DEDICATION

To the ones who crave the yearning, the burn, and the surrender—Where passion grips hard, control slips fast, welcome to a world where desire is a battlefield, and no one walks away untouched.

These pages are soaked in longing, laced with tension, and pulsing with heat. Here, love doesn’t whisper—it growls , commands , and conquers .

So turn the page, darling . Let it consume you.

-The Witch, KT.

SYNOPSIS

There’s nothing in this world that Licht Sinclaire

can’t possessed. If he wanted to, he would. If he say so, that’s it. He’s like a Burj Khalifa, everyone admired and looked up on.

He lives in limelight, camera flashes, people adoring him everywhere, and nations yearning for him.

He lives his life like this for almost many years now.

Considering all this creamy fluffy moment was all just a facade hid behind spotlight. He was a fucking obsessed . Obsessed on someone he holds and cherished dearly in his entire life. His girl best friend .

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Emery Freniere , a degree holder yet still managed to call herself broke as fuck . Living in a small apartment, struggled to pay her bills, can’t even find a decent job. What’s there more in life she hasn’t experienced?

She’s gorgeous, strikingly stunning, fair skin, tall. She had a potential to become a model and be featured in a Vogue magazine yet life choose her to be a broke sapien, a gorgeous penniless woman, and let her feel what hell life like.

Above all this, when she really needed a money, she has this one person that she can run into and asked for help. Her male best friend.

In a world where they live both different lives and separated by choices, he wanted to own her, possessed her, all for this due to his desire. His desire to crave and conquer   her is for a lifetime.

CHAPTER 1: EMERY

EMERY

Fuck depression.

Fuck life.

Fuck me.

I deeply cussed in my mind. My day was truly worst. I stared at the ceiling of my small, archaic-like, cranky rented apartment in the small downtown somewhere in New Y ork. I don’t know. I only moved here five years ago but I’m still not familiar with the names of the places here, one thing I only knew was that I’m at New York City. Should I loathe myself for that also, for not giving an attention to it simply.

I thought moving here would be the end of my so called broke life but it looks like myself will be the one who’ll end. I hard a hardtime adjusting, I had good communication skills but I feel like they’re rusting. Nothing works for me here. I don’t know if New York City was a jinx to me or I’m the jinx here. I’m being a mysogynist here but there’s nothing wrong being a mysogynist to myself right? But damn, truly! I should love myself, be proud of myself, be motivated by myself for being the first degree holder in the family and being the first one to moved in New York City but all it takes was myself.

Just me, myself, and I.

“Hilarious.” I mumbled. Doing nothing all day makes me feel like I got wasted all my potential and I had a lot of regret about that. Am I living life the right way or I just hated how I live my life. It’s always like this everyday were I’m questioning how I live m y life or either be questioning my existence. At moments like this, I just wish my mom was still alive so that she can scold me for lying on my bed all day doing nothing. I miss her .

I stand up and gone straight to the kitchen. I open the refrigerator yet it only seems like I was staring to the outer space,void. I tapped my forehead using my palm. Out of s tocks. I throw a glance at the wall clock that was stuck on the wall, 5:35 pm, still early to b uy groceries. I looked at myself in the mirror. A gray haired gorgeous woman who was w earing a black tshirt with a print on it ‘I Love NYC’, paired with a sweat gray pants and sneakers. I think this was an enough inexpensive and lackluster context on a magazine cover.

When I got out from my cranky archaic apartment the warm of the setting sun kisses my fair skin. A sunkissed indeed. Since, the grocery store was not far from my a partment which will only takes 15 minutes by step but not enough to make me sweat so I choose to walk.

New York was a concrete place where dreams are made off and I’m only wishing

I ’ll be one of those dreamers. Dusk falls on NYC’s streets, people are busy hustling bustling, streetlights started to gleam. This town wasn’t bad than I think, or did I ever think of it once.

Not until my eyes landed on the billboard that was plastered in one of the tall buildings, not exactly at the billboard but on the person that was being printed on it. I stopped from walking and stared at it for a seconds. The very person that I ghosted for almost five years now ever since I moved to NYC and my very own male bestriend, Licht Sinclaire.

Those sharp angled brows, upturned deep set paralleled eyes, aquiline nose, a greek god-like face, and above all those oceanic eyes. Eyes that can drown you and will leave you breathless. It’s been a long time since I saw him personal or onscreen. I bet he’s living his best life with the fame backing him up side by side. As his bestfriend I should wish him good luck in life.

“Long live.” I blurted out after that I enter in the closest grocery store I found. I scanned my eyes inside searching for something. Not until my eyes landed on a stall that was full of instant noodles with different kind and flavors. I immediately stroll towards it and all I felt was heaven. Ah , instant noodles my life saviour the very reason why I’m still alive right now and still breathing air of NYC. There’s ramen, buldak, cup noodles, and instant noodles. I bought everything that was pleasant in my eyes and search through the grocery store once more.

“Do you have loyalty card?” asked by the freckled face young lady to me. I shaked my head.

“Apparently, I don’t have one.” I answered politely with a smile. She only ignores my pretty face and proceed on encoding all I bought. That hurts my pride.

