Chapter 23

Stella's POV

"Eager to fulfill your wifely duties?" His voice held that dangerous edge that always made my pulse race. He just stopped beside the bed, close enough that I could smell his cologne.

"I'm just tired!" I burrowed deeper into the ridiculously comfortable mattress, turning my back to him. Maybe if I ignored him, he'd leave me alone.

The bed dipped behind me.

His hand caught my wrist before I could retreat, pulling me back until I was practically in his lap. The heat radiating from his bare chest made it impossible to think straight.

"Running away, Mrs. Lancaster?" His thumb traced circles on my inner wrist, sending shivers down my spine.

′′I2m not-" But before I could finish, his lips claimed mine with devastating precision. Unlike our previous kisses, this one held no anger, no power play - just pure, dangerous desire.One of his hands tangled in my hair while the other traced down my spine, leaving traiIs of fire in its wake. A small,embarrassing sound escaped my throat as his teeth grazed my bottom lip.When he deepened the kiss, my mind went completely blank.His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting of expensive scotch and something uniquely him. My hands moved of their own accord, sliding up his chest to his shoulders.

Then I felt his hand slip under the hem of my nightgown.

Oh God. He wants to... The realization hit me like a bucket of ice water. Images of the condoms on the nightstand flashed through my mind.

Panic seized me. In my haste to escape, I practically threw myself backward. My feet tangled in the sheets and I fell on the carpet.

"Escape again, Mrs. Lancaster." His amusement was obvious.

"I'll take the couch!" I scrambled up, trying to salvage what dignity I had left.

He didn't respond, just watched me with those intense green eyes as I settled onto the leather sofa. The light from his laptop cast shadows across his features as he began working on some emails.My mind wandered to Brian's words about Adam's past. A brother, a fire, a psychiatric facility... Could any of it be true?I studied Adam's profile, trying to reconcile the controlled businessman with the dangerous person Brian had described.

"Keep staring and you'll face the consequences." His voice cut through my thoughts without looking up from his screen.

I quickly averted my gaze, but the damage was done. The lingerinng scent of my perfume seemed to agitate him - he shifted restlessly on the bed, unable to get comfortable.

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Adam's POV

The soft padding of footsteps caught my attention. I looked up to see Stella emerge from the bathroom,her movements unsteady with exhaustion. The silk nightgown I'd chosen clung to her curves, making something possessive stir in my chest.She hesitated, glancing between the couch and the bed.

Don't you dare, I thought, watching her internal debate play across her face. But of course, she did.

She crawled under the covers, her movements slow and dreamy.The mattress dipped slightly under her weight, and her scent -that maddening mixture of expensive perfume and something uniquely her-enveloped me.Stella." I kept my voice level despite the way my pulse quickened. "What are you doing?"She mumbled something unintelligible, and before I could stop her,she was pressing against my side. Her small body radiated warmth as she nuzzled into my chest, completely oblivious to what she was doing to my self-control.

I went absolutely still. In all my calculations, all my careful plans. I hadn't accounted for this - her soft breath against my skin, the trust in her unconscious movements, the way she fit perfectly against me as if she belonged there.

"Stella." I tried to make it sound like a warning. but my arm was already curving around her of its own accord. "You'll regret your movement in the morning."

She made a small sound of contentment that shot straight through my defenses. My heartbeat betrayed me, picking up speed as she settled more firmly against me. She wasn't supposed to affect me like this.

Against my better judgment, I pulled her closer, my fingers threading through her silk-soft hair. She was already drifting off, her breathing evening out in sleep.

"Troublesome woman." The words came out softer than I intended, almost tender. "What am I going to do with you?"She didn't respond, already lost to dreams. I studied her peaceful face, my mind racing with all the complications this would bring. She trusted me- me, of all people -enough to fall asleep in my arms. The irony wasn't lost on me.Maybe I should get her tonight. But I wanted to protect this moment, this inexplicable peace I felt with her warm weight against me.

Dangerous thoughts. For now, she was here, she was mine,and I would guard her sleep.

She felt impossibly small curled against me, her breath evening out in sleep. The scent of her perfume that had been driving me crazy all night was softer now.mixed with something uniquely her.

I should wake her. Make her move back to the couch. But my arms tightened instinctively when she made a small sound in her sleep.

How could I keep restrain my desire? I even felt her knee rub against my thigh, which was unconscious against my...