Chapter 97

**Brandoni's POV**

"I'm not worried or anything," her voice came through, attempting casual but I caught the uanderlying tension. "Just thought you should know someone's been trailing me. No clue what they're after with these photos!"

"Hmm," I responded, keeping my tone neutral while my mind was already running through possibilities. The timing was too perfect to be coincidental.

Right on cue, my email notification pinged. I opened the message to find several photographs attached - Summer and Alexander outside Manhattan General. The angles were deliberately chosen to suggest intimacy. a carefully orchestrated setup that could easily be misinterpreted.

"Are you heading home now?" I asked.

"No." Summer sighed, and I could picture her pacing, that little crease forming between her brows. "I'm just out wandering around. Nothing urgent." There was a pause. "Oh, you're in the middle of something,aren't you? Don't worry about this now. We can talk when you're home."

I allowed myself a small smile at her consideration. "Not necessary. I'm not busy."

I caught James's eye as he approached with another stack of documents.I held up a finger, signaling him to wait.

"Was there something else?" I asked Summer, turning away from the window.

"Not really," she replied, her voice brightening slightly. "Just wondering what you want for dinner tonight? I could pick up some groceries."

Such a simple domestic question, yet it sent a surprising warmth through me. These little moments of normalcy with Summer were becoming increasingly precious.

"Whatever you'd like,"I told her. "Head home after shopping if you're bored out there. Or you could meet up with Ruby and Scarlett."

"Sounds good," she said, sounding more relaxed. "See you tonight."

After ending the call, I gestured for James to approach. "Mr. Stark,these are the key points I compiled from the meeting," he said, handing me the documents.

I turned to my computer, examining the photographs more carefully. The setup was amateurish but effective - Summer and Alexander, seemingly in a heated discussion that could easily be misinterpreted as intimate by viewers unaware of context.

"Send these photographs to Victoria," I instructed James, my decision made.

James didn't question the order, merely nodding. "Right away, sir."

I arrived home, the Hamptons estate quiet except for the sound of running water from the master bathroom. Summer was showering, oblivious to my presence. Her phone lay on the nightstand, screen lighting up with an incoming call.

Alexander Stark.

My eyes narrowed at the name flashing on the display. I picked up the device, watching it fall silent only to start ringing again seconds later. The persistence was telling.

I settled on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, waiting. The shower stopped, and she emerged, a towel barely clinging to her wet skin,thedamp fabric outlining every curve-her full breasts straining against it,nipples poking through. Water dripped down her body, sliding over her collarbone, tracing the valley between her tits, and trickling down her flat stomach to disappear into the shadowed cleft between her thighs.Her hair hung in soaked strands, clinging to her neck, and she froze when she saw me, her lips parting in a soft gasp.

"What's going on?" she asked, eyes dropping to her phone in my hand.

I extended it toward her without comment, watching her reaction carefully.Her face hardened immediately upon seeing Alexander's name. She declined the call without hesitation.

When it rang again, her irritation was palpable as she hit decline once more. Rather than questioning her about Alexander, I focused on something more immediate.

"Why didn't you dry your hair? You'll catch cold." The sight of her damp hair clinging to her neck stirred something protective in me.

I retrieved a fresh towel from the bathroom. "Come here," I said,gesturing to the spot in front of me.

"Um..." She hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of her towel.

"Come," I repeated, patting the bed more firmly.She perched where I'd indicated, her body stiff, the air between us buzzing with unspoken heat. I moved behind her, pressing the towel to her hair.but my hands quickly strayed, sliding down her neck, fingers brushing the tops of her breasts where the towel barely held. Her skin was hot and slick,and she shivered as I tugged the fabric loose, letting it fall to her hips,baring her completely-her tits round and heavy, nipples tight and dusky,begging for my mouth. Yet her phone lit up yet again with Alexander's call. "For fuck's sake," she muttered, declining the call and immediately blocking the number. She tossed the phone aside with evident frustration."There.Problem solved."

She turned to face me, searching my expression. "Aren't you going to say something?"

I allowed myself a slight smile. "What should I say?"

"I don't know... I thought you might be annoyed or something." She bit her lip in that way that always drew my attention.

"Why would I be?" I asked simply. Alexander Stark was a non-entity in my world, a minor annoyance at most. His desperate attempts to contact Summer only confirmed what I already knew - he'd realized too late what he'd lost.

"I have no idea why he's suddenly calling me," she sighed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

"If you don't know, then don't worry about it," I told her,pleased by her obvious disinterest in her ex-fiancé. "You've blocked him now. He won't bother you anymore."

She studied me with curious eyes. "You're so... chill about everything. That's not a bad thing! I just wonder sometimes what it would take to actually get you worked up. Like, does anything ever make you truly angry?"Instead of answering that loaded question, I pressed her down and began gently massaging her body. Her immediate relaxation into my touch was gratifying, a wordless trust that meant more than she likely realized. "Mmm, that feels amazing, you could make a fortune running a massage place, you know." she murmured, her head tipping back, eyes fluttering shut as she leaned into my touch. My cock throbbed, straining against my pants as I pictured her writhing beneath me. I dropped the towel,my hands roaming freely now, cupping her breasts, squeezing the soft flesh until she gasped, her nipples hardening further between my fingers as I rolled them,tugging lightly.

"You think I should open a massage parlor?" I rasped, my voice thick with desire as I pinched her nipples harder, watching her squirm.

She twisted to face me, a sly grin lighting her face. "Definitely. But with only one customer allowed-me."

"Brat," I chuckled, tapping her nose, but the mischief in her eyes shattered my restraint. She reached up, clawing at my face, whining, "Come down a little!" When I stayed out of reach, she huffed, "Don't slack off!"

That bossy tone snapped me. I flung the towel aside and seized her face,my thumbs digging into her cheeks as I slammed my mouth onto hers.She gasped, and I plunged my tongue inside, tasting her-sweet and wet and desperate. I palmed her tits, kneading them roughly, then dragged one hand lower, cupping her pussy-already drenched, her folds slick and swollen under my fingers. I groaned into her mouth, rubbing her clit in slow, teasing círcles until she whimpered, her hips bucking against my hand.