LOGINMARCELLUS I stand exactly where she left me, staring at the door. Her words keep echoing in my skull.'You made me question my own sanity.'It feels like there's a piece of broken glass wedged deep into my heart."...Fuck."I scrub both hands over my face, my breathing ragged.She thinks I'm lying. She thinks I'm manipulating her again. Maybe I deserve that.But I don't know what the hell just happened.There's a black, yawning void where hours of memory should have been.I feel sick to my stomach. Air. I need air.I turn abruptly and walk to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The bright overhead lights sting my eyes, reflecting harshly off the polished marble. I grip the cool edge of the sink and stare into the mirror.A stranger stares back.My breathing grows shallow and progressively weaker."...No."Not again.This had happened before. Years ago, I lost two hours. Then twenty-three missing minutes. Then an entire afternoon was erased. Every time I'd searched for
NORA By the time I reach the clinic, my lungs burn and my legs feel like lead. The automatic doors slide open with a soft hiss, releasing a wave of sharp antiseptic that stings my nose.A nurse spots me immediately. "Mrs. Gregory?"I nod, still gasping for breath.She points towards a quiet corner. "Your husband is over there."I follow her gesture and freeze.Mars sits alone on the examination bed, elbows resting loosely on his knees, his hands dangling between them. His usually impeccable hair is messy from the wind. He doesn't look injured.He just looks... dazed.A paramedic crouches in front of him. "Sir? Can you tell me your name?"Mars blinks slowly, staring at some invisible point on the linoleum floor.I clench my fist slowly.The paramedic tries again. "Do you know where you are?"Mars lifts his head a fraction. His blue eyes drift around the room, hazy, as if he's only seeing everything for the first time."...Vegas," he mumbles eventually."Good," the paramedic say
NORA The pest control worker scratches the back of his neck, glancing between Marcellus and me. “The cockroach job, ma'am. The client wanted them released alive, then removed before the hotel noticed. Weird request, but I've seen stranger stuff."My stomach sinks. "What?"Marcellus takes a slow step forward. "I have absolutely no idea who you are."The man frowns. "Sir, come on. We spoke yesterday.""I've never seen you before."The confusion on the man’s face changes to annoyance. "You paid cash. You specifically asked us to use cockroaches because—" He scratches his beard, trying to recall. "—because your wife was terrified of bugs”The pavement feels unsteady beneath my feet now.I slowly turn towards Marcellus. He looks just as confused as I feel. I realize now that it’s all an act."Nora—""No." My voice trembles. "You knew. You knew I was scared of cockroaches. And now this man is saying you hired him.""I didn't."The worker pulls a folded paper from his pocket. "I
MARCELLUS Nora is looking at me like she's deciding whether to kiss me or kill me. I think I'm addicted to that expression of hers.Holding her gaze, I down the entire juice and set the glass down with a soft click.Nothing happens.I smirk. "Still alive, love. Disappointed?"Her eyes narrow, but there's a spark of amusement in them. She rocks her hips slowly, grinding her heat against my already hard cock. I hiss through my teeth as she presses down just right, making me swell even more."If I find out that you really did mess with me," she whispers, leaning in so her lips brush my ear, "you'll be in big trouble."I groan, my hands flying to her hips, gripping them hard as I thrust up against her, chasing the friction.Every fucking time she's around me, I get horny like a bloody teenager."Yes, your highness," I rasp, the words melting into a low moan.She smiles, wicked and beautiful, and keeps rolling her full hips in slow, torturous circles. The pressure is perfect. It's jus
MARCELLUS "Is that Florence?" Nora whispers.I glance up immediately. Even from this distance, I'd know that posture anywhere.What the fuck?My chair scrapes against the floor, and Nora jumps slightly."Mars?"I'm already moving. I cross the suite in seconds and yank open the balcony door.The woman looks up and our eyes meet. Even from three floors above, I see the exact moment she realizes I've seen her. Her face goes white, then she runs."Florence!" I growl.But it's too late. She has disappeared behind the hedge.Nora is already on her feet, hurrying over to me as I swear under my breath."What happened?""I'll be back," I tell her.I don't wait for an answer. I grab my keys and head for the door. My pulse is hammering by the time I reach the elevator.Because Florence isn't supposed to be here. She should be in New York.The elevator feels too slow. By the time I reach the garden and round the hedge where I'd seen her, she's gone. There's not even a trace of her being the
NORA I must have blacked out. The last thing I remember is screaming at the top of my lungs and scrambling backwards so fast that my feet slipped on the tiles. Then... nothing.When I slowly come to, I'm lying sideways on the bed in the most awkward position possible. One of my legs is dangling off the edge, my upper body twisted, and my head is hanging dangerously close to the floor. I'm completely naked except for the thin sheet that somehow got tangled around one thigh.I hear the door open, followed by the soft patter of footsteps. Then I hear a low, familiar voice."...Nora?"I don't even have time to react. I'm suddenly slipping off. My life flashes before my eyes.In the next second, strong arms catch me, lifting me back onto the mattress before I can crash headfirst onto the floor.I gasp, my eyes flying open. My body jerks in panic as I scramble backwards."Hey—hey, it's me," Marcellus says quickly, his hands steady on my arms. "It's just me, little wolf."My heart is d
MARCELLUS The second her eyes lock onto the tattoo, I know I'm fucked. For four years I kept that particular madness hidden from the whole world. Now my wife is staring straight at it. "What the actual fuck...?" I close my eyes for a second, but the corner of my lips is already curving
NORA Sebastian stares at the diamond on my finger. His confusion melts into disbelief, then unadulterated fear.The doctor shifts uncomfortably. "Mr. Griffin, perhaps we should—""No." His gaze snaps back to me. "Nora?"The lump in my throat swells until breathing becomes difficult. How do
NORA Slowly, I lower the phone from my ear. I stare across the table at Marcellus. My husband. The man who just admitted he married me for revenge."Tell me you didn't do it," I say, my voice trembling.He leans back in his chair, his gaze locking onto mine."Do what, little wolf?"My pulse
NORA Marcellus comes up in front of me. His hand closes over mine on the camera, gentle but firm, and he plucks it from my fingers..I stare up at him, shocked.He's... smiling. It's not the usual annoying smirk or that icy look. This one is soft around the edges. Almost fond. As if the sight







