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Lily

The grand entrance of Grayson's estate looms before me, its polished marble and gleaming gold fittings making my heart race. I step inside, my worn flats barely making a sound on the immaculate floor. Everything screams wealth and power—from the crystal chandeliers to the priceless art adorning the walls. I still feel so out of place.

A stern-faced housekeeper appears, her crisp uniform a stark contrast to my simple sundress. Without a word, she turns on her heel and strides down the hallway. I follow, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.

My mind drifts to Mom and Danny back home, their faces drawn with worry. "It's just for a little while," I'd promised. "Until we get back on our feet." God, I hope I'm right.

The housekeeper stops abruptly at an ornate door. "Your room, Miss Hart," she says, her voice clipped. Then she's gone, leaving me alone in this gilded cage.

I step inside, overwhelmed by the sheer luxury. The bed alone is bigger than my entire apartment back home. I perch on the edge, running my fingers over the silky bedspread. Its intricate pattern blurs as tears fill my eyes.

"What am I doing here?" I whisper to the empty room. "Why does he want me living under his roof?"

Grayson's face flashes in my mind—those dark eyes burning with intensity, looking at me like I'm something to be consumed. Heat floods my body, settling low in my belly. I bite my lip, squeezing my thighs together as an unfamiliar ache builds.

Stop it, Lily , I scold myself. He's dangerous. Off-limits.

But my traitorous body doesn't listen. All I can think about is the way Grayson's gaze roamed over me, possessive and hungry. Like he could see right through me to all my hidden desires.

I flop back on the bed, covering my face with my hands. What have I gotten myself into?

I can't sit still. The walls of this lavish room feel like they're closing in, suffocating me with their opulence. I need to move, to explore, to try and make sense of this sprawling mansion that's now my...home? Prison? I'm not sure which.

My bare feet pad silently across cool marble as I wander the halls. Each room I peek into is a testament to obscene wealth—priceless art adorning walls, antiques that belong in museums. It's beautiful, but cold. Unlived in. Like everything's on display, waiting for admirers who never come.

A flash of movement catches my eye. Through a doorway, I glimpse a tall figure striding purposefully down a distant corridor. Grayson . My heart leaps into my throat, pulse racing. I press myself against the wall, praying he hasn't seen me.

His voice carries, low and commanding. "...want those reports on my desk by morning. No excuses."

I shiver, that deep timbre sending tingles down my spine. God, what is wrong with me? He terrifies me, and yet...

I creep closer, drawn by a curiosity I can't explain. Grayson's in his study, looming over a nervous-looking man in a suit. Even from here, his presence is overwhelming. He radiates power, danger.

But then I see it—a flicker of something else. Exhaustion? Loneliness? It's gone in an instant, replaced by that mask of cold authority. But it was there.

You don't know him , I remind myself. Stop trying to see good where there might not be any.

The sky outside darkens. I should go back to my room, but restlessness gnaws at me. Grayson's intense gaze haunts my thoughts, the unspoken tension between us a living thing.

My stomach growls. Food. That's what I need. A midnight snack to settle my nerves.

I creep towards where I think the kitchen might be, trying to shake the feeling that I'm trespassing in my own...home? The word still feels wrong.

"What are you doing here?" The voice freezes me in place.

The kitchen is bathed in shadows, moonlight slanting through the windows and painting everything in shades of silver and black. My fingers trail along the cool marble countertop as I rummage through unfamiliar cabinets, searching for something— anything —to quiet the growling in my stomach.

A floorboard creaks behind me.

I whirl around, heart leaping into my throat. Grayson's massive silhouette fills the doorway, blocking any escape. How can someone so large move so silently?

"I asked you a question." His voice is a low rumble that sends shivers racing down my spine.

I swallow hard. "I...I was just looking for a snack."

He stalks towards me, each deliberate step screaming predator. I back up until I hit the counter, trapped. His eyes lock onto mine, dark and unreadable in the dim light. There's challenge there, and something else...something that makes heat pool low in my belly despite my fear.

"You shouldn't wander at night," Grayson murmurs, closing the distance between us until I can feel the heat radiating from his body. "It's dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I whisper, pulse racing. "Why?"

His hand comes up, fingertips barely grazing my cheek. I can't help but lean into the touch, even as alarm bells scream in my head.

"Because," he growls, "if you keep tempting me like this, I might lose control."

I gasp, caught between the urge to flee and the magnetic pull I feel towards him. "What...what do you mean?"

Grayson's eyes narrow. "Stay out of my way, little one. For both our sakes."

The weight of his words settles over me like a physical thing. It's a warning, yes, but also...a promise? My breath catches as I process the dual nature of what he's saying.

I should be terrified. I am terrified. But there's an undeniable thrill coursing through me too, a pull towards this dangerous man that I can't explain or resist.

"I..." I start to say, but Grayson presses a finger to my lips.

"Shh," he whispers. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

I can’t breathe while he’s touching me like this. Just when I think I’m about to pass out, he takes a step back.

The moment Grayson steps back, it's like all the air rushes back into the room. I suck in a shaky breath, my skin tingling where his finger touched my lips. His gaze lingers, dark and hungry, as I stumble past him towards the door.

My legs are jelly as I make my way down the endless hallway. Every shadow seems to hold Grayson's presence, making me jump at nothing. When I finally reach my room, I slam the door and lean against it, heart pounding.

What the hell just happened?

I slide down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. This man...he terrifies me. Excites me. Makes me feel things I've never felt before. It's like he flipped some switch inside me I didn't even know existed.

Crawling into bed, I try to calm my racing thoughts. But every time I close my eyes, I see Grayson's intense stare. Feel the heat of his body. Hear that low, dangerous voice.

"Dammit," I mutter, punching my pillow in frustration. There's no way I can pretend this...whatever it is...doesn't exist. The tension between us is a living, breathing thing.

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. My pussy is still throbbing, but I bite my lip.

I have no idea what to do, but I let my hand roam lower to between my thighs, following some blind instinct.

I shouldn't be doing this. But my fingers slip beneath the waistband of my panties anyway, seeking out that aching center of need. I'm embarrassingly wet already, just from that brief encounter.

My eyes flutter closed as I start to touch myself, imagining it's Grayson's large hand instead of my own. Those dark eyes watching me, his voice rough with desire. "That's it, little one. Show me how much you want me."

A soft moan escapes my lips before I can stifle it. I work my fingers faster, hips rising to meet each stroke

My breath comes in short gasps as something…incredible…builds inside me. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before, so I keep chasing the sensation. The tension coils tighter and tighter, Grayson's imagined touch driving me wild. And then…any explosion of white light.

My back arches off the bed, and I gasp as I feel muscles I didn’t even know I had contracting around thin air.

Afterwards, I lay there, my body sticky with a sheen of sweat, still in shock over what I can assume was my first orgasm.

When I finally drift off to sleep, I dream of him …