MasukAdrian's POV I was ten minutes from home when Noah called. Mrs. Marlow, our newest client, had gotten cold feet over a clause in the lease she'd already agreed to twice. Two hours later, after walking her through the same paragraph three different ways, I finally had her signature and a headache that sat heavy behind my eyes. By the time I climbed the stairs at the mansion, all I wanted was silence. What I found instead was Grandpa with his mouth stuffed full of cookies, cheeks puffed out like a child caught red handed. "Grandpa." He froze mid chew. Then, quick as he could, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, crumbs still clinging to his lip. "They're sugarfree," he said, like that settled anything. "Ethan got them for me." "Still doesn't mean you finish half the box in one sitting." I held my hand out. "Give it back." He pouted at me, a grown man of his age, arms crossing over his chest in open rebellion. For a moment I thought he'd actually argue it. Then,
Ethan's POV The mansion grew closer with every passing mile, its familiar silhouette rising against the darkening sky, and something in my chest tightened with each meter the car covered. *I don't want to go in.* *Not yet. Not today.* I wanted to run. Wanted to disappear somewhere quiet for just a few hours, somewhere that didn't hold Grandpa's hopeful smile or Adrian's cold, knowing eyes waiting for me behind those gates. But I knew what waited on the other side of that decision too. Grandpa, puzzled and hurt by my absence. Adrian, irritated at having to explain it, or worse, irritated that I'd dared to keep his grandfather waiting. I sighed, gripping the wheel tighter. *Just go home. Just face it.* Just before the turn that led toward the Blackwood estate, my foot pressed the brake. I knew the consequences. I was fully aware of what waited for me, of how Adrian might react, of the explanations I'd have to give. And still, my leg refused to move, refused to release t
Ethan's POVThe rest of the day passed in a strange, disoriented blur.I sat at my desk, staring at the same spreadsheet for what must have been twenty minutes without actually reading a single number on it, my mind looping endlessly back to the same handful of moments.*Grandpa's smile. The word engagement. Adrian's laughter. The darkness in his eyes right after.*None of it made sense together. None of it fit the way pieces of a person were supposed to fit.I pressed my palms against my face, exhaling slowly.*Bound to his orders. He said that like it was nothing. Like I was nothing more than a decision waiting to be made for me.*And yet.And yet some small, foolish part of me kept circling back to a different memory entirely, one that had nothing to do with warnings or cold grey eyes narrowing inches from my face.I let my eyes drift shut for just a moment, the office noise fading into something distant and unimportant.---(A few years back)It had been a warm evening, golden lig
Ethan's POVAdrian sat sprawled across the recliner, utterly unbothered, his arms stretched along the headrest, one leg crossed lazily over the other. There was a mischief lingering in the curve of his mouth, a smugness that made my blood simmer just beneath the surface.I threw my hands up, exasperated."Well?" I demanded. "Aren't you going to say something?"I expected him to speak. To calm the storm his grandfather had just dropped on me like a bomb waiting to detonate. To say anything at all about the word still ringing in my ears.He tilted his head slightly, shaking one leg in idle rhythm."What?" he finally asked, as though he'd only just noticed I was standing there."Don't you have something to say?" I pressed, cocking a brow."About what?""As if you don't know what Grandpa said." I huffed, crossing my arms. "Just now."He blinked, feigning confusion with an ease that made my irritation spike further, his lips slowly forming an exaggerated little "o" before he leaned forward
Ethan's POV I woke to an empty room. The space beside me on the bed remained untouched, the sheets smooth and undisturbed, and for a moment I simply lay there, disoriented, blinking at the ceiling before the reality of it settled in. *Adrian isn't here.* I sat up slowly, glancing toward the small clock on the nightstand. Later than I usually woke, though not late enough to explain the silence pressing against the walls of the room. I freshened up quickly, pulling on the first clothes within reach before making my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing a little too loudly against the quiet corridors. Grandpa wasn't in the study. He wasn't in the garden either, no walking stick propped near his usual chair, no half finished cup of tea waiting on the table beside his newspaper. I walked into the dining room instead, settling into my seat as a plate of breakfast was quietly placed before me. I ate a few bites in silence before finally glancing up. "Mrs. Rosamund." She appeared almo
Adrian's POVThe clock hit at 6 pm and I left for home. The moment my car reached the porsche and I walked down their voices reached me before I even saw them. Drifting down the hallway the moment I stepped through the door."You moved your knight wrong," Grandpa was saying, squinting at the board with theatrical suspicion."I moved it exactly right," Ethan replied, not even looking up. "You're just upset because I'm about to take your bishop.""Nonsense. I taught Adrian this game when he was seven. I know a cheat when I see one.""I'm not cheating, Grandpa.""Then explain the knight.""It's called strategy."Grandpa huffed, leaning back in his chair with mock offense. "In my day, strategy meant patience. Not this... this reckless leaping about."I paused in the doorway, unnoticed, watching Ethan press his lips together to keep from laughing outright."Reckless leaping about is literally what a knight does, Grandpa.""Don't get smart with me.""I'm just stating facts."Grandpa pointe
Adrian's POV:I tried to sleep after Seraphine left. But the bed felt too cold, too vast, too achingly empty without Ethan's scent and presence beside me. I lay there staring at the ceiling for what felt like an hour, maybe more, listening to the silence of the room like it was mocking me. It was d
Adrian's POV:They're already seated when I walk in.That's the rule. Not written anywhere. Not announced to anyone new. Just understood, the way everything in this world is understood, through watching what happens to those who forget.The room rises the second I step through the door. Not out of
Ethan’s POV:I swallowed hard. My own cock was throbbing, aching for release, but I wanted to give him pleasure too. I turned toward him and reached down. My hand slid inside his pants and found him. He was rock hard, hot and heavy in my palm.He groaned the moment I touched him. “Fuck… yes…”I stro
Ethan’s POV It's been two days since that kissing incident occurred, it had no feelings like before but pure dominance which left me disgusted. Thankfully, my fever got high and I didn't have to face him much but today I feel good and decided to help Mrs. Rosamand for his dinner. "You should rest







