Aurora had already freshened up after her morning bath. She sat on the edge of the bed while her gaze drifting toward the table near the floor-to-ceiling window. A box of painting tools sat there, the sunlight glinting faintly off the fine materials. She rose and walked to the table, opening the box again. Her eyes softened at the sight of the neatly arranged brushes and colors. She was grateful for Edith's generosity. Though the middle-aged woman always looked stern, she had a kind heart behind that tough exterior. Her quiet moment was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. It opened a moment later, and Grayson stepped inside. Her heart thudded wildly at the sight of him. He wore a deep blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the fabric clinging to his toned frame. His tall figure radiated quiet authority and nobility as he closed the door behind him. His gaze slid toward her, sharp and penetrating. Aurora swallowed, suddenly aware of the rising tension in the room. Her pulse
Aurora changed into a golden yellow maxi dress that reached her ankle. Her hair was tied loosely into a bun, with a few soft curls framing her delicate face. The color of the dress highlighted the warmth of her fair skin, making her look fresh and breathtaking. When Grayson walked into the living room and saw her standing there, his steps slowed. His gray eyes sharpened, and for a brief moment, his carefully guarded expression slipped. His gaze lingered, dark and intense, as if trying to commit every detail of her to memory. Aurora’s eyes lowered shyly under his stare. A faint flush colored her cheeks, but she didn’t say anything. Grayson crossed the room without saying anything, and picked up the box of her painting tools. His movements were fluid, controlled. Aurora blinked in surprise when he effortlessly carried it toward the door. “I can carry it,” she offered. Grayson’s sharp gaze cut toward her. “It’s fine.” He opened the passenger door for her, his hand resting lightly a
The bristles of Aurora’s brush moved slowly across the canvas, gliding over soft strokes of blue and white. Her fingers trembled slightly as the sea bled into the sky. The waves crashed gently against the shore, the wind rustling through palm trees above her like a whispered lullaby.She sat cross-legged on the sand, barefoot, sunlight warming her skin. Just a few feet away, Grayson reclined on a black cloth spread across the beach, legs stretched out, a glass of champagne resting loosely in his hand. But his eyes weren’t on the ocean or the painting.They were on her.Not just watching—but studying. The way her brows drew together when she concentrated. The way her wrist flicked delicately when she blended a shadow into the surf. The way her chest rose and fell with each breath, slow and steady, like she’d forgotten he was there.But she hadn’t.Aurora could feel him. Every time his gaze swept over her, it left something behind. Heat. Awareness. Her hand faltered. The brush hesitated
Days blurred in Sunnydale. The air was warmer now, slower somehow, like the town itself had softened. Morning sunlight stretched lazily across the coastal streets, and for the first time in a while, Aurora felt her chest loosen when she breathed.She hadn’t expected life with Grayson to feel anything close to normal— yet somehow, it had.Everything had shifted after that night on the beach. There was a possessiveness in him now that went deeper than his words. He didn’t need to say it; she could feel it in the way his hand lingered on her back just a moment longer, the way his eyes followed her when he thought she wasn’t looking. As if she belonged to him—body, mind, and soul.They shared the same bed now. She didn’t remember when it started, only that it had become a rhythm. The feel of his arm draped over her waist. The heat of his body curled behind hers. The low sound of his breathing lulling her to sleep.Grayson had been in Sunnydale for nearly a week. He said it was for work— s
Her breath stuttered when his fingers glided down her waist, slipping beneath the edge of her silk slip. The coolness of his touch contrasted with the slow burn spreading across her skin.She shivered, her body instinctively leaning into him. Her lips parted, a soundless gasp trembling at the back of her throat.Grayson’s gaze swept over her—dark, heavy, consuming. His hand traveled upward, sliding under her dress and lifting the delicate fabric inch by inch until the morning air kissed her bare skin. His throat bobbed as his eyes landed on the soft swell of her breast, barely lit by the faint gray dawn.“Beautiful,” he murmured, almost to himself.The word sank into her bones like a balm and a brand all at once.Then his thumb grazed over her nipple, and Aurora's breath hitched, her back arching slightly. The world around her narrowed, focusing only on the places he touched.“Grayson…”Her whisper barely reached him bef
Aurora woke slowly, her body cocooned in warmth, limbs heavy with a languid ache. Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, golden and soft, casting dappled patterns across the bed. A deep, intimate soreness pulsed quietly beneath her skin—a lingering echo of the night before. Not painful. Just… present. As if he had branded her with memory.She reached across the bed, fingers searching for him instinctively.Cold sheets.Empty space.The realization settled quietly in her chest, pressing against her chest. Her hand lingered on the mattress, where his warmth should’ve been. She closed her eyes for a moment. And there it was—his breath against her neck, the low, rough sound of his voice when he lost himself in her, the way his hands had held her like she was something fragile and dangerous all at once.Her thighs shifted slightly beneath the covers. The slow throb between them betrayed the depth of their connection. Her body remembered eve
