The Lethal Game of possession

APTER

grappling to silence the relen

eel the effect of last night's revelry

the refreshing sensation sweeping from the

hter, the taste of something forbidden still lingering on my lips. My mind was foggy, but flashes

ay my body felt light and r

then

myself. My reflection stared back at me in the mirror, my dark eye

was

were blurry, but one thing was clear-

man

never happened before. I wasn't the type to wake up i

, here

pped out of the bathroom and into my tiny bedroom. My phone

** *I hope you sl

my breath

ew my

♣️

around the phone as I

u slept we

against my skin. But they also carried a

mber giving h

ts of last night. His face was still a mystery-just fleeting impressions. The heat of

he had my

before typin

*Who i

d. Then minut

g. Maybe I had given him my number and just didn't remember. It wasn't li

the door ma

for work!" My nanny's voice r

The

There was no time to dwell on mystery texts or the stranger who had left an imprint on

oom, planting a quick kiss on my nann

ly rush of people. The café was only a few blocks away, nestled in a quiet corner of the city. The s

my grumpy boss, shot me a disappro

around my waist and moved toward the r

aking orders, the bell

ost breathtaking ma

ng. Devastatin

rt stu

my memory was hazy,

e locked dir

♣️**CHAP

caught in

in a perfectly tailored black suit, he carried an air of power so effortlessly t

eyes that hel

blue so piercing that it s

like a lightning

from las

I had spent t

ach movement precise and deliberate. Conversations around the ca

un

e my stomach twist. Deep, smooth, and laced

ard. "Do I-do

is lips as if he foun

His voice was like vel

it. The feeling of his hands on my body. The warmth of his breath agai

ldn't adm

ongue, and Marco's impatient

e the man'

t. Right. I was at work. This w

le, I reached for my notep

nce at the menu. "An es

ammed again

d. "I-I'm

n't fade. "Th

a corner table, completely unbothered by

't realized I was holding

*was

like he wasn't jus

for

♣️**CHAP

s on work, but it was im

xan

e that a man like him wasn't *just* a stranger from a one-night

s here. Watchi

effortless authority. His posture was relaxed, one hand cradling his tiny es

ift ended, my ner

rembling slightly as I turned t

ged me, too busy co

ling myself before walking

is gaze pinning me in place. "D

on't know what yo

his expression unreadable.

ath hi

in his words, no room

managed to say, my voice we

. Amusement? Challenge? "You kn

cheeks. "Last nig

he was indulging me. "T

y mouth. C

d

But my body-my traitorous, *foolish* bo

and that knowing smirk return

inside me. "What do

or a moment bef

dea

ed. "A

. "I own the biggest fashion empire in Italy, Luna. I'm a very busy

ght off guard

nued smoothly. "But I also don't bel

twisted. "U

felt like I was trapped in a game

ere's my offer-you come with me. Spend one week i

against my ribs.

hen I'll leave. You'l

ht settled

uld* s

ld* wal

piercing blue eyes, I rea

e I *wanted*

♣️**CH

ked away. I should

pped between logic and temptati

waiting for its prey to make the next move. His offer was insa

out it scream

ye

out, my voice bare

nswer was unsettlingly simple

ggling café worker trying to make ends meet, liv

r said it, it sou

erves spiraling. "What

ke I was a puzzle he was piecing t

cause my racing hea

ce dropped slightly, sending a shiver down my s

my hea

ckered in his

aned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "One week, *do

mach t

w up in people's lives without a reason. He wasn't a

something about him

se. A silent

d. "And if

. "Then I walk away." A pause. "But let'

h to argue, but

he was

want him

that I

hink it, the words s

wee

ow, deliberate.

that, my fat

♣️**CH

eft my lips, I knew the

t won a game I didn't even realize I was playing. He reached into his

," he said, his voice smooth and co

without touching it.

h amusement. "You'll f

s recklessly insane but the pull of curiosity was s

café suddenly felt too small for his presence, as if the walls themselves

late, *d

n he wa

edge of the counter, my fi

I just ag

#

apartment, a small suitcase by my s

d in my head-Was this a mistake? Was he dangerous

. The thrill, the mystery. For the first time in

AM, a sleek blac

d in a crisp suit, and opened

and nodded before

a blur as we drove. My fingers curled around my phone, deb

a stranger who makes my he

wouldn't go

nd leaned back, letting Rom

here Alexander

e my life would neve

♣️**CHAPT

s, before heading toward the outskirts of the city. My fingers drummed nervously aga

isl

ckened. *He

n the road as we approached an estate t

dream. A *

ea. Elegant archways and ivory columns stood against the backdrop of clear blue skies, su

seen anyth

e I could fully process my surroundings, t

is waiting fo

epped onto the cobblestone driveway. My breath hitched slightly a

upposed to

, here

a man in his late forties, dressed in a sharply pressed

ed, his voice deep an

ned with intricate chandeliers, marble floors that gleamed under the soft glow of golden lig

stopping in front of a set of double doors.

