“There’s beggary in love that can be reckoned” - William Shakespeare

Saudade (n.)- a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese or Brazilian temperament.

Warning: Mild Smut ig. It gets steamy 🌚🌚

Ares’ POV:

“We have a hearing tomorrow.”

The sound of liquid pouring echoed loudly within the vast chamber, then ice. One, two, three… Just how I liked my scotch. Half a shot with three cubes of ice.

It tasted like cold fire; liquid, snowy and bitter as it travelled down my throat, leaving a burning trail.

“Did you contact our lawyer?” My voice was foreign to my ears. It sounded woefully empty, like a forgotten echo reverberating through my body.

“Yes,” A chair was pulled, another glass was poured. When did he start drinking scotch? I thought he preferred wine?

“There is absolutely no data other than the fuel usage. They can’t even find out how far the truck might have gone. Whoever did this, is a master at planning.”

“How do you know it’s a ‘is’?” I took another sip, the burn felt soothing, “How are you sure it’s not a ‘was’?”

A moment of silence passed before he spoke up, “It could be a ‘was’ but my instinct is telling me it’s a ‘is’. I am sorry, it’s just a silly tho-”

“Do you know what is the most valuable lesson I have learned after becoming blind, Archer?”

He took a gulp, remaining silent.

“To never disregard instincts. It is an important tool for survival; especially when we are void of any clue that might be there. Your instinct says the person who might have been involved in the accident, might still be alive. There is a possibility and as long as there is even a percent chance that he might be alive, there is still a chance that he might be alive.”

“How do you know it’s a he?”

I smirked, taking another sip, “Instinct.”

A loud sigh resonated through the chamber, “Let’s think for a moment that this person is still alive, the truck driver; and is somehow involved with the accident, he should definitely know where we are and what we are doing.”

“He can’t access our personal information Archer,” The glass was kept down with a clink, “It has been made sure of, years ago. What you have to be concerned about is that we are fighting an invisible enemy here. On the basis of some events not adding up. We should be concerned about what he is, not how he can access our personal information.”

“Why?” His voice was laced with frustration, “Why would he do this, brother? Why would he kill our family?”

“Who knows?” I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible, not trying to show my inner turbulence. I was tormented, agonized but I must uphold myself for the sake of him, “I am guessing enmity. Since there wasn’t any record of money laundering or being transferred whatsoever.”

“Do you think Britney can be behind this?”

“No,” I let out an exasperated sigh, “I have checked her. The timeline doesn’t add up, neither does the cause.”

“Do you think it can be done from animosity? Her vehemence towards you since you broke up?”

“She always wanted me to inherit the company,” I let out a bitter chuckle, “And I kept her around because it was convenient to stop father from nagging me for marriage. I don’t think the feeling was deep enough to be vengeful and cause an act such as this. She knows this, I do too.”

“I need to confirm-”

“May I come in?” The voice from the doorway made me falter for a moment. I knew her voice and had it etched in my mind. No matter how I tried, it won’t leave me alone. It was tiring how her voice would make me want to lose all my inhibitions and fuck her until she screams from pain.

I clenched my fists.

It has been three days since the day at the dock. I didn’t see much of her. Although I didn’t really care if she showed up or not, a small part of me remained curious.

Adrianna definitely kept her promise and stopped her embarrassing approaches. It was quite amusing to watch her struggle with the seduction part, since most of the men probably just fell at her feet.

“Is it important?” Archer’s voice was full of annoyance as he replied, “If not-”

“You may.”

The door opened with a creak and the sound of heels clicking echoed. Her usually confident steps were laced with hesitation.

“I am sorry if I interrupted, he needed to have a dose of medicine.”

“Go ahead,” Archer’s voice sounded. Her perfume was driving me crazy. That sweet smell mingled along with her own scent, it was overwhelming. My jaw clenched as I tried to focus on the important matter here.

Did she know of the effect she had on me?

The closer she came, the more agitated I became. I was never this impatient, I was a disciplined man, but as soon as I had a taste of her, those restraints flew out of the fucking window.

“Good morning, Mr. Estevan,” Her voice was low, as if she had been craving me, “Your medicines were altered a bit, did you take the night doses?”

I nodded, clenching my fists and trying to have some control over myself.