Grayson returned home around quarter to seven in the evening. The estate was cloaked in a soft hush, peaceful yet warmer this time. His footsteps were light against the hard floor as he stepped inside, loosening his tie with one hand.And then he saw her.Aurora was curled up on the velvet sofa, a book resting in her lap. Her delicate fingers traced the edges of the pages as she leaned slightly forward, completely absorbed in her reading. A small plate of fruit sat beside her, an untouched slice of peach and strawberries resting on the edge.Grayson’s gaze softened. A sudden warmth crept into his chest, tightening under his ribcage. His feet moved before his mind registered it, drawn to her like a force he couldn’t fight.Aurora remained unaware of his presence until the sofa dipped beside her. A low hum escaped her throat as the familiar scent of Grayson’s perfume—warm spice and cedarwood—wrapped around her.Her breath stuttered when strong arms slid around her waist, pulling her gen
After dinner, the two men retreated to the study for a private conversation. Grayson and Dylan's friendship is unshakable. Though they lived in different cities, their bond ran deep. Few knew of their friendship—only Louis, the former personal butler of Grayson’s mother, was aware of the extent of their closeness.Grayson’s mother was from Sunnydale, and her family had strong ties with the Collins. This connection was the foundation of Grayson and Dylan’s almost brotherly relationship.Dylan took a slow sip of his wine, amusement dancing in his sharp gaze.“I have to say…” he began, setting his glass down with a soft clink. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Now I get it.”Grayson arched a brow. “Get what?”Dylan’s smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting over his knee. He hasn't finished teasing him yet.“Why you’ve been glued to Sunnydale for the past month.”Grayson felt a flicker of irritation. Was it directed at Dylan? Or at himself? Lately, he had be
The late morning sun filtered through the estate’s towering windows as Aurora prepared herself for the day ahead. For the first time since she had been taken into Grayson’s world, she had been given the freedom to leave without restraint. Not that she had ever been physically caged—but the invisible walls surrounding her had been just as suffocating.Yet today, as she stood by the front steps of the Moore estate, a sleek black car waiting for her, she felt something close to normalcy.Grayson had made it clear—she could visit her mother whenever she pleased. A decision that had both stunned and confused her. He was a man who controlled everything around him with an iron grip, yet he had loosened it, even if just a little, when it came to her.Aurora exhaled slowly, adjusting the strap of her small bag before stepping forward. The driver-bodyguard assigned to her opened the car door without a word, his presence a silent reminder that Grayson’s influence still shadowed her every move.S
After Dylan left the study, a heavy silence settled over the room. Grayson sat still, the weight of the conversation lingering in his thoughts.Hunter was playing a dangerous game—one he had suspected for months. But Dylan’s confirmation added a new layer of urgency. The Broker was no ordinary contact. If Hunter was involved with him, then something much larger was at play.Grayson leaned back in his chair, fingers wrapping around his glass. His mind was already assembling the next steps—tightening his grip on everything and cutting off Hunter’s influence before he could make a move. This was a long game, but one thing was certain. He would never lose.But despite the storm brewing in his thoughts, another presence filled the edges of his mind.Aurora.She was upstairs, probably asleep, unaware of the chaos happening in the world beyond these estate walls.Grayson’s mind was a battlefield, torn between logic and the venomous seed of doubt Dylan had planted. What if Damien Lopez wasn’t
After dinner, the two men retreated to the study for a private conversation. Grayson and Dylan's friendship is unshakable. Though they lived in different cities, their bond ran deep. Few knew of their friendship—only Louis, the former personal butler of Grayson’s mother, was aware of the extent of their closeness.Grayson’s mother was from Sunnydale, and her family had strong ties with the Collins. This connection was the foundation of Grayson and Dylan’s almost brotherly relationship.Dylan took a slow sip of his wine, amusement dancing in his sharp gaze.“I have to say…” he began, setting his glass down with a soft clink. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Now I get it.”Grayson arched a brow. “Get what?”Dylan’s smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting over his knee. He hasn't finished teasing him yet.“Why you’ve been glued to Sunnydale for the past month.”Grayson felt a flicker of irritation. Was it directed at Dylan? Or at himself? Lately, he had be
