LOGINJulian’s POV The words just spilled out of me, low and nasty, my mouth right up against her ear. “I was going to make it hurt anyway.”She shivered—like, really hard. I felt it go through her whole body, even though I wasn’t even touching her yet. Her jaw was locked tight, her face turned away from me, but she didn’t shove me off. She didn’t yell. Didn’t bolt for the door.That was enough for my drunk, pissed-off brain to take as a green light.My hand flew up, my fingers grabbing the back of her neck—too rough, and I jerked her face toward mine. She gasped, and finally her eyes met mine; wide, furious, scared as hell, but so damn alive.I smashed my mouth against hers before she could get a word out. No buildup, no gentle crap. Just my teeth clacking, anger, and the sharp taste of whiskey and smoke flooding from me into her.She fought me at first—her hands pushing hard at my chest, her nails scratching whatever skin they could find—but I was bigger, heavier, and way more wasted.
Julian’s POVI didn’t even flip on the big lights when I got home. I just that one dim lamp in the corner of the bedroom—the one that barely lights anything, and the soft room lights was on, throwing long, dark shadows over the walls and making the whole place feel closed in, like a cave.My jacket was fucking lost. Probably still bunched up on the car seat. My tie? I’d ripped it off, tossed it somewhere in the hall like it didn’t cost more than most people make in a week. My shirt hung open, buttons undone the whole way down, my chest bare and sticky with sweat. I was breathing heavy, like I’d run up the stairs instead of taking the lift.I dropped hard on the long leather couch in the sitting corner in my bedroom. One leg stretched out straight, the other bent with my foot planted on the floor. One arm flung over the backrest, my fingers just dangling. The other hand wrapped tight around a whiskey glass—third or fourth pour, I’d stopped counting.The cigarette between my fingers bur
Julian’s POVI shoved the heavy door to my office open with my shoulder—same old creak, louder than usual in the empty hallway—and pretty much stumbled inside. I just collapsed onto the leather sofa, letting it take all my weight with that deep, familiar groan that it always gives when someone relaxes on it.Leon followed right behind me, already yanking at his tie like it was strangling him. He dropped into the armchair opposite me, stretched those long legs out, and looked way too comfortable, like the day hadn’t chewed him up at all.The whiskey was waiting on the wine table, half-full bottle, two glasses already out. I didn’t even think—just reached over, twisted the cap off which stuck for a second, annoying as hell, and poured us both a healthy glass. The liquid glugged out unevenly; as I overpoured mine a little, splashed a drop on the glass table. Whatever.I slid one glass toward him. It stopped just short; he had to lean forward to grab it. He nodded a quick thanks anyway.
Ava’s POVI just stood there, like my feet were glued to the floor, staring up at Julian like he’d actually slapped me. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt, thumping against my ribs, but I tried to keep my face blank. Or at least not totally freak out. I swallowed—loud, I think—and forced the words out even though my voice wanted to shake.“What did you just say?”He didn’t repeat it. Didn’t explain either. He just looked at me with that lazy little smile, his eyes so dark in the light coming through the curtain blinds that they almost looked black.“You should check it, you know.” he said, his voice all low and calm, like we were talking about coffee or something. “Before I lose it and do something nasty. I'm not really that patient.”It was quiet, but it still hit like a punch. My skin went all prickly, goosebumps everywhere even though it wasn’t cold.I took a couple steps back—just enough to breathe—right when I heard Leon coming down the stairs. Those familiar footsteps.He wal
Ava’s POVI pushed the bedroom door open very quiet, but the click still sounded way louder than I wanted it to so early this morning. Leon was already half-dressed, standing there in front of the full mirror, fiddling with the last couple buttons on his white shirt. He looked all put together already—his dark suit fitting his shoulders perfect, and his tie just hanging loose around his neck like he hadn’t gotten to that part yet. He caught me in the mirror looking at him and turned around, that smile hitting his face the second he saw me. God, that smile of his still got to me. Every time.I walked across the room, the floor cold enough to wake me up a bit more. “Where you headed so early?” I asked, trying to sound casual, like it was just another normal morning.“Got a quick meeting with The Board,” he said, shrugging one shoulder while he finished the buttons. His voice was easy, nothing weird about it. “Won’t take long.”I stepped closer—close enough to smell his cologne mixe
Leon’s POVBella rolled over onto her stomach, real slow, like she was in no rush even though everything felt like it was crashing down for me. Her cheek pressed into the pillow, that dark hair of hers all tangled and falling everywhere.She pulled her legs up behind her, her knees bent, ankles crossing lazy in the air. The sheet had slid down a bit, showing the curve of her back... and those faint red marks I'd left. Yeah, my marks.She looked up at me, her eyes soft but sharp at the same time. “Why don’t you just stay the night?”I was already scrambling, hunting for my clothes like the room was on fire. My pants were halfway under the bed—I yanked them out, shoved one leg in, almost fell over hopping into the other. Shirt was crumpled on the chair. I grabbed it, arms flailing through the sleeves, buttons only half done ‘cause my fingers wouldn’t cooperate.Zipper next. Damn thing stuck for a second. Words came out harsher than I wanted. “I promised my wife that no nights out.”Bell







