Sienna.

 I had barely ended the call with Belinda when the elevator doors slid open with a quiet chime, revealing a foyer so sleek, so meticulously curated, that it almost felt like paradise. Zane's Manor was nothing short of breathtaking. The white marble floors that gleamed under the chandelier lighting screamed wealth and precision. It should have felt like a home. Instead, it felt like a trap. I crossed my arms, shifting on my feet as Zane stepped inside behind me, his towering presence pressing against my already frayed nerves. The storm outside hadn't let up, thunder rumbling through the sky as rain lashed against the windows. The world beyond was chaos, but inside these walls, the tension was sharp. I shouldn't have come here with him not after the intense moment we shared in the car. I should have fought harder and ignored the way my body had betrayed me when he had pulled me into his arms and invaded my body, yet I couldn't block out my response, the way I kept moaning like touch was nothing more than a command I couldn't refuse. I hated how his touch erased years of running, how it made me want to stay and even if it meant burning with with. I took a step forward, my boot felt sturdy against the marble. "I'm not staying here with you Zane." Zane didn't move. "You don't have a choice." I turned, glaring. "You don't get to decide that." His blue eyes met mine, yet it was impassively unreadable. "Until I figure out who the hell is after you, I do. And perhaps we may get to finish what we started earlier while at it" My fingers curled into fists as a grasp escaped my mouth. "This isn't your fight." He took a sharp step toward me. It was deliberate and calculated. "Isn't it?" I refused to back down, even as every nerve in my body screamed at me to run. But not because I was scared of him. Because I was scared of this pull he had over me. The magnetic sexual force that had been there from the moment I stepped into his office, from the moment his sharp, calculating gaze had landed on me like he already knew every secret I was trying to keep buried, even the secret corners of my body. "You think hiding me away in your penthouse is going to solve anything?" I lashed out, desperate to keep my voice steady. "You think that locking me in here makes you my hero?" "I'm no hero, Sienna." His voice was quiet, but the weight of it sent shivers down my spine. "And don't make the mistake of thinking I'm doing this for you." I swallowed hard. "Then why are you doing this?" He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his perfectly styled hair. For the first time, he looked...frustrated. "Because I don't like loose ends." I laughed, but it was hollow, brittle. "That's what I am to you? A loose end?" He didn't answer. I turned away, my pulse hammering in my ears as I walked toward the windows, wrapping my arms around myself. The city pulsed with life, oblivious to the storm that my entire world had been flipped upside down in a matter of days since stepping into Atlas. I felt him before I heard him, the heat of his body at my back, the subtle shift in the air as he closed the space between us. Every vein in my body screamed for his attentive touch, just like earlier in the car. "You don't trust me," he said, his voice low, almost a murmur. I let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Should I?" I turned to face him, regretting it instantly. He was too close, his presence too overwhelming and consuming. "Let me go, Zane." My voice was softer this time, almost pleading. His gaze flicked to my lips before meeting my eyes again, and something inside me clenched. "I can't." Those two goddamn words that felt like chains tightening around my ribs. I exhaled sharply, pushing at his chest, but he didn't move. Not even an inch. "Move," I said through gritted teeth. He didn't. "Zane" His hands shot out, gripping my wrists, pinning them against the cool glass behind me. I sucked in a sharp breath. I should have been furious and slapped him, kneed him, or done something from my self-defense class other than stand there, heart hammering against my ribs as his grip tightened firm, but not painful. His head dipped slightly, his breath fanning across my cheek. "You don't want me to move. We already established that." A shiver raced down my spine, but I forced myself to meet his gaze, to pretend that he didn't affect me. "You think you know what I want?" A faint smirk touched his lips. "I think you hate that I do." He was right. "Let. Me. Go." I enunciated each word, hoping he couldn't hear the tremor in my voice. His jaw tightened, something flashing behind those ice-blue eyes, something I didn't understand. Then, just as suddenly as he'd grabbed me, he let go. I exhaled sharply, dragging in a breath as I stepped away from him, my back pressing against the glass. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his control barely tethered. "You're staying here. End of discussion." I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. "You don't own me." The corner of his mouth lifted in something that wasn't quite a smirk. "No. But right now, I'm the only thing standing between you and whoever the hell wants you dead." A chill settled over me, knowing he was right, and that terrified me more than anything. **** I pulled the soft and oversized shirt tighter around my body and sank against the pillows. Sleep. That's all I wanted. But my mind wouldn't shut off. It wasn't the raging storm muffled by the thick walls of the building that was keeping me awake, but Zane Calloway and the way his kiss had made my blood pressure spike. I touched a finger to my lips, which were still swollen from his suckings, reliving the moment in the car. If only the car behind us hadn't ruined the moment. I blew out a warm breath and rolled onto my side, staring at the sleekly designed interiors of the expensively decorated guest room hoping to distract myself from imagining what he would have done to me if we hadn't stopped. The faint scent of leather and spice still clung to the air, a reminder of the man who owned this place and the fact that I was trapped here under his rules. Because apparently, keeping me alive also meant controlling every single move I made. My phone buzzed on the nightstand. The screen lit up with the caller's picture and my heart squeezed in my chest. Belinda. I grabbed the phone and swiped the call. "Hey, Belinda." My voice came out softer than I wanted, but exhaustion did that to me. "Okay, spill. What the hell is going on, Sienna?" Belinda's voice was sharp, but there was an undertone of worry. "I expected you back in the apartment hours ago. Instead, I get a vague text saying you won't be home. Are you in trouble?" I swallowed hard. If only she knew how much trouble. "It's complicated." "No kidding. Is it him?" Her voice softened. "The boss-man? Zane Calloway?" I rubbed my forehead. "He's not exactly giving me a choice, but he's actually keeping me safe" And doing more than that to my body. "Sienna, you know how this sounds, right?" she said quietly. "A man like that doesn't just force someone to stay in his place unless he has an agenda." I bit my lip, staring at the ceiling. "It's not like that. There was an... incident. He says it isn't safe for me to go home." "And you believe him?" Zane wasn't exactly the type to care about anyone but himself. But the look in his eyes that night when he dragged me back here? That wasn't just about control at play. "For now," I admitted. "And it's not like I have better options." Belinda sighed. "I don't like this. And you're not exactly filling me with confidence here." I managed a weak laugh. "I don't have much to give." I wanted to tell her about the kiss, but knowing Belinda, she would blow it out of proportion. Her voice turned lighter when she spoke again. "Well, while you're playing captive in a billionaire's lair, guess what happened to me?" I smiled despite the ache in my chest. "Let me guess. Another workplace scandal?" "Even better," she said, practically giddy. "Travis. Remember the hot new guy in marketing? He asked me to dinner. And before you say it, yes, I know dating someone from work is risky. But come on, Sienna. He looks like a walking thirst trap." "I'm pretty sure HR would not approve of that description," I teased. "First it was the IT guy, then the legal and now Marketing. You girl are on a streak. "HR can bite me." She snorted. "Anyway, I said yes. So, if I mysteriously disappear, know that I either died of excitement or he turned out to be a serial killer." I chuckled softly, grateful for the distraction. "I'm happy for you. Seriously. You deserve someone who isn't a total jackass." "And you deserve to be somewhere safe," she shot back. "Promise me you'll be careful?" The knot in my stomach twisted tighter. "I promise." "Good. Because if that boss of yours crosses any lines, I will personally murder him. Capisce?" I smiled faintly. "Capisce." We chatted a little longer, mostly about her wardrobe crisis and how she was torn between the red dress that screamed "sexy confidence" and the black one that said "I might let you kiss me if you're lucky." And for a few minutes, it almost felt normal. But normal was a distant memory. When I finally hung up, the silence of the penthouse felt suffocating. The kind of quiet that made me hear my heartbeat. I turned on my side, pulling up the blanket. And that's when my stomach growled. Loud. Of course, it did. Nothing was worse than starving at two in the morning in a stranger's fancy home. I shoved the covers off and padded barefoot into the hallway.

Zane.

