ElleSix hours later, we'd worked our way through three movies, two bottles of wine, and a truly impressive amount of Thai food."You know what we should do?" Sophia slurred slightly, twirling a strand of her perfect blonde hair. "We should go out.""Out?" I blinked at her. "Like, outside?""Yes, genius. To a club. With music. And men who aren't your husband." She wiggled her eyebrows. "You can make him jealous.""That's the worst idea I've ever heard.""Which means it's the best. Come on." She pulled me up. "My dad just bought into that new place downtown. We can get the VIP section.""I'm married, remember?""And? It's not like you're dead." She dragged me toward her bedroom. "He's actually..." I stopped myself. Weirdly protective of a man who had me under house arrest. "Nevermind.""Exactly." She flung open her closet doors, revealing a boutique's worth of dresses. "Now, let's find something that'll make every man in that club lose his damn mind."Common sense said to refuse. Go b
ElleWe danced through two more tracks, laughing as Sophia demonstrated moves that should probably be illegal in public. I matched her as best I could, surprised by how good it felt to just exist in my body without worrying who was watching or judging.I nudged at Sophia when I noticed her – a woman with honey-blonde hair and a polished appearance that screamed old money, watching Sophia with obvious interest from the edge of the dance floor. Unlike the bros who'd approached earlier, there was something genuine in her gaze, an appreciation rather than entitlement.She eventually made her way over, her movements graceful and confident. "Mind if I join you? I love this song."Sophia's eyes lit up. "Not at all."The woman – Kai, as she introduced herself – slipped into our circle with an easy elegance. Soon, the three of us were dancing together, but I didn't miss the lingering glances exchanged between Sophia and Kai.Within minutes, her hands were on Sophia's hips, guiding them in a rh
ElleStanding at the entrance to the VIP section, scanning the crowd with laser-focused intensity. Even from across the room, I could feel the force of his anger radiating like heat waves.The moment his eyes locked on mine, everything else faded away. The music, the crowd, Noah – all of it disappeared, leaving only Adrian's burning gaze. He didn't move, didn't blink, just stared with a cold fury that made my skin prickle.Then, without warning, he turned and began cutting through the crowd – straight toward me."You okay?" Noah asked, noticing my sudden tension. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""Worse," I muttered. "My husband."Noah's eyes widened. "Husband? I didn't—""It's complicated," I interrupted, already calculating escape routes. But Adrian was moving too quickly, his tall frame and determined stride parting the crowd effortlessly."Elle." Adrian's voice sliced through the club noise as he reached us, low and dangerously controlled. He didn't acknowledge Noah, didn't eve
ElleWe walked in tense silence through the club, the crowd parting instinctively before Adrian's imposing presence. Outside, the cool night air hit my flushed skin, making me suddenly aware of how revealing Sophia's dress was. Adrian's eyes darkened as he took in my appearance fully under the street lights, his gaze lingering on the expanse of thigh the hem barely covered.His jaw clenched. "Get in the car."Tom was waiting with the Bentley, his expression carefully neutral as he opened the door. I slid in without argument, suddenly exhausted by the whole night.Adrian joined me a moment later, the door closing with a soft thud that somehow sounded final.Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to lecture me all the way home, or are you saving it for when we have more privacy?"Adrian's eyes met mine in the dimness of the backseat, his expression darkening. "Oh, we'll have plenty to discuss when we get home. Starting with why my wife was at a nightclub dressed like that,
AdrianI was half-listening to Harrison's merger proposal my mind kept drifting to Elle, wondering what she was doing now. Then my phone buzzed. It was Tom telling me she ditched him for a club."We'll continue this another time," I cut Harrison off, already standing."The stakeholders are expecting—""They can keep expecting." Mirage. Of all the places she could have gone. I knew the club well – too well. The kind of place where inhibitions disappeared under pulsing lights and overpriced champagne.The moment I walked in, I saw her. The dress she wore was pure sin, the fabric clinging to curves I'd been forcing myself not to think about. But it wasn't the dress that made my blood boil – it was the man leaning into her space at the bar, watching her laugh at whatever bullshit line he'd just fed her.Something primitive roared to life inside me. The careful control I'd maintained. Since that night in the library when I'd promised myself I wouldn't touch her again. Wouldn't complicate
Elle The morning air bit at my cheeks as I jogged through the private gardens, my feet pounding against the gravel path in a steady rhythm with my racing thoughts. Last night replayed in my head - his hands, his mouth, the way he'd pulled away just when I wanted more.Asshole.Two could play at that game. If he thought he could just walk away after a kiss like that...My plan to work up a satisfying amount of righteous anger derailed when I spotted Marla watering roses by the fountain. Great. Just what I needed - Adrian's oh-so-devoted housekeeper with her perfect makeup at 7 AM.I slipped past her ,completed another lap turned to begin a new one. I just rounded the corner and collided with a wall of ice-cold water. "Oh!" Marla's shocked gasp would have won her an Oscar. "Mrs. Blackwell, I'm so sorry! I was just watering the roses and absolutely didn't see you..."I wiped water from my eyes, my thin running top now completely soaked through. "Really? Because the roses are behind you
Elle"What do you want?" I wrapped my arms around myself, too aware of how the wet shirt clung to my skin. "Why are you here this early morning?"He crouched in front of me, close enough that I caught the familiar scent of his cologne. The same one he'd worn when we—Stop."You know why. I know you would be up by this time and I want to talk to you before everyone wakes up." His voice was soft. Almost gentle. The way it used to be, before he turned to Vanessa."Don't." I shifted away but the tree blocked my escape."Elle." He reached out, fingers hovering near my cheek but not touching. Not yet. "You're shivering.""I'm fine." "Here." He shrugged off his jacket. "Let me—""I said I'm fine." But my teeth chattered, betraying me.He draped the jacket over my shoulders anyway. "I miss you." The words ghosted across my skin. "Every day, I miss you."I moved to stand but he caught my wrist. "Damien—""I made a mistake." His thumb stroked over my pulse point. An achingly familiar gesture.
