Desiree's POV I think my ears are faulty. Did I just hear Caspian Hart—the CEO of CypherEdge Dynamics—ask me to marry him? “What?” I say, still in disbelief. My heart races, and I can hardly process the words that just left his lips. “Marry me,” he repeats. There’s an intensity in his eyes that tells me he’s completely serious. “But… why?” I stammer. “I know this isn’t how you imagined your first marriage proposal, but I’m dead serious, Desiree. I want to marry you.” I don’t know what to say. We’re still face to face with each other, and his lips—now swollen from kisses—are a few inches away from mine. I remember how they tasted, like coffee. They were so soft and properly moisturized, unlike the typical texture of men’s lips. If I want to think clearly, I have to put enough distance between myself and Caspian. Right now, he’s very distracting. “Caspian,” I say. I'm at a loss for words. What can I even say? I admit that a marriage proposal is not usually the first thing
I'm stunned. He doesn't look angry or disgusted. If anything, he seems...understanding. Compassionate, even."You knew, and you still came?" I whisper, barely able to process it.“It doesn’t make me want you any less, Desiree,” he says. “At first, I admit that the news surprised me. It’s not every day I hear that Mike’s ex is using me to get back at him. What was that word your uncle said again? Yes, collateral damage.”Uh, Uncle Bruno. I knew he’d out me. “Collateral damage?” I ask.“That’s what he said. That you’re a good girl and I shouldn't take it out on you.”That man always has my back.“Are you going to listen to him? Do you think I’m a good girl?”Caspian's look is intense, and he isn’t smiling. “You’re not a good girl, Desiree. But I like that. I like that very much. You came to me fully armed with seduction, and as of this moment, I confess that I’m heavily seduced. I wasn’t kidding when I promised you a blank check.”He pulls out a checkbook and a pen.“Caspian—”“Name you
New York; the city that never sleeps. Yellow cabs are weaving past me as I stand close to a marked crosswalk, waiting for the pedestrian signal to turn green. As soon as the signal changes, I dart into the crosswalk. Suddenly, a car screeches to a halt, its tires screaming against the asphalt, stopping just inches from me. I freeze in place. “Watch where you’re going, idiot!” the driver yells, his face turning red with anger as he leans out of the window. I flip him off without thinking. “Maybe you should learn how to drive, jerk!” I shout back. Typical New Yorkers and their lousy driving skills. The traffic light clearly told him to stop, yet I’m the one getting yelled at for following the rules? Unbelievable. But I shake it off. I don’t want anything to spoil my mood. Not when I’m this close to seeing Caspian again. I stand in front of the skyscraper that bears Caspian's company's name—CypherEdge Dynamics—Caspian’s pride and joy. I walk into the building, my he
I blush as I remember the night at Rose’s Bane. The stares. The moans. The heat. The shared orgasms. And Caspian is looking at me the same way he looked at me that night, and I blush even harder. I can't believe this. What am I now? A schoolgirl? I try to relax, but it’s hard when he’s staring like that—like he can see straight through me, right into my soul. He walks towards me, his movements controlled. “I trust the trip here wasn’t too much trouble?” His face is hard to read. “No, not at all,” I say, swallowing hard. “Just the usual New York chaos.” He nods. “And the bank?” “The bank?” “Did you or did you not cash the check?” Of course, I knew he'd bring that up. By some powerful means—probably through his private investigator—Caspian got hold of my mobile number. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes this morning was a text from him: 'Cash the check.' I looked up the number on Truecaller, and sure enough, it's Caspian's. His personal mobile number. I rolled my
Fuck. My. Life.Caspian's going to ruin me. And he's not done talking.“I want you, Desiree. I want to kiss you, to do things that’d be impossible to describe. I tell myself it’s foolish—ridiculous even—to imagine all this with you, especially when you’re so much younger than me. Sometimes, when I’m away from you, I swear I’ve convinced myself to get over these silly emotions. But all it takes is just one look, one fucking look, and I’m back to square one. Your hair…” He's looking at my hair now, pulling and wrapping some strands around his index finger. “The flame of my life. Has anyone ever told you how dangerously seductive it is?” I swallow hard. I’ve been complimented on my hair more times than I can count, but this—this is different. When others say it, I see it as an expression of fact. But with Caspian, it's a full-blown attack on my senses, a temptation I’m powerless to resist. His words don’t just linger—they penetrate, sinking deep into my very being. No one else has ever
Caspian's POVI can see Desiree thinking, probably wondering what the hell all this is about. And honestly, as I sit here at this desk, staring down at her—the flame of my life—I’m questioning everything myself. What the hell am I doing? Is this really a good idea? Would marrying her solve anything? Is my proposal for the good of the cause or for the good of my cock?“Caspian,” Desiree says, her sexy green eyes locked on mine, “why do I have this feeling that whatever you're proposing is a bad idea?”Well… There are moments when I think I should just let this go, let things play out on their own. After all, Mabel only has wild ideas, ridiculous schemes that shouldn’t even matter. But then there’s this burning instinct inside me—a father’s instinct—that refuses to let my son be played like a puppet by that manipulative woman. Mike deserves better. He needs to be freed from her toxic grip. And the best way to make that happen is to stir up enough chaos that it forces him to see the tru
