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Chapter 197: Quiet Preparation
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2026-09-24 14:00:24The morning light filters through the curtains in this, pale strips, illuminating the organized chaos of the bedroom. Oliver’s icy blue eyes open automatically at 6:30 AM– a habit his body refuses to break, even on a Friday. He stays still for a moment, feeling the weight of Harper’s body pressed against his side. Her breathing is deep and even, the kind of sleep that only comes after a long night and a few too many shots. He glanced down at her, his expression softening. He
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“Time’s up.” Oliver said once the temperature was right, thought his tone was anything but strict. He rolled his shoulders, ran a hand through his messy black hair and glanced briefly toward the door, waiting for Harper to appear. He took the towel from the vanity and hung it over the nearby rail, making sure it would be ready when he finished. Harper walked into the bathroom, naked and unashamed. “Did you miss me?” she asked teasingly.The sight of her, completely unashamed and glowing in the steam, makes his breath hitch. He closes the distance between them in two long strides, his hands finding her waist and pulling her flush against him. “You have no idea,” he murmurs, his voice dropping an octave. He kisses her deeply, a slow, possessive claim that tastes of coffee and morning warmth. The shower is already running hot, the steam curling around them like a veil. They both stepped into the glass enclosure, pulling the glass door ge
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As Oliver move to the coffee table to set down the tray, Harper stirred. A pained groan escaped her lips and her hand moved to her forehead. The sound of her groan makes his heart squeeze. He immediately sets the tray down and moved to the edge of the bed, sitting beside her. “Morning, headache,” he says softly, his voice warm and devoid of any office-ready sharpness. He reaches out, pressing the back of his hand gently against her forehead to check or a fever, though he knows it is just the symptoms of a hangover. He picks up the glass of water from the small wooden tray with one hand and the two aspirin pills with the other, holding them out to her. “Here. Drink this first, then the coffee,” he instructs, his tone gentle but firm– the same way he handles things in his life, even when he is being caring. “I made it exactly how you like it. Two sugars, a splash of milk.” He watches her closely, waiting for her to sit up, his icy blue eyes fi
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 197: Quiet Preparation
The morning light filters through the curtains in this, pale strips, illuminating the organized chaos of the bedroom. Oliver’s icy blue eyes open automatically at 6:30 AM– a habit his body refuses to break, even on a Friday. He stays still for a moment, feeling the weight of Harper’s body pressed against his side. Her breathing is deep and even, the kind of sleep that only comes after a long night and a few too many shots. He glanced down at her, his expression softening. Her auburn hair is a mess across the pillow, and there is a faint flush still clinking to her cheeks. He reached out, his fingers barely brushing her shoulder, before pulling back. ‘Friday,’ he thinks. ‘The briefing is at ten and the budget meeting at two.’ He carefully untangles himself from the duvet, moving with practiced precision to avoid waking her. He slips out of bed and crosses the room to his wardrobe, moving with exaggerated care.After opening his wardrob
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 196: Mr Practicality
“But, darling, if brevity’s what ye’re after, ye’ll have tae settle for ‘Knox.’ It’s short, it’s punchy, and it’s impossible tae forget. Much like yer whisky.” Knox gestured to the glass. “So, Mr Practicality. Since ye’ve successfully stripped me o’ my poetic title, what d’ye actually do for a livin’? Or d’ye also just ‘create drama’ as a full-time occupation?”“I spin chaos and logic into functional reality and whisper commands that inanimate metal obeys,” Anders says theatrically with a wink. “But technically I am a computer programmer.” Knox’s mouth dropped open, and for the first time in his life, he was genuinely speechless. He stared at Anders for several long seconds, his brain clearly trying to reconcile the ‘whisperer of metal’ with the reality of a man who sat in front of a glowing screen all day. Then,
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After Harper left Sommons’, Knox was still sitting at the bar, having one last cocktail. In front of him is a classic, crystal clear martini style cocktail in a traditional wide, V-shaped martini glass with a very think, delicate stem and a broad circular base. A long, curled strip of tallow lemon peel is visible inside the lower portion of the glass beside a green olive resting on a long cocktail pick garnished across the rim. As he took a small sip of his martini, a man slides into the bar stool beside him and ordered a whisky neat. The man is tall, with a strong defined jawline; prominent cheekbones; a straight well-defined nose and slightly narrowed hazel brown eyes. Knox notices his short, neatly styled brown hair and closely groomed facial hair. The man was wearing an exceptionally formal charcoal black three-piece style suit ensemble. The jacket is sharply tailored with broad, structured shoulders; narrow, elegant lapels; a fitted torso and a clean breast pocket. A cris
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 194: Please, What?
“Please, what?” Tera asked playfully. “Tell me what you want?” The playfulness in her voice was the final thread snapping. Marius’s hands moved to the clasp of her sports bra, his fingers trembling just enough to betray him. “I want you,” he said, the words stripped of any pretence. “I want to forget everything else exists. Just you. Right now.” He unhooked the bra and tossed it aside, his gaze sweeping over her with an intensity that made the air in the room feel thick. He leaned down, his lips finding the sensitive skin just below her collarbone, his breath hot against her. “I want you to make me forget,” he whispered, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Make me forget my own name.” he moved his hand lower, his touch firm and possessive, pulling her hips up to meet him. the world outside was finally, truly gone.“Anything for you,” Tera whispered and widened her legs invitingly.
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A small, almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of Oliver’s mouth as she suggested a cafe mocha for tomorrow. The idea of another deviation from his usual black coffee routine seemed to amuse him in a way he rarely allowed himself. “Cafe mocha, huh?” he repeated, his voice losing some of its
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