Se connecterLia’s POVMy back was still pressed against the cool wall, wrists pinned above my head in Kade’s iron grip, when the last of my resistance shattered.His mouth claimed mine again—harder this time, deeper, like he was pouring every ounce of pent-up fury and possession into the kiss. I moaned against his lips, the sound muffled and desperate. My body betrayed me completely, arching into him even as my mind screamed that this was wrong. Julian was waiting for me to be on a plane right now.But Kade didn’t care about any of that.“You’re mine,” he growled against my mouth, biting my lower lip hard enough to sting. “Say it.”I shook my head, panting. “No—”He spun me around so fast the room blurred. My chest slammed against the wall, his powerful body molding to my back. One large hand kept my wrists trapped high above me while the other yanked my blouse open with a sharp rip of fabric. Buttons scattered across the marble floor like tiny casualties.“Kade—” I gasped.His hand slid inside t
Lia’s POVMy head throbbed like someone had taken a hammer to my skull.I groaned, eyelids heavy as lead, and tried to lift my hand to my face. The movement sent a fresh wave of nausea rolling through me. Everything felt wrong—the air too cool, the sheets too soft, the silence too complete. My lashes fluttered open, and for a second, the world was nothing but blurred gold and cream.This wasn’t my apartment.I bolted upright, heart slamming against my ribs. The room spun for a moment before settling into sharp, expensive focus. A massive four-poster bed with black silk sheets. Floor-to-ceiling windows draped in heavy velvet curtains that blocked out most of the light. Crystal chandeliers hung from a ceiling painted with delicate gold filigree. On the nightstand sat a vase of blood-red roses so perfect they looked artificial.This was a cage wrapped in luxury.Memories slammed into me one after another. The hallway. The leather glove over my mouth. The sickeningly sweet smell of chlor
Lia’s POVThe suitcase lay open on my bed as I folded the last silk blouse—the emerald one I wore the first day I crashed into Kade’s world. I pressed it down harder than necessary. The fabric resisted, wrinkling under my palms. I smoothed it anyway, over and over, until it had finally surrendered.Today is the day I was finally leaving the country with Julian.I could still feel the ghost of his thumb tracing that same line months ago…the night I made that stupid deal with him to save my brother.“Stop thinking about him, Lia!” I muttered to myself, and I yanked my hand back as if the blouse had burned me.No. He wasn’t mine anymore…he had never really been. Five days from now he’d stand at an altar in a black suit that cost more than most people’s rent, and get married to that evil bitch.I zipped the suitcase shut, the sound echoing through my quiet apartment. Too final.RING!The sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand shattered through my thoughts. I turned instantly to see
Kade’s POVThe moment I stepped into my penthouse, I could already feel her sitting there. The scent of her perfume suffocated as she sat on the velvet couch, her legs crossed majestically.She held the glass of red wine in her hands like she owned the world, “Where have you been Kade?” Her smile was slow and deliberate as she spoke, which dripped with nothing but fake concern. I shut the door behind me and locked it, my movements too calm and controlled—the kind that only comes before I snapped. She could feel it as I stepped closer, “Where’s the video?”Selene blinked once, the practiced kind of surprise that appeared on her face anytime she wanted to fake that stupid innocence. “Video?” she repeated, tilting her head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Don’t play games with me,” I snapped. My voice is low, dangerous, “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”A bitter laughter tore out of her as she swirled her wine. “Kade, you’re scaring me. Why would you think I’m hiding
Lia’s POV“Please, Lia. Don’t walk away from me, not again.” Kade’s voice came out quieter than intended the moment his dark eyes held mine as though I would disappear if he looked away for one second.“I have to,” I whispered, “If I stay back, Selene will destroy both of us.” He shook his head, his voice shaking. “I don’t care what she does to me, I can’t take it. But I can’t—” He paused for a while and then swallowed hard, “I can’t lose you again.” Before I could think I reached up and brushed my fingers against his jaw before speaking, “You’re not losing me again, Kade. You’ll have to let me go.” For a heartbeat, neither of us moved, the next thing I knew he grabbed my waist, pulling me into him in an embrace that felt final. His arms wrapped around me like he was holding on to a dream that was already slipping away. When he finally let go, his voice came out as a whisper against my hair, “Then I guess there’s nothing left to fight for.”I felt his lips brush the side of my head
Lia’s POVKade searched my face like he was trying to read the truth I hadn’t said aloud, “What the fuck did you just say?” His voice came out low and dangerous. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding like a drum in my ears as the elevator doors had just closed again.“I said you were right,” I whispered, “About Julian.” Kade’s eyes narrowed as his chest rose and fell heavily. “What about him?” My throat burned with so much I wanted to say, and I forced it out either way, “Julian has been lying to me about everything…”The words tumbled out before I could even breathe. “He…he wasn’t who I thought he was, because all this while Selene had hired him weeks ago. She paid him to seduce me and sleep with me.”Kade’s expression went still as I continued to speak, his jaw clenched tight I could see the veins in his neck. “Selene wanted him to film when fucked me so that she would use it to humiliate me so badly that u would leave the city.”For a moment, Kade didn’t move. Then suddenly, he turn
Lia’s POVJulian leaned in and touched his lips with mine, not kissing me yet but caressing my lips with his, teasing me as I closed my eyes when he leaned in, ready for our lips to crash against each other.He sucked on my upper lip first, feeling how soft it was, before he enveloped both my lips
Kade’s POVI’d poured myself another drink, though I’d stopped tasting anything hours ago because the whiskey burned but not enough to quiet what kept replaying in my head.The way her body pressed against mine when those shameless moans escaped her lips when she called out my name. I slammed the g
Lia’s POVThe elevator ride to Julian’s house felt longer this time. I wore red lipstick, a transparent silk blouse that showed more than it should have, and jeans that hugged tighter than usual. I told myself it was a casual meeting between us today, all I had to do was teach him and go home. But
Lia’s POVI woke up to the sunlight sneaking through the curtains—the kind of morning light that pretends nothing happened the night before.For a second, I almost believed it was an ordinary morning. Then I shifted, and the ache between my thighs reminded me of what Kade did to me last night.His







