Imperial Love has already gotten over 2k reads. Thank you so much to those who are continuing Leo and Arie's story into their second book. It means the world to me.

Is it fuckville party time? Yes! Yes, it is, but not for Athena and Eros though. 😂❤

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Vote, comment, and share it with your friends. ❤

It's 1:30 a.m. so point out my mistakes if I made any. I'm about to pass out. Goodnight loves! ❤️

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          "Wasn't his name something else yesterday?" I clear my throat, tucking the damp strands behind my ear. As much as I try to play it off, my insanely flushed cheeks definitely interpret how I felt about that knee-buckling kiss. So good and absolutely incredi... Wait, what the hell is wrong with me?

"I change it every day to keep things fun." Rome frustratedly lifts the pup up and shakes him. "You stupid idiot. Ruined the fucking show again."

"You're confusing the dog." My eyes flicker to Mr. Azallion who moistens his lips with his tongue after speaking.

"He only listens to me. If I call him Paris Hilton tomorrow, he'll come running to me like a good boy, but right now he needs to take a shit like his dad."

          Despite the fire of desire raging within my chest for the beautiful man standing right beside me, I can't help the exhaustion that catches up to my body, forcing my eyes to droop ever so slightly. But it still manages to weaken my stance, compelling me to stumble back.

          "You alright?" Mr. Azallion asks after pulling on my arm to steady me.

          "Oh shit!" Rome grabs our attention. "What happened to your hand?"

Shaking away the queasiness and yawning softly, I look at the worried boy. "I punched someone," I shrug, adding, "repeatedly."

His blue eyes gleam under the faint moonlight as his shoulders slouch in a trance-like state. "Did I tell you how much I love you?" He sighs in admiration, leaning against the wall for support. "Everyday."

"Give it a rest," Mr. Azallion snaps, groaning in annoyance. "Weren't you going to take a shit?"

"You're just jealous, bitch boy," Rome mocks before wetting his finger with saliva and making a trail of fake tears down his cheeks. "Weh. Weh," he whines like a child. "Does baby Eros want me to call the Weh-bulance to change his overloading diaper or is it tampon today?"

          "The fuck?" Mr. Azallion leaps forward, but his brother slips away and sprints down the hall with the pup.

          "Hey!" Rome shouts, stopping at the end of the hallway. "I got Bark Obama in my hands, bitch! Have some respect." Rome cackles like a madman as he sticks his butt out and shakes it. "Kiss my ass, hoe!" One last glance over his shoulder at his annoyed older brother, Rome disappears into the penthouse.

"Well, his gunshot wound has certainly healed," I comment, walking away.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Azallion's raspy voice slows my pace, but my eyes refuse to look at him because I know if I do, I might want to kiss him again. The emotions and butterflies that accompanied that gesture earlier will come back again and I don't want to feel it. I can't.

"I'm exhausted," I yawn, continuing my weary, wobbly stride. "I'm going to turn in."

"What about your hand?"

"I can take care of it myself," I brush him off while using the glass paned wall as support to continue the draining trek to my room, dizziness hot on my trail.

          "You can barely stand straight and your hand is swollen," he says, walking in front of me to block my path. "Let me help you with that."

          "I said I can handle it myself," I speak firmly, masking the jadedness in my voice. "Have a goodnight, Mr. Azallion."

          "For fuck's sake!" His voice bellows in frustration. "Quit pushing me away. I'm just going to help you."

          "Fine," I roll my eyes, accepting his offer. "Get out of my way."

"Allow me," he huffs, opening the door and motioning me to enter. "Sit on the damn bed. I'll be right back."

"Jesus!" I mumble under my breath, wobbling over to my bedside table. I swallow the medicine I retrieve from the drawer and take a seat on the edge of the bed as my thumbs begin drawing circles on my temple to ease the slight headache and to push out some of the wooziness.

          "Lay out your hand," he demands, slamming the door and propping down next to me. I oblige without a fuss, way too tired to argue.

          Gingerly, he places an ice pack over my red, swollen hand that shudders at the cold touch. I wince ever so slightly while Mr. Azallion's sole focus is on my injury with worry and questions clinging onto his furrowing brows. Most importantly, frustration sprawled all over his face.

          "Okay," I release a tired breath. "You seem really annoyed."

          "You think?" He snorts, shaking his head and refusing to meet my eyes.

          "Am I that bad of a kisser?" I joke, chuckling.

          A frustrated bark of laughter leaves his mouth. "What the fuck is wrong with women?" He glances up at me for a second before returning his gaze back to my hand. "Always assuming something that isn't even true." The coolness from the ice pack presses harder against the heat of my recuperating hand. "You're turning the best kiss of my life into something bad by saying that. I want to kiss you again and again till I physically pass out. You felt something and so did I."

