Neither of us moved.The air felt thick, the kind that made it impossible to think straight. My heart slammed against my ribs, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Leo was still above me, his hands on either side of my head, his chest rising and falling fast. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. My eyes flickered first to his face and then lower…I could feel his body heat, his skin just inches from mine, and my mind was screaming at me to do something…to move, to speak, to break whatever this was.Instead, I just stared and so did he.Seconds stretched, until my voice finally worked again.“Aren’t you…” I swallowed hard. “Aren’t you getting off?”Leo’s entire body stiffened like he had just realized the position we were in. His eyes widened slightly before he jerked back, scrambling to his feet. “Shit—sorry.”I turned my head away as he reached for his towel, trying my best to ignore the heat rushing to my face. My body still felt on edge, like i
I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that, his arms locked around me, his face buried against my shoulder. His breathing was ragged, his heartbeat a frantic drum against my skin. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.Then I remembered.“Are you okay?” My voice was soft, hesitant.Leo didn’t answer immediately. His hold on me loosened slightly, and I felt him exhale against my neck. “Yeah,” he murmured after a long pause. “I’m fine.”I pulled back just enough to see his face. “You sure? Because—”“It’s nothing, Bella.” His voice was steadier now, but I didn’t miss the way his fingers flexed slightly against my back.I narrowed my eyes. “This is a nightly thing for you, isn’t it?”His jaw clenched for a second, but then he scoffed lightly. “Last time, too.”I tilted my head, not letting him deflect. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just need to clear my head.”I watched as he started to shift, like he was about to get
The meeting room was filled with some of the most influential international investors and collaborators, all gathered to discuss the expansion of the competition. It was a high-stakes meeting, one that required absolute focus.But I couldn’t focus.Not when Bella looked like that.She sat at the head of the table, speaking with such authority and intelligence that the entire room hung onto her every word. The way she articulated every point, every strategy—she was brilliant. The confidence in her voice, the sharpness in her gaze—it was mesmerizing.And fuck, she looked beautiful.The black dress hugged her perfectly, the high ponytail accentuating her sharp features. Every time she moved, my eyes followed, unable to look away. And when she smiled—God, when she smiled—I felt it like a punch to my gut.I swallowed hard, shifting in my seat as my body reacted in ways it shouldn’t have. Not now. Not here.I tried to focus on what was being said, but all I could think about was how gorgeou
Leo povWhen we got to the hotel, Bella excused herself to take a shower first. I nodded, though I didn't want her to leave my side. There was something about tonight that made it impossible for me to focus on anything else.I stood there, staring at the door where she had disappeared. Minutes passed, maybe more, and then the bathroom door creaked open.I turned, and there she was.My breath caught in my throat.She stepped out of the bathroom, her hair damp, still wrapped in a thin, white towel. She looked beautiful, so fucking beautiful, like something out of a dream. Her black night gown was made of silk and the way her nipples poked through the fabric was making me go insane. I cleared my throat as I felt my cock twitch between my thighs. "Well, don't just stand there, won’t you take a shower too?” Her voice caused me to jerk out of my thoughts. I shook my head, trying to keep my mind straight. "Yeah, right. I'll get changed."But I couldn't stop staring at her. The way she
LeoHer words sent sparks right down my cock. I hadn't felt it come to life in so long.With her hands around my neck, her body pressed against mine, the graze of her fingertips on the surface of my skin, the goosebumps that accompanied her touch, it made me feel like I was going insane.I lifted her in my arms and she reflexively wrapped her arms around my waist. I reconnected our lips after pressing her back to the wall, her soft moans filling my ears when I pulled away to trail kisses down the nape of her neck."Leo..." She moaned in a gasp. The sound of my name rolling off her lips made me want to take her there and then.I slipped my hand up her gown, trailing my fingers up her back and once I made it to the thin straps I slid them down, letting her boobs fall free against my chest.Her face was winced and her eyes closed, her lips slightly open as she let out small moans.I guided her to the bed, laying her on her back and hovering above her, keeping my weight on my elbows.Her
BellaMy head was pounding. It felt like someone had been hammering on the inside of my skull all night. I blinked slowly, squinting against the sunlight leaking through the curtains. My throat was dry, lips cracked, and my body… sore?What the hell happened last night?Then I felt it.An arm was draped over my waist and warm skin pressed against my back. My eyes widened and my heart jumped.I turned slowly, carefully but I finally sawing him there laying completely naked. His chest was rising and falling in slow, even breaths. His face looked peaceful, like he hadn’t just ruined my entire sense of reality.My eyes went wide in horror as i tried to make sense of what was happening. What the fuck happened last night? I sat up too fast. The room spun. I grabbed the sheets to cover my chest. I looked down—no clothes. Nothing.“Oh my god,” I whispered.Pieces of the night came back in flashes. From his hands to my moans, our skin, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that exi
