His Forbidden Heiresss

nts. The sun dipped below the skyline outside the tall windows of her room, painting the sky in streaks of

ambled with millions, who borrowed money from dangerous people, who made promises he couldn't keep. But none of it felt real. None of it felt like t

doorway. He wore a charcoal suit, jacket open over a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal

?" he asked, voice

older with a sna

ully. "You still thi

think you're too eager

rowing. "Or maybe you're to

ing between them. She hated the way he

ready," he said, breaking th

ted. "I'm

htened. "You

n his eyes surprised her. She rose and followe

lined with dark paneling and a roaring fireplace. A single table was set for two. Silv

ables, and a bottle of red wine. Devon poured her a gl

clink of cutlery. Lola forced herself to swallow bite after bite, each mou

Devon said suddenly, br

up, surpris

s?" His voice was low, rough around

d. I painted. I tried to forget

" he asked, e

s gaze ste

. "I tried to forget too," he said after a pause

he looked less like the ruthless billionaire everyone feared an

" she ask

"Now I don't know w

. When the plates were cleared, Devon ro

the darkened halls to a door at the end of a long corridor. Inside was a study smaller and older than the modern rooms elsewhere in the mansi

y," Devon said quietly. "She c

e piano. She ran her fingers ove

She used to play for me

te echoing sweet and sad in the

but he didn't look

miliar comfort. Devon crossed to a side table and poured two glasses of

, swirling the amber liquid, "I wonde

a breath. "Wha

s face. "My father always told me your father was the cause of everythi

ward. "What ar

'm saying someone else might have orchestrated th

tole her br

itted, voice low. "But

esitated, but took it, letting him pull her to her feet. They stood close,

, Lola," h

art hammering. "

s gaze burning into her back a

ey'd shared, every look, every ghost of a touch. When dawn finally b

from a shower, sleeves rolled up over strong forearms. He

sleep?"

r head. "We

clasped tightly. "You said last night you think someone

p but not unkind. "We sta

with spreadsheets, emails, scanned contracts. He turned it toward her. "These are

frustration bubbling. "

if we find a transaction that links both accounts to a third pa

es. Devon's shoulder brushed hers occasionally, the faint contact making her breath catch every tim

ver a line in a decades-old

om your father's company... to an ac

rrowed. "Wh

ing. "A shell company ow

she repeated. "I've

e of my father's rivals. Ruthless. Manipulative. H

"So he played them

up, their eyes locking. "Th

ow Victor Cavanaugh had spent years circling both their fathers, offering deals that se

shed. "My father always said someone

arm and solid. "We need more

. "What do

s, fierce and unyielding

olished table. Devon ordered dinner brought up-steaming plates of pasta and crus

von watching her, his gaze softening in the

a smile playing at his lips. "

ed a bro

ed heiress," he adm

er his intense

her knuckles with his fingers. "Not a

r between them thick with t

oor, the hallway hushed. Devon lifted a hand, brushing a lock of

to stay,"

up sharpl

rified, voice hoa

h caught.

said, eyes dark with hun

protect herself. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw the same pain she carrie

her toes to brush her lips agai

h searing intensity. She clung to him as he carried her down the hall, the world na

hunger that bordered on feral. His hands traced the curves of her body with revere

en they collapsed against the sheets, tangled and breathless, it fel

listening to the steady beat of his

this ends," she whis

et's not worry about the end," he mur

-

was back in Paris, in the small apartment she'd fought to keep when everything fell apart. But then she felt the heat of his body

was almost boyish, the hard lines of anger and control smoothed away. She traced the curve

eyes opened slowly, blue gaze softening when they landed o

lowed. "

splaying between her shoulder blades a

er throat thi

w and warm. "I should say

on't," she

rkened. "No

r the covers. The kiss deepened, his hand fisting in her hair, hers clutching

ead to hers. "We hav

her eyes.

-

tely, but Lola felt the burn of curious stares as they walked side by side to the breakfast room.

rds. Devon scrolled through his phone while she picked at her toa

d up. "What? Ho

Langham." Devon's expression was all business now, the ruthless

ounded. "Wh

termination. "We get the truth out of him. An

ble, her fingers brushing

reading his fingers th

-

g past in a blur of steel and glass. Devon's hand rested on her knee, his thumb stroking slow, reassuring c

ar, their movements quick and efficient. Inside, the lobby gleamed with marble floors and crystal chand

penthouse suite. A moment later, it swung open to reveal a man in his late sixties with s

ng against the doorframe. "And this must be the l

ike ice. He stepped forward, forcing Victor back into

view of Central Park, modern art on the walls, fresh orchids in tall crystal

a drink with deliberate calm. "I suppos

nipulated our fathers. You

tch, eyes glittering.

My father always said someone tricked him. And yo

And what do you plan to

n said, voice leth

You really think the world cares about your sad litt

er palms. "You ruined l

ask of civility cracking. "Your fathers wer

His face was inches from Victor's, eyes blazin

instantly, a sneer twistin

us whisper. "Then you'll find out

-

t, and a public statement clearing both their fathers of wrongdoing. Lola stood

closed, sealing them in silence. Devon reached for her hand, threading his fi

y breath. "I can't

he said quietly.

-

s if a storm had passed. Devon led her into the library, closing the door be

edible today,"

owed. "So

e. "I meant what I said, Lola. I don't know wh

chest, feeling the steady bea

ds slid to her waist, pulling her flush against him as his mouth claimed hers. S

r body, memorizing every curve. She arched into him, heat pooling low in her

, hands fisting in hi

ried her to the desk, sweeping papers aside before laying her down. His mouth c

o pull his shirt over his head, revealing the hard planes of his chest. She traced the lines o

top," he rasp

head, eyes bla

, each touch, stripped away the walls they'd built around their hearts. He whispered her

d spent, Devon pulled her against his c

this to end,

ching with how much she want

-

ckling softly. She traced circles on his chest as he ran his f

s now?" she

ll want explanations. The press will start asking ques

ead. "Then we fa

heek, eyes fier

re under his breath, pulling on his shirt as a secur

r his shoulder as he read. Her stomach dropped a

olyster Linked to Gareth Family Sc

ot of them leaving the Langham, his hand on

rt sank. "

ched. "This chan

is arm. "We c

We have to. Because if we do

ing kiss that tasted of defiance and desperation. Sh

-

ments. Devon's team worked like a well-oiled machine, but Lola felt the ri

alone in the library, staring out

waist. "We're stronger together," he murm

m, finding strength in his

tood united, ready to face whatever storm

-