "What good would it do if I told you?"

    That was hard to answer. Surely in Dane''s mind, there was no good in the truth other than knowing the truth once and for all. A simple test to the man''s character really brought everything into questionable existence. Suddenly he felt like maybe after all like Prisana''s worries, there was indeed much more to this man.

    Much more because a gut feeling was telling him so.

    He stalked around the table and leaned in to Reed, "...Have I met you before?

    "At the yacht."

    "No...Before that," as Dane tried to explain, he glanced down at Reed''s bare arms with no visible deer mark and shook his head.

    Dane backed away but he wasn''t completely done with Reed yet. "Forget it. You said you care for Prisana...Is the reason because of her mother?"

    Of course he would try to dig up as much information as possible on his wife and those in her life. He loved her dearly and thus, made sure he knew the dangers that lurked around her. So when he was trying to woo Prisana into marriage, he already conducted his own homework on those around her including this Reed Blair man who he didn''t think twice about remembering his face until the day of their meeting.

    No longer was Reed smiling. His mouth went to a straight thin line. "W-What?"

    "You knew her mother, Madeline, in university."

    "...Hah, looks like you did your homework. I knew her...and I loved her. That''s why I care for Prisana, because she reminds me of Madeline. Now, are you satisfied?"

    Dane walked back to his seat and cheekily answered, "No. I''m far from satisfied. Mr. Blair, I want to thank you again for kindly extending out your hand out to save my wife but know this. I''ll take down any who stands in my way from shedding the truths, every last one of them friend or foe...Even you, Reed Blair."

 Chapter 119 - A Silent Plea

    "Is she..." Dane trailed off as he scanned the living room vicinity for his dear wife but sadly caught no sight of her.

    Only Cleo was present who sighed and shook his head. "She''s sleeping. Prisana spent a good deal studying and immediately fell asleep."

    He sighed also in disappointment like a child being unable to play with his lynx. "Thank you for watching over her. You may leave now."

    Before Cleo turned to leave he slipped something inside Dane''s hands. "...I know you haven''t been taking your meds lately but your doctor warned me to give these to you. He said you would need them around this time of the year."

    Cleo was right. Around this time of the year...The day when his parents slipped away from his grasp. It was coming close yet again. Whenever their death anniversary approached, Dane was always in disarray with his emotions out of order. Completely a mad beast. He usually just took work off and drunk himself silly but this time should be different.

    At least, Dane hoped this year around would be different.

    Dane clutched the shirt at his chest, feeling a bit uneasy as he glanced at his meds. His panic attacks were less frequent and he could sleep well all because Prisana was beside him. There hadn''t been any problems as of late. And yet he wasn''t sure if that meant it would be different when the day approached.

    The uneasiness kept gnawing at his bones even when he made his way up the stairs. Each step made his heart beat with anticipation up until the very moment he turned the door handle to their room. The beast found his lynx prey to slumber. She was sleeping on her side peacefully and snoring a storm.

    Goodness even this side to her, he found extremely adorable. So at peace with the world, her chest fell and rose with eyes fully closed to regretfully dream of things not about Dane himself. He chuckled watching her brow begin to furrow. So he poked her forehead until a little smile surfaced to immediately warm his stormy heart.

    The blanket was halfway to her waist so he tugged it up to her shoulders to fully tuck her in.

    And then he played with a lock of her short hair. It slipped through his fingetips.

    Dane simply just sat there for a long time to admire her pretty features until finally he could quietly breathe out the words, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

    Of course there was no answer. Just the sound of her snoring filling the entire room.

    He paused before whispering more, "I could whisper these sweet nothings to you everyday...Prisana, I love you so much I''d give anything or all that I am if you just wished for it. If you wished for it, I could forget about shedding truths and just run somewhere far away where no one would find us but I know you would never do something so cruel. You''re too kind for your own good to ask of something so selfish yet beautiful."

    And then he looked away and sighed. "....Prisana oh prisana dearest...It''s my parent''s death anniversary next week. I''m dying to tell you but some other part of me forbids it because I want you to focus on school and your youth. Not on some brooding beast...who won''t be himself. It shouldn''t be the end of the world but I''ll be avoiding you because I won''t be Dane, husband, or beast but a cowering boy resolved to ashes and flames."

    Dane blurted out without thinking, "Please, I''m begging you lynx, save me when the time comes."

    He shook his head and frantically stood up. What was he saying? How could she save him from his panic attacks or the horrors that lie await in his mind? They were bound to happen as a natural course of his dreaded body would refuse to listen to him. He was asking her the impossible. He was pleading to a sleeping lynx, too coward to confront her waking self.

    This had to be too much of a eavy burden for his lynx who had other matters to tend to. Dane hated this part of him. The part which refused to allow anyone inside this stormy heart of his. Even though Prisana was opening him up more and more, there still lay the dormant beast.

    Almost suddenly, he recieved that familiar migraine and couldn''t fathom how to breathe normally. Why now? His body worked like damn clockwork, knowing that his past would soon come back to haunt him eventually.

    His chest hurt. He closed his eyes and desperately fumbled for his meds. Dane left his lynx sound asleep and stalked out of the room to resist it. But his world was growing dark and flashes of that night were beginning to take a hold of his entire being. The flames and the stark horror of watching the crispened bodies of his parents burned his memory forever from that moment on.

    And then all over again, he was consumed with so many emotions that it nearly tossed him sideways.

    His large stature dramatically staggered against the wall as he clutched at it. He shouldn''t do it. Dane shouldn''t but his hands fumbled for the cap anyway. He popped in two pills and slowly counted inside his head from ten. Three...two...one. He heaved a long sigh, slumping down against the wall in utter and complete defeat.

    How could Dane ever bloody conquer his demons if he couldn''t conquer himself? He fisted a handfull of his hair in turmoil and crushed it desperately, "...Mother...Father, I''m lost. Tell me please...How do I forget this anger, pain, and sadness...Where is the right direction to proceed?"

    The beast was left with no one to answer him but silence and his own troubling thoughts that englufed him until the pitchest black of night turned sky blue.

 Chapter 120 - First Play Initiation

    Prisana had a beautiful dream where her beast was whispering her sweet nothings. He was telling her how much he loved her and melting her heart all over again just by the cloudy sight of him alone in her dreams. For some reason, everything turned dark like a warning of some sort but soon turned back to normal as she did her best to clear her mind.

    She loved how she would dream of him and yet...Hated the fact that when she woke up there wasn''t any sight to him at all. Just silken sheets snug to her body.

    Sight of him definitely decreased. Almost to the point where Prisana felt like he was avoiding her. Dane avoiding her didn''t stop at just disappearing in the mornings and nights but not coming home completely.

    The man practically lived at the office. Rather, for a whole week he wasn''t responding to her calls or texts. Prisana told herself to be an understanding wife since he was CEO of Silver Linings and now a member of the council. She wasn''t angry but a little disappointed. It only hurt because he couldn''t even return one phone call.

    She wasn''t even silently pleading for a phone call hours on end but minutes. Simply to just hear his gruff masculine voice and feel content knowing he was doing well.

    During classes or club, all she thought about was her beastly husband. Never a moment went by that she did not worry about him. Cleo reassured Prisana that he was fine but a gnawing gut feeling kept her awake most nights. Was he eating enough? Getting enough rest? Did his back hurt from sleeping at the office? How was his time at the council?

    So many questions were running through her mind while her heart was soaring with missing just being by his side. She was sure he felt the same way.

    Alex waved a hand across her face. "Prisana, are you alright?"

    She stammered, "W-What?"

    "I was asking you about the play but you kind of just zoned out...Anyway, do you think you''ll audition for a role?"

    Prisana forced a smile. "It seems like fun! I want to try for a small role."

    Alex was talking about the Snow White play that the acting and drama club would be producing in due time to kickstart the new semester. Prisana and Alex were seated next to each other in the large open meeting room. They were surrounded by the usual boys Theo, Noah, and Elliot, as well as the other club members.

    Ms. Steinkempt, the professor in charge of the club, seemed to overhear Alex and Prisana''s conversation. She was an odd elderly woman who harbored a loud voice and a rather eccentric kind nature. Her fashion sense was always something to be admired since she made her own clothes. Her outfit now consisted of a fluffy black peacoat and striped black and white pants.

    Ms. Steinkempt, in all her uniqueness, turned to Theo, "Did you not tell the newbies about the first play initiation?"

    Other new recuits walked over to ask Ms. Steinkempt about what the first play initiation was about. Both Alex and Prisana looked to each other in unison. Then they looked to Theo for more clarification.

    Alex raised her right eyebrow, "...What''s this thing about first play initiation?"

    Theo looked to Noah and Elliot for help but both boys turned on him and looked the other way. He coughed, "A small detail I forgot to mention...Newbies have to audition for a big role on their first play."

    She glared at the boys, "That''s a big detail you forgot to mention."

    Prisana found Theo looking intently at her until he finally turned away, whispering something to himself.

    Ever since Theo kept declaring he had a crush on her and openly showing his affection, she was a bit uneasy at first. Gradually she got used to it since the both of them knew she was clearly devoted to her husband. There was simply no other room for someone else other than her beast. She openly talked about her husband around their group of friends and she trusted Theo to never cross the line because he was an overall good guy and seemed like a man to be trusted.

    Theo mainly glanced at Prisana''s way, earning more than a few heated gazes from the girls in the room. "I''m sorry Pris, forgive me?"

    Prisana wondered when he started giving her a nickname. It''s not like she minded it much however it sounded a bit personal for her liking. Prisana had to make it a note to correct him later on when they were in private.

    She narrowed her eyes at him and made a big scene of folding her arms against her chest, "I''m a bit upset you didn''t mention this at first."

    Theo looked as if his world had ended but Prisana quickly smiled and said, "...Kidding. But next time, don''t do that as it would be hard for either Alex or I to trust you. I''m not exactly enthusiastic about auditioning for a big role Theo."

    "You''ll do great Pris," he quickly recovered and reassured her with flashing bright teeth.

    Prisana wasn''t reassured at all.

    Alex shook her head. "You forgot about me. I only joined to kill time. I didn''t even think about auditioning for a big role!"

    Elliot walked over to her and like magic, she was as good as unbothered when he touched her shoulder, "Alex, I can help you practice."

    "...Oh. That would be very nice."

    Noah popped his head in, "Hey you promised to help me practice first. Bros before er well, you know the rest man..."

    "Why don''t we all practice together?" Theo blurted out. "Us seniors can give you freshies some good pointers as well."

    "My place wouldn''t work," Alex, Noah, and Elliot all said in unison.

    That left Prisana and Theo. She actually wasn''t even sure if Dane would be alright with her inviting people to their home. But of course, Alex had to grab Prisana''s arm and raise it up high in the air.

    And then, Alex shouted like some hunger games scene. "I volunteer Prisana''s place as tribute!"

 Chapter 121 - Mourning Beast

    "Cleo," Prisana stalked Cleo through the kitchen. "My husband is still alive, is he not? Why can''t I visit him at the office? Grr, it''s been longer than a week since I''ve heard from him!"

    She peered up at him, expecting him to give in but he didn''t. Cleo kept to his duties as usual, cleaning like no tomorrow. He actually had the audacity to whistle to himself, trying to ignore Prisana''s words. But she wouldn''t let him get away because she at least wanted to see the beast for herself to assure her worries were just simply plain worries.

