Old lovers, New feelings.

“Where is he?! Where is my son?!" Silver yelled in fear as she rushed into the moderate but luxurious two-bedroom apartment she's been living in for three years now.

Bartholomew had wanted to get her somewhere bigger, but Silver had refused, wanting her son to have an everyday life like she did.

And now he may be in trouble because of that.

Let him be safe, please. Silver said a quick prayer before pushing the door to his room open.

She expected to find it empty or worse, damaged. Something bad must have happened if the babysitter was nowhere in sight and wasn't picking up her calls, right?

But the room wasn't empty when Silver entered. In the middle of the bed was her 2-year-old son, sleeping peacefully. From the deep snore emitting through his parted lip, Silver guessed he'd been asleep awhile.

She sighed heavily, a lone tear slipped down her left cheek as she sat on the edge of the bed. She sniffled.

She had been terrified. Even now, her hands still shook. 

Gently, she leaned over to rearrange some of the chestnut curls that were blocking the little boy's face. 

“Mathias." She whispered, choking on a sob which she quickly covered her mouth to drown. The boy was her life; she couldn't imagine what would become of her if something had happened to him. 

Silver was going to make the babysitter pay for scaring her this much.

“I love you, son." She whispered before bending to kiss his forehead gently. She straightened up and quietly exited the room.

She dialed a number on her phone and soon a voice came through.

“Yes?" 

“I need you to find my babysitter." 

               * * *

Silver Lorraine sat on one of the luxurious cushions in her living room, holding a cup of coffee. She exhaled, holding some fingers to her forehead to feel her temperature. 

Her body felt a tad bit warmer than usual, but Silver knew it was a result of the previous day’s event. As if dealing with the Carringtons wasn't enough disaster for one day, her babysitter ditched her duty. 

She left Mathias alone because she had a ‘family emergency’. Silver didn't care if the lady's home was burning; she was worried. She spent the entire night writing queries about her and hiring a new nanny, who started just a few hours ago. Silver needed all the help now.

The footsteps of the new nanny bringing her son in had her raising her head, and her mood immediately brightened.

“He's ready for school." The older woman said.

Silver smiled and nodded at the woman before retrieving the two-year-old boy from her grip. 

“Hi there, my little champion. How are we doing this wonderful morning?" Silver chirped, making a funny face at the boy. He giggled and latched his tiny hands around her neck.

"Fine! Mished you yessiday.” The boy replied with an enthusiasm that didn't help much to express his displeasure.

Silver chuckled, ruffling his hair.

“Sorry, Love. Mummy had somewhere to be. We already talked about this, remember?” She paused, shifting him so he could see her face.

"Mummy will not always be around like before because she has to work now.”

"No.” The little boy murmured in denial

"You don't want mummy to buy you a private jet?” Mentioning his biggest request seemed to do the trick; he nodded and quieted down.

Silver glanced at the wall clock before turning to face the nanny.

“The bus should be here in ten minutes. Has he eaten?" 

The nanny nodded in response.

“And his bag?”

"I'll get it.” 

The doorbell rang before the woman could leave the room. Immediately, Silver’s belly tightened with tension.

"Are you expecting anyone?” She asked the nanny, who looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

Still, Silver maintained the inquisitive expression, and the woman had no choice but to respond.

"No ma'am.” 

Silver expected the answer, but it did nothing to soothe her worries. No one was supposed to know where she stayed, so if someone is here, then it means…

Immediately, she sprang into action and handed the boy to the nanny. 

“Take him to his room and don't come out unless I say so, do you understand?”

"Yes, ma'am.” The woman nodded and disappeared through the hall with wide eyes. Thankfully, Mathias was too busy playing with his hair to notice the changed atmosphere.

Silver looked through the room for anything that would give her son’s existence away. There was nothing. She had always been careful; the only places she decorated were their rooms.

Silver waited for a few more minutes, hoping whoever was at the door would leave, but they didn't. They rang the bell again.

Resigned, she adjusted herself in her silk nightgown and headed for the door. 

At the door, Silver peeped through the doorhole, and the angry face of Burke had her jerking back with a gasp.

What the hell was he doing here?

How did he even find her?

Several thoughts ran through her mind, but none stuck long enough for her to find a way out of the present dilemma. She debated ignoring him, but Burke was a man on a mission. He rang the bell again. This time, he banged the door too, and he did it maliciously.

