SAMANTHA The room is quiet, painted in the soft gold of dawn. The curtains let in just enough light to touch everything gently, including Davon’s sleeping face. He lies on his back, one arm over his chest, the other resting beside him. The sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones look softer now, his lashes dark against his skin.For a moment, I just watch him. He looks calm, nothing like the intense, commanding man he becomes when he’s awake. But when my eyes drift lower, over the strong muscles of his chest, the ridges of his stomach, and finally the shape under the sheets, my breath catches. Warmth spreads through me, slow and deep.Carefully, I slip out from beneath the blanket, letting it fall around my waist. The cool air kisses my skin as I move closer. He doesn’t stir when I lean over and press a soft kiss to his chest. His skin is warm beneath my lips, and I trace a line downward, teasing lightly.“Sam…” His voice is rough and sleepy, low enough to make me shiver, but his eyes
SAMANTHA I let out a soft whimper, my head falling against his shoulder as Davon lowers us onto the bed. The moment feels electric, the air thick with anticipation, our hearts beating in synchronicity as though the world around us fades. His body stays pressed against mine, every inch igniting a spark, sending warmth coursing through me. As I tighten my legs around his waist, I can feel the slow, steady rhythm of his movements, each one deliberate and unhurried, like he’s savoring every detail of me.“You feel that?” he whispers, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “How perfectly you fit with me? It’s like we were made for this, made for each other.” “Yes,” I breathe, my voice catching in my throat as the tension coils tighter within me, a pulsating energy building with his every thrust. “Davon, I—”“Say it,” he interrupts gently but with an unmistakable strength in his tone, the commanding undertone wrapping around my senses. “Say you’re mine.”“I’m you
SAMANTHA His hands are everywhere, rough and warm and certain as he pulls me up from the bed, his mouth finding mine with an urgency that steals my breath. The kiss is wild, desperate, full of heat and longing, his teeth brushing my bottom lip before his tongue claims me, deep and demanding. I can hardly breathe before he turns me around, pressing my back against the cool glass of the floor-to-ceiling window.The contrast makes me shiver, the cold glass against my skin, his body burning against mine. He moves closer until there’s no space left between us, his hands gripping my thighs as he lifts me with ease. My legs wrap around his waist, and I can feel him, every heartbeat, every breath, every ounce of restrained hunger.“You remember this?” he murmurs, his voice rough against my ear. “The first time I touched you like this? The way you asked for more?”“Yes,” I whisper, my fingers clutching his shoulders as he presses against me, teasing me until I can barely stand it. “Davon, ple
DAVON “Not yet,” I say, my eyes scanning the wreckage around us. “We send a message. Every Griss loyalist left alive will understand what happens when they come for my family.”Brad nods, his expression dark and resolute. “Consider it done.”I turn, and there she is. Samantha, standing in the doorway. Her face is pale but steady, her eyes meeting mine without fear. For a moment, everything else fades—the smoke, the shouting, the blood. It’s just her.She steps forward, holding her chin high. “What now?”“Now,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her close, “we rebuild.”Her gaze searches mine, soft but determined. “Together?”“Always,” I promise, and the words feel like a vow that reaches deeper than the chaos we’ve survived.Samantha stands beside me as we face our men. Her hand is warm in mine, her presence strong and calm. She’s no longer just my wife. She’s the Rancho queen.The silence after war feels heavier than the noise of battle. Bodies cover the estate grounds, both Griss a
DAVON Brad meets me at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the mansion. His shirt is streaked with blood, but he’s still standing, still fighting. That’s why he’s my second.“They came through the south perimeter first,” he shouts over the sound of bullets hitting metal. “The Griss family isn’t holding back this time. They’re going for a full takeover.”“Or total extinction,” I growl, loading my weapon. The sharp click of the chamber sliding into place sounds like a warning from hell itself.Brad’s face is tight with tension. “They’re targeting you, Davon. You and the kid.”My grip on the gun tightens. The thought burns through me. They want my son dead. My family erased.“Not tonight,” I say, pushing past him and charging into the chaos.The front grounds look like a war zone. Smoke and sparks fill the air, and the sound of gunfire is deafening. My men shout commands and return fire from behind broken pillars and burned-out cars. Every flash of light cuts through the darkness, an
DAVON The call ends with Brad shouting orders to someone in the background. His voice is rough and urgent.“Davon, it’s bad. The Griss family isn’t holding back this time. You need to get here now.”I slip my phone into my pocket and turn to Samantha. She’s already standing, her face pale but steady, her hands trembling just enough to show the fear she’s trying to hide.“You’re staying here,” I say firmly, pointing toward the room. “This isn’t your fight.”Her jaw tightens, a flash of anger and determination burning in her eyes. “I’m your wife, Davon. Your fight is mine too.”I take a step closer, my chest tight with frustration. “Samantha, this isn’t about pride. It’s about survival. Leo needs you alive.”She squares her shoulders, her voice calm but fierce. “Leo needs both of us alive. And you’re not going without me.”For a moment, I can’t speak. Her words hit harder than any bullet could. She means every word, and I know her well enough to see there’s no changing her mind. My eye