“I’m still mad at you.” I glared at him. “What happened tonight, it’s not okay. I don’t know what sort of sick world you’re a part of, but I don’t appreciate being brought into it. I don’t want to be part of some sick game you’re playing with Violeta.”

“Forget Violeta.” His eyes narrowed and his face was full of distaste. “She means nothing to me. She is nothing. Casper and Tarquin will be dealt with as well.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked softly, my heart thudding as I stared into his eyes. My body shivered slightly from being naked in the cool air above him, and he pulled me closer to him.

“Don’t you worry your sweet head about it.” His voice was dark. “I will take care of it.”

“Are you still mad at me?” I asked, annoyed at myself for caring what he thought about me. This wasn’t my fault and I shouldn’t need his reassurance.

“I couldn’t be mad at you, Lola. Mad at myself, yes. You? Never.” He kissed the top of my head. “You did nothing wrong. It was you that was wronged. And I will make sure that Casper and Tarquin pay for what they did, even if it costs me everything.”

“What are you talking about, Xavier?” I breathed out, suddenly feeling scared. What was he talking about? What would it cost him?

“Nothing right now.” He lifted me out of the tub. “I’m done with talking. Right now all I want to be doing is making you scream.”

“What are you doing?” I gasped as he bent me forward over the tub.

“What I wanted to do as soon as I walked into the bathroom.” He grunted as he slipped some fingers in between my legs. “Taking what is mine.”

“I’m not yours.” I groaned as he rubbed my clit roughly.

“You will always be mine, Lola Franklin. You were mine from the first day that I saw you.”

“The first day you saw me?” I moaned, and my body shuddered as I felt his cock entering me swiftly. “Xavier!” I screamed out his name as he grabbed me around my waist and shifted my butt back into him as he slammed into me. I felt his cock deep inside of me and I felt my body quaking as he filled me up so that I could feel every inch of him while he slid in and out of me. His fingers reached up and pinched my nipples and I writhed back against him, unable to stop myself from moving my body in rhythm with his. And then his right hand reached down and rubbed my clit gently as he fucked me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the pleasure invading my body. I heard myself crying out as I came hard and fast. Yet, Xavier didn’t stop moving inside of me or rubbing my clit. Instead he continued and within thirty seconds, I felt another orgasm building up again. This time, his hardness moved in and out of me slowly. Until suddenly he grunted and grabbed my hips and moved back and forth quickly, until he stopped abruptly and I felt his body shaking against mine as he exploded inside of me. He pulled out and then turned me towards him and kissed me hard.

“I told you you’re mine.” He kissed me on the lips again as his eyes bore down into mine. “Never forget that, Lola.”

Chapter Four

Xavier

I watched as Lola slept, and I marveled at how easily I’d come to my decision. She loved me. I’d seen it in her eyes when I’d gone into the bathroom. She loved me and I loved her. She was mine and I was going to risk everything to get my revenge. I was going to risk my heart for power. I’d seen the love that she had for me in her eyes. I knew that she wanted me. I knew that she was intrigued by me. I’d known it from the first time I’d seen her in the gallery. This wasn’t what I’d planned on happening when I’d gone to London, but it felt like poetic justice. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I was going to accept the invitation to the grand ball. I was going to accept it, and I was going to enter the challenge. I was going to become the most powerful man in Europe. I just had to make sure that I didn’t sacrifice Lola’s heart, or my own, for my second chance at power.

Chapter Five

Lola

I arose before the sun and quickly packed up my things. My heart felt heavy as I gazed at a still sleeping Xavier. I was going to leave. I knew that I wasn’t right for his world. I couldn’t keep playing these games with him. I didn’t want to feel used and unappreciated. I didn’t want to be the woman who started accepting unacceptable behavior because I was so consumed by the feelings that exploded in my heart every time he smiled at me or said my name. I was Lola Franklin, for heaven’s sake. I was the girl who had vowed never to let a man change who I was or what I would accept in a relationship. I wanted it all, or nothing at all. I wanted to be loved like nobody had been loved before. I wanted Xavier’s sun to rise and fall with my smile. I wanted to be his world. I wanted him to look at me and feel like he couldn’t go on without me by his side. I wanted to be his everything. The yin to his yang. The light to his darkness. I wanted to be the one. My heart ached for the want that struggled to remain silent in my heart. I crept toward the door softly, my brain not thinking about how I would leave the palace. I just needed to leave this room first. My heart raced as I edged closer and closer to the door. My hand reached for the doorknob, and I was about to turn it when I felt a hand on my back.

“Arrgh!” I screamed and turned around, my heart racing. “What are you doing?” I asked him, annoyed that he’d crept up on me. “I didn’t even hear you behind me.”