-

: The Dev

e was to

cl

o

n wringing in her hands. Her suitcase had been unpacked by invisible staff, her clothes folded into drawers that weren't hers, her shoes li

re. It wrapped arou

hate

ated the softness of the silk sheets she didn't ask for, hated how her things now sat

hated the part of h

osed to stir anything but resentment. Sh

hadn't gott

en he entered a room, breath hitching when he looke

as always one step away from breaking her

attered th

m. Too

ed through the thick oak door. "The fa

mi

now. A daughter-in-law

-

n't decorated - it was curated, like a museum built to r

though she'd been carved from ice - elegant, glacial, with a silver bob that gleam

r, offered a polite smile - the

turned i

clear and undoubtedly lethal in her crystal gl

chin high. "Unexpected things ten

ing a smirk. The mother's ex

home," she said, voice cool. "

"Or maybe he needed someone who

r tigh

, deliberate - and Leonardo ent

eccable.

, sliding over her with some

h as silk over stone, "try not

urse. But be careful, Leo. You

with venomous grace. "Onl

s subtle. B

-

and polite warfare. The wine was French, the

aked in the kind of stillness

bleed across the estate. Lights dotted the sprawling grounds, casting long shadows. This pla

't hear

presence behind

day," Leonardo said, voi

rrass you in front of y

your ground. Ev

uld feel him, his ener

d to save me,"

around her, fingertips graz

iffened.

ngly gentle - brushing the strap of her bra

mira," he murmured

hed. It was patient. Controlled. And

ou can buy me, you can to

shing just beneath her ear.

g low in her belly. The wa

g her to face him. His eyes,

e kiss

ungry.

sn't

was

nto him. She gasped - not from surprise,

hit the floor. His mouth fo

m harder against the wall, teeth grazing his ja

ou don't want this?" he

d this is love?" she

a second, something unread

e said finally, voic

let's