All Chapters of His Open Marriage, My Forbidden Secret : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

WARNING: Explicit sexual contentLIA'S POVThe suite hadn't changed since she'd arrived. Still dim lighting casting shadows across expensive furniture. Still warm from the fireplace crackling in the corner. Still thick with something she couldn't name but could feel crawling across her skin like electricity.Caspian was behind her now. They'd moved from the couch after talking for hours. After opening up in ways neither of them had expected. After admitting without words that this was more than just sex. More than just an affair.His hands found her waist. Thumbs digging slow circles into the tight muscles just above her hips. His breath was steady. Calm. Like he was in complete control even though she could feel the tension radiating off him. Like he wasn't slowly taking apart every defense she'd carefully built over five years of marriage."You're so tense," he murmured. His voice was low near her ear. Dark. Promising. "Do you ever let yourself rest?"Lia wanted to answer. I wanted

LIA'S POVLia woke slowly, her body warm and pleasantly sore in ways she'd never experienced before. For a moment, she didn't remember where she was. Then it all came rushing back.Caspian. The hotel suite. Last night.Her eyes opened. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden light across white sheets. She was wrapped in strong arms. A solid chest pressed against her back. Steady breathing against her neck.She'd spent the night. The entire night. With Caspian Nero.A smile tugged at her lips. She felt different. Lighter. Like some weight she'd been carrying for five years had finally lifted. Her body ached in the best way. Muscles she didn't know she had were protesting. But underneath the soreness was satisfaction. Deep, bone-deep satisfaction.The arm around her waist tightened. Pulled her closer."You're awake," Caspian's voice was rough with sleep. Low and gravelly in a way that sent heat pooling between her thighs despite everything they'd done last nig

LIA'S POVLia couldn't breathe.She stared at her phone screen. At the photo of herself walking into the Azure Hotel. At the message threatening to tell Julian everything.Her hands shook so badly she almost dropped the phone. Someone knew. Someone had followed her. Photographed her. And now they were threatening to destroy everything.Another message came through.Unknown: Meet me. Monday. 2 PM. The Daily Grind. Come alone. Don't tell anyone. Especially not Nero.They knew about Caspian. Knew his name. Which meant they knew everything. How long had they been watching? What else did they have?Lia's chest tightened. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision. She was having a panic attack. Right here in her bed at midnight with Julian somewhere in the house.She forced herself to breathe. In through her nose. Out through her mouth. Slow. Steady. The spots faded. Her vision cleared.She looked at the message again. Monday. Two days away. They were giving her time to think about it. T

Lia stood frozen in Caspian's penthouse, her back pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. He was between her and the door, arms crossed, those storm-gray eyes demanding answers she couldn't give."Talk to me," he said. His voice was calm but she could hear the edge underneath. "Something's wrong. You've been off since Sunday. And don't tell me you're fine because we both know that's bullshit."Her heart hammered against her ribs. Victor's threat echoed in her head. Tell Nero and the photos go public immediately. But standing here, looking at Caspian's face, at the concern etched into his features, she wanted so badly to tell him everything. To let him handle it the way he handled everything else in his world. Swift. Brutal. Final.But she couldn't. Not yet. Not until she figured out another way.So she lied."It's Julian," she said. The words came out shakier than she wanted. "He's been following me. Or having me followed. I think he hired investigators."Ca

Lia stood in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear to her own betrayal.The black dress felt too obvious. The red is too bold. She settled on dark green silk that Caspian had once said brought out her eyes. At least if she was going to gather intelligence for a blackmailer, she could look good doing it.The thought made her sick.She sat on the edge of her bed, a dress laid out beside her, and checked her phone. Six PM. Caspian would pick her up in two hours. Two hours to prepare herself for what she had to do tonight. Walk into The Onyx Club. Observe everything. Memorize details. Security systems. Guard positions. Names. Schedules. Everything Victor wanted.Everything that could get Caspian arrested or killed.Her hands shook as she started getting ready. Shower. Hair. Makeup applied with more care than usual because she needed the routine. Needed something normal to hold onto while her world fell apart.By the time she slipped into the green dress, she almost looked like