I was wrapped up in the warmth that Conway’s body produced. It filled the sheets and acted as a personal heater. Even if the house lost power in a storm, his physique would be enough to get us through the night.

My arm was draped over his hard stomach, and my face rested against his shoulder. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his body. Even when he was asleep, his body remained rigid and hard.

His alarm went off.

I didn’t open my eyes because I was way too comfortable.

Conway didn’t respond right away. He lay there, letting the beeps fill the room. He finally reached over and hit the button so the noise would stop. He cleared his throat slightly then ran his fingers through his hair, slowly waking up after the peaceful night we’d both just had. We had sex in his chair then immediately went to bed, once the anger had been completely wiped away from his thoughts.

He turned his head my way. I could feel his stare even though my eyes were still closed. I’d been the recipient of that look so many times that I recognized it the second I felt it. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, his warm lips soft against my skin. His mouth tugged slightly on my skin before he pulled away and sat up.

I still didn’t open my eyes, but I released a quiet protest. “Mmm…”

He hesitated. “You want me to stay?”

“Yes…”

“I’ve got a lot of work to do, Muse.” His hand moved into my hair.

That was when I finally opened my eyes. I stared at the sleepiness in his eyes, seeing his ruffled hair and rested expression. His tanned skin was such a pretty color, a color only a true Italian could acquire.

He gave me a slight smile before he got out of bed, his bare ass right in my line of sight.

Such a beautiful ass.

He changed into his swimsuit and grabbed his goggles before leaving the room.

I knew I should get up so I could have breakfast before I headed to work. And if I got up right now, I could watch him swim a bit. When those drops fell down his body, it was an arousing sight. It was even tastier than breakfast.

I sat on the terrace under the umbrella because it was already hot despite the morning sun. We were making our way into fall, but the heat hadn’t died away yet. I enjoyed my coffee as Conway completed his morning fitness routine. My phone was on the table even though the only person who ever contacted me was Vanessa.

Conway climbed out and dried off with a towel, water streaking down his hard physique. No matter the angle, he was chiseled and strong. His muscular shoulders led to cut arms, and his large pectoral muscles contrasted with his narrow hips. He was a perfect triangle, the ideal example of masculinity. Never in my life had I looked at a man and felt the kind of physical attraction I did for him. The second I saw him on TV, he became my celebrity crush. But now, I was the woman sleeping in his bed every night, the only woman in his life at the moment.

Life could be unpredictable.

He finished off by drying his hair with a towel before he joined me at the table.

The second his ass was in the seat, Dante appeared with breakfast platters. There was a baguette of fresh French bread, a side of fruit, and an egg white crepe with vegetables and marinara sauce. It was more carbs than he usually ate, so today must be a cheat day.

He’d definitely earned a cheat day.

He grabbed the newspaper and started reading.

I sipped my coffee and stared at him, enjoying the view of him sitting across from me.

When he felt my stare, he glanced up. “Yes?”

“Yes, what?”

“You’re staring.”

“So?”

His eyes flicked down again. “It’s rude.”

“It’s not rude when you do it?”

“It’s different.”

“No, it’s exactly the same. And I like to stare at you.” I held my coffee between my hands and took a sip. “You’re hot.”

His eyes moved up again, this time accompanied by a smile. “Hot?”

“Yeah.”

His grin quickly turned into an arrogant one. “I guess I should have put out this morning.”

“You should always put out.”

His smile dropped instantly, his eyes suddenly darkening in intensity. He stared at me for several heartbeats, his newspaper still open but forgotten.

I smiled then sipped my coffee again, loving the way I got under his skin so easily.

After another minute passed, he finally returned his gaze to his paper. “You aren’t working in the stables today.”

“I’m not?”

“No. You’re working with me in the studio.”

“I thought you had all your pieces ready?” I quipped.

“Well, I think I just got inspiration for another one.”

I set my coffee down as a small heat wave moved over my body. It had nothing to do with the coffee, but now it was too hot to hold. I ripped off a piece of bread and popped it into my mouth.

We fell into comfortable silence.

My phone rang.

I didn’t recognize the number on the screen. It wasn’t Andrew Lexington or Vanessa.

Conway didn’t look up from his newspaper.

I took the call. “Hi, this is Sapphire.”