    Prisana poked her face in front of the kitchen stove to catch his attention, "Must I file papers to become a widow? Why won''t you take me there?"

    "N-No! Please don''t and uh...Dane would want to come back home and be with you. The moment he sees you, he''ll forget about his...responsibiltiies. That''s right! His responsibilities!"

    "He always sacrafices his responsibilities and never cared about it before," she mulled over, clearly suspicious.

    "Dane is fine...He just doesn''t want you to worry."

    Enough was enough. Prisana didn''t want to sit around and wonder if her husband was still alive. She was going to Dane to check on him whether he wanted her to or not. At least, she just wanted to see with her own eyes that he was okay. There was this gut feeling that things could be terribly wrong or perhaps, all in her imagination.

    The moment she saw him from afar okay as Cleo stated then she could leave and sleep at home in peace. Prisana eyed the keys on the counter and snatched it while Cleo shouted, "You don''t even know how to drive!"

    Prisana smirked, "I''m sure I''ll figure it out. You should have taken me when I asked. There''s maps on the internet so I''ll find it if that means I have to search all of New Jersey!"

    When she opened the door, Prisana found Bailey standing there with eyes wide open since Cleo was tugging on Prisana''s arm to stop her from leaving. Both Cleo and Prisana cleared their throats while stepping away from each other. Prisana just glared at him for being so complicated the whole week and evading all her questions about Dane.

    "What is going on?" Bailey asked, searching the vicinity. "Where''s Dane?"

    Prisana pointed to Cleo, "I''m forbidden to see my husband so I thought I would recklessly drive over to find the very man you''re also looking for...Um Bailey, what are the flowers for?"

    Bailey held a boquet of colorful poppies in her arm. Prisana''s eyes couldn''t help but be attracted to them.

    Bailey sadly smiled and looked down at the flowers, "...I came to see if you and Dane wanted to come along to visit the grave...For my daughter''s death anniversary, as well as my son in law..."

    Dane''s parent''s annivesary?

    ...What?

    "Oh dear, don''t tell me my stubborn grandson didn''t tell you..."

    Bailey''s words repeated inside Prisana''s mind like windchimes striking this foreboding storm in her heart. And then suddenly, everything made sense. Everything clicked. No wonder her beastly husband was avoiding her. Again. He was resorting to pushing her away. Why didn''t he just tell her? Prisana frustratingly ran past the both of them with keys still in hand as Cleo shouted, "...Prisana wait. I''ll take you to him."

    She sucked in her breath before turning around with grave eyes beyond worried, "H-How bad is he?"

    Cleo didn''t asnwer her.

    ***

    "I can''t believe you''re making me lecture you but the issue stands...When are you going to stop drinking and start working?" boomed what sounded like the devil''s voice. "Time is ticking and it''s only long before the bomb explodes my friend."

    "Leave me alone, devil. Grr and we''re foes I''m telling you!"

    Dane''s mind was so muddled that he thought he was imagining Leo''s wretched voice. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. And then, he swirled and looked into the glass of strong whiskey. It was his unkept appearance. A beard protruding at his chin. Dark circles clouded under his eyes because he hadn''t had a good night''s sleep ever since leaving his lynx.

    Disheveled hair that curled and furled as it liked. And even, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his hairy ungroomed chest. This was not a sight he wanted to show her. Never. It was like he was turning into that shell when she first met him in the woods. The caveman that desperately sought another sip but when someone held the cup from him, he glared at what must the devil who dared to take away his only solace.

    "Damn devil, what do you think you''re..." his voice trailed of as pretty brown eyes he knew so well met his own feverish ones. "...Prisana."

    God, she was his light and saving grace in this dark hell he found himself warping inside. So beautiful and bright unlike any other, it was hard for him to look at her. He had to turn away his gaze even though he wanted to keep looking at her forever.

    It wasn''t just his imagination because when he squinted he saw Leo back away to the door and speak, "I suppose this is my cue to leave. I''ll leave you two to your lover''s quarrel hmm?"

    This had to be a mistake. He clutched his migraine forming at the temples of his forehead. Dane specificaly ordered that damn secretary to keep her away at all costs. So why was she here, right in front of him? No matter whether if this was reality or not, he wanted to drink away his nightmares. And forget about the pain stinging every fiber of his existence.

    Dane cruelly regarded her without mercy, telling himself this was yet again another of the countless dreams he''s had of Prisana this week. And then he snatched the glass of brandy from her and finished it to show her he was beyond help at the moment.

    "Leave, I''ll be fine eventually," he growled, almost hiccuping. "...This is how I always mourn."

    He dashed back to his liquor cabinet and grabbed the half empty bottle of whiskey. But this version of Prisana wouldn''t disappear. No instead, she bravely marched over to him and tipped up to grab a hold of his hand with the bottle.

    "Enough Dane...I know you''re hurting but this isn''t the right way to mourn. Please, enough is enough. No more...Ah!"

    A loud crash startled the both of them. The contents of the bottle entirely spilled onto Prisana to soak her completely as the glass shattered at their feet. His instincts mmediately prompted him to carry her over to the large black sofa. He set her down and began scanning her feet through a daze, for any scratches or blemishes among her precious skin.

    Dane heaved a beastly sigh as he found none and glared at her, "...Lynx don''t try to save me when I''m far gone like this. I don''t know what I''m capable of. Hell...my state of mind right now isn''t rational...Please leave and I swear I''ll be back by morning light but not now. I''m not myself..."

    "No, I''m staying right here with you through hell or high water."

    The beast wasn''t rational because as he found her drenched in alcohol, it was almost irresistable to him. He waited for her to leave but she didn''t. And so Dane leaned forward and licked her cheek. He heard her gasp. All he could think was that she was ripe and delicious, perfect for his sweet invasion like every other time.

    She tasted both like whiskey mixed with her scent and softness. By now, he wasn''t sure if he was growing delirious by either Prisana or the alcohol. It was intoxifying and he wanted to get hooked on her body dripping wet with whiskey.

    "What are you doing!" she shouted, pulling him back. "Dane, I don''t want this. Not right now. Not when you are like this!"

    "Then leave!" he lashed out at her so much that she actually shrunk away to the couch.

    "...No!"

    "Then don''t blame me for warning you dearest..."

    But he wasn''t in the state of mind to listen to her worries laced in that sweet angered voice calling him to abandon all reason. Dane licked her nose before trailing down to her plump delectable lips. At the same time, he was undoing her shirt buttons. He was doing his best to get her to reciprocate but she was still and unpassionate. Prisana simply refused to kiss him back. Yet, she just looked at him with eyes so sad it hurt his soul to look at. That did it. He couldn''t go through with it.

    This made the beast cower away and he turned his face away because something in his heart twisted knowing he must be hurting her. His hands fell to his sides and he moved away from her petite body underneath his. He sat beside her until Prisana used a hand to turn his gaze to hers yet again.

    The both of them were breathing heavily, looking each other in the eyes until she shakily said so calmly while taking off her shirt completely so she was only in her white bra, "...Fine. Do whatever you want. If this is how you want to mourn then so be it. Destroy your sanity. Take my body. Do whatever you bloody need to because I would give you anything as you have vowed for me."

    She finally broke him when she whispered tenderly this time as he remained silent."..Dane, have you truly ever mourned for your parents?"

    The question stunned him because he never truly thought about this matter. He struggled with his words through that haze clouding his right sanity of mind, "Mourning...Hah instead of mourning, I poured my heart and soul on revenge. My life''s purpose was to bring justice to my parents...But since I''ve met you, I''ve been trying to deserve happiness. I-I¡­"

    Dane''s eyes widened as he felt warmth pool around his head. His lynx had pulled him into her chest so he lay against her with her arms protectively wrapped over him. Time seem to really stop as he somehow knew this wasn''t a dream. He could smell her vividly. He could grasp her in return so tightly that nothing had shattered. He could feel so many tumbling emotions hit him at once that it was had to breathe properly.

    "Shh," she cooed sweetly even though he knew he didn''t deserve this. "It''s okay to mourn. Don''t hold anything back with me. I know you''ve been hurting all this time¡­"

    "...Oh Dane..."

    Everything he had been holding back just unleashed. Her warmth and sweetness was the last straw. He clutched her like she was the last thing he had in this world.

    The beast wept inside her arms for a long time.

 Chapter 122 - Home Is Where The Heart Is

    In Prisana''s mind, this version of Dane was none other than another version of him that she would learn to embrace and love. His stubborn side and his weak and vulnerable side all drew her to him. As he lay weeping in her half naked chest like she were a mother soothing a child, she kept running her hand along his hair. Before long, she began humming a song to him to calm him even further. A tune that resembled that of a lullaby.

    She hadn''t realized but Dane''s shoulders were beginning to ease up and relax.

    Only when she began spilling her voice to him, did he finally calm down and speak, "...I always thought this during that moment you held the umbrella for me under the pouring rain in the woods and hummed that sweet wretched tune...You have the voice of a goddess."

    She breathed a sigh of relief and used both hands to cup the sides of his face, toward her. This time, she was the one to shed the light on all of his misfortunes. Dane looked as if he hadn''t had a good night''s sleep through dark circles plaguing underneath his eyes. His hair resembled that caveman she once knew long ago, only that he visibly bared his scar without shame from now on.

    Stubble was clearly present as if he didn''t want to bother grooming any part of his appearance.

    "You stopped cry¡ª"

    Dane covered her mouth and turned his face away and at the moment, she had to stifle a laugh as to not embarrass him any further. "T-There was dust I couldn''t get rid of in my eyes. Nothing more."

    This time, she was the one to chuck him lovingly under the chin and didn''t press the matter further even though they both knew the real reason. "...Caveman or beast, you are mine to repair even if that would take a lifetime...So why didn''t you tell me you stubborn man? I''m your wife, remember? I want to share your burdens."

    "Because I''m exactly what you''ve described, stubborn as hell. I love you to hell and back to allow this burden to you even if you vow to carry it. Prisana, I''ve always coped for my parent''s death in this exact way and I don''t know how to rely on others..."

    "Rely on me."

    It was those simple words which stunned him speechless for several minutes to just look into her depths and hold them captive, battling inner turmoil. He eventually surrendered and leaned against her shoulder. She felt like the whole world was falling back into place again, with her beast beside her laying on her shoulder.

    "I''m relying on you right now, aren''t I?"

    "Not only now. Before, during, and after tough times I want to be the shoulder you lean on."

    She felt him inhale a deep breath and then sigh, until his hand crept down to squeeze hers tightly. So tight like he truly was holding onto her for dear life.

    "I''m sorry for being weak. For not telling you again...For shedding tears that a man shouldn''t. Are you disappointed in me?"

    This felt like a similar deja vu scene. Prisana suddenly remembered when the beast in shining armor came to save her from that man she once loved. She vividly recalled the words like night and day, resting inside her heart like every other beautiful vow she swooned many times over.

    Prisana squeezed his hand back tightly, "I would never be disappointed in you. Don''t you remember? You once told me I wasn''t weak for running away from a man that could have further bent my will and made me do his bidding. Now it is my turn to tell you...Dane, you are not weak because you''ve suffered the injustice of losing your precious loved ones right before you. You can''t suddenly overcome the past and easily change so I don''t fault you for sticking to your old ways. And know this, a man can cry too. Your tears were proof that you''ve finally accepted the outcome of events."

