INSATIABLE CRAVINGS
Insatiable Cravings - Episode 78
Subtitle; {Loving You Is A Loosing Game}
TAGS: Age-gap, Mafia, Forbidden Love, Drama, Tragedy and Betrayal.
Settings: United Kingdom, Russia and others.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
~ Genevieve ~
Four months—four whole bloody months—have passed since Dominic and I made it official. Those four months have been some of the most incredible of my entire existence.
Sometimes, it feels like a dream how far we've come, how strong and intense our love for each other is growing—fierce and unrelenting.
Our relationship grows stronger and wilder with each passing day, and I absolutely adore it. I love how obsessed Dominic is with me, as I find myself equally entranced by him. Not a single day goes by without us seeing each other, and if we can't manage that, we make sure to have a good natter on the phone.
For my first foray into romance, I reckon I’ve done rather well in choosing the right man. He’s older, more mature, utterly charming, understanding, and let’s not forget devilÃshly handsome. He’s extremely handsome.
Goodness, I still catch myself drooling over him, and he’s my boyfriend! I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s Dominic Morozov—just him, and he’s hot as héll.
Ah, I nearly forgot to mention how splendid university is going. Surprisingly, I’m having a rather lovely time at uni, more than I ever anticipated. I’ve made friends that I’m eager to see where they might lead, and I'm proud of the progress I’ve made. Life is treating me splendidly at the moment.
Everything is going perfectly, and when I say everything, I mean every single thing. Even my mother, Mariah King, isn’t bothering me anymore. This may be because of how rarely we see each other due to our busy lives, or perhaps because I’m purposefully avoiding her to maintain my peace.
However, tonight is different; I can’t hide from her any longer. A party is being hosted by the second wealthiest conglomerate in the United Kingdom, and we Kings have been specially invited. And as long as my last name remains King, I simply must attend; it’s non-negotiable, or so she insists.
Ugh!
On the bright side, Dominic will be there as the Morozovs also happen to be on the guest list, along with Julianna, so yay for me, I suppose.
A sigh escaped my lips just as my phone lit up with a ring. I let it ring for a moment, captivated by my reflection in the mirror.
I’m clad in a long, black sequin dress that hugs my body in all the right places, making me smirk at the mere thought of Dominic seeing me. I can just picture his breath hitching, lips parting before that slow smile spreads across his face.
My cheeks flushed a deep crimson, my eyes sparkling with the genuine love I feel for Dominic. He’ll be the end of me if I’m not careful.
My phone rang again, and I groaned before picking it up from the bed. My eyes widened at the contact ID, and a smile quickly followed.
“Well, well, well, look who finally remembered he has a little sister,” I said, lacing my voice with as much sass as I could muster—trust me, it’s quite a lot. “What’s happened? Has the sky turned red in Korea?"
“That’s no way to greet your big brother after months of silence,” Everett retorted, matching my sass with his own, which made me smile despite my resolve to frown. “Have you forgotten your manners, young lady?”
“Argh, you sound just like your mother.”
“She’s yours too, Dovey. Don’t forget that.”
“Oh, trust me, I can’t. She reminds me at every opportunity. So, what’s going on? Why did you call?"
“Nothing much, just missed my baby sisters."
My lips broke into a wide smile, “Have you spoken to Adrianna?"
“Yes. I heard the news secondhand from her about her marriage to Xavier Carrington.”
Of course, it was secondhand. When the news broke to the media, there was a veritable uproar, with everyone looking forward to what they dubbed the wedding of the century. That was two months ago, though; now she’s a Carrington.
Xavier is a decent bloke, but I can’t stand the fact that their marriage was arranged. Ugh, who even does that these days?!
“When are you coming back, Ever? I really miss you,” I whined, my tone carrying a hint of truth.
I genuinely miss him, and it’s not as if I can just pop over to see him. I have no idea of his schedule, and he refuses to share it when I ask.
“Soon, Dovey, soon.”
It’s never soon!
“You always say that, but you never come.” My voice cracked, tears misting my eyes, my chest aching. “Everett, I feel like you’re distancing yourself from me, and I hà te it."
My elder brother sighed deeply, the sound sending a shiver through me. “Genevieve,”
Argh, I loathe it when he uses my full name. It always means he’s about to deliver some sort of lecture or impart some elder wisdom that I listen to because, quite frankly, I adore him far too much to hang up
“Fine, fine, I get it.”
I don’t.
I really don’t. But I’m not in the mood for a lecture tonight.
“Just take care of yourself, alright? And don’t forget to take care of the soon-to-be Mrs. King, okay?”