“Here you go.” Miss Freckles says and give me two plastic bags. I accept it with a big smile again yet she only ignores me again and proceeds on entertaining the next customer. I expressed a disbelief in my face while walking out in that grocery store. Maybe I’m being too friendly either be my communication skills just rusted and deteriorating.

It’s already dark when I returned to my apartment but I felt cold and my heart beat becomes irregular of what I saw. A six footer man wearing plain black tshirt and a faded black jeans was standing outside my apartment door with a black cap on his head. Even when he won’t move or speak yet I can recognize him in an instance. He’s the man I saw on the billboard awhile ago, my very own celebrity male bestfriend. Licht Sinclaire.

When he notice that someone was watching him he immediately turn his back only to find out I was staring at him. He stopped for a moment while burning me with his fiery stare coming from those ocean eyes. What am I gonna do? What shall I say? How should I react? I ghosted him for five years and didn’t tell him I’m moving to New York. “Yo!” word I managed to utter. I hold my breath when he marched towards my direction. I expects he will tick my nose with his fingers but I was all wrong. His body touched mine, his hands was wrapped tightly around my waist, and his head was buried on the crooked of my neck. I can hardly gasp for air. I can’t barely move gladly I still have my groceries on my hand.

“Lich—Leaving me alone in London while ghosted me for five years without any communications with me just so you could live in this small apartment of NYC.” he said with a breathy voice under the crooked of my neck. For pete’s sake, I can percieved his hot breath under my fair skin and it tickles me.

“I have my reason.” I reasoned out. Truth to be told. Due to what I say he remove his buried face on my neck and looked at me. Too close, I can literally sense his piercing ocean eyes toring me apart.

“Reason? Do you even have that?” he reacted in the almost yelling voice. I rolled my eyes. He’s overreacting again.

“Get off me first. What are you doing here in my apartment anyway?” I tried diverting the conversations into different ideas. Luckily, he let go of me but was still standing beside me closely.

“I search of you.” he answered in a most determined and satisfied voice. I open the door of my apartment and let him enter.

“How did you know I was here?” I put all the groceries in the medium sized oak table in the center of the dining room. I sat up on the single couch like I was about to interrogate him while he sat on the sofa comfortably legs crossed.

“I search throughout the fifty one states of United America since your very good kind brother only told me that you moved to USA but didn’t give me a hint or specific idea if what part of USA did you moved in.” he said in a dangerous tone but with full of sarcasm in his words while trying to tore me apart with his keen gaze.

“Shall I give you a reward for that? Or a celebration for finding me among the fifty one States of America.” I said with a humor in my voice but he didn’t laugh and I’m being rusty again.

“Does the air in Canada didn’t give you enough oxygen for you to vanished without a trace?” sarcasm can be heard all over his voice and I know he’s annoyed. I leaned on the couch and throw a glance of my groceries at the top of the oak table.

“I just wanted to be free and be independent.” I mumbled with an exhaustion in my voice. His brows immediately furrowed.

“Does running away the only solution?” he queried while sluggishly pulling through of what happened. I contemplated of it for a second. A house full of expectations, a father who was an alcoholic person, a deprave brother, and a gambler step mother.

What’s there to be sorrounded for? I work day and night just to get th degree that I have yet it was only tarnished by some uneducated, mannerless, and squamy attitude of people. They’re trash, truly. A non biodegradable trash. Not eco friendly. Did I run? Maybe.

“Only time can tell but right now I’m contented with my life, it’s halcyon, and somehow I feel alleviated.” I answered in a faint of twilight. He stared at me with a stoicism in his face.

“I hate you.” I held my breathe of what he say. It’s the first time he spoked those words to me. A tiny bit of shocked reaction was displayed on my eyes. “I hate you for treating me this way like I’m not your closest friend. You treated me like my existence was futile.” He loathes me, no. He hates me, no. I hurt his ego, yes.

“You said those words yourself not from me. Truth to be told, I want to let you know that I was moving to NYC but your personal assistant told me that you are busy and isn’t allowed to accept any calls or meetings from someone due to your hectic schedule. She even blocked my number after calling you. I’m an educated person so I understand what she meant.” I voiced out but he hissed.

“Busy my ass, I guess I will fire my PA and will find new one. Capable, Competent, Versatile, and Flexible. “ he furiously said which only makes me let out a soft laugh.

“Stop being like that and be thankful you have a PA like her. No one can distract you.” those words were not truly my opinion they just words I spoken out of care.

“And you’re being magnanimous in a less manner. That’s why you’re always been taking advantage of people.” If words could kill someone I might be six feet below the ground in an hour right now of what he said but I didn’t give a fuck about it.

“If you’re preaching about my kindness then get out of my apartment. I’m not welcoming you again.” I hissed to him and stand up. I pick up my groceries and stormed out directly at the kitchen. He didn’t uttered a word but I can feel his presence behind me.

“I’m sorry for that.” he said in a low, most soothing voice I’ve ever heard from him. I didn’t answered him. I just continued on arranging my beloved instant noodles, ramen, and cup noodles inside the refrigerator together with other food I buy. I also arranged the drinks.

