Alle Kapitel von PAINTED IN SIN: Kapitel 31 – Kapitel 39

Quentin remained buried deep inside Verity for several long moments, his body draped over hers as their breathing gradually slowed. The room was thick with the scent of their passion—sweat, sex, and the faint salt of the ocean drifting through the open glass doors. His heart pounded against her back, strong and steady, while her own pulse thrummed in her ears like the waves below the cliffs. Slowly, he eased out of her with a shared groan, careful not to jostle her oversensitive body. He rolled onto his side and pulled her gently against him, her back to his chest in a protective cocoon. One large hand stroked down her arm, over the curve of her waist, soothing the faint tremors that still rippled through her limbs. Verity felt utterly boneless, her mind floating in a haze of satisfaction she had never known before. Three shattering orgasms, each more intense than the last. Her body ached in the most delicious way, marked by his hands, his mouth, his relentless possession. For a whi

The sound of running water filled the spacious bathroom as Verity stood beneath the shower, her eyes closed as warm water cascaded down her body. She should have felt happy. Just an hour ago, she had been lying in Quentin's arms, sharing breakfast with him while the ocean stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls of their private Malibu estate. Everything should have been perfect. Instead, all she could hear was one sentence. “I have a girlfriend.” The words repeated themselves over and over until her chest felt tight. What was she even upset about? This marriage wasn't built on love. It was revenge. A contract. An arrangement. At least that was what she had been telling herself from the beginning. Then why did it hurt? Why did it feel as if someone had reached inside her chest and squeezed her heart? Verity turned off the water and wrapped herself in a robe. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. "You don't care," she told herself. The reflection looked unconvinced.

They spent the next hour moving slowly through the space. Quentin did not rush her. He did not hover too closely either. He allowed her to stop wherever she wanted, to study brushwork, composition, texture, and emotion. Sometimes she asked questions, and to her surprise, he answered with depth. Not the shallow knowledge of a wealthy collector trying to sound cultured, but the understanding of a man who truly loved art. At one point, she stood in front of a large painting of a woman standing before a stormy sea. The brushstrokes were wild, almost violent, yet the woman’s posture was calm. Verity stared at it longer than the others. Quentin came to stand beside her. “You like this one.” “I do.” “Why?” She folded her arms gently. “Because she looks like she’s holding herself together while everything around her is falling apart.” Quentin said nothing for a moment. Then quietly, “That sounds familiar.” Verity’s chest tightened. She knew what he meant. But she chose not to answer.

The office door closed softly behind Kingsley. For several long seconds, Quentin remained exactly where he was, his eyes fixed on the polished wooden door. Silence settled over the executive office. Only moments ago, his younger brother had walked in believing he could reclaim the woman he had once called his wife. Moments later, he had walked out carrying a truth he had never imagined. Quentin loved Verity, and not because of any contract or private arrangements. He simply loved her. And the realization shattered whatever hope Kingsley had walked into the office with. Quentin released a slow breath before turning back toward his desk. His attention immediately fell on the silver photo frame resting beside his laptop. It wasn't a formal wedding photograph. It was much simpler than that. Verity stood on the balcony of the New York triplex one quiet morning, wearing one of his white shirts while staring at the city below. She hadn't known he had taken the picture. Her hair was da