The glow of the traffic lights washed over the wet asphalt, tinting it red. Kyrell drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, his jaw tight as his mind replayed the heated conversation he’d had with Jace days before; it was all he could think about besides Eden.
“What the hell is going on between you and my wife?”
The words had come sharp and venomous, cutting straight through the easy calm Jace usually carried. Kyrell could still hear the anger, the possessiveness that didn’t sit right with him. My wife? Last he checked, they were divorced, and it was Jace who asked for it.
The red light turned green, and a loud honk jarred him back to the present. He pressed his foot on the gas, and the car surged forward. He could’ve gone home. Should’ve gone home. His place was miles away, and the night had grown colder, wind biting at the edges of reason. But none of that mattered. He just needed to see her.
The streets were m
The first warmth of dawn crept through the blinds, painting soft stripes across the polished hardwood floor. Eden stirred before her alarm, her mind hazy, her body aware of the quiet before thought returned. The apartment was still, blanketed in that strange intimacy of shared silence, not quite awkward, not entirely peaceful.Somewhere beyond her bedroom door, the faint sound of running water told her Kyrell was awake.The memory of last night flickered: the way she’d insisted he stay, the way she’d laughed nervously while making the guest bed, and the charged moment that passed between them when he’d reached out to touch her. She had felt his warmth with just a simple touch, his quiet gravity pulling her attention until she’d all b
“Why don’t you stay the night? It’s really late.” Eden heard herself say it before she could stop the words.They slipped out quietly and too quickly, breaking the silence hanging between them. The night outside her apartment glimmered faintly with city lights, the sound of distant traffic rising and falling like a pulse beneath the stillness.Kyrell froze by the car parked at the curb, the sleek black Mercedes, polished to perfection and gleaming under the dim streetlamp. The glow caught the edge of his jawline, the faint hint of exhaustion beneath his eyes.He turned slowly, his gaze soft and searching.“You don’t have to worry about me, Eden,” he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to warm the space between them. “I’ll be fine.”She swallowed. She could have let him go. She should have. He said he was just from a meeting and had only stopped by to check in on her. He was p
The glow of the traffic lights washed over the wet asphalt, tinting it red. Kyrell drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, his jaw tight as his mind replayed the heated conversation he’d had with Jace days before; it was all he could think about besides Eden.“What the hell is going on between you and my wife?”The words had come sharp and venomous, cutting straight through the easy calm Jace usually carried. Kyrell could still hear the anger, the possessiveness that didn’t sit right with him. My wife? Last he checked, they were divorced, and it was Jace who asked for it.The red light turned green, and a loud honk jarred him back to the present. He pressed his foot on the gas, and the car surged forward. He could’ve gone home. Should’ve gone home. His place was miles away, and the night had grown colder, wind biting at the edges of reason. But none of that mattered. He just needed to see her.The streets were m
Kyrell paced his loft apartment in downtown San Francisco, the glow of the city lights painting sharp angles across the sleek hardwood floors. He had spent the past week calling Eden incessantly; each ring met with silence, each voicemail ignored. Every time her name flashed on his phone, a mixture of frustration and longing twisted inside him. He ran a hand through his dark hair, tugging at it in disbelief. How could someone he wanted more than air itself be so distant, so evasive?A deep sigh escaped him as he sank onto the couch, the soft leather welcoming his tension. He thought back to Saturday night, the bachelor party, and Eden’s laugh echoing in his ears like a melody he couldn’t forget. That night, she had smiled at him in a way that was both bold and shy, the kind of smile that made him forget breathing. And then the words she had blurted out so quickly.God, he was in love with her.“I don’t understand,” he muttered to hi
Jace stood rooted in place, his stare locked on them like a predator forced to watch its prey being stolen from right under him. Rage throbbed in his chest; it made it hard to breathe. Why the fuck was she smiling at him like that? Why did she look so goddamn happy?It wasn’t just the smile. It was the way she kept clinging to Kyrell’s hand. The betrayal twisted deeper as if someone had shoved a jagged knife between his ribs. She hadn’t just moved on; she had chosen the one man he never thought she’d dare choose.His fists clenched as he forced himself back toward the table where Sky was waiting. Every step was deliberate, heavy with the weight of fury he couldn’t afford to unleash in the middle of the elegant reception hall. Laughter echoed around him, but he didn’t feel its effect.When he slid into his seat, the taste of bile lingered in his throat. His gaze betrayed him, shifting back toward them.“Babe, are y
Jace stepped past the groaning guard, his cold gaze so sharp and unrelenting that the man immediately averted his eyes in fear of losing his job; it was a party for important people after all. Without slowing, he opened the carved oak door ahead of them and extended his hand toward Sky, who accepted it. Together they walked down a narrow passage, the polished floor glinting beneath soft amber chandeliers. At the end, an arched doorway stood open, spilling out a wash of music that grew louder with each step.The sight took even Jace’s breath for a moment. The ballroom was dazzling, its grandeur a blend of classic extravagance and modern design. Crystal chandeliers cascaded like waterfalls from the ceiling, refracting prisms of light across marble walls. Polished floors gleamed beneath the reflection of tall golden statues—stylized lions and winged goddesses—that had been positioned around the room. The color scheme was rich yet restrained, with ivory drapes t