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.

Sienna.

 But the post-sex sleep was short-lived. My eyes peered open. I panicked, feeling disoriented about my surroundings. Then it dawned on me seconds later that I was in bed next to Zane. A glance at the bedside watch and I sighed with disappointment that I had just slept for an hour. Knowing I didn't want to face Zane after having asked him to satisfy my desires without shame, I gently slipped out of his arms, wrapped around my waist, making sure not to wake him. My insomnia started after I witnessed the brutal death of my parents. As I walked out of his room to mine, the gory memory of that night filled my head, blurring the sexual satisfaction I once felt.

֍ flashback ֍

 "Sienna, I need you to listen to me, you have to stay here, regardless of whatever sound you hear, my darling, don't you dare come out." My father whispered, his voice carrying an air of fear with it, just like his gray eyes. I was perplexed because if there was one thing I had come to know about him, he was never one to panic unnecessarily. He was visibly shaking, leaving me to wonder what was going on. He grabbed me by the arm in a not-so-gentle, unusual way, urging me to walk faster, into the dark underground cabin. "Why, Pa? Your friends are around. You know how much I love to play chess with them," I said, not giving up on my quest to disobey his warnings. I did a quick flash of what had happened barely ten minutes ago to understand what was happening. The doorbell rang at 9 pm, which wasn't unusual, and although I was in my room, I had heard the guest walk in with my father. From the tone of their voices, I knew they were his business partners who had become like family members. I hadn't hesitated another second to toss my gaming pads aside and was about to welcome them when he rushed into the room, dragging me all the way to the cabin, avoiding the route to the study where his friends were. Then he turned around to face me, holding his hands to my squared shoulders, his hands were visibly shaking badly. "I love you, Sienna. Your mother does too. This is why we are doing this. Please don't come out, promise me," he said hurriedly. She held my gaze until I nodded my head. "Say it, Sienna," he said, more of a plea as his hands left my shoulder to hold my face. "I promise, Dad," I said "If you must come out, use the secret door." he kissed my forehead, and without another word, he pushed me further under the makeshift wooden staircase. He glanced over his shoulder towards the door, and in a flashing second, he unlatched the locks that held the staircase in place, and then he was gone. I stood there with my sweaty palms holding onto my knees as I listened to the empty air in the cabin. I hated the dark room and avoided coming here. Knowing this fact wasn't lost on my parents, yet he made me stay here, made me scared that something deep was happening upstairs. I kept wondering why he had made me come here. Was this some punishment? I hadn't done anything to upset either of them. In fact, I had just graduated top of my class and was... Boooooooom! The sound rocked my thoughts, pulling me out of everything else. Then came screams, my mother's. It continued for a few seconds and then it was gone. Don't come out, regardless of the sound you hear, promise me... Now it was starting to make sense Booooooooom!! The awful sound came again, and my heart started beating faster. I was tempted to push out the locks and run up to see what was happening. But I had made a promise to my father, one I didn't want to break. The door suddenly flung open and I was almost jumping out of my hiding place when I heard the voice, not my father's "Are you sure there is no one home?" "I am positive." "The weird girl? We don't want any one of their goddamn family left roaming the streets, that would mean doomsday brewing" "She's in school. I have my men watching out. She would face a crash on her way to the parents' funeral. Case closed for the Ellisons fucking power controlling family at last". They broke into a very throaty, dry laughter that lasted way longer than seemed like forever. I held my breath as I listened to their plans. I could make out three of them but I couldn't see any of them. "Burn down the house. Leave no traces of arson that could lead to an investigation. We don't want that." "Even if there is one, we have that handled too." "The power now belongs to us, equally." "One more stop and we are done." "Yes. Let's get out of here. My men will handle the rest." "For the good of the realm," they all chorused In seconds, they were gone, banging the door shut after them. I felt like a part of me had been ripped apart as I processed the vain conversation I had just heard in my head. Letting the reality of their words dawn on me. They had murdered my parents in cold blood for what they called the good of the realm. What realm? They planned to get me killed, too, and my father must have given up her life to lie for me. I heard some sound above, and then the faint smell of gasoline filled my nostrils. They were burning the house. I tried to move, but my legs felt lifeless, incapable of any motion. I kept trying my best to leave before it was too late, yet my body wouldn't oblige the danger looming ahead that my brain was sending it. Knowing what was to come if I stayed, I had to leave. Thinking of the fear I had seen in my father's eyes and the painful cries of her dying was the push I needed to snap out of my stoic state. My father didn't go through the stress of hiding me for nothing. Carefully, I released the latch, lifting it gently so the creaking sound wouldn't alert anyone. Though I doubt they'd still be here. Hastily but very quietly, I ran over to the secret door, invisible to others but not to me. My parents made sure of that; with just the right kick to the right spot, the walls would give, and I would push it in, shutting it behind me as if I were never there. I rushed upstairs against my father's request; I needed to see what had become of them. The state of the house was nothing like it used to be; everything had been tossed around, and there was blood everywhere. Mother's body was sprawled over, and I knew she was gone. They had killed her. A soft cough pulled me out of my head and I traced the sound to the center of the room, where my father was lying, holding a hand to his chest where he had been shot. "I told you to go," He whispered, his disappointment lost in his pain. "I am sorry, Pa, what should I do?" He slowly reached into his pocket and dragged out a silver locket. I leaned closer as he handed it to me, then he whispered through bloody lips. "Stay hidden, SiSi. Stay alert. Keep this safe. It is your leverage to survive. Never let them find you." I was going to ask him more questions when he started to jerk, he took a long sigh, and he stopped breathing. "Pa!" I cried, realizing he was gone. I didn't wait another second, realizing I was now alone and my survival had to do with how fast I could run. I walked back to the cabin and to the secret door, which was only accessible from the underground cabin leading to a maze tunnel that runs through the entire ten acres that comprise our Manor. It leads to a major road in the city. My father and I had often played hide-and-seek games over the years until I had mastered every turn and bend of the maze. As I ran for my life, leaving everything I had ever known behind. I wish I could see my parent one last time, but I couldn't risk going to the house. Tears welled up in my eyes, rolling down to the collars of my shirt. I muffled the wails that should have escaped my lungs, dreading that I would attract any attention. I kept running for my life, vowing to avenge the awful death of my parents. Being killed by friends and then left to burn is one disastrous way to die for a third-generation billionaire. ֍ ֍ Reliving the night always weakened my knees and I fell into bed and grabbed a pillow. With all the energy left inside me, I screamed my pain into the pillow, hoping it would muffle out the sound since the last thing I wanted was to wake Zane