LOGINLia didn't sleep Sunday night.She lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Victor Kane's cold smile. Heard his words echoing in her head. You're sleeping with the most dangerous man in Silvercrest. That makes you valuable.She was trapped. Completely and utterly trapped. If she refused to give Victor information about Caspian, he'd send those photos to Julian. To the Whitmore family. Her marriage would explode. She'd lose everything in the divorce because of that damn prenup.But if she agreed, if she betrayed Caspian, she'd be putting him in danger. And when he found out, because he would find out eventually, he'd never forgive her.Either way, she lost.Dawn finally came. Gray light filtering through the windows. Lia dragged herself out of bed. Showered. Got dressed in jeans and a sweater. Her hands shook as she applied makeup.Today was Monday. Two PM. The Daily Grind. She had to meet Victor. Had to hear what he really wanted. Maybe she could nego
LIA'S POVLia couldn't breathe.She stared at her phone screen. At the photo of herself walking into the Azure Hotel. At the message threatening to tell Julian everything.Her hands shook so badly she almost dropped the phone. Someone knew. Someone had followed her. Photographed her. And now they were threatening to destroy everything.Another message came through.Unknown: Meet me. Monday. 2 PM. The Daily Grind. Come alone. Don't tell anyone. Especially not Nero.They knew about Caspian. Knew his name. Which meant they knew everything. How long had they been watching? What else did they have?Lia's chest tightened. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision. She was having a panic attack. Right here in her bed at midnight with Julian somewhere in the house.She forced herself to breathe. In through her nose. Out through her mouth. Slow. Steady. The spots faded. Her vision cleared.She looked at the message again. Monday. Two days away. They were giving her time to think about it. T
The drive home felt too short. Lia's hands gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles turned white. Her mind raced through possible excuses. Explanations. Lies she'd have to tell.Julian had called Isla. He knew she hadn't spent the entire night there. Which meant she needed a story. Fast.She pulled into the driveway of Ravencourt Estate at noon. Julian's car was there. Her stomach twisted. She'd hoped he'd be out. At the club. With Vanessa. Anywhere but home.No such luck.Lia grabbed her purse and walked to the front door. Her legs felt shaky. She was still sore from last night. From Caspian. The reminder made her blush even as fear crawled up her spine.Inside, the house was quiet. Too quiet. She set down her keys. Listened. Heard movement from the kitchen.Julian appeared in the doorway. He looked like hell. Rumpled clothes. Hair a mess. Bloodshot eyes. Definitely hungover."Where the fuck were you all night?" His voice was sharp. Angry."I told you. Isla's. We had dinner a
LIA'S POVLia woke slowly, her body warm and pleasantly sore in ways she'd never experienced before. For a moment, she didn't remember where she was. Then it all came rushing back.Caspian. The hotel suite. Last night.Her eyes opened. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden light across white sheets. She was wrapped in strong arms. A solid chest pressed against her back. Steady breathing against her neck.She'd spent the night. The entire night. With Caspian Nero.A smile tugged at her lips. She felt different. Lighter. Like some weight she'd been carrying for five years had finally lifted. Her body ached in the best way. Muscles she didn't know she had were protesting. But underneath the soreness was satisfaction. Deep, bone-deep satisfaction.The arm around her waist tightened. Pulled her closer."You're awake," Caspian's voice was rough with sleep. Low and gravelly in a way that sent heat pooling between her thighs despite everything they'd done last nig
WARNING: Extremely explicit sexual contentLIA'S POVLia couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Couldn't do anything except feel.Caspian's mouth was on her. His tongue sliding through her folds. Hot and wet and absolutely sinful. She'd never felt anything like this. Julian had never gone down on her. Had said it wasn't something he enjoyed. So she'd never known. Never experienced this kind of pleasure.And God. She'd been missing out."Caspian!" His name ripped from her throat. Raw. Desperate. Her hands flew to his hair. Gripping. Not sure if she was trying to pull him closer or push him away from the overwhelming sensation.He groaned against her pussy. The vibration sent shockwaves through her entire body. His hands gripped her thighs. Spread her wider. Held her open for him like she was a feast he'd been starving for.His tongue circled her clit. Slow. Teasing. Then he sucked it into his mouth and she nearly came off the bed. Her hips bucked. He held her down with one strong arm acro
WARNING: Explicit sexual contentLIA'S POVThe suite hadn't changed since she'd arrived. Still dim lighting casting shadows across expensive furniture. Still warm from the fireplace crackling in the corner. Still thick with something she couldn't name but could feel crawling across her skin like electricity.Caspian was behind her now. They'd moved from the couch after talking for hours. After opening up in ways neither of them had expected. After admitting without words that this was more than just sex. More than just an affair.His hands found her waist. Thumbs digging slow circles into the tight muscles just above her hips. His breath was steady. Calm. Like he was in complete control even though she could feel the tension radiating off him. Like he wasn't slowly taking apart every defense she'd carefully built over five years of marriage."You're so tense," he murmured. His voice was low near her ear. Dark. Promising. "Do you ever let yourself rest?"Lia wanted to answer. I wanted