Grayson returned home around quarter to seven in the evening. The estate was cloaked in a soft hush, peaceful yet warmer this time. His footsteps were light against the hard floor as he stepped inside, loosening his tie with one hand.And then he saw her.Aurora was curled up on the velvet sofa, a book resting in her lap. Her delicate fingers traced the edges of the pages as she leaned slightly forward, completely absorbed in her reading. A small plate of fruit sat beside her, an untouched slice of peach and strawberries resting on the edge.Grayson’s gaze softened. A sudden warmth crept into his chest, tightening under his ribcage. His feet moved before his mind registered it, drawn to her like a force he couldn’t fight.Aurora remained unaware of his presence until the sofa dipped beside her. A low hum escaped her throat as the familiar scent of Grayson’s perfume—warm spice and cedarwood—wrapped around her.Her breath stuttered when strong arms slid around her waist, pulling her gen
Aurora woke slowly, her body cocooned in warmth, limbs heavy with a languid ache. Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, golden and soft, casting dappled patterns across the bed. A deep, intimate soreness pulsed quietly beneath her skin—a lingering echo of the night before. Not painful. Just… present. As if he had branded her with memory.She reached across the bed, fingers searching for him instinctively.Cold sheets.Empty space.The realization settled quietly in her chest, pressing against her chest. Her hand lingered on the mattress, where his warmth should’ve been. She closed her eyes for a moment. And there it was—his breath against her neck, the low, rough sound of his voice when he lost himself in her, the way his hands had held her like she was something fragile and dangerous all at once.Her thighs shifted slightly beneath the covers. The slow throb between them betrayed the depth of their connection. Her body remembered eve
Her breath stuttered when his fingers glided down her waist, slipping beneath the edge of her silk slip. The coolness of his touch contrasted with the slow burn spreading across her skin.She shivered, her body instinctively leaning into him. Her lips parted, a soundless gasp trembling at the back of her throat.Grayson’s gaze swept over her—dark, heavy, consuming. His hand traveled upward, sliding under her dress and lifting the delicate fabric inch by inch until the morning air kissed her bare skin. His throat bobbed as his eyes landed on the soft swell of her breast, barely lit by the faint gray dawn.“Beautiful,” he murmured, almost to himself.The word sank into her bones like a balm and a brand all at once.Then his thumb grazed over her nipple, and Aurora's breath hitched, her back arching slightly. The world around her narrowed, focusing only on the places he touched.“Grayson…”Her whisper barely reached him bef
Days blurred in Sunnydale. The air was warmer now, slower somehow, like the town itself had softened. Morning sunlight stretched lazily across the coastal streets, and for the first time in a while, Aurora felt her chest loosen when she breathed.She hadn’t expected life with Grayson to feel anything close to normal— yet somehow, it had.Everything had shifted after that night on the beach. There was a possessiveness in him now that went deeper than his words. He didn’t need to say it; she could feel it in the way his hand lingered on her back just a moment longer, the way his eyes followed her when he thought she wasn’t looking. As if she belonged to him—body, mind, and soul.They shared the same bed now. She didn’t remember when it started, only that it had become a rhythm. The feel of his arm draped over her waist. The heat of his body curled behind hers. The low sound of his breathing lulling her to sleep.Grayson had been in Sunnydale for nearly a week. He said it was for work— s
The bristles of Aurora’s brush moved slowly across the canvas, gliding over soft strokes of blue and white. Her fingers trembled slightly as the sea bled into the sky. The waves crashed gently against the shore, the wind rustling through palm trees above her like a whispered lullaby.She sat cross-legged on the sand, barefoot, sunlight warming her skin. Just a few feet away, Grayson reclined on a black cloth spread across the beach, legs stretched out, a glass of champagne resting loosely in his hand. But his eyes weren’t on the ocean or the painting.They were on her.Not just watching—but studying. The way her brows drew together when she concentrated. The way her wrist flicked delicately when she blended a shadow into the surf. The way her chest rose and fell with each breath, slow and steady, like she’d forgotten he was there.But she hadn’t.Aurora could feel him. Every time his gaze swept over her, it left something behind. Heat. Awareness. Her hand faltered. The brush hesitated
Aurora changed into a golden yellow maxi dress that reached her ankle. Her hair was tied loosely into a bun, with a few soft curls framing her delicate face. The color of the dress highlighted the warmth of her fair skin, making her look fresh and breathtaking. When Grayson walked into the living room and saw her standing there, his steps slowed. His gray eyes sharpened, and for a brief moment, his carefully guarded expression slipped. His gaze lingered, dark and intense, as if trying to commit every detail of her to memory. Aurora’s eyes lowered shyly under his stare. A faint flush colored her cheeks, but she didn’t say anything. Grayson crossed the room without saying anything, and picked up the box of her painting tools. His movements were fluid, controlled. Aurora blinked in surprise when he effortlessly carried it toward the door. “I can carry it,” she offered. Grayson’s sharp gaze cut toward her. “It’s fine.” He opened the passenger door for her, his hand resting lightly a