“Hey, Sapphire.” Her deep voice came over the line, affectionate and warm. “It’s Pearl, Conway’s mother.”

My eyebrows shot up because I never expected her to call me. “Hello, Mrs. Barsetti. What a nice surprise.”

Conway lowered his newspaper as his eyes settled on me.

“Oh, call me Pearl,” she said with a laugh. “Mrs. Barsetti makes me feel old. I only let people call me that in public because my husband demands that’s how people address me…because he’s a psychopath.”

I laughed at the open way she spoke about her husband, in a teasing tone with an underlying seriousness. “Reminds me of Conway.”

She laughed at the joke I made about her son. “I didn’t realize how similar they were until he brought you around. Anyway, I’m in the area and wanted to know if you wanted to get lunch and do some shopping.”

Conway’s mother was asking to spend time with me. I froze on the spot because the question was totally unexpected. I couldn’t say no because that was rude, and I didn’t want to say no anyway. Now that I wasn’t his prisoner, just his girlfriend, it didn’t seem as deceitful. “Sure, I’d love to.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up in a few hours.”

Conway extended his hand. “Give me the phone.”

“Why?” I whispered.

“Just give it to me.” He snatched it out of my hand and pressed it to his ear. “Mom, what’s going on?”

I could hear her voice through the phone. “Just wanted to ask Sapphire if she wanted to get lunch. Is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s fine. I just didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Your father is meeting with a client in Verona. A bit of a last-minute thing. He’s going to be busy talking about wine and money, so I thought I would find something more fun to do.”

“How about I pick you up?” he asked. “We can meet you in Verona.”

“Son,” she said with a chuckle. “You know I love you, but I was hoping to spend the day with Sapphire. Our conversations about clothes and jewelry and our shopping spree will bore you anyway.”

Conway didn’t protest, but his face darkened in annoyance. “Will Vanessa be joining you?”

“No,” she answered. “She has to finish a piece she’s working on.”

“Well, I’ll drop Sapphire off to you,” he said.

“I can pick her up,” his mother countered. “I know you’re busy, so just resume your day. Now give me back to Sapphire.”

He expressed his annoyance again before handing back the phone.

“It’s me again,” I said once the phone was pressed to my ear.

“He doesn’t like to be left out, does he?” she asked with a chuckle. “He’s so much like his father that I worry he didn’t inherit any of my traits.”

“He’s got your smile.” I’d noticed that the second I met her.

“True,” she said. “But too bad he’s an overbearing, overprotective, and over-controlling weirdo.”

I tried to cover up my laugh since Conway could hear everything we were saying.

“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Pearl said. “And lunch is on me.”

We hung up, and I set the phone on the table.

Conway looked livid.

“What?” I asked. “I didn’t call her.”

With a hard jaw, he picked up his paper again.

“You’re that annoyed I’ll be spending time with your mother?”

“No.” This time, he folded up the paper and set it down. “I just don’t feel comfortable letting the two of you run around by yourselves.”

When it came to me doing anything alone, he could never stand it. When Vanessa went on a date, he had her followed like something terrible could happen at any moment. Now he felt the same way about his mother. “Conway, it’ll be fine.”

“You should never assume. I’m disappointed my father is letting this happen.”

“Letting it happen?” I asked incredulously. “Your mother doesn’t strike me as a woman who lets her husband boss her around. I wouldn’t like her very much if she did. You need to let this go, Conway. And if I find out you’re having us followed, I’ll make you regret it.”

Whenever I stood up to him, he usually respected me for it. But now, he was simply livid. He didn’t say another word, but his dark eyes focused on me with sinister intensity. His gaze spoke of restrained violence and all the things he wanted to say. His hands formed fists, and his jaw was so tight it seemed like it might snap.

He rose to his feet and pushed the chair away with the back of his knees. With his breakfast untouched and his mood sour like a rotten apple, he stormed off, leaving me sitting there alone.

I didn’t go after him because I was far too proud. But the second he was gone, I felt the coldness that lingered behind. The warmth of the summer sun and the humid air couldn’t chase away the frigidness.

Now it felt like winter.

I got into the passenger seat of the black Lamborghini, and Pearl drove onto the country road.

Conway didn’t say goodbye to me. He didn’t even come outside to say hello to his mother. He went into his studio and didn’t reemerge.

