LOGINScarlett:Lucien was an asshole.I probably should’ve known just how deep the assholery ran just from working for him. The man thrived on pushing people’s buttons. Half the time he said outrageous things with that calm, infuriating composure just to see how someone would react.A fucking menace.A hot, sharp-suited menace with broad shoulders, perpetually messy dark hair, and a mouth that always seemed on the verge of a smug smile.Unfortunately for my sanity, he also had eyes that noticed everything.And right now those eyes were on me while his mouth moved. He was talking — to me, it seems — something about rescheduling and design revisions.I wasn’t listening.Because he had absolutely no right asking about my night at this table knowing exactly how it had been spent. And once that thought appeared, the memories followed.God.I thought I’d handled this already during the little pep talk I’d given myself in the mirror while I got dressed after that abominable call with Hera.“He is
~ Lucien:“Good morning, boss,” Red greeted as he walked into my suite. He had the passcode and didn’t bother knocking.I cast him a glance from the study desk where I stood fastening my cufflinks.He stopped at the desk, his gaze sweeping over me before settling on the empty whiskey bottle I hadn’t bothered to discard.He raised a brow. “Dr. Martens called yesterday. Said you blocked him,”I hissed. “I should’ve fired him seeing how he went about running his mouth,”“The man is doing his job. You just enjoy making it difficult.” He said, sliding into the seat across me. “I’m not one for sentiment, but whiskey isn’t exactly a solution to your problem.”A pause, then he added. “And neither is blocking your therapist.”I frowned slightly.Red was excellent at his job, but I preferred when he spoke as little as possible. Whenever he used full sentences, they tended to land hard.My gaze drifted back to the empty bottle. The hours between midnight and dawn had always stretched the longest
I woke with a start, instantly aware that I wasn’t in my room but in Lucien’s.I hadn’t slept deeply enough to miss it.The king-sized mattress was cool beneath my bare skin, the sheets carrying the unmistakable scent of his aftershave and expensive cologne.I pushed upright, ignoring the pleasant hum still lingering in my body, and swung my legs over the side of the bed, already scanning the room for a clock.Apparently the “demonstration” had turned into another round on the couch, followed by a long conversation about my conversation with Anthony— because Lucien had been very serious about knowing exactly what we’d discussed.That somehow spiraled into why I’d chosen to study architecture in the first place.The expensive wine I had absolutely no business drinking that late had loosened my tongue.My head felt like it might spin.My gaze finally landed on the wall clock and I exhaled in relief.6:09 a.m.Early.Perfect for slipping out before running into anyone in the hallway.I c
Scarlett:The kiss was hard, demanding, stealing my breath. My knees nearly gave out the instant I felt the pressure of him against me. I melted into him, my hands threading into his hair as he deepened the kiss, pulling me impossibly close.I tried to pull back.“Lucien—”“You can explain after,” he murmured against my mouth, pulling back slightly, his breath fanning my face. “Right now, I need you out of this fucking dress.”He stepped back, giving me the illusion of space, dark eyes filled with lust as he watched me.Pulse pounding, I kicked my shoes off, placed my bag on a random stand I didn’t bother glancing at, and then tugged at the straps of my dress, pulling it down my hips, dragging the lace down with it until everything pooled around my feet.Cold air hit my skin as I stepped out of the fabrics.His gaze dragged slowly down my body, hunger darkening his eyes. The intensity in them made heat crawl over my skin, like he was memorizing every inch of me.His eyes rose, lingeri
The blue dress hugged my waist and skimmed over my hips before falling in a clean line to my knees. Elegant. Professional. Perfectly appropriate for a dinner meeting with investors.I stared at my reflection, smoothing my hands over the fabric as if that might quiet the restless energy humming beneath my skin. It didn’t.My hair was still slightly damp from the shower, falling in soft waves down my back. My lips looked fuller than usual, a little swollen. Because of Lucien.My fingers drifted unconsciously to my mouth.The memory hit me again — sudden and vivid. His fingers on my tongue, his dark gaze, the way his hand gripped my waist. His mouth. Warm. Demanding. And then, just as abruptly, gone. I’d never felt more disappointed at a kiss ending despite being breathless.God.I was so shameless.I grabbed my bag, tucked my phone inside, ignoring Hera’s texts, and stepped out before I could spiral any further.Clayton was waiting farther down the hall. His room was midway along the co
“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 if the afternoon had gone according to plan, the backseat of my car would have been used for something far less professional than a site visit.The possibility, however, wasn’t entirely off the table.I drew in a slow breath and ran a hand through my hair before stepping inside.The space was quiet.A small private gallery, just as I’d expected.The room was mostly empty, save for a massive frame mounted in the center of the far wall. The painting itself was warped and distorted, a swirl of violent shapes and colors that seemed determined to repel the eye.I studied it for a moment before hearing the shuffle of footsteps behind me.“So,” a familiar voice said, “what do you think?”Remy.I did
Scarlett:There was nothing worse than being unfashionably late. It made walking into a room feel like an event especially when you were probably the least significant one there.My car decided I made such an entrance tonight. It’d broken down, smoke curling from the bonnet, as if the sprawling tra
“I want you to fuck me.”The words left my mouth half-plea, half moan. My head fell back as his mouth kept working me. His hands were everywhere, grabbing my curves, my ass. Fuck. My mind was a haze.“Say it again,” He pulled back, meeting my half-lidded gaze. His hand moved from my ass to my waist
The night winding down should’ve brought relief. It didn’t.Too much was brewing beneath the mask of a perfect smile. My jaw ached from holding it in place. The low, continuous hum between my thighs had me shifting subtly in my heels, my body wound too tight to be comfortable.Every nerve was lit u
Later, the next day…The room was alive as more of the guests filtered in. Business partners. Investors. People I could tolerate for a few hours if it meant keeping them pleased. Laughter rose over soft music, crystal catching light at every angle. Precision disguised as indulgence.The night was u







