Lirael's POVA s I step out of the limo, camera flashes explode in my face. I extend a hand back into the car to help Scottie out. Her cool fingers wrap around mine and she smiles at me as she emerges, looking stunning in a dress cut nearly low enough to be indecent. She tucks her hand in my elbow and sweeps along at my side as we make our way to the entrance.“It’s good to know you remembered my phone number,” she says as we finally get inside. I knew she was stewing about something. Scottie has never been the warmest person. It’s not something that’s ever bothered me before, but the ice coming off her in the limo was palpable.Considering there has never been anything between us—apart from the benefit of convenience—I don’t know why she’s pretending to be upset about it.“Is there something you want to say?” I don’t hide the boredom in my voice. She’s been pushing things lately, and she knows I’m not interested.She pouts, but all I do is raise a brow.A breath huffs out of her. “It

Lirael's POVI barely stop myself from flinging my phone against the wall. This. This is why I’m not interested in relationships. I tried to do the right thing, and look where it’s gotten me. I shove my chair back and stand, striding to the window and looking out at New York spread below me.Maybe it’s better if she ends it anyway. I’ve got too much going on with work at the moment, and spending so much time with one woman might be a novelty, but that was always going to wear off eventually.So why the hell does my chest feel so fucking tight? The way her voice wavered when she told me I hurt her had sliced right through my ribs and into my heart. When was the last time anything had reached that frozen organ?I brace one hand against the glass and stare down at the streets below. Looking down on everyone from up here normally makes me feel alive. It makes me feel in control. But it’s not working now.I need to get my mind off Zephyra and back where it belongs. As Nathan already hinted

Lirael's POV When I walked past Raphael’s office after my meeting and saw Zephyra leaning over his desk, her ass cupped by her fitted dress, my jaw had clenched so tight I’m surprised the people walking next to me hadn’t heard my teeth grind together. What the fuck was my brother playing at? I’d been clear with him yesterday that he wasn’t to touch her, and the very next day he has her up in his office with her long legs and her tight skirt and her pretty green eyes. As soon as I’d gotten off the phone with him, I’d been out my door and making an excuse to talk to Samson about something, just waiting for her to come down the corridor. I should probably question why I’m acting so irrationally about this when I’ve already decided it’s for the best, but I won’t. If Raphael thinks I’ll let him have Zephyra, he’s sadly mistaken. She follows me into my office, and her sweet sunshine-and-wildflower scent teases me. A vivid image grows in my mind. In it, I turn and press her against the doo

Zephyra's POVLirael is pressing kisses down my stomach on his way to giving me a third orgasm when my stomach grumbles loudly. “Oh my god,” I say, throwing my hand over my eyes in embarrassment.He chuckles against my skin—a low rumble that has me looking down at him in surprise. I’m not used to such good humor from him.He meets my gaze, and there’s a sparkle in his eyes that wasn’t there when he picked me up. “Do I need to feed you before I can eat again?”I laugh and prop myself on my elbows. “It couldn’t hurt. What do you have in the house? I could make something for us?”He nuzzles his nose against my stomach. “I don’t cook, so there isn’t really anything. I’ll order something.”I reach down and tug on his hair until he looks up at me. “You don’t have a single thing in that massive fridge of yours?”He crawls up my body and presses his lips to mine, then says, “Some wine, bread, possibly a block or two of cheese. Nothing you can make a decent meal out of.” He sucks a nipple into

Lirael's POVI drive Zephyra back to her apartment in my Maclaren so she can get changed. When she comes out dressed in a pretty blue sundress and high-heeled sandals, my fingers itch to slide the silky material up her thighs and sink into her. I’d love to take her back to my penthouse and spend all day in bed with her rather than go to this lunch, but appearances are all-important and our monthly family lunch must be maintained—a sign of our solidarity. It’s even more important after what Dad did.I start the engine, pull into traffic, and head toward my family’s estate in Westchester County.We drive in silence for a few minutes, the scenery outside the car window changing from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to leafy suburbs.Zephyra breaks the silence. “Will your brothers wonder why I’m there?” I glance at her, taking in the furrow between her brows. Considering I’d surprised myself when I invited her, I’ve no doubt my family will be shocked, but the last thing I want to do is make h