Page 22 of Dark Prince

At the mention of her name, a gasp escapes me involuntarily. Laurel. The name resonates with a significance I wish I didn't recognize. She is Luk's ex-fiancé, the woman whose shadow has loomed—unspoken but ever-present—in the background of my new life.

Sensing my shock, Laurel offers a smile that's meant to be reassuring but comes across as menacing. “I know what you must be thinking,” she begins, her tone attempting to convey sincerity. “But I'm here for a good reason: to warn you about Luk.”

“Warn me? About Luk?” I manage to reply, my voice betraying curiosity and apprehension. “What could you possibly have to say that I want to hear?”

Laurel holds my gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. “Oh, darling, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into,” she says, her voice condescending yet vindictive.

I'm torn between the urge to dismiss her outright and tell her to leave me alone and the suspicion that there's a depth to Luk I've yet to uncover nags at me fully. The line between loyalty and fear of the unknown is a precarious edge to walk.

Glancing over my shoulder, I note my bodyguards stationed outside. Their gazes diligently scan the street, oblivious to what’s happening in the store. Because I have a momentary sense of privacy, I press Laurel for answers.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand, my voice low.

Laurel's response is a faint grin that makes my skin crawl. “Oh, Maura, I'm talking about Luk's... let's call them less conventional tastes in the bedroom,” she says, her tone dripping with insinuation. “Surely, you know what I mean.”

The implication hits me like a physical blow, leaving me at a loss for words. It's not just the accusation itself but the casual cruelty with which she delivers it, as if she's enjoying this, reveling in the discomfort she's causing.

“Is that supposed to scare me?” I ask, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Whatever Luk and I share is our business, not yours. We're fine,” I assert, but the words feel hollow, even to my own ears. Laurel's smirk only widens at my response, as if she's scored a point in a game only she's playing.

Sensing the crack in my façade she leans in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Oh, Maura, you really have no idea, do you? Luk's tastes can get much darker, much more dangerous than you might be prepared for,” she says, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that's meant to unnerve me.

I want to dismiss her words, to tell her she's wrong, but doubt takes root in the back of my mind, growing with each syllable she speaks.

“I'm telling you this for your own good,” Laurel continues, her tone softening slightly, but the underlying message is clear. “I know I'll never be with Luk again, but you need to be careful, to be on your toes. It can get nasty.”

Before I can respond, Laurel straightens up, offering me a tight smile.

“Anyway, good luck, Maura,” she says, her voice laced with a finality that sends a chill down my spine. With that, she turns on her heel and leaves.

I'm left reeling from the encounter.I went into the flower shop to seek quiet refuge, but what I got instead was an experience that left me unsettled.

In a rush to forget what has just happened, I quickly select a bouquet—lush peonies in soft pinks and whites intertwined with sprigs of eucalyptus and baby's breath—creating a delicate yet striking arrangement. Their beauty offers a brief distraction, but it's not enough to shake the uneasiness Laurel's words have inspired in me.

I hurry outside, barely making eye contact with the guards, as I tell them I want to go home. The walk seems endless as I replay the conversation with Laurel in my mind. Doubt and confusion churn within me, tainting my memories of moments with Luk. By the time we get back to the mansion, my thoughts are a tangled mess, and I'm desperate for solitude.

I retreat to my personal bedroom, seeking a quiet space to collect my thoughts and calm the turmoil inside me. However, the sight that greets me when I get there only deepens my confusion. On the bed lies a gift box, elegantly wrapped and unmistakably from Luk.

I approach and lift the lid. Inside, resting against a plush velvet lining, is a delicate lace collar accompanied by two equally delicate nipple clamps. The items are undeniably beautiful and crafted with care, yet the implications of the gift send a rush of heat to my cheeks.

I'm simultaneously intrigued and overwhelmed with a sense of shame—not because of the nature of the gift itself, but because I’m wondering what Luk will want me to do to thank him.

Chapter 12

Luk

Settled in the back of the car, I watch the lights of the city blur past as I make my way home after another grueling day of deal-making. Though exhausted, I grin to myself in anticipation of Maura’s reaction to the gift I left for her. It was a bold move, one that's as much a test as it is a promise. We've been dancing around each other's desires, inching closer to a place where the barriers between us will become indistinguishable.

I'm convinced that I can guide her past her reservations to a place where she will fully embrace the depth of her submission, to the kind of surrender I see flickering in her eyes, the kind I know she's aching to give.

She's so close, her curiosity piqued, her body responding to my slightest touch, my every command. The gift is more than just an item; it's an invitation, a challenge.

The car pulls into the driveway, and I feel a sense of relief. Within the walls of the mansion, I'm not just Luk Ivanov, the Bratva commander with a reputation that precedes me. I'm a man on the precipice of something transformative with a woman who's managed to carve a niche for herself in my world and my heart.

As I step out of the car, the anticipation builds. I'm certain Maura's reaction to the gift will be a turning point for us. It's a gamble, laying our desires out there so bare, but it's one I'm willing to take.

What we have, what we're building, is worth every risk. Tonight, I'll find out if she's ready to take that final step, to submit in the way we both crave.

I stride into the house, my steps quickening as I navigate through the familiar halls. There's an urgency in my movements, a keenness to see Maura, to gauge her reaction to my gift.

---