That told me he really was pissed.

Pearl drove the expensive sports car like she’d been doing it for years. She pushed past the speed limit and drove us toward the historic city of Verona. The beige buildings extended slightly above the ground, and the center of the city glowed under the sun. “It’s a beautiful day.”

“It’s always a beautiful day here.” It hadn’t rained once since I’d arrived, but now that summer was over, I knew the fall would bring the chill. In winter, it would snow. It would make my job at the stables a lot more difficult.

She smiled as she drove with one hand. “You love it here, huh?”

It wasn’t anything like home, but that wasn’t a bad thing. “I do. I thought I wouldn’t be able to live anywhere besides the city, but now I prefer the quiet countryside.”

She approached Verona then slowed down as we entered the narrow streets. “I’m from New York too. Born and raised.”

“Really?” I’d noticed her American accent the second we met. I assumed she was from America, but I didn’t know where.

“Yeah. I went to college there and started working as an engineer for the city. I helped with the architectural design and to make sure the buildings were safe. New York has been hit with a lot of blizzards, so my job was to make sure none of them fell.” She pulled into a parking spot along the sidewalk. We got out and started walking down the cobblestone street. We made a few turns, entering a walkway where cars weren’t allowed.

“That’s really cool,” I said. “Did you like it?”

“I did,” she replied. “I was passionate about my job and loved going to work every day, but once I came here, I immediately adapted to this way of life. Making wine and enjoying the sunshine is far more pleasant. So, lunch first?”

“Yeah, sure.”

We walked to a small café and sat down. Our menus were brought, and we both ordered salads along with a bottle of wine. The basket in the center of the table was full of fresh bread, so we both took a few slices.

“Conway is angry, isn’t he?” She swirled her wine before she took a drink.

Never underestimate a mother’s understanding of her son. “A bit.”

“I figured when I didn’t see him walk you out.” She spoke with the same positivity, like her son’s attitude didn’t affect her in the least. “Just ignore him. He’ll come around.”

“He’s very overprotective. I’ve never met a man like that.”

“Yeah, it gets annoying,” she said. “My husband is the exact same way. I have to tell him off and just storm out. But I know his concern comes from a good place, so I don’t judge him for it. Conway is the same way. Stand your ground, but be understanding at the same time. He’s a good man who just wants to keep you safe.”

“I know. But it’s a little too much sometimes. Vanessa and I went out one night, and he wouldn’t let me go unless he came along. And then Vanessa went on a date and he followed her. It’s excessive.”

She shook her head slightly.

“I just wonder why he’s so worried all the time. He’s never explained his concern to me.”

She looked down into her glass as she swirled the contents.

Now I knew my intuition was correct. There was a reason for his behavior, something that involved his whole family. His protectiveness had nothing to do with what happened to me. It just made it worse. “Something happened, didn’t it?”

She took a drink before meeting my gaze. “It’s not my place to tell. When he’s ready, he’ll share it with you.”

My heart slowly sank into my stomach once the realization hit me. Conway had suffered in his past. Something had happened to him. His protectiveness stemmed from a legitimate event. Maybe I should have been more understanding.

“Anyway…there’s a few shops I want to take you to. And has Conway showed you Juliet’s balcony?”

“Sorry?” I asked.

“I’ll take that as a no,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s rumored that this old house is where Shakespeare got his inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. Juliet’s family were real people, and it is believed that this house was a possible setting where she really could have lived. It’s now a historic landmark.”

“No, I never knew that…”

“Then we’ll swing by on our way. I think you’ll like it.”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

Our salads arrived. It surprised me how easy it was for me to talk to Conway’s mother since we’d never been alone together. But she was easy to get along with, completely real and transparent. I never felt judged for being a lingerie model, even though it was something a few people would think less of me for. It seemed like Pearl liked me, regardless of the fact that she didn’t know me well. Since Conway had never been with another woman, maybe choosing me automatically made his decision credible. His entire family accepted me because they assumed I was the one.

“Vanessa tells me she really likes you. My daughter tends to like everyone, but she seems to like you particularly.”

“She’s sweet.” Since Vanessa first laid eyes on me, we’d become friends. If Conway and I moved on from each other, I would probably still keep my friendship with her because I liked her so much. “She’s so smart. She downplays it a lot, but I can tell she’s a lot smarter than she wants people to realize.”

