Surrounded by an ethereal ambiance, Leah registered a faint murmur of voices and the distant hum of a radiator. A delicate touch—perhaps the nurse's—gently brushed a cool cloth against her forehead. The bed's soft sheets, draped against her skin, imparted a comforting weight. The air carried the fresh scent of rain and cotton, creating an immersive sensory experience. Despite these subtle stimuli, Leah tenaciously kept her eyes closed, resisting the pull to consciousness. She clung to the dark serenity of sleep, revelling in the residual warmth of vaguely recalled dreams, cradling her in a tender embrace.The prospect of awakening and departing from this tranquil realm, stirred reluctance within her. The void of consciousness awaited—a desolate expanse where memories eluded her, and identity remained elusive. It was an emptiness surpassing any physical pain. Then, three hours prior, the doctor had delivered news that pierced through this ephemeral sanctuary: she was pregnant.She could
She could feel the beat of his heart against her cheek through his black button-down shirt. She was enveloped in his masculine scent, sandalwood and amber, exotic and woodsy. Against her will, she closed her eyes. She breathed in his smell, heard the beat of his heart, and felt his warmth.Everything else faded. The private hospital room, the nurses and doctor visible through the window of the door, the sound of one of Thomas’s men speaking urgently into his cell phone in some language she didn’t recognise, the antiseptic smell, the beeps of the machines—it all faded.There was only this.Only him.Held securely in his strong arms for the first time since her accident, she felt safe and loved. She felt as if she had a place in the world. With him.He kissed her hair softly. She felt the warmth of his breath and the hot caress of his lips, and a tremble went over her. Fear? Longing?Did he love her?She reached upward, cupping his rough jawline with her hands. Though his clothes were s
“Please, Thomas.” Leah’s sapphire eyes gleamed. “I want to see my home.”His brow furrowed as he looked down at her pleading face. Fuck, he thought, how could he trick her now? There was no way he would allow her to see her family.Leah really had changed, he thought. His woman had never begged him for anything. She’d never even said, Please.Except…Except for the first night he’d taken her to his bed, when all her defences had been briefly stripped away and he’d discovered the most desired woman in the world was, against all expectations, a virgin. As he’d pushed himself inside her, she’d looked up at him in a breathless hush with those violet-blue eyes, and he’d thought—he’d almost thought—He cut off the memory savagely.He wouldn’t think about how it had once been with her. Thomas wouldn’t think about how she had nearly made him lose everything, including his mind.Leah De Nero was a fatal habit that he’d finally broken—and he intended to keep it that way.“Very well,” he ground
Drawing in a deep breath, she shifted her focus away, fixing her gaze upon the evolving landscape beyond the rain-streaked windows. The scenery had undergone a transformation since they departed from the outskirts of Chicago, transitioning into a lush and verdant panorama. Trees adorned in shades of orange and yellow contributed to the rich autumnal tapestry amidst the enduring green."Leah." Thomas's voice interrupted her contemplation. She turned back to face him, captivated by his darkly handsome and authoritative presence. At that moment, his sensual mouth was etched into a firm line, indicative of his unwavering determination to assert dominance.Yet, an innate resistance stirred within her, compelling her to push back against his influence. "Thank you for asking me to marry you," she said awkwardly. "It's a warm and loving gesture, but my baby won't be born for months—""Our baby," he interjected."I can't be your wife when I can't even remember you," she reasoned."We'll see,"
Sunlight danced on the water as they embarked on a private water taxi from Marco Polo Airport. The September day was warm and bright as they navigated the lagoon, passing iconic landmarks like Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs on their way to the hotel in Venice. Thomas hadn't anticipated returning to this enchanting city, but sometimes life throws unexpected curveballs.Grimly contemplating the twists of fate, Thomas acknowledged that occasionally one must rewrite the rules midway through the game. Determined to win Leah's heart and commitment before her memory fully returned, he embraced the role of a romantic fool, willing to go to any lengths.As they crossed the canal, he held Leah in his arms, her eyes wide with wonder and her lips slightly parted. The admiration mirrored the way every man looked at her, evident even in the glances from the Italian driver and Thomas's attentive bodyguard. Leah , having freshened up during the private flight from London, exuded allure with
Overwhelmed by Thomas's presence, the trio of men refrained from approaching Leah directly, opting instead to linger with unabashed stares and soft words of admiration. Leah, feeling exposed and vulnerable, sensed the heat rising in her cheeks under their scrutinising gaze. Grateful for Thomas taking her hand, she followed him towards the elevator, aware of the lingering gazes and the symphony of mournful sighs blending with the rhythmic click of her stiletto heels on the marble floor. Her discomfort heightened, imagining that they were probably fixated on her backside. A cold sweat broke out on her neck, and she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of being under a microscope. Puzzled and self-conscious, she wondered why the intense scrutiny occurred until realisation struck like lightning. It was the dress. The small red dress she had plucked from her closet in his father's mansion, deeming it the simplest and most comfortable choice in her limited wardrobe, initially envisioned