          "I..."

          "Just shut up and let me fucking talk." God damn! "After that amazing kiss, you started walking away like nothing even happened and denied my help once again." His teeth grit in vexation, his blue pools finally meeting mine. "Do you trust me at all?"

          "You're living in my house, Mr. Azallion. Sitting on my bed with my hand in your palms," I softly laugh at that ridiculous thought. "So, to an extent, yes."

          Until now, I haven't really given it much thought. This man is living in my damn house, the only place I can let loose completely and feel safe. A place where I haven't allowed many to walk into, yet here he is, sitting on my bed and nurturing my bruised hand. Jesus! I snort at that reality. When did I become so trusting with a man over a matter of a few weeks? But I can't deny it. I do trust him. More than I should.

          "You trust me, so let's start with this," he eyes my hand. "How did you get this?"

        "Under one condition," I offer. "Whatever I say cannot leave this room."

         "What is it going to take for you to trust me fully?" He arches a brow, creasing his forehead. "Do I have to step on a lego to prove myself? Jesus Christ!"

          "Quit whining like a child," I quip, taking a deep breath. "I punched Chester Woodson brutally."

"Why?"

"Because..." I hesitate for a second before releasing a haphazard breath through my nostrils. "Because he raped Tiana Lambroski."

Mr. Azallion's lips part as his eyes widen from the filthy revelation. The gentle taps he was giving my hand with the ice pack stop entirely. He's rendered speechless with nothing to say, and I honestly don't want him to say anything. Slowly, I scoot closer and lower my head to rest it on his naked shoulder that caresses me with the warmth radiating off his body.

"I've come across many men in my life," I whisper, my hot breath kissing his skin softly. "Many have turned out to be the same with the most hellish of intentions. Their sole objective being to hurt a woman who they know can't protect herself or will succumb to their ruthless ways and keep her mouth shut."

He shifts under me as his hand protectively tangles itself with my uninjured one. Sliding further, yearning for his warmth, I nuzzle my face into his chest. His euphoric natural scent wafts up my nose as I smile lightly.

          "I was one of those helpless little girls years ago." His body tenses. "I couldn't fight for myself. I couldn't fight for anyone for that matter. I was just too..." I swallow hard. "Weak."

          I pull my head back just a little to watch his eyes reflect sadness and sympathy. A meek smile feathers my face as my fingertips brush his jaw. "I don't trust men to even touch me now, but here I am willingly giving into you, allowing you to touch me. Allowing you to hold me. Trusting myself to fall asleep in your arms without the fear of being tied up and beaten senseless to the brink of death."

He shudders, mimicking my own tremble and discomfort. My gaze drops down to our hands that are tangled together. "Apart from a few people that I trust with my life, I'm telling you this. I don't let anyone get close enough to hurt me." I poke his chest, looking into his eyes. "You're in the zone where I've let you get close. I've trusted to tell you something that I haven't spoken of in years, Mr. Azallion. What does that tell you about how much I trust you?"

          Silence is all I get in return. I chuckle softly, laying my drowsy head back on his shoulder. "You're in the place where I haven't allowed any man to ever enter, and I hate that you're wiggling your way in and making me feel something I forbade myself from ever feeling, but you're also in the place where you can't possibly hurt me. Where I won't allow you to hurt me."

          "I don't think I'm in any position to hurt you," he finally speaks, laying a hand on my back and pulling me further into him. "I bet you'll cut me up into little pieces before I even think about it."

          "True," I laugh, lifting my head to look at him once again. The proximity between our lips is a mere inch and all I can do is let my thumb feather them. "I do trust you more than I trust many people. It's just that I don't trust you enough to tell you my entire story."

"I'm sorry for pushing you so much."

"Apology accepted," I shrug smugly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, cocky woman," he laughs, brushing our noses together. "I'll earn your trust slowly, but surely."

"I'd like to see you try," I smile before yawning. Mr. Azallion seizes the opportunity and pokes his finger into my mouth.

He laughs as I swat his hand away. "Idiot!" I chuckle, picking up the ice pack and placing it on my hand.

          His palms crawl up my thighs slowly, reaching the small of my back to position me on his lap and wrap my legs around his torso. My brow cocks in amusement as his knuckles lightly brush my cheek. "You have a story that I wish to know. I know you believe that I can't help you, but I can assure you that I can. I just need you to confide in me to ease your pain." Both of his hands now cup my face while his thumbs swipe back and forth over the apples of my cheek. "There's so much that hurts you, yet you still walk with your head held high and I admire that so much."

