LOGINMarcus' POV The sound of my phone vibrating pulled me out of a deep, peaceful sleep. For a moment, I was completely disoriented. I couldn't remember where I was or why there was the constant sound of waves outside. Then it all came back. The Maldives. Aphrodite sleeping peacefully beside me. Our first night together in this tropical paradise. The surreal feeling of living someone else's honeymoon. I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, glowing softly in the dark. Three in the morning. Who the hell called at that hour? My first instinct was to ignore it, but when I saw the name on the screen, I knew I couldn't. It was Christian. I grabbed the phone quickly, doing everything I could not to wake Aphrodite. She looked so serene there, brown hair spread across the pillow like a soft frame around her face, her breathing slow and even. The moonlight slipping through the window lightly illuminated her delicate features, and for a moment I felt guilty for bringing the real wo
"Welcome to your honeymoon, Aphrodite," he whispered, and that rough voice which was already the soundtrack of my freedom sent a shiver down my spine despite the humid heat wrapping around us. He looked at me. Really looked at me. He must have seen the exhaustion written all over my face, the greasy hair, the travel-worn skin. "We need a shower. Now," he said, his voice low and urgent, and it wasn't just about getting clean. Without ceremony, his hands found the strap of my dress. He lifted the fabric, and I raised my arms without hesitation, letting him strip away that last layer of grime, and the memory of the journey. The dress fell onto the wooden floor. He was already pulling off his own shirt, and within seconds we were both naked, facing each other in that luxury bungalow that smelled like salt air and new beginnings. He took my hand and led me into the bathroom. The glass shower was spacious and modern. He turned on the water, adjusting the temperature until warm steam
Madeline's POV The first thing I noticed when I settled into the first-class seat was how completely at ease Apollo looked, surrounded by all that luxury. While I was still trying to figure out how the seat controls worked, he had already ordered an expensive wine from the flight attendant. Not just any wine, but something specific like he knew it by heart.“Champagne?” he offered when the attendant returned with a bottle I didn’t even know existed.“Please,” I replied, watching how naturally he handled the glass, as if drinking Dom Pérignon at thirty thousand feet were part of his everyday routine.I had thought he was just some random biker who showed up at the right place at the right time. But the way he moved in this environment, like he belonged here, made me wonder if I’d completely underestimated who this man really was.“So…” I let slip, watching him chuckle genuinely at something he was reading in the airline magazine. “I’m guessing you’re used to traveling like this.”
Marcus' POV Leaning against the glass wall overlooking the runway, I watched the constant flow of people around me. Couples laughing as they scroll through their phones. Entire families loaded down with suitcases and excitement. Executives checking last-minute emails. Solo travelers lost in books or headphones. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were—and where they were going. I, on the other hand, was standing here waiting for a woman whose name I didn't know, about to board a honeymoon that wasn't mine, based on a promise made after a night of sex that still felt unreal. I slipped my hand into the pocket of my jacket and feel the crumpled piece of paper she left had behind in the hotel room. The flight details, gate number, and time were all written in hurried but careful handwriting. "This way we don't have to exchange numbers or accidentally learn each other's names at check-in," she had said, wearing that mysterious smile I couldn't get out of my head. Any rational
Madeline's POV I shifted comfortably in bed, feeling the soft mattress beneath me like it was hugging me, trying to pull me back into peaceful sleep. I was completely ready to give in and return to that world where there were no problems or worries, where everything was exactly as it should be. So I decided that twenty more minutes of sleep wouldn't hurt anyone and tugged the comforter closer, wanting to shield myself from the pleasant chill of the air-conditioning. But the comforter didn't move. I pulled harder. Nothing. It was stuck on something. Annoyed at whatever was keeping me from slipping back into dreams, I stretched my arm back, ready to shove whatever was on the bed out of the way. I froze. My eyes flew open when my hand hit something warm, solid, and very real. Yesterday came rushing back all at once, not giving me even a second to think. My head throbbed painfully, and I couldn't tell if it was from the memories or the aftermath of far too much alcohol. "Crap
There we were again, in business class. We were seated side by side with our hands intertwined over the armrest. The only difference was that now I wore a gold band that caught the cabin light with a soft glow, and the man next to me was no longer an attractive stranger I'd just met—he was my husband. A few months ago, sitting in this very position, I never could've imagined I'd be married to the man who had taken the seat beside me on a plane. And now, here we were, about to have one child, and about to adopt another. Already blessed with the most loving little dog in the world. Ginger had flown back on a private jet with Oliver and Sarah playing babysitters. The rest of the family took advantage of the fancy ride too. But Nate and I chose a commercial flight. We still couldn't have an official honeymoon until we went through the proper tests and got the doctor's approval, but we could allow ourselves a little nostalgia. "Still afraid of flying?" Nate asked, giving my hand a gen







