Are you with me, bestie? Of course you are. You made an oath, and I can feel you right here.
I'm having my first kiss. I thought it would be with Killian, but it isn't. It's his brother, Lucius, holding me in his arms. He presses his lips gently against mine, and the urge to let his tongue in completely takes over me.
My first kiss… I'm not going to lie—this is a hundred times better than I ever imagined.
It's not just a volcano erupting through my body—I feel it in him too. For the first time, I sense him as my equal. How powerful a kiss can be. I feel whole, both in control and completely dominated, to the point that I don't want it to end.
But I know the shadows hiding us from prying eyes will disappear soon, and the curious won't take long to show up…
I feel his hands sliding down, crossing the line of my waist, and I don't resist. Not even a little. Honestly, I would give myself to him right here, right now…
I could stay here forever, letting him go deeper and deeper into me.
But just like I expected, Lucius, true to his style, pulls away without saying a word and steps back. As he goes, he flips the light switch. The shadows vanish, and my heart is left completely exposed.
Someday I'll tell him he was my first… but not tonight.
Because I won't let anyone—not even him—interrupt this rebellious feeling growing inside me, whispering:
I want more.I deserve more.
And just when I thought the world was mine… everything turned into hell.
The time to head to the dock was getting close, so I decided to go back to my room and change into more comfortable shoes. You get it.
But as I left, I noticed Killian watching me from a distance while talking to some older women. It wasn't a tender look. There was something fierce in his eyes, and he followed me as if something was wrong.
Doubt flooded my mind.
Did he see me with Lucius?
I tried to calm myself—telling myself no one owned me, that I could kiss whoever I wanted, that I hadn't even broken the contract because I never asked for that kiss… along with a thousand other excuses.
But then fear took over.
As I walked down the hallway leading to my room, I realized two armed men were following me. They wore the same uniforms as the security team in the grand hall, but something about them was off…
And I knew it.
I knew it instantly.
I tried to run, but they grabbed me by the neck. Before I could react, they were testing door handles until they found an unlocked room. They shoved me inside and locked themselves in with me.
One of them covered my mouth with his hand and said, rushed and nervous:
"Don't scream, or we'll blow your head off. We know you're going to be part of the ritual tomorrow. When Mr. Longfield steps out to give instructions, you're going to wear this microphone for us. That's it. Let us hear what the old man has to say. You'll be paid a million if you do it right… but if you fail…"
I was so terrified I managed only to bite his hand. The second he pulled it away, I screamed at the top of my lungs:
"Help! Please! Help!"
The other man stepped forward to hit me in the head with his gun when…
The solid wooden door exploded.
It didn't open—the planks literally flew apart, and the doorframe shattered onto the floor as…
Killian burst in, roaring like a wild animal.
He punched the first man in the head with such force that the impact echoed through the room. The second didn't even get to grab his weapon. He tried to fight back, tearing the top of Killian's tuxedo, but Killian lifted him into the air and slammed him onto the floor like a rag doll.
He took the attackers' guns, tucked them into his waistband, and carried me in his arms down the hallway.
"Easy, little one," he murmured. "You're going to be okay. I've got you."
Behind us, real security guards rushed in to drag the two men away… or what was left of them.
The fear hit me so hard that I passed out.
Half an hour later, back in my room, everything was still blurry. Killian was still holding me, trying to calm me down. Ursula and Lawyer Pierstein were there too.
The woman stepped forward and snapped:
"Now do you understand why you shouldn't get close to the young masters?! You never listen! You're putting everyone at risk!"
Killian asked them to leave, and they obeyed.
He kissed my hands gently and said:
"Listen, little one, things like this happen. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. One word from my father at the right moment—about where to invest or what company to buy—can make our allies earn billions… or make others lose everything, toppling governments or destroying entire populations.
That's why our security is so strict.
What they tried with you isn't new. They tried to kidnap Lucius when he was a kid by bribing one of our employees… and my mother… she…"
He hesitated.
"Well, I'll tell you about that someday."
Lucius walked into the room, stopped in the middle, and said coldly:
"On behalf of the Longfield family and my father, we thank you for your loyalty. We won't forget it."
And just like that, without even looking me in the eyes, he turned and left.
I wanted to run after him and hit him, but Killian said:
"Don't worry about my idiot brother. The President's daughter doesn't know anything about what happened, and she's probably driving him crazy to get us to the dock."
He hugged me, and I thanked him for saving me.
That's when I understood his earlier look wasn't about Lucius's kiss. He had noticed two guards were missing—and then saw them slip away to follow me.
That's how he got there in time.
In his arms, I felt safe again.
His shirt was torn, revealing golden skin and powerful muscles…
Then he said something that made me want him even more:
"You know, little one? The way we Longfields deal with attacks like this is simple—we keep going as planned. We never let fear control us.
So I think we should go ruin my brother's night at the dock with the President's daughter."
He smirked.
"I promise it'll be fun. Lucius can't hide his anger when things don't go his way."
He stood up and held out his hand.
"To hell with it," I said. "I'll follow your advice. A drink by the dock sounds a lot better than crying in here."
Yes, I was still scared…
But Killian was by my side, like some kind of Samson—a man capable of tearing anyone apart with his bare hands.
There was nowhere in the world I felt safer.
And besides…
Lucius's coldness after that kiss…
I can't lie to myself.
It felt like a knife to the heart.
And I wanted revenge.
Killian took ten minutes to change. I slipped on flat shoes and fixed my hair with my fingers.
I was ready.
He came back in his signature jacket, and we left, taking the same path as before. Between the trees, he took my hand.
When we reached the dock, we saw they had already been drinking. Ice, glasses, and bottles were everywhere. A pop song played in the background.
Sarah—the President's daughter—stood up when she saw us and said with a drunken smirk:
"Finally, Killian Longfield shows up at the dock… and he brings the dancer. How nice. Are you two lovers? Because you look really good together."
Lucius, from the couch, looked at me coldly.
"She's not my brother's lover. She's just the gardener."
Killian pulled me closer and smiled.
"Don't listen to Lucius. Carmilla and I are lovers—you're not wrong."
Then, right there, under Lucius's indifferent gaze, Killian cupped my face, tilted my chin up, and leaned in.
I placed my hands on his broad shoulders and parted my lips slightly.
He understood instantly.
And he kissed me.
I admit… just a second before, I was watching Lucius from the corner of my eye, still drawn to him.
But now…
Damn.
This kiss felt different.
Real.
Yes… yes… yes…
I'm in trouble.
Serious trouble.
Because Lucius, watching me in his brother's arms, stood up, clenched his jaw…
…and started walking straight toward me.