          My stomach suddenly jumps up in giddiness as a smile engulfs my face. "Despite everything, I'm beginning to adore you," he whispers against my lips. "You're gorgeous beyond belief and smart. Badass too." A chuckle departs our mouths at the same time before I rest my forehead next to his cheek. "Like Rome, I like you more and more everyday. I shouldn't, but I can't help myself."

          Elevating my head, I gaze into his eyes that are packed with sincerity. I can swear something shifted inside me when those blue pearls of his gazed back lovingly. The pad of his thumbs rake over my lips tenderly as I part them to his touch.

          "Can I?" He asks softly, and even though a part of me wants to push him away, the majority of my body want his lips to touch me desperately and kiss every inch of my body. So, I nod and give him permission to melt me right where I am.

          Gradually, his lips inch closer to mine and press so softly that they can almost be mistaken for plush cotton. My hands abandon the ice pack between our heated bodies and trail up his naked chest to his face as he deepens the kiss by taking my lower lip into his warm mouth and sucking on it. His hands lightly stroke my breasts before smoothing down my sides and grasping my ass to rock me on his lap. A little moan escapes my mouth into his as his hardened crotch pokes up into me.

          "Fuck!" He breathes out before I take charge and slowly lay him on his back with a single finger. A smile matching mine dances on his lips as my fingertips caress each curve and inch of his sculpted face. Sinking down on top of him, I reach for his lips again when that same high pitched bark rattles my action, stopping me at once.

          "Good job, Mr. President," I hear Rome laugh from the other side of the door. "Cockblocking at its finest."

          "Cockblocking dog." Mr. Azallion grunts under me and I can't help but laugh at the notion of an interrupting dog.

Embracing his lips one last time, I stroke his hair and gaze into his eyes. "Goodnight, Mr. Azallion," I whisper and slide off his body. "I believe you can see yourself out." Grabbing his arm, I lift him off my bed swiftly and place him on his feet.

          "There she is," he laughs at the return of the bitchy Athena. "I was wondering when she'd make an appearance again."

          "Close the door on your way out," I yawn once again and pivot around him to lay under my covers, however, he still stands his ground, admiring me. "It's a hectic day tomorrow. I suggest you get some sleep in."

          Instead of walking out, he saunters over to my side of the bed and bends over to place a soft kiss on my cheek. "Goodnight, Ms. Estle."

          "Your thirty seconds were over a long time ago. Now get out."

          Cocking his head back, he lets out a laugh and trudges out, closing the door behind him after a final glance. My worn out mind is now left with cluster of thoughts I never wanted to think of, but now I am. My hands shake from the idea of having a man for something more than just sexual torture I usually drag them through.

This isn't me. This can't be me. Athena Estle doesn't give into men. She doesn't fall for ridiculous charm. She doesn't allow a man to come into her room, let alone kiss her and for her to give in so easily right on this bed.

Jesus! What the hell is wrong with me?

***

(Eros' POV)

"He just left?" A model asks, sitting in the studio among the other high profile ones to discuss the final details for the WFG that is to be held in Italy.

I've been zoning in and out for the past hour in this meeting because I can barely concentrate when Ms. Estle is literally a few feet away from me. Something has certainly changed between us. At least for me it definitely has. Ever since our talk last night, I feel a strong pull towards her. A strong longing for her. An insatiable yearning to make her feel okay. To tell her that it'll be okay despite everything she's been through. I can only imagine the shit she must have endured in the past, but I want to make her feel okay. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Only time can tell.

And that kiss... that one fucking kiss has me going nuts for her. Never have I thought that a kiss can make me fall to my damn knees for a woman who has injured me on several occasions. But fuck it. I'm definitely feeling something and I won't deny it. There's no point in keeping it under the covers either.

          Her caramel strands are loosely tucked behind her ear as she intently focuses on what the models are saying unlike me. I'm busy admiring her from the way her brow arches every now and then. The usual stoic expression on her face, her enchanting hazel eyes that I've been lost in for a while. The smug curl of her plump lips after she makes a snarky comment that makes my fucking heart go haywire like damn.

Fuck! Eros, you're a fucking goner.

"Quit fretting about Chester Woodson," Ms. Estle yells, retrieving me from my beautiful daze and stopping all the murmur in the large studio. "He's out and I have another model to replace him." She nods to a woman standing near the entrance who sticks her head out and calls out to someone, her voice very distant. Two seconds later, Rome walks in with a massive grin on his face, his brows wiggling at me.

