Lyra's POV

Leo Weston's estate was massive, cold, and unsettling. The halls were too quiet, the corners too dark, and the weight of it pressed down on me like a heavy, invisible hand. Every time Leo was near, I could feel it,the air thickening, my nerves tightening. He didn't just walk through this house; he owned it, commanded it, and everyone inside bent to him without question.

Except me.

Or at least, that's what I told myself.

"You're not afraid of him," I whispered under my breath as I made my way to Mira's room. "You're here for her. You're here to do a Job. That's all."

But my own words felt hollow. How could I not feel the pull he had, the way his presence changed everything? Leo Weston wasn't just a man,he was a force of nature, a storm waiting to destroy anyone who stood in his way. And I couldn't help but feel like I was standing directly in his path.

I knocked softly on Mira's door and stepped inside. She was in her usual spot by the window, knees tucked to her chest, staring out at the gray sky. She didn't even glance at me when I entered.

"Hey, Mira," I said gently, sitting beside her. "Do you want to read today? I brought a story about a brave girl who-"

"No," she whispered, her voice so quiet it almost didn't register.

I forced a smile, trying to ignore the familiar ache in my chest. At least she'd spoken. "Okay, no books today," I said softly, rising to my feet. "Maybe tomorrow."

As I turned toward the door, something shifted. The air grew heavier, colder. I didn't need to look to know who was there.

Leo.

He stood in the hallway, his dark eyes fixed on me like a predator sizing up its prey. My breath hitched.

"Sir," I said, my voice shakier than I'd intended. "I didn't hear you."

He didn't reply right away. Instead, he just watched me, his gaze sharp and piercing. The space between us felt charged, like an electric wire stretched too tight.

"I've been watching you with Mira," he said finally, his voice low and smooth, though there was an edge to it. "You've been good for her."

The unexpected compliment caught me off guard. "I'm just doing my job," I said quickly, my tone cautious.

Leo took a step closer, and the hallway seemed to shrink. "It's more than that. Mira trusts you." His gaze never wavered, pinning me in place. "And trust isn't something that comes easily in this house."

I swallowed hard, his words sinking in. There was a weight to them, something unspoken that sent a chill down my spine. "I care about her," I said quietly. "That's all."

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with unnerving intensity. "You're different," he murmured, taking another slow step forward. "Not like the others."

"The others?" I repeated, my pulse quickening.

His lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "The people who come through my life. They're all the same. Weak. Predictable."

I forced myself to stand my ground, even as every instinct screamed at me to step back. "And what do you think I am, Sir?"

His eyes darkened at the word, his expression hardening. "Don't call me that."

"It's respectful," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're my employer. Sir is appropriate."

He shook his head, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. "I'm not 'Sir' to you. Just Leo."

"Leo," I corrected hesitantly, his name tasting strange on my tongue.

"Better," he said, though there was something possessive in his voice, something that made my skin prickle. He stepped closer, his gaze holding mine like a vice. "Now answer me. What do I think you are?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. His proximity, the way his presence filled the hallway, left me breathless. "I don't know," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I haven't decided yet," he said softly, his words like a promise and a threat all at once.

Before I could react, his hand brushed my arm, a light touch, but it burned like fire. My breath caught, my heart racing as heat flooded my skin. I hated how my body reacted to him, how it betrayed me.

A shiver ran through me, despite the heat rising between us. I should've stepped back, should've created space, but I couldn't move. His eyes were like a trap, pulling me deeper into something I didn't want to understand.

I took a shaky step back, pulling away from his touch. "Why are you acting like this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "You're my boss, Leo. This, whatever this is,it's not appropriate."

He smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Appropriate?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "You think I care about what's appropriate?"

"You should," I said, my nerves fraying under his gaze. "You hired me to take care of Mira, not... this." I gestured vaguely between us, hating how exposed I felt.

His expression darkened, and he took another step forward, crowding me against the wall. "You don't understand how this works, Lyra," he said, his voice a low growl. "You're in my house. My world. That means you follow my rules."

I swallowed hard, my back pressing against the cold wall. "I didn't agree to... whatever you're trying to do right now," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong. "I just want to do my job and go home."

"You think you can leave?" he asked, his lips curving into a dangerous smirk. "You're already in, Lyra. And once you're in, there's no going back."

