“Luca,” Nicole said, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m so glad you could join us. I was just updating everyone on the situation.”“So I heard,” Luca replied, his voice deceptively calm. He moved into the room with Sutton beside him. “Please continue. I’m very interested in your theory about sabotage.”Nicole’s smile flickered but held. “I was explaining that the attack appeared to coincide with recent structural changes in the development department.” Her eyes flicked to Sutton, cold and calculating. Sutton was shocked by the depth of hatred in her eyes. “And that perhaps certain rushed promotions might need to be reconsidered.”Luca nodded slowly, as if considering her words. “That’s an interesting hypothesis. Also interesting that you would question my judgment in front of everyone here.” He moved to the chair at the opposite end of the table from Nicole. “But before we continue with that, I’d like to review some evidence we’ve uncovered.”Nicole’s smile disappeared entirely n
The Cyber10 office felt different as they stepped inside, everyone tense and watchful… not surprising really when no one could log into the system. Employees looked up as they passed, their gazes following Luca and Sutton with barely concealed curiosity.Shit, she had made a mistake by coming into the office with him.“We shouldn’t have come in together… People are staring,” Sutton murmured as they walked toward the elevator. “Also, they’re likely worried about the lockdown.”Luca nodded almost imperceptibly. “Good. Let them be worried.” But he didn’t say anything about them arriving together.The elevator doors opened, revealing Jake inside. His eyebrows shot up when he saw them there. He looked between Luca and Sutton, but he quickly schooled his expression, hiding any thoughts he had about it and didn’t say anything.“Boss,” he greeted Luca, then nodded to Sutton. “Morning. Or afternoon, I guess.”“Jake,” Luca returned evenly. “What’s happening?”“Systems are still in lockdown as y
Sutton stared at the garment bag Luca had laid across the bed for her. When she unzipped it, she found not just one outfit but several: a navy wrap dress, black tailored pants with a stretchy panel for her belly. A few silk blouses in various colors, and even a soft cashmere cardigan.“How did you...” she began, picking up one of the blouses. It was exactly her size.Luca leaned against the bedroom doorframe, watching her. “I may have called in a favor with a stylist. Told them your measurements from what I remembered.”Sutton raised an eyebrow. “You remembered my measurements?”“I remember everything about you.” His voice dropped slightly. “The way your body curves, how tall you are — it’s all burned into my memory.”She turned away, trying to hide the flush creeping up her neck. He still shouldn’t have this effect on her. Not after everything. And yet, last night had proved he still did. She wanted to remind him that if she was so important to him, why had he let her go.“There’s mo
His breath was warm against her hair, his chest resting against her back, one of his arms wrapped protectively around her belly and their baby.She shifted slightly. Her thighs were really aching now, and he groaned softly behind her.“Don’t move yet,” he murmured. “I like this too much.”“We smell like sex,” she said into his skin.“We do,” he agreed without shame.Her stomach growled softly, but before she could say anything, Luca shifted behind her, kissed her shoulder, and rolled to his feet. He walked around the bed and crouched beside her.“What are you doing?”“Carrying you to the bathroom.”She blinked. “I can walk.”He smirked. “You say that now.”Before she could argue, he scooped her into his arms, one hand behind her back, the other beneath her thighs. She let out a quiet laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck.“Show off.”“Absolutely.”He carried her into the connected bathroom, still warm from the sun that filtered through the frosted glass windows.Luca set her down
Sunlight spilled in through the curtains as Sutton opened her eyes. It was so bright she knew it had to be late in the morning… the kind of brightness that pressed behind her eyelids and made the world feel slow and still.Her body ached in places she hadn’t felt in months, the kind of delicious soreness that came from being truly claimed. She stirred beneath the blanket. Her body still ached, and one arm rested over her forehead, the other dragging the sheet up higher as she blinked a few times.And then she felt him. Her arm brushed his side. She turned her head toward him.Luca was watching her.He was sat against the headboard, one leg bent beneath the blanket, the other stretched long beside her. He was naked from the waist up likely entirely naked, knowing Luca. Luca never wore anything to bed.He lifted his hand and traced slow, absent-minded patterns along the curve of her hip beneath the sheets.“Have you been awake for a while?” she murmured, voice scratchy with sleep.He di
It was 4:53 a.m. by the time they stepped through the front door of his place, and Sutton was so quiet beside him that Luca kept glancing over, unsure if she was asleep with her eyes open. She wasn’t. Just worn out, shattered, was the best way to describe her.He could tell by the way she leaned her head against the window, lips parted slightly, breathing slow but not quite even. She hadn’t said much since they’d left the office, but she didn’t need to. Everything that needed to be said had happened in the last few hours at the office, and once the adrenaline had burned out of their systems. They both felt exhausted. She hadn’t even protested when he said he would take her home with him.By the time he carried her up the stairs, she was deadweight in his arms.She barely stirred.Luca took her straight into his bedroom, not the guest room. He couldn’t bear the thought of putting her somewhere separate, not after the night they’d just experienced, and he wasn’t talking about just the b