“A show?” I ask.“That’s not how you shower, is it? So slow and sensual.” His eyes darken, tracing the path of my hands as they glide over my skin.Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I roll my eyes, trying to play it off. “Please, Caspian. I’m just trying to get clean. Not everything is about you.”“Maybe not everything, but this? Definitely about me.” He steps closer, the water streaming down his chest, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to reach out and trace the droplets with my fingertips.“I think someone’s a little full of himself,” I say, but my voice wavers slightly, betraying the bravado I’m trying to hold onto.He smirks, inching even closer until our bodies are almost brushing. “Not full of myself, Cherry—just very aware of the effect I have on you. And if I’m being honest, the way you’re moving right now? It’s having an effect on me too.”I swallow hard, torn between wanting to retreat and the undeniable pull that makes me want to lean in. My mind races, telling me to
Someone's arm is around me.I slowly open my eyes, trying to remember where I am. Everything is so strange. The soft bed. The spacious and fancy bedroom. A strongly built person is sleeping behind me, his arm roping me to his chest. And he's hard—very, very hard.Oh, my god. Did I just have my first one-night stand?But as I look around, memories from yesterday hit me.Caspian. My husband. We got married yesterday. I remember everything—how quickly it all happened, the tour of his mansion, and that intense shower.“Caspian,” I say. He doesn't reply.I think about slipping out of his grip, but even in his sleep, he’s holding me tight, like he doesn’t want to let go. I check the clock. It’s early, just a hint of sunlight coming through the curtains. I could wake him up, move away, and get some space, but something stops me. There’s something comforting about the way he’s holding me. It makes me feel safe, even in all this craziness. I attempt to lift his arm, but, good lord, how heavy
Caspian's POVI'm the luckiest man in the world, no question about it.My wife—my Cherry—thrives on challenges. And I intend to give her one she won’t forget. The thought of challenging her sends a thrill through me, making me restless as I pace outside the bathroom door. How does a man go about seducing his own wife when she’s hell-bent on keeping him at arm’s length?“Are you almost done?” I ask, knocking for the fifth time. I can't believe she locked it.There’s a pause, then the sound of running water stops. “I’m not in a hurry, Caspian,” she replies coolly from the other side. I swear I can hear the smirk in her voice. She knows exactly what she’s doing, taking her sweet time and leaving me out here, waiting like some lovesick puppy.“Really? You’re going to make me wait?” I knock again, this time with a little more insistence. “You do realize that door is only temporarily keeping me out, right?”“You’re not breaking down the door, Caspian. Don’t be ridiculous.”I grin at that. “
Desiree's POV“How many staff does one need in a house?” I mutter under my breath as yet another person steps forward with a polite “Congratulations.”So far, eleven people have come to offer their good wishes at breakfast, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that all these people work in this house. It’s like I’ve landed in a Downton Abbey episode.Caspian leans closer, a slight grin tugging at his lips. “And this is our chef, Douglas,” he says, gesturing toward a short, stocky man who steps forward with the confidence of someone twice his height.Douglas barely reaches four feet, but his presence is anything but small. His sharp eyes scan me with an unsettling mix of curiosity and something else I can’t quite place. Maybe I’m imagining it, but there’s a flicker of interest—or is that desire?—in his gaze. I blink, unsure if I’m reading too much into it.“Nice to meet you, Douglas,” I say. “The meal was incredible.”“It’s nothing,” he replies smoothly, puffing out his
I barely need the encouragement. I hit the gas, and the car surges forward, smooth as silk, gliding out of the driveway and onto the open road. The wind whips through my hair as we speed up, and I can’t help the wild laughter that escapes me.As we weave through the streets, Caspian’s eyes remain on me, a mix of admiration and something deeper in his gaze. For a moment, everything feels perfect—no doubts, no worries—just the pure thrill of freedom.“Looks like I married a speed demon,” he says, raising an eyebrow.I glance at him. “I thought you already knew I was a little wild.”“Oh, I knew. I’m counting on it,” he replies.I take a sharp turn, the car hugging the curve effortlessly. I’ve never felt so alive, so in control and yet so completely swept away by the moment. It’s a new feeling, one that I could get used to.“Where are we going?” I ask.Caspian leans back, a faint smile on his lips. “Actually, you're driving me to work. If you look in the rearview mirror, you'll see my ent
I'm not a religious person. In fact, there’ve been very few times in my life when I’ve actually prayed. But today? Today might just be one of those days. God, please get this bitch out of my sight.“Isn’t this cozy?” Mabel sneers, her eyes sweeping over the designer clothes draped across my arm. “Playing dress-up, are we?”Mike’s gaze follows suit, his eyes narrowing with judgment. I know exactly what’s running through his mind. He’s probably trying to figure out how I went from scraping by to standing in a boutique this grand. But there’s something else in his expression too—something that looks an awful lot like jealousy. Or is it regret?I square my shoulders, refusing to let them see even a flicker of anxiety. “I’m exactly where I need to be,” I say, lifting my chin. “What about you two? Came shopping for the big day?”I can play nice. We can all pretend this is just a casual, friendly encounter. Like I don’t want to smack the smug grins right off their faces.Mabel steps closer,
Caspian's POVI never imagined there’d be a day when I’d be itching to go home. But it’s been hours without Desiree, and it’s driving me insane. I always thought the whole honeymoon idea was overrated, but now I get it. Maybe newlyweds need that time together, not just to enjoy each other but to get all the obsession out of their system. Maybe then, they won’t spend every waking moment distracted, counting down the hours until they’re back together.But I doubt a month—or even a year—would be enough to satisfy my craving for that red-haired girl. “And as you can see, the chart here highlights a significant surge in sales across previously underperforming regions. Here’s Texas, for example—”I barely register Linda’s voice droning on about projections and market share. This presentation has been going on for what feels like forever, and all I can think about is getting out of here and back to Desiree. We get it—the company’s thriving. There’s no need to keep hammering it in.I force m
We pull up to the house a little after five, and the moment I step inside, I spot Desiree sitting at the dining area, flipping through a food catalog with Chef Douglas. They’re deep in conversation, and from what I can hear, it's all about the menu for Sunday’s dinner. But what really catches my attention isn’t the menu—it’s the way Douglas is practically leaning into her personal space, getting way too comfortable.“What’s that?” Desiree asks, pointing at something in the catalog.Douglas slides his chair closer to her, almost brushing against her side. I raise an eyebrow. We’re definitely going to have a conversation about boundaries sooner rather than later.“That’s ‘Boeuf Bourguignon,’” Douglas says, his voice dipping into that overly friendly tone that sets my teeth on edge.“What now?” Desiree asks.“It’s a red wine-based beef stew. A classic French dish. I think it would make an excellent choice for Sunday’s dinner.”“You think so?” she asks, genuinely curious.“I do,” Douglas