LOGINVivienne POV~•~I closed the door to my room and leaned back against it, my heart still racing.Damon’s lips had felt warm and sure, soft but with that quiet insistence that made my stomach flip.Morning light slipped through the curtains so I got up before Liam stirred, splashed water on my face, and pulled on jeans and a simple sweater. When he woke, he yawned big and asked for breakfast right away.“Pancakes again?” I asked, helping him into his shirt.“With chocolate chips,” he said, grinning.We headed downstairs. The smell of coffee and fresh pastries hit me as soon as we stepped into the kitchen. Elena was already there, arranging a tray with sliced fruit and croissants. Her smile was bright, but her eyes looked tired, like she hadn’t slept much either.“Good morning,” she said, setting a plate down. “I thought we could all eat together.”Damon walked in a minute later, his hair still damp from a shower. He looked at me first, gave a small smile, and brushed his hand against m
Damon’s POV~•~I helped Vivienne gather the towels and her cover-up. That small touch sent another jolt through me, sharp and hungry.That kiss had cracked open a door I’d kept locked tight, and now I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t there. But Elena’s face at the upstairs window earlier still stuck in my head.I excused myself and headed to the study. I sat at the same spot from last night, and stared at the files scattered across the wood. I could still feel the softness of Vivienne’s lips and the way her hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me in like she needed it as much as I did. I poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the side table. The coolness did nothing for the heat still moving under my skin. As I opened my laptop, I pulled up the latest emails on the inheritance case, trying to focus. My eyes scanned the screen, but my mind kept drifting back to the two women who had somehow ended up filling every corner of my thoughts.The door opened without a knock only for Elena t
Vivienne POV~•~I woke up early. For a second I just laid there, letting the warmth settle over me. My skin still remembered Damon’s hand on my cheek last night, the way his thumb had traced my jaw, the way his eyes had locked on mine like he was about to say something we both needed to hear. My stomach flipped thinking about it.Then I remembered the knock and a sharp twist of jealousy hit me.I slipped out of bed carefully so I wouldn’t wake Liam, and then I padded my way to the bathroom. The mirror showed me messy hair and tired eyes. I splashed cold water on my face until my skin tingled, then brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a loose bun before choosing a soft white blouse and fitted jean. When I woke Liam, he rubbed his eyes and grinned.“Morning, Mommy.”“Morning, champ.” I kissed his forehead. “Ready for pancakes?”His eyes lit up. “With syrup?”“Lots of syrup.”We walked downstairs hand in hand. Liam chattered the whole way about how he wanted extra chocolate chips.
Damon’s POV~•~The door clicked shut behind Vivienne, and the sound hit me harder than it should have. I stood there staring at the empty space where she had been, my hand still warm from where hers had rested moments ago. The air felt heavier now, thick with the whiskey on my breath and the faint citrus of her shampoo that lingered like she had never really left. The soft jazz kept playing from the speakers, but it sounded wrong, too gentle for the knot twisting in my chest.Elena set the coffee tray on the corner of the desk with that careful slowness of hers, like nothing had happened. She didn’t look rattled. She never did. She poured herself a cup, added two spoons of sugar, and stirred slowly, the spoon clinking against the porcelain.“Everything all right?” she asked, her voice calm, almost too calm.I nodded once, picked up my glass again, and took a slow sip. The burn helped ground me. “Yeah. Just… late.”She leaned against the edge of the desk, robe tied loose enough that
Vivienne POV~•~I climbed the stairs slowly, each step heavier than the last, my hand sliding along the smooth railing like it was the only thing keeping me upright. Elena’s words kept playing in my head, over and over.By the time I reached the top, my breathing was uneven. I paused there, fingers wrapped tight around the wood until my knuckles ached. The hallway was dead quiet except for the faint tick of a clock drifting up from somewhere downstairs. The air still carried a trace of her perfume and it made my stomach turn.I pushed the bedroom door open quietly and slipped inside. Liam was still curled on his side and I stood there a long minute just watching him, letting the sight of his face settle something inside me. I moved to the window and eased the curtain back just enough to look out at the lawn. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying her voice. The way she smiled when she said Damon was her “dream guy.” The way she talked about their history like it was some unbreakable bond I
Vivienne POV~•~I stood there in the doorway to the living room, water bottle still cold in my hand, and I could not look away from Elena. Her robe was so thin it might as well have been nothing. The fabric clung to her body, short enough that it stopped halfway down her thighs, and the neckline dipped low, showing way more than anyone needed to see first thing in the morning. I could even make out the faint outline of her nipples through the material. It felt deliberate, like she had chosen it on purpose, knowing someone might walk in. My stomach twisted with fresh anger. I was sweaty and gross from my run, hair stuck to my neck.She shifted, tugging the robe a little tighter across her chest, but it did not help much. Then she smiled, easy and bright, like nothing was wrong.“I thought those footsteps were Damon’s.” She said lightly, “Sorry if I’m a little underdressed.”I kept my face calm, even though irritation burned inside me. “I haven’t seen my HUSBAND yet,” I answered, dr







