HUNTER’S POV
I should walk away, I knew I should. But I didn’t. I stood there, arms folded, staring at the grain in her door as Ana whispered something about linens and tomorrow’s schedule that I wasn’t listening to.
I nodded. Or maybe I didn’t. I wasn’t sure. Because all I could think about was her.
Celine.
I wasn’t supposed to be here. I wasn’t supposed to care. I wasn’t supposed to remember how it felt, holding her tonight on that dance floor-how her body had trembled under my hand like she was holding back from running.
Or maybe from melting. I wasn’t sure which. Ana stopped talking, waiting for me to say something. But then the door cracked open.
I didn’t expect it.
I should have.
But the moment her face appeared-eyes wide, cautious, beautiful in a way that knocked something loose in my chest-t couldn’t move.
And then she was gone again.
Just like that.
The soft snick of the door closing was louder than anything Ana had said. It echoed through me, all the way to the parts I kept locked away.
I stared at the door for a moment longer. Maybe I wanted her to open it again. Maybe I wanted her to beg me to leave. Or maybe I wanted her to pull me inside.
I didn’t know.
So I stepped back. And I walked away.
~CELINE’S POV~
I pressed my palm t against the door as if I could feel him still standing there. But the hallway had gone quiet. Too quiet.
He was gone.
I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed. I hated that it was both. And then I heard Ana.
Her voice was low, almost conspiratorial. “She doesn’t even know,” Ana whispered. Another voice-maybe the head maid-hushed her quickly.
But the words were out there now. Clinging to the air.
A
‘She doesn’t even know.’ My fingers curled into fists against the wood. I leaned my forehead to the door, closing my eyes.
Didn’t know what? Didn’t know who?
The questions twisted in my mind as I stood there, unmoving.
And when I finally crawled back into bed next to Caesar, I didn’t sleep.
I stared at the ceiling, my heart racing. And thought of Hunter. And the look in his eyes.
-HUNTER’S POV-
I didn’t sleep that night. Again. I stood by my window, staring out into the dark, wondering what the hell I was doing
Thad crossed lines: I had blurred them. And for what? For a woman I didn’t trust. A woman i couldn’t stay away from.
But I couldn’t stop remembering her face. And I couldn’t stop hearing Caroline’s voice from earlier. “Maybe she’s not tying about whatever the hon
I was going to find out the truth. Even if it destroyed both of us.
I’ve been told I have a control issue. I’ve always thought the word issue was an understatement. But this… this was something else entirel /
And I didn’t know if it was control I was fighting for anymore.
Or something darker. Something I didn’t want to name.
The morning starts quietly. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you hear things you shouldn’t.
Like herugh. Soft and easy. And not meant for me.
I lean back in the garden chair, bncing my phone between my shoulder and ear, pretending I give a damn about what Vincent’s saying
He’s rambling about something. A woman he metst night. Or maybe two. He’sughing. I’m
“She had this thing she did with her tongue-” Vincent starts.
I cut him off. “Do you want toe over tonight or not?” A pause.
Then a bark of augh. “Reid, you sound like you need it more than me. What’s with you?” I look up from my te, my eyes drifting- No.
Locking-On her.
Celine.
Her back to me, her hair twisted into something loose and messy, a few strands falling down the back of her neck.
She’s hanging linens on the line like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
Like I’m not watching her. Like she doesn’t know I can’t look away!
And Cole.
Cole fucking Bishop. Smiling that easy, charming smile that I hired him for. Not for this. Not for her.
He says something that makes herugh again, and my grip tightens around the ss in my hand.
“Hunter?” Vincent’s still talking.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I say, hanging up. I put my phone down slowly like it weighs a hundred pounds. And I keep watching.
Lunch doesn’t make it any easier. I sit at the far end of the dining room, staring at the untouched food on my te. Watching,
Always watching.
Celine’s on a step stool, reaching for something on the top shelf of the butler’s pantry.
It should be routine, Boring. Forgettable. But then Cole is there again. His hand is on her back as he steadies her. The contact lingers just a second too
long. And her smile is too polite.
Too practiced. But it’s still a smile. And it’s not for me.
By the time she steps down, I’ve already decided I’m done watching. I’m done pretending,
1 find her in the hallwayter. Carrying a tray of fresh linens, her steps quiet. She doesn’t see me at first. Or maybe she does, and she’s pretending the doesn’t.
Smart girl.
I don’t say anything right away. I let her feel me there. I let her know I’m close. Closer than I should be. And when she finally looks up, I’m already watching her.
I don’t hide it.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” I say. My voice is low. Calm. Too calm. Her eyes flicker, confused.
Or cautious. Maybe both.
“I don’t understand what you mean, sir ” she answers carefully, her words neutral. Like she’s testing the temperature of a room she already knows is on fire.
I take a step forward. And she takes a breath like she’s bracing herself. Smart girl. Don’t trust me. I don’t.
“Don’t y innocent,” I murmur.
I let my gaze drop. To her mouth. Back up. To her throat. And then her eyes again. Those eyes. They make me forget every good intention I ever pretended to have.
“First Nathan,” I continue, my tone sharper, “now Cole?” I’m not asking a question. I’m using. And we both know it.
Her throat works around a swallow. But she stands straighter. Like she’s reminding herself she’s not afraid. She should be. I’m not even sure which version of me I’m being right now.
And I’m the one wearing my skin.
“I’m just doing my job,” she says quietly.
Her words are even. Controlled. But I hear it. That small hitch in her breath. She’s lying. To herself. Not to me. I can hear the truth in the silence between her words. <fn5e85> Get full chapters from </fn5e85>
I always can.
lift my hand. Not to touch her. Not yet. But to the wall beside her head. Trapping her there. Not with force. But with something else.
Expectation. Desire. I’m not sure whose.
“Keep it that way,” I say. My voice is rough. Low. The way it always is when I’m holding back. And my gaze holds hers. Daring her to challenge me. Daring her to walk away.
Her lips parted like she was about to say something. Something that might destroy me. Or save me. But then-
“There you are, Celine!” Cole’s voice cuts through the moment like a de. Easy. Unaware. Too unaware.
“I could use your help again.”
Celine blinks. I see the shift in her eyes. Relief. Or maybe disappointment. I’m not sure which makes me angrier. I don’t move.
03 Tue 29 JU
I keep her there. Caged. Not touching. But close enough, Close enough to make sure she knows I could. Anyuinté I want.
“You’re busy right now,” I say, loud enough for Cole to hear.
But quiet enough that it sounds like something else to her.
A promise. Or a threat. I’m not sure anymore. Maybe it’s both. Cole doesn’t respond at first. I don’t look at him. I don’t care what he’s thinking
I only care that she doesn’t move. And she doesn’t. Good girl. I lower my hand slowly. Give her room to breathe. But not enough to leave.
And then I step back. Just enough. Because I have to. Not because I want to. “Come to my office when you’re done here,” I tell her.
And then I walk away. Before I do something I can’t undo. Before I take something I’m not ready to give back,
I hear Cole call her name again. But I don’t look back. Because if I do, I won’t stop. And right now, there’s no one left to stop me.
AD
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