 I wasn't sure what had woken me. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was the fact that, for the first time in years, I wasn't alone in my house. I ran a hand over my face, exhaling slowly before pushing off the edge of my bed. The digital clock on the nightstand glowed at 2:17 a.m., but sleep wasn't happening. Not when my body was wired tight, every muscle coiled with tension that had nothing to do with the threat lingering outside these walls and everything to do with the one inside them. I left my room, padding down the hall toward the kitchen, where I picked up the sound of clattering wares, but the moment I stepped inside, I stilled. There she was. Standing barefoot in front of the open fridge, bathed in the soft glow of its light. Wearing my shirt. Dammit. It hung loose on her small frame, the hem barely skimming the tops of her thighs, the neckline slipping off one delicate shoulder. Her hair was tousled from sleep, her hips swayed seductively as she reached for a bottle of water. She hadn't noticed me yet. Good. I leaned at the wall wondering what I was supposed to do. Walk away or pretend like seeing her like this didn't send a bolt of heat straight through me? Definitely not, we have to finish what we started. I cleared my throat. Her body went rigid against the marble she was resting on. Slowly, she turned, her gaze locking onto mine. "Jesus, Zane," she breathed, pressing a hand to her chest. Even in my big shirt, her breast still fills it out. "You scared the hell out of me." I didn't respond. I couldn't. Not when I was too busy waiting to cross the room, back her up against the fridge, and do to her all the things I jack off to in the shower. Her brow furrowed. "Why are you just standing there?" Because you look like sin incarnate and I'm one second away from indulging. Instead, I jerked my chin toward the fridge. "You hungry?" She let out a soft huff, twisting off the cap of her water bottle. "Not really. Just... couldn't sleep." I nodded, stepping further into the room "What about you?" she asked, tilting her head. "Shouldn't the all-powerful Zane Calloway be sleeping soundly in his big, fancy bed?" I leaned against the counter, arms crossing over my chest. "Shouldn't my pain-in-the-ass house guest be wearing her own damn clothes?" Her lips parted, eyes flickering with something unreadable before she recovered. "My wet wears are in the dryer," she said simply, taking a slow sip of her water. "Convenient." She shrugged. "Your closet was closer." I exhaled through my nose, dragging a hand through my hair. "Sienna." "Relax, boss," she interrupted a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "It's just a shirt." It was not just a fucking shirt. It was my sanity hanging by a goddamn thread. She stepped closer, propping her hip against the island. "Are you always this grumpy in the middle of the night?" I narrowed my eyes. "Are you always this much of a pain in the ass?" Her smirk widened. "You make it too easy." Damn! She was playing with fire, and she had no idea. Or maybe she did. Maybe that was the problem. I turned, yanking open a cabinet and pulling out a glass, needing something and anything to keep my hands busy. "So, your friend Liam never showed?" she asked. I caught the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way she shifted on her feet. She must have heard the conversation I was having on the phone with Liam. "No." I filled the glass with water, lifting it to my lips. "He got held up." "And your sister? Still on vacation?" I was going to call her out on eavesdropping before realizing she actually was my assistant who literally plans every trip my sister Ava made. "Yeah Sienna, it is just us in here. Only us" I replied winking at her. She nodded slowly, eyes flickering with an understanding of what I meant. "I see" I lowered my glass, setting it down with a quiet clink. "You're smart" Silence stretched between us and clearly not the comfortable kind. It was the kind that felt like a match waiting to be struck. If I wasn't already imagining fucking her on the kitchen table right then, maybe it would have been easier to walk away and turn on my heel, go back to my room, and lock the damn door behind me. But then I moved closer to her. The next second, I reached out, brushing my fingers along the curve of her jaw. It was soft and inviting. She sucked in a breath, her lashes fluttering and I kissed her. Hungrily feeding off her mouth, sucking her lips like a man starved of it. She gasped against my mouth, her hands flying to my chest, but she didn't push me away. She pulled me closer, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt like she needed something to hold onto. I groaned when she moaned softly, sliding my hands down her back, gripping her waist, and pressing her against me like I could somehow burn this into my memory. Her taste and scent. The way she fit against me like she belonged there. And fuck, I wanted more of her. I backed her against the fridge, deepening the kiss, my fingers slipping beneath the hem of my shirt, desperate for the feel of her bare skin. She made a soft, desperate sound, arching into me, and just like that, reality came crashing down. I wrenched back, breathing hard, my pulse hammering through my veins. Sienna blinked up at me, lips kiss-swollen, eyes heavy with something dangerously close to need. Then she pushed me away. "Why?" "Because this can't happen again" Her voice was husky and strained. "And you sure as hell can't have me." I stared at her with disbelieving eyes for a few seconds, then softly asked, "Says who?" She exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Go to bed, Zane." She hesitated for a second, then pushed past me, her shoulder brushing mine as she disappeared down the hall. I let out a harsh breath, pressing my palms against the counter as I poured some whiskey into my cup, my body still thrumming with heat, my mind still reeling from the taste of her. The smell the lingering scent of her shampoo in the air. I swore under my breath, tossing back the last of my drink before setting the glass down with a sharp clink. I never lost control. Not in the boardroom. Not in the underground dealings that kept The Atlas Group running in the shadows. Never in my personal life. And yet, Sienna Carter had cracked something in me with a single kiss. If she thought she was getting away, she was dreaming. I wanted her badly and I was going to have her.

