THE ROMANCE
1334 Words
The Romance
“Nothing important, my love. I was just scolding Luscious for not doing his laundry himself instead of always relying on Ema,” Hayley quickly responded, trying to mask the situation from Jaime, knowing he wouldn’t take it lightly if he discovered the truth.
Jaime frowned in disapproval. “What then are slaves meant for if kings must do their own bidding?” he muttered before walking toward the garden.
Ema and Luscious exhaled in relief, exchanging a quick smile.
“I don’t want this happening again,” Hayley warned Luscious before leaving the kitchen.
Luscious immediately exited, signaling Ema to meet him in his room later.
Ema’s life was taking a turn for the better. The years of sorrow that had weighed on her seemed lighter, and for the first time in a long while, she felt optimistic about the future. Luscious’ presence in her life brought her joy, and she found herself smiling more often.
Jeremy had stopped harassing her, and she was finally beginning to feel comfortable in the Stevenson mansion.
Despite Hayley’s growing suspicions about their unusual closeness, Luscious remained determined to keep his relationship with Ema a secret from his parents. He dreamed of the days when he could openly be with her, free from the burdens of secrecy. No other woman had ever made him feel as alive as she did. He was convinced that Ema was his peace, his destiny.
To keep their love hidden, he often sneaked into her room at night, spending time with her before slipping away before dawn. He sometimes arranged to meet her at the marketplace while she shopped for supplies, stealing brief moments together.
For four months, they carried on their secret romance, careful not to be caught. Their bond grew stronger, yet they refrained from crossing the line—Ema was not yet of legal age. But one evening, their passion became uncontrollable. When Luscious crept into her room that night, their emotions overwhelmed them, and they finally gave in to their desires.
Afterward, guilt gripped Luscious. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his expression filled with regret. “I shouldn’t have let this happen… You’re still—”
Ema placed a gentle hand on his face. “It’s nothing, sweetheart. This is not my first time,” she admitted. “I so much desire it too and I have no regrets that I gave in. If not you, then it might be Jeremy or his friends who will forcefully take it.
Luscious froze. His heart pounded with anger and guilt, a deep resentment boiling within him at the horrors his own family had inflicted upon the girl he loved. He wanted to ask her about it—to know everything—but he stopped himself. He didn’t want to taint this moment with painful memories. Instead, he cupped her face and whispered, “I love you, Ema.”
“I love you too,” she replied with a bright smile, warmth filling her heart.
A surge of emotions welled up inside her. She wanted to tell him how much he had changed her life, how he had given her hope, but she was too shy to say the words aloud. Instead, she whispered, “Promise me you’ll never leave me.”
Luscious pressed his forehead against hers. “Till my last breath, I will never leave your side.”
They made a vow to each other—to never let anything or anyone separate them.
“I’m so happy to be loved and protected by the future Alpha King,” Ema teased.
“And I will never let you go, my Luna,” Luscious responded.
As they basked in their love, dawn broke.
Outside, Hayley was already furious that Ema hadn’t started her morning chores. She stormed towards her room, intending to barge in but hesitated. Instead, she knocked sharply on the door.
The couple panicked. Luscious scrambled out of bed, grabbing his clothes and hiding in the wardrobe.
“Ema!” Hayley’s voice rang through the door.
Ema quickly lay back down and feigned sleep.
Hayley pushed the door open with her wolf strength. “Will you wake up, you lazy thing?” she shouted, her temper flaring.
Ema sat up groggily. “I’m sorry, Lady Hayley. I must have overslept,” she apologized.
A sharp slap landed on her cheek.
“If you’ve forgotten your place, I’ll remind you. From now on, you’ll do all the household chores yourself,” Hayley declared angrily before storming out.
Luscious seized the opportunity to sneak out of the wardrobe and escape unnoticed.
Downstairs, Hayley called all the household staff. “You are dismissed for the entire month of October. Ema will handle all domestic duties alone.”
Ema swallowed hard but remained silent. Unlike the others, she was not paid for her labor. Her servitude was considered punishment for her parents’ alleged treason—an accusation she barely understood.
Luscious watched helplessly, his heart aching for her. Whenever he could, he quietly helped with some cleaning, but he was careful not to get caught and make things worse for her.
Ema, however, accepted the punishment without complaint. “If this is the price I must pay for the happiness you’ve given me, then it’s worth it,” she told Luscious with a smile.
But Luscious made a difficult decision—he would stop sneaking into her room at night. He couldn’t bear to see her suffer any more because of him.
Ema felt the change immediately. She sensed his distance and was heartbroken by it. She tried to talk to him, to understand why he was pulling away, but he avoided her.
By the fifth night of his self-imposed abstinence, she couldn’t take it anymore. Determined, she sneaked up to his room on the fourth floor.
Luscious, already battling with his restraint, caught her scent before she could knock. He opened the door to find her standing there in her nightgown.
His heart pounded. “Do you have a death wish?” he hissed, pulling her inside and shutting the door behind her. “What if someone saw you? What if—”
Ema silenced him with a longing stare. The fire in her eyes told him everything.
Then, without another word, she pulled him into a kiss.
Luscious groaned, unable to resist her any longer. He lifted her, carried her to the bed, and their bodies ignited with passion once again.
The next morning, Luscious approached his mother. “I need Ema to run an errand for me.”
“Where to?” Hayley asked suspiciously.
“To my friend Scott’s house. We’re having a gathering at lake coast, and I want her to prepare our meal.”
Hayley shrugged. “Fine. She can go once she finishes her work here.”
Ema, eager for a break from the mansion, quickly completed her chores, freshened up, and set off for Scott’s home with the address Hayley had given her.
After nearly two hours of travel, she arrived at the Lake Coast mansion. She approached the guards at the entrance.
“I’m here for the boys’ gathering,” she said.
The guards exchanged confused looks.
“I’m not aware of any gathering,” one of them, Rufus, said.
Ema frowned. “Are you sure?”
Just then, a sultry voice called from the distance.
“You must be Ema.”
Ema turned to see a stunningly beautiful woman with curves that could stop time.
“Yes, I am,” she replied cautiously.
“I’m Monica,” the woman introduced herself with a smile.
Ema forced a polite smile. “Do you know where the boys are?”
Monica’s smile widened. “Follow me.”
Ema hesitated but eventually followed.
Something felt… off.
And then, as Monica led her deeper into the mansion, a nagging thought crept into her mind.
Luscious didn’t send me here to cook…
“What is this boy up to?” she murmured to herself.
- Writer
