Page 35

The thought hit her like a punch.

She stepped into the bathroom, her chest tightening. Her gaze scanned the shelves. Feminine products were neatly arranged. Expensive creams, shampoo, perfume bottles.

She picked up a jar of face cream, the exact brand she used. The mocking smile that formed on her lips was bitter and hollow.

‘Of course. I was a fool to expect anything. No man like him stays single for two years. And now, I’m just another name on his list.’

Before she could dwell deeper in that thought, the door opened behind her.

Adrian walked in, his presence filling the space. His eyes went straight to the cream in her hand, and a small smirk tugged at his lips.

She turned to him in surprise.

He was smiling?

Adrian stepped closer, the scent of his cologne washing over her, warm, masculine, familiar. His broad chest pressed against her back as his strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into the hard wall of his body. His voice was low, a deep rumble against her neck.

“This is the one you use, right?” he murmured, his breath fanning across her skin. “I set up the bathroom for you the very day we met again. Everything you use, it's already here. All the things you like. Your favorite scents. Clothes in my closet. All picked according to your taste.”

His voice was soft, deep, tender, but the way his arms tightened around her was possessive.

“If you want anything else, just tell me. I’ll get it. When you finish these, I’ll bring you new ones.”

Then his lips touched her neck—warm, slow, lingering. A trail of kisses behind her ear, down the column of her throat, as if he couldn’t help himself. His stubble brushed her skin with every stroke, sending a tremor through her spine.

Her body stiffened. Her expression was caught between surprise and confusion.

“You don’t have to do all this,” she said quietly. “We’re just being physical. There’s nothing more between us. So you don’t have to go this far.”

Adrian didn’t pull away. “It’s normal for me to take care of you. It’s my responsibility now.”

His kisses grew deeper, no longer soft, but intense. His mouth moved down to her collarbone. His teeth grazed her skin gently, then again, this time with more intensity. A groan rumbled in his throat as he bit down on her throat, then soothed the mark with his tongue.

“Stop—” she gasped, her breath catching. “Don’t do that. Be careful.”

Adrian stilled, his lips hovering just above her skin. His dark eyes found hers in the mirror in front of them. His grip on her waist tightened subtly, his thumb rubbing soft circles over her hip.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, voice rough with restraint.

“Don’t leave marks. I can’t let my husband see them,” she said calmly, without flinching. Her hand reached up to rub the spot he’d bitten. “You and I, we're a secret. I can’t let anyone find out. You’re going to overcomplicate things for me.”

Adrian’s expression darkened. His jaw clenched, his chest rising with uneven breath. Jealousy flickered in his eyes. Then came pain. And guilt.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. He kissed her neck again, softer this time, before pulling away.

Sienna pried his hands off her waist. She placed the cream box back on the counter and walked out of the washroom without sparing him another glance.

Adrian remained frozen, his gaze locked on her retreating figure. His fists slowly curled at his sides, knuckles pale. A dull, unbearable ache spread through his chest, tightening around his ribs like a vice.

“I used to have every right to you,” he muttered under his breath. His entire body was tense, trembling with restraint. “You never minded when I left marks. You even smiled. But now, you talk about hiding them for someone else. I pushed you away, and now I’m paying for it. You’re burning me alive, Sienna. Can’t you see that?”

11 Rosie

Sienna stepped out of her car, the warm rays of early morning sun grazing her face as she climbed the marble steps of the Montgomery mansion. The air was still, almost too quiet, and she let out a sigh, rubbing her stiff neck from the night before.

She pushed open her bedroom door, but froze the second she walked in.

A woman sat on her bed, heavily pregnant, relaxed, and completely at ease, knitting a tiny white sock.