Isadora''s gaze drifted over a sh of masculine allure-she choked on her own breath, quickly averting her eyes. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "It''s not...we''re not exactly living together."


    Nte, on the other side of the video call, waved her hand dismissively.


    "I get it, I get it! I''m not your mother, you know, I''m not that old-fashioned. Still, the prince over there is really dropping the ball. We''re your best friends! He whisks you away and doesn''t even buy us dinner so we can get to know him?"


    Victor lifted his chin a touch, his dark eyes fixed thoughtfully on Isadora''s ufortable expression.


    So, dating a woman means you''re supposed to take her friends out for dinner. Otherwise, she''ll lose face-he''d have to get Kemp to arrange that.


    Nte pressed on, her curiosity unfiltered: "I''ve never lived with a man before— what''s it like? Is the sex just amazing every night? Your face is so red! Am I interrupting something steamy right now?"


    "Nte!" Isadora hissed, grinding her teeth. She regretted picking up the call in the first ce. "You''ve got an overactive imagination!"


    But Nte had been her best friend for years-she knew all of Isadora''s


    awkward little quirks. Ignoring her protests, sheunched into advice:


    "Listen, just a little tip-if you''re sharing an apartment, you have to keep things exciting. Try a little lingerie, spice things up, keep him hooked..."


    "I''ve got to go-really, I can''t talk now!"


    Isadora hung up on Nte without another word.


    Before she could even make it to the bathroom, Victor-tall, lean, and shirtless- strode toward her, every inch the picture of effortless confidence.


    He braced his hands on either side of the bed, caging Isadora between his arms. Leaning in, he brought his handsome face close to hers and gently tipped her chin up, his breath warm against her ear. "I think your friend actually had some pretty good suggestions."


    Isadora let out a nervousugh. "She just likes to mess around and talk nonsense."


    Victor''s voice was low and rough, sending shivers down her spine. "Lingerie, huh? Should we try the nurse look? Flight attendant? Or maybe something...with a few more holes?"


    "Victor!"


    Her voice was soft, almost pleading, his name on her lips sending a strange, sweet current through the air.


    "I can hear you just fine. No need to shout."


    Victor''s eyes glimmered with mischief, their obsidian depths both inviting and impossibly restrained. He continued to tempt her, his tone yful: "How about we start by taking a shower together? Might help set the mood."


    Isadora could feel his breath mingling with hers, her own heartbeat stuttering in her chest. She was terrified she might give in to his teasing yet again.


    Pressing a finger to his chest, she shook her head. "No, no, you go ahead. I''ve still got work to finish."


    With that, she ducked under his arm and slipped away before she lost her resolve.


    Victor watched her go, a wry, amused smile tugging at his lips. The way she fled, flustered and flushed, was almost too cute to bear. He turned toward the bathroom, unbuckling his belt as he walked and letting it fall to the floor behind him.


    Out in the kitchen, Isadora grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge, taking a long sip that cooled her racing heart.


    Once she''d calmed down, she pulled out her phone and dialed Wendy. Now that she''d signed on for the Horizon Architects project, it was time to start prepping contracts and following up on the details. She needed Wendy to get started.


    Wendy''s voice came through the line, hesitant. "Isadora, what about Rowena...?"