His words sent a chill through me, laced with a possessiveness I couldn't ignore. "Why are you doing this?" I asked again, my voice quieter now, almost pleading. "Why do you care what I do or who I talk to? I'm just your employee."

His hand grazed my cheek, his touch sending a jolt of heat through my body. "You're more than that," he whispered, his voice soft but commanding. "You just don't see it yet."

"I'm just here to do a job,I don't belong in your world," I said, my breath catching as his fingers lingered against my skin.

"No," he agreed, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "You don't. But that's exactly why you're here. You think you're just here for Mira, but we both know that's not true anymore."

I pushed against his chest, trying to create distance, but he didn't budge. "How do you know that? I'm not yours, Leo, you don't own me," I said firmly, though my voice wavered under the weight of his gaze.

His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something raw. "You already are," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The tension between us was suffocating, the air thick with heat and unspoken truths. I couldn't tell if I was more terrified or more drawn to him. Maybe both.

He stepped back finally, his gaze still locked on mine. "Stay away from Blackwood," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "He won't stop until he has you. And when he does... I'll deal with him. But you'll be mine."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving me trembling against the wall, my heart racing, my thoughts spinning out of control.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

Lyra's POV

I couldn't shake his words.

"Adrian's not done with you, Lyra. He'll come for you. And when he does... it won't end well."

I hated that I was letting Adrian get to me, but more than that,I hated how much space Leo was taking up in my thoughts.

He wasn't just a problem. He was a complication I couldn't afford.

Every time I was near him, my body betrayed me, reacting in ways I couldn't control. The heat of his gaze lingered long after he walked away, and the memory of his touch had a way of curling around my mind, refusing to let go.

I didn't want to be pulled into whatever dark orbit surrounded Leo Weston.

But there was no denying it. I was already in.

I should have been afraid of him. And maybe I was.

But the scariest part? I wasn't sure it was for the right reasons.

I let out a frustrated breath and turned away from the mirror. I wasn't some naive girl. Leo didn't care about me beyond what I could offer him. I was here for Mira. That was it.

That was all it was supposed to be.

I reached for the door, intending to leave my room and clear my head. But before I could even brush the handle, it creaked open.

I froze.

That overwhelming presence filled the room before I even turned around.

Leo.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the doorknob as I faced him. He stepped inside without hesitation, his broad shoulders nearly filling the doorway. The door shut behind him, clicking softly into place.

My stomach clenched.

"Sir," I said quickly, keeping my voice level even as my pulse raced. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes darkened, and he took a slow step forward. "I told you not to call me that."

I hesitated, the weight of his words sinking into my chest. "You're my employer. I feel it's It's appropriate."

His jaw ticked, his hands flexing at his sides. "Not with me. Say my name, Lyra."

His voice was low, almost a warning.

I shouldn't have listened. I should have drawn a line right then and there, cause when you forget the formalities you begin to forget other things. But the way he looked at me made my mind go blank, like he had already erased the boundaries between us.

"Okay Leo," I whispered.

His lips twitched, but there was nothing soft about it.

"Good," he murmured.

I straightened, gripping the edge of the dresser behind me. "Why are you in my room?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let his gaze drift over me, slow and deliberate, like he was trying to unravel something about me that I didn't even understand myself.

I resisted the urge to shift under his stare.

Finally, he said, "We need to talk."

I lifted my chin. "If this is another warning about Adrian, I don't need it. I already know he's back, I know I need to stay away from him."

His gaze sharpened. "This isn't just about Adrian. You're caught between something bigger than you realize."

My skin prickled.

"You keep saying that," I said, my voice firm. "But what I don't understand is why you care so much. I work for you, Leo. That's it. So why are you so involved in my life?"

Silence.

Thick, heavy silence.

I could hear the ticking of the clock on the far wall, the uneven rhythm of my own breath.

Leo's jaw clenched slightly, but his voice was steady. "Because you don't understand what kind of man Adrian is."

I let out a sharp breath. "You think I don't know him? I know exactly who he is. I spent years trying to keep him out of my life, and now he's back. But I don't need you to be my guard dog."

His eyes flickered, something dangerous flashing behind them. "You think this is about me protecting you?"

"Isn't it?" I challenged. "Why else would you be here? Why else would you care who I talk to?"

He took another step closer, and suddenly, the room felt smaller.

"This isn't just about who you talk to," he murmured. "It's about who wants you."

My stomach twisted.

What the hell does that mean?

