Semua Bab Unbound Desires: Bab 31 - Bab 40

SOFIEI pulled him toward a secluded alcove draped in soft light, its archway wrapped in climbing ivy and gold-trimmed sconces. It was tucked away from the buzz of the gala, clearly designed for quiet conversations and stolen moments. The kind of space where the night could slow down and let us breathe.The second we stepped inside, I felt the shift. Safe. Cocooned. His hand brushed mine, and I leaned in, ready to let the evening settle around us.Then she appeared. Samantha.The serenity shattered before I even saw her. I felt her first, sharp, unwanted energy slicing through the moment. She strolled in like she owned the place, her dress clinging too tightly, her smile too practiced.“Hi, James, it’s been a while,” she cooed, her voice all sugar and venom.She didn’t even glance at me. Her hand hovered at his chest, her fingers teasing like she had some unspoken right to him. My stomach twisted. Her voice was sweet and filled with nostalgia, but everything beneath it reeked of calcu

SOFIEThe gala felt like a dream. Flashing cameras, endless laughter, elegant gowns. But when we stepped into the quiet hush of our foyer, it was his voice that lingered.“Sofie,” he said, his voice velvet-rich, threaded with pride. “You won everyone’s hearts tonight.”My feet throbbed with every step, but I smiled through it. I kicked off my heels with a groan, the sound of them clattering across the floor too sharp in the silence. Relief washed over me as I collapsed onto the bed, sinking into the mattress with a sigh.“Feeling better now?” he asked, his gaze dipping to my legs with quiet amusement.“Mmm.” I stretched my arms above my head, letting the ache melt away. “You have no idea.”His gaze drifted lower, and I caught it. The flicker of heat behind his smile sent my pulse skittering. I adjusted, propping myself up on my elbows, one knee bending just enough to reveal the curve of my thigh through the slit of my gown. Awareness sparked beneath my skin, sharp as static.“Alex?”

SOFIESunday morning light streamed through the expansive windows, bathing the room in a soft, golden haze. Warmth stretched across the sheets and kissed my bare skin. I blinked slowly, unwilling to let go of the quiet magic.He lay beside me, deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm. His face, usually sharp with purpose, was soft now. Relaxed. Unmasked. A rare, private version of him I’d never seen before.A smile curled at my lips. He looks so young when he’s like this. I wanted to stay right there, soaking in the way his lashes brushed his cheeks, the faint crease between his brows even in sleep. But I didn’t want to wake him.Carefully, I slipped from under the duvet, my feet brushing the cool floor as I tiptoed across the room. I bent to pick up a pillow that had fallen during the night, my thoughts still tangled in the way he had touched me, seen me like no one ever had.Then the sharp buzz of his phone broke the silence, rattling against the nightstan

SOFIEI walked slowly through the lobby, the picnic basket balanced in one hand, the scarf box tucked in the other. The silk inside felt delicate. A small thing, really, but it mattered.Everything around me gleamed. The marble floors caught the light in quiet pools. Crystal pendants overhead scattered gold flecks across the walls. Even the air felt expensive. Orange blossom and polished wood.One of the doormen opened the door for an older couple near the entrance, his nod to me casual, familiar. Not stiff. Just natural. Like I belonged here.I paused outside the management office. My fingers brushed the satin bow on the box. This wasn’t about obligation. It was about meaning something. About showing up when it would’ve been easy not to.Inside, the room was just as immaculate as I remembered. Every surface pristine. Every item perfectly in place.Mrs. Williams looked up from her desk, surprise flickering in her eyes.“Mrs. Reed,” she greeted, her tone formal. “How may I help you tod

SOFIEThe ache in my chest wouldn’t ease, even after the story ended, even after he smiled.How did he survive that kind of pain and still love this openly? Still offer comfort, like he wasn’t the one carrying the heaviest grief?I reached for his hand again, lacing my fingers through his, needing that touch, not just for steadiness, but for connection. I wanted him to feel how much I saw him. How deeply I admired him.“You’re amazing and strong,” I whispered, the words feeling too small for what I meant. “After everything you’ve been through, you still have this... capacity to love. To show up. To protect.”His fingers squeezed mine. Not hard, but with quiet certainty. Like he understood what I couldn’t put into words.I thought I knew what strength looked like. But this… this is what it really is.He watched me, eyes searching. My heart thudded in response, not out of fear, but something deeper. Recognition. Trust.The space between us tightened, not with urgency, but with gravity