"Okay, I''m on my way."


    Five minutester, Liliana, who had been waiting nearby, arrived at Emma''s apartment. Despite the winter chill, she wore only a thin coat over a slinky dress, her legs d in sheer stockings. Emma gave her an approving smile and gestured toward the bedroom.


    Liliana nodded, slipped off her coat, and walked inside.


    The room was dimly lit by a single bedsidemp, casting long shadows and creating an intimate, almost sultry atmosphere. Finniany on the bed, his eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep. His brow was slightly furrowed, as if his rest was troubled. He was fully dressed in a shirt and trousers, yet even with no skin showing, he exuded a powerful, restrained sensuality that made her heart race.


    Staring at his handsome, sleeping face, Liliana felt a thrill of excitement mixed with shyness. She slowly approached the bed.


    “Finn,” she murmured, gently touching his face, “I want to be with you not just because of your status and power. I genuinely love you."


    Shey down beside him for a moment before sitting up and shrugging off her dress. Underneath, she wore only a short slip that barely covered her thighs and the same sheer stockings. The man beside her was so handsome, so strong-the man she had loved for years.


    Without further hesitation, she leaned down to kiss him.


    But just as her lips were about to touch his, Finnian''s eyes snapped open. Liliana froze, hovering just inches from his mouth.


    She looked down at him. "Finn, you must be in so much pain. Let me help you."


    Finnian remained on the bed, his handsome face flushed, his eyes zed over. His skin was burning hot, and the muscles beneath his shirt were tense and coiled. He was clearly not himself. But this didn''t surprise Liliana.


    Emma had told her she would use two drugs: one to knock him out and another to arouse him. She''d reasoned that an aphrodisiac alone might not be enough to controfhim, so a sedative was a necessary precaution That way when Finnian woke up he''d be disoriented, his body overwhelmed with desire, and with the beautiful Liliana right there beside him, how could he possibly resist?


    But Emma had made one critical miscalction. While an ordinary man under the influence of such drugs would undoubtedly sumb to the temptation of a beautiful woman, Finnian was not an ordinary man. Not only did he possess immense self control, but he was. also haunted by childhood


    memories of walking in on his father with other women. The trauma had left him with a deep-seated, subconscious aversion to such encounters.


    So, even with the drug coursing through his veins, his mind was painfully clear.


    He shoved Liliana away and pushed himself into a sitting position. "What is going


    on?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.


    He was a man, he knew exactly


    what the burning desire flooding his veins meant. It felt like a thousand ants crawling under his skin, an agonizing itch coupled with a pomal urge that was torturing him. The torment turned his eyes a deep, bloodshot red, making him look like a predator about to strike.


    Liliana clutched the nket to her chest, though she made sure to leave a generous amount of pale skin exposed. Her cheeks were flushed. "Finn, you''re suffering right now. Let me help you..."