My breath caught.
Was he awake?
No.
His heartbeat-still slow. Still deep in sleep.
But his hand didn’t stop.
It slipped under the fabric, rough fingertips grazing the skin of my waist. I clenched my jaw, unsure what to do, what to feel. My mind screamed at me to move, to pull away-but I didn’t. 2
I couldn’t.
His hand moved higher, dragging lightly up my side until-
It cupped my breast.
A soft gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, but Lennox didn’t react. Instead, he let out a sigh-low and heavy-like a man finally at peace. Then, barely audible, he murmured, “Mine…”
My eyes widened.
He didn’t even know what he was doing.
He was still asleep.
His thumb brushed over my nipple, and a jolt of heat rushed through me so fast I had to bite down on my lip to keep from making a sound. My heart was no longer calm-it raced wildly, pounding against my ribcage.
What was happening to me?
I should’ve pulled away.
I should’ve stopped him.
But I didn’t.
It wasn’t supposed to feel this good. It wasn’t supposed to make me forget why I was here.
My eyes fluttered closed, my body betraying me as a quiet warmth bloomed in my core. I hated how it made me feel-how my skin burned at his touch, how my breath came faster, shallower.
He was still asleep.
Still lost in whatever dream had him whispering possessively.
His fingers stopped moving eventually, but he didn’t let go.
He simply curled around me, his hand still holding my breast like it belonged there. His breathing deepened… and then I heard a soft snore.
He was truly asleep now.
And I was still trapped in his arms, my heart pounding, my body aching with confusion.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
$
Olivia’s POV
My eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of sunlight spilling through the curtains.
For a moment, I didn’t move-just stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, my heart still heavy with the memory of the night before. Then I blinked, confused.
Something felt different.
No warmth behind me.
No strong arm around my waist.
No calloused hand on my-
My eyes widened, and I bolted upright. Shit! I had fallen asleep. Fuck!
I turned around. Lennox was gone, but his scent still clung to the sheets. It was obvious he had just woken up-not long ago.
I threw the blanket off and sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing my face with trembling hands. This wasn’t what I came here for. I didn’t come here to feel like this-to be touched like that. To want more.
I was here for a reason. A mission.
My father.
The safe.
The file.
Quickly, I got down from the bed and set out to do my task, not even caring where Lennox had gone.
I crouched beside the small cabinet, reaching for the third drawer on the left.
It was right where I remembered.
Quietly, I pulled it open and reached behind it, fingers searching blindly until I felt cold metal brush my skin.
The key.
I pulled it out slowly, turning back toward the far corner of the room where the safe was built into the wall, hidden behind a row of old books.
One by one, I slid the books aside and revealed the small steel door.
My hands were trembling now-not just from fear of being caught, but from fear of not finding anything at all.
“Please let it be here,” I whispered a silent prayer.
I slid the key in.
It clicked.
And the door creaked open.
Inside, neatly stacked, were several folders and documents. I reached for the first file, and it was labeled with my father’s name.
Parker Melford.
This was it.
Tears threatened to rise-but I didn’t have time to cry.
I pulled it out and carefully closed the safe, pushing the books back exactly
C
+27 the way they were.
Then with the key in my hand, I turned-only to freeze in place as I heard the door creaking open.
My heart jumped.
In a rush, I lifted the hem of my oversized shirt and quickly tucked the file underneath it, securing it against my stomach. The key stayed in my covered hand.
And then the door opened-Lennox stepped in, holding a tray of breakfast in his hand.
Lennox paused at the door, holding the tray in both hands.
A soft smile tugged at his lips. “You’re awake.”
I blinked, trying to keep my breathing calm, forcing a small nod even as my heart pounded.
He took a step inside and lifted the tray slightly. “I figured you might be hungry… so I made breakfast.”
I stared at him, eyebrows lifting in surprise. “You… made it yourself?”
He nodded, almost shyly. “Yeah. I know it’s not perfect but… I tried.”
My mouth parted slightly. I couldn’t help the quiet shock in my voice. “Did you ever do this for your wife?” I asked, already knowing the answer, but I just wanted to hear it from him.
His smile faltered. “No.”
I frowned. “Why not?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.