SERAIt all felt like a carefully laid trap. His stare, his smile, even the way he said my name in that low, almost teasing tone. Ace always knew how to create tension in a room, and me… yeah, I was way too aware of it.I took a slow breath, trying to calm my heartbeat—which, for some reason, was racing faster than it should’ve been. My steps down the hallway felt heavier than usual, even though I knew there was no reason for Ace to follow me.Once I was done with Ace, I had to do the same with Damon—give him his gift. It was ridiculous, really. I felt more like a mom with four teenage sons than anything else.I knocked on Damon’s door a few times, but there was no answer. He was probably in the garage. But tonight was way too cold for me to bother looking for him there, so I decided to push it to tomorrow. Besides, I had other things to prep for—like the important presentation Reggie and I had been talking about earlier.Opening my bedroom door that night felt like walking into a tra
DAMONI was in Sera’s bedroom, sprawled across her bed, my eyes locked on her figure at the desk. She sat there with her laptop open, fingers dancing over the keyboard, her brows furrowing every now and then like the fate of the world depended on every word she typed.I’d promised her I wouldn’t bother her, and for once, I was keeping my word. I stayed quiet, just watching her. Time felt like it stopped in this room. Maybe only minutes had passed. Or maybe hours. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. All I knew was the way her brows creased, the way she sighed every so often, the way her sharp glances shot in my direction like daggers. Thirteen frowns. Six deep breaths. Ten glares. I counted every single one because when I was with her, I couldn’t help but notice every detail.I knew from the moment I first saw her, she was special. There was just something about her, something I couldn’t put into words. It was not just about her beauty—though that alone could undo a man like me. But more
SERA I was buried in financial reports when my office door swung open without a knock. Gia stepped in, her expression something I rarely saw—a mix of tension and caution, like she’d just discovered a ticking time bomb in the middle of the office. I raised an eyebrow, silently asking. “We have a problem,” she said, urgency lacing her voice. I gestured for her to sit, but she remained standing in front of my desk. “How bad?” I leaned back in my chair. Gia exhaled before handing me a tablet. “Dominic Marsh. He made a deal with Parkinson & Co. without full approval from Mr. Blackwood.” My pulse picked up. I took the tablet and scanned the document on the screen. Clause after clause unfolded before me, and the more I read, the tighter my jaw clenched. Dominic Marsh, Blackwood Group’s in-house attorney—the one handling the company’s legal affairs—had brokered a deal with a major investment firm to fast-track the acquisition of a struggling tech company. “This is basically a gamble. If
SERA“I'm going to rip Dominic apart.”With an expression as calm as a storm before it hits, Reggie leaned back in his chair and looked at me with enough intensity to burn anyone unprepared.I remained sitting upright in my spot, not flinching in the slightest. I was used to Reggie's outbursts. He could be a threat to anyone—except me.“Ace is handling it,” I said, deliberately prodding.I saw it—the slightest shift in his expression, something no one else would notice, but I knew him better than anyone. “Ace?”I nodded. “He's combing through the contracts, looking for loopholes to either void or modify the deal. If there's a way out of this mess, he'll find it.”“So you're leaving this to Ace?” he asked, his voice still tense, but lighter now.I shrugged, feigning indifference, though a part of me was really hoping Ace would find a way to kick Dominic’s ass. "You said he’s a genius in his field. Why not?”Reggie watched me for a few seconds before finally sighing. “Fine. I want a ful
SERAI blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness of the room that was only lit by the desk lamp. My gaze immediately fell on Ace at the desk, still struggling with the documents scattered before him. The clock on the nightstand read three in the morning.An old habit of mine that I couldn't quite shake—waking up at this hour.I moved, pushing my body to sit up straight, and that was apparently enough to get her attention.“Sera? Why are you awake?” His voice was deep, a little rough from exhaustion.I leaned back against the headboard, watching him, still so straight-backed despite how clearly drained he was. “Why aren't you asleep, Ace?”“Almost done,” he replied casually, without looking at me.I sighed, my gaze fixed on him, the silent words probably speaking louder than anything I could say. He was still in the same clothes he’d worn earlier today. “Ace…”He closed the file in his hands and leaned back in his chair. His eyes looked even darker under the dim light, a si
SERAI held my breath as he stood in front of me, so close I could feel the heat of his body. His fingers rose, touching my chin, tilting my face toward him.“Don’t test me,” he said quietly, but with a warning in his voice. “You will what?”And before I could think twice, I grabbed his neck and kissed him—hard.I felt his body tense, like he was fighting something inside himself. But it took just a second for his restraint to snap, and then he was kissing me back with a force that was almost terrifying.His lips were rough, nearly brutal, like his anger had shifted into something raw and consuming. His fingers dug into my waist too tightly, his breath hot, ragged, dripping with frustration.When he pulled away, his eyes burned with a mess of emotions—the anger he was hiding and the desire he was trying to fight. “God damn it, Sera,” he rasped, his voice almost shaking. “What the hell have you done to me?”His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles flexing, like he was holding