ere he

xan

ching the waves crash against the shore. The light from outside cast sharp shado

Instead, he took a slow sip from

cam

ng my voice to stay ste

turned to face me. His gaze swept over me, slow and deli

Because once you step

oser, the air bet

no turn

♣️**CHAPT

harged with an energy I

between us, heavy with unspoken me

have been

elt was ant

lready made my choice," I

eepened. "H

had already stepped into his worl

osed the space between us. He didn't touch me, but hi

trolled, but there was something darker beneath

down my spi

'll live under my roof, eat at my tabl

t the way he said

ed, trying to mask the fact

ment flickering in his ey

heart ha

fall in lov

I almost laughed. "That won't be a pr

hing unreadable in his expression, som

ween us, thick with a

turned and gestured toward the door

efore following him down the ha

d into Alexa

if I would make

♣️**CHAP

nly sound coming from the faint echo of our

an moved like he owned the very air around him-because he did. This was

the end of the corridor and pushed

side, my bre

ing softly in the breeze. A massive bed sat in the center of the room, draped in the finest silk sheets. E

admitted, turning to hi

e, arms crossed, watching me with an

it sent a shiver

im fully. "What exactly am I supposed to do here, Alexander

studied me, his blue eyes holding someth

mpany me when I ask. Attend dinners and events. Stay close

That's your deal? Be your what

there was no humor in it. "If t

me uneasy. There was more to

the week?

ack to yo

. "Just l

frame and stepped closer, the

that," he

voice told me it woul

he way my heart betrayed me by racin

slow, knowing.

rough me at the

standing there with the unsettling realization that I had

me I was already

♣️**CHA

der left, silence

o steady myself. *What the

ng events, and following his rules. I should have felt trapped. Instead

. The mattress was ridiculously soft, the kind of luxury I'd only seen

gled in the way he had looked at me. Like he was testing me. Like he

ran a hand th

to get

the closet, hesitantly pullin

resses, silk blouses, and designer s

. *plann

n it, a soft knock at

s Lu

female, poli

I calle

in a crisp black uniform. She looked to be in her la

der's house manager. I'm here to a

r. Of course

aid, still feeling like I di

"Mr. Alexander requested that you be ready by se

ed. "Di

iss. Wi

mach t

said slow

w and left, the door cl

ingers grazing over the fabrics.

#

hat hugged my figure in all the right places. The silk felt like a secon

mirror, barely recognizi

anything this exp

pulled me from

in," I

ed, and my br

ike it had been made just for him. His presence filled the r

over me, slow a

," he mu

masked it with a small smirk.

his lips. "I wouldn't have ch

, he had

respond, he e

ll w

a moment before slipp

I let him lead me de

♣️**CHAPTER

ate, his grip firm yet effortless. I focused on steadyi

pace, adorned with crystal glassware and flickering candlelight. Floor-to-ceiling wind

ething unspoken as Alexande

he mu

over my dress as he took

s of food. Everything looked rich and extravagant. I suddenly felt ou

s glass of wine and st

e nerv

ng up my glass. "And wha

d. "You haven't t

at the perfectly arrange

loding on my tongue. It was delicious, of cours

"Do you always question the intentions of men who g

the ones who refuse to

maddening smirk. "Does t

rd. "Because men like you do

etween us. His blue eyes locked o

set his g

mitted. "I don't do t

"And what's your

laced by something d

ng from you," h

lse s

e it

ed. "What

he candlelight casting sharp

my side, as I said. But I need mo

glass tight

ion unreadable. "I need

across my face. "Con

ft mine as he spo

y fia

e room shifte

the glass faltered. I wasn't s

anc

sign that this was a joke. A cruel

ged, my voice barel

chair, entirely unfa

mind. "You expect me to pretend to b

u protest, I suggest you listen careful

my hands trembling

, whatever game h

epped into th

♣️**CHAPTE

hoed in my head, rattling me

r any trace of humor. A smirk, a flicker of

e was

serious," I

ook like a man who jokes

solutely

appetite gone. "Why m

ed smoothly. "I need you to play a r

my eyes. "W

arefully. "An engaged man commands respect

way he said it mad

nd of pr

ghtly. "The kind that

you want me to pretend to be your fiancée for a week to he

rre

tly do *I* get

me to ask. "One week, and you'll never have to

in a shar

torn between common sense and the

. That w

al freedom. No more worrying about rent. No more str

st too good

nt it pro

ice steady. "What exact

d live here, attend events with m

my spine. "And wha

or a long moment

be *mine* for t

ks at the way he said

ay no?" I c

adable. "Then you walk away tonight,

his words made m

deal with

e cafe barely keeping us afl

we

survive

reath, lifting

with satisfacti

ore afraid of what I

I became *his* even just for a wee