As the sun gracefully descended over the Grand Canal, the scene exuded undeniable romance, yet comfort eluded Leah. Her black stiletto heels, stylish but impractical, threatened to twist her ankles with every step. The discomfort, however, paled in comparison to the constant awareness of men's lingering stares along the walkway. Thomas, acutely attuned to the attention she garnered, clung to her arm possessively, casting glares at any man who dared approach or gaze too intently. He resembled a protective lion, ready to defend and even eliminate any perceived threat to his female companion. Leah couldn't shake the vulnerability that enveloped her, feeling like a gazelle on the brink of being torn apart for some lion's dinner – the specific lion almost irrelevant in her anxious state. Casting a sidelong glance at Thomas, a strange fear gripped her, one she attributed to her lack of memory about him. Would she be afraid if she remembered him? The uncertainty lingered in her thoughts. Be
Once settled within the luxurious confines of their penthouse suite, Thomas promptly released Leah’s hand. Emerging from the bathroom a good ten minutes later, having diligently attended to her nightly dental regimen, he remained engrossed in his laptop work at the sleek desk positioned near the window, scarcely sparing her a glance. Through the window behind him, she observed the mesmerising spectacle of ferries crossing the Adriatic Sea, their twinkling lights resembling distant constellations.Awkwardly breaking the silence, she expressed gratitude for borrowing his pyjama top, her tone tinged with an uneasy laugh that resonated as nervous and somewhat goofy, even to her own ears. “I must have lost mine. There was nothing in my suitcase.”Casually, he dropped the bombshell, “You always slept in the nude.”Attempting to maintain composure, she swallowed, her gaze fixated on his profile, acutely aware of the bed looming behind her. “Well, um…”“You take the bed.” He rose, closing his
Thomas drove her to the city, exceeding all speed records to reach the private hospital in time. They were too late for anaesthesia. She’d just barely settled into her private suite, and Dr. Bartlett had just rushed in to check on her, before their baby was born.Thomas held her close as their son came into the world, protecting them. And in the instant their newborn baby was placed in her exhausted arms, both their lives changed forever.Thomas kissed his wife’s sweaty forehead, then tenderly cradled them both in his arms. Their love was newly reborn in that single instant, brilliant and flashing like a comet illuminating the dark night, shining like a star that would always last.*****Mommy….mommy, they’re here!”Four-year-old John was running up and down the hallways, screaming like a banshee when he heard the helicopter land on the other side of the island. Leah smiled down at her son, even as she tried helplessly to hush him before he woke his two-year-old sister, who always got
Leah knelt, brushing the earth off the grey marble angel before placing half the daisies on her grave. “I’m going to have his baby any day now. And I forced him to promise to stay away from us.” She gave a harsh laugh. “I guess I never thought he’d stay so true to his word. Perhaps he’s not the liar I thought.” She wiped the tears that left cold tracks down her cheeks, chilling beneath the brisk spring wind as she said softly, “What should I do?”Her father’s grave was silent. Leah heard only the sigh of the wind through the trees as she stared down at the words on the gravestone.No. Her throat suddenly hurt. Sometimes love and passion can be equally joined, like a mutual fire. She’d felt it.The desire between Leah and Thomas had been explosive. She’d been so lucky, and she hadn’t even known it. For all her adult life, she’d been focused on the wrong thing. On revenge. On regaining a memory that had ultimately caused her nothing but grief.A bitter laugh stuck in her throat.Hearing
“No!” Leah jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me!” She turned away, heading for the door, desperate to get out of the bedroom, away from the soft, mussed sheets that were still warm from the tender passion of their bodies, away from the scent of him that still clung to her. Away from the happiness of the innocent, explosive joy she’d experienced moments before.“I don’t blame you,” he said quietly behind her, causing her to halt. “When I found out you were Justin De Nero's stepsister, I already knew I was falling in love with you. So I brought you here to the island.” He took a deep breath. “I thought if I kept you safe and hidden from the world, you wouldn’t remember. I prayed you never would.”She whirled around with a gasp, and the breath suddenly knocked out of her.“To punish me?” she said, wanting to cry. She lifted her chin. “To claim your victory?”Thomas bowed his head. “To be your husband,” he whispered. “To love you for the rest of my life.”His words crept into her soul li