DAMON“I told you I was never afraid of you, Wolfe.” Her voice dripped with that sweet poison she always fed me.Fuck. I wanted to tear apart every last shred of confidence she had, make her see that she couldn’t win.My hand gripped her chin, holding her in place. Her lips were wet and swollen, her chest rising and falling, her pupils blown wide. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her.I smirked. "That’s because you haven’t really seen me lose control yet."And tonight, I was going to give her that.One hard pull, and she was trapped beneath me. I pinned both her wrists to the mattress, my body caging her in like a beast finally capturing its prey. I could feel her heartbeat hammering beneath my chest, her warmth seeping into my skin, sending my blood boiling.I dragged my lips along her throat, biting down hard until I heard a sharp gasp mixed with a moan. "Tell me, Sera," I murmured, my breath hot against her skin. "Did he ever touch you like this?"She writhed, trying to catc
BECKThat morning, the scent of freshly brewed coffee still lingered in my cup as I stepped into the living room. The air in this house was cooler than what I was used to. Sunlight filtered in through the large windows, casting soft shadows across the space. Damon was sprawled out on the couch in a position that looked anything but comfortable, Ace was absorbed in his tablet, and Cal stood near the door in his workout gear, clearly getting ready for a morning run.Leaning against the couch where Damon was still fast asleep, I raised an eyebrow, took a slow sip of my coffee, and asked, “Why is Damon sleeping here?”Cal stretched his arms, chuckling. “I saw Damon getting ready for a run earlier, so I told him to wait up while I grabbed my stuff. When I came back… well, this is what I found.”I let out a quiet laugh, glancing at Damon. He looked like a man who had just lost a long battle against gravity. His head was nearly slipping off the armrest, his hair was a complete mess, and ther
ACEThe air inside the car felt warm, even with the AC still on. The night outside was eerily quiet, broken only by the rustling of leaves swaying in the wind. Dim street lights cast a faint glow on the dashboard, creating soft shadows on Sera’s face.I sat in the driver’s seat, one hand resting on the wheel while the other lay lazily on my thigh. Sera, seated beside me in the passenger seat, still wearing her night dress—the one I chose. A deep blue that blended into the night, baring her shoulders in just the right way. The fabric clung to her body like it was made for her. She turned her head toward me, her gaze searching mine for something.“I’ve kept my promise,” she murmured.I turned to her, locking eyes. “And you think that’s enough?”She was silent for a moment, then a small, challenging smirk tugged at her lips. “You really are never satisfied, are you?”I knew this game. I knew when she was teasing and when she was trying to deflect. And I wasn’t in the mood to play along.
SERAAce and I walked through the living room, which felt quieter than usual. There was no sound of clinking glasses or heated discussions that usually filled the space at night. Or the weird jokes that Beck usually cracked.Damon was at the hospital with Cal, keeping Reggie company. Or rather, Cal had dragged Damon along. Normally, I would be there with Cal, but tonight, I chose to sit this one out to keep my promise to Ace. Meanwhile, Beck had been busy these past few days scouting locations downtown for his art gallery.I glanced at Ace, trying to read his expression. “Looks like we have the house to ourselves tonight,” I remarked casually.Ace turned to me, his signature expression intact—a mix of confidence and something subtler, almost teasing. “What? Are you saying we should cancel dinner and do something else instead?”I let out a small scoff, raising an eyebrow at him. “Wow, Ace. Changing your mind that easily?”Ace grinned, his expression unshakable. “I’m just offering an al
SERAIt had been a month since I started living with the Blackwood Brothers. I should have been used to it by now, but it still felt like walking a tightrope; balancing between ambition, veiled lies, and constantly changing emotions. This house, usually quiet and still, was now filled with men who should have come with their own warning labels. And every single day, I found myself asking the same question: How the hell did I get here?Ace, Beck, Cal, Damon… they weren’t just men I had to choose from. They were puzzles I had to solve. And if I wasn’t careful, I would end up trapped in this game with no way out.Ace? He was too brilliant for his own good. Too self assured too. Talking to him felt like walking into a national debate unprepared. I knew he wanted me, but sometimes I wondered; had I been the woman he truly desired, or just a challenge he was determined to conquer? There had been a particular way his eyes had lit up every time I tried to resist him, like my defiance only fue
