Lucia.Her presence curled around me like smoke, heavy and palpable. She was watching. Studying. Judging. And yet, for once, I didn’t shrink beneath her scrutiny. Instead, a slow, unfamiliar satisfaction bloomed inside me.I liked that she was watching. “Smart girl, aren’t you?” His voice was a m
“Mr. Rodriguez,” Ace replied smoothly, his tone shifting into one of professional poise. It was impressive, almost jarring, how effortlessly he slipped into this formal demeanor.Ace’s hand slid up to my shoulder, his touch protective yet gentle. “Meet my woman, Iris,” he introduced, his voice ste
Dude!!! Do five pushups and the next day your shoulder and chest feels like it’s broken inside.And standing on one leg? I have gotten more scratches doing that than while handling knives in the kitchen! And planks? Planks are demons in disguise! Those things can turn seconds into hours! Make you
“Seventeen,” I whispered under my breath, the number echoing in my head.A sharp, uneasy silence filled the space. The pieces were falling into place, but I wasn’t sure I liked the picture they were forming.Suddenly, Liam reached out and gripped my earlobe, giving it a firm tug.“Don’t think about
His grin slowly faded, and his gaze subtly shifted past my shoulder. His body language changed— his usual relaxed demeanor tightening ever so slightly.I frowned. “What?”Liam said nothing at first, merely tilting his head toward the direction he was looking at.Curious, I turned around.Theo was a
Ace let out a slow chuckle, his hands finding their way to my thighs. “Sit straight, Mr.,” I ordered, pointing a finger at him with authority.He didn’t argue. With an easy, lazy smirk, he sat up straighter but didn’t remove his hands. Instead, his fingers slid up and down my thighs in a way that
My gaze flickered toward Susan, who was watching the scene unfold with a knowing glint in her eyes. Her gaze moved between Ace and me.I exhaled heavily, dragging out his name in exasperation. "Ace..."Of course. I wouldn’t have told him that by myself. But holy Jesus, this man was terrifyingly sma
They drank me in like a man savoring a masterpiece only he had the privilege of owning."Don’t I?" he murmured. "Just one night ago, I kept you awake half of the night. Our sweat dripping, saliva sticking to our lips, wet liquids flowing down, scratches and bites..."I sucked in a sharp breath. My f
Why did I only notice it now?Ace chuckled—low, knowing."Do your work like a good whore," he murmured, his tone silky but laced with steel. "And show me your devotion, brat."He leaned back, and the pressure of his hands, which had been a constricting comfort around my body, vanished. Like a snake
I blinked, my breath hitching, frustration curling inside my chest."Please…" The whisper left me before I could stop it, before I could hold onto my pride. My head dipped down, shame curling my shoulders inward as I bit down on my lower lip. "Just one kiss. Even a peck."Ace clicked his tongue, th
“Don’t expect me to treat you like a good girl till I believe you’re sorry, Iris,” he murmured, his tone dark and taunting.Before I could process it, his thumb shoved past my lips, forcing them apart. My eyes flew wide, a muffled “Hmph” escaping as my hands shot up, fingers digging into his knees
“Sit on your knees.”…What?I froze.My smile slipped, and a soft “Huh?” escaped me before I could stop it.The warmth I’d felt a second ago twisted into something heavier, sharper, and I blinked at him, caught off guard.“You heard me, my sweet whore,” he said, leaning back with a smirk that stretc
I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply before narrowing my eyes at him.This man.This man would kill me.My fingers tugged at my top, pulling it back down as I tried to piece together what just happened.Why did he stop?I gulped, my throat dry, my body still traitorously warm. Ace smirked, draping
I sputtered, fisting my hands.“Boss,” Joy’s voice cut through my humiliation.“Wouldn’t Hudson sir be angry about what you just did to his sister? Should we, uh, step outside?”Ace didn’t even spare her a glance.“No. Stay here and do your work. I’ll do mine,” he said smoothly, like he hadn’t just
And he had the audacity to ignore me?He didn’t even say thank you!I glared at his back.“Boss,” I said, layering my voice with a little too much sweetness. “It’s past your lunch time. You should eat.”Nothing.Not even a glance.Ace continued flipping through his damn papers like I was invisible.
But it was probably not the sparkly, glittering fairy kind. More like the I-make-people-disappear kind.Joy. That’s her name.Wooow.A woman named Joy working at a place where she literally brings pain. “Oh yeah!! I remember now,” Joy exclaimed, her face lighting up like I was her long-lost best f
Damn it, Iris. Play it cool!His gaze didn’t waver. “May I know what you are doing here?”I cleared my throat. “Uh… just… passing by?”He arched a brow.I let out a nervous laugh and gestured to the air. “You know, just… admiring the architecture?”Then, he tilted his head toward the slightly open d