"You're in my house, in my world," he continued, his voice low, rough. "That makes you mine."

I flinched at the word. "I only work for you. I'm not yours, Leo. "

His hand lifted, brushing lightly against my arm, his touch leaving heat in its wake. I sucked in a breath, my pulse hammering.

"Not yet," he said. "But you will be."

I stiffened.

This was insane. This whole conversation was insane.

He was my boss. A man I had known for barely any time at all,a man that was suspected to be involved with the mafia,and yet here he was, acting like he had some claim over me. Like I belonged to him.

And the worst part?

Some dark, twisted part of me wanted to understand why.

"Do you even hear yourself?" I said, my voice shaking with something between frustration and disbelief. "You hired me, Leo. I take care of Mira. That's it. There is no this."

His eyes flickered, but he didn't step back.

"You think you can just stay out of this?" he asked, his voice softer now, but no less dangerous. "You think Adrian is going to let you walk away?"

I swallowed hard.

Leo exhaled, his breath warm against my skin. "You don't see it yet, but you will," he murmured. "You need my protection."

I jerked back, creating space between us. "I don't need anything from you," I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

His lips twitched, like he found my resistance amusing. "No?"

I clenched my jaw. "No."

His hand moved faster than I expected, curling around my waist, pulling me close. My breath hitched, my hands flying to his chest instinctively, but he didn't let go.

"You don't need me?" he murmured, his voice just above a whisper.

I should have pushed him away. Should have done something to remind him that this was not okay.

But I froze.

Because the way he looked at me made my stomach tighten, my head spin.

I hated him for it.

"This is a mistake," I whispered.

Leo's lips brushed against my jaw, a barely-there touch that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Maybe," he admitted, his voice raw. "But it's one you're already making."

And then he kissed me.

The moment his lips crashed against mine, my mind went blank.

It was heat, fire, something primal that I wasn't prepared for. His grip tightened on my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I hated how easy it was to melt into him, how my body reacted without my permission.

I gasped, gripping his shirt, desperate for something to hold onto.

I should have stopped this.

But I didn't.

His hands slid up my back, fingers tangling in my hair, deepening the kiss until all I could feel was him.

When he finally pulled away, his breathing was uneven, his eyes darker than I'd ever seen them.

"You belong to me now," he murmured.

Something inside me snapped.

I shoved against his chest, pushing myself away, my breath ragged. "No, I don't," I snapped. "I don't belong to anyone."

Leo smirked, running his tongue over his lower lip. "Keep telling yourself that."

I glared at him, my whole body trembling. "You're insane."

He exhaled, stepping back toward the door. "Stay away from Blackwood," he said, his voice back to that cold, commanding tone. "Because if he takes what's mine..."

He let the threat hang in the air before turning and disappearing down the hall.

I stood there, my heart hammering, my hands shaking.

What the hell had just happened?

I just made the biggest mistake of my life

And worse,why the hell did I want to let it happen again?

Lyra's POV

My heart was still racing long after Leo walked out of my room, leaving me breathless and shaken. His words wouldn't stop echoing in my mind.

"You belong to me now."

I hated the way my body still burned from his touch, the way my pulse still pounded, as if his presence lingered long after he was gone.

What the hell is happening to me?

I needed air. Space. Anything that would stop the pull he had on me.

I grabbed my jacket and slipped out of my room, my footsteps quiet against the dark hardwood floors. The house was silent, but not the peaceful kind. It was the kind of silence that pressed down on you, made you feel watched even when you were alone.

Because here, I was never alone.

Leo was everywhere. His presence saturated this house, inescapable, his name carved into every wall, every corner. And worst of all, he was in my head, making it impossible to think straight.

I need to get out of here.

The air outside was sharp and cool against my heated skin, but it wasn't enough to steady the pounding in my chest. The estate stretched endlessly before me: a sprawling labyrinth of perfectly trimmed hedges and stone pathways, illuminated only by the dim glow of lanterns lining the walkways.

I wandered deeper into the garden, my hands trembling as I tried to process what had just happened.

Leo Weston was dangerous. He wasn't just a man who demanded power,he was power. It bled from him in every word, every movement, in the way the very air seemed to shift when he was near.

And he had his sights set on me.

I let out a shaky breath, wrapping my arms around myself.

Why me?

I was just a nanny. A woman trying to do her job, trying to survive. But Leo looked at me like I was something more: like I was something he was entitled to, something he wasn't willing to let slip away.

