Note: While Iceland is a real country, the city of Aria is a fictional location created solely for this story.

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Gavriel, on the other hand, felt like he was losing his mind watching her react to him.

He had known exactly what kind of game his little she-devil was playing, and he had indulged her with everything in him, even though every single instinct screamed at him to pin her down right then and take her.

But he had told her so confidently that she’d be the one to lose. Not to mention, he was also holding back, keeping the recent incident in consideration.

Yet here he was, down to his final threat, struggling to control himself like a fucking teenager while standing on the verge of proving her right.

But let him be damned, as if he wasn’t already, if he’d be the first to give in. Because this woman was driving him absolutely insane.

When he finally felt her sleek wetness through the flimsy fabric, the desires he had kept under a tight leash threatened to explode.

The moment his nimble fingers hooked against the lace to yank it away, Aliana’s eyes snapped open. She leaned close to him and whispered in a quivering voice, "You do that, and you lose."

Their gaze locked.

He stared at her maddening appearance, taking in her heavy breathing, her glazed, beguiling eyes, and the flushed skin he desperately wanted to mark everywhere possible.

The sight was so riveting that Gavriel was just about to say fuck it and tear the fabric away when the captain’s voice suddenly crackled through the speaker, "Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts. We are going to commence landing soon."

The announcement landed like ice-cold water on both of them, instantly snapping them out of their sensual haze.

Before either of them could move, a loud gasp echoed from a short distance away. Both of their heads snapped toward the sound, only to find a thoroughly flustered flight attendant staring at them in their scandalous position.

Neither of them pulled away immediately as the woman fumbled over her words. "Oh God, I am so sorry! I-I- I came to c-check if the seatbelt was on. We are about to c-commence landing."

She quickly bowed her head before rushing away as fast as her legs could carry her.

Gavriel and Aliana silently watch her retreat without much reaction.

Even though embarrassment had Aliana blushing all the way to the roots of her hair, she couldn’t find it in herself to feel sorry for the woman at all. The air hostess had been getting on her nerves for quite some time now, always finding reasons to linger around Gavriel and lean a little too close whenever she spoke to him.

’Serves her right,’ Aliana thought to herself.

.....

By the time they finally touched down, the incident had almost faded away, but tension was still in the air between them.

The moment she stepped off the plane, a gasp escaped her lips.

Cold air immediately brushed against her skin, sharp and crisp enough to make her shiver, but it was not the cold that stole her attention.

Instead, excitement bubbled inside her chest when her gaze landed on the enormous sign welcoming visitors to the destination.

There, written in bold letters, read, Aria, Iceland.

Aliana’s eyes moved from the sign to look back at Gavriel, who simply tilted his head in response.

"Aria! This is where we are going to be?" She couldn’t hide the excitement bleeding into her voice because this was the one place she had always dreamed of visiting but had never been able to.

The land was blanketed in snow, boasting the most breathtaking lakes and a bustling nightlife tucked away in one vibrant section of the city.

When Jade and Aliana were younger, they had placed this exact destination at the very top of their bucket list. But with work and studies, neither of them had ever found the opportunity to visit until now.

Gavriel, meanwhile, watched the way her eyes sparkled with genuine excitement.

For the first time since the kidnapping incident, she looked completely carefree and oddly enough, that pleased him to know that he had made the right decision to bring her along.

Even though they were here for important business, it wouldn’t hurt to set aside a day and show her around.

With that thought in mind, he replied, "We are going to be staying away from the main city, but we can spend some time here later."

"Really?" Aliana asked in pure surprise.

When he gave her a small nod, she beamed at him. Seeing her so genuinely happy made his lips twitch with the ghost of a smile.

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he murmured, "Let’s go."

Together, they descended from the private jet toward the sleek black car already waiting for them.

Opening the door to the passenger seat for her, he placed his hand above the hood of the car to protect her head as she got in. Once settled, he walked around to sit behind the wheel.

"Do you know the area well enough to drive?" Aliana asked curiously.

"Yes," he replied simply.

That was enough for her. Gavriel was the type of man who planned everything several steps ahead, so she didn’t bother questioning him further.

As Gavriel accelerated away from the airfield, Aliana kept her gaze glued to the window, taking in the scenery like a curious child.

One would think a place like Aria would consist of small wooden cabins and a slow, quiet lifestyle, but it was far more futuristic than most major cities in the world.

The city looked like something pulled straight from a dream, nestled between towering, snow-covered mountains and the dark, tranquil waters of a vast lake. Thousands of golden lights glittered across the landscape like scattered stars, casting a warm glow against the icy blue tones of the winter night.

At the heart of the city stood an awe-inspiring structure built directly into the mountainside, flanked by elegant, futuristic buildings that lined the shores of the lake.

Below, winding pathways curved through the streets, illuminated by lanterns and lined with snow-dusted trees. The soft glow of fireplaces flickered through the windows of charming buildings, while a gentle snowfall drifting from the sky wrapped the entire scene in a veil of magic and serenity.

The lake perfectly mirrored the city’s lights, creating shimmering reflections across the dark water, while the surrounding mountains stood like silent guardians, their jagged peaks disappearing into the snowy night.

It was the kind of place that felt completely untouched by the outside world, yet an entire advanced civilisation thrived within it.

To put it simply, it was purely breathtaking.

As Gavriel drove, his eyes slid to his side multiple times, catching her completely awestruck expression. He made no attempt to distract her, allowing her to enjoy the brief sightseeing, knowing very well that they would soon be away from the city and heading into a much more isolated area.

It was still dark when, after a two-hour drive, he finally pulled over in front of another structure, eliciting yet another soft gasp from Aliana’s lips.