LOGINHe pressed his forehead to hers as he held her close. “I can't stop myself.” She gasped softly. “You don't have to stop then.” She whispered with her fingers in his hair, feeling the shiver that ran through him as their bodies. Ava Sinclair never meant to fall for her boss. One stormy night at the Hale's Mansion changed everything for her. One touch, a kiss and a one-night stand with Ethan Hale, her cold and untouchable boss. A mistake that should never happen. He pushes her away the next morning warning her not to get familiar. But fate has other plans installed for them. Ava's sick father's life depends on a liver transplant. She is forced to live under Ethan's roof as a condition to pay her father's medical bills. Buried secrets resurfaces, her rival for Ethan’s heart is introduced, Miranda Dobrev, Ethan's girlfriend, including Lucas Hale, Ava's ex boyfriend and Ethan's alienated brother. Soon desire tangles with danger as family lies, corporate wars and betrayal threaten to destroy them all. Ethan's love could ruin his hardwork. Lucas' revenge could end her. When the past “back from the dead.” return Ava must decide if love is worth the ruin or if she'll become the next casualty of the Hale legacy.
View More“You let your boss have his way with you.” Ava whispered to herself. Curling into the bedsheets where she had exchanged forbidden desires with her boss the previous night.
Her heart pondered, steady and loud in her ears, as the memory of the past stormy night played in her tightly closed eyes.
The rain, the lightning, the way Ethan Hale had looked at her. The cold and commanding man who had seemed out of her reach. Everything felt surreal.
She recalled the moment she came into the Hale's Mansion to drop off a document; something that was supposed to be a quick drop-off turned into something more. Drenched and rainwater dripped down her clothes and brown hair.
He appeared in the doorway looking impossibly calm, his dark olive eyes staring deep into hers like she was a problem and a temptation all together.
Ethan had a feature of a picture perfect man, He was tall with complementing shoulders, his skin carried a smooth tone. His dark olive eyes shone under the light giving him a fine share of masculinity.
A sharp jawline that shaped his face to perfection. His black textured quiff haircut, clean shave and confidence whispered wealth and danger at the same time.
“You're soaked.” He said his voice was low and steady and at the same time seduced her. “Don't tell me the document got soaked as well.”
Ava twitched. “No sir, I had it transferred to a flash drive.” She stretched her left hand, showing it to him.
“Go change.” He said, pointing to the far end of the hallway.
Ava left, shivering from more than just the chills of the rain.
Ethan sighed slowly. Rubbing his palm over his face. They had work to do. Yes, but her wet, shivering body was so vivid in his mind that it was far more distracting than any other work.
Inside the room, she took off her wet clothes and dapped the towel on her body. Her mind was still spinning from the way he had looked at her .
Just then a knock came at the door.
“A second please….” She said, Before she could wrap the towel round her bare body, the door opened.
Ethan stood there.
For some moment, silence filled the room. His eyes found her uncovered shoulders, her damp hair clinging to her neck, the fine curves of her collarbone, and the shining moisture of her skin; it all drew his gaze before he realized it.
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to step fully into the room. “You should have been done by now.”
Ava spun, startled as her cheeks turned crimson red. “Mr. Ethan! I… I thought you were in your office.”
“You're her boss, don't make this mistake.” He thought but still the smell of her cologne couldn't leave his nose.
He could barely contain himself.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, trying to be steady, but his focus betrayed him; he moved closer to her.
Two steps closer to her in a very close proximity, he smoothed her face with his palms; her eyelids closed, reveling in the moment.
He held her in his arms, pressing her against him with a pressure that made her heart beat faster than normal.
His lips were on hers, claiming her mouth with a hunger that she never knew existed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to herself.
He pressed his forehead to hers as he held her close. “I can't stop myself.”
She gasped softly. “You don't have to stop then.” She whispered with her fingers in his hair, feeling the shiver that ran through him as their bodies.
They tumbled on the bed together, every one of their movements a slow exploration. His hands traced the curve of her back, memorizing her.
She let her body respond to every single one of his touches, every brushed skin and every whisper.
“I've wanted this… I've wanted you…for a long time.” He murmured against her lips with a low voice and a vulnerability that made her shiver.
She breathed.
The rain outside pounded hard against the window, but they were lost in the forbidden desires of themselves.
Their movements were slow and intimate, full of lingering touches and the rhythm of desire. Every touch spoke of a need and a longing that had been building far too long to contain.
And when they finally stopped, breathless and curled up in each other's arms, hearts pounding in unison.
*****
The cold part of the bed was empty. “Of course he's gone," she whispered to herself that morning while still on the bed. His breath against her skin, the thunder outside, and when he said her name like it belonged to his mouth, she remembered it all.
She pressed a hand over her face. “God! What was I thinking?!"
A sharp knock startled her.
“Miss Sinclair?" A voice came from the outside. Helen is the Hale Mansion’s housekeeper.
“Mr. Ethan asked me to remind you that you're needed at the company early today.”
