All Chapters of ILLICIT OBSESSION : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Aurora Vale’s fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the strap of her sleek black portfolio bag, the elevator’s soft hum doing nothing to calm the storm raging inside her. At twenty-two, she had spent the last four years chasing this exact moment—landing a competitive internship at one of the most prestigious publishing houses in the city. Voss Publishing wasn’t just a job; it was the gateway to her dreams of becoming an editor who could shape stories that mattered. But as the sleek metal doors whispered open onto the executive floor, all those carefully rehearsed professional smiles and firm handshakes evaporated. The air up here was thicker, heavier. It carried notes of rich, aged leather from the furniture, crisp paper from endless manuscripts, and an underlying current of something darker—spiced cologne, authority, and raw masculine energy that made her skin prickle with awareness. Her black pencil skirt suddenly felt too constricting around her full hips, the silk blouse too

The next morning, Rory arrived at Voss Publishing with dark circles under her eyes and a secret throbbing between her legs that no amount of coffee could dull. She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, Dominic’s rough voice echoed—“how tight that pretty little pussy would feel”—and her body responded like the traitor it was. She’d come twice more in the shower that morning, fingers frantic, whispering his name like a filthy prayer. It wasn’t enough. Nothing would be enough until it was *him*. The executive floor buzzed with quiet efficiency, but the moment she stepped into the conference room for the formal internship paperwork, the energy shifted. Dominic was already there, seated at the head of the long table like a king on his throne. He looked devastating in a fresh navy suit that hugged his broad shoulders and powerful thighs. His hair was perfectly styled, but the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw told her he might not have slept much either. “Miss Vale,” h

Friday afternoon couldn’t come fast enough. The week had been pure torture—stolen touches in the copy room, Dominic’s low voice in her ear during meetings promising filthy things, late nights where they pushed each other right to the edge but never quite fell over it completely. Rory felt like she was walking around with a live wire under her skin, every nerve ending buzzing for him. When Dominic texted her at lunch—“Pack a bag. We’re leaving at 5. Tell your father it’s a work retreat. No arguments.”—she didn’t hesitate. She threw clothes, her laptop, and way too much lingerie into an overnight bag, her stomach flipping with nerves and excitement. The drive upstate was quiet at first, the city giving way to winding roads lined with trees just starting to turn gold. Dominic drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on her thigh, thumb stroking lazy circles that kept her constantly aware of how close his fingers were to where she needed them most. They talked about everythin

The following week dragged like nails on a chalkboard. Rory went through the motions at work—smiling at colleagues, diving deep into manuscript notes, attending meetings where Dominic sat at the head of the table looking every bit the untouchable CEO. But underneath the professional facade, the tension between them simmered hotter than ever. A brush of hands while passing papers. His foot hooking around her ankle under the table. A whispered “good girl” in the elevator that left her soaked and trembling for the rest of the afternoon. By Wednesday, they were both fraying at the edges. Dominic looked like he hadn’t slept, shadows under those stormy eyes that still burned whenever they landed on her. Rory’s dreams were filled with him—his hands, his mouth, the way he’d growled her name like a prayer and a curse all at once. The guilt from her dad’s phone call lingered, but it only seemed to fuel the fire. Forbidden fruit had never tasted sweeter, or hurt quite so much. Thursday night,

Sunday evening felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of fire. Rory stood on the familiar front porch of her childhood home, the scent of her mom’s roast chicken drifting through the screen door, but all she could feel was the phantom ache between her thighs from the night before. Dominic had been insatiable—hours of slow, deep lovemaking mixed with rough, desperate claiming that left bruises on her hips and love bites hidden under her clothes. Every step reminded her of him. His car pulled up behind hers. He stepped out looking unfairly composed in a casual button-down and slacks, but his eyes when they met hers told the real story: dark hunger, lingering tenderness, and the same storm of guilt she carried. “Deep breaths,” he murmured as they walked up the path together, hands carefully not touching. “We can do this.” Inside, the house was warm and chaotic in the best way. Her mom pulled her into a tight hug, then did the same to Dominic. “Dom! It’s been too long. You look wo