All Chapters of Lust & Love: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Xavier stepped closer, completely crowding her against the heavy mahogany door. The raw, unrestrained heat in his blue eyes sent a sharp spike of adrenaline straight into her bloodstream. He started closing the final inch of distance between them, his gaze dropping to her mouth.Hazel didn't wait.She brought her hands up, planted them firmly against his solid chest, and pushed him away. It wasn't a dramatic, screaming struggle. She just shoved hard enough to break his cage, grabbed the brass handle, and pulled the door open.She slipped through the gap and hurried out of the executive suite. She didn't look back. She power-walked past the empty secretary’s desk and practically dove into the elevator, her chest heaving as she rode it back down to the marketing floor. By the time she reached her cubicle and sat down, she was completely breathless, her skin still burning from his proximity.For the next week, Hazel tried to avoid him in every possible way.She took the stairs instead of

The marketing floor was entirely deserted.It was past seven on a Wednesday evening. The harsh overhead office lights had automatically dimmed to a low, energy-saving hum, leaving the cubicles cast in long, dark shadows. Hazel stood alone in the narrow, windowless archive room at the absolute back of the department, surrounded by towering rows of heavy metal filing shelves.The air in the room was thick, smelling strongly of old paper, printer ink, and dust. Hazel had kicked off her black stiletto heels an hour ago. She stood in her bare feet on the cold linoleum, her pencil skirt riding up slightly as she stretched her arms high above her head, desperately trying to reach a heavy cardboard storage box on the top shelf.Her fingertips grazed the edge of the cardboard, but she couldn't get a solid grip on it.She let out a frustrated, heavy sigh, dropping her arms to her sides. She was hiding. She knew she was hiding. Going back to her empty apartment meant sitting alone on her couch an

At exactly eight o'clock, Hazel stepped out of her apartment building. A sleek, black Maybach was idling silently at the curb. The driver immediately stepped out and opened the rear door for her without a single word.Hazel slid into the back seat. The door shut with a heavy, soundproofed thud, completely cutting off the noise of the city.The drive to his private luxury building was a blur of streetlights and adrenaline. When the car pulled smoothly into the secure underground garage, Hazel’s heart began to hammer a frantic, violent rhythm against her ribs. The driver opened her door and gestured toward the private stainless-steel elevator.Hazel stepped inside. The doors slid shut, and the elevator began its smooth, silent ascent to the top of the skyline.When the car finally slowed to a halt, the heavy metal doors slid open with a soft chime.Hazel stepped out, the sharp click of her stilettos echoing into the massive, sprawling penthouse. The space was dimly lit, illuminated mostl

The room was completely pitch black. There were no lamps turned on. But the absolute darkness was entirely broken by the massive, floor-to-ceiling window that made up the entire far wall of the room. The sheer, dizzying height of the penthouse offered a completely unobstructed, panoramic view of the glowing city skyline.Hazel walked slowly toward the glass. The air conditioning in the bedroom was entirely frigid, biting sharply at her flushed, overheated skin.She stopped a few feet away from the window. She reached behind her back, her fingers finding the hidden zipper of the deep red silk. She pulled it down. The heavy, expensive silk instantly lost its grip on her body. It pooled completely to the hardwood floor around her stilettos, leaving her standing entirely exposed in the cool air.She was wearing absolutely nothing but the tiny black lace panties, the matching lace garter belt, the sheer thigh-high stockings, and her towering black heels.Hazel stood there in the dark, her a

The warm, bright morning sunlight flooding the bedroom is what finally woke her.Hazel stirred, a soft groan slipping past her lips as she tried to bury her face deeper into the incredibly soft pillow. Her body felt heavy, a deep, pervasive soreness radiating through her bones.She blinked her eyes open, squinting against the harsh light. She stared blankly at the unfamiliar, sprawling master bedroom. The massive, floor-to-ceiling window she had been pinned against last night was now fully illuminated, offering a breathtaking, sun-drenched view of the city.She glanced over at the sleek digital clock resting on the nightstand.11:15 AM.Hazel sat up quickly, wincing as a sharp ache pulled at her lower body. It was Saturday morning. She had already taken yesterday off to agonizingly debate her decision, and her inbox was undoubtedly overflowing. Even though it was the weekend, she had a mountain of work to catch up on and absolutely couldn't afford to fall further behind.She threw the