Ava froze, dragging the blanket closer to her bare body and realizing she's late when she looked at the time.
"O…oh, right. Thank you!" Ava voiced loudly from the inside to enable Helen to hear her.
She waited until Helen's footsteps faded before jumping out of the bed. She rushed into the bathroom, had a quick shower, and dressed in the same gown she had worn the previous night. She caught her reflection in the mirror.
“Pull yourself together, Ava," she muttered, tying her brown silk and long hair. “It was just one night. Just a mistake."But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple.
*****
Ava was already late by the time she got to the Halenito Group. Her heart pounded as she hurried past the reception and the executive floor, praying to slip in unnoticed.
However, the moment the elevator doors swung open, Ethan Hale stood in front of her, perfect in his black suit, eyes piercing and unreadable.
“Are you just coming in for work?” He asked with a mean expression.
“Y…yes, sir.”
He took a step closer to her, bending his head down to her face. Almost colliding his lips with her neck.
“Let's not get too familiar because of a one-night mistake.” He said, his voice not as steady as he wished.
Her knees buckled, and the world tilted beneath her; her blood ceased to flow properly.
“Huh.” She gasped.
She should hate him for this but her heart wasn’t really getting the message.
“I don't fancy late coming, Ava.” He tapped her shoulde
rs and continued on his way.
“Damn it! I shouldn't be feeling this way towards her.” Ethan confessed to himself.
The door to the elevator opened with a chime when Ava stepped out of it, breathing heavily.The sound of her heels on the marble floor as she tugged at the hem of her skimpy skirt. “Those malicious eyes.” She muttered beneath her breath, forcing a smile on her face as she walked past her colleagues. “Urrgh…”She wondered what Ethan would say, if he saw the way they looked at her.She could practically hear their thoughts saying: “what is she doing living with the Hales?”“For fucks sake,” Sophia Forbes the PR director, said loud enough for everyone to hear her. “What is she doing with Hales?”Just as Ava had predicted.The air felt suffocating for her.A few workers laughed but she kept walking, she didn't stop to explain anything or give away anything.When she reached her office, she felt relieved that she had passed those bunch of questioning eyes.“Tough morning.” Caroline's voice came as loud and cheerful as ever.Ava groaned. “Don't get me started, please.”“You heard Sofia, ri
Ava didn't sleep comfortably that night. The thoughts of where the donor came, filled her mind. “Lucas? He doesn't even know about my father's sickness.” She murmured.She thought of the tension living with the both brothers under the same roof; it felt like walking on thin ice.“Urrgh!”She sat up from her bed looking at the moon from the slightly drawn curtain.“Who would have sent the donor?” She bit her lips.“Why hide it?”Her mind traveled back during dinner and Lucas's smile, he might have done something. She hated how much she wanted to ask Lucas directly, yet feared the answer. If he did it…was it goodwill or some kind of game?“But how?” Her eyes narrowed. The next morning, Ethan had already left for work. When Ava came downstairs she wasn't surprised at all; he wore business and punctuality like a second skin.But Lucas the Hale's family black sheep sat bothered on the couch sipping coffee. His eyes lifted towards Ava's direction he smiled. “Morning darl.” He teased her
“Illegitimate heir.” The word stuck to Ava's mind. Ethan’s low rumbling voice and Lucas' careless laughter filled her ears. She didn't wait to hear more. Footsteps approached from inside and Ava sprang in action disappearing down the corridor, her heels barely making a sound on the marble floor. Back in her office she shut the door and leaned on it.The Hale brothers were already complicating enough for her.Suddenly the door swung open. “Are you hiding from someone or escaping workload?” Caroline's sing-song voice disrupted Ava's thoughts.She looked startled. “Workload…it's definitely work load.” They both chuckled.Caroline Bennett had been Ava's friend and her colleague as well. “You look like you've seen a ghost or the CEO in one of his angry moods.”“Maybe both.” Ava said forcing out a smile as she took a cup of coffee from Caroline.She had initially walked in with two cups of coffee.Caroline sat at the edge of the desk kicking off her heels from her feet.“The tension? U
He was there, sprawled across the sofa like he owned the air itself. Ava's past mistake and Ethan's dreaded nightmare.The luminous lights from the chandelier shone on his face exposing his hazel eyes in its glory. Lucas shared the same physique as Ethan. She felt a lump build up in her throat but she still fought hard to keep a clear expression. “What's he doing here?” She thought.Ethan stood beside her with a tightened fist; he didn't bother to hide his disgust.“Lucas.” He finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. “What are you doing here?” Lucas smiled. It was slow and wicked.“Is that a kind of welcome you give your brother?”Lucas's eyes darted from Ethan to Ava. “Well,” he drawled. “I didn't expect my brother to bring you home.”Ava froze. Her pulse beats increased.“Lucas,” she whispered, almost inaudible.Ethan frowned. “You two know each other?”Lucas smirked. “Yes…she left quite the impression.”“That was a long time ago.” Ava said.“Well…whatever history you have,


















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