The midday sun cast a golden glow over the island, the sky an endless stretch of blue, unmarred by even a single cloud. The sound of waves lapping against the shore mixed with the rustling of palm trees in the warm breeze. It was paradise, untouched, isolated, and breathtaking.
Amelia adjusted the oversized straw hat on her head. The waves rolled lazily onto the shore, and the golden sand was warm beneath her feet as she made her way to the beach. It was the perfect day, the kind that begged for relaxation, for cool drinks and sunbathing and doing absolutely nothing.
So why did she feel so damn restless?
Maybe because Adrian Black was still lurking in her mind like a deliciously bad idea. She inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill her lungs, trying to focus on the beauty
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden light over the rumpled sheets and tangled limbs. Amelia stirred, her body aching deliciously in places she hadn’t even known could be sore.A soft groan escaped her lips as she shifted, stretching out against the warmth beside her. Adrian. His arm was draped possessively over her waist, his bare chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, dark lashes fanned over his sharp cheekbones. Even in sleep, he looked like temptation incarnate.She exhaled slowly, her muscles protesting the movement. Damn him. The night before had been relentless, Adrian had taken his sweet time proving exactly why she should never challenge him. Every whispered promise, every deliberate touch had unraveled her, left her trembling and spent beneath
The dress was indecent.Amelia stared at the deep red silk draped across the bed, its high slits and plunging neckline screaming danger. It wasn’t just revealing, it was a damn invitation to sin.She narrowed her eyes. "You picked this?"Adrian leaned against the doorway, looking infuriatingly pleased with himself. "I have excellent taste.""You mean you have no shame."He smirked. "That too."Amelia grabbed the dress, holding it up. "This barely covers anything."Adrian strolled forward, plucking the fabric from her fingers
"You looked stunning in that dress," Adrian rasped, eyes devouring her.Amelia smirked. "And now?"His gaze darkened, his fingers tracing the bare skin he'd been longing to touch all evening."Now?" His voice was pure sin. "You look ruined just how I like you. Why’re you so fucking beautiful, Amelia?"She looked divine and there was no way to ignore that. He cupped her breasts, reveling at the feel of their heavy weight. He grazed his fingers across her already hard nipples, then he abruptly replaced his fingers with his mouth, kissing and sucking, first one breast then the other.Amelia took Adrian by his hand and led him to the edge of her bed. Then
Sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over the rumpled sheets. Amelia groaned as she stirred. The first thing she registered was warmth. Not just the warmth of silk sheets tangled around her body, or the golden sunlight spilling through the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows, it was the warmth of him.She stirred, stretching slightly, only to regret it instantly. Every inch of her felt the aftermath of last night, the roughness, the desperation, the way Adrian had absolutely wrecked her, a reminder of exactly what had happened last night.She blinked slowly, disoriented by the brightness, her limbs feeling too heavy to move. The room was quiet except for the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, and a low, amused chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.
Amelia should have known better. Messing with Adrian Black was like playing with fire, dangerous, exhilarating, and bound to leave a mark. And judging by the wicked gleam in his storm-gray eyes, she was about to get burned.Still dangling over his shoulder, dripping from the ice-cold water she had just dumped on him, Amelia kicked her legs in protest. "Adrian! Put me down!"He ignored her, carrying her effortlessly through the villa. His grip on her thighs was firm, possessive, as if she belonged to him like she wasn’t going anywhere until he decided."Adrian," she tried again, squirming.His palm landed on her ass in a sharp, warning slap. "Keep struggling, sweetheart. I dare you."
The boardroom was cold, sterile, and suffocatingly silent. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional shuffle of papers. Amelia Hayes sat at the far end of the long mahogany table, her fingers curled tightly around a stack of documents she had spent months perfecting. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on her, but she ignored it, forcing herself to sit upright. The contract in her hands was a masterpiece, a deal that would bring in millions, solidifying Cavendish Corporation’s dominance in the market.She should have felt victorious.Instead, there was only an eerie, lingering tension in the room.Across from her, Ethan Cavendish, her husband of five years, the man she had loved, built a life with, sat in his plush leather chair with the cool detachment of a man utterly indifferent to the woman sitting before him. There was something unsettling about the way he stared at her, as if he were a stranger rather than the man who had once sworn to stand b
The next evening, Amelia stood in front of the mirror in her modest apartment, smoothing down the front of her dark blue dress. It wasn’t ostentatious but had an understated elegance that suited her current mood: guarded, determined, but still reeling from the events of the day before. She’d spent hours questioning why Adrian Black, a man whose name was synonymous with power, wanted to meet her.As she adjusted her earrings, her phone buzzed with a message:“Your car is waiting downstairs. – Adrian Black”“You arranged a car?”“I told you I would. Promptness is important to me.”He hadn’t sent a driver’s name or a car description, but when she stepped outside, there was no mistaking the sleek black sedan idling by the curb. The chauffeur stepped out, opening the door for her with a polite nod.The ride to the restaurant was silent except for the hum of the engine. Amelia’s mind churned with speculation, her gaze flickering between the passing city lights and the polished leather seats
Amelia adjusted her blazer as she stepped into the grand lobby of Black Tower. The space was as intimidating as its owner: sleek, modern, and unapologetically commanding. Polished black marble floors reflected the pristine glass walls, and a massive geometric chandelier cast intricate patterns of light across the space. A steady hum of professionalism filled the air as employees moved with purpose.She approached the front desk, where a woman in a sharp suit greeted her with a knowing smile. “Ms. Hayes, Mr. Black is expecting you. Please follow me.”Amelia nodded, following Natalie to a private elevator tucked away behind a column. The elevator hummed as it climbed higher into the clouds, its soft chime breaking the suffocating silence. Amelia tried to focus on the rhythmic rise of the floor numbers, but her reflection in the elevator’s mirrored walls betrayed her nerves. She was stepping into unknown territory, and Adrian Black was waiting on the other side.When the elevator doors s
Amelia should have known better. Messing with Adrian Black was like playing with fire, dangerous, exhilarating, and bound to leave a mark. And judging by the wicked gleam in his storm-gray eyes, she was about to get burned.Still dangling over his shoulder, dripping from the ice-cold water she had just dumped on him, Amelia kicked her legs in protest. "Adrian! Put me down!"He ignored her, carrying her effortlessly through the villa. His grip on her thighs was firm, possessive, as if she belonged to him like she wasn’t going anywhere until he decided."Adrian," she tried again, squirming.His palm landed on her ass in a sharp, warning slap. "Keep struggling, sweetheart. I dare you."
Sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over the rumpled sheets. Amelia groaned as she stirred. The first thing she registered was warmth. Not just the warmth of silk sheets tangled around her body, or the golden sunlight spilling through the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows, it was the warmth of him.She stirred, stretching slightly, only to regret it instantly. Every inch of her felt the aftermath of last night, the roughness, the desperation, the way Adrian had absolutely wrecked her, a reminder of exactly what had happened last night.She blinked slowly, disoriented by the brightness, her limbs feeling too heavy to move. The room was quiet except for the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, and a low, amused chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.
"You looked stunning in that dress," Adrian rasped, eyes devouring her.Amelia smirked. "And now?"His gaze darkened, his fingers tracing the bare skin he'd been longing to touch all evening."Now?" His voice was pure sin. "You look ruined just how I like you. Why’re you so fucking beautiful, Amelia?"She looked divine and there was no way to ignore that. He cupped her breasts, reveling at the feel of their heavy weight. He grazed his fingers across her already hard nipples, then he abruptly replaced his fingers with his mouth, kissing and sucking, first one breast then the other.Amelia took Adrian by his hand and led him to the edge of her bed. Then
The dress was indecent.Amelia stared at the deep red silk draped across the bed, its high slits and plunging neckline screaming danger. It wasn’t just revealing, it was a damn invitation to sin.She narrowed her eyes. "You picked this?"Adrian leaned against the doorway, looking infuriatingly pleased with himself. "I have excellent taste.""You mean you have no shame."He smirked. "That too."Amelia grabbed the dress, holding it up. "This barely covers anything."Adrian strolled forward, plucking the fabric from her fingers
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden light over the rumpled sheets and tangled limbs. Amelia stirred, her body aching deliciously in places she hadn’t even known could be sore.A soft groan escaped her lips as she shifted, stretching out against the warmth beside her. Adrian. His arm was draped possessively over her waist, his bare chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, dark lashes fanned over his sharp cheekbones. Even in sleep, he looked like temptation incarnate.She exhaled slowly, her muscles protesting the movement. Damn him. The night before had been relentless, Adrian had taken his sweet time proving exactly why she should never challenge him. Every whispered promise, every deliberate touch had unraveled her, left her trembling and spent beneath
The midday sun cast a golden glow over the island, the sky an endless stretch of blue, unmarred by even a single cloud. The sound of waves lapping against the shore mixed with the rustling of palm trees in the warm breeze. It was paradise, untouched, isolated, and breathtaking.Amelia adjusted the oversized straw hat on her head. The waves rolled lazily onto the shore, and the golden sand was warm beneath her feet as she made her way to the beach. It was the perfect day, the kind that begged for relaxation, for cool drinks and sunbathing and doing absolutely nothing.So why did she feel so damn restless?Maybe because Adrian Black was still lurking in her mind like a deliciously bad idea. She inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill her lungs, trying to focus on the beauty
The night air was warm, carrying the scent of salt and something subtly floral. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, moonlight rippling over the waves in a hypnotic dance. But Amelia wasn’t looking at the ocean anymore.She was looking at Adrian.He stood impossibly close, his heat pressing into her back, his arms wrapped possessively around her waist as if he had every right to hold her like this. Maybe he did. Maybe she had stopped resisting the moment she stepped onto this island with him."Dangerous habit, sweetheart," he murmured against her ear, his breath feather-light but potent enough to send a shiver down her spine.Amelia swallowed hard, gripping the cool metal railing of the balcony as if it
The private jet was obnoxiously luxurious, which, of course, was to be expected. Adrian Black did nothing halfway.Amelia crossed her legs, pretending to be unimpressed as she took in the sleek leather seats, the polished mahogany accents, and the ridiculous amount of space for just the two of them. A bottle of vintage champagne sat chilling nearby, as if they were about to toast to something extravagant.Adrian, sitting across from her, smirked. "You look tense, sweetheart."She shot him a glare. "I am not tense."He raised a brow, amusement flickering in those storm-gray eyes. "Sure, you’re not." Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Relax. You act like I’m taking you to a remote isl
The tension in Adrian’s shoulders hadn’t disappeared, even after Amelia had practically forced him to step away from work for the night. Whatever phone call he had received earlier had thrown him off balance, and Adrian Black was not a man who liked being off balance.Amelia felt it in the way he held her — firm, protective, but distracted.They had spent the night wrapped around each other, but even as his hands had claimed her body, his mind had been somewhere else.Now, as the morning sun filtered through the curtains, Amelia sat on the edge of the bed, watching Adrian get dressed. His movements were controlled, precise, but she caught the tightness in his jaw, the subtle way his fingers clenched at his cufflinks before securing them.