ElleAdrian's arms were steel bands around me as sobs wracked my body. I couldn't stop shaking, the memory of Damien's hands still burning on my skin."Let me see." Adrian's voice was lethal as he gently pulled back, examining my wrists. Dark bruises were already forming where Damien had pinned me.His jaw clenched. "I should have killed him.""I'm fine—""You're not fucking fine." His fingers traced the torn edge of my shirt. "He touched you."I shivered, but not from cold this time."And why the hell are you soaked?" His eyes narrowed, taking in my drenched clothes."Marla." I tried for a smile but it wobbled. "Apparently I needed a shower."His expression darkened. "What did she do?""Nothing I can't handle." "Elle.""Really, I—" My voice cracked and fresh tears spilled."Come here." He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, heading for the stairs. Tom quickly looked away as we passed, but I caught the concern in his eyes."Adrian—""Shut up and let me take care of you."I pressed
ElleAdrian's arms were steel bands around me as sobs wracked my body. I couldn't stop shaking, the memory of Damien's hands still burning on my skin."Let me see." Adrian's voice was lethal as he gently pulled back, examining my wrists. Dark bruises were already forming where Damien had pinned me.His jaw clenched. "I should have killed him.""I'm fine—""You're not fucking fine." His fingers traced the torn edge of my shirt. "He touched you."I shivered, but not from cold this time."And why the hell are you soaked?" His eyes narrowed, taking in my drenched clothes."Marla." I tried for a smile but it wobbled. "Apparently I needed a shower."His expression darkened. "What did she do?""Nothing I can't handle." "Elle.""Really, I—" My voice cracked and fresh tears spilled."Come here." He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, heading for the stairs. Tom quickly looked away as we passed, but I caught the concern in his eyes."Adrian—""Shut up and let me take care of you."I pressed
Elle"What do you want?" I wrapped my arms around myself, too aware of how the wet shirt clung to my skin. "Why are you here this early morning?"He crouched in front of me, close enough that I caught the familiar scent of his cologne. The same one he'd worn when we—Stop."You know why. I know you would be up by this time and I want to talk to you before everyone wakes up." His voice was soft. Almost gentle. The way it used to be, before he turned to Vanessa."Don't." I shifted away but the tree blocked my escape."Elle." He reached out, fingers hovering near my cheek but not touching. Not yet. "You're shivering.""I'm fine." "Here." He shrugged off his jacket. "Let me—""I said I'm fine." But my teeth chattered, betraying me.He draped the jacket over my shoulders anyway. "I miss you." The words ghosted across my skin. "Every day, I miss you."I moved to stand but he caught my wrist. "Damien—""I made a mistake." His thumb stroked over my pulse point. An achingly familiar gesture.