Control is something I owned, possessed and ruled; but this darned wench seemed to strip me off it, irritatingly slow and I wanted to punish her for it.

She had a warm aura around her.

I took a gulp of the scotch as I felt her unbuttoning my cufflink and then rolling up my sleeve, her long nails mildly grazing my skin.

“Drinking so early Mr. Estevan?” She whispered close to my ear, making me pause, “Bad for your health…”

I heard Archer chuckle, oblivious to her nails grazing my palm under the table, “We are used to it, Adri.”

“That still doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” Her warmth was gone as I felt the pinch of the needle right at the middle of my forearm, “You drink scotch in the morning, consume an unhealthy amount of sugar, often exercise in the middle of the night and stay out late-”

A disappointed sigh travelled through the room, one that almost made me chuckle, “Do you not wish to live a healthy life with healthy kidneys and functioning brains?”

Archer burst into a fit of laughter and a smile itched at the corner of my lips. It was refreshing to hear his laugh, after everything.

All these burdens, he should feel carefree at times.

“Stop laughing, I am serious,” She huffed, adorably, “I forbade you to put so much sugar in his coffee or the cereal. You really didn’t think I wouldn’t find out that you snuck him some sugar, did you?” A foot tapping sound was heard.

I raised a brow, so she did find out I asked Archer to put some extra sugar today?

“Guilty as charged,” Archer mumbled, sounding thoroughly amused, “But in my defence, Ares is older than me, so he should have been more responsible than I am.”

A sound of a shoe hitting the table was heard as Archer let out a gasp, “Both of you are adults! Sheesh!”

“Why did you hit me?! Your heels… they look like torture devices!”

“That’s not the point, the point is, none of you are serious about yourself! Be responsible!”

“I am older than you!”

“I am the nurse here!”

“Children,” I addressed them, raising my voice slightly, “Stop fighting.”

“I am not a child,” Archer huffed, “She started it.”

“You are speaking as if I am the child here? Excuse you.”

“Well-”

“Will you two, for the love of god, shut the fuck up?” I voiced out gravely, taking a last sip, “It’s noisy.”

That shut them up.

I honestly had a hard time understanding why two people, who were intuitive and mature behaved like kindergartners at times.

“Good,” I let out a breath, setting the glass aside, “I can practically feel you glaring at each other. Archer, you may excuse yourself. I will discuss the matter later with you. Make sure to pay a visit to the hospital we were prescribed to and try to dig out some reports. If they don’t co-operate, you know what to do.”

“Okay, brother,” The sound of his shoes resonated along the marble floor as he stood up, “Please take care of yourself.”

I nodded, “You too. Don’t overwork yourself.”

“I will try not to,” His shoes clicked, the sound getting more distant as he walked away, “Bye Adri!”

“Bye!”

Adrianna’s heels clicked on the floor as she began to walk away.

“Where do you think you are going?”

She stopped in her tracks.

“Were you excused?”

The forgotten desire was back, crashing into me like a wave. I wanted to discipline her and fuck her- the desire to hear her sweet moans was so overwhelming, so tempting. I wanted to hold her in my arms and make her cry from pleasure.

“No..” Her voice was low, curious, lusty.

I stood up from the sofa and slowly walked to her, “Then why are you walking away?”

“I will stay if you want me to stay, “ She rasped. I stopped when I felt her presence, she was close; so close that I could smell her intoxicating smell.

“Then stay.”

“Why Ares,” I felt her fingertips trail on my jaw, “Are you flirting with me?”

I grasped her hand and brought it to my mouth, licking two of her fingers and wrapping my lips around them, letting go after placing a soft kiss on them, “Probably. I think I am doing a better job than you, at least.”

Her fingers trailed on my lips, like a feather whispering on my flesh as she leaned closer, “You don’t need to. I am always in want of more…. and more of you.”

Her touch made the lust inside me burn fiercer, an all consuming feeling that indulged me and ate my flesh, until the only thing that was left was my soul.

The intensity of it was truly enthralling.

Her fingers travelled down my jaw, to my neck; a sigh escaped me. Her touch held sparks, it only burnt me some more. I placed a small kiss on her ear, caressing her jaw, trying to image her as I had come to in my mind.

“Fuck me.”

