Romane von Authoress Ize

Evelyn’s POV.I hummed under my breath while I stirred the sauce, hips swaying slightly to the soft jazz drifting from the speaker in the corner. The wedding was in forty-eight hours. My stomach fluttered every time I thought about it—white dress hanging in the guest room closet, flowers already being delivered to the venue, Alex’s vows tucked in an envelope on my nightstand that I wasn’t allowed to peek at yet.I was happy. So happy it almost scared me.The front door clicked open. Alex appeared in the doorway, tie already loosened, sleeves rolled to his elbows. His eyes found me immediately, and the tired lines around them softened.“God, you look good in my kitchen,” he said, voice low and warm.I laughed, setting the wooden spoon down. “I look good anywhere.”“True.” He crossed the room in three strides, hands sliding around my waist from behind. His chest pressed to my back, chin resting on my shoulder. I leaned into him, eyes closing for a second as his lips brushed the side

Lucas’s POV. The glow from the television cast long shadows across the empty living room. I slumped deeper into the leather couch, remote dangling from one hand, a half-empty bottle of bourbon balanced on my knee. The news ticker scrolled at the bottom of the screen—stocks up, some politician caught in a scandal—but I wasn’t paying attention. Not until the entertainment segment flashed on. “...breaking tonight: Billionaire Alexander Blackwell pops the question to attorney Evelyn Carter in a fairy-tale proposal. Sources say it happened at her law firm, surrounded by colleagues and candlelight. The ring? A stunner with emeralds to match her eyes. Wedding bells expected this summer.” The screen cut to a grainy paparazzi shot: Alex and Evelyn stepping out of a restaurant, her hand lifted to shield her face, that rock catching the flash. She leaned into him, laughing. He kissed her temple like she was something precious. The bottle slipped. It hit the floor with a thud, bourbon sp

Evelyn’s POV.The next morning dawned soft and hazy, the kind of winter light that filters through curtains like pale honey. I woke up wrapped in Alex, one of his arms slung possessively across my waist, the other tucked under my pillow. His breath was warm against the back of my neck, slow and even. The new ring caught the light every time I moved my hand, throwing tiny rainbows across the sheets.I stared at it for long minutes, heart so full it almost hurt.I was going to be his wife.I turned carefully in his arms so I could watch him sleep. His lashes were dark against his cheeks, the faint scar above his eyebrow more visible in the gentle light. He looked peaceful in a way I’d rarely seen—like the weight he’d carried for years had finally lifted, even if just a little. I traced the line of his jaw with my fingertip, barely touching, and smiled when he stirred, mumbling something incoherent before pulling me closer.“Morning, fiancée,” he rasped, eyes still closed, lips curvi

Evelyn’s POV.To my surprise, there was another door. I glanced at him, and he shot me a nervous smile before pushing it open and the breath left my lungs in a soft, stunned rush.Hundreds of tiny fairy lights had been strung across the ceiling like fallen stars. They twinkled softly, bathing the entire space in warm gold. Every desk had been cleared away. In their place stood long tables draped in white linen, covered with candles, dozens of them, flames dancing gently, throwing soft shadows across the room. Roses….deep red, blush pink, creamy white…spilled over every surface in loose, wild arrangements. The scent wrapped around me, sweet and heady.And then I saw the people.My entire team stood in a loose semicircle, smiling so wide their eyes crinkled. They were all here. All of them. Dressed up. Beaming. And my receptionist held my dad's photo.I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, fanning my eyes with my hands.Alex’s fingers tightened around mine. I felt the slig

Evelyn’s POV.Sunlight filtered through the curtains, warm and golden, pulling me from a deep, contented sleep. I stretched lazily, my body still humming from last night’s intensity. Memories flooded back, Alex’s hands on my skin. A smile tugged at my lips as I reached out, expecting to find his solid warmth beside me.But the bed was empty. The sheets on his side were cool, the indent from his body barely there. My heart skipped a beat, a flicker of unease cutting through the haze of satisfaction. "Alex?" I called softly, sitting up. The room was quiet, too quiet. No sounds from the bathroom, no clatter from the kitchen downstairs.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet hitting the cool hardwood floor. A quick glance at the clock showed it was just past nine. He wasn’t an early riser, not like this. Not after a night that had left us both exhausted and blissfully spent. I pulled on his discarded shirt from the floor, it smelled like him, that mix of sandalwood and

Evelny’s POV.We lingered in that kiss, our lips moving slowly at first, then with a growing hunger that mirrored the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Alex's hands slid down my back, pulling me tighter against him. I felt him harden even more, that insistent press against my belly sending a jolt straight between my legs. My breath hitched, a soft moan escaping into his mouth. His tongue teased mine.He broke away first, his forehead resting against mine. "Evelyn," he murmured, his voice low and rough, like gravel under tires. One hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing my lower lip. "You have no idea what you do to me."I smiled, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "Show me," I whispered back, my voice breathy, challenging. I leaned in, nipping at his earlobe gently. He sucked in a sharp breath, his grip tightening on my waist. Helen cleared her throat from the doorway, her presence a gentle reminder. We pulled apart, but Alex kept his arm around me as we said our go