Thomas pulled off the soft pink cotton dress with its innocent eyelet lace. Removing his own black T-shirt and jeans, he dropped them to the floor. His eyes greedily drank in the vision of Leah in her translucent white bra and panties.Looking into her eyes, he finally spoke the words that had long ago been written across his heart.“I love you, Leah.”She sucked in her breath, her gaze searching his. Wanting to believe. Needing to believe.Then he kissed her.Her lips seared him to the core. With every beat of his heart, he loved her. And all he wanted to do was make his vow of a month ago true; he wanted to spend the rest of his life kissing her.She moved beneath him on the white blanket of the bed. Above him, he could hear the soft whir of the ceiling fan, hear the cry of the morning birds outside, and feel the soft breeze against his naked body.He touched her naked skin, bronzed from so many days spent outside. He stroked her body all over, worshipping her with his fingertips, wi
After she had slept, he reached his breaking point. Getting up from the bed, he gazed through the open French doors onto the terrace, where the gentle breeze swirled the curtains. He observed the full moonlight dancing on the black waves of the Aegean, resembling lost spirits ensnared in invisible webs to the earth.He had believed he could shield them here, far from the world's reach. He was mistaken. To protect his family, he could never again be intimate with his wife, not even a kiss. For if he did, she would remember everything, and he would lose her.Thomas was consumed by pain, his breath catching in his chest. He stole one final glance at his pregnant wife, peacefully sleeping in their bed. He cherished her beauty, even as he agonized over the tear stains on her face. As the pink hues of sunrise began to fill the room, he clenched his fists and left her to sleep alone.How had it all gone so wrong?A month later, Leah remained baffled. She resided in a breathtaking Greek villa
“Two?” Thomas pouted.“Six?” she countered good-naturedly.He looked down at her, his dark eyes smiling. “We can compromise. Three.”“All right.” She leaned against him with a contented sigh. “I’m so happy here,” she confessed. “I never want to leave.”He flashed her a grin. “Then we won’t.”“Just what do you have in mind?” she teased. “A honeymoon that never ends?”He bent to kiss her lightly, tenderly on the lips. “Exactly.”He went to the white granite table, removing the two lunch plates from the tray. He set them out with silverware and linen napkins. He brought the two glasses of sparkling water to the lounge chairs and handed one to her.He held up his glass. “To the most beautiful woman in the world.”Flushing with pleasure, she clinked the glass against his. “To the most wonderful man in the world,” she said softly. “Thank you for telling me the truth. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for putting it all behind us and bringing me home.”His dark brows creased, and he look
Thomas was blown away by her openness and vulnerability. Leah had accepted blame for a betrayal she could not even remember. She’d chosen to believe him. To trust him when all he’d done was lie to her, trick her, and punish her. It was enough to bring any man to his knees.Thomas started to walk toward her, but he’d gone only a few steps before the phone in his hand rang. He saw his lead investigator’s number and answered. “That was fast.”“I can tell you about your wife’s father right now, Mr. Alexander.” Barr paused. “Do the names Chase Johnson and Justin De Nero mean anything to you?”Thomas’s entire body went hot, then turned to ice.He was only dimly aware of the ebb and flow of people around him as his hand clenched around the phone.“Johnson and Justin De Nero?” he repeated in a strangled voice.“The owner of Johnson Inc. is the best friend of Leah’s stepbrother, Justin De Nero. They are close friends... very close friends.”Thomas’s heart pounded in his throat. He saw black bi
“And so I’ve been waiting for you to remember. Every place I’ve taken you, every memory I’ve hoped to reignite, was so you could tell me why.” Suddenly, she understood everything. “Not just that,” she whispered. “You wanted to punish me. It’s what you’ve wanted since the day you found me in London. You wanted revenge—” “Justice,” he corrected coldly. “But when you found out I was pregnant, that changed everything, didn’t it?” She gave a choked laugh, then covered her mouth with an intake of breath. “You felt you had to marry me because I was pregnant with your baby. You never loved me. All you wanted was to hurt me.” “I spent months trying to find you before you resurfaced at your father’s funeral. You’re a wealthy woman, Leah, so you couldn’t have betrayed me for money. So you must have done it out of love. You’re in love with Jake Skinner. It’s the only explanation.” She thought of the playboy with his bleached-white smile and shook her head. “I could never love him.” “Then wh
Cradled in Thomas’s strong arms, beneath the soft dawn spilling from the windows, Leah hadn’t wanted to wake up. She’d pressed her head against his naked chest, relishing the feel of his warm skin laced with dark hair.His body was so much larger than her own. Snuggled against him in the enormous bed, she’d felt protected. Safe. Loved. There was so much about him that she still didn’t understand. But still, she was falling in love with him all over again.Drowsy and content, she’d listened to the beat of his heart against her cheek. The beat grew louder, like the sound of heavy footsteps stomping in unison against a hard stone floor. Step. Step. Step.She felt suddenly cold as she looked at the blurry faces around her. Her father’s sobbing face came into sharp focus. She clung to Leah, wailing as they watched her mother’s and sister-in-law's coffins pass out of the church on the shoulders of old men. Leah clutched her father’s hands in her own, suddenly terrified that her mother’s and