LeoThe water hit my back, hot and steady.I stood under the stream for too long, hoping it would rinse away the mess of last night. But it didn’t. It only made the silence louder. The steam filled the bathroom, but I still felt cold where she used to be.Bella was gone when I woke up. No note. No sound. Just the hollow space beside me that still smelled like her.She ran.Again.I pressed my palms against the tile wall and let out a breath. She wanted to pretend it meant nothing. That it was just sex. That I didn’t feel her trembling when I touched her or hear the way she whispered my name like she had forgotten it could ever belong to me again.But I remembered. I remembered every second. And so did she.When I stepped out of the shower, I grabbed a towel and looked around the room. The bed was a mess. Sheets tangled. Her side cold.I picked up my phone and ordered breakfast for two.I didn’t care if she came back or not. I wasn’t going to let her act like I didn’t know her better t
Bella was gone again.Just like that. Like last night didn’t matter. Like I didn’t watch her fall apart in my arms and whisper my name like it still meant something.The bed was a mess. Her perfume still lingered in the room. But she left behind nothing. Not even a damn goodbye.I sat at the edge of the bed, jaw clenched, my fingers gripping the sheet so tight I thought it might tear. I should have gotten used to this by now. But it still hit the same.A knock came from the door. Room service. Breakfast for two. I didn’t even remember ordering it. It didn’t matter now.I didn’t touch it.I just sat there, chest tight, anger building in a place I didn’t know how to reach.My phone buzzed. Dennis.I snatched it up. “Talk.”His voice came in calm, like he didn’t just have answers I’d been chasing for months. “I’ve finished the research you asked for. I confirmed it. Bella and Ryan’s marriage… it’s not real.”I froze.“What?” My voice cracked in the middle.Dennis cleared his throat. “The
For a moment, I couldn't move.The sight of the woman sitting there, dressed like that, laughing like it was funny, held me frozen in place.I was still trying to make sense of it when she stood up and sauntered closer, her hips swaying.Before I could react, she reached out, sliding her hand around the back of my neck.I jerked away instinctively, shoving her hand off hard enough that she stumbled back a step."Don’t touch me," I snapped, raising my voice.She blinked, startled, but that didn’t stop her.She stepped forward again, reaching for me like she thought she could fix it somehow.I didn’t give her the chance.I shoved her aside, not hard enough to hurt, but enough that she crashed back onto the edge of the bed."Stay away from me," I barked, the words vibrating in the tight space between us.She flinched, her hands scrambling at the sheets, her wide eyes flicking up to meet mine.As I turned to leave, my hand already on the door, I heard her scrambling behind me."Wait," she
Leo povThe low buzz of my phone yanked me out of a dead sleep.I slapped around the nightstand, finally grabbing it, squinting at the screen through half-lidded eyes.Mom.I groaned quietly, wiping my hand over my face, careful not to move too much.Next to me, Bella was curled up under the covers, her breathing soft and steady.I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could, grabbing the sweatshirt tossed across the chair.Pulling the door halfway closed behind me, I finally answered."Mom?" My voice was rough with sleep."Leo, oh God, Leo," she sobbed immediately, her voice so loud and panicked it made my chest tighten. "Something happened. Please, I need you."I dragged my free hand down my face, forcing myself to wake up faster."What happened?" I asked, already moving toward the bathroom."I was meeting a client at a hotel," she cried. "It went wrong. I need you, please, Leo. Please come."I turned on the bathroom light, wincing at the harsh brightness, staring at myself in the mirr
I spotted him the second the car pulled up to the curb standing there under the pale glow of a lamppost, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, head tilted like he had been waiting forever.The second he saw me, Leo straightened and came over, pulling the door open himself."Come on," he said gently, offering his hand.I slipped out of the car, the night air cool against my cheeks.Without letting go, he led me straight to his car and helped me inside, shutting the door with a soft click.He slid into the driver’s seat a moment later, casting a quick look at me before starting the engine.We didn’t speak much at first.I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur by, feeling my heart race in a way that had nothing to do with nerves and everything to do with him.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him glance at me again, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel."You okay?" he asked finally, his voice low.I nodded, still looking out."I’m fine," I said.H