CALMorning came with a silence that felt heavier than usual. Maybe it was because of yesterday. Or maybe it was just this house, always keeping secrets behind its walls.I walked down the hallway, balancing a tray in one hand. As I reached Sera’s door, I lifted my other hand and knocked lightly with the back of my fingers.However, before my hand could touch the wood, the door had already opened from the inside. Damon stood in the doorway, his expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was something in his eyes—fatigue, maybe. Or something deeper.I raised an eyebrow, offering a faint smile. “Morning.”Damon held my gaze for a moment before responding, his voice low and rough. “Morning.”He didn’t move away immediately. Instead, he kept a hand on the door, giving me space to step inside before finally shifting aside.Taking the hint, I walked in. “Had breakfast yet?” I asked casually, still balancing the tray in my hands.Damon let out a short, quiet exhale. “I’m good.”A standa
BECKI sat at the edge of the bed, watching Sera’s pale face for what felt like an eternity. Her breathing was steady but heavy, like her body was fighting against something I couldn’t see. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what had caused this. All I knew was that she was sick, and I was here.My hand moved on its own, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear with the gentlest touch, like if I pressed too hard, she might crack and shatter into pieces.I wanted to ask. I wanted to know. But I couldn’t. Because even though my mind was drowning in questions, I couldn’t put that weight on her right now.I felt there was something between us, but did Sera think the same? Or am I just misinterpreting everything? I wanted to believe that I had a place in her heart, that I was more than just someone who happened to be by her side.My hands curled into fists on my lap, trying to push down the uncertainty gnawing at my chest. This wasn’t the time for this. Sera was sick.But
DAMONWhen Ace walked out, I didn’t follow him right away. I stayed where I was, feeling Beck and Cal’s eyes lock onto me. The atmosphere in the room shifted—easygoing to suffocating in an instant, tension thick in the air like a storm about to break.I could feel Sera standing at the doorway, restless. I didn’t have to turn around to know she was biting her lower lip, debating whether to speak or stay silent.Finally, I exhaled a short breath and started moving. “I’ll be fine,” I murmured, casual, before slipping past them.I followed Ace down the hall to his room. He shoved the door open, motioned me inside, then slammed it shut behind us.“Again, I have no idea why you’re pissed,” I said, leaning against his wardrobe, all ease, all nonchalance.“How old are you, huh? Fifteen?” Ace finally spoke, his voice low, cold.I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“Do you even know Sera got sick because of you?” His voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of restrained fury.
ACEI saw her hesitate. Sera looked down for a moment, then glanced at me. It was only a split second, but I caught her weighing something.Then, with a quiet voice, she finally admitted, “I took an after-morning pill this morning.”Silence.I didn’t say anything. The doctor merely gave a small nod, jotting something down on his clipboard before giving a few instructions.I stayed quiet, feeling the muscles in my jaw tighten. My breathing was heavier than usual. I didn’t know why, but something in my chest clenched at her confession. And I didn’t like it.The doctor finally left, leaving just the two of us in a room that felt even quieter than before. I was still standing in the same spot, staring at her.Sera didn’t speak right away. She knew I was angry. It was in the way she took a breath, in the way her fingers toyed with the edge of the blanket.“You don’t have to react like that,” she finally said, looking away slightly. “I knew what I was doing.”My eyes narrowed. I didn’t like
ACEI should’ve noticed earlier.Sera was sitting across from me, but she wasn’t really there. She played with her fork, stirring her food absentmindedly. Usually, she’d have thrown some sharp remarks by now—something laced with sarcasm, something that carried that signature defiance she always took pride in.“What do you think Reggie will do to Dominic?” I asked, baiting a reaction.She turned to me with a weak smile. “Reggie would finish him off.”Something was wrong.Just this morning, Sera, with her signature style-sharp, defiant, stabbing with words—had managed to strip Dominic down. But now… she looked like she had lost half of herself.I had barely taken a single bite when Sera suddenly set down her spoon. The movement was too abrupt, too noticeable.I raised a brow, studying her face. “What’s wrong?”She didn’t answer. Her jaw tightened, fingers curling into fists on the table. Then, the next second, she stood up.“I need to use the restroom,” she muttered before walking away.
CALI had just finished a lap when I saw someone step out from the back door—Damon, finally showing up.I slowed down and walked toward him. He was stretching, lazily pulling his arm across his chest.“Well, look who finally woke up,” I smirked, standing beside him. “I was starting to think you’d given up on life and decided to become part of the living room couch.”Damon just grunted, clearly not in the mood to throw back his usual sarcasm. But as I got a closer look at his face, something felt... off. I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what was bothering me.And then, I saw it.I held back a laugh. “Damon… what the hell happened to your eyebrow?”He frowned. “What?”I pointed at the slit in his brow—usually pretty noticeable, but now, it looked darker, like someone had tried to fill it in. “Looks like somebody took a marker to it.”Damon blinked, confusion flickering across his face before realization hit him like a truck. “Shit.” He immediately reached up to touch his brow, m