Yes, Everett Walker King is in a serious relationship with his high school sweetheart, who he insists will lead to marriage. It’s not that I dislike her; it’s just that she’s too good—almost too good to be true.
A bit too good for my liking, which makes me wary. No one can be as perfect as she seems. Well, except for my Julianna, but even she sees and acknowledges the problems in life. His girlfriend, on the other hand, seems to think that life is nothing but sunshine and roses, and I can’t help but hope she gets pricked by a thorn for a bit of reality.
Whoa, whoa, whoa—hold on a moment, Genevieve. Remember, we like her, and we don’t judge.
I could almost hear him chuckling on the other end of the line. “You’re still my little sister, aren’t you?”
“Yes, and I’ll always be your little sister, even if you’re a million miles away.”
“Just remember, I’m always here for you, Dovey. You’re never alone.”
His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and I felt a little lighter. “Thanks, Ever. Just… don’t take too long to come back, alright?”
“Promise. Now, go and look stunning tonight, will you? I want all of the boys feening over you to be speechless.”
“Trust me, they will be,” I replied with a teasing grin, picturing his expression when he sees me.
We said our goodbyes, and I placed the phone down, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within me. I took a deep breath, collecting myself. Tonight might be a challenge, but at least I’d have Dominic and Julianna by my side.
Focusing on my reflection one last time, I adjusted the straps of my dress, allowing the sequins to shimmer in the light. I was ready for whatever the evening had in store, and with Dominic at my side, I felt as if I could conquer anything.
With a renewed sense of excitement, I grabbed my clutch and slipped on my heels, giving myself one last look in the mirror. “Let’s do this,” I whispered, stepping out into the world, ready to embrace the night ahead.
☆☆☆☆
As per usual, the venue was brimming with the well-to-do, a cacophony of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. There are few things I despise more in this world, and one of them are people.
People simply aren’t my cup of tea. The act of socialising, of "peopling," is particularly irksome, so you can imagine how difficult it is for me to maintain a polite smile that I have no desire to wear whenever someone’s gaze meets mine.
I would rather... well, never mind, that’s rather uncharitable.
“Your smile isn’t reaching your eyes, Genevieve,” my sister remarked beside me, her voice low yet audible enough to penetrate the din.
I rolled my eyes in response, letting out a sigh that clearly conveyed my reluctance to be here, and turned my head to face her. “Neither is yours.”
My gaze shifted from her to the man at her side, his arms wrapped possessively around her waist. They were the epitome of a perfect couple. Both impeccable in the way they dress, their attire exuding elegance, and their conversation that drips with sophistication. On the surface, they were flawless, but I saw through it all.
They maintained the facade of civility, yet I could see the tension simmering beneath. Adrianna's glare was sharp enough to cut glass, while he wore a smirk that suggested he relished provoking her. I noticed how she tensed at his touch, as if she were caught off guard, as if she resented his proximity.
They couldn’t deceive me with whatever charade they were attempting. I was nineteen, hardly a child.
“At least I can wear mine convincingly,” she shot back before striding away.
“Did you two have a row?” I turned sharply to find my best friend standing with her boyfriend.
She wore a lovely blue floral dress—simple yet striking, the kind that captures attention without trying too hard. Her golden hair tumbled over her shoulders, cascading down her back like a shimmering waterfall.
“You could say that,” I muttered, the heaviness of my mood weighing on my shoulders.
••
I found myself seated next to Adrianna and her husband. It was either that or endure the company of our parents, and I was determined to protect my mood tonight.
The party was a curious amalgamation of opera, theatre, and all manners of respectable entertainment that, if I were honest, bored me to the brink of tedium. That was until Dominic Morozov settled into the seat beside me.
Our eyes locked, and goodness, I couldn’t suppress the smile that blossomed on my face. His gaze roamed over me, and even though he couldn’t fully appreciate the details of my dress, there was a glimmer in his eyes that made me blush—at least I hoped it was subtle.
“You look stunning,” he mouthed, his lips curling into a charming smile.
“You’re not looking too shabby yourself,” I replied with a silent gesture, earning a roguish smirk in return.
“Not looking too shabby” was an understatement of epic proportions. Dominic was clad in a striking ocean-blue tuxedo, his shoes gleaming as though polished to perfection, and his hair styled with such meticulous care that I felt an overwhelming urge to run my fingers through it, just to tousle it a bit. He looked utterly irresistible, so captivating that nearly every woman in the room—married or single—couldn’t seem to tear their eyes away from him.
All I wanted at that moment was to leap into his arms, to wrap myself around him and kiss him senseless. To show everyone here who he belonged to, who made him weak in the knees, who claimed him for my own. But I knew better than to sully the King name with scandalous tabloid fodder.
