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
As I lean down, my lips brush against her shoulder, trailing a path of kisses up the side of her neck. Desiree shivers beneath me, her eyes meeting mine.“What’s next?” she whispers.I pause, letting the anticipation hang in the air. “Why don’t you lie back and find out?”Desiree smiles. She slowly lies back against the pillows, her gaze never leaving mine. “Comfortable?” I ask.“Getting there,” she replies, her tone just as playful.I straddle the edge of the bed, slipping my hands under her shirt, trailing my fingers lightly along her sides. Her skin is warm and smooth, and I can feel the slight tremor in her breath as I touch her. I move slowly, letting the anticipation build, watching the way her eyes darken with every brush of my fingers.“You’re not really one for rushing things, are you?” she says, half-amused, half-impatient.“Patience, Cherry. Good things take time.” I lower my lips to her stomach, placing a soft kiss there, then another, moving up inch by inch. She shifts b
I rip off her panties and fling them aside, the fabric flying across the room. Desiree's eyes lock onto mine, her pupils dilated with desire as she quickly works the zipper of my pants. I kiss her again, this time with more urgency, our tongues tangling together as we struggle to get closer.Her hands slide into my boxers, wrapping around my throbbing dick. Fuck! She's going to end me right here and now. Her touch is like fire, burning through every nerve ending in my body, leaving me breathless and desperate for more.Desiree keeps pumping forward and backward, her grip firm and confident as she drives me closer to the edge. I can feel myself losing control, the pleasure building inside me until it's almost unbearable. She pulls back, her lips breaking away from mine just long enough to whisper, "You like that?"I can only nod, my eyes fixed on hers as she continues her relentless assault on my senses. Her touch is both rough and gentle, teasing and tantalizing every inch of me."Tak
Desiree's POVIt’s Sunday, an hour before the dinner, and I’m freaking out. I keep staring at myself in the mirror, trying to calm down, but the pressure to make a good impression as a host—and as Caspian’s wife—is really getting to me.“Do you think we should just call it off?” I ask, turning to Caspian, who’s lounging on the bed like it’s no big deal.“For the hundredth time, no,” he says. “Why would we do that?”“Because everyone’s going to be here. Our parents, our siblings, Mike and Mabel—it’s going to be a disaster.”Caspian laughs, shaking his head. “It’s just our families, Cherry. What’s got you so worried?”“The drama,” I say, pacing the room. “It could get bloody.”“Good thing I’m a vampire, right? I’ll clean up any mess.”I try to smile, but the anxiety won’t let me. How is he so calm? It took so much effort to invite everyone, and I still don’t know who’s actually coming. The thought of what could go wrong makes my stomach churn.Caspian gets up and walks over, wrapping hi