We’re in my private elevator heading down to the basement, and all I can think about is Desiree. Her scent fills the small space, tempting me in ways that should be illegal. I don’t know the magic that comes with elevators, but being in such a tiny space with Desiree makes me want to kiss her.“Where are we going exactly?” she asks.“The basement,” I reply.From my side vision, I can see her rolling her eyes.“I know we're going to the basement, Caspian. I mean, where are we heading to from the basement?”“The streets.”She smiles and shakes her head. “I thought I was the joker around here. Yet here you are, outperforming me.”“I guess you're rubbing off on me, Desiree.”“Am I?” Her voice drops a little, playful, making it even harder to ignore how much she’s getting to me.“Maybe more than you realize,” I say.I sense her getting closer before I even see her move. The hairs on my arm stand up, and my pulse picks up speed. Then I feel it—her lips brushing softly against my ear. What i
“Desiree,” I say, pulling away just enough to catch my breath. Her lips are still so close, waiting to grab mine again at any second. “What are you doing?”She arches an eyebrow, all innocence and mischief wrapped in one. “Kissing you.”“Are you trying to seduce me?”A sly smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “I think I’ve already seduced you, Caspian.”She’s not wrong. Everything in me—every nerve, every ounce of restraint—is leaning in her direction. I want her. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want Desiree. There’s a daring glint in her eyes, like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me and loves every minute of it. I’m usually the one in control, the one who calls the shots, but with Desiree, it’s like my control has taken a break.“Well, I’ll give you this,” I say, my voice rougher than I intended. “You’re good at it.”“Good?” She leans in, her breath warm against my cheek as she whispers, “I’m just getting started.”Fuck me. There it is—the line I didn't want to cross. O
“Oh, thank you,” my mom purrs, her tone suddenly ten shades warmer. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”I roll my eyes. “Are you two done? Or should I leave the room?”Caspian waves me off, his focus entirely on the call. “We’ll get the drives analyzed as soon as they arrive. If there’s anything incriminating, we’ll find it.”“I expect nothing less,” my mom says. “I’ll overnight them to the house. And, Caspian?”“Yes?”“Don’t let my daughter bully you into downplaying this. It’s important.”I groan. “Mom!”“I mean it,” she says. “You married into this family. You should know we fight dirty when we have to.”Caspian laughs, low and amused. “Noted. Thank you.”“Good night, Caspian. Desiree, call me tomorrow.”“Yeah, sure. Good night,” I mumble, snatching the phone back as the call ends. I toss it onto the coffee table and slump into the cushions.“She’s insane,” I say, more to myself than to him.“Insanely effective,” Caspian counters. “You have to admit, it’s a brilliant move.”I narrow my
Caspian chuckles. “You're welcome.”He kisses me with an intensity that takes my breath away, and I kiss him right back. His lips taste of me. I moan softly into his mouth, our tongues intertwining in a passionate dance. I am his, he is mine, and nothing else matters at this moment. He pulls back to gaze into my eyes, our foreheads pressed together as if we're the only two souls left in the world. His eyes are filled with an emotion I have never seen before, a dark, primal hunger that scares and thrills me all at once. At this moment, I am his. His to control. His to use. His to love. I am his plaything, his toy, his possession. In the charged silence, I can feel his grip tighten on my hips."Please," I say. "Make love to me."He smiles then, a slow, predatory grin.“Want more, Cherry?” he asks.I nod in reply.He lifts me up as if I weigh nothing, my legs wrapped around him, and places me against the cold, hard stone of the nearest wall. My back meets the icy surface and I cry out,
“Every last one of them.” He shuts the door with a soft click. “You missed the dramatic exits. Jessica and Uncle Bruno had a showdown over the last cupcake. Bruno won, of course. By sheer brute force.”I chuckle, imagining Jessica’s indignation. “She’ll never let him live it down.”“Probably not.” He loosens his tie, and I can’t help but watch. There’s something almost hypnotic about the way he unwinds, each movement shedding the polished image he wears in front of the world.“You didn’t have to throw that party,” I say, my fingers tracing invisible patterns on the blanket. “It was too much.”“Too much?” He smirks, stepping closer. “You’re carrying my child. There’s no such thing as too much.”My cheeks heat, and I roll my eyes, though a smile tugs at my lips. “Still. It was sweet. Thank you.”He shrugs off his jacket, draping it over a chair before sitting on the edge of the bed. “Don’t thank me yet. I might’ve used the opportunity to have a little strategic meeting with the board. J