Sienna.

The clock on the nightstand glared 4:13 AM, its red digits mocking my sleeplessness. I had been staring at it for what felt like hours, lying rigid beneath the impossibly silk covers of the bed. The sheets smelled like him. Clean, expensive, and maddeningly addictive. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on my breathing. In. Out. Slowly. But it didn't help. Not when my body still hummed from the feel of his hands on me earlier. Not when my lips still tingled from the way he had kissed me, raw, consuming, a claim that had left my head spinning. And not when I knew he was just down the hall, probably just as restless. I shoved back the covers with a frustrated groan and sat up. This was ridiculous. I was stronger than this. I had survived worse than a dangerously attractive man with sharp blue eyes and a tendency to look at me like he wanted to ruin me. I could handle him. I was here to work. To keep my head down, do my job, and... A sharp knock at the door made me freeze. I knew who it was before I even heard his voice. "Sienna." One word, yet something was burning underneath it. I swallowed hard, clenching my fists as if that would stop the way my pulse jumped. As I chose to Ignore him. He knocked again. Three slow raps Ignore him, Sisi. But then the handle turned. And just like that, my breath stalled. He stepped inside the room as if he already knew I wouldn't stop him. He was still in the same black dress shirt from earlier, sleeves rolled up, exposing the ink that wrapped around his forearms, the top two buttons undone, and he looked lethal. How can I resist such a charming man? I forced myself to meet his eyes. "What are you doing here?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. His lips twitched slightly, but it wasn't amusement. More like frustration. "You tell me, Sienna," he murmured, stepping closer. "You're the one wide awake in my guest bed, thinking about me." My stomach twisted. "You don't know what I'm thinking." His head tilted slightly. "No?" One more step, and suddenly, he was too close. Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him and smell the faintest trace of whiskey on his breath. He was close enough that I had to fight every nerve inside me to avoid leaning into him. "This thing between us," he said quietly, "You feel it. I know you do." I sucked in a breath. "It's nothing." The corner of his mouth lifted. "Lie." I forced a laugh. "You really are arrogant." "And you're really bad at pretending you don't want me." My pulse pounded. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I hated that my body reacted instantly, my skin going hot, my breath turning shallow. Zane wasn't just any man. He was dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with the power he held and everything to do with the way he could make me forget myself with just a look. "Tell me you don't want this," he said, voice like silk and steel. "Say the words, Sienna, and I'll Walk out of here." I opened my mouth. But the words didn't come because I couldn't say them. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The air between us was heavy, crackling with something undeniable. Then he reached for me. And the second his fingers brushed my jaw, every last ounce of restraint snapped. I barely had time to gasp before his mouth crashed into mine. The kiss was nothing like the previous ones. I wrapped my hands behind Zane's neck and pulled him towards me. I connected our lips in a passionate kiss as I let the euphoria of the moment fill me up. Zane caught my lips again and I moaned as his tongue swiped along my bottom lip. He stretched up on his knees and pulled me to the edge of the bed so our bodies were pressed together. He flexed his hips forward as he groaned and grabbed my exposed thigh. His fingers trailed up my soft skin and caressed the curve of my bum. I shivered as he nibbled at my lip and toyed with the edge of my panties. "I want." I breathed, unable to say exactly what I wanted. Zane moved his lips to my neck and sucked gently. "I think I know what you want," he said softly. My stomach tightened as his breath hit my wet skin and his fingers moved toward my core. he pulled my face forward and connected our lips. I tried to deepen the kiss but he kept the pace slow and sensual as he moved against my mouth. I felt his hand go to my lower back before he flipped so that I was pressed into the soft bed. Zane kicked his legs to get the pants off and then reached up and tugged off his shirt. Heat prickled my skin as I stared up at his God-like form. He licked his lips and ran his hands down my body to the edge of my shirt and looked at me. I sat up slightly and allowed him to pull it off. I became shy as Zane's eyes flitted over my body, taking me in. I looked away flushed. "Don't," Zane whispered as he caught my hand. "Your body is a masterpiece" I let the truth in his eyes comfort me as I relaxed