I sat on the edge of my bed, having showered twice already. One before going to fetch my little Flame and Elysium and a second time after I had dinner with them.

I scrubbed every inch of my skin until it became red but it did nothing to wash away the remnants of the conversation I shared with my father. Killing Viktor might have provided a momentary reprieve from the storm brewing in my heart but now I was back with my thoughts.

Celine knew from the look on my face what had happened when I came to get her but she understood as well I needed time to process it all. But would time really help when you have been betrayed by your own flesh and blood? Could we really digest such a pill?

How could my father sleep at night knowing he endangered the woman I loved dearly? But then again if father could sleep with the blood of innocents on his hand, this must have been a piece of cake for him.

I never accepted contracts when they involved innocent humans. Humans
against whom rich people had some sort of vendetta, grudge or jealousy against. Those people did nothing wrong except dating, befriending, marrying or coming across the wrong crowd. So I refused and father always shook his head at me for that.

It didn't make it less of a burden on my shoulders though. I was still the heir to this god forsaken guild and contracts that I refused to take were still passed to others who worked there to the point that some clients stopped reaching out to me after word got out that Eli Castillo didn't kill innocents. They went directly to the other assassins in the organisation instead. It was more than fine with me, I was more than glad to wipe scums off the surface of this earth instead when contracts like that came in but I still knew these people were going to die and yet I couldn't do anything about it. In the end, whether they died by my hands or others, I still carried the weight of their deaths on my conscience.

Landon as my second in command often handled contracts when I was overseas, did his own too and managed the illicit money father laundered easily through the different departments and assets but I knew he didn't want this life either. He stayed for me out of loyalty. He could have left once he became independent. His parents had died. Despite the fact that father, mom and me were there for him, he could have chosen to build his life elsewhere. There was no obligation to walk into the footsteps of his deceased parents. It was a painful yet merciful way out. Father would have even let him go with only a vow of silence to never reveal the workings of the organisation.

But Landon stayed. He stayed for me. He remained by my side and we have been there for each other through it all. Now after what my father did, I wanted more than ever to leave the guild. And I would, this time for good. Once we get our hands on the Silver Strangler. Kyron. I would take Celine, Elysium and Landon away and we would rebuild our lives.

Father could do whatever he wanted with his guild. And mom.. Ah my beloved mother's tender soul, I wasn't sure yet what she wanted to do but whatever she chose, I would respect it and support her always. Agnus would still be my loyal albeit infuriating friend. Compared to me and Landon, Agnus like many others in the organisation enjoyed working for the guild. Agnus loved erasing thousands of important databases for rich influential elites in the blink of an eye, conducting execution of people with carefully crafted bombs, tracking targets in record time with his trackers and sophisticated tech. I would never force him to leave behind his work, not when he loved what he did this much. But my place wasn't here anymore.

I would keep in touch with him. Having someone this knowledgeable in technology and the art of hacking comes in handy in such a generation of fraudsters and corrupted politicians. It might one day be useful. Plus he was a good friend.

"Mi Sol(My Sun), you're okay?"Celine's sweet, concerned voice brought me back to the present only for my breath to hitch.

Her eyes widened as they landed on my bare chest covered with a myriad of tattoos that I had yet to show her. With only a pair of black sweatpants on, she had a perfect view of me.

Fuck!

I never wanted her to find out like that. I wanted to show them to her myself. Not like this. Out of blue.

I stood up immediately, shoulders tense as I watched the way her beautiful green eyes took in my tattoos. Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes filled with so much wonder and amazement, that I didn't dare move.

"El, when did you get all these tattoos? That's why you always wear clothes that cover your arms.. God, Eli, why didn't you show me?"Celine asked, stepping closer to me. Her eyes fixed on 'My little Flame' etched on my chest right where my heart was currently racing for her.

Always her.

I exhaled quietly. "I got them a long time back. I couldn't show you back then because I was supposed to remain only your best friend. A best friend doesn't just tattoo himself with tattoos that represent someone else like this. I wasn't ready to face how you would react"

"You never cease to surprise me, do you? Just when I think I have seen everything, you go ahead and reveal things that make me want to kiss you and never let you go" Celine said, staring at me with a soft look that made my heart tighten.

She was the only one who seemed capable of doing this to my heart. Her beautiful green eyes that reminded me so much of an enchanted forest watched me with so much love, I wanted to trap this moment and play it on repeat for eternity.

I pulled her closer to me instead, one arm wrapped around her waist in a territorial grip as my lips met hers. The kiss started slow, gentle and exploratory before turning deeper, our tongues tangling with each other. Her hands landed on my chest slowly looping around my neck.

I instinctively lifted her up in my arms, her legs finding their place around my waist naturally. I held her tighter feasting on her sweet lips like it was my last day alive. A soft sweet moan left her lips when I tugged on her bottom lip making my cock harden painfully so.

What was it about this woman that triggered such a powerful reaction in me? I never desired anyone like I desired her. There were thousands of women taught to master seduction in the organisation and yet I never once bat an eye their way. To me, they looked bland compared to my beautiful little Flame. She was an explosion of colours in a world that had long since forgotten what life really felt like. And I was hell bent on keeping her safe and alive. Happy and thriving. My beautiful Ballerina.

Once I broke the kiss, I leaned my forehead against hers "I was going to show it to you, I never wanted you to find out like this."

Celine cupped my cheek gently, staring up at me with adoration. "I know, but they really are beautiful, all of you are. You're gorgeous, Eli. Even with those scars you covered, you're my Sun. My Bright Sun that shines brighter than anything"

Is it me or did heat just rise to my cheeks? Am I fucking blushing like a school boy right now?

Judging by the way my little Flame's face broke into a bright smile, it sure did. Fuck it then. I would blush like that a thousand times if it meant her eyes lit up like that.

"Who knew I could make the brooding Eli Castillo himself blush like this?"Celine teased, making me grimace at the thought of Agnus finding out.

"Not a word to anyone about this, Little Flame. You're the only one who gets to see me like that" I mumble earning a soft knowing laugh from her.

"The only one," She responded, smiling brightly.

I sat on the bed with her still in my arms only to watch her cheeks turn pink red at the feel of my hard on against her. She was wearing only a pair of silky midnight blue shorts and a matching tank top but it did nothing to cover her tightening nipples or the feel of her pussy that was directly on my hardening cock right now.

God have mercy. I wanted to devour her whole right now.

"What do you want, Little Flame?"I asked, my restraint hanging by a thread.

"You, Eli. I don't want to keep taking it slow" The words were barely out of her mouth before mine crashed against hers in a heated kiss.