e, then stopped as quickly as it had started. Ivy stood

houted into the

ans

thing for defense-and crept toward the east wing where the alarm had sounded. But before she could reach the thr

as a false trip. One of the sensor beams in the wine

ainst the wal

out asking permission. His hold

ng," he said

gan, then shook her

ook at her. "What did the

ack pocket and showed him. The

oo l

, and his hand slid to

safe here,"

anywhere is s

l build the safest place around yo

should've sounded exaggerated.

eant

, Gabriel poured them both glasses of bourbon. Ivy curled up on the velvet c

rom running his hands through it one too many times. The cold billionaire mask h

silent," he

know what

how you're

rth. "Terrified. Tire

me

At the world. At Julian. At whoever keeps

t running

still feel like

d forward, resting his elbows on hi

. No matter what we uncover, no matter who's behind

ded with unex

on

ow often she still fe

soft. "Why d

er. He took the glass from her hands and set it on the s

ide. Even when you hate yourself for what you've lost. I s

eath c

houldn

yet I

mething unspoken, unfiltered. Ivy reac

ding I don't want th

he leaned in slowly.

s that stole oxygen and

ulsive. It wasn't fleeting. It was a slow descent into some

face as he kissed her, as

idn't fee

elt a

reheads touched. The silen

th me,"

him without a

y doors let in the soft hush of the ocean below. The bed was massive-sleek

man here," he said. "My mother

caught. "You'

yone into this sp

. This wasn't just physical. He was giving

"Then let me be he

nds explored the planes of his chest as Gabriel unzipped her dress with a slowness that bet

o take her in, hi

thtaking," h

are

softly. "I d

don

ers. Her hands trailed the hard muscles of his chest

th tangled with breath. Gabriel's mouth traced a path down her neck, her

inch of her, not as a man claiming her, but

-an intimate connection forged from all the sil

a tide neither could control. They lost themselves in each other, in share

led sheets, limbs entwined,

he crook of his neck. "Tha

d along her back.

ftly. "You say

what's

at him. "What

d. "Now we fac

her's arms, the sound of th

ng was golden

still carrying his scent. Gabriel was already dressed, a r

up. "You'r

rel

had breakfast

e of his shirts and

ad. "You look danger

u look

Been going through internal log

ha

laptop so sh

system-coded through a backdoor that only high-level execs should have access to.

od turned

is behi

the twist-I traced a few of the flagged emails, and o

eath s

my old

everage to leak company secrets. Possibly us

means... they didn't just sabota

"And we're going

y more, his phone buzz

eo me

and both of their e

rainy bu

riel kissing on the pr

over fo

e world saw this... or your i

rkened. "They're

er fists. "Let

t's not just about s