"You've got to be kidding me!" I straighten my spine and stare at Ms. Estle who smiles at me. She didn't bother sparing me a glance or even say a word to me all day and now she's smiling cockily at me, forcing me to narrow my eyes at her.

          "Is there a problem, Mr. Azallion?" She smirks, tipping her head to the side, looking so cute and evil at the same time.

          "Yes," I whisper and lean towards her. "He isn't a model. He doesn't know how to model. He's a kid."

          "He's twenty, an adult," she emphasizes and scoots closer to me so only I can hear what she has to say. "In case you haven't noticed, your brother has a lot of tattoos like you. A big one on the side of his neck, on the back of his hands, his fingers, and even a tiny one under his eye. You had a hard time getting a decent job after college because of the ink. What makes you think that he won't?" She sighs rather smugly. "Unless you want him to be an escort like..."

(He has such a babyish face. So cute and adorable!)

          "Fine." I sink back into my seat and scrunch my nose while he busies himself flirting with Janet.

          "Rome," Ms. Estle summons the idiot and he skips over without a complaint. She rises to her feet and turns to face the crowd of female models who watch him as if he's a cute pup while the male models nonchalantly slouch back like me. "This is Roman Azallion. He'll be replacing Chester Woodson."

          "Hello, ladies," he flashes a smirk their way before sending himself to their side. "You guessed it. I'm Eros' brother. Clearly the hotter and better one." I groan inwardly as he looks at me mischievously. "What's up, bitch boy?"

          "Shut your fucking mouth, di..."

"Both of you shut up!" Ms. Estle chides in irritation. "Rome, acquaint yourself with the models. Not only the female ones."

          "Like brother, like brother," a model comments, snickering to herself as Rome kisses the back of her hand and rockets her to cloud nine. "Very charming."

"Get him fitted for all the outfits that were made for Woodson," Ms. Estle orders Janet as they mount up with me and Jack right behind them, walking out and leaving Rome to work his way through all the models. "Ask Diane to get his clothes made as quickly as possible and have Lorenzo teach Roman the ways. The WFG is in a week and I can't have this setting me back."

"Roman is definitely fuckville material," Janet sighs. "Easy target."

"Oh my fuck lord!" I facepalm hard. Jack stifles his laughter while Ms. Estle and I both groan at her.

"It's the truth," she laughs to herself.

"How did your date with Maddox go last night?" Ms. Estle changes the topic and queries as we all proceed towards a room located on the other end of the same floor.

"It was amazing actually," Janet smiles, brushing a hand through her blonde hair. "He's a gentleman and a sweetheart." While she praises him, all I can think of are lies he must be telling her because I know he hurt Ms. Estle in the past, and right now, she doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all.

          "Bring him to Ruiz's wedding as your date," Ms. Estle shrugs as Jack opens the door to the room for her. "Go do that and also what I told you."

          "You got it." Janet turns around and brushes past me.

          "Show me the grooms," Ms. Estle demands, walking further into the room.

(Godfrey Gao as Zack. 😍)

          "They look stunning, ma'am," one of the interns in the room chirps up while the other five are making the finals touches on the two men.

"Well, don't you two look handsome." Ms. Estle saunters over to Ruiz's fiancé, waving the girls to let go while she takes care of the final touches on the new suit that she designed herself. "Arrange your guest list and give it to Allaire Caro by today so she can get all the arrangements done before the wedding in two days."

          "Yes, ma'am," Ruiz nods before looking to his fiancé with a smile planted on his face.

The boss lady steps back and turns to me. "By the way, I need the sex article on my desk as quickly as possible, so work your magic with Lola."

My eyes shoot to Jack who shifts uncomfortable and silently begs me to shut up which I do, but Ms. Estle still notices our little not so covert interaction. "What's going on?" She looks at me before turning to Jack. "You better tell me what the hell is going on or lord help me, Jackson."

Jack stares at the floor under Ms. Estle's scrutinizing gaze as he swallows the lump in his throat. "I slept with Lola."

"You did what?" She screams.

Rest In Peace, Jack. It was good knowing you.

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Yay or nay?

We have taken a step forward in Athena and Eros' relationship. What do you guys think of them now?

What will Athena do now after finding out Jackson slept with Lola?

What does Athena have in mind by inviting Maddox to the wedding?

Mafia Love Readers: Who would be good as Evelina? Crystal Reed or Hailee Steinfeld?

I'm personally leaning towards Crystal because I see her as Lina more with the dimples and the toughness that Lina will embody in Imperial Love. Let me know which one you guys would like more.

Much Love ❤
~Reet