CELINE’S POV-


    The kiss consumed me like wildfire, Hunter’s lips moving against mine with a desperate hunger that made my heart race and my will


    crumble.


    His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us, and for a moment…just one perfect, dangerous moment. let myself believe that love could conquer everything.


    But then reality crashed back in like ice water.


    I pulled away breathlessly, my chest heaving as I stared into his blue eyes that were now dark with desire and something deeper….something that looked terrifyingly like forever.


    “Hunter,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “You’re drunk.”


    He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away tears I didn’t realize had fallen. “Not drunk enough to lie about loving you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.


    “Never drunk enough for that.”


    My heart shattered and soared at the same time. How could he say these beautiful things when his mother’s words still echoed in my mind?


    ‘Men like Hunter don’t choose women like you for keeps.‘


    “You should sleep,” I said quietly, trying to slide off hisp, but his arms tightened around me.


    “Stay with me,” he murmured against my temple. “Just stay.”


    I closed my eyes, breathing in his familiar scent….expensive cologne mixed with whiskey and something uniquely Hunter.


    How many more nights like this would I have? How many more moments before reality tore us apart?


    “Celine.” His voice was softer now, more vulnerable.


    “What’s really wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I can see it in your eyes….you look like you’re already saying goodbye.”


    The observation cut too close to the truth. I forced myself to meet his gaze, to lie to the man I loved more than my own life.


    “I’m just tired,” I said. “It’s been a long day.”


    Hunter studied my face for what felt like eternity, and I could see him trying to decide whether to push or let it go. Finally, he sighed and


    pressed his forehead against mine.


    “Promise me something,” he said.


    “What?”


    “Promise me that if something’s wrong….if someone hurts you or threatens you…..you’lle to me. You’ll let me protect you.”


    The irony was devastating.


    The person threatening me was his own mother, and the protection he offered came with a price I wasn’t sure I could let him pay.


    “Hunter.


    <b>Aug </b>


    “Promise me. Celine.” His grip on my hands tightened. “I need to know you trust me enough to let me fight for you.”


    “Trust.


    The word hung between us like a bridge was terrified to cross.


    How could I tell him that i trusted him with my heart, my body, my soul…But i didn’t trust his love to survive his mother’s disapproval?


    How could I admit that I was too much of a coward to find out?


    “I promise,” I lied, the words tasting like poison on my tongue.


    He smiled then, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face and made him look like the boy he must have been before the weight of expectations crushed his spirit.


    “Good,” he said, pulling me closer. “Because I meant what I said earlier. You’re mine, Celine. Mine to protect, mine to love, mine to keep safe. And I don’t give up what’s mine.”


    The possessiveness in his voice should have frightened me, but instead it sent heat racing through my veins.


    This was the Hunter I had fallen in love with…not the cold billionaire the world saw, but the passionate, protective man who held me like i


    was precious.


    “You can’t just im people, Hunter,” I said softly, but there was no real protest in my voice.


    “Can’t?” His lips curved in a smile that was pure sin.


    “You imed me first, sweetheart. The moment you looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes and saw something worth saving.”


    Before I could respond, he was kissing me again, slower this time but no less devastating.


    His hands roamed my body with reverent touches, as if he were memorizing every curve, every soft sigh that escaped my lips.


    “Let me love you,” he whispered against my skin, his mouth trailing down my neck. “Let me show you how precious you are to me.”


    And God help me, I let him.


    We moved together toward my bedroom, his hands never leaving my body, our lips never parting for more than a breath.


    Every touch was electric, every kiss a promise, every whispered endearment another crack in my resolve.


    Hunter loved me like a man possessed, like he could somehow hold onto me forever through sheer force of will.


    And I loved him back with everything I had, knowing it might be thest time.


    Afterward, <i>we </iy tangled together in my bed, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually slow.


    In the living room, Eleanor’s check was still hidden just feet away, her ultimatum ticking down like a time bomb.


    “Celine?” Hunter’s voice was drowsy now, the alcohol and exhaustion finally catching up with him.


    “Mmm?”


    “I know I’m not easy to love,” he said quietly. “I know I have walls and issues and a family that makes everythingplicated. But you make


    13:08 T06<b>, </b>Syum. 18


    me want to be legio You make the war to fight for something


    Tears stung my Byrs “Huile


    “I’m going to marry you,” be confined, his arm tightening around the


    “Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next month, but someday. When you’re ready, when Cantar’s ready, when the world stops trying to tear us apart, I’m going to make you my wife, Celine Brown, and no one…not my mother, not society, not God himself…is going to stop me.”


    The tearse then, silent and devastating. He thought he was making promises, but to me they sounded like fantasies. Beautiful, impossible dreams that his mother’s money was about to destroy.


    “Steep,” whispered, pressing a kiss to his chest. “Just sleep.”


    His breathing gradually evened out, but Iy awake for hours, memorizing the feel of him beside me, the weight of his arm around my waist, the way he murmured my name in his sleep.


    The question was whether I was strong enough to let him go.


    ~HUNTER’S POV-


    I woke up naked in Celine’s bed, her sleeping form pressed against my side, and for a moment everything felt perfect.


    She looked beautiful, peaceful…like an angel who’d somehow found her way into my dark world.


    She was mine. The thought sent a surge of possessive satisfaction through me.


    Then the hangover hit, and I groaned softly, careful <i>not </i>to wake her.


    1 remembered having drinks with Vincent, our conversation about marriage, and me revealing everything that had happened with Sophia.


    The memories came flooding back…every word I’d said to Celine, every promise I had made.


    My eyes drifted back to her sleeping figure, and I wondered about the questions she’d askedst night.


    There had been something in her eyes, something that looked like goodbye.