“Greedy,” I chuckled, grasping her jaw, “Didn’t I fuck you hard enough? You already want more?”

“Yes…”

Her breath fanned my lips as my heart pounded in my ears. I fisted her hair, making her moan.

“Needy little whore.”

She panted, “Only for you.”

I had no idea if she said it knowingly, or it was something that was uttered in her lust induced stupor, but her words did something to me. It gave me a state of power, dominance- a sense of control.

Adrianna wasn’t my possession, yet I felt like claiming every single inch of her.

“I know this pussy needs to be fucked often,” I clenched my teeth, tugging her by her hair and leading her to the bathroom.

The acknowledgment of the fact that I wanted to know what she looked like scared me.

“Ares,” Her voice was only an octave above whisper, she seemed dazed- as if she had drunk the finest of the wine and now was intoxicated.

I knew the infrastructure of this room like the back of my palm. Despite my blindness, I knew where everything was and everything was supposed to be. I pictured that I was in front of the large mirror in the bathroom, one that had a wide sink in front of it. Sturdy enough for me to bend and fuck her as she watched herself cum.

It was about her pain that brought pleasure.

“A-Ares?”

I bunched her hair in my fist and ran my fingers on the skin of her decolletage. She shivered in my arms, making me smile. I inhaled her scent, she smelled addicting, it only made me crave for more.

I felt her hand slipping behind my neck as she pulled me closer, her back pressing to my crotch. I grabbed her hips, steadying her- trapping her in my arms.

“I am going to fuck you in front of this mirror,” I whispered in her ear, nibbling her earlobe, “And you are going to watch yourself as I fuck you.”

She breathed relentlessly as I skimmed my lips along her neck, licking along her warm flesh and placing small kisses along the way.

I grabbed her by the thighs and lifted her on the sink, a yelp resonated through the bathroom. I didn’t bother locking the door because the main door had an automatic lock system.

I tugged her hair, making her arch her back.

“It made me so angry when you said you wanted to end it all,” I grunted, “It makes me infuriated how you make me lose control.”

The statement was more like a self-realisation rather than some whispered dirty talk. It only confused me more.

“Glad to know,” Her chuckle was low, hazed.

I delivered a sharp smack on her buttock, making her moan in pain.

“Look at yourself,” I whispered, “And take off your top.”

The sound of a zipper was heard as she bent slightly, sliding her top off.

My hands travelled to her torso, travelling between the valley of her breasts as I rested them above her hips. She was quivering, I could feel her heartbeat under my palms.

“Take off your pants,” I whispered harshly as I flicked her swollen nipples in my fingers, making her moan. I tugged them, feeling her tremble under my touch.

Her bare flesh was warm, much like herself. I placed a chaste kiss on her shoulder, tucking her hair behind her ear.

She grinded her hips on my dick, hastily if I say so. My hands acted on their accord, steadying her hips.

She moaned in protest, making me smile. The truth was, I wanted to take my time with her, stripping her off of her sanity until she was at the edge of delirium. It gave me pleasure knowing that I was in control of this little vixen’s pleasure.

I let my fingers touch her clit, making her gasp breathily.

“Fuck…” I cursed as I found her throbbing cunt soaking wet. The fact that she wasn’t wearing any underwear drove me insane.

“Ares,” She pleaded, “Please..”

I circled the bundle of nerves, making her shiver like dry leaves in winter, “This pussy is so greedy. You are dripping on my fingers, Adrianna.”

I dug three of my fingers in her tight cunt, making her moan in pain and pleasure. I didn’t care. I wanted to hurt her, I wanted to pleasure her.

Grabbing her jaw, I wrap my lips around hers; sucking them into my mouth and licking them afterwards. She tasted like cherry, probably a lipgloss she wore.

“Have you been craving me Adrianna?”

A loud breath was my response.

I smacked her ass, making her moan out in pain, “Answer my fucking question.”

“Y-Yes-”

I dug my fingers deeper, finding her G-Spot. The bathroom was filled with her addictive scent, driving my senses into a frenzy. A loud moan escaped her as I scissored through her tight pussy. My dick strained in my pants, her cries were a sweet torture.

“A-Ares, I c-can’t-”

“You wanted this,” I delivered a sharp smack on her breast, the pain making her clench tighter around my fingers, “Puta.”

