Claiming What's Forbidden

he kiss was louder

h of his touch. But reality crashed in just as hard as the waves beyond the villa's glas

?" she whispered, no

h emotion. "Something that's been

balcony. "You're engaged, Ares. You'r

y, each step measur

ut not as much as the war inside her. "You don't get to be reckle

fiancée I don't love. A path I didn't choose. But you

him. If she did, sh

her voice tight. "I'm not your

mly. "You're the only rea

is, and what she saw there terrifi

closer. "And I never once stopped to ask myself if I was happy. Until you w

ome from nothing. I'm trying to hold my life together wit

f hair behind her ear. "That's exac

ang before she

both

to the clock. "No o

still pounding. Ares walked calmly to t

woman in a sleek, white dress

t her bloo

tina

fian

e under h

id quietly. "I'll leav

stantly. "You do

her tone firm. "This is

ietly toward the back of the house. Before she

a," he said, his voice

tly, forcing hersel

e worn couch, still wearing the borrowed dress.

ring the way he had kissed her like she was

ted to

nted t

d to kiss

to forget how it had felt to

kward encounters. Her eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, her nerves

showed up here last night,"

d to play d

She marched straight into the top floor w

stomach

night with Mr. Sinclair. His car didn't

breath ca

. "Wait, why

d. "I don't. Just su

strange look, but

k-to-back meetings, avoiding the top floor entirely. But

ffice

ht before pressing down on her chest. She squared he

nding by the window, arms folded, suit immacul

," he sai

ompany," s

e said. "She showed up unan

ld've told me she was in

not the point. The point is,

k. "Ares, this

n't c

she snapped. "

w. "What do you want me to do, Selena? Break

ce was hi

"I would. For you

the tears. "Time doesn't m

sidestepped. "Please... le

breath, but didn't sto

in the small hospital room. The machines beeped

d, baby," Evel

, Mama. J

refully. "Is someone

weakly. "You c

yourself in someone else's world. You'

choed in her mind th

arely spoke outside of work matters, but every glance they shared felt

the char

coverage and high-profile guests. Selena had no intention of

ked into the ballr

ked like she belonged in a world she never asked to be part of. Her long black

ched. He had seen models, actresses, heiresses. But

as lu

ucha

, she w

en, for o

m, dressed in crimson,

sed, though her heart

e event coordinator near the back of the

ing," Ares whis

n. "You should

't hel

ly. "Neither can I. A

ic swelling around them li