Page 68 of Semper
The view was breathtaking, the hills and forests of the Isle reflected in the water’s mirror-like surface. Alexander parked the car and stepped out, coming around to open my door for me. He extended his hand, and I took it, stepping out into the cool breeze. He pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist as we stood at the edge of the overlook.
“This is one of my favorite places on the Isle,” he said softly, his lips brushing against my temple as he spoke. “There’s something calming about it, isn’t there? So much beneath the surface, but all you see is this perfect reflection.”
I turned toward him, feeling the heat of his body against mine, the warmth of his breath on my skin. Before I could respond, he tilted my chin up and pressed his lips against mine in a soft, lingering kiss. It wasn’t hurried or demanding, but there was an intensity behind it, a quiet promise.
When he pulled back, his eyes locked with mine, filled with that dark intensity I had grown so familiar with. “You belong here, Lolita. You’ve always belonged here, with me.”
I couldn’t help but lean on him. I was beginning to understand what he meant, how this place—and this man—had slowly become my reality.
He held me close, his arm wrapped securely around me as we stood together, watching the serene view of the lake.
The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the water, the moment oddly peaceful in its simplicity. As his hand ran slowly up and down my back, I became acutely aware of the space between us. He hadn’t been inside me since early this morning—late the night before—and I wanted him. As sore as I was, and as chaotic as my mind had been all day, in this moment of calm, I found myself craving him. Needing him.
I turned my head, glancing up at him, searching his face. He looked down at me, and his grin widened, that familiar knowing glint in his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “I’ve got something planned for later, and it’s taking everything I have to hold myself back right now.”
My breath caught as he reached out, fluffing my hair with his free hand before leaning in to kiss me lightly, just a brief brush of his lips against mine. It was enough to make my pulse quicken.
“Talk to me now,” he said with a soft chuckle, his eyes darkening with amusement. “Help me stay distracted.”
I laughed, shaking my head at his playful tone. “Alright, fine. Tell me more about you,” I said, settling against him, enjoyingthe warmth of his body, even as my own thoughts strayed back to the undercurrent of desire that seemed to pulse between us.
His smile softened, and for a moment, the intensity that always surrounded him seemed to fade. “What do you want to know, my Lolita?” he asked, his voice warm but edged with that ever-present darkness.
“Anything,” I replied. “You always know everything about me. I want to know more about you.”
He looked thoughtful for a second before he began to speak, and as his words flowed, I found myself more drawn into his world than ever before,
He held me close, his fingers tracing slow, rhythmic circles on my back as he considered what to share. “You want to know more about me?” he mused; his voice low, thoughtful. “Well, let me start with the people who’ve always been there.”
I looked up at him, curious, as he continued.
“Phoenix and Osiris,” he said with a faint smile. “They’re like brothers to me, always have been. Osiris is... well, he’s fire. Impulsive, wild, acts first and thinks later. But I trust him more than anyone. Phoenix is the opposite—cold, calculating. He measures every move before making it. Together, they keep me balanced.”
I tried to picture the dynamic between the three of them. “That sounds like a lot to manage.”
He chuckled softly. “It can be, but it works. And then there’s Bishop. My cousin. He’s more like another brother, really. Wild and unhinged, a true bachelor on and off the Isle. Bishop does what he wants when he wants. No one can really control him, but he’s loyal to me and to the Isle.”
His mention of Bishop surprised me. From the way Alexander described him, it was clear that their bond ran deep. I always remembered him as the man who had joined Alex at the resort.
“And, of course, there’s Emilio,” Alexander added, his voice softening slightly. “My real brother. You’ve met him already. He’s been by my side through everything. Always will be.”
The way he spoke of Emilio held a deep sense of respect, but there was also a weight to it—like he carried the responsibility of leading not just the Isle but his brother, too.
“I wasn’t always here on the Isle, though,” he said, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I went to college—top-tier. Graduated early, actually.”
I blinked, surprised by the revelation. “You? College?” The idea of Alexander, the ruler of Stygian Isle, sitting in a classroom was almost unimaginable.
He laughed, clearly amused by my reaction. “Yes, college. The Isle may have chosen me early, but I still needed the skills and knowledge to lead it properly. I’ve been preparing for this role since I was eight.”
“Eight?” I questioned, shocked. “That’s so young to carry that kind of responsibility.”
He nodded, the amusement fading slightly. “The Isle chose me the moment I was conceived. It wasn’t a question of if, only when. By the time I was eight, everyone knew I was meant to beDiabolus, and from that point on, every decision I made was to prepare for this.”
I couldn’t imagine growing up with that kind of pressure, but there was no hesitation in his voice. He accepted it like it was always his destiny. In a way, I guess it was. He had been molded by the Isle, shaped into the ruler he was now.
“Was it hard?” I asked softly, unable to help the question. “Growing up like that?”
He didn’t answer right away, his eyes distant for a moment. “It wasn’t easy, but I never had a choice. This is who I am, who I was always meant to be.”