I abused her spot until she was on the verge of sobbing. Cold sweat formed around my neck as I continued to make her cry out loud. The sound of her squelching pussy filled the bathroom as she dripped on my pants.

“You are making a mess baby,” I whispered in her ears as I added another finger, making her scream out loud from the pleasure edged pain.

“It hurts,” She moaned, “But fuck it feels so good….”

“Look at yourself,” I bit her shoulder, “And tell me what you see.”

She sobbed as she struggled to remain on the verge of sanity. I licked away the tears that streamed down her face, kissing her face afterwards. I smacked her ass again, closer to her pussy that was stuffed with my fingers.

“I- I see… a woman…”

My fingers circled her throat, cutting off her oxygen as I curled my fingers inside her. She was wailing, shivering, moaning, pleading.

I wanted to see her.

“Be more specific,” I smacked her ass again.

“I- s-see a woman, with b-blonde hair,” She panted, stumbling on her speech. I could sense that she was on the verge of breaking but it was fun to play with her, “H-Her eyes a-are blue… p-pretty...”

“What is that one thing the woman finds beautiful about herself?” I whispered in her ear, drawing her in the canvas of my mind. I wanted to conjure up an image of her, so that I could picture her.

All of her.

Her breath fanned my swollen lips as she tilted her head, placing a kiss under my jaw, making electricity zap through my skin.

“Her t-tattoo on her torso.”

She grabbed my hand and trailed it on her skin, tracing my fingers on her and making a…. Shape?

“It’s a butterfly,” Her hoarse voice barely rasped.

Butterfly…

I pinched one of her nipples, making her gasp. She threw her head back, hitting on my mask.

I froze as the mask came off and fell on the floor.

I began to retract my fingers, but a wrist stopped me from doing so.

“D-Don’t,” She panted, “You are so beautiful.”

A moment of silence passed, “You think I am beautiful?” My voice was low, my heart pumped loudly in my ears. To the point where it was deafening.

“Y-Yes…” She answered, “Beautiful Ares-”

A fire raged within me, a fire of molten anger and a whirlwind of emotions. I slammed my fingers inside her, making her gasp and sob.

It fell into deaf ears as I found her g-spot and abused it, pounding my fingers again and again. I didn’t pay heed to her pleas, I wanted to make her cry.

“Fuck!” She wailed, “Ares!”

“Do you want to cum?”

“Yes please,” She cried, her body shaking violently in my arms. It was mellifluous, “Yes please. Ares please please let me cum.”

“I don’t know what gave you the idea that I am beautiful,” I gritted out, “I hate liars.”

“I am not-”

“Shut the fuck up!”

I slapped her, grasping her jaw afterwards, “Look at the mirror carefully, bitch. You find that beautiful?”

“I do!” She cried out, “I do! I am not lying!”

I seethed, increasing my pace, pressing my thumb on her clit, “I hate that you are not lying.”

“Ares… oh fuck….” Her voice sounded low as she blubbered incoherently, grinding her hips on my hand, “Let me cum, please please-”

“Cum then.”

She shattered with a loud scream. Her juices soaked my palm and dripped onto the floor. Completely spent, she fell into my arms, limp and a mess of babbles.

I hated the fact that I wanted to stay.

I hated the fact that I wanted to tend to her.

I gathered her into my arms, setting her down as she crashed into me.

My heart was a mess, so was my head. This woman was messing with me and I had no idea how to sort it out.

Bending down, I grabbed my mask that fell on the floor, fixing it on my face.

Adrianna Campbell was an addictive catastrophe and I knew if I didn’t mend myself, I was going to be destroyed.

________

Any theories about the accident?

What about Ares? Poor thing is going through a dilemma.

It was so hard to write this chapter 😭😭 I am going through a major block😭😭

Please let me know if you liked it, some honest feedback would be nice.

Even if you didn't like it, you can tell me and I can work on it in future :)

Also, some of you expressed your love for this book in my DMs, I have no words to describe how happy I am :) it honestly means a lot that you are liking this book (TvT) if you ever feel like talking or venting about anything or sharing, my DMs are always open :) I'd be glad to connect with you.

Also I am starting my Mafia series in this August so I am a bit stressed because it's a huge project and I need to write it well. Do check it out if you are interested!

Take love❤️❤️