Adam Lewiston
The cursor blinked at the center of the screen.I sat motionless in my office, one elbow resting on the arm of my chair, fingers lightly pressed against my lips—still remembering the way Lu's lips had felt against mine. Soft, warm, real. A fleeting moment stolen in his apartment.The silence around me was absolute, but inside my head, it was anything but. A cacophony of objections from my logical, calculating self, drowned out by a persistent, almost desperate yearning. My eyes remained fixed on the page in front of me. Le Cordon Bleu – New York Campus. One of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. No—the most prestigious. And one of the most expensive, of course.It wasn’t the tuition fees that had me hesitating. It was the look I imagined on Lu’s face if he ever saw this. That wide-eyed mix of disbelief and joy. The same look he'd worn when I'd surprised him with a new, industrial-grade blender for the truck, replaciLillium RooseveltThe elevator doors slid open with their signature, hushed whisper—polished steel giving way to gleaming marble. I stepped out first, greeted by the subtle scent of bergamot and spice that always clung to the air inside Adam’s penthouse. It was a scent that spoke of money, power, and a life I’d only ever glimpsed from the outside.James and two of Adam’s men followed behind me, each carrying bags from the supermarket. Grocery bags. Something as mundane as that felt strangely out of place in this opulent setting. We moved in quiet, organized motion across the long hallway, toward the kitchen that sat at the heart of this glass fortress above the city.When I entered, I paused at the threshold. My breath caught for a moment.It still took me by surprise.This kitchen was something straight out of a cooking show. Sleek, modern lines. Glossy black counters reflecting the cityscape twinkling below. A marble island stretching w
Lillium RooseveltThe car eased to a stop in front of the supermarket, the soft purr of the engine cutting off as James stepped out first to open my door. I gave him a quick nod before stepping out into the mild breeze. The city wasn’t loud here—just the low murmur of life, the screech of a shopping cart across pavement, and the casual bustle of strangers going about their day.We stood there for a moment just outside the doors. The flickering neon sign above hummed softly, almost like it was watching me.“Hey, James,” I said, pulling back before he could stride ahead in his pressed slacks and black jacket. “Can I ask you for something?”He turned his head, eyebrow slightly raised. “Of course.”“Could you maybe… not look like you're about to secure a private bank vault?” I said, gesturing vaguely at his immaculate suit. “I mean, I don’t want people staring or thinking we’re here to buy the whole store.”James tilted his head thou
Adam LewistonThe cursor blinked at the center of the screen.I sat motionless in my office, one elbow resting on the arm of my chair, fingers lightly pressed against my lips—still remembering the way Lu's lips had felt against mine. Soft, warm, real. A fleeting moment stolen in his apartment.The silence around me was absolute, but inside my head, it was anything but. A cacophony of objections from my logical, calculating self, drowned out by a persistent, almost desperate yearning. My eyes remained fixed on the page in front of me. Le Cordon Bleu – New York Campus. One of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. No—the most prestigious. And one of the most expensive, of course.It wasn’t the tuition fees that had me hesitating. It was the look I imagined on Lu’s face if he ever saw this. That wide-eyed mix of disbelief and joy. The same look he'd worn when I'd surprised him with a new, industrial-grade blender for the truck, replaci
Lillium Roosevelt The warmth from the shower still clung to my skin, trailing steam with me as I stepped quietly back into the living room, towel draped around my shoulders and hair damp against my forehead. The apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed in, amplifying the frantic beat of my own heart. And there he was—Dominus—curled awkwardly on the couch like he hadn’t slept in years. His head rested against a throw pillow, one arm cradling his side where the fresh bandages held firm. His breathing was even, deep. The tension he always carried in his face, the perpetual scowl that seemed etched into his very being, had vanished, replaced by something boyish and unguarded. It didn’t suit him. This vulnerable slump of humanity was foreign, unsettling. But somehow, it made sense. Beneath the carefully constructed facade of the ruthless collector, was a man. A man who, like everyone else, needed sleep, needed comfort
Lillium Roosevelt "Dominus," I began. He hummed in acknowledgment, low and rough, a sound that vibrated more than it resonated. I hesitated before asking, "If it wasn't you who hit Tommy with the car… then who was it?" He turned his head now, looking at me for real. His eyes, usually veiled with amusement or a casual indifference, were now sharp, calculating. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing like he wasn’t sure how much to say. It was a dangerous expression on a dangerous man. "Because," I went on, my voice trembling despite my best efforts, "I need to know. I need to know who did it. Who left him in that hospital bed. And don’t tell me it doesn’t matter because—” "I didn’t say it didn’t matter," he interrupted, his voice low but sharp, a steel blade sheathed in velvet. I stopped. Let him speak. Dominus looked away again, his jaw tight, a muscle ticking visibly. The daylight danced on the harsh angles of his face, painting him as both beautiful and terrifying. He looked like
Lillium RooseveltI turned away from him before I could explode again. My hands were shaking, and my throat felt like it was closing. Every word, every accusation, every defensive barb had tasted like ash, coating my tongue with the bitterness of our shattered past.I moved toward the kitchen, slow and stiff, as if my body didn’t quite belong to me. The silence behind me was heavier than the words we’d thrown at each other. A charged, suffocating silence that pressed against my eardrums. But right now, I needed air. I needed something cold, something real to keep me from unraveling.My fingers gripped the edge of the counter as I reached for the nearest glass and filled it from the tap. The sound of water was the only thing breaking the stillness. I stared at it as it poured, eyes unfocused, like the rushing noise might drown out the memories clawing up from the corners of my mind.Rooftops. The city lights blurred around us, painting his face in