All at Peace

**Liandra**

I turned slowly, staring at him in disbelief. Petros wasn’t the type of man to say things lightly, let alone make declarations like that. He held my gaze, and for the first time, I saw something different in his eyes—a vulnerability he always kept hidden behind his controlled exterior.

“What?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

“I’m in love with you,” he repeated, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. “Completely. And I don’t want you as a trophy or a business arrangement. I want you as my wife.”

I stared at him, utterly stunned, unsure of how to respond. It was more than I had ever expected to hear from Petros. My heart pounded so loudly it seemed to echo in my ears. When he realized I couldn’t find the words, he stepped closer, gently cradling my face in his hands, his eyes locked on mine.

“I want to leave behind all the chaos that’s defined our relationship until now,” he continued, his voice low and intense. “I just want to live in the moment. I want to marry you, Liandra. Have children with you. A normal life, like any other couple.”

My legs threatened to give out beneath me. The joy that surged within me was so overwhelming, I could hardly believe it was real.

“Are you serious?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Petros nodded, his thumb gently brushing against my cheek.

“I am. From the moment I first saw you, something inside me changed. Something I’ve never felt with anyone else.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process his words.

“And when you end things between us—refusing bargains, compensations…” He paused, his gaze becoming even more intense. “That’s when I realized that what we have isn’t about interests. It’s about what we feel for each other.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. My arms wrapped around his neck as I pulled him into a tight embrace, tears streaming down my face.

“I love you, Petros,” I said, my voice breaking but sincere. “You drive me crazy, but I love you. And having a life with you… it’s more than I ever imagined.”

He held me with the same intensity, and for the first time, I felt we were truly together—no barriers, no pretenses. My heart beat in sync with his as our lips met in a passionate kiss.

“Petros…” I murmured between kisses, my voice husky with longing. “I need you.”

His grip on me tightened, his eyes burning with desire.

“And I need you, Liandra.”

At that moment, Petros moved with a determination that left me breathless. He lifted me into his arms, sweeping away everything cluttering the library desk with a force that matched the intensity of my own yearning, setting me down with a fervor that made the world around us fade away.

My body was laid against the cool wooden surface of the table, and Petros, with an abrupt motion, lifted the hem of my dress, tearing my underwear away in one swift movement. There was no hesitation in me, only a consuming desire that engulfed my every thought. The powerful attraction I had always felt for this man manifested fully at that moment. I craved him to fill me, to fit perfectly into me, and to satisfy me like never before.

Petros swiftly discarded his clothing, revealing his sculpted, commanding physique. My eyes roamed over every inch of his body with unbridled lust, finally settling on his hardened arousal, poised and ready to claim me.

“I won’t be gentle,” he warned, his voice rough and charged.

My response came instinctively, laden with passion.

“I want your fire, Petros.”

His eyes glimmered with the challenge in my words, but I trusted that he would never hurt me. I was right. Petros held me firmly, kissing me with fervor, though his movements grew slower, more deliberate, as the kiss deepened. With a single, powerful thrust, he entered me. My arousal heightened every sensation, and the overwhelming pleasure of his rhythm had me moaning uncontrollably.

Our bodies moved together in a frenzied dance of passion, and for a fleeting moment, the world faded away. Nothing else existed but us—two souls consumed by the love and desire we shared.

It wasn’t quick, as I had anticipated. It was slow and tantalizing, yet intense and fervent. By the time it was over, our breaths were ragged, our bodies glistening with sweat, and I felt completely fulfilled. My lips were swollen from his kisses, and as he withdrew, I pulled him back for one last passionate kiss.

“It was perfect,” I murmured.

“You are perfect, Liandra. Perfect for me,” Petros said, amplifying the happiness swelling within me, if that was even possible.

I sat on the edge of the table, my body still trembling from the pleasure. Our heavy breathing filled the space as I tried to gather myself. For the first time in ages, I felt safe in his arms, but there was a lingering question I needed answered.

“What were you doing with Jennifer and Isadora on the balcony?” I asked bluntly.

He raised an eyebrow, then laughed—not cynically, but with genuine amusement, as though my question had a touch of innocence he hadn’t expected.

“Were you jealous?” he asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

I crossed my arms, determined to be honest.

“Yes, I was burning with jealousy.”

Petros stepped closer and kissed me again, this time less urgently but with the same intensity.

“That was exactly the point,” he admitted, his eyes gleaming with mischief and sincerity.

I rolled my eyes, but my curiosity wasn’t sated.

“Seriously, though, what were you doing there?”

He sighed as if finding my persistence endearing.

“It was a coincidence, Liandra. I was on my way to the restroom and happened to see Jennifer and Isadora talking on the balcony. I went over mostly out of curiosity.”

“Curiosity?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t expecting to see Isadora at the dinner.” His lips curled into a lopsided smile, as though recalling the scene. “But I was eager to see how Vincent and Thomas would react when they found her.”

At the mention of their names, I frowned.

“Why do you have such a rivalry with Vincent and Thomas?”

Petros grew serious for a moment before responding, his voice tinged with both pride and something deeper.

“Vincent had something that was mine. I’ll never forgive him for that.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my irritation at such a primitive sentiment from him.

“That’s ridiculous, Petros.”

He studied me for a few seconds, as if gauging my reaction, and then smiled again, abruptly changing the subject.

“Do you like Jennifer?”

The casual tone of his question revealed exactly where he was heading, and before he could continue, I hugged him, pressing my body against his.

“I think it’s best we change the subject,” I murmured, trying to mask my embarrassment.

He laughed, his chest vibrating against mine.

“We’re both so possessive, aren’t we? Maybe we should never toy with such serious matters again.”

I nodded, laughing softly along with him.

“Yeah, probably a good idea.”

We stayed in each other’s arms for a long moment, and in that instant, everything felt like it was exactly where it should be. The insecurities were fading, and the future—our future—seemed far brighter than I had ever dared to imagine.