The entryway is packed with people—family, friends, even a few faces I don’t immediately recognize. Balloons and banners hang from the ceiling, and a massive sign reading “Congratulations, Mom and Dad!” stretches across the living room.“What the actual—”I turn to Caspian, who’s standing beside me looking calm, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, a slight smirk playing on his lips.“Surprised?” he asks.“You planned this?”He shrugs. “Guilty.”“You—” I gape at him, words failing me. “When? How?”“While you were busy arguing with your mom about leaving,” he says. “I made a few calls. Mike helped.”I don’t even have time to process my rage before Uncle Bruno barrels toward me, arms wide and voice booming.“Oh, Dee Dee, this is huge!” He scoops me up in a hug so tight I swear my ribs creak. “A baby! Just when I thought you couldn’t surprise us anymore.”“Uncle B, put me down before I suffocate.” My voice is muffled against his chest, but he complies, grinning from ear to ear.Je
I try to dodge her attempts to smother me, but it’s impossible. She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug, and I swear I hear Caspian chuckling behind me.“Mom, you’re—” I can barely breathe. “You’re squeezing me.”“Oh, hush. You’re pregnant. You’re invincible now!” She pulls back, her hands gripping my arms as she stares at me like she’s just been handed the Holy Grail. “We have to celebrate.”“No,” I say. “No celebrations.”She ignores me, her mind already racing ahead. “We’ll call your siblings, of course. And your aunt. And the cousins. Everyone has to know. Oh, we’ll have a big family dinner—”“We’re leaving for New York today,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “There’s no time for any of that.”She frowns, her face falling in a way that tugs at my heart. “But this is huge, Desiree. You’re having a baby! My grandchild!”“Which is precisely why I’m not ready for the entire family to descend on me like vultures,” I say, trying to keep my tone light but firm. “Mom, I love you, but no. We’re
Caspian tilts his head, pretending to think about it. “Technically, yes.”“Technically?!” I say, grabbing the sheet to cover myself even though he’s seen everything. “Oh my God. She’s going to know. She’s going to know! I’m going to have to move to another continent. Maybe Antarctica.”He chuckles, too relaxed for someone who’s just committed a cardinal sin. “I’m pretty sure you’re overreacting.”“No, I’m not!” I slap his chest, but he just grins, his hand reaching up to catch mine. “You don’t know her! She’ll bring this up every Thanksgiving for the rest of my life. My life, Caspian!”“She’s not going to bring it up,” he says, sitting up now. “And if she does, I’ll handle it. Relax.”“Relax?” I throw the sheet off dramatically and scramble off the bed. “I cannot relax! This is a disaster.”He watches me, amused, as I grab the first piece of clothing I can find—his shirt—and pull it over my head. It falls halfway to my knees, but it’ll have to do.“You’re adorable when you’re panickin
“Caspian!” I hiss, my hands flying to his shoulders. Before I can protest further, he captures my lips in a kiss, his tongue thrusting into my mouth as if he's trying to brand me as his own. "I can't get enough of you. You're mine," he says, the possessiveness in his tone making my heart race with excitement and fear. I shiver at the dark promise in his words, my body already slick with need for him. He pulls back to trail open-mouthed kisses down my neck and collarbone, nipping and sucking at my sensitive skin as he frantically works the buttons of my shirt—his shirt, actually—ripping it open to expose my lace-covered breasts to his hungry gaze. I moan and arch into his touch as his calloused hands palm my bare breasts, thumbs teasing my aching nipples. I can feel the wetness dripping from me, already anticipating the feel of him filling me. I watch him through heavy-lidded eyes, my body trembling with barely contained need. Once he's done undressing me, he takes a lustful look
“No, it’s not,” I say, though my voice is a little too high-pitched to be convincing. “She knows what we did to get you pregnant, Desiree. She’s not going to be shocked by some creaky bed springs.” I smack his arm, my mortification complete. “Caspian!” He bursts out laughing, and despite my best efforts, I can’t help but smile. His laugh is infectious, the kind that makes it impossible to stay mad. Still, I cross my arms, glaring up at him. “You’re the worst.” “And yet, you married me.” “Poor decision-making on my part.” He reaches down, pulling me up from the floor with an ease that’s both annoying and impressive. Before I can protest, he’s dragged me onto the bed, his arms wrapping around me as he shifts us into some semblance of comfort. It’s a tight fit, but somehow it works—his body warm and solid against mine, the faint smell of his cologne grounding me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. “This isn’t comfortable,” I grumble, even as I relax into him. “Sure it is,” he mu
“I’m trying to fix this!” I say, my voice rising. “You think I wanted to come back here? You think I wanted to face all this again? I’m doing this because it’s important—because it’s the right thing to do.”She laughs again, bitter and sharp. “The right thing. That’s rich.”“Mom, please,” I say, my voice breaking despite my best efforts. “I need you.”She softens, just a fraction, and for a moment, I think I’ve gotten through to her. But then she shakes her head, turning back to the stove.“I don’t know anything,” she says quietly. “Even if I did, I’m not getting involved.”“Why not?”“Because Elaine’s dangerous,” she says, her voice low. “You don’t know her like I do. She’ll ruin you if she thinks you’re a threat.”“She’s already ruining people,” I say. “And if we don’t stop her, she’ll just keep doing it.”Mom hesitates, her hand resting on the counter, her gaze distant. Finally, she sighs, the fight seeming to drain out of her. “What exactly do you need from me?”Relief floods thro