เข้าสู่ระบบXavier POVThe room was completely quiet except for the sound of our heavy breathing and the distant hum of the city far below.I hovered over Marissa, easing my weight down onto the mattress with deliberate, agonizingly slow care. Every muscle in my arms was locked tight as I held myself up, terrified that if I lost control for even a second, I would hurt her. I leaned down, kissing her brow, her temple, and then the corner of her lips with a tenderness that felt almost foreign to me.I moved into her slowly, taking my time, watching her face for any sign of discomfort or pain."Xav..." Marissa breathed, her hands coming up to rest on my biceps."I am right here," I whispered against her skin, keeping the pace soft and steady. I brought my hand down to smooth back the damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead. "Tell me if it's too much. I don't want to rush you."She looked up at me through the dim light, her almond eyes searching mine behind the silver frame. Instead of the deli
Xavier POVThe warm water swirled around our waists, sending clouds of fragrant steam into the cool air of the dark stone bathroom. Marissa rested her hands against my wet chest, her chest heaving as she looked at me through heavy-lidded blue eyes and her hot pink lips were quivering."Close your eyes Zaika," I whispered in her ears...my low voice filling the whole room and then the ripples of water."Good Zaika, now soak in it. Feel it all in," I urged her, I was clearly enjoying watching her closing her eyes and following my voice.Just then I carefully gathered her hair and then stylishly pulled it up in a high ponytail style. After I was done with that... I pushed my hands through her ginger hair and was gently combed it with my fingers which was very unnecessary but it's was a self service to me."I have got you, little bird," I rasped, my thumb gently tracing the high curve of her cheekbone as I held her flush against me.Marissa pouted slightly, her wet lips parting as she let
Xavier POVI could barely keep my hands off her long enough to press the private elevator button.The moment the doors slid shut, sealing us into the glass elevator ascending toward the top floor, I backed Marissa against the wall. The cool glass behind her did nothing to temper the blazing heat between us. Her hands gripped my forearms, pulling me down as I captured her lips once more, tasting the faint lingering sweetness of red wine and pure desire."Xav..." she murmured against my mouth, her fingers tangling into my hair as the elevator dinged on the top floor.We stumbled out into the grand entryway of the penthouse, making out all the way up the short flight of floating marble stairs. The midnight-blue silk of her gown rustled softly against my trousers. Every soft gasp she let out under my touch only fueled the primal fire roaring in my chest.When we reached the top step, however, I felt her stumble slightly, her body tensing as she favored one foot.I immediately pulled back,
Xavier POVSitting across from Marissa under the warm lights of the restaurant, watching the faint reflection of the chandelier catch in her newly dyed chestnut hair, my chest ached with a heavy, suffocating conflict.I was playing a dangerous, selfish game.To the rest of the world and to her every single morning I was Xavier Sterling: the cold, unyielding CEO who lived across her hall, bought out luxury suites, and hid his possessive tendencies behind corporate dominance. But beneath this intricate silver mask, I was Xav, the protector she actually opened her heart to, the man she trusted with her deepest thoughts and quietest smiles.They were both me. Every single touch, every single word, every carefully orchestrated moment of care came from the exact same man.I wished so desperately, so damn badly, to reach up, unhook the silver frame from my face, and tell her the truth. I wanted to look her in the eyes without a barrier between us and tell her that every single piece of prote
Marissa POVBy 7:55 PM, I stepped out of my apartment building in the floor-length midnight-blue silk gown, the silver heels clicking softly against the pavement. I expected a sleek black town car with a uniformed driver waiting to open my door, just like every other absurd luxury experience I had been pulled into lately.Instead, a striking midnight-blue sports car was parked right at the curb.The driver's door opened, and a tall figure stepped out into the ambient streetlights. He wore a tailored, dark suit, his face covered by that iconic, intricate silver mask that glinted in the night. There was no driver, no security detail, no entourage trailing behind him. Just Xav."You look stunning, little bird," Xav murmured, his deep voice carrying that familiar, low rumble that sent a strange flutter through my chest.He opened the passenger door for me himself, placing a warm, steady hand on the small of my back as I slid into the leather interior. He rounded the car, slipped into the
Marissa POVBreakfast turned out to be a surprisingly chaotic, domestic affair.Xavier’s driver delivered a mountain of fresh, flaky croissants, fruit tarts, and savory pastries from the French bakery downtown within twenty minutes. My hands were full from grabbing it but then Xavier was quick to come and get it from me and I smiled at him.Alina immediately abandoned her dramatic protest on the couch, diving into the spread like she hadn't eaten in days, while Xavier sat across from me at the kitchen island, quietly sipping his coffee and watching me with that unreadable, intense gaze.By noon, Alina announced she had a salon appointment and scooted out the door, leaving Xavier and me standing alone in the quiet space of his apartment."I should get back to my place," I said, setting my empty coffee mug in his pristine sink and wiping my hands on a cloth napkin. "I need to go through my updated blueprints for the Kensington project before Monday."Xavier leaned his hip against the ma
Marissa POV "You see how we cut the line? No hassle. We are hot, babe," Hailey said, adjusting her cleavage in the mirror-lined hallway. Her blonde hair was snatched back into a high, lethal ponytail, her green eyes popping against thick, dark mascara. She looked like a predator in her shimmering
Marissa POVI woke up to a cold, damp pillow. My face felt tight, my eyes swollen nearly shut from the "hot tears" that had slammed down my cheeks until I finally passed out from exhaustion. The house was deathly quiet....no sound of Ethan’s humming, no scent of morning coffee. Just the lingering g
Marissa POVI stood in the center of our pristine living room, the space I had spent the last two years turning into a sanctuary.Now, the silence felt like a predator. I was utterly bamboozled no, dumbfounded didn't even touch the edges of it. It felt as if the floor had suddenly liquefied, leavin
Marissa POVMy stomach felt like it was eating itself. After the fifth rejection, I had finally given up on the corporate crawl and ducked into a small, dimly lit restaurant three blocks away from the Grand. I didn't care about the menu prices....I just needed something to stop the shaking in my ha