“You should eat more vegetables and fruits more often. Instant noodles is bad for your health.” he commented and moved near to my side. I only rolled my eyes.

“ Don’t judge my instant noodles they’re making my life more longer than usual.“ I answered in a matter of fact voice.

“ Jesus , that was so many noodles. It can make a ration for a tsunami.“ he uttered out of shockness which I only shutted with a glaring look. “You’re not planning to b come an instant noodles ration donator, right?” he added. I heave a deep sigh trying to calm all the blood that was slowly boiling in my body due to someon ’s mouth like an ass of a chicken insulting my instant noodles.

“If I say I wanted to convert my Canadian nationality into a Korean nationality just by eating all these instant noodles, would you even believe me?” I annoyingly asked him and gave him a ‘you’re being annoying’ look. He hesitated for a second before answering me.

“No, of course.”

“That’s it. So, stop blabbering and spouting nonsense questions out of your chicken ass like mouth on my instant noodles.” I raise out with a heavy breath.

“You’re being malevolent.”

“I am because you annoyed me.”

“Fine, I’m sorry. Truly.” he said and stares through me. Those ocean eyes again. Ocean eyes that I hated yet love. It really knows how to make my heart beat. It makes me weak. It knows how to drown me.

“Tell me, what are your plans?” I asked him and sat on one of the wooden chair in the kitchen. He lean on the door frame and crossed his arms while not breaking eye contact with me.

“Plan what?”

“Plan like when are you going back to the Canada, how many days will you stay in New York.” I uttered with a strike of soft note. A sly smile plastered on his face and tilted his head a bit.

“Who said I’m going back to Canada?” a bolt of electricity thundered around my head. A loud ring covered my ears. I stared at him with a flabbergasted expression yet he only gave me a smirk. I wanna wrecked that smile.

“You’re also moving to New York? How about your career in Canada?” Asking him a pair of question was enough for me to analyze and sum up the occurences. He smile before tilted his again while watching me with an amused look on his face. If I’m not his bestfriend I’ll be thinking that I’m a clown infront of his ocean eyes.

“My dearest Emery, you almost forgotten that this person infront of you was an international sensation, a conversed of the town. Wherever I go, whatever I do, my career was always behind my back. In fact, I don’t need my career but it’s the one who needs me.” he elaborated with an amount of coherence and apparent in his voice. Talking about assurance and confidence with this person makes me sick. If we’re a battery he’ll probably the positive and I’m the negative one. Sounds incompatible.

“Shall I feel bliss for being one of your closest friend, Mr. Sinclaire?” I teased him and flashed my not so flashy smirk but enough to lent him an impact. I lean my back on th chair and looked at him. His smile vanished in an instance and was replaced by something I can’t explain which I don’t like. It can make me feel som thing. His ocean eyes graze me. He stared at me for a seconds before answering my unimportant question.

“Yes. In fact, this closest friend of yours needs a place to stay in and luckily I found your apartment which may be a nice place for me to abode by.” he answered with a seriousness in his voice.

“You. Me. Living under the same roof. I don’t think I will survive for a month.” For pete’s sake, he’s my best friend, I knew it. But, living with him under the same roof would be a disaster for me. He doesn’t know how to cook, doesn’t know how to clean the house, or even wash his clothes, he doesn’t even know how to wash dishes. Now, he’s asking me to live under the same roof. No way high way .

“I absolutely denied. With all due humbleness and kindness left on my atom but you’re not allowed to stay in my cozy, archaic, and humble abode. Find another place.” I humbly said without sounding impertinent. I waited and observed his reaction but he still remains calm and his expression was unreadable. I don’t know what’s going on in his mind.

“If you denied my request then I’ll offer you something.” he prepositioned. My brows knitted of what he said.

“Offer?”

“Yes.”

“What offer?”

“I’ll buy this whole apartment building and will live in this place under the same roof as you and you’ll be living in my humble, archaic abode for free. Rent free to be exact.” If there’s one thing I hated my whole life and that is being stumbled upon Licht’s personality that was a spoiled brat, chicken ass like mouth, obtuse mind sometimes. I don’t know if how I survived being friends with him for almost a decade now.

Both of our personality doesn’t suit each other. He’s a sun and I’m the moon, he’s an addition and I’m the subtraction, he’s a fiction and I’m the factual. We’re both opposite with each other yet fate decided to let us become friends or worst close friend.

“I thought being a broke degree holder here in NYC will be my most top tier problem but its not, looks like you’ll be my last straw. I’m just thinking of terminating our decade of friendship.” I voiced out. He’s normal upturned deep set paralleled eyes expressed a shocking expression at first but gradually it turns to something I don’t want to name…cogently frigid.

“However, considering what I’ve done and knowing the effort you exert on finding me all over the fifty one States of America, I’ll reconcile . I don’t care if who’s reprehensible to the both of us but I’m placating all this trivial conversations and be auspicious.” His expression softened after what I said. But, what he said next makes my h art thundered out loud.

“Not now, maybe soon when things will worked out my way and I’ll make sure you’ll regret every inch of ghosting and teasing me, Emery.” he said with an almost growl voice. 

#2026 #CraveandConquer