ce M

ent of my utter confusion. "I just wanted to know if I could trust you or not..." she explained, drawing out

to slide open, she trailed off, adding the final, explosive piece of information

tual fuck!!!!!!!!!!! The words scream

osed to sleep in the same suite, just rooms away, from a naked, incredibly attra

fore-not even with a she-wolf were-girl from the Northern packs! I wasn't into virgins, their wide-eyed innocence and complicated emotions, nor was I interested

what I desperately

steps were completely muffled. The luxurious surroundings-the soft golden lighting, the or

racing a million miles a minute with conflicting thoughts. Why was she testing me? Wha

sophistication. The living area was expansive, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the glittering city skyline. It was decora

o enter first. I attempted to lighten the thick atmosphere with

d tourist. Her earlier alarm was completely gone, replaced by pure wonder. "Wow. Mathew, this is..

. It was refreshing. "Thank you. I'll admit, it's a little extravagant

ibrant and full of unscripted energy. It was a stark contrast to the serious, calculated world of business and politics I usually inhabited. But that

her, "what does a powerful guy like you usually do in all this free space when you're not workin

life does come with a lot of responsibilities. But when I do manage to carve out some time for myself... I enjoy reading.

o you read? Please don't tell me it's all dry business rep

ight. "Not all of it, no. I actually enjoy fictio

that's cool. What's your all-time favorite boo

y The Great Gatsby," I said finally. "It's a classic for a reason. A fascinating, tra

always meant to read that, but I never got around to it. It just seemed so... serio

ing a strange and unwelcome sense of connection. "I thin

hared funny, self-deprecating anecdotes from her life abroad, her disastrous attempts at cooking, and the weirdnes

the world, I felt the heavy weight of my earlier resolve pressing down on me again. I was enjoying th

icked it up, my stomach lurching as I saw Alex's name flash on the screen. Speak of the

, loud enough that I was sure Viola could hear it. "How

"It's going perfectly well. No problems at all. Just settling in here at the hote

ng in my ear. "I hope she's not causing yo

a tiny bit at his familiar, oblivious tone. "No trouble at all,

her. Remember, she's precious to me," he said, and his tone shifted slight

m, my voice steady and confident, belying

omorrow. Let me know if you need anyth

The room felt quieter than before. Viola w

asked, pulling a thro

keep it casual. "Checking in. Making sure you had

. "Do you think he actually worries

cares about you deeply, Viola. He talks about you... well, when he does, it's with pride

know he loves me, in his own way. But sometimes... it feels like he lov

solated upbringing. "It can be tough," I said gently. "Especially with lives as busy as his... as ours. But that

neliness in her eyes. "Do you think it's possible to feel completely and ut

k. "Absolutely," I said, my voice quiet. "Loneliness isn't really about physical presence

ngering on me. "You get it. You actually under

le intimacy. I felt an undeniable pull toward her, a desire to bridge the gap between our worlds a

trying desperately to lighten the mood back to a safer level. "How about we do something actually fun? I have

stupid heart race at her excitement. "Yes! A thousand times yes! I love

r to the large media cabinet, "consider

nd teasing each other mercilessly every time one of us crashed. It was a welcome, necessary distrac

layful competition, the tension began to simmer right back to the surface. We were slumpe

minated her features. She looked beautiful, and happy, and I felt a dan

breaking the comfortable si

immediately kicking into a

something? A

ng my body to face her mor

k people are drawn to each other? Like, really drawn? Is it just..

g as I searched for the right, careful words. "I think it can be both. Physical attraction can be the initial spark, the thing that pulls you in. But a

nal connection is... complicated from the start? What if i

it becomes infinitely more complicated," I said, my voice cautious and low. "Sometimes,

ression completely unreadable. "Do

y voice firm but gentle. "We need to keep things clear here. You are my partner's daughter. My goo

ief returned to her eyes, mixed with a bold chall

away. "You don't fully understand the implication

d surprisingly mature. "Maybe I understand more than

res it was hard to breathe. Every instinct was screaming to close the distance be

t. "I can't let you manipulate this situation. It's not fair to you,

into something more vulnerable. "I'm not trying to manipulate you, Mathew. I swear I'm not. I just...

I understand that. I really do. But we have to be incredibly careful.

g to the floor. "I get it. I do. I

e again. "You're so young, Viola. You have your entire, amazing life ahead of you. Don't rush int

d sense. "I appreciate you saying that, Mathew. I appreciate you being the respon

deniably real. "Feelings are powerful, but we have to focus

, you're right. I'll... I'll try to be more careful. I'll try to behave." A small

ruggle all too well. "That's a

ilence, the weight of our entire conve

lent night was far from over; it was just the beginning