LOGIN~ Lucien:Scarlett’s expression shifted almost instantly after I said the word marriage. It wasn't dramatic. She was too composed for that.But something in her eyes cooled.The waiter returned with our coffees on a tray and said something about our breakfast coming in ten and then went off to the back.Scarlett reached for her cup like she wanted something to ground her. She then cleared her throat, her gaze darting away for a split second before returning to mine.“What exactly do you want to know about it?”Yeah, what exactly. “You can start wherever you want.”“Why are you even asking me this now?”“Curiosity.” I shrugged one shoulder.Her lips pursed as her eyes flicked toward the anniversary couple beside us.Right.Not exactly subtle.The truth was, outside of knowing Stephen Kane was an asshole and that the marriage had ended badly, I knew almost nothing about that part of her life.Which shouldn't have bothered me.Scarlett was my employee. The rest of whatever existed betwee
Lucien’s breath left him roughly against my neck as he finished, one hand tightening hard against my waist while the other steadied my hip like he didn’t trust either of us not to fall apart completely.Which was fair.Because I already had.A shaky exhale left me as I slumped back against his chest, my head dropping back against his shoulder while both of us tried to catch our breath.For a few seconds, neither of us moved.Morning light spilled through the glass around us now, warm against overheated skin.My legs had given up after the first orgasm against the glass, and apparently, Lucien’s solution to that had been hauling me into his lap on a lounger facing the city afterward and continuing like gravity, dignity and common sense no longer applied to either of us.Now sprawled across his lap — completely naked, exhausted and exposed to the thankfully highrise-free skyline — I was still trying to process the fact that I’d just had sex overlooking New York in broad daylight.It was
Scarlett:The universe had impeccable timing.Lucien did not seem to appreciate that. The naught in his eyes when he looked ready to continue whatever sinful idea had just cross his mind was now replaced by a hint of irritation as his phone lit up against the marble.His expression shifted as he glanced at the screen.“Marla,” he muttered.Right.He reached for the phone but not before his hand settled against my waist and pulled me forward onto the stool, then his fingers flexed once like he disliked having to step away at all.“Stay right here,” he said distractedly before answering.And then just like that, he shifted. Not completely. I could still feel traces of whatever had been happening between us lingering in the air. But the second the call started, something sharper settled over him. Colder. Focused.Business Lucien.I picked the mug and took a sip of the coffee while pretending I wasn’t staring at him. That failed miserably. Because unfairly attractive included listening to
She turned to face me fully and my eyes drifted once again.Who looked that good this early in the morning?Scarlett, apparently.Even with her eyes narrowed slightly like she was fighting the beginning of a headache, she still looked unfairly attractive.And speaking of headaches, the hangover had probably caught up to her by now.She cleared her throat, dragging me from my thoughts. Thoughts I was quite certain she had a rough idea about considering how flushed she suddenly looked.“I usually wake up early for work,” she said, tugging at the robe like it did anything to help the length.Then, seemingly realizing it was useless, she straightened instead, injecting defiance into her posture as her gaze dropped briefly to the bottle in her hand.“Was there some sort of party I wasn’t informed about?” she asked, gesturing lightly with it.I glanced at the bottle, the corner of my mouth curving. “You think contracts and whiskey qualify as a party?”“Well,” she lifted it slightly, “the bo
~ Lucien:....By the time I signed the last contract Marla had flagged for approval, it was already past three in the morning.The Glenn merger files were still open across one side of the screen beside project reports, acquisition summaries, and updates from legal regarding the ongoing lawsuit against Glenford.I skimmed through the latest update briefly before returning my attention to Glenn’s email.The merger was happening. We both knew it. Eden would benefit from the partnership, Glenn Holdings would gain the expansion leverage they wanted, and neither of us were wasting time pretending otherwise.The issue was that Glenn Andrews liked resistance.He was the kind of businessman who liked dragging negotiations out just enough to see who lost patience first.Tonight’s email had been another unnecessarily detailed revision of terms I’d already reviewed twice earlier in the week. Nothing substantial had changed. No hidden clauses. No strategic shifts.Just Glenn reminding everyone i
I barely had time to process his words. Wrapping one strong arm around my waist, Lucien flipped me over, laying me back first on the couch with no effort at all. He lifted my legs, placing them over his shoulders as he took his position between them.And then, he slammed back inside me.Hard.“Oh my god.” I cried out, my hand clawing at the arm rest above me as he pistoned into me. I was still sensitive from my orgasm so the sensation was different now. Richer.It felt so good, it was devastating.My pulse raced everywhere — in my chest, my neck, my finger tips.“Fuck, Scarlett,” he gritted, gripping my hip and pulling me tighter against him. “You feel like heaven.”I clenched around him at the sound of his voice.A low groan left him.“Come for me,” he growled. “Come all over my cock. Now.”And I did.Harder this time.My orgasm hit hard, dragging a sharp cry out of me as my body convulsed beneath him.He followed moments later with a low, guttural groan, stilling as he finished ins
“I’ll send a text when I’m ready,” I told the driver as I stepped out of the car.Red had taken Scarlett back to the hotel after the luncheon. She needed time to prepare for dinner with Glenn tonight, so the rest of the afternoon’s schedule had been shifted.Which worked perfectly for me.Because i
“I understand why this may feel unsettling, Ms. Bennett. But at the moment, there isn’t enough evidence to open a formal investigation.” Officer Klein’s words hadn’t left me in forty-eight hours. “Stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid isolated areas. Call us if anything changes.” I’d tried. For
I woke too fast, sore all over, heart pounding, every nerve still humming from the night’s aftermath.My lashes fluttered open to sunlight pouring over my face through the tall windows across the room. I was in bed, the sheets tangled around me, my body sticky with sweat and something else.I turne
The hospital smelled of antiseptic, with something faintly metallic beneath it.My heels clicked too loudly against the polished floor as I crossed the lobby, the sound sharp enough to make a few heads turn. I barely noticed them. My pulse was still trapped somewhere between disbelief and dread.‘S







