door clicked shut, I dove for the dresser. I grabbed the file I had stolen, shoving it to the very bottom of the drawer, and heaped a mountain of my sw

Are yo

es. Mommy! He was finally saying it naturally. I'd spent so long being just "Claire" or "Auntie" to him in the shadows

d, kneeling to kiss his fore

ng over the keys as I cataloged the 1920s acquisition files. The names of long-dead companies

y," Leo said agai

t hours, and my own stomach was starting to cramp. I had been told to stay in the room that meals

r for anyone but me," I instructed.

nce to the West Wing, a magnetic pull I couldn't resist drew me back toward th

or was

pile of withered rose flowers. I was so focused on getting and seeing ev

d as I tried to turn, the curve of my backside grazed the unmistakable, hard heat of hi

hi

cold air of the room and the suffocating heat of his body. He was so close I could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. My breath

e trembling as I pointed to a single, drooping

He whispered in a low husky tone. I tried to nod, signaling that I understood but his grip on me was

? Is that why you're he

" I hissed, trying

" he m

eyes. His gaze flicked down my body, making me appear small and naked i

rt he hadn't recognized me. Then for a second, his expressio

you. If she finds you here, I

sh, jagged laugh. "You're the

out that." And with that, his hand came up, hovering just inches from my waist, but he didn't

ommanded softly. "Before

, my skin feeling l

five feet inside before Mrs. Holloway inter

ule. Breakfast at 8:00, lunch at 1:00, dinner at 5:00, and dessert at 7:00. You are to be

said, matching her cold

the counter. "Fine. Take this. Bu

with rosemary, a side of garlic mashed potatoes, bread and sautéed

o ate a few bites myself. I carefully saved a portion of the chicken and bread on the

reeling from the encounter in the West Wing. I hit send

ternal notification poppe

ntered, he was sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, the sleeves

aid without

by that same dark velvet tone. "Explain why you categorized the offshore holdings under 'Persona

s I'd discovered, but as he spoke, his hand moved to adjust his tie, a

marble. I looked at the way his hair caught the light, the slight shadow of stubble on his jaw, and the sheer, raw

lins? C

reality. "Fucking shit!" I

irk playing on his lips, as if he k

discrepancies," he said,

tammered, my face heating up. "I'll ne

r a second too long. "You're dismissed. Try to stay in your

left the room, the heat of his gaze following me all the way to the door

er, but now it feels like I was th

I scolded myself as I h

til every digit was perfect. I hit 'resend' with a sharp click of the mouse, my chest tight. I wa

th

drifting back and forth to naughty things, I focused entirely on Leo. We sat on the bed, and I listened to him tell me about the castle we were living in, his

the door for us at five, herb-crusted salmon, creamy pasta, cakes and a small chocolate tart for dessert. We ate in a strang

Exhaustion, thick and heavy, final

ub-level anymore, I was in his chambers. The room was bathed in the amber glow of a dying fire, the walls draped in shadows. Ethan

ainst my cool flesh. When his lips finally met mine, it wasn't a question but more like an absolute claim. It was a deep, bruising kiss that tasted

a low, broken moan, my head falling back as his teeth grazed my skin. His hands were everywhere, mapping th

door. His touches grew bolder, more frantic, his tongue tangling with mine in a dance of pure, carnal posses

ainst my ribs. Soon we were both standing naked and facing each other with heavy breathing. He bent slowly and covered my right nipple with his mouth,

ry, but it cut through

h a fine sheen of sweat. The room was pitch black. The fire in my blood was

nother small, raspy cough in his slee

It was