LOGINThe private lounge was luxurious in the way that only a CEO's personal space could be.Soft lighting, plush furnishings, a fully stocked bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the entire city of Rome. It was a space designed for comfort and privacy, a sanctuary away from the rest of the office.He carried her inside and set her down gently on her feet, but his hands never left her body. They gripped her waist, keeping her against him, keeping her exactly where she needed to be."You look so beautiful right now, Lyra," he said, his voice rough and dark with promise. "And I'm going to fuck you so hard that you forget every single doubt you had about Victoria. I'm going to make sure that the only thing you can think about is me inside you."She nodded, unable to form words, her entire body trembling with anticipation and need.He pushed her dress up around her waist, his hands gripping her hips as he lifted her again. Her back pressed against the soft leather of the lounge cha
"Yes," she whispered, desperation coloring every syllable of the word. "Yes, please.""Yes what?" he demanded, his hand gripping her waist with just enough pressure to make her acutely aware of his strength, of his control, of the fact that she was completely in his power."Yes, sir," she breathed out.He smiled...a dark, possessive smile that suggested he was about to do exactly what he'd promised."Then beg for it, Lyra," he said softly. "Beg me to touch you."She hesitated for just a moment, pride warring with desire, independence battling against the complete surrender he demanded from her.But desire won.It always won when it came to him."Please," she whispered, the word coming out broken and desperate. "Please touch me, sir. Please make me yours."He chuckled darkly at her words, a sound that was pure satisfaction."Oh, you're already mine, Lyra," he said, his hands moving to her hips. "Every single inch of you belongs to me. Your body, your heart, your mind....all of it is mi
Victoria looked between the two of them, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth.It was the smile of a woman who understood exactly what was happening, who could read the subtext of every interaction, who was enjoying the subtle tension playing out before her."Well," Victoria said, her voice smooth as silk, "I should probably let you two get to your work."She bent down toward Damien's desk....not sitting, just bending slightly, and reached out to touch his hand gently. The gesture was brief, but it was deliberate. Her fingers brushed against his hand for just long enough to register, to be noticed, to mean something."Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today," Victoria said softly, her eyes holding his for just a moment longer than was strictly professional. "I still need to get to the warehouse before heading home, but I do hope we can continue our discussion soon. I find our conversations absolutely fascinating."Damien nodded, his expression giving nothing away
The afternoon light was beginning to shift toward that golden hour that suggested the workday was drawing to a close.Lyra had been focused on her design projects all day, sketches for the Voltish collection, authentication notes for pieces that had come through the office, various administrative tasks that kept her occupied and, more importantly, kept her mind from wandering to places she didn't want it to go.But then Emma knocked on her office door."Come in," Lyra called, not looking up from her work.Emma entered with that characteristic brightness of hers, but there was something in her expression that suggested she had gossip. The kind of gossip that she felt obligated to share with Lyra, whether Lyra wanted to hear it or not."Okay, so," Emma said, closing the door behind her and settling into the chair across from Lyra's desk with the comfort of someone who'd done this many times before, "I don't know if you've noticed, but Victoria Solare has been here A LOT lately."Lyra's
He answered on the third ring."I was expecting to hear from you," he said, his tone suggesting he'd anticipated this call."I need more information," Karla said, her voice cold and controlled. "The woman in some of the photographs...Victoria Solare. I need to know everything about her. Her connection to Damien. Does she have leverage with him? Does she have history with him? I need to know everything, Tyler. Everything.""That's going to take some digging," Tyler said slowly. "Victoria Solare comes from a powerful family. She's not going to be as easy to investigate as...""I don't care how difficult it is," Karla interrupted, her voice sharp as a blade. "I will pay triple. Quadruple. Whatever you need. But I need comprehensive information about Victoria Solare and her relationship with my brother. And I need it fast."There was a pause on the other end of the line.Then Tyler said, "Alright. I'll get on it. Give me a week.""You have five days," Karla said flatly. "Five days, Tyler,
"She was devastated because she thought she'd lost you," Damien said, his hand coming up to cup her face gently. "She was devastated because she loves you. But that love is not maternal love rooted in blood. It's love rooted in choice. And choice is far more powerful than biology."Lyra felt tears spilling down her cheeks now."We're going home," Damien said, and his voice carried absolute certainty. "We're going to New York together. And this time, I'm going to make sure nothing goes wrong. I'm going to make my family understand why we belong together. I'm going to make them approve.""How?" Lyra asked, her voice small."By showing them the truth," Damien said simply. "By making them understand that you are not my sister. That what we have is not wrong. That we deserve to be together, and that they have no legitimate reason to oppose us."He pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her completely."I will let you know when we'll be returning to New York," he said sof
"The Mercers. They were good people. Are good people." Karla's eyes filled with fresh tears. "They passed away six months ago. Car accident. That's when I did the DNA test. I had no one left and I just... I needed to know if there was anyone out there who shared my blood."Isabelle made a soft soun
LYRA POV:The plane touched down at JFK with a jolt that matched the anxiety thrumming through Lyra's veins.She'd barely slept during the flight, her mind spinning with questions her mother refused to answer over the phone. Urgent. Family matter. Need you home. The words had echoed through her hea
Her phone screen glowed accusingly in the darkness, her shameful confession staring back at her. With shaking hands, she minimized the app and clutched the phone to her chest, heart hammering so hard she thought it might break through her ribs.Footsteps on the stairs.Light, measured and feminine.
Lyra's fingers trembled as she typed, the blue glow of her phone the only light in her darkened bedroom.LyraNight: I thought about him again today. God, I'm so fucked up.She held her breath, waiting. The three dots appeared almost immediately....her anonymous stranger always responded, no matter