When I got home, I dropped my bag by the door and kicked my shoes off without thinking.The house was quiet, almost too quiet, but I didn’t let myself think about it.I went straight to the kitchen where the papers were waiting, the divorce papers.I pulled out a chair and sat down, flipping through the pages quickly. Ryan had already signed his side and all that was left was mine.I grabbed a pen from the counter, uncapped it, and signed my name where they had marked.It was fast, too fast for something that had been part of my life for so long.I pushed the papers aside and stood up, tying my hair back loosely as I made my way upstairs.There was no reason to drag it out.I grabbed my suitcase from under the bed, tossing it onto the mattress with a soft thud.One by one, I started folding my clothes and packing them neatly, shirts, jeans, a few jackets.I was halfway through pulling the zipper closed when I heard a soft knock on the door."Come in," I called, glancing over my should
Leo povI kept Bella’s hand in mine as we made our way down the hall toward the study where Dennis waited.He was already standing near the desk when we walked in, his phone in one hand, a stack of papers in the other.The second he saw us, he set everything down and straightened."I checked the security footage like you asked," Dennis said, his voice calm but tight. "We found out how Jack got here."I stepped closer, my grip tightening slightly on Bella’s hand.Dennis glanced between us before continuing."It was your cousin," he said carefully. "He found Jack wandering near your old house. Instead of calling anyone... he brought him straight here."I stared at him, blinking once, slow and heavy."My cousin?" I repeated, my voice sharper than I meant.Dennis nodded grimly. "The footage is clear. He guided Jack into the car, drove him here, and left him at the gate."I raked a hand through my hair, pacing a short step away before turning back."Why the hell would he do that?" I mutter
We stepped inside, the soft murmur of conversation floating down the long hallway.I kept my head down at first, still overwhelmed by the day, but the moment I looked up, I stopped dead in my tracks.Standing near the grand staircase, arms folded, was Leo’s mother and just a few steps behind her, Stella.I froze, my heart kicking up painfully, old instincts screaming at me to turn around, to run before history repeated itself.Leo noticed immediately, he slowed beside me, glancing once at the stiffness in my body, then following my gaze.Without missing a beat, he reached for my hand, threading his fingers tightly through mine.The simple gesture grounded me, but it also sent a jolt of heat straight to my chest.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stella stiffen, her hand flying to her mouth like she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Leo’s mother narrowed her eyes, scanning the space between us like she was trying to rewrite the reality in front of her."What is going on here?" she
I stood there for a second, trying to wrap my head around what Leo had just said."Your house?" I repeated, glancing at Ryan, who looked just as confused as I felt.Ryan shook his head slowly, his hands tightening into fists at his sides."Why would he be there?" he muttered under his breath.I turned back to Leo, searching his face for some kind of answer, but he was already moving, grabbing his keys off the counter, his shoulders tense."There’s no time for this," Leo said, his voice clipped. "We’ll ask questions later. Right now, we need to get there."Without another word, we hurried out the door, piling into Leo’s car.I barely remembered buckling my seatbelt, my hands trembling the whole drive.Leo gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw locked, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror more than once like he couldn’t drive fast enough.Ryan sat stiffly beside me, tapping his foot anxiously against the floor mat, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.When we finally pulled
Leo was already pulling his phone out before I could say a word.I stood there, frozen in the middle of the living room, watching him pace near the window as he barked into the phone."Dennis, get access to every street camera near the house," Leo said, his voice tight but controlled. "Side roads too. Look for a kid, maybe with a backpack, moving fast. Alone."He paused, listening, his hand curling into a fist at his side."Use our contacts if you have to," he added after a second. "I want eyes on every damn corner."I hugged my arms around myself, feeling like the walls were closing in.The idea of Jack out there, scared and alone, made my stomach twist painfully.Without thinking, I turned and headed down the hallway where I found Ryan sitting stiffly on the edge of the couch, staring at the floor like he couldn't move.I sat down beside him, close enough that our knees brushed."This is my fault," I said, my voice cracking as I reached out to touch his arm. "I should have been more
I barely remembered the drive to Ryan’s place. My grip on the wheel was so tight my knuckles hurt.Every minute Bella stayed silent, every minute I did not hear her voice, my patience thinned to nothing.I pulled up hard in front of the house, the tires kicking dust across the sidewalk.The door was cracked open slightly. No sound came from inside.I did not wait. I shoved the door wider and stepped in without knocking, my fists already curled, my chest heaving with the anger I had been holding back for too long.Ryan sat slumped on the couch, his elbows resting heavily on his knees, staring blankly at the floor.He didn’t even flinch when I entered."What the hell did you do to her?" I said, my voice cutting through the stillness.He looked up slowly, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused, like he wasn’t really seeing me.My temper snapped.I crossed the room in three long strides, grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and hauled him halfway off the couch."Talk," I growled, shoving him back ha