Pearl smiled before she took a bite of her salad. “Yes, she’s a very smart girl. Too smart. She’s a genius like her father, but she possesses my easygoing attitude. I’m so glad she inherited that, because living with two intense men for eighteen years was too much. Just one is enough.”

“What was Conway like growing up?”

“Very charismatic.” She smiled as she thought back to his childhood. “He always did well in school. He was very active in sports. Very popular among the rest of the students in his class. But he was also very private. He matured much faster than the average boy his age. He seemed to come into adulthood when he was fifteen or so. By then, he was fairly independent and ready to move on with his life. The day he turned eighteen, he was ready to move out.”

“He’s still private now.”

“He’s very protective of his creative genius, not that I judge him for it. He was an easy son to raise, and I’m very proud of who he’s become—even with the overbearing nature.” She smiled and drank from her glass. “When he moved to Milan, it was hard for Crow. Cane has always been my husband’s best friend, but Conway quickly replaced him once he was older. I know Crow was looking forward to enjoying the years of having Conway as a friend rather than a son. But since Conway lives so far away, that hasn’t really happened. He pictured Conway taking over the wine business so that he could see him every day.”

My eyes softened in sadness, knowing that letting a son go must be difficult. They were such a close family. Of course they wanted to be even closer.

“The hardest thing about being a parent is when your job is over. The day Conway no longer needed me, I was happy and sad. But Crow has never really gotten over it. And Vanessa is so independent that she’s never wanted help from anyone. She’s a very stubborn Barsetti.”

Conway’s studio was in Milan, but he spent most of his time in his home in Verona. But since he was the business owner, I didn’t understand why he couldn’t handle his company from Florence, somewhere closer to his family.

“Do you want to have children?”

The question yanked me from my thoughts. “Yes.”

“How many?”

“Two,” I said. “But maybe three. I’m not sure yet. Depends on when I have the first one.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, do you and Conway talk about that sort of thing?”

I didn’t want his mother to get her hopes up, that Conway and I would get married and start a family. He said he wasn’t looking for romance or anything meaningful, but I couldn’t help but question our relationship. He said he didn’t want monogamy, but that’s exactly what we had. He said he didn’t want to kiss, but now he couldn’t stop kissing me. Then he gave me my freedom and asked me to stay with him. Everything he did contradicted everything he said. “It’s come up a few times…”

Pearl smiled in a new way. “That’s nice to hear. Conway is so committed to his career, I thought he might not want children. Crow was the same way until I became pregnant with Conway. And the second I was pregnant, he was happy.”

Maybe Conway didn’t realize everything he wanted. Maybe he just needed time to figure it out.

Pearl continued to eat her salad, taking small bites but not eating much. Her wedding ring was unusual because it was a white gold band with a single button on top. There were no diamonds. It was obviously one of a kind. “How did you and Crow meet?”

She hesitated in her movements, pausing before she set down her fork. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you another time.”

It was a weird response, but I didn’t push her on it. It was her personal life, and if she didn’t want to share it with me, that was her decision. “How do you like your salad?”

“It’s excellent. Crow and I come here often when we’re in town.”

“Is he here now?”

“Yes. He’s meeting with this man who owns a dozen restaurants around Verona. He’s a fan of Barsetti wine, so he’s interested in buying our product in bulk. We have different versions of our wines that we offer clients. Crow will go out into the vineyards and identify the largest and juiciest grapes. He’ll use those in the press instead of the generic ones we harvest. As a result, the wine is a lot brighter. It’s not necessarily stronger in taste, just bolder. Those wines cost more because there are only so many prime grapes in the harvest. It sounds like this man wants to exclusively reserve those cases since we only make so many every year.”

“Wow, I never knew that.”

“We charge a lot more for that exclusive wine, but this man is willing to pay to be the exclusive distributor of it. It’s a smart move on his part and also a great deal for us. Win-win.”

“That does sound great. Do you enjoy working at the winery?”

“Very much so,” she responded. “I’ve never felt more connected to the earth than I do now. A simple life is a much better life. Our family is small, but it’s certainly enough. I used to love the chaos of the city, the constant sound of people going out for Chinese at two in the morning. But now I find the silence comforting.”

