Obsession of the Heart E-Book

Diana Baker

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Victor Belmont is one of the very few success stories, elevating from lowly poverty to becoming a notable Parisian banker. Hardship and heartbreak throughout his life have carved him into a cold and ruthless man. He carries a dark solemn gaze with all the sympathy of an executioner. One afternoon while strolling the lively city about his business, a street urchin in dire distress caught his eye. The resemblance he had to his past boyfriend was too striking not to miss. Without clear thinking, Victor used his influence to help the street urchin out. A young homeless boy, Julian, was now presented before him. Julian had a face so sweet but a mouth too cheeky. But, for some strange reason, he ignites something inside of Victor, one he hasn't felt in a long while.
 
And so, begins a life-changing journey of love, lust, secrets, social divide, and healing between two completely different men.

Leseprobe

Obsession of the Heart

(The Ruthless Banker’s Concubine#1)

Diana Baker

Copyright © 2024 by Diana Baker

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Prologue

He lifted the sheet over him and then realized he was completely naked not only that, in between his legs were wet and…stained. Oh, good heavens! He froze, suddenly recalling what happened last night and soon the youngster cringed. Oh shit! How could he do such a stupid thing? Julian buried his face in his hands feeling unable to bear the shame. But just as he was sulking the sound of the door being slammed made Julian quickly jump in response.

A shirtless Victor strode towards him causally as if the boy belonged in his room. Julian was silent as a mouse. He couldn’t think of one thing to say he was too embarrassed to the point where he felt petrified. All he wanted to do right now was run, faster than the wind, straight through that door. If not, he hoped a huge black hole would just swallow him up at this very moment.

“How are you feeling?”

He remained silent refusing to meet his master’s eyes.

“Julian?”

He kept his head bowed lowest it could go, then felt a masculine robust body dropping to the bed carelessly and groping his waist making him instantly flinch. “Are going to answer me, last night you had so much to express that mouth was playing all kinds of exquisite melodies. Now, you have not one word?”

His young servant cringed causing Victor to puzzle. He would’ve expected Julian to be happy his face should be bright and smiling after waking up. Yet, the boy seems the complete opposite.

“I’m sorry, Sir Belmont. I didn’t mean for what happened in the kitchen.”

Julian muttered in a pitiful voice.

Victor raised a brow at that.

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t commit a crime so there’s no need to apologize for anything and last night was mostly my fault the way I remember it. I lost control of myself.”

Julian finally lifted his head and met his master’s attentive eyes.

“I still should not have engaged or even entertained it at all.”

The banker let out a light amusing chuckle.

“And why not, it’s not like we’re strangers anymore?”

Julian shook his head. “You are my master and I am your servant.”

Victor then took the boy’s chin holding it between his fingers.

“Everybody made of flesh and blood is weak to desire, Julian. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, what you felt and what I felt are as natural as the sun and the moon.”

Edging closer to his young servant he brushed his lips down the boy’s smooth neck almost landing on his soft chest until his servant pushed himself away. Julian tugged the sheets against his naked body covering his chest and nipples from Victor’s hungry gaze.

Chapter 1

The lights of Paris burst to life, and the lanterns will burn through and through the sleepless night guiding patrons out for merry time and mischief hiding behind a dark alley. To be rich, well-bred, and thirsty for any kind of joy that exists only meant this city full of liveliness, and different wonders, and in the age of Renaissance was yours for the taking, a birthright a playground. To be someone like Julian meant less than a stray cat burying his whiskers in the outdoor garbage heap. Twenty-two as of last month, penniless since birth, a vagabond scavenger roaming these mean streets every day seeking an opportunity to finally get off the cold dirty street and into some noble family's employment. Ever since he was tossed from the merchant's house he's had to survive on his own while barely able to buy anything from a fruit vendor. Some days he slept under the bridge enduring an empty rumbling stomach along with the rest of the abandoned strays. If he didn't die of hunger he surely will by the next snowfall in Paris.

"Madame, oh Madame! Are you maybe in need of any new servants, Madame? I can work for two coins a day or even less."

He stretched his voice couldn’t sound any more pleading, but the red wigged seemingly noble lady walking to her chariot did not even glimpse at him and when he ventured near her person she squatted me with her umbrella as if he was a bug pestering the air she breathed.

“Go away you little swine!”

She sneered through the ugly yellow befitting a hag.

This was why Julian hated approaching women and that meant prestigious wives and daughters, because the latest fashion craze amongst these witches was small umbrellas that matched their fine large dresses. And any living thing that wasn’t of their class they so enjoyed hitting with the very symbol of their prominent status.

“Excuse me, sir, sir! Might you care to hire me if you need some extra hands around your house? I can clean as good as any scullery maid I promise you.”

The strolling man shook his head and carried on without a glance. Well, judging by how he’s dressed he couldn’t be more than a struggling merchant, probably couldn’t afford to hire much as a shoe shiner anyway.

“Pardon my good sir or should I say my good lord!” The lad tried his luck at a few other passing wealthy-looking gentlemen but to no avail. He offered to take the role of stable boy, a housekeeper, or any work so long as it was work.

This is how it was day after day, he sought something to earn a coin and by the end of each evening, Julian would start begging for whatever change a walker-by could spare. Then it was that spare change he used to buy a cup of milk porridge which would be his meal for the whole day and only if he found someone who took pity on a poverty-ridden homeless boy. On many occasions, he was shoved to rubble by heartless bastards who didn’t care to be bothered by beggars. When that didn’t happen Julian sometimes had to scurry off under the bridge once it was late in the night and a drunken man leaving a busy tavern would stop and smile at him instead of visiting a brothel or the corner side whores. He would curse the drunks foul before running away half scared one might be mad enough to chase after his hide and take what they wanted by force. My, what a cruel world it is! Julian frequently thought.

“Hey, you, just what do you think you’re doing here in the middle of the street?”

“Ah,” Julian jolted, cringed, spinning around and threading a few steps back right after being hit on the head with the wooden baton the tall uniformed man was holding threateningly as if it were a rifle he was anxious to shoot.

“Nothing, sir, just looking for employment, that’s all, nothing else.”

He told the road officer rubbing the spot on the head where his baton just clapped.

“Is that so,” the officer, carrying a morning sour-smelling breath that even the flies might scatter away from, lifted his dark blue oval-shaped hat and then scrutinized the young lad intently.

“Say, you look like the pickpocket that’s been going around here stealing from people.”

“I’m not I swear.”

Julian protested his innocence but was only met with a harsher stare of contempt by the law enforcer.

“Oh, you swear it, what kind of integrity does filth like you have, eh?”

The officer lashed at him nastily a spit flew out his twisted mouth and hit Julian right above the eye showing how unimpressed he was at the homeless boy’s response.

He sighed snuggling the comfort of knowing that wasn’t the worst insult he’s ever been spat at with. Dear fucking saints of heaven save me! Am I really about to get arrested for a crime I never once did?

End of sample