Elle The morning air bit at my cheeks as I jogged through the private gardens, my feet pounding against the gravel path in a steady rhythm with my racing thoughts. Last night replayed in my head - his hands, his mouth, the way he'd pulled away just when I wanted more.Asshole.Two could play at that game. If he thought he could just walk away after a kiss like that...My plan to work up a satisfying amount of righteous anger derailed when I spotted Marla watering roses by the fountain. Great. Just what I needed - Adrian's oh-so-devoted housekeeper with her perfect makeup at 7 AM.I slipped past her ,completed another lap turned to begin a new one. I just rounded the corner and collided with a wall of ice-cold water. "Oh!" Marla's shocked gasp would have won her an Oscar. "Mrs. Blackwell, I'm so sorry! I was just watering the roses and absolutely didn't see you..."I wiped water from my eyes, my thin running top now completely soaked through. "Really? Because the roses are behind you
AdrianI was half-listening to Harrison's merger proposal my mind kept drifting to Elle, wondering what she was doing now. Then my phone buzzed. It was Tom telling me she ditched him for a club."We'll continue this another time," I cut Harrison off, already standing."The stakeholders are expecting—""They can keep expecting." Mirage. Of all the places she could have gone. I knew the club well – too well. The kind of place where inhibitions disappeared under pulsing lights and overpriced champagne.The moment I walked in, I saw her. The dress she wore was pure sin, the fabric clinging to curves I'd been forcing myself not to think about. But it wasn't the dress that made my blood boil – it was the man leaning into her space at the bar, watching her laugh at whatever bullshit line he'd just fed her.Something primitive roared to life inside me. The careful control I'd maintained. Since that night in the library when I'd promised myself I wouldn't touch her again. Wouldn't complicate
ElleWe walked in tense silence through the club, the crowd parting instinctively before Adrian's imposing presence. Outside, the cool night air hit my flushed skin, making me suddenly aware of how revealing Sophia's dress was. Adrian's eyes darkened as he took in my appearance fully under the street lights, his gaze lingering on the expanse of thigh the hem barely covered.His jaw clenched. "Get in the car."Tom was waiting with the Bentley, his expression carefully neutral as he opened the door. I slid in without argument, suddenly exhausted by the whole night.Adrian joined me a moment later, the door closing with a soft thud that somehow sounded final.Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to lecture me all the way home, or are you saving it for when we have more privacy?"Adrian's eyes met mine in the dimness of the backseat, his expression darkening. "Oh, we'll have plenty to discuss when we get home. Starting with why my wife was at a nightclub dressed like that,
ElleStanding at the entrance to the VIP section, scanning the crowd with laser-focused intensity. Even from across the room, I could feel the force of his anger radiating like heat waves.The moment his eyes locked on mine, everything else faded away. The music, the crowd, Noah – all of it disappeared, leaving only Adrian's burning gaze. He didn't move, didn't blink, just stared with a cold fury that made my skin prickle.Then, without warning, he turned and began cutting through the crowd – straight toward me."You okay?" Noah asked, noticing my sudden tension. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""Worse," I muttered. "My husband."Noah's eyes widened. "Husband? I didn't—""It's complicated," I interrupted, already calculating escape routes. But Adrian was moving too quickly, his tall frame and determined stride parting the crowd effortlessly."Elle." Adrian's voice sliced through the club noise as he reached us, low and dangerously controlled. He didn't acknowledge Noah, didn't eve
ElleWe danced through two more tracks, laughing as Sophia demonstrated moves that should probably be illegal in public. I matched her as best I could, surprised by how good it felt to just exist in my body without worrying who was watching or judging.I nudged at Sophia when I noticed her – a woman with honey-blonde hair and a polished appearance that screamed old money, watching Sophia with obvious interest from the edge of the dance floor. Unlike the bros who'd approached earlier, there was something genuine in her gaze, an appreciation rather than entitlement.She eventually made her way over, her movements graceful and confident. "Mind if I join you? I love this song."Sophia's eyes lit up. "Not at all."The woman – Kai, as she introduced herself – slipped into our circle with an easy elegance. Soon, the three of us were dancing together, but I didn't miss the lingering glances exchanged between Sophia and Kai.Within minutes, her hands were on Sophia's hips, guiding them in a rh
ElleSix hours later, we'd worked our way through three movies, two bottles of wine, and a truly impressive amount of Thai food."You know what we should do?" Sophia slurred slightly, twirling a strand of her perfect blonde hair. "We should go out.""Out?" I blinked at her. "Like, outside?""Yes, genius. To a club. With music. And men who aren't your husband." She wiggled her eyebrows. "You can make him jealous.""That's the worst idea I've ever heard.""Which means it's the best. Come on." She pulled me up. "My dad just bought into that new place downtown. We can get the VIP section.""I'm married, remember?""And? It's not like you're dead." She dragged me toward her bedroom. "He's actually..." I stopped myself. Weirdly protective of a man who had me under house arrest. "Nevermind.""Exactly." She flung open her closet doors, revealing a boutique's worth of dresses. "Now, let's find something that'll make every man in that club lose his damn mind."Common sense said to refuse. Go b
ElleI sidestepped Tom who waited by the car. "And fuck his rules."I flagged down a taxi instead, ignoring Tom's concerned calls. The driver raised an eyebrow as I slid into the backseat, makeup streaked down my face."Rough day?""You have no idea." I rattled off Sophia's address, already fumbling for my phone.It rang twice before she picked up. "Elle? Is that actually you calling me? Did hell freeze over?"Just the sound of her voice made my shoulders drop. "Hey, Soph.""Oh shit." The teasing tone vanished. "What happened? Are you okay?"I swallowed hard. "Not really. Can I crash at your place?""Already pulling out the ice cream. Mint chocolate chip still your crisis flavor?"A laugh bubbled up despite everything. "God, I love you.""I know. Now get your ass over here."The taxi pulled up to Sophia's building twenty minutes later – one of those sleek high-rises with doormen who knew you by name and carried your groceries. The polar opposite of Adrian's old-money mansion with its