under him. He dropped his body close to mine and I relished in the heat of our skin touching. He trailed wet kisses along my collarbone before dipping down to the edge of my bra. His tongue licked the tender skin that peaked out from behind the lace making me arc my spine. Zane groaned as my breasts were pushed farther into his face. He reached around my back and pinched the shirt, his hands slowly skated up my arms and pushed the fabric aside. "So beautiful," he mumbled against my skin as his mouth left kisses over the exposed skin. The cold air tightened my exposed nipples into little buds. A moan slipped from my throat as his lips sucked one gently into his warm mouth. My pelvis flexed upwards by instinct eliciting a strangled sound from Zane as I pushed into his erection. He trailed his kisses around the curves of my breast, licking and tasting my flesh. Then he shuffled his body downward, dragging his lips along my stomach. My breath quickened when I realized what was happening. He looked up at me and scraped his teeth to the edge of my panties, hooking the lace and pulling them down. I felt hot and exposed as I watched his face drop between my legs. My first instinct was to snap my thighs. "Relax," he cooed as he pulled my legs apart. I dropped my head back and tried to listen to him as I felt his breath on my exposed core. I squirmed in anticipation and his hands went to my thighs to keep me still. I jolted forward when I felt his wet tongue flick over my clit. Electricity pounded through my veins as my whole body tensed with pleasure. I was a moaning mess as Zane's mouth tortured me. He ran his tongue in long strokes between my slit, brushing past my pleasure point then slipping back down. I sucked in air when I felt his finger at my entrance, swirling in my wetness. Zane sensing my nervousness, paid more attention to my clit. Sucking and stroking until I could feel the coil in my stomach tightening. I stiffened when I felt his finger enter me slowly but swiftly. My body relaxed when he didn't move right away, instead, he kneaded against my walls, flexing his finger upward. A whole new feeling of ecstasy washed over me. His internal massage coupled with his warm tongue on my clit sent my body over the edge as an orgasm ripped through me. Just like last time I lost all sense of time and space as my hips flexed against his hand and face. Once I came back to reality, I looked down to see him pressing his forehead against my thigh with his eyes closed. I giggled at him. My orgasm made me feel floaty and high. I tugged at Zane to come back up to me and sighed when he climbed up so his chest hovered over my face. I squirmed underneath of him and wrapped my hands around his hips, trying to pull him down. Every nerve in my body craved a closeness with him that I hadn't experienced yet. I gulped when he stood before me in all of his male glory. Zane dropped back onto the bed and cupped my head with both of his arms as he ground his hips into mine. I moaned as I felt his erection press against my core. He reached one hand down and grasped himself, guiding his manhood to my entrance. An intense pressure flooded my pelvis as he pushed himself slowly into me. His hand caressed my cheek as I adjusted to the feeling of him inside of me. Then he slowly moved his hips, pulling almost completely out of me before thrusting back in. The waves of pleasure that came from his plunges made me wobbly with the pleasure in my core. "Yess" Zane breathed as his lips found mine. I shivered at how deep his voice was. His body moved over mine with an expert rhythm as he slowly allowed himself to move faster. I clasped my hands onto his shoulders and dug my nails in as breathy whimpers were pushed out of my lungs. "Lift your hips," Zane growled. I was becoming lost in the crashes of emotion and pleasure around me. I tried to focus my foggy brain on his words and flexed my hips up, holding my weight with my legs. This new angle made Zane's erection hit a different place within me. With every smooth stroke, he pushed me closer to exploding. Just when I thought my body couldn't take any more Zane pressed himself down harder on my core and mashed his hips into mine. Light exploded behind my lids as every nerve in my body sang with pleasure. Our euphoric moans blended in the air around us as our bodies convulsed as one. I could feel the walls of my core clenching around Zane as his thrusts became sloppy, pulling his orgasm from him as mine winded down. Zane slumped forward, dropping his weight to my chest as we held each other. I wrapped my arms tightly around his head, wanting him to stay as close to me as possible. Our skin was sticky from exertion but I didn't care. His heart pounded heavily into my stomach, I had never in my life felt more relaxed in years. Not the fear of my past nor the present chaos got to me in that moment, I just felt sleepy and in seconds, I was snoring softly.