    "...I accepted the outcome of events?"

    From his expression as she glanced sideways, he looked puzzled. Almost like in disbelief.

    "Revenge isn''t the answer. Giovanni and Erica have indeed screwed my trust and hurt me beyond a relationship that could never be repaired. I don''t forgive them but I''ll be the bigger person. Move on and face forward to the bright future that awaits the both of us."

    "You''re right. Since meeting you, I''ve given up on revenge but now...Now, I just want closure."

    She could only nod and proceeded to rest her head on top of his which still lay on her shoulder. "...Listen Dane, I don''t have much. My name is no longer important since that father of mine was ruined. Everything I own has been given, even from you. All I can give you in return is my love and devotion to stick with you in the end no matter how bitter it gets."

    Even in his still slightly drunken stupor which she presumed was washing away, he managed to turn her head toward his so their foreheads were touching. Their hands continued this beautiful foreplay while heads were connected as one.

    "That''s all I need. You...Ha, thank you dearest, I think I''ve sobered up with that wake up call...I''ve been a neglecting husband, haven''t I?"

    Prisana frowned and nodded, immediately turning the other way. "Very. I was worried sick about you. The next time you don''t return a single call or text, I won''t be as forgiving."

    Now that she was turned the other way like an upset wife, he made the effort to hug her from behind. "I''ll do my best to repsond to every one of them. I vow it."

    "...To start off with being a caring husband, could you teach me how to drive?"

    "Drive? Ah...That''s right. You don''t know how to. I would gladly teach you. Anything else I can do to regian my status in your heart?"

    She had to chuckle at that last part but began fidgetting because she wasn''t sure if he would be okay with her next demand. "Some of my friends took it upon themselves to come over to our home..."

    "That''s fine, do what you want lynx," he interrupted her. "It''s our home and I want you to feel at ease to invite whomever it is you wish."

    God, this man was so sweet to her. She had her thoughts all wrong about him. He''d really give her anything as he said he would. His actions proved that. Prisana had to be truthful with him about the matter so she gulped down the air.

    "There will be boys too..."

    "Boys?" he raised an eyebrow.

    Immediately her thoughts flashed to Theo but she didn''t know how to bring up that part of the conversation.

    "Is that a huge problem?"

    "Quite so. I''ll be terribly jealous. I might have to accidentally work from home that day."

    She laughed and turned around to look at him seriously. "Don''t you know already? I only have eyes for you?"

    He chucked the underside of her chin. "As do I. As do other ''boys'' who may have eyes for you. I won''t come in between you or your male friends as long as it''s clearly platonic. Lynx, I trust you to hell and back."

    Before speaking the truth, Prisana took a long and deep breath. "...Er, there is one boy named Theo...He admitted he had a crush on me..."

    "Oh?" was all Dane muttered in that low husky voice of his. "Tell me more about this Theo hmm?"

    The tone of his voice sounded dark so Prisana hurridley continued, "B-But! I''ve announced I have a husband. You. I vow he would never cross that line."

    "So now you''re vowing in his stead?"

    By now Prisana was so flustered she didn''t know how to respond. That elicted a chuckle out of Dane.

    He spoke again, "I''m teasing you dear. I believe you but if he ever does dare to cross that line then I won''t be so patient or forgiving alright?"

    "Neither will I...Will you finally come home with me? The...Er bed was growing lonely..."

    One of his hands slipped down to her hips. "I didn''t know you could be so sexually frustrated in my absence."

    "What! I didn''t mean it in that way...I just wanted your cuddles and prescense to be the first thing I sleep and wake up to!"

    "...Hah, you''re too adorable for words," as he said this he carried her into his arms easily.

    Dane pecked her on the lips while walking out the doors to his office and leaving behind more of his past that faded away while looking at the future he held in his arms, "Let''s go home."

 Chapter 123 - A Day To Be Anxious

    "You''re not going to work today?" lectured Cleo who gave him a discerning look.

    Dane shook his head. He was comfortably lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand.

    How in god''s name could he be at ease going to work knowing young hot blooded males would be roaming inside his own home? To get things straight, he trusted his dear wife and lynx. It was only the boys he didn''t trust. If they were to be her friends, Dane simply wanted to make things clear to them so they understood things in the long run.

    He gestured to his labtop, "I''m working from home today."

    Cleo had the nerve to chuckle. "...Ah, today''s that day isn''t it? You''re feeling anxious about impressing her friends aren''t you? I didn''t take you to be the nervous type!"

    "...I''m not nervous or anxious," Dane grumbled under his breath. "Shouldn''t you be heading to the office?"

    "I''m baking our special guests some sweets before heading out..."

    Mother hen Cleo was at it again. He was going out of his way to bake cookies or whatever which Dane didn''t quite even want to entertain her male guests. Cleo was taking things too far. Or rather, why had he never baked sweets for Dane? He was sulking and the both of them knew it as Cleo sighed.

    Dane furiously typed on his labtop. "Add a dosage of raving stomach pain to that hmm?"

    This time, laughter erupted from that sweet voice he knew oh so well. He looked sideways from Cleo to find Prisana at the foot of the stairs. Even in her casual buttoned up white blouse and light blue jeans, she was a sight to behold. A sight which made him want to throw a sweater on her so no man could catch a glimpse at her smooth porcelain white skin that drove him mad to touch.

    "Cleo will not add poison to the cookies! Even for a joke, that''s going too far isn''t it?"

    Dane eyed Cleo until he sighed and left them alone to return to his baking conquest. He then apologetically looked over at Prisana.

    "...I''m not ashamed to admit I''m a bit peeved. These boys have a chance to get to know the version of you in college. I wonder...What would it be like if I were to meet you in college and fall in love like a normal boy?"

    She walked toward him and easily planted a kiss on his cheek. What an easy man he was. A kiss on the cheek was enough to send him rattling that his labtop almost fell onto the ground. Almost immediately, his anxious mood had been lifted to high spirits.

    He had to catch it and breathe a sigh of relief, "...You''re getting too good at handling me."

    "Silly beast, I would never trade meeting you that fateful day you found me washed ashore to you. Everything we''ve been through could never amount to something so simple as you''ve envisioned."

    "Neither would I..." he tried to continue his sweet words but the doorbell rang.

    "That''s them!" she shouted and left his side before he could shower her in sweet words and kisses.

    Anxious of whom exactly? Cleo was talking nonsense. Dane was none other than the CEO of silver livings and a member of the council. Surely his status and wealthy surpassed these boys but of course most of all, he had her heart. Even as he convinced himself he was the most worthy, that didn''t stop him from faltering when he heard footsteps and peered up from his laptop.

    "...Goodness. Nice place! Your husband is rich, just like the media says he is," came an unfamiliar woman''s voice.

    A woman near Prisana''s age stepped from the narrow hallway. She was uniquely different with piercings and colorful hair that caught his eye, giving off an edgy vibe. Behind the woman and Prisana, were three boys. One trailed closely behind the woman. He was the most handsome out of the boys, with a startling chiseled face structure and lean cut body. Dane noticed that man was more into the edgy woman so he didn''t quite care about him.

    What he cared about was this Theo boy who apparently had a crush on his wife. There were two more boys. The shorter boy who puzzlingly looked around the house and the tallest boy of the three which clearly exuded a suave aura of confidence and charm. All eyes were on Dane as none spoke a word. He coughed and rose from his seat to greet her friends.

    "I''m Dane, Prisana''s husband," he made sure to emphasize the husband part and eye each of the boys like a beast staking his territory.

    The edgy woman ran up to Dane almost immediately and began sizing him from all directions, "...Approved! Prisana, where did you find this man?"

    Prisana only laughed and turned to Dane, "This is Alex."

    Alex nodded and smiled. "Hello forgot to introduce myself. I''m Alex and well these boys are Elliot, Noah...And Theo."

    Dane''s attention immediately flew over to Theo. The boyish man with confidence and charm who had a crush on his wife. Theo looked at him head on without shame, flashing him a bright white smile. Because he was good looking, Dane already made it a point not to like him.

    "N-Nice to meet you!" uttered Noah while Elliot also nodded and spoke, "We appreciate you letting rowdy college kids into your home."

    "Thank you for letting us intrude," Theo politely commented, taking in Dane''s big stature.

    He only nodded in return at all of their polite remarks, giving them the benefit of knowing manners. "Make yourselves comfortable."

    Prisana led them to the seating area directly across from the living room, where he could still see them as he purposefully chose this spot on purpose.

    Even though he told her friends to make themselves comfortable, he was clearly eyeing Theo like a hawk from behind his labtop.

 Chapter 124 - Snow White And Her Huntsman

    "...Why do I feel like he''ll murder one of us given the chance we slip up?" squealed Noah, as he shivered. "He''s clearly keeping an eye on us!"

    Prisana listened to Noah''s worries, turning back to catch a glimpse at her husband. He wasn''t looking at them at all. Dane was intently focusing on his own work. It wasn''t right that Noah was blatantly making accusations of her husband. She frowned at Noah and shook her head at him, "He is only working. Even though he comes off as intimidating, he means well."

    Elliot had to pat Noah on the back. "Relax, it''s not our throats he''s after...But Theo''s."

    "You''re right. That makes me feel better...Ow!"

    Theo habitually chopped both boys on the head. "Eyes on the script! We''re not here to  play around, are we?"

    Alex shrugged at his open ended question. "Surely some of our visit was to play around, no? Oh come on Theo, don''t tell me you weren''t the least bit curious to meet Prisana''s husband face to face."

    He turned to look Prisana in the eyes. "I was curious to meet him. Now that I met him, I''m sure she''s in good hands. Alex, eyes on the script. So we''ll start off with..."

    The crew began to recite the script, each with their respective roles they wanted or had to audition for. Both Alex and Prisana had to take turns on the Snow White lines. Elliot was the king while Theo was the prince. The most unlikely role fell to Noah as he was the wicked huntsman sent by the witch.

    "...Wrong," Theo commented on Noah''s line. "Wrong again. Can''t you read anything right?"

    Noah basically cowered. "I''m trying my best here..."

    While they were rehearsing, Elliot leaned in to both Alex and Prisana to whisper, "Theo is also known as the acting and drama club demon because he''s a perfectionist."

    "I think I''m starting to understand that," said Prisana, who also didn''t escape his wrath when she did something wrong earlier.

    And yet, she actually did take his words seriously because he wasn''t putting her down but he was correcting her to help improve her acting. Theo naturally had an eye for these things which she admired. Finally, Alex chuckled to herself and pointed to Dane, "...Hey, why don''t we ask the hubby to fill in for Noah?"

    "What?" everyone asked in unison, including Prisana.

    "We could fast forward to one of the scenes where there''s a face off between the prince and the huntsman!"

    Noah agreed, "This sounds exciting and plus I''m tired of getting grilled by Theo..."

    Elliot shrugged and ate one of the cookies that Cleo baked, "Fine by me. This could be an entertaining break."

    All of them looked to Prisana expectantly, except for Theo. Theo stepped in to speak, "Don''t force her to do something she doesn''t want."

    Truthfully, she secretly wanted to hear and see Dane become the huntsman. And so she waved her hand at Theo, "...I can ask but I can''t guarantee he''ll agree to this."

