MasukNONA'S POV I took the ring from Leah and headed into the dining room, leaving her standing there with that confused look on her face. I knew she probably thought I was being cruel, especially after I had just taken her engagement ring without giving her any explanation, but there was a reason for what I had done. Before I could put the dishes on the table, Emily came down the stairs hand in hand with the young man who had come along with them. I still hadn't quite caught his name last night. “Hey, Nona!” Emily called as she ran down the stairs and wrapped her arms around me. “Hey, get away from me before you make me drop the food, and good morning to you too,” I said, laughing as I carefully moved the plates away from her. She released me and grinned. “Good morning.” “Good morning, troublemaker.” She laughed before turning toward the kitchen. Leah and Damien soon came out, with Leah carrying the pancakes while Damien followed behind her, looking at her like she had hung the mo
NONA'S POV I took the ring from Leah and headed into the dining room, leaving her standing there with that confused look on her face. I knew she probably thought I was being cruel, especially after I had just taken her engagement ring without giving her any explanation, but there was a reason for what I had done. Before I could put the dishes on the table, Emily came down the stairs hand in hand with the young man who had come along with them. I still hadn't quite caught his name last night. “Hey, Nona!” Emily called as she ran down the stairs and wrapped her arms around me. “Hey, get away from me before you make me drop the food, and good morning to you too,” I said, laughing as I carefully moved the plates away from her. She released me and grinned. “Good morning.” “Good morning, troublemaker.” She laughed before turning toward the kitchen. Leah and Damien soon came out, with Leah carrying the pancakes while Damien followed behind her, looking at her like she had hung the mo
LEAH'S POV “Damien, didn't I tell you unmarried couples don't share a room in my house? I hope you have desecrated…” “We haven't done anything, Nona,” Damien said with a laugh cutting her off before she could finish. Nona looked between the two of us before giving Damien a suspicious look. “Good. Because I have cameras all over this house.” I immediately scanned the room looking around for cameras “Wait, seriously?” Damien burst out laughing. I turned to him with a frown.“You think that's funny?” “You should see your face.” “I don't like the sound of cameras being everywhere.” Nona smiled as she picked up her bag. “You have nothing to worry about, Leah. I'm glad you're here, but it's late and I'm tired. We can have dinner and talk properly tomorrow.” She started toward the stairs before turning around. “There's one more thing. Damien and Jeremy will share a room while Emily and Leah will share another.” “What Nona? We are eighteen-year-olds,” Damien complained “My house m
LEAH'S POV “We're here!” Emily screamed behind me walking up to the front door. “Ma'am Emily” the butler said bowing to her “Let me get that for you” he said reaching out to take her bag. “Papa Sebastian” she squealed, pulling him into a hug “It's been awhile how have you been?” “Oh my Emily I've missed you” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I've been good” “Oh this is going to be so much fun" she said, pulling away from him “Now where is my Nona?” she screamed as she headed farther into the house. I stood at the entrance, not sure if I should go in or run back to the airport and take the first flight to Miami. Damien takes my hand and smiles at me “No need to be nervous. Don't worry. She doesn't bite.” “You say that like I'm supposed to feel better,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. It's not every day you get to greet your fiancée's ex-mother-in-law. He laughed before turning toward the people who had followed us from the car. “Bring the bags in.” He held my hand a
ELRIC'S POV Hiding behind some trees, I watched as the car pulled away. Vivienne stood by the door, waving them goodbye before finally turning toward her car in the driveway. The moment they were gone, I stepped out from behind the trees and walked toward her waiting until I was close enough before tapping her shoulder. “Ahhh!” she screamed, jumping around with one hand pressed against her chest. I immediately burst out laughing. She spun around and glared at me. “Elric!” “I’m sorry,” I said, still laughing. “No, you’re not.” “Okay, maybe I’m not.” She shook her head, trying not to smile. “You almost gave me a heart attack.” “I didn’t know you were that easy to scare.” “I wasn’t scared until some idiot decided to sneak up behind me.” I smiled and pulled the bouquet I had been hiding behind my back. “These are for you.” She looked down at the flowers before taking them from me. “Elric…” “I know I probably should have come through the front door like a normal person, but I wa
LEAH'S POV "What if she doesn't like me?" I asked, pacing back and forth in the room while Damien packed our bags. "C'mon, babe. She's a nice woman. She'll love you and I'm sure you'll love her too," Damien assured me as he folded another shirt and placed it inside the suitcase. I turned to look at him. "You make it sound so easy." "Because it is." He said without even looking up at me. "No, it isn't." I walked over to the bed twisting the duvet nervously. "She's your former mother-in-law. What if she looks at me and thinks I'm not good enough for you? Plus I'm sure she wouldn't be glad that her son-in-law is getting married to someone else." Damien stopped what he was doing and looked at me."Why would you think that?" "Because I'm me." I shrugged, feeling small under his gaze. He raised an eyebrow. "And what's wrong with being you?" "Nothing." I sighed. "But she's your former mother-in-law. She probably has an idea of the kind of woman she wants you to be with. Charmin, sop
I wake up alone.The bed is massive and empty, sheets cool on Damien’s side. Sunlight stabs through the blinds straight into my eyes. My body hurts in ways I didn’t expect — thighs burning from clamping around his head, core tender and swollen from how many times he made me come, nipples sensitive
I don’t know how long we stay on the couch like that—me curled in his lap, naked except for the slip dress bunched around my waist, him fully clothed but holding me like I’m the only thing that matters in the world. His hand strokes slow circles on my back, his lips brush my temple every few minute
The penthouse is too quiet at midnight.Emily crashed hours ago—too much rosé, too much sun, too much gossip about some guy she’s been texting. The rooftop lights are off, the pool dark and still. I’m standing outside Damien’s office door in the hallway that feels longer than it did this afternoon,
I’m sweating before I even step off the elevator.Miami in July doesn’t care that I took two buses and walked six blocks in this dress. The heat clings like a second skin, making the thin white cotton stick to my ribs. My tote bag slaps against my hip—towel, dollar-store sunscreen, the dog-eared co