“Open this damn door, Silver. I know you can see me. If you can show up at my home unannounced and wreak havoc, then you should have the guts to face me.” Burke barked, venom dripping from every word he spoke.

He was angry, and Silver wasn't sure she was interested in facing him, especially when she barely slept all night.

Drawing in deep breaths, she gave herself a quick lecture about how she's the one in charge now. That did nothing to calm her, though.

“Open the door." Burke banged on the door again. 

Deciding it was safer to acknowledge him instead of ignoring him, Silver opened the door. 

“Well, about damn time." Burke snapped, his hard body brushing hers as he walked into her home like he owned it.

Silver bristled; she bit down on her tongue to silence the reproach that's on it. Gently, she closed the door and went on to join him in the living room, where she found him busy prowling around and scrutinizing her decorations.

“Nice place, although I expected something more exquisite given that you were my father's mistress,” Burke said in distaste, still pacing the room.

He found it hard to keep still, knowing that he was alone in the house with her. Despite his hot and burning anger towards Silver, there was another thing raging inside him for her. And he was scared it would take over him if he kept still.

"What are you doing here?” Her voice was low and cautious.

Her tone irritated him. Burke chanced her a glance, and he immediately regretted it.

The silk nightgown she had on was the color of champagne; it clung lightly to her frame in a way that hinted at her curves and dared Burke to unravel them.

It didn't help that the sash hung loosely, revealing just enough of her collarbone to make him remember the way it used to feel under his lips. Her dark curly hair spilled down her back in lazy waves, slightly mussed.

Burke’s chest tightened. The sight sparked something primal and unwanted in him—a painful reminder of a time when he didn’t look at her with suspicion or derision.

Burke wanted her.

He wanted to tug at the sash, he wanted to kiss her from her collarbone up to her neck, and maybe cup her breasts too. Heat pooled low in his body, a reaction he hated himself for.

Cursing under his breath, he tore his eyes away from her and focused on the mantelpiece instead, as if the carved wood could hold his attention better than she could.

He needed to leave before he did something stupid.

"Stay away from my family." He said coldly and impatiently, wanting to leave now that he was no longer himself.

“Your family? It's not just your family anymore, Burke." Silver scoffed, riling Burke further.

“I divorced you! One would think that's good enough to keep you the fuck away." He barked, pointing a finger at her. It was all he could do not to grab her and kiss her.

Burke didn't realize he still felt this strongly for her until now. He huffed and looked away again.

‘And I am the mother of your son.’ Silver wanted to retort, but she held her tongue. The information wouldn't do anyone any good.

She sighed and turned away from him, breathing a little hard. To her dismay, Silver was finding it hard to control herself around him. The only thing keeping her from ripping his suits apart was the fact that she knew her son was in a room down the hall.

Sure, it's been a while since she was alone in a room with Burke, but she thought her feelings for him had died, especially after everything he'd put her through. But she was wrong; her passion for him still burned just as fiercely, maybe even more erratically, because of their time apart.

He was her first and last. It may be time to change that.

“You need to leave,” Silver murmured in resignation. She would have to do a lot of explaining to her son later, while he wouldn't understand everything. He was a smart boy; he picked things up easily.

“Yeah, after you promised to stay the fuck away from my family,” Burke stated, glaring at her.

His fury fanned the flame of her anger.

"And if I don't?" Silver retorted, angling towards him.

Burke, not one to back down from a challenge, closed the space between them.

“I'll ruin you, Silver.” He whispered, taking a thumb to her jaw. Silver froze. The small contact chilled her from the outside, sending goose pimples over her exposed skin. But on the inside? She was on fire. Her nipples puckered.

If Burke noticed, he didn't say anything. He continued his speech, now bending close enough that their lips were only inches apart, but still Silver didn't move. She couldn't.

“I'll make you wish you'd never crossed paths with me.”

The threat was supposed to turn her off, make her disgusted; instead, Silver moaned. Appalled by her action, she tried to jerk away from him, but Burke was faster than her. 

He took a palm to her waist, dragged her closer to him and then closed his lips over hers.

Silver wanted to slap him, yell at him even for kissing her without her permission, but she didn't do any of those things. For a minute, she surrendered herself to a passion that had always ruled over her instincts and senses.

Burke had always been her weakness—her fire and her undoing. And with one kiss, he threatened to become both again.