CHAINED HEARTS

omewhere Between

dn't belong to her - and next to a man w

hest rose and fell with the rhythm of someone unbothered, unashamed. In the soft mor

ed at th

ad she

ing. That it was one night of forgetting, of indulging in something rec

ut of bed quietly, b

ut breakfast?" he murmu

'm not really the lin

- icy blue and sharply awake now.

ulling his button-down off the chair nearby and sliding it

tching her with a lazy sort of hun

-time

h his eyes. "Lia. You're t

oking at him. "This was fun. But I'm not in the market for a

. "Only whe

nterested in complications. I came here for a clean start

d slightly. "You think

d easily. I don't pla

d, suddenly serious. "You're not a toy, L

urned. "Good talk. Thanks

at all

or. "Don't worry. Yo

ked out - bare legs, t

t Day – V

s sharp, her expression unreadable. She'd convinced herself this w

seated at the head of the table, sipping coffee lik

word. Didn't smi

ooked

at was

her play her

found herself hyperaware of his every move. The way he tapped his finger against

how thrill

nough for her to feel his presence again

meant nothing. I'll preten

w tight. "You

ips. "Good. Fear's boring

ha

ow, dangerous. "

ng – Lia's

tared out at the skyline. Her phone buzzed -

humbs-up, then toss

? She didn't want anything with him. Couldn't afford to. Love was a poi

wasn't aski

possessive, consuming. Like he want

ly... part of

t enough to feel

lse – Vikto

, glass of scotch in hand. His assista

rework her schedule?"

l. "Move her meetings to align with mine. Add

she n

d she'll fight it. That's

she walk

led. "Then

OT

oying this