    "Splendid!" Alex shouted, almost too eagerly which earned a chop to her head from Theo.

    Prisana turned around and marched to her beastly husband. It was like he already knew she was walking to him as he kept his gaze locked on her petite form making way to him. She sweetly smiled at him and touched his shoulder, "Dear, how is work coming along?"

    He sighed, "It could be worse. How''s the play recital going?"

    "You see, my friends wanted to ask me if you wanted to join us..."

    "...Gladly."

    That was almost too easy. She blinked in confusion and tried to dissuade him, "You''d be the huntsman facing off the prince."

    "Who''s the prince?"

    "Theo."

    Dane immediately rose from his seat and stalked past Prisana in seconds, "Sounds fun. I''m in."

    She shook her head in disbelief and followed after him. Prisana did want to see him as the huntsman role but then again, she didn''t think he would accept so eagerly and easily. The rest of the crew were stunned as well since it didn''t even take her a full minute to have him convinced on their grand scheme of things. Noah timidly handed Dane his script.

    Theo regarded him with a nod and pointed to the page number and line, "We''ll practice here. We also use our bodies to act out and perform so...Prisana we''ll need you in this scene as well."

    Thats right. In this particular scene made by the acting and drama club which Prisana read many times over, the Princess was being held by the huntsman so he could end her life after the prince finally kissed her. Of course the prince would battle him to victory before living happily ever after with snow white and the seven dwarves. Theo handed Dane a wooden fighting sword before beginning. Dane flipped over the page for several minutes to read its contents. It was an intense ending scene so all eagerly looked to the three in anticipation while stuffing cookies in their mouths.

    Prisana leveled herself onto the ground so she lay still and asleep. She closed her eyes and listened to Theo speak, "...Oh my love! Snow White! She is gone, all because I couldn''t come in time to save her from this tragedy...Isn''t there something I can do? Something to bring her back?"

    He cried out in agony dramatically and began to cry. Slowly but surely, Prisana could feel Theo lean down and raise his face close to hers. How far would he take it? Knowing Dane was there, he wouldn''t go that far, right? She was uneasy and tense but trusted Theo on this matter. Prisana grew riled up as Theo placed his hand on Prisana''s mouth. He kissed his own hand which separated their union, surprising her so her eyes fluttered open.

    But it was just like the script and she struggled to stay in character, "...Prince! What...What''s going on?"

    "....Snow White! You''re alive. You''re..."

    The large beastly husband interrupted on cue, grabbing Prisana by the hand so she was lifted and placed against his chest. She looked up at  her huntsman and noticed he was indeed playing his role well by twisting his face in anger and triumph, "Fool! This isn''t over yet."

    He trailed his finger which was supposed to be a knife, along her neck and leveled his mouth to her ear so all her hairs stood up deliciously because she knew the huntsman was still her beast, "I''m not done with her. If I have to end her life and mine to impress the witch then so be it."

    Even though she knew it wasn''t real, it stung a little to know his ambitions were for the queen and not for her. Now she was the silly one. Prisana however, did notice he was holding onto her hand tightly almost like he was a bit angered. Not at her of course but perhaps because of the improvised kiss.

    The prince raised his sword at the huntsman but of course the huntsman parried his attack. They were glaring at each other now, inching closer and closer until the huntsman''s brute strength won over to push the prince off balance. But the prince never broke character, he charged again all the while the huntsman had one arm protectively over Snow White and the other arm battling his enemy.

    "...Prince! Just leave me be. I am a nobody but you will be the next ruler of this land."

    "We were meant to be together. I''ll win and together we''ll rule this land!"

    The huntsman chuckled like mad and from this point on, both men began to trail off from the script. No one interrupted except for the sound of cookies being furiously chewed on.

    "...You were meant to be together? The prince and Snow White are nothing but fiction as two characters who fell in love without depth or meaning," the huntsman tipped up Snow White''s chin so he could look at her from above. "The huntsman found Snow White in the woods and although he was supposed to give her the apple, he couldn''t go through with it. He''d follow her day after day to know her true beauty from the inside. She was kind and beautiful, selfess to her surroundings. He was captured by this inner beauty ensnaring the trees and animals as her angelic voice clung to the beating of his heart. She was wrapped up in everything he could ever deserve. Wrapped in his destiny that couldn''t be fulfilled. So he lied to the queen and told her Snow White had died from his arrow. Of course, that was a lie. He took the heart of a deer even though he badly wanted Snow White''s heart just for him. In the end, he was faced with the threat of losing his parents by the witch''s hand or killing the very woman he loved from afar. So now here we are, the huntsman will kill his love and in turn he will kill himself to grieve over her and save his parents. He is a man who''s love was not meant for Snow White. His love had depth and meaning other than her beauty from the outside from love at first sight."

    "In this story, you''re a side character who doesn''t know the main story," Theo boldly challenged him. "Not that you knew but the prince had met Snow White long ago when they were kids. He fell for her inner beauty long before she had morphed to the fairest of them all. The prince fell for her at first sight because it was as if falling in love over again from their first meeting long ago. When he found her, he knew he had to marry her. She felt the same. This was proven because just now our love''s true kiss conquered all and by my hands I''ll make sure she is safe and sound even if I am the one left dead in the end."

    "What a noble man," Dane pointed the sword to his chest. "Would you give me your heart instead of Snow White''s?"

    "Take it."

    "...T-Theo! I mean, prince! Don''t!" Prisana shouted, confused just as everyone else.

    Dane raised his arm and Prisana had to close her eyes. A wooden piercing sound vibrated through her ears. When she opened them, she realized he had stabbed the huntsman himself.

    "...If there ever came a lifetime Snow White would fall for the prince and he knew the prince was a worthy opponent, the huntsman would take his own heart and let her be happy. He would die this lifetime and look for her in another, hoping for her heart..."

    "...Haha I lose," Theo shouted with a smile and then he walked over to help Dane stand.

    Prisana looked on in confusion as Dane accepted his hand. And then her husband even smiled back at Theo, "You''re a good actor. I believed every word...Still, I''m not very pleased with how you handled that kiss."

    "I could say the same for someone who doesn''t act. A job well done. You could easily replace Noah in a heartbeat."

    "Hey, that''s not nice," Noah commented, clearly hurt by Theo''s words.

    To address the kiss, Theo continued while looking at Prisana, "Would you rather I kissed her on the lips then?"

    "My fist would find its way onto your jaw."

    "Right...I don''t start things I know I''d lose so you''re in good hands. Relax, I wouldn''t cross that line."

    "That''s good to know."

    Alex began clapping her hands to ease the tension, "Even though things went off tangent, that was still awesome!"

    Elliot nodded. "I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, thinking Theo would get his ass beat. But man my dude, you held your ground well!"

    While everyone was busy praising Theo against battling Dane on the rehearsal, Dane walked over to Prisana and leaned down. She widened her eyes as the rough texture of his lips meshed with hers.

    He snuck in a quick kiss and whispered, "In this lifetime, Snow White belongs to the huntsman."

 Chapter 125 - Mysterious Enemy

    Dane was so close to figuring things out. So close yet still far. The other day, Jake had come up with some surprising information. Based on the police reports, the reason why the chief was killed had been because of the top secret files he was going to leak out. Files about the entire board members and their political wrongdoings. The crimes were overlooked because the politicians had been paying the department to keep quiet about it.

    But of course, the Golden Deer was one step ahead because all of those files had been compromised and wiped out in the computer system. There was no end to this cycle of frustration. They were too planned and calculating. But even the most planned and calculating plans had its holes. Somewhere, he didn''t know where but Dane just had to keep searching with faith.

    "This mystery is getting more complex," the devil mused yet again in his desk that Dane did not permit inside his office. "Who could our perpetator be? It must be someone from the council...But it couldn''t be the senator because he had been held in for questioning unless he has an accomplice..."

    He shook his head. "An accomplice? That''s a good guess.Or maybe someone wants us to believe its the senator..."

    His phone began ringing. He looked at the caller ID and found it was his lynx. Dane coughed while trying to hide how pleased he was, "...I need to excuse myself for a bit."

    "Ah how nice, I wish my lover would call too...Oh right, I don''t have a lover. Oh well."

    The devil''s jokes knew no end. His laughter echoed as Dane shook his head in annoyance.

    Dane walked to the edge of the room and answered his lynx quietly, "What did I do to deserve a call from yours truly?"

    "You remember what day it is today right?" came her nervous sounding voice, almost as if it were shaking.

    "Our anniversary," he joked to which he heard her sigh but he quickly chuckled her worries away. "Of course I remember. It''s your play at university. I wouldn''t miss it for the world."

    Not surprisingly, Prisana had landed the role of Snow White. Of course she would. She was none other than his dear wife and lynx, the most beautiful and formidable woman for the role. If she hadn''t been chosen, Dane was sure he would have taken a complaint to the dean himself. Prisana might have not allowed it but the beast had his ways.

    "...You do remember! Ugh, I''m so nervous I think I''ll puke."

    "Lynx, let me tell you a magic trick."

    "The beast has magic tricks?"

    "It''s something my father taught me..." Dane easily began to reminisce about his father as he told Prisana the magic trick.

    When Dane was a young boy, he was often scared of the dark and had trouble sleeping without his parents. Of course there came a time when he was too old for sleeping with his parents. One fateful night when he turned twelve his father told him a magic trick when he refused to sleep alone.

    ''I don''t believe in magic,'' young Dane would say.

    He could faintly still recall the feel of his father''s fingertips brushing over his unruly dark layers. Although coy to admit, he genuinely loved his father''s way of showing affection. He loved his late mother too but in more ways than one he was truly a father''s boy through and through.

    ''Start believing. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and count down from ten. When you open your eyes, the magic will work and everything will be okay. Trust in your father, hmm?''

    His old man was right. The magic worked for Dane everytime before bed as a young boy and now everytime after his panic attacks settled in. It was how he coped with most of his problems. In reality more than a magic trick, it was a keepsake and sign of his father watching and supporting him through tough times.

    "...Do you believe in magic?" Dane asked her and waited for a few moments on a knowing breath.

    "Of course not."

    "Believe. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and count down from ten. And then when you open your eyes, the magic will work and imagine I''m there beside you to conquer all. Everything will be okay," he felt nostalgic while repeating his father''s words.

    "Even though I don''t believe in magic...I believe in you. That''s greater than any magic possible. Thank you Dane, I''ll use this trick if I get a good fright on stage."

    "Break both legs," he mused and to this, she laughed.

    "You''d have to carry me for a lifetime."

    "Gladly..." he looked back to the devil who pointed at his watch. "Now, I must deal with the pain that''s sitting across from me..."

    "Leo?" she asked knowingly since the devil was the only person capable of eliciting such a reaction.

    "Dear, don''t feel the need to address him by his name. Devil is fine..."

    "You''re teaching her to be rude like yours truly?" the devil mocked him from earlier as Dane shot him a warning look.

    "...Lynx, have more faith in yourself. I''ve never met anyone so determined and hardworking as you are."

    "You''re right! I''m a fine woman and none other than the wife to the CEO of silver linings. What could I possibly be afraid of?"

    "Ha, that''s the spirit lynx."

    Dane''s bright and lovely mood immediately darkened when he turned around to glimpse at a displeased devil. The devil made a show of covering his ears, "Yuck, a man in love really messes with my heartstrings I didn''t know existed. In all the years I''ve known you, I''ve never once thought that you would be reduced to such a low state! It''s a shame really...I preferred it when you were just a beast blindly following after his goal."

    "It''s this simple thing called ''change''. Something you clearly aren''t capable of."

    "Oh believe me, I don''t want to be capable of it. I''m terrifically fine just the way I am. I love myself entirely too much to change."

    Dane just simply gave him a long look before uttering, "Narcissistic devil."

    "Nothing wrong with a little self love, friend. "

    "Foe, everything is wrong with you."

    "Care to elaborate?"

    "Womanizer. Terrible jokester. Gangster..."

    "Okay enough...Gangster is a bit rude. I prefer the term debt collector or money lender...Anyway, where''s that old friend of yours? He''s running late, isn''t he?"

    Dane checked his watch. Indeed, Jake was supposed to be here about half an hour ago. The man was usually punctual and on time too, someting he claimed was a habit from his young detective days.

    He simply sighed, "He''s late, perhaps something came up...Ah."

    Suddenly, Dane recieved another phone call. He checked the caller ID which read Jake''s name. Speaking of the man...

    Without thinking much of it, he answered almost jokingly, "Jake, I thought you described yourself a punctual man."

    But on the other end wasn''t Jake but a robotic and wretched voice unrecognizable, "You''ve been looking for me all along, haven''t you?...I wouldn''t give anything away if I were you. Act natural, hmm?"

    He was momentarily caught off guard but immediately looked over to the devil with grave eyes so he would understand despite the words he was going to say. Dane wasn''t sure if they wired the room but if the golden deer had someone watch them then it would be safe to assume their conversation was being monitored as well. Of course the devil was evil but he was smart and calculating for his own good too so Dane trusted him in this regard.

    "Ah Jake that''s fine. Another day then..." he rambled on as if it were Jake he were talking too. "What was that? I can''t hear you. You should speak louder."

    By this, he wanted the mysterious enemy to put Jake''s true voice on the phone.

    "...Mmph!...Dane! It''s a trap...Don''t mmph..."

    That was Jake''s voice. No doubt about it. He took a deep and long breath to regain his composure.

    "If you want to save your friend, meet me at XXX and come alone. There''s a car waiting for you downstairs. I have someone watching you from afar so I''ll know if anything is amiss."

    Within moments, Dane was met with silence on the other end. The mysterious person claiming to be the golden deer hung up, leaving him with a million questions. The devil returned his grave expression as if reading Dane''s mind. Both of them nodded. He never uttered a word but turned on his heels and walked out of the door without fear or a second thought despite heading straight to the enemy''s trap.

    It wasn''t even about finding out who the bloody hell golden deer was anymore.

    Only now, the beast was more frightened for that old friend who still had a daughter. Who Dane had yet told he cared about him.

 Chapter 126 - More Truths Unveiled

    "Do you see him in the audience?" Alex asked, looking frightful as the witch.

    Alex hadn''t won over Prisana for the role of Snow White but due to her dark nature, she had convinced everyone of the witch role. Truly, Alex was a spectacular witch. With a long dark purple robe and exotic dramatic makeup, Prisana didn''t think a role could had been more fitting. She truly seemed like the most evil and fairest of them all.

    Prisana peered over the curtains and looked out to the audience again. She scanned over unfamiliar faces. Still, no sign of her beastly husband. He promised he would be here. Dane couldn''t had forgotten as she had reminded him earlier. It was unsettling watching guests shuffle in and each one of them not Dane.

    She sadly shook her head, "No. B-But there''s still five minutes left before the play starts."

    Theo walked in and chopped her head playfully, "I''m sure he''ll show up. He''s a busy man, isn''t he? Just give it your all and impress him when he makes it here."

    Prisana nodded, taking in Theo''s side character role as a peasant. He wore a drabby brown shirt ripped at the sides as his face was covered in black marks. Some other newbie had landed the role of prince as per the new student initiation of the club. And so Theo stepped out of the way to let the newbie shine.

    The huntsman was now played by Elliot while Noah replaced one of the dwarves. Everyone was geared up and ready for the play, as more of the seats began to fill up with no sight of her beastly husband. Before the curtains opened, Theo pledged his hand in front of everyone. Everyone else followed in a circle by their hands joined together.

    "Here''s to a good performance!" Theo shouted, moments before the first scene entered with Snow White and the seven dwarves.

    Her whole entire being was shaking. Then suddenly, she remembered the magic trick Dane told her. Prisana closed her eyes and began to count down from ten. Three...two...one. When she opened her eyes and sighed, she really did feel as if everything would be okay. It was amaizng how she didn''t feel as nervous anymore, knowing her beast instilled some magic inside her. The first half of the performance went along smoothly.

    The play followed the usual Snow White story with a few twists and turns made the acting and drama club. By the time intermission came, she forgot all about her beastly husband because the nervousness of how she was performing took over so she forgot to look at the audience. She gulped down the bottle of water and sighed as the others also began relaxing before the intermission finished.

    "You all did great in the first half," Theo complimented after nearly finishing his water.

    Noah shook his head in disappointment. "Well, considering sleepy just sleeps, I think I had to do great..."

    Elliot pat him on the shoulder. "Relax, at least you don''t have to exert yourself. I feel like I''ll faint underneath all this heavy armor."

    "Oh but you look just dashing in that armor Elliot!" Alex pretty much openly flirted without much shame everyone already assumed they were a couple.

    Some student came running over to Prisana and interrupted their little conversation, "...Prisana! There''s someone here to see you."

    Could it be?

    She excitedly stood from her seat and gave Alex a knowing look as the boys gave her a thumbs up. Prisana wasted no time at all in gathering her bountiful layers of skirt at her feet so she could practically dash toward him. Surely he would be impressed by her beauty as Snow White? Would he compliment her acting? Call her a goddess again? She yearned to hear compliments by him alone.

    Most of all, Prisana yearned to be in his arms so she could tell him how afraid she was but that thanks to his magic, everything truly was okay. She found his frame turned from her. But as she kept walking closer to him, she realize his stature wasn''t large or beastly enough like her husband''s. When the man turned around, Prisana stepped back in horror.

    The man she once loved turned to regard her with sad and conflicted eyes. Giovanni. He stood there with dark circles under his eyes, along with messy unkept blond hair that was usually neat and slicked properly back. He wasn''t even dressed formally as he used to but in regular shirt and worn out looking jeans. Flashback of when he forced her onto the ground surfaced in her mind, of when he tried to hurt her physically.

    "...Giovanni...Why...Leave!"

    Prisana immediately turned around but he was too fast and strong for her as he wrapped her in his arms from behind. She took a deep breath of disgust knowing it was him holding her. All the while, she was hitting him and struggling like mad with no progress in escaping. She wanted to scream but the whole audience would be able to hear.

    "Let go of me!" she roughly shouted this and bit his arm hard like a wild lynx.

    He cursed but still held onto her, dragging her further away from the stage and toward the exit door. "You''re coming with me. We need to talk."

    "I hate you. I want nothing to do with you," she spit vemon in his face without remorse watching him shrink away from her.

    "Listen to me...It''s about your mother."

    Prisana blinked at him. Every resistant bone in her body stalled when she heard her mother''s name. She stopped resisting him and looked desperately into his eyes. "W-What? My mother...What about my mother?"

    "Come with me and I''ll tell you everything," he kept trying to drag her but she finally managed to kick and push him away.

    She had to quickly run and check the audience from behind the curtains and still, there was no sign of her beastly husband to help save her from this ordeal. A deep breath was all she needed while Giovanni persisted. Prisana had to be her own lynx in shining armor.

    They''d be worried...Yet surely the crew would at least understand that something about Giovanni''s expression and the way he was approaching her mother made her angsty to get to the bottom of things. Giovanni was a cheat and a liar. She shouldn''t trust him but call it a gut feeling, something told her to leave, confront him, and finally end things once and for all.

    "Don''t touch me and stay far from me. I''ll walk myself!" and then she stormed past him while looking back regretfully at everything she was walking away from.

    Once they were outside where no one could hear them, she swiveled around to meet his gaze, "What about my mother?"

    "Prisana," he breathed slowly. "I''m sick because I''m still in love with you...W-We''re half siblings."

    Half siblings? She slowly repeated his words, staggering back a little. Surely this all had to be a terible joke or plot of his. And then she just laughed like a mad woman who didn''t believe a single word he was saying.

    "Stop lying...No, I don''t believe you!"

    Giovanni grabbed her shoulders and shook her, "Listen to me damn it, the reason I forced myself to love other women instead of you is because we''re half siblings. Our mother ran from the senator after she had you and then she found my father. It''s all a big shit show! Look, I''m sorry for the things I''ve done and even with Erica. I hated the senator for treating our mother cruelly and I hated you for not knowing the situation or that I was hurting. I wanted you to feel my pain and yet, I loved you still. Prisana, I''m so sorry. Sorry...sorry...sorry..."

    "...Why tell me this now?"

    "Because you deserve to know and to make up for my wrongdoings, I wanted to warn you that the man you claim to love...Dane, he''s in danger."

    "Enough!"

    She stepped away from him, away from lies or truths she couldn''t decipher. Prisana kept backing away from him as he crumbled onto the ground. Her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. Everything felt so sick and twisted, it was beginning to warp her version of reality she thought she knew. Most of all, she really did feel something bubble in her chest to the point of throwing up.

    Prisana took a deep breath and then walked back to Giovanni despite still going mad knowing this man she used to love was actually related to her.

    She clutched him by the shirt and practically shook, "Did you say my husband was in danger? Tell me everything you know."

 Chapter 127 - Fear Of Death

    These were his last words whispered to the devil and foe that he hated himself for trusting because in the end that was both his only true known enemy and ally, ''Don''t follow me. But instead, can I ask you for a favor in which I could repay in hell? Please I''m begging you Leo, watch over my wife if something happens to me.''

    Heaidng straight into the enemy''s den without a plan was similar to asking for death.

    Death?

    Death was something all humans had to experience. He used to think he wasn''t afraid of thing intagible thing called death. Now, circumstances were different. It wasn''t death itself he was afraid of but the things he would miss out on. He was more afraid of leaving her alone by herself while she was still picking herself up from that cage she lived in her whole life. There were so many things he wanted to hold onto because she changed him for the better.

    As Dane quietly climbed into the large black sedan, he noticed the driver wore a mask and all black to disguise himself with dark shades. Dane was walking straight into a trap and he knew it. He sat in the backseat and the drive resulted in silence. There was no use making small talk as the driver would probbaly have not answered any of his pressing questions.

    Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into half an hour. They were heading out from the city and into the outskirts of Jersey where grass was tall and houses were scarce. Of course, what a fiting way to deal and dispose of someone. At last, the driver pulled up to a small clearing. Dane glanced around. He realized that they were at some abandoned warehouse factory in a rural area.

    The driver pulled out his gun and menacingly lowered it to Dane''s head because he had reached for his phone. He whispered in the most low and threatening tone, "Anything suspicious and I''ll end your life right here."

    "I just need to call my wife...Please, if my life will end then isn''t this the least I deserve?"

    The man in charge of his life grunted in response but continued pointing the gun at Dane. "Make it quick. The Golden Deer is a patient man so consider yourself lucky."

    And so before he headed into the enemy''s trap, Dane decided to make a phone call. The lynx deserved to know the situation. He wouldn''t hide things from her anymore. They were a team now and she proved that when she healed him from finally letting go. This was the most he could do if he were truly heaidng for ruin without return. Without knowing what lay await.

    The phone rang a few times before she answered quietly, her tone almost disoriented, "...Dane? Listen, I know..."

    He took a deep breath and interrupted her, "Forgive me, I couldn''t fullfill the promise to come see you at your play."

    "I-I know," she whispered, still sounding very unlike herself but he assumed she was a little upset at him.

    Dane had to grit his teeth so he could bare everything to her all at once without mercy because he was close to his fate that was waiting for him on the other side of that door. "This is sudden but...Lynx, the Golden Deer took Jake...I''m going to save him but when I do, I''m not sure what the outcome will be..."

    "I know," came her surprising response.

    "Wait," he paused. "How do you know?"

    "Giovanni told me everything."

    "...Why did that bastard..."

    "There''s no time to explain...Dane, I''m coming there now. You''ll make it back to me. Promise. You better vow it. I''ll never forgive you if you think you''re being heroic by saving someone and losing your life in the process..."

    He laughed like mad after hearing her voice turn to choked sobs, "You''re making it hard for me to be brave dearest. Ha, do you want to hear something funny?"

    "...A-Are you insane?" he could hear her sniffling already. "At a time like this?"

    "I used to face death head on without fear because some part of me was ready for it. But now it''s funny because it''s coming back to bite me...Now, the circumstances are different. Lynx, for the first time in my life, I am so afraid. I''m afraid of never seeing you again. I''m afraid of forgetting our past, present, and being unable to experience the future with you."

    By now, she was shedding the most beautiful of tears. "...I''ll be right there. Dane!"

    "I love you so goddamn much," were selfish words he had to say.

    He patiently waited for her to stop sobbing and regain her composure. "...I do too! B-But listen carefully Dane, the Golden Deer is¡ª"

    The man in all black forced him to hang up at the moment of truth and opened the doors. It creaked open and shut, as Dane was thrown inside and what waited for him inside took him aback. There was Jake unconscious in the middle of the large wide open space, tied expertly onto a wooden chair. Light shone on him while the rest of the room was shrouded in eerie darkness.

    So dark that it almost spooked him but he remembered he was the beast unafraid of this deer he would catch for lunch.

    He cautiously approached Jake and shouted, "Coward. Show yourself! Why continue hiding in the dark?"

    The voice from within the shadows spoke back, "...Dane Lennox, you truly look just like your father."

    Dane waited on a baited breath as the owner of that voice stepped out from within the shadows. Blond hair entered his vision, along with the ocean blue eyes that rained down on him with a hard edge. Of course it was him all along! How pathetic of Dane not to click all of the evidence together.

    Reed Blair.

    He was truly standing there across from Dane with a gun pointed toward Jake''s head. One smart move and it would all be over. Dane had to tread about this carefully. He surveyed his surroundings. There was one escape route, the very man he needed to rescue unconscious tied to a chair, and a single enemy with a gun.

    His chances of survival were slim to none but he wouldn''t go down without a fight.

    The beast and the deer regarded each other with resolve and determination.

 Chapter 128 - We Did It

    The only thing Dane managed to utter while keeping eyes locked on him was, "Why did you do it? Why did you kill my parents?"

    "...I''m no liar. Your father did help prove my innocence until he realized I was actually guilty, a man who owned a mob organizaion behind the scenes. Ha! He knew more than he should of and threatened to expose me and jeapordize my position in the elections. I warned him of the consequences but you see, he was too righteous for his own good. He chose the law instead of the safety of his well being and family."

    It was difficult for Dane to continue listening to this man when he just wanted to grab a hold of that revenge plaguing him his entire life.

    "You''re telling me to win the elections, you got rid of them for that damn reason...Treacherous murderer!" Dane grappled with Reed''s wrist as Reed fired a bullet that vibrated through Dane''s ears and missed Jake by an inch.

    While they were close in distance trying to outdo the other person and wrestling for the gun, Reed whispered almost chillingly which halted Dane in his resolve, "I did all of this for Prisana and her mother."

    "...What the hell do you mean?"

    "Madeline and I were in love with each other in university. I lost contact with her after we graduated. Of course by fate, I found her again but she looked lost, as if running away from her life. I never asked her because I loved and respected her privacy but eventually we lived together like lovers and had Giovanni..."

    Dane thought he was going to be sick at the mystery which began unfolding. "You allowed this to happen to your own son?"

    Now, Reed''s face darkened. "Trust me, I didn''t know about it until much later. Until after I made friends with the senator and I always had this gut feeling Prisana seemed familiar. Fate has a dark way of giving surprises because my sources did an investigation to find the ugly truth. Only then, did I want to ruin the senator so I kept using every underground resource I could to destroy and frame him. I''ve helped you out this entire time without your knowledge but now that you''ve been digging for information where your nose doesn''t belong, I''ll have to end you like your...parents!"

    Reed punched Dane in the jaw. He took it with ease, not even flinching at the harsh impact. Dane cleched his fist and did the same, punching the living daylights out of the man that took everything away from him. God, this wasn''t fair. His parents were taken away so easily by the hands of evil and only years later could the truth be unveiled.

    The gun was tossed aside onto the ground as Dane landed a clean hit to Reed''s face. He was so furious that he wasn''t paying attention to the fact that Jake had stirred awake.

    "...Dane...You''re here..."

    All he wanted to do was land another hit. Or better yet, kill the man to satisfy all those years for that thirst of revenge. It was so tempting with Reed right in front of him. All he had to do was pick up the gun. His hands had a mind of it''s own as he retrieved the gun and pointed it to Reed.

    "I can''t bare to tolerate how you killed them just to save your own ass. Their deaths were only meaningless cargo in your way, wasn''t it?"

    "...Ha, can you really shoot and kill a man? What good would it do? It won''t bring them back," now Reed sounded as if he was trying to convince him out of this.

    This was it. Dane''s finger slowly eased onto the trigger.

    Suddenly, two men in all black that were more deadly looking than any of the senator''s men, appeared from within the shadows to pull Dane away from Reed. Of course, the mobster of a wretched man would have his men nearby. It was Dane''s rash decision to come and save Jake without a plan so he knew odds weren''t in his favor.

    Reed retrieved the gun in his hands and pointed it at Dane''s chest. "I''ll do you a favor now and send you to follow your father..."

    He was struggling to get the two big men off of him but looked forward and paused.

    The moment he saw Reed''s finger press onto the trigger, his mind flashed to his lynx. All the memories of when he first met her to them finally vowing their love to one another. There was still so many things he wanted to tell her. So many experiences he had yet to share with her. So many vows he had yet to fullfill.

    He closed his eyes as the sound of the trigger firing off filled the entire area.

    Strangely enough, there was no pain. Dane looked down and there was no bullet in his chest. In front of him, was Jake who stood before Dane as if protecting him. He shook his head in stark horror when he realized what was going on.

    Jake looked back and smiled at him, "We did it."

    Soon after, he fell onto the ground as blood seeped from his chest. Chaos kept entering the scene one after the other as a horde of police came storming in to shout, "...Police! Stay right where you are."

    Emerging from behind the army of police was the devil who whistled as he made his grand entrance. He dared to rip off Reed''s shirt to reveal the golden deer mark, "...Aha, as I thought. You have the mark and had Dane fooled by somehow covering it up during the most crucial moment of reveal."

    Reed began to lower his gun and grumbled, "Curse you devil! How did you...?"

    "If someone tells me not to follow them, of course I would go and follow them. It''s in my nature to do things against other''s wishes and more importantly, surrender because there is no other way out...Ah."

    He immediately dashed past the devil and began making his way out the door. The horde of police fought against his men and chased after Reed. Nothing mattered to Dane as much as the man who sacraficed himself. Not even his lifelong revenge that was escaping from his grasp. What mattered was in his grasp.

    Dane fell down to his knees. He held Jake inside his arms like a beast that was entirely scared for someone else''s end.

    Jake choked out a trail of blood but continued smiling. "Hah, she''ll be angry with me. Please Dane, could you do me one last request? Tell my daughter I love her."

    "I-I won''t tell her. That''s because you''re going to be fine and you can tell her yourself damn it!" he had to hold in the urge to scream and shake him.

    "..Jake...Jake! Why?"

    "You''re my best friend''s son...Of course it''s not just that...I''ve always wanted to tell you this too. I''ve truly grown fond of you like my own son as well so that''s why I didn''t mind throwing my life away...Thank you really, for turning this old man''s life around and repairing my relationship with my daughter...I just want to say that I..." he began choking on his words and took a long breath before losing his consciousness.

    Now Dane was shaking him, "What is it? Jake! Don''t you dare do this to me...Jake!"

    The devil pulled him back from Jake''s lifeless body who still had that gentle smile plastered onto his face.

    "He''s as good as dead," the devil simply said in his cruel unemotional voice, shaking his head and turning away. "Let go. Let him pass on."

    "Not yet. Where is the ambulance?"

    "Bloody hell beast, it''s on it''s way."

    Dane practically fought back against the devil that tried reasoning with him and continued holding Jake inside his arms. He wouldn''t let anyone touch him or Jake but kept demanding for the ambulance to hurry. Even when the ambulance came, Dane demanded he go with them to ensure they would bring him back alive.

    A hand touched his shoulder and he turned around in fury thinking it was the devil again but it wasn''t. It was his lynx dressed as Snow White. Beautiful and fair as she was, he was relieved to see her. Suddenly everything almost felt like it would be alright with her there beside him. Almost but not quite because Jake was dying inside his arms and the beast was doing everything he could to hold onto him for dear life.

    Prisana was breathing heavily, regarding both him and Jake''s lifeless body with sad eyes. "I''m late."

    "...Prisana...Jake he...It''s my fault...Jake he''s so hurt right now. It must hurt so damn much..."

    She put a hand on his shoulder and nodded her head at him. "Dane, let him go. They''ll take care of him but first they need you to let go of him."

    "...Lynx, you don''t understand. No one understands," he said almost hauntingly, like he wasn''t sure about his own words anymore.

    Most of all, he didn''t want to see anyone he loved die in front of him again. He wanted to hold onto Jake to make sure he wouldn''t leave this world.

    She sweetly but tenderly leaned into him and soaked in the blood that had seeped from Jake''s chest. He could feel her tears stain his skin as she whispered so only he could hear her,  "I understand. It''s over. The both of you did it. Please, I''m begging you. Allow him to rest and let them take care of him."

    Dane finally released Jake''s body at her words. The paramedics swarmed in to cart him inside the truck. It was like an unrealistic scene from a movie, so heartwrenching Dane wasn''t sure how to cope with it.

    He covered his eyes so despair couldn''t be seen by those around and finally uttered a response knowing full well that perhaps his beloved friend and second father had probably joined his own father in heaven, "...Jake, we did it."

 Chapter 129 - An Owed Favor

    When the beast cried, the lynx cried too. She held him in his arms as Leo followed after the truck where Jake was in. It was hours as the three of them sat in the waiting room with grim eyes. Prisana''s eyes was full of hope as Dane''s was washed away to despair. He couldn''t even look Prisana nor engage in the devil''s aimless talks.

    It was heartbreaking watching the man she loved go through such pain even after anticlimatically finding the truth behind the Golden Deer. Giovanni had confronted his father one last time before sending him off to where he belonged. Again, the media was in chaos. What''s left of the battle were remains which weren''t worth the little showdown.

    Prisana wished to hell Jake was okay. If he wasn''t, then she wasn''t sure how else to comfort this hurting beast of hers.

    She squeezed his hand and tenderly whispered, "Everything will be okay."

    The doors to the emergency room bursted open. The three looked at each other and Prisana swore she could see a spark of concern laced in the devil''s eyes but it soon disappeared.

    Dane practically rose to his feet and shook the doctor, "Please...Tell me you saved him!"

    Leo had to pry Dane''s hands off of him. "Relax, beast. Give the poor man some space."

    The doctor took a step back and nodded in gratitude toward the devil. "...The bullet that was fired was inches away from piercing through his heart..."

    They all waited patiently until the doctor nodded at them with a reassuring smile.

    "I''m glad to inform you all that your friend is doing just fine. He''s still severely injured but he''s breathing and slightly responsive. You can visit him shortly before we give him medication to sleep."

    She couldn''t believe her ears. Prisana looked to her beast and sighed. He nearly toppled onto the ground but both his lynx and the devil steadied him to his feet. They rushed to the room where Jake was in. And there he was on the hospital bed, hooked onto all sorts of tubes and breathing through the clear mask.

    "...Dane...Prisana...Leo..." Jake slowly uttered as he spotted them walking into the room.

    Dane briskly made his way through and gathered Jake into his arms before any other words could be uttered. Jake coughed at the sudden outburst of emotion through his hug. The nurse tending at his side gave Dane a chiding look, as if to handle him with more care. And he loosened his hold to search through Jake''s alive widened eyes.

    "Jake! You''re alive...God, I was terrified," he took a deep shattering breath to compose himself and then laughed bitterly. "I-I''d resent you forever knowing you died to save my life."

    "...I told you, you''re like a son to me and I''m an old man who''s lived a somewhat fullfilling life of at least making up with my daughter," he then coughed and turned away. "Though I''m a bit embarrassed. I thought I was going to die and spewed some nonsense back there..."

    Leo walked over and chuckled, "Dane should be the one embarrassed. After all, he was cry...mmph!"

    Dane covered the devil''s mouth and glared at him. "I had something in my eyes. Dust, that''s all it was."

    "Why can''t you just admit that you were worried to death about Jake?" the devil teased him. "He wouldn''t let go of you. Only when the missus there showed up."

    Jake slowly but surely reached out to Dane and stroked his head, instantly warming even Prisana''s heart. "...To think you''d show such concern over an old failure of a man like me, I feel honored."

    The nurse glanced at her watch, "I''m sure the doctor informed you we''d only allow you all to see him for a quick moment. I''ll have to transfer him to another room and give him more medication..."

    Before they had to leave Jake, Prisana made sure to hug Jake as they walked out of the room. Her heart that was once heavy felt like the burden had been lifted. Jake was alright. He was still alive and now everything felt alright with the universe again.

    That is, until the devil chuckled like a madman and stepped in front of Dane. He faced him with glowing eyes. So bright that it eluded the end of the universe.

    "Out of one hell and into another hell..." he looked at Dane closely while smiling devilishly. "Our contract has ended. I think we both know what this means, eh?"

    "Dane, what is he talking about?"

    Dane took a deep sigh and grasped both of her hands into his, "I lost everything years ago when my parents were killed in that fire. To exact my revenge, I found the devil who offered me riches and resources in exchange for losing all of what he''s given to me and what I''ve build up to until my revenge was satiated...Prisana, I sold my soul to the devil."

    Leo eyed Prisana and grasped her arm, watching as her beastly husband nearly growled and pounced on him.

    He tested Dane by leveraging Prisana like some kind of goods at the market. "...Or, I could release you of all your debts in exchange for her. You see, I don''t believe in this intangible lie called love. In the end, people will betray the ones they love for their own selfish desires. Just give her to me and admit that you''re just like me."

    Dane quickly pulled Prisana back into his arms and shook his head as he lovingly looked into her eyes. "That''s where you''re devilishly wrong! We''re different. I''m a man consumed by love so much that I''d willingly die and sell my soul to the devil a hundred times over. I love her and would never let your wicked self use her to your advantage. I''ll do your bidding but you promised I''d slave for a year."

    Prisana shook her head frantically. "W-What will you be doing?"

    He kissed her forehead. "The devil''s work. You could live with Bailey and wait for my return."

    "Are you kidding me?"

    The lynx stepped forward and grabbed the devil by the collar. She really took the time to look at and evaluate this man called the devil. He had the most borderline unique shade of hair between black and blue. And dark eyes that truly did stare down into one''s soul. She didn''t know his true nature or why he helped string them along just to bring chaos at the end.

    But, she still had one last trick up her sleeve to truly bring everything to an end.

    "...I thought..." she tried to gather her thoughts up as she held the devil by the collar and searched his dark bottomless eyes for truth. "I thought you were a friend."

    It seemed to reach some part of the devil''s soul as he blinked at her and was caught speechless. Those dark bottomless eyes warped to a moment of weakness she could almost reach out and grasp at.

    She continued, "Was I wrong to not believe my husband''s words that you were a friend instead of a foe? Some part of me believed that you truly cared for Dane. You went out of your way to see him when I''m sure all you had to do was watch him from afar by other devilish means. I was beginning to think you cared for him and even this is just another way of caring and showing Dane that you want him to be free of love, perhaps something painful you''ve experienced? I know the truth. You''re damn afraid of admitting you care for someone hmm?...Hah, I guess I was wrong. All along, you were a foe..."

    He had to look away, as if afraid she was seeing right through to him.

    "If the devil drafts contracts then I would take it you never go back on your word?"

    "...I never go back on my word."

    "Then that favor you owe me...I want to ask for it now. Please devil I beg of you, to free my husband."

    Both men widened their eyes. The lynx was relentless and determined as she was ordering the devil himself for a simple favor he owed a while back. It wasn''t anything significant but this truly was the last trick inside of her sleeve to reach happiness.

    "Lynx, get away from him. There''s no reasoning..." Dane trailed off angrily as Leo grabbed Prisana''s hand and kissed it.

    He was boiling at this point but before he made a move to punch the living hell out of the devil, Leo spoke those magical words, "Dane, I''m setting you free."

    Prisana''s heart was pounding so hard that she couldn''t contain her happiness. This meant he did care for the beast. He just needed some form of reasoning to stop this and the favor was enough to do the job. Prisana then leaped into the devil''s arms and hugged him, "...Oh thank you! You''re not such a bad devil and foe after all."

    "Woah there, careful or I might just fall in love with you."

    "...You just said you didn''t believe in love."

    "That was a joke m''dear. Of course, I''d never fall in love."

    "You...What?" Dane looked at him questioningly, as if not believing any word and too thankfully distracted to even think about murdering the man.

    Leo quickly seperated himself from Prisana and began to walk away as he waved a hand in the air goodbye. "I owe your wife a favor. That''s all there is to it..."

    Mad laughter echoed down the halls. "Catch you around, friend."

    "...Foe."

    At last, the beast and his lynx were alone. Prisana looked his way and uttered, "...Dane, you''re free! And everything is finally over..."

    It only took him a few strides to reach her side. He pulled her into his arms in the most loving of truths and kissed her. She responded by melting into his beastly arms and kissing him back in front of an audience that gawked at their open displays of affection.

    After pulling back, he whispered, "Lynx!...You''re truly my lynx and shining armor! I don''t know why the devil set me free but it must be because you are so brave yet kind when standing in the face of danger. You know...Now that the universe is aligned, why don''t you say we go on that honeymoon I vowed to take you on?"

    Her eyes lit up like fireworks in the night July sky, "Really? I would love that very much! When?"

    "Right now. We could go anywhere in the world. Tell me, where would you want to go?"

    She thought about it for a moment but sweetly whispered, "Anywhere with you, I''d be happy."

    As if on cue, he bent down and picked her up into his arms like a princess as they walked down the hospital aisle.

    He placed his forehead against hers, "Get ready, hmm? All has been conquered except for you. I''ll be whispering unending vows and loving you every second, hour, and day."

    She chuckled and kissed him on the lips again as they reached the double white doors to outside, "Unsatiable beast! I''ve been prepared from the moment I became yours."

 Chapter 130 - A Beautiful Vow

    When her beastly husband meant ''now'', he truly meant his word because moments after they went back home to pack, Cleo was waiting back at home with a helicoptor. She was slack jawed at his promptness. And for some reason, Prisana wasn''t all that surprised as they were lifted miles up into the dreamy clouds.

    They sat side by side, hand in hand, in the most simplest yet loving manner. She glanced over to his ruggedly handsome sideframe as he faced directly toward the window. He hadn''t uttered a word since they boarded the helicopter as to where they were heading off to. And yet, she didn''t ask because some part of her had faith that whatever he had planned would surely be beautiful.

    Instead she reached out to touch his scar and this time he never flinched but continued holding her gaze in return, "We''ve come so far. It feels sort of strange now that there isn''t anything to hold us back, hmm?"

    He nodded and seriously looked at her, "...I guess this is the part where we make lots of babies."

    Prisana nearly choked as the pilot man probbaly heard that last comment. "...You could be a bit more suttle about things."

    Dane really smiled like the morning sun as he gathered her into his arms much more closely, "I''m so happy I can''t contain it. It''s like everything I''ve been chained to has been unleashed and I''m finally right where I want to be. Just with you."

    She sucked in her breath. That was exacltly how she felt. Right with the universe. Content that she could be with him without anymore covered truths.

    "...Dane. I was always a bird in a cage but you allowed me to perch on your doorstep and stay forever. Home and freedom is where you are."

    Prisana forgot about the pilot man and leaned forward to kiss her beastly husband. He lightly teased her back but stopped as the motion from the helicoptor began to dip down. They were leaving the dreamy clouds and soaring down to woodsy depths. An all too familiar sign surfaced that read, ''Welcome to Cranbury''.

    The bustling country town came into view, as horses and livestock were something she wasn''t all that used to but adored because it was everything that felt so wild and free. Dane stepped out first and waved goodbye to the pilot man as he swopped Prisana into his arms. He wasn''t letting her walk at all as he shamelessly carried her like that in front of everyone. Of course there were curious stares about a couple, namely Prisana and Dane, who flew out from the sky just like so.

    Some of the folks even whistled at them as they walked away. They were heading to the place where things spiraled out of no return. The cabin Bailey offered them to stay in. She took in the surroundings of the swing and the tree stump, finally resting her eyes on the large brown cabin itself. But instead of going inside, he walked toward what looked like the old monster truck.

    Dane gently settled her into the monster truck and buckled her in.

    She arched her eyebrow at him as he settled himself into the driver''s seat, "I thought we arrived at our destination?"

    He winked at her so beastly, it made her blush to think she was the impatient one to jump into the sheets. "Almost, sweetheart."

    As they drove on to a unknown destination, the music was blasting rock. She daringly reached out to change it to country music.

    Dane reached his hand forward and before he could even justify himself, Prisana laughed and said, "What, you''re going to change back to rock? I seriously can''t stand the screeching in my ears dearest."

    He reached for the volume knob and turned it louder, smirking at her. "Relax, I was turning it louder."