    The thought made my chest tighten with panic.


    If Celine left me, I might break.


    I might never recover from it. <fn8657> Updates are released by fινdnοvel</fn8657>


    I had never loved someone the way I loved her. I’d loved Sophia, but this was different. Sophia had beenplicated, always distant, keeping to herself.


    When she smiled, it never reached her eyes.


    But Celine smiled with her whole heart.


    She was like a star that hade into my darkened world and lit it up, bringing Caesar…her little moon…along with her.


    She was easy to love and impossible to read all at once. Smart, hardworking, and terrible at keeping secrets from me.


    She had a childlike wonder about certain things, and I loved her naivety almost as much as I loved her strength. I had told myself I would never let her go.


    She was mine, and I would do anything to keep her.


    leaned over and ced a soft kiss on her cheek before carefully extracting myself from the bed.


    After getting dressed, I stepped into the living room to check my phone, only to find Caesar and Caroline sitting at the small dining table, sharing cereal.


    Caroline’s eyebrow arched with a mischievous smile, and I muttered a low “fuck.”


    “Good morning, Daddy Hunter!” Caesar waved enthusiastically, his blue eyes sparkling.


    I smiled back despite my embarrassment and made my way toward them. “Morning, buddy.”


    Caesar immediately started peppering me with questions. “Did youe to see Mama? Did you sleep in the same bed with Mama?”


    I hesitated, very aware of Caroline’s amused expression as she watched me squirm under her godson’s innocent interrogation.


    “Yes,” I answered truthfully, because lying to Caesar felt wrong.


    “Are you going to live here with us instead of in your big room?” Caesar asked, shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.


    I smiled and ruffled his hair. “Would you like that?”


    Caesar nodded enthusiastically, milk dripping down his chin. Caroline smiled as she watched the exchange.


    “Is Mommy still sleeping? Are you hungry?” Caesar continued his rapid–fire questions.


    “I’ll eatter,” I told him, then turned to Caroline. “What are you doing here at eight o’clock in the morning?”


    Caroline grinned. “Can’t I visit my best friend? I wanted a little gossip about how your date went, since I wasn’t here to n everything.” Her


    smirk widened.


    “Though I didn’t expect to find youing out of her bedroom looking thoroughly… satisfied.”


    I rolled my eyes. “You don’t get to question my love life when you’re busy having fun on vacation dates with Frederic.”


    Caroline shook her head. “Don’t change the subject. I hope you didn’t ruin everything.”


    Before I could respond, Celine’s voice called out to Caesar as she walked into the dining area. She was wearing a pink silk robe that seemed to expose just enough to make my mouth go dry.


    The teeth marks I had left on her neck were clearly visible, along with her thoroughly kissed lips and tousled hair.


    My eyes took in her morning–after look, and I was instantly hard.


    She looked beautiful, and I was tempted to take her back to that bedroom and make love to her all over again.


    But I could sense Celine’s difort as she quickly adjusted her robe, very aware of Caroline’s knowing smile and my heated stare.


    She bit her lower lip nervously, her eyes darting between me, Caroline, and Caesar. “What are you eating, baby?”


    “Aunt Caroline made me breakfast!” Caesar announced proudly.


    Carolineughed. “I wouldn’t call cereal breakfast, but it’s what I’m good at making. I’m kitchen–phobic.”


    “That’s not a word,” I said automatically.


    “It is too,” she argued. “Maybe your time going on vacation instead of working has made you dull.”


    Celine smiled, and Caesar giggled at our banter. My phone chimed with a message from my assistant about a morning meeting.


    “I have to go,” I said reluctantly.


    When Caesar’s face fell, asking if I was leaving because he wanted to spend time with me, Celine spoke before I could.


    “Daddy Hunter is busy, sweetheart. He has important work to do. He’ll y with you another time, but you need to be a good boy and finish your cereal.”


    I shot her a grateful look. “Thank you.”


    As I headed for the door, Caroline called out teasingly, “Don’t forget about us little people when you’re making your millions!”


    “You better get back to work and stop taking vacation breaks, or I might fire you,” I shot back.


    The business meeting with investors went smoothly, but the dinner meeting with the Director of H&C Enterprises proved moreplicated.


    He had brought his daughter Amy, and it became clear within minutes that this was a setup staged by my mother.


    Amy kept smiling at me throughout the meal while I tried to focus on the business discussion with her father.


    When he excused himself to the bathroom, leaving us alone, I knew it was intentional.


    Amy did most of the talking while my mind drifted to how Celine had looked this morning. Just thinking about her was making me hard again.


    I loosened my tie, catching Amy staring at me with obvious lust.


    “You’re a very handsome man,” she blurted out.


    I raised an eyebrow but said nothing, my eyes shifting to the dessert cart at the next table. There was a chocte cake that reminded me of Celine’s sweet tooth.


    I called the waiter over. “What kind of cake is that? What other types do you have?”


    After he listed them, I said, “Pack all of them for me.”


    Amy looked confused. “I didn’t see you as someone with a sweet tooth.”


    “I’m not,” I said simply. “They’re for someone special.”


    Amy fell quiet, and I watched her like a predator studying prey. Finally, she asked, “Is it a she?”


    “Yes,” I answered without hesitation.


    “Do you love her?”


    I met her eyes directly, my voice steady and sure. “With all my heart.”


    The silence that followed was deafening, but I didn’t care. Let Amy report back to whoever had set this up. Let my mother know that her


    <b>13:08 </b>Tue, 5 Aug


    attempts at matchmaking were fruitless.


    Because I was going home to Celine, and nothing….not blind dates, not family pressure, not million–dor ultimatums….was going to change that.


    I was in love, and for the first time in my life, that felt like enough.