LOGINThe bottle slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud on the counter. Her heart lurched into her throat as she spun around, eyes wide.Leo.He stood in the doorway of her kitchen, casually leaning against the frame, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. His dark eyes were locked on her, that same predatory look she’d seen before, as if he enjoyed watching her squirm.“Jesus Christ, Leo!” she gasped, clutching the counter to steady herself. Her pulse was racing, the sudden rush of adrenaline making her lightheaded. “You really have to stop doing that. What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes swept over the room, taking in every detail, as if he owned the place. He stepped forward, his gaze returning to her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “So many questions. I have my ways,” he said smoothly, walking further into the kitchen. “You look like you’ve been busy.”She stared at him, her heart still pounding in h
“I want to see you naked, Suzy,” he told her gruffly as one of his hands moved to the zip on her jumpsuit, “Naked and wanton!” She felt hot, feverish—she was making out with Leo! Had she forgotten who he was? “No!” She pulled out of his arms, her expression one of panic as he reached for her again. “Let me go,” she instructed coldly.Puzzlement darkened his eyes at her vehemence, but he sat back in his own seat, his hands held up defensively. “Think all you want of me, but I've never tried to force a woman,” he assured her raggedly.She knew he had never needed to, that his brand of lovemaking could become addictive. “I know that,” she conceded shakily, shaking back the swathe of her hair. “I—it was a mistake, that's all.”Leo shook his head, his eyes steely. “I don't make mistakes, Suzy. I want you. And a minute ago you wanted me too—”“No,” she denied heartedly. “I told you, it was a mistake. I have to go in now.” She swallowed hard, wishing she had found the strength to go in ear
“What does it all mean?” She frowned when he at last straightened, wiping his hands on a cloth from his pocket.The young man shrugged. “It means I'm going to have to tow your car back to the garage and work on it there.”That's what she had thought it meant! “Thank you,” she sighed. “I suppose I'd better go and call a taxi—”“No need for that,” cut in a voice that really was beginning to grate on her nerves.Susan turned to Leo with icy eyes. “What?” she bit out resignedly.He strolled over to join them, enjoying a few minutes' consultation with the mechanic about her car before acknowledging her presence once again. “I'll drive you home,” he stated arrogantly. “I have my car over there.” He nodded in the direction of his car.“Like hell—”“Whew, some of these women aren't at all as cool and ladylike as they all like to make out,” he confided in the mechanic. “They aren't forgiving either.”“What—”“I offer to drive her home as an olive-branch after our argument and she throws it ba
She could feel him watching her as she walked to the doorway, a tingle of awareness down her spine, telling herself she mustn't look back, that she shouldn't give him that satisfaction. It was a compulsion, instinct, and she paused in the doorway to turn and look at Leo one more time.Leo was ordering himself another drink, his attention turning to Susan as he saw her standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a mocking acknowledgement with his head, laughter in his eyes as Susan gave him a fierce glare before turning away.She was still fuming when she swung into her car, her bag landing with a thud on the seat beside her. Who did he think he was, trying to pick her up in that way! Especially after everything he'd done. No man had ever tried to pick her up in a bar before. Or so nearly succeeded! If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit that there was something about Leo that was extremely appealing, his rakish charm a challenge, his almost casual confidence in his o
As the bartender nodded and began mixing her drink, Susan’s mind raced. She was playing a dangerous game with Leo, and she knew it. But every time she thought she was ready to walk away, something pulled her back. Maybe it was the fear of what would happen to Samuel. Maybe it was something else. Something about him.The bartender placed her drink in front of her, and Susan took a long sip, the alcohol burning its way down her throat. The buzz settled into her veins, calming her nerves for a brief moment. But the tension was still there, lingering just beneath the surface. And deep down, she knew it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. __________Leo hadn’t expected Susan to take him up on his offer, not with how furious she’d been when she stormed out of the lounge. But as he watched her from the shadows, standing there at the top of the stairs, he noticed something flicker in her. Her steps faltered, and instead of heading straight for the door like she had intended, she veered toward t
I’ll return them tomorrow. Get the real money back.That was the plan. She had to stick to the plan. But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning. Leo wouldn’t stop at five thousand. He’d expect more. And as much as she wanted to scream, to run from it all, she knew she couldn’t. Not while Samuel was still tangled in Leo’s Web, and now so was she. As she finally pulled into her driveway, Susan sat in the car for a moment, her hands still gripping the steering wheel, her heart pounding in her chest. She was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.____________The Summit nightclub was eerily silent when Susan walked in. The usual pulse of loud music and vibrant chatter was absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness. The place was empty—no patrons, no bartenders buzzing around. She walked on, her heels clinking against the floor as she began to climb the stairs that led to the private lounge. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was in the right place, but then h
The reports of the marriage of the Duke of Springbrook and his wife. The birth of their first child—a son. The divorce. The Duke remarrying. The birth of his second son who he named heir. The non-existent relationship between the Duke and his first son. And then the tragedy of that second son’s dea
No, that was wrong. She was a real wife. And she’d agreed that their lives wouldn’t be separated. They may not be in love, but if they were going to be sleeping in the same bed and being intimate physically then that didn’t mean she couldn’t help him out emotionally when that was needed.“Cedric,”
He’d given her so much over the past week. Shown her what her passion could be like when she wasn’t fighting it, when she could be herself and not worry about being demanding or loud or difficult. And she couldn’t deny that she very much wanted more of that for herself. She also wanted to give some
There was something steady about him in general that she liked, an anchor that kept her from floating away in the worst of the storms. Not that there had been many storms. Passion burned in her—she could feel it—and yet gradually she’d started to realise that it wasn’t anything to be afraid of. Not