When I first ran to Italy, I knew it would be beautiful, but since I was on the run from a ferocious man, I never expected to really enjoy it. Now it made me wonder if I would ever want to return to New York. Conway said I was free to do whatever I wanted. But would I ever want to go back?

I wasn’t so sure.

Pearl paid the tab. “Ready to shop?”

“Absolutely.”

Pearl dropped me off at the front of the house and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for spending the day with me.”

“Thank you for taking me out.”

“You need help with those bags?”

“No, I got it.”

She kissed me on the cheek again before letting me go.

I carried my two bags out of the car along with my purse and headed to the doorway. I waved before walking inside. A part of me expected to see Conway waiting for me, but he’d obviously been locked away in his studio the entire time. We were supposed to spend the day screwing on his table, but the unexpected happened.

I thought he would be over it by now.

I returned to our bedroom and hung up the new dress I bought. I got a bracelet to go with it, and I bought a pair of heels that weren’t as tall as all the others Conway bought me. At least this way I could look nice without killing my feet.

Conway must have known I was home because his footsteps sounded behind me.

I turned to face him, only to see the same pissed-off expression he wore when I left the house a few hours ago. He was in jeans and a t-shirt, the fabric hugging his chest in the sexiest way. Whenever he was angry, he somehow looked more handsome. It must have been his intensity. It used to intimidate me, but now I craved it. “I made it back in one piece, so you can calm down now.”

He slowly slid his hands into his pockets, his thick arms carved out of dense stone. “Am I not calm?” He spoke the words quietly, but they were filled with cold malice. His eyes showed his aggression. Unlike other people, he didn’t need to raise his voice and start screaming to get his point across. The quieter he was, the more terrifying he became.

“Not at all.” I pulled the black dress out of the closet. “What do you think?”

He didn’t look at it.

“I thought it fit well, and it has a nice slit right at the waistline.” I turned around and hung it back in the closet. “Your mom got something nice too. You know, for a woman in her fifties, she looks pretty damn good.”

“Which is why the two of you shouldn’t be running around together.”

I placed one hand on my hip and stood up to him just as his mother encouraged me to. “Let it go, Conway. Your mother asked me to spend time with her. I wasn’t going to say no. And it wouldn’t have felt the same if you were there.”

He silently excused himself from the conversation and left the bedroom. He’d come in here hardly saying anything, and now he was leaving without accomplishing anything.

“Conway?”

He stopped but didn’t turn around.

I crossed through the doorway and entered the sitting room. Stopping behind him, I pressed my hands to his lower back. Slowly, I moved upward, feeling the muscles of his flank through his t-shirt. I traced the grooves between his muscles with my fingertips and moved higher until I reached his shoulders.

He released a deep breath, responding to my touch.

“Tell me what happened to your family.”

He took another deep breath, his back expanding slowly. “What did she tell you?”

My hands moved down again, following the lines between his muscles. I felt his strength at my fingertips, felt his power under my touch. I followed the curve of his back until I reached his narrow hips. “She told me to be understanding of your protectiveness, to be patient with you because of what your family has been through. But she also told me to stand my ground against you, to live my life to the fullest…despite your attempts to protect me from everything. She didn’t say anything else or give specifics.” She allowed her son the opportunity to tell me his secret. She wouldn’t take that away from him.

He breathed again, this time in relief.

“Tell me, Conway. My whole family is gone, and I have nothing left. I know how it feels to suffer, to lose someone you love. I know how it feels to be completely alone in this world.”

“But you aren’t alone, Muse.” He slowly turned around, my fingers gliding across his torso and then his stomach as he turned. He stopped once we were face-to-face, his head tilted toward me so he could look down at me. “You have me. You’ll always have me.”

I didn’t overanalyze his words, knowing he meant them in a different context than I wanted. If I ever needed help, he would be there. All I ever had to do was call him, and he’d be by my side. He would be my friend for the rest of time, a protector that I never asked for. He was the only friend I had in the world—and he would always be my friend. “You know what I mean…” My hands started at his stomach and slowly glided up his chest. His pectoral muscles felt like a statue, so hard and smooth. “Tell me, Conway. Tell me why you’re afraid.”

He stared at me in intense silence. Time stretched on endