POV: Victoria
As I hung up the phone, I felt a flicker of relief mixed with the heaviness still clinging to me. I sank onto the couch, drawing my knees up to my chest, staring at the empty spot where the diamonds had once rested. It was a hollow reminder of what I had lost. And it’s not only the ring but the trust between me and Dominic. I hope in my heart that he forgives me for being such a burden.
I’m pretty sure that if he had known that my family would turn out to be so troublesome, he would never have asked me to be his pretend girlfriend. All I’ve done since is cause him trouble and heartache. It’s as if I am troubling myself because it seems like the issues in my family have no solution, I am surrounded by unending problems and I am so ashamed to even look into his eyes and ask for forgiveness.
Minutes turned into an hour, and still, he was not there yet. I thought he changed his mind, I thought he decided to teach me a lesson by not showing up to be with me. But finally, after waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I heard the sound of tires crunching on gravel outside. I peeked through the bedroom window and I saw that it was him. He is here, just like he promised. I smiled excitedly, for some weird reason it felt like my problems would automatically be solved now that he was here.
A moment later, I heard his footsteps as he approached my room. I mean, his room. The soft, familiar steps on the corridor made my heart leap. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I took a few steps toward the door and stood waiting for him. He opened it and stood there, visibly worn but undeniably present. His eyes were softening as he took in my appearance and the sadness lingering around me.
“Victoria,” he breathed, stepping inside and shutting the door with my feet, his arms reaching for me. Without hesitation, I fell into his embrace, allowing the warmth of his body to envelop me like a safe harbor. As he wrapped his arms around me tightly, I finally felt the weight of my broken pieces start to mend, if only for a moment.
“I’m here,” he murmured into my hair, his voice a balm against my fears.
“We’ll figure this out together, I promise. Whatever challenges that come our way, as long as we are together, we’ll pull through,” he assured me. In that embrace, the world outside faded, and the chaos of our lives slipped away, leaving behind only the comfort of two souls desperately hoping to rebuild what had been shaken but not yet lost.
“I’ll be right back, I have something for you.” He told me excitedly before turning to walk back to the sitting room again. I waited patiently, my face brightening up with a bright smile. He returned a few minutes later, a burner phone in his hand. His face breaks into a relieved smile, his eyes lighting up with hope and happiness. Without a word, he leans in closer to me, our lips meeting in a tender, passionate kiss.
“I finally had a nice long talk with Dominic. I know it’s still a long shot and we still have a lot to talk about, but he assured me that he wasn’t going to hurt your sister. And he gave me this burner to call him when I get home so you could speak with your sister. I’m sure she is in the best position to explain what is going on to you.” He told me calmly. My eyes brightened with surprise, I threw my hands and hugged him tightly, kissing him passionately.
“Can I call him now, can I speak with her right now?!” I asked happily, my face filled with smiles. Carl said he would do it, but I didn’t believe him. I can’t believe he spent all day trying to get Dominic to listen to him. I can only imagine how many times they both fought before coming to this conclusion.
“Let us give him time to call us first, besides, You can’t reach her now, he will call when she is ready to speak with you.” He explained. I don’t care how long it takes, as long as I get to speak with her and let her speak with Mom and explain why she was taken by Dominic. He wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me into his arms, holding me close.
“So tell me, how is your mom, and why the hell were you sounding so upset on the phone, what’s wrong?” he asked me, his voice sounding concerned. I smiled at his caring attitude. I must have done something right in my previous life for me to have the opportunity to be with someone so special and kind-hearted.
“Why are you so perfect, Raphael. I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve someone as kind heart as you are.” I told him honestly, ignoring his question. I know that I had called Raphael because I needed someone to talk to. I was hoping for a conversation, a release from the weight of my thoughts. But when I heard the familiar sound of his laughter and the good news he just shared with me, my heart raced with a mix of anticipation and longing. I no longer want to talk, I want more than just talk, I want him…
I gazed longingly into his eyes, my heart beating so fast. His eyes held a depth that made my pulse quicken, and I felt a magnetic pull that drew me closer, pulling me in like a magnet. He stepped further into the room, and I could see his muscles strain against the fabric of his shirt, a subtle reminder of how strong and capable he was. I felt a powerful urge, a need to be near him, one that surpassed our initial agreement.
“I just…I needed to talk,” I started, but the words felt heavy in my mouth, drowned out by the electricity crackling in the air. At that moment, I made a decision. I stepped forward, my heart racing as I reached for him, my fingers grazing his forearm. The world around us faded as I pulled him closer, my breath hitching. His eyes darkened with desire, and he leaned down, capturing my lips in a fervent kiss.
The kiss deepened, hands roaming, our bodies instinctively aligning. He backed me up against the wall, the heat of his body flooding my senses. I could feel the passion radiating off him, the need to possess and be possessed.
“Victoria,” he murmured against my mouth, and I could sense the struggle within him, the temptation to say more, to reveal the emotions that lay just beneath the surface.
“Show me,” I whispered, a challenge lacing my tone. I want more than just words, I wanted him to lose himself in me, rate same way I lost myself to him. With a growl of hunger, he lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. The thrill of our urgency surged between us as he carried me to the bed, our lips never parting. He laid me down with a possessive gentleness, his hands exploring my body all over, igniting every nerve with exquisite pleasure.
We surrendered to the rhythm of our desires, the world outside forgotten. He worshiped me with deliberate slowness at first, taking his time as if he were memorizing every inch of my skin. The way I arched towards him, longing for more, only fueled his passion.
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered, his voice thick with desire.
“You,” I breathed, pulling him closer, my nails digging into his back, urging him on. With a primal intensity, he responded to me, this time his movements becoming urgent and demanding. Our bodies intertwined as if they were made for each other, the boundaries of our contract destroyed by the sheer force of our desire for each other.
We made love, sweet, sweet love, losing ourselves in each other. The room filled with the sounds of our pleasure, the echo of whispered names, and soft gasps. In those moments, vulnerability slipped through the cracks of Raphael’s facade. He reveled in my touch, the way I moved beneath him, and how I made him forget everything but the two of us in bed.
He was soft and gentle at first, easing me into his pace and letting me keep up with his speed and stamina. I tried to match his kisses with mine and I grind my hips against him, meeting his hips halfway, matching his pace and morning like a fucking pornstar. Nothing else mattered, nothing else came to our minds. All I could think of was satisfying my desires and getting my much-desired orgasm.
He flipped us over and let me come up. I lowered myself down his dick, riding him like a cowgirl. I sank myself down his huge dick, going up and down in a steady rhythm. He groaned in pleasure and flipped us back over, fucking me so hard and fast, giving me a mindblowing orgasm that made me see fucking stars.
When we finally collapsed together, breaths mingling in the aftermath, a silence enveloped us, heavy with unsaid words and untold truths. I lay beside him, leaning on him as my fingers traced lazy patterns along his arm, caught between the urge to confess and the fear of losing my carefully thought out plan to get him to fall in love with me.
“Victoria,” he began softly, making me turn to face him, my expression soft and open.
“You know I care deeply about you,” he said, his voice a mixture of hope and vulnerability.
“What are you saying, Ralph?
Don’t tell me you regret being with me, it would break me to hear that.” I responded sadly.
“I don’t regret it beautiful, I love every moment I spend with you. But at the same time, I want you to keep in mind that all of this is not real. It’s just a contract relationship that would come to an end someday. Would you be willing to let me go when the time comes?” he asked in concern, making my heart bleed as I realized that he was right.
I may love and care deeply about him, but the fact remains that we are in a contract relationship and when the time comes, I will be forced to let him go and move on with my life. Will I be able to move on, how do I forget about the good times we shared, what is going to happen to all the beautiful memories we have made together?
“What about you, Raphael Hawkins?
Will you let me go without a fight, will you be willing to let me go?” I asked back, looking into his vague eyes. He didn’t need to answer me, the emptiness in his eyes says it all. I don’t mean shit to him, he doesn’t care about me that way and he never will.