    Prisana reminisced about the time when they first met and were fighting over the radio. How nostalgic. But this time instead of fighting, he was giving in so easily.

    "I-I thought you didn''t like country music."

    "I don''t. But some things become worth listening to."

    Her heart stammered furiously as she wondered how lucky she was to be vowed to such a beastly yet sweet man. "You''ve earned husband points! You know, it''s a compromise. We can listen to a rock song after too."

    "Sounds good to me."

    Even though she didn''t want to show it, her face clearly spelled anxious as the drive went on for long. The pair had smalltalk until Prisana''s eyes widened and she placed her hands on the car windowpane. Recognition crossed her delighted features.

    "...This is!" she shouted in glee.

    Dane only nodded. "Sorry, it''s not anything fancy but there''s a reason why I wanted to spend our honeymoon here."

    She shook her head. "It''s wonderful. I wouldn''t ask for anything fancy over this."

    They were back where it all began. It didn''t stop there. Dane opened the door for her and held her hand. He led her through the thick patches of trees. They reached an open area with a body of river flowing between the wilderness. It took her a moment to understand what he was trying to do but he processed her thoughts for her.

    He searched her eyes and continued holding her hands. And then suddenly everything spiraled out of her expectations when he spoke, "This is where we first met...Where I found you broken and sullied beyond repair. Prisana listen to me, you''ll never have vows broken ever again."

    "I''ve told you before and I''ll say it again. I''m so...madly in love with you. I admit I was selfish in the beginning. I wanted to love you, even for a little bit. But because I love you, I didn''t want you to die. I was scared that one day you would be taken away by the universe like everyone I''ve ever loved. So I stupidly stayed away but of course, fate wouldn''t let me turn away from the beautiful existence that is you."

    "The universe brought us together. By fate or by mistake, you kept appearing in my life even when I didn''t want to let my heart be given away. Before I knew it, my heart had been forcibly taken away by you. So now in this lifetime I can''t imagine a life without you by my side, to whisper goodmorning and goodnight. To fit inside my arms like the perfect puzzle piece. Prisana, you ruined me the moment I found you...And when I married you, that was a lie. So this time, I want to start over with the truth. I want to have a proper ceremony with our friends and family...Please."

    He slipped off the ring from her ring finger and clasped it inside his palm. She gasped. Dane then kept making her heart race with uncertainty and questionable expectation. Everything ceased to flow as he lowered himself on one knee and looked at her with a charming smile.

    "Prisana, will you marry me? Marry me and I vow everyday will be endless springtime. I vow you will be the happiest woman alive. I vow the most beautiful truth and swear off all ugly lies, that I will love you until the end of time."

    The tears had been flowing down from her eyes mid way his heartfelt speech. He continued waiting for her answer as he kneeled on the dirt ground.

    "Yes...Yes!" she exclaimed and leaped into his arms.

    Soon, the cloudy skies began to darken and sprinkle down droplets of water. But the weather couldn''t stop them from going at each other like beast and lynx truly free and unleashed to the world. She kissed him with heart soaring, even though droplets of water stained their kisses. It tasted salty yet sweet as his tongue played with hers.

    He lifted her up into his arms but never ceased the delicious foreplay at their mouths. "Lynx. Hold onto me."

    She held onto him as he carried her along the thick patches of trees. The rain grew more furious and so did their bodies pushing up against each other. Even through her clothes, she was sure he must have known how hardened her nipples were or that her insides were aching terribly for him. They reached the steps and tumbled onto the ground with both laughing at the state they were both in.

    And then his gaze turned almost primal as he gestured to her clothing, "I wouldn''t want my cabin dissolved to pools of water."

    Any other time and she''d complained that he was exaggerating but he had been the one to set her body on fire and yearning. Prisana never took her gaze away from him as she tugged her shirt over her head. Next, came her bra. Then, her underwear and panties. The places where he looked kept burning.

    She sauntered over to him and tugged at his own shirt while leaning in to whisper, "A gentleman wouldn''t keep a lady unclothed and waiting, hmm?"

    "A gentleman would but I''m a beast," he growled and grabbed her buttocks so that her pussy rocked against his cock.

    He gave a satisfied smile as she whimpered into his lips. But she wasn''t done with him yet. She moved away from him and began to strip him off his clothing. Prisana kept baring the beast from his clothing until she reached his pants. She bent down to her knees and flashed him a wild daring look that twisted something in those dark eyes.

    His large feral hands reached out to tenderly stroke her cheek as she nervously fumbled for his length. She had done this before. Even though she had, it didn''t quiet the storm in her heart. What soothed her was his reassuring hand stroking her hair and sides of her face as she kissed the tip of his cock.

    That was more than enough to have him shudder but he kept looking at her intensely. She didn''t let go of that beastly gaze. Her hands stroked his long cock, watching as the hard length fit inside her hands perfectly. She kept tenderly stroking it. And then she remembered his instructions and mimicked what she did last time. Prisana moved closer. Her mouth engulfed the tip of his cock.

    "...Fuck...Hah..." he breathed heavily and gripped her hair more tightly. "At this rate...Nng...I won''t last."

    She slightly nodded at him to assure him it was okay before continuing her sweet torture. Even though the gag reflex was strong, she did her best to engulf him to the best of her abilities. Each time she swirled her tongue around his cock while rocking her head against him, it drove him mad to the point of growls and shaking at his hands and feet.

    Pleasure surfed up knowing she was making him this way so she bobbed her head faster. Dane was completely at her mercy and finally, pulled her back with both hands and stroked his own cock so that his sticky cum shot all over her face and breasts. He shuddered and his face expression twisted at more pleasure inside.

    They were both breathless but nonetheless, he shrugged off the rest of his clothing and ushered her inside the cabin. The beast found something to wipe off his stain from her face. And then he quickly started the fireplace as they were both shivering to the icy cold droplets on their naked skin.

    He beckoned her over with a finger after starting the fire, "Come here."

    She flew over to him as he leveled her so her back was down against the ground beside the fireplace. As the fire crackled, the light illuminated his beastly features. His muscular upper torso was glowing with the fire''s dancing light.

    He beat her to her own thoughts, "Like this, you''re on fire. Glowing from my touch. I can''t wait to set off the rest of the fire inside of this beautiful body of yours."

    Now her body was growing hot because of the fire and because his tongue began licking off the droplets of water on her skin. He didn''t relent but persisted on licking every droplet that had fell onto her skin. She twitched as he easily licked over her nipples but never touched it. It felt ticklish as his tongue invaded her skin like slippery lines.

    Smooth beast that he was, he immediately reached her moist pussy and without much gentle foreplay, dove forth and slurped through so a loud sound echoed. Prisana all but moaned in ecstasy, fisting her hands and rocking her hips to the teasing of his tongue writhing inside of her.

    He kept fucking her with his tongue, watching her twist and shudder at his mercy as the tables easily turned. She was so hot from the fire and his touch, that she thought she would go insane.

    "...Oh Dane...Oh yes!"

    He nipped at the folds of her pussy before separating and coming up to face level. "Open your pussy wider for me...Come on lynx, that''s right. Just like that...Mmh...."

    Dane grew distracted and kissed her lovely nipples. He kept sucking on it, happily watching as she wontonly spread her legs open wide, the air tickling her exposed insides. She opened so wide that both legs were sprawled on either side perfectly for his access. His cock settled at her wet entrance but she couldn''t wait much longer and kept sweetly begging him by moving her pussy against his cock.

    He gave her what she wanted. He gripped her hips and slowly eased himself inside of her.

    "....Nnh...Hah...God, your body is like an endless ocean I could get lost into forever," he began to move inside of her as she clawed at his chest, gazing at her passionate ridden expression. He was quiet before continuing. "...Burning on the inside and flowing like fiery waves on the outside."

    Her body was twisted over toward the crackling fireplace as both bodies burned to thier lovemaking. He continued easing his cock back and forth deeply as he holstered her sideways. She was grasping to the floor for support, yet staring into his eyes as fire lit inside them too. Everything kept burning and she never wanted it to turn to ashes.

    She reached out to continue igniting the flames and kiss him. Then she whispered through feverish breathing, "You could swim and I''d really become the ocean so you could flow on forever...Nnh! Oh!"

    If it wasn''t already possible, she felt him grow bigger inside and pound against her harder. No more words were spoken as their bodies and connected hearts did all the talking. He moved and flowed inside of her as both of them moaned in unison while holding each other. The beast fucked his lynx like there would be no tomorrow. He rocked his cock hard into her and buried his desires on the ground by the fireplace.

    Prisana hadn''t even regained her breathing yet but he picked her up from the ground and set her on the couch so that her belly was touching the furniture. He lurked from behind and steadied her to her knees as he easily slid his cock inside. She was already so tired that she leaned backward to settle against his chest as he rammed up into her.

    This only let him ravage her neck in hickeys. Dane sucked hard on her neck and nibbled at it like tasting a delicious snack before devouring it whole. Only when he used both hands to harshly tug at her hardened nipples, did she scream out and spasm against him. He waited and drove himself feverishly and beastly until comming inside of her again.

    After that they did it so many times and in so many positions, that she passed out from exhaustion. She wasn''t sure how she got into bed but before she knew it, the morning light hit her eyes and she was squinting awake at the wooden ceiling. Her clothes were nowhere in sight so she draped the blanket over her body and walked out.

    There she found her beast. His  back was turned to her as he hummed a tune and stirred something up in the kitchen.

    She walked over to him and peeked, "Eggs?"

    "Yes. You must still be tired after passing out like that...Sorry, we went on for a long time. I should have controlled myself but I was just so happy."

    "It''s alright. I put it on myself for endlessly wanting more too."

    "There''s definitely more from where that came from..."

    "Do you need help with anything?" she asked him, in hopes to distract him since her body still felt ruined.

    "Sit," he narrowed his eyes at her.

    "I''m..." her legs began to become unsteady as she nearly toppled over but Dane caught her by the waist.

    He promptly pointed to the chair and she followed, wishing she could help in the kitchen. But Dane settled everything onto the table as she looked on in amazement.

    "It looks delicious!"

    "Taste it," he spoon fed her and she chewed with a smile.

    "And, it''s delicious as it looks."

    "Not delicious as much as this, I hope not?" he asked, as he leaned down to give her a quick peck. "Oh and I forgot to give this back to you."

    Dane took out the ring and slipped it onto her ring finger. He kissed the ring on her finger and warmly smiled at her in the most loving of truths,

    "Goodmorning my dearest Prisana, wife, and lynx... here''s to many more vows and years spent with you like this."

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dear loyal readers,

    Thank you for sticking with me on a journey so beautiful. It''s been truly amazing recieving so many comments and love these past few months. I took breaks for school and to plot more but I did my best to finish this story beautifully. I never thought people would even be remotely interested in my writing. Hopefully, A Vow So Beautiful has made you angry, cry, and swoon a thousands time over.

    It''s my first completed book so it might not be perfect with some plot holes or whatnot especially Dane''s scar I keep forgetting about it haha so I might re-edit the whole series slowly later but it will always hold a special place in my heart as I hope it does in your hearts. I''ll be resuming working on My Neighbor''s Dirty Secret soon.

    Beautiful Vows aren''t over yet. Look forward to volume 2 with our devil Leonardo Duval~

    Thank you I love you all dearly,

    valeriex