Her breath caught, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. There it was again, that magnetism between them—charged and unspoken, pulling them closer even when words failed. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to refocus. “Well, thank you,” she said again, her voice quieter this time.Leo’s gaze softened, and he took a small step toward her, still keeping a respectful distance. “Anytime,” he murmured. “But tell me—are you really leaving now? We could grab breakfast downstairs if you’re not in a hurry.”Susan hesitated, caught off guard by the invitation, but she knew she needed to return home. There were errands to run, laundry to tackle, and the lingering memory of the date she’d just left behind. Besides, a quiet voice in her mind warned her against spending too much time with him, as if each second lowered her guard just a bit more.“Thank you, but I should head home,” she replied gently, offering him a small smile. “I’ve got a few things to take care of today.”Leo’s expressi
Susan couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. It was one thing to admit to herself that Leo had affected her, but it was another thing entirely to say it out loud, and poor Jeremy was really hoping for something more. She liked him, and she enjoyed spending time with him. She really did, and she had only gone on more dates with him to see if her feelings for him would grow, but it was becoming clear now that they wouldn't and she had to tell him.Caroline was still talking, and Susan forced herself to focus on what she was saying. “Are you even listening to me?” asked Caroline. Susan shook her head, “Yeah, sure,” she said, but Caroline narrowed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. “Thinking about your mystery man?” she asked with a smirk. Susan decided to ignore the comment because she couldn't exactly deny it. Caroline dropped the topic of Jeremy, but a mischievous grin soon crept onto her face. “Alright, fine. Let’s move on,” she said. “So… have you thought about your birthda
The hum of cheerful voices filled Susan’s apartment as she moved through the crowded living room, trying to soak in the details. It wasn’t a huge party—just a handful of friends from the gym, a couple of coworkers, Samuel, and, of course, Caroline, who had insisted on planning the whole thing. Soft jazz played from the speaker, setting a relaxed tone as people mingled and chatted, balancing small plates of snacks and glasses of wine.“Happy birthday, Susan!” someone called from across the room, holding up a glass. She smiled, giving a small wave in return, warmth flooding her cheeks. She hadn’t had a party in so long, and while she’d felt hesitant about the whole idea, she was kinda glad now Caroline had pushed her into it.“You’re smiling. Finally,” Caroline teased, coming up beside her with a mischievous grin and handing her a glass of champagne. “I told you this would be fun, didn’t I?”Susan took the glass, letting herself chuckle. “You did. And… alright, you were right. I didn’t
Susan swallowed, feeling her cheeks warm. “Caroline… this is Leo,” she said softly. She tried to sound casual, but her voice came out a bit unsteady.Leo stepped inside, nodding to Caroline with a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Caroline.”Caroline’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as she took in the way Leo’s presence seemed to change the air in the room. She turned back to Susan, arching a brow. “I think I finally understand who the mystery man is,” she said under her breath, only loud enough for Susan to hear. “He’s… really tall.”Susan shot her a look, but Caroline just grinned, enjoying the moment far too much.After a beat, Susan found her voice again. “Leo, how did you… even know it was my birthday?” She was genuinely baffled, trying to piece together how he’d found out.He gave a small, knowing smile. “I don’t know if you’re aware, Suzy,” he said in a low, teasing voice, “but there’s something called the internet these days.”Susan narrowed her eyes at him, a mixture of surprise
“Mind if I steal her for a moment?” Jeremy asked, his voice polite, but his posture indicated he wouldn’t take no for an answer.Leo’s lips curved in a small, almost amused smile. “She’s all yours,” he replied smoothly, though there was a certain edge to his tone. He stepped aside, his gaze still lingering on Susan as she offered him a quick, reassuring look before she followed Jeremy to the balcony.Leo's eyes followed them as they left, and he was taken aback by the jealousy he felt stir within him as he watched Susan walk away with another man. He was a possessive man, and he did whatever it took to protect what belonged to him. He'd just never felt that way towards any woman before, and the feeling made him uncomfortable. He looked away, and tried to engage in conversation with a cute brunette lady who approached him, but his eyes kept drifting to the balcony and he gripped his glass tighter when he saw how close they were standing to each other. Outside, the cool night air fille
Leo’s lips curved in a small, enigmatic smile of his own. He knew what she was doing, and he didn't push. “I didn’t realize you had so many friends,” he replied, his tone soft but teasing, his gaze fixed on her in a way that made her feel exposed.She crossed her arms, shifting under his gaze. “I don't have a lot of friends. Some of them are my coworkers and some are people I met at the gym. Although I don't know why you sound so surprised. I do have a life, you know. Outside of… all this.” She forced a small laugh, though her voice came out quieter than she’d intended.His expression softened slightly, a warmth flickering in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. “Good,” he murmured. “I’m glad to know that.”They fell into a silence, the air between them thickening with each passing second. Leo’s gaze lowered to her lips, and she felt her pulse racing, her breath hitching as the space between them seemed to shrink. She could feel the tension humming between them, raw and unspoken, fil
