Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

After saying that, he wrapped his arm around the still-dazed Isadora and led her away without another word.

In the car.

Victor pulled a pack of cigarettes from the console, slipped one out, and twirled his lighter deftly between his fingers. The blue flame flickered to life, illuminating the shadows inside the car. As if suddenly remembering something, Victor snapped the lighter shut. He tossed both the cigarette and the lighter out the window without hesitation.

Isadora sat in the passenger seat, stealing a glance at him. His profile was all sharp angles and striking lines, eyes deep-set and intense, his jaw almost too perfectly chiseled. Whatever he was feeling, he kept it buried deep-his expression gave nothing away.

She broke the silence. "Are you angry?"

"Hm?"

Victor turned his gaze to her, his eyes dark and unreadable, the blue in them deep as midnight. "Not angry."

He was jealous.

Without another word, Victor reached over and pulled Isadora into his lap, settling her across his thighs.

His dark gaze locked onto her, unmoving, tracing every feature of her beautiful face. For a long moment, he simply stared, as if he could memorize her with his eyes alone.

Then, in a voice low and rough with something like vulnerability, he murmured, "Isadora, do you think there's any room for me in your heart?"

She stared back at him, taking in every flawless angle of his face. "Room... for you?"

Victor ran his tongue along his back teeth, the words coming out crisp and clear. "I want you to love me."noveldrama

Isadora froze, caught off guard.

"I—"

Before she could finish, Victor reached up and pressed his hand to the back of her head, pulling her into a kiss. Whatever words she'd meant to say were lost against his lips.

"It's okay," he breathed against her mouth. "Even if I'm the only one who loves, that's enough for me."

The air between them filled with a charged, intimate warmth.

Some time later, Victor had returned to his usual lazy, almost careless demeanor, as if the man who'd just bared his soul had never existed.

He toyed with Isadora's delicate earlobe, his voice a low, magnetic whisper, "Will you stay with me tonight?"

He grinned, teasing, "After all, I did my best to cheer you up today."

Isadora knew he was talking about putting Preston in his place.

Just then, thunder rumbled in the distance. The sky outside darkened, heavy with the promise of a coming storm.

Victor glanced out the window, chuckled softly, and said, "You always say you're afraid of

thunderstorms. Let me mal vel

up to

you for not being there that night."

Isadora remembered tomorrow was her next checkup.

Right on cue, her phone rang.

She answered.

Victor lowered his gaze, idly playing with her fingers, tracing each one in turn.

Eleanor's voice came through the line. "Isadora, you're not coming to Brocade Heights tonight, are you?"

Feeling Victor's touch, Isadora replied slowly, "Mom, there's a storm."

"Oh?" On the other end, Eleanor walked over to the window and glanced out. Sure enough, the sky looked ready to open up.

"I'll send the driver to pick you up. It's not safe for you to drive yourself, not in your condition."

Victor's hand slid to her waist,

making her shiver just a little. Isadora quickly came up with an excuse. "No, it's not that. Nanette said she gets anxious during storms and wants me to stay with her."

"Really? I always thought your best friend wasn't afraid of anything."

"I'll come home tomorrow. Just not tonight."

"All right, sweetheart. Get some rest then."

When the call ended, Victor's lips, curled into a mischievous smile. "You're being so obedient tonight. It makes me want to take extra good care of you... what am I supposed to do with you?"

Isadora looked away. "I have my second checkup tomorrow."

Victor laughed softly. "I know you're only staying because of that. But I'll take what

I can get."