You’d be astonished at how quickly a single tabloid can ignite a wildfire of gossip. So, I remained still, feigning interest in whatever trite spectacle unfolded on stage.
Seconds morphed into minutes, and I had sat there long enough to feel uncomfortable and stifled. Remind me again why I was here instead of lounging in my air-conditioned room, draped over my bed.
A sigh escaped my lips, followed by a deeper exhalation. Instead of alleviating the weight on my shoulders, it only served to scratch at my throat. I cleared it as quietly as I could, attempting not to disturb those around me, but the sensation of a cough bubbled up, refusing to be stifled.
Before I could swallow it down, the cough erupted, and in an instant, Dominic was offering me a bottle of water, the cap unscrewed. I accepted it, not realising my misstep until I had downed nearly half.
I felt her piercing gaze before I even turned my head. Adrianna was there, staring at me as if I were Snow White, having just taken a bite of an apple offered by a mysterious ugly, old woman. And perhaps I was, though instead of an ugly crone, I had an incredibly handsome man by my side whom she loathed.
DÃ mmit!
I am déad.
I felt a wave of heat wash over me, a cocktail of embarrassment and guilt swirling in my chest. I had unwittingly stepped into a minefield, and I could almost hear the ticking clock counting down to my doom. Her expression was a blend of disbelief and fury, and I knew I was in for it.
“Really, Genevieve?” she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper yet sharp enough to cut through the ambient noise of the party. “Is this really necessary?"
I cringed internally, the weight of her disappointment pressing down on me. “I didn’t mean to,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, but the tremor betrayed my nerves. “He just… offered me a drink.”
Dominic shot me an amused glance, clearly enjoying the spectacle. I shot him a warning look, silently pleading for him to keep his mouth shut. He merely raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips, as if he were relishing the drama unfolding before us.
Adrianna’s gaze flickered to him, and I could see the contempt bubbling beneath her composed exterior. “You always seem to find a way to get entangled in the mess, don’t you?” she snapped, her voice laced with irritation. “What do you think Mother would say if she knew?"
Ah, the dreaded ‘Mother’ card. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a blush of shame creeping in. “I’m not a child, Adrianna,” I replied, trying to keep my tone measured. “I can handle myself.”
“Clearly,” she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Because nothing screams ‘I’m handling things’ like being caught with Dominic Morozov, of all people."
Before I could retort, Dominic leaned closer, the warmth of his presence enveloping me like a comforting blanket. “You know, I think you’re both being a bit dramatic,” he said, his voice low and smooth, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “It’s just a drink—hardly a scandal."
Adrianna shot him a look that could have curdled milk. “You’re one to talk, Dominic. You thrive on drama, and you know it.”
“Touché,” he conceded with a playful grin, his charm radiating like a beacon. “But I assure you, I’m quite harmless. At least with Genevieve."
I felt a flutter in my stomach at his words, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. I couldn’t help but smile, despite the tension simmering between the three of us. “See? He’s harmless,” I said, trying to defuse the situation. “Just a bit of fun."
Adrianna rolled her eyes, exasperated. “Fun? This isn’t some high school party, Genevieve. You’re in the real world now. It’s time to grow up.”
“Perhaps you should take your own advice, dear sister,” I shot back, the words slipping out before I could rein them in. “You’re hardly the poster child for maturity yourself."
The air between us crackled with unresolved tension, and I could see the hurt flicker in her eyes before she masked it with a cool façade. “I’ll be watching you,” she warned, her tone steely as she turned. “Don’t make me regret sitting here with you.”
As she strode away, a heavy silence settled around us. I turned to Dominic, who was watching me with a bemused expression. “Well, that was fun,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief."
“Glad you enjoyed the show,” I replied, a hint of sarcasm lacing my words. Despite the discomfort, I felt a thrill in the air, an electric connection that made my heart race.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his tone shifting to something more genuine. “Your sister can be a bit intense."
“I’ll survive,” I replied, attempting to brush off the encounter. “It’s just... family drama. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Family can be a right pain sometimes,” he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. “But you’ve got to admit, it makes for some interesting evenings."
I chuckled softly, a smile breaking through the tension. “That it does. Though I could do without the drama.”
Dominic leaned back, his gaze softening as he regarded me. “Life’s too short to worry about what others think, Genevieve. You’ve got to embrace the moments, even if they come with a bit of drama.”
As the evening wore on, I tried to focus on the performances, but my mind kept drifting back to Dominic, the way he sat so effortlessly, exuding confidence and charm. It was maddening, really, to be so aware of him, and yet so acutely aware of the very real consequences of our connection.
TBC
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