And the most terrifying part?

Some dark, hidden part of me wanted him to want me.

I hated myself for it.

For the way my skin burned under his gaze.

For the way my breath hitched when he spoke in that low, commanding tone.

For the way I wanted,needed,to know what it would feel like to completely give in to him.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head. No. I couldn't let this happen.

I needed to get a grip.

But then I heard it.

Footsteps.

Slow, steady, deliberate.

A chill ran down my spine, but it wasn't fear. It was something worse.

It was anticipation.

I knew it was him before I even turned around.

Leo.

His presence wrapped around me like a slow-moving storm: dangerous, inevitable. He didn't have to say a word. I could feel him.

I forced myself to stay still, my pulse hammering against my ribs.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said, his voice smooth, controlled. But beneath it, I could hear something else. Something possessive.

I inhaled deeply, keeping my back to him. "I needed air."

Silence.

Then, the sound of his slow, measured steps closing the distance between us.

He was toying with me. Testing how close he could get before I broke.

I felt him stop just behind me, the heat of his body brushing my back.

"You think distance will help?" he murmured.

My breath caught.

God help me, I don't know.

"I think I need space," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady.

His chuckle was dark, almost amused. "Space from what, exactly?"

I clenched my fists. "From this. From whatever game you think you're playing."

His fingers brushed against my arm, and I sucked in a sharp breath.

"I don't play games, Lyra," he murmured. "When I want something, I take it."

I turned then, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

His dark eyes burned with something raw, something dangerous.

"You can't just take me," I said, my voice uneven. "I'm not one of your possessions, Leo."

His lips curved into something almost predatory. "Not yet."

I swallowed hard. "You don't own me."

He reached out, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw with agonizing slowness. "I claim what's mine, Lyra." His thumb brushed my lower lip, and I nearly gasped at the sensation. "And I don't share."

I hated how my body reacted to him.

Hated the way I shivered under his touch.

Hated the way I wanted to push closer instead of stepping away.

I forced myself to move, to shake my head. "This is insane," I whispered. "I don't even understand why you're so fixated on me."

His expression darkened slightly, his fingers slipping to my throat, his grip light but commanding.

"Because you walked into my world like you belonged in it," he said, his voice like a slow caress. "Because you look at me like you know exactly what I am and still refuse to bend."

His grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to make my heart race.

"You will bend, Lyra," he murmured, his lips inches from mine.

I exhaled shakily. "You're insane."

His smirk deepened. "You'll learn to love it."

Then, without warning, he kissed me.

But this time, it was different.

This wasn't the desperate, bruising heat of before.

It was slow. Calculated.

A dangerous, intoxicating seduction.

His lips teased mine, brushing, lingering, letting me feel the full weight of his control before deepening it: before claiming me in a way that sent fire through my veins.

I whimpered against his mouth, my fingers clutching his shirt, my resolve slipping with every second that passed.

His hand slid to my lower back, pulling me against him, until there was nothing between us but heat and unspoken promises.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my lips.

I should.

I needed to.

But I couldn't.

I was already too far gone.

His mouth moved down to my jaw, to the sensitive skin just beneath my ear. "You belong to me, Lyra."

Something inside me cracked at his words, a dangerous thrill racing through me.

I should have fought harder. Should have resisted.

Instead, my fingers dug into his shoulders, my head tilting as he kissed the hollow of my throat, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Say it," he growled against my skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I hated him.

I hated how much I wanted him.

But I couldn't give him that. Not yet.

I shoved against his chest, putting space between us, my breath ragged. "You don't own me, Leo."

He exhaled, his jaw tight, his hands flexing like he was barely holding himself back.

"You can fight it all you want," he murmured, stepping even closer, his voice rough. "But you are mine."

My body betrayed me again, heat pooling low in my stomach at the sheer certainty in his tone.

I shook my head, forcing myself to breathe, forcing myself to think.

"This is a mistake," I whispered.

His smirk was dark, lethal. "Then keep making it."

He reached for me again, and for a terrifying moment, I wanted to let him.

Instead, I stepped back. "I need time," I said, my voice steadier now.

Leo studied me for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Take all the time you need, Lyra." His lips curved into something dangerous. "Just know that when you finally give in,I won't let you go."

And with that, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving me standing there, heart pounding, breath unsteady.

And I knew he was right.

I was already his.

I just wasn't ready to admit it yet.