Chapter 6

The next five days fell into a dangerous rhythm.

By day, they were the picture of a powerful power couple — attending meetings, signing documents, and presenting a united front to save Vale Dynamics. By night, Sera used Cassian’s body like a drug she both craved and resented.

And Cassian let her.

He was starting to live for the moments when her control cracked and he saw the real woman beneath the ice.

Day 7 of the Contract

A crisis meeting had been called at Laurent Innovations at 7 a.m. Meridian Tech had leaked documents suggesting serious financial irregularities at Vale Dynamics. The damage was spreading fast.

Cassian stood beside Sera at the head of the table, watching her dominate the room. She looked flawless in a tailored navy pantsuit, hair in a sleek ponytail, voice sharp as a blade.

“We counter hard today,” she said. “Full transparency report from our side. And we announce the strategic partnership between Laurent Innovations and Vale Dynamics by end of day.”

One of her executives cleared his throat. “The board is concerned about… optics. Mr. Vale’s past reputation.”

Sera’s gaze turned glacial. “Mr. Vale is my husband. Any attack on him is an attack on this company. Make that clear to anyone who asks.”

Cassian felt something tight in his chest loosen. Even if it was strategic, hearing her claim him publicly did dangerous things to him.

After the meeting, she pulled him into her private office and locked the door.

The moment the lock clicked, she was on him.

“On the couch,” she ordered.

Cassian sat. Sera straddled him immediately, grinding down on his growing erection as she kissed him brutally. Her hands yanked at his belt.

“I need you inside me,” she breathed against his mouth. “Right now.”

He freed himself quickly. Sera pushed her pants and lace panties down just enough, then sank onto his cock in one smooth, wet motion. They both groaned.

“Ride me,” he growled.

She did — hard and fast, hands braced on his shoulders, using him exactly how she wanted. Her breasts bounced beneath her blouse. Cassian gripped her hips, thrusting up to meet her, but he let her stay in control.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

Their eyes locked. The hate was still there, but so was something deeper. Something terrifying.

Sera came with a choked cry, clenching around him. Cassian followed right after, spilling deep inside her while holding her gaze.

For a long moment afterward, she stayed on his lap, forehead pressed to his.

“I hate how much I need this,” she whispered.

Cassian brushed damp strands of hair from her face — a surprisingly gentle gesture.

“Then keep using me until you don’t hate it anymore.”

That Evening – Cassian’s Penthouse

Sera had insisted they stop by his old penthouse to collect some of his personal files. The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.

The place still looked exactly as it had six years ago — cold, minimalist, and expensive. Sera walked through the living room slowly, fingers trailing over the marble island where she used to serve him breakfast in silence.

“You never changed anything,” she said quietly.

“I told the staff not to.”

She turned to face him. “Why?”

“Because throwing your things away felt too final.”

Sera laughed bitterly. “You threw me away easily enough.”

Cassian crossed the room in three strides and backed her against the grand piano.

“I was a coward,” he said, voice rough. “I married you to protect myself. Then I punished you for making me feel weak. Every time you looked at me with those trusting eyes, it reminded me I didn’t deserve them.”

He dropped to his knees right there on the hardwood floor.

Sera’s breath hitched.

Cassian looked up at her. “I’m sorry, Seraphina. For every cold night. Every cruel word. Every time I made you feel worthless.”

He reached for the waistband of her pants and slowly pulled them down, along with her panties. She didn’t stop him.

When she was bare from the waist down, he leaned in and pressed a soft, reverent kiss to her mound, then lower. This time, there was no dominance in his touch — only worship.

He licked her slowly, tenderly, savoring every gasp and tremble. Sera’s fingers slid into his hair, not pulling, just holding.

When she came, it was quiet and shaking, her thighs trembling against his shoulders.

Cassian rose, lifted her onto the piano, and slid into her gently. They moved together in slow, deep strokes. No anger this time. Just raw, aching connection.

“Look at me,” he whispered.

She did. Tears glistened in her green eyes.

“I’m terrified,” she admitted as he moved inside her.

“So am I.”

They came together — foreheads pressed, breaths mingling, bodies locked in something that felt dangerously close to making love.

Afterward, as they straightened their clothes, Sera’s phone rang.

She answered, listened for a moment, and her face went pale.

“It’s Meridian,” she said after hanging up. “He wants to meet tomorrow. Privately. He says he has evidence from the night of the murder. Real evidence. And he’s willing to bury it… if I agree to leave you and partner with him instead.”

Cassian’s blood turned to ice.

Sera looked at him, eyes hard once more.

“This is your mess, Cassian. Now we both have to decide how far we’re willing to go to clean it up.”