The lock clicked, but the guest suite didn't feel safe. Ariana collapsed against the door, her lungs straining for air that felt too thick to breathe. The kitchen was stories below, but she could still feel the phantom heat of Mateo’s chest against her back, the terrifying, electric pressure of his hand against her stomach.She moved toward the bed like a sleepwalker, her legs heavy and uncoordinated. She caught her reflection in the long mirror—flushed, wild-eyed, her lips stung to a dark, swollen red. She looked like a woman who had been handled, a sight that made her stomach flip with a mix of dread and a pulsing, unfamiliar heat."It’s just the adrenaline," she whispered, her voice a ragged ghost.But as she lay back on the silk sheets, her mind betrayed her. For years, she had dated Tyler. Tyler was safe. He was her age, kind, and patient. When they had touched, it had been a clumsy, polite negotiation. He had never made her blood feel like it was boiling; he had never made her w
Last Updated : 2026-01-04 Read more