“Leo….” Susan whispered, barely able to recognise her own voice. “Suzy,” he replied, grinning wickedly, and then he kissed her again.Her heart was still banging away from the exertion of their previous kiss. Her body was hot. So was his. Resistance was simply beyond Susan at that moment. Her arms automatically lifted and wound themselves around his neck again, and she kissed him back with equal fervor.Leo swiftly took advantage of her surrender to his seductive sensuality, changing his kiss to one of driving passion, tightening his embrace, clamping her lower body to his, and Susan was bombarded by so many exciting sensations, it was totally impossible to extract herself from them. The desire she’d tried so hard to hold in check burst through her in a raging compulsion to experience all of him.Her fingers spread into his hair, clasping his head as her mouth ravaged his as intensely as his ravaged hers. Her breasts, pressed so hard against the hot heaving wall of his chest, tingled
She didn’t. It was impossible to lie in the face of the desire that had brought them both to this bed. “I’m not sure it’s ever that simple,” she said ruefully. “There are always…other considerations.”“We’re both adults,” he argued with arrogant confidence. “We don’t have to answer to anyone except ourselves for what we do.” He grinned again. “And don’t tell me this wasn’t good. It was great! No reason to beat yourself up about it.”He was right, Susan thought. It was great, but she still felt like she'd done something wrong. Like she'd betrayed her brother… And herself somehow. But she didn't want to think about it right now. She didn't want to ruin the moment. Maybe she could let herself be selfish today. She refused to think about anything else… She could do that tomorrow. All she knew was that right now, she was satisfied, sated and too tired to think. She was still in Leo's arms and he was holding her so close and so tenderly that all she wanted to do was remain there. It was we
Leo’s lips twitched, but he didn’t dare smile. Instead, he leaned closer, his free hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp forehead. “You’re doing great, Susan. You’ve got this.”The hours dragged on. The contractions came faster and harder, and each one seemed to drain Susan’s strength. Leo stayed with her the entire time, holding her hand, whispering reassurances, even snapping at a nurse when she wasn’t quick enough with the ice chips.Finally, the doctor returned, checking Susan again. “You’re fully dilated. It’s time to push.”Susan’s heart raced. She looked up at Leo, fear flickering in her eyes.“You can do this,” he said firmly, his hands cradling her face for a moment. “I’m right here.”The room transformed into a flurry of activity. Nurses positioned themselves, the doctor gave instructions, and Susan braced herself.“Okay, Susan, with the next contraction, I need you to push,” the doctor instructed.The pain was overwhelming, but Susan gritted her teeth and pushe
An hour later, Leo’s men drove Vince, unconscious, to an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town. They positioned him in a chair surrounded by stacks of counterfeit bills, the bag of drugs on the table, and the pistol in his lap.Leo observed every detail, ensuring there was enough evidence to connect Vince to the stolen money and illegal activities. He even had Connor take pictures of the setup to send to an anonymous tip line.“Make sure it looks like he was working alone,” Leo instructed. “The last thing we need is this tying back to us.”Asher nodded and set about wiping down any trace of their presence.Once everything was in place, they made the call to the police, disguising their voices as concerned neighbors reporting suspicious activity.Hours later, Leo sat alone in his study, a glass of whiskey in hand as the news played on the television. The headline read: “Local Man Arrested in Connection to Counterfeit Money Operation.” Vince’s mugshot appeared on the screen, his face
There was a brief pause on the other end before Asher replied, “Understood. We’ll keep him... comfortable until you arrive.”Leo ended the call without another word, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He downed the last of his whiskey, the burn of it barely registering as his mind focused on what needed to be done. Vince had made a fatal mistake, and Leo was about to remind him—and everyone else—why crossing him was a mistake no one survived. He'd let Vince go the first time, and now he was going to finish the job. He flicked the cigarette over the balcony railing, watching the ember fall until it vanished into the night. He turned toward the door, ready to head inside, when he froze at the sight of Susan standing there. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her eyes were filled with anger and something else—disappointment.“How long have you been standing there?” he asked, his voice flat, though his jaw tightened.“Long enough,” Susan snapped, stepping onto the balcony. Th
Asher hesitated for a split second, then gave a curt nod. “Understood.”Without another word, Asher turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Leo sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts swirling. Susan’s rejection, Abruzzi’s attack, Vince’s betrayal—it was all fuel for the fire already raging inside him. He glanced at the gun in his hand, then set it down carefully on the table.His empire was under attack, and Leo Spencer wasn’t the kind of man to let that go unanswered. The game had just changed, and he was going to make sure everyone involved understood one thing: no one crossed him and got away with it.____________The muffled thud of footsteps echoed in the dimly lit parking lot as Asher and Connor moved quickly, their eyes scanning the deserted space. Vince was leaning casually against his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips, utterly oblivious to the trap closing in around him.“Stay sharp,” Asher whispered to Connor, his hand resting lightly on the gun holst
The routine was the same every morning—he’d come in, announce he was leaving, and then disappear for the day. It irritated her to no end, and today, the irritation boiled over.“Got it. Please leave,” she said bluntly, pulling the duvet up to her chin as if to shield herself from his indifference.Leo frowned, his calm demeanor cracking slightly. “Excuse me? I’m only trying to be helpful.”Susan let out a humorless laugh. “Helpful? This is helping? Leaving me here every day while you run off to your club to play crime boss? Doing things that could put you in danger… How exactly is that supposed to help?”Leo’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you care so much about my safety,” he retorted, his tone sharp.“I don’t,” she shot back, throwing the duvet off her legs. She swung her feet to the floor, determined to storm past him, but her body betrayed her. Moving was harder than she’d anticipated, and she struggled to push herself up.Before she could protest, Leo was at her side, his hands f
“So... when do you think we should tell Susan about us?” Samuel asked as he casually buttoned up his shirt.Caroline froze mid-motion, his question hitting her like a ton of bricks. She turned to stare at him, her expression a mix of shock and incredulity, as if he’d just suggested something completely absurd. “Why would we tell her anything?” she asked, her tone sharper than she intended.Samuel frowned, clearly caught off guard. “Why wouldn’t we?” he countered, his voice tinged with confusion.Caroline turned away, unable to meet his eyes. She felt her pulse quicken as she muttered, “Because there’s nothing to tell.”For a moment, Samuel stood there, stunned into silence. But as her words sank in, the weight of what she was saying hit him hard. He recognized this feeling—an ending he hadn’t been prepared for. And if it was going to happen, she’d have to face him when she did it.He crossed the room in a few swift steps and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, gently but insiste
He didn’t know how to process the ache twisting in his chest. He wanted to hold her, to wipe away her tears, but his own frustration and hurt held him back. Instead, he stepped away, his expression unreadable.After a long, heavy pause, he said, “Will you at least consider moving in? Just until the baby comes. You shouldn’t be alone during this last month. After the birth, you can find your own place when you’re ready.”She hesitated, the thought of being alone during labor and the final stretch of her pregnancy weighing heavily on her. She didn't want to be alone. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Until the baby comes.”“Good,” he said curtly. “I’ll have my driver take you home. You should start to pack your things tomorrow.”Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Susan standing there, her arms wrapped protectively around herself, tears streaming silently down her cheeks._______________Samuel felt warmth and soft against him. He shifted his weight toward the
Susan stepped closer to the crib, running her fingers over the smooth wood. “This must have taken so much time. I didn’t even know you were doing this.”“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said, moving to stand beside her. He rested a hand lightly on her lower back, his touch grounding her as she took it all in.Susan turned to him, her heart full. “Leo, this is the most thoughtful, amazing gift anyone has ever given me.”His lips curved into a small smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “I just wanted you to know that I’m all in, Suzy. For this whole parenting thing. I want to give it a try… And do it right.”She didn’t know what to say, so she simply stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest.Leo held her close, resting his chin lightly on her head. That close to his lean, powerful body, Susan could smell the distinctive scent of his skin, an intoxicating mixture of citrus overlaying husky male, and as she
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said softly, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “You're already giving me enough,” Susan shrugged lightly, sitting back down in her armchair. “I wanted to. Just open it.”Leo pulled at the ribbon, unwrapping the paper with surprising care, as if he wanted to savor the moment. When he lifted the lid of the box, his expression froze for a second before softening.Inside was a sleek wristwatch—silver with a black leather strap. The minimalist design was elegant but not ostentatious, exactly his style. Beside it, nestled in a small compartment, were cufflinks engraved with his initials: L.S..For a moment, Leo said nothing, his eyes fixed on the gift. Susan began to fidget, suddenly unsure of herself. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like it,” she said quickly, her voice tinged with nervousness. “I just thought… well, you always wear cufflinks when you're dressed all ‘bossy’ you know, and I noticed you liked them so—”“I love it,” L