INICIAR SESIÓNELII stopped dead in my tracks at the end of the grand corridor. The heavy stack of business ledgers tucked beneath my arm suddenly felt way much heavier than they were, but my grip on them tightened until my knuckles turned stark white.My eyes locked onto Iris standing right on the threshold of my son's private room.It was barely past sunrise. She was in her blue servant uniform, her hair pinned back, looking small and fragile in the morning light—yet she was standing less than an inch away from Liam. He had his hand wrapped firmly around her wrist. His silk robe was loose across his chest, his hair tousled, and he was leaning down toward her with a look I had never seen on his face before.A dark, violent surge of heat slammed straight into my chest, hot and uninvited.I had spent my entire life controlling everything around me—my company, my estate, my family, my own emotions. I was a man of logic, a man who never let personal desire cloud his judgment. But looking at her standi
LIAMI hadn't slept a single minute, and I had never felt more alive.Standing by the grand arched window of my suite, watching the gray morning light bleed across the estate grounds, my blood was still singing. Every inch of my skin felt charged, keyed up on the unforgettable, intoxicating memory of last night.Iris.Just thinking her name brought the thrilling heat rushing back to my gut. God, she was incredible. I’d had my share of women—spoiled, polished heiresses who moved like choreographed dancers and expected everything to be neat and polite—but none of them had ever undone me like she did.Iris was pure, unfiltered magic wrapped in a plain maid’s dress.My mind kept replaying the exact moment I had her pressed against the wall of that narrow hallway, her small hands clutching my shoulders while her body surrendered to mine. She was built like a secret. Underneath those uniform dresses she wore to hide herself from the world, she had the most unbelievable curves. Lush, wide hi
IRIS Agatha held the engraved 'L.H.' silver link up to the light, her eyes narrowing as I approached the counter.The metal caught the cold fluorescent beam of the kitchen light, throwing a tiny, sharp reflection across the stainless-steel counter. My tongue suddenly felt heavy in my mouth. My heart was beating very fast like it wanted out, but I forced my legs to keep moving, stepping forward into the kitchen as if my knees weren't about to buckle beneath me."Good morning, Agatha," I said smoothly, forcing my voice into a steady, flat tone. I grabbed a clean dishtowel from the rack and stepped up to the sink, reaching for a stack of coffee mugs left over from the night before. I had to keep my hands moving. If I stopped working for even one second, she would see the uncontrollable shaking in my fingers.Agatha didn't return the greeting. She stood her ground by the coffee station, her glaring gaze tracking my every movement as I turned on the tap and let the warm water run over my
IRIS The harsh, judgmental glare of the 5:00 AM alarm light illuminated the fresh, deep bruise on my thigh.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring down at the dark, purplish mark high on the inside of my leg. In the dim red glow of the small clock, the bite looked like a seal carved into my skin. It throbbed with a dull, persistent heat, every pulse reminding me of Liam’s body over my body, his smooth voice, and the dangerous victory in his blue eyes when he walked out my door two hours ago.My hands shook as I pushed myself up from the bed. My body felt used, bruised, and thoroughly marked. Every muscle in my core ached with a deep, lingering soreness that made me limp slightly as I walked across the cold floor.I slipped out of my covers and crept into the small bathroom.The cold water hit my face like a slap, but it couldn't wash away the terror mounting in my chest. I grabbed the coarse bar of soap and scrubbed my skin until it turned red and raw. I scrubbed my neck, my chest, and
IRIS The pressure of Liam’s teeth sinking into the soft flesh of my inner thigh left a distinct, dark brand.I gasped out loud, my fingers instantly tangling in his thick hair as my head thrashed against the flat pillow. The bite wasn't cruel or painful, but it was deep, arousing, and burning hot against my tender skin.Just an hour ago, I had drifted off to sleep wrapped in the warm circle of his arms on my narrow bed, my head resting against his bare chest while the quiet room kept us hidden from the world. I had woken up to the softest, sweetest sensation—his lips gently trailing over my eyelids, kissing the tip of my nose, and whispering sweet, flirty words against my forehead."Wake up, little nurse," Liam had whispered into my ear, his voice soft and thick with sleep. "I have to leave soon before the sun comes up, but I can't bring myself to let you go just yet."That sweet wake-up call had quickly dissolved into a slow, intoxicating exercise. Now, I was undone again, lying on
IRIS Liam’s lips traced a burning line down my collarbone, whispering sweet words. My hands were pinned firmly above my head, his fingers holding my wrists against the soft mattress while the weight of his broad body pressed me down into the bed. The heat coming off his skin was intense, young, and alive, wrapping around me in the dark and making my chest heave with fast, shallow breaths."Imagine it, Iris," Liam whispered into the hollow of my throat, his hot breath sending electric shivers straight down to my toes. "No more waking up before dawn to scrub floors. No more taking orders from Agatha or hiding away in this cold, narrow room. A real seat at the medical school. A desk of your own. A future where nobody looks down on you ever again."My heart hammered against my chest, a painful, overwhelming swell of emotion rising in my chest. The thought of that freedom—of being seen as a real doctor instead of a nameless servant girl—hit me deeper than any touch could ever reach."Mas
IRISA loud, aggressive banging on the door jarred me out of sleep. I groaned, dragging myself up to sit as Agatha’s sharp voice cut straight through the wood."Get up! Come out here right now, Iris!"My mind scrambled for a second before reality hit me. I wasn't at the orphanage anymore. I jumped
IRISThe engine roared, cutting off whatever sound I thought I heard behind me. I watched the car speed down the driveway and turn onto the private narrow road.My heart sank. Eli was gone, and I hadn't even got to look at his face.What is wrong with you? I mentally scolded myself, my face heating
ELII swore under my breath as the new girl practically fled the dining room. I had to shift my weight in my chair, trying to adjust myself for the second time that morning without my mother or wife noticing. It was pathetic. I was Eli Hawthorne. I didn't get flustered, and I certainly didn't lose
IRISThe heavy iron gates of St. Luke’s Orphanage screeched as they swung open. For twenty years, that sound meant someone else was leaving. Today, it was for me.I clutched my small canvas bag against my chest, the fabric rough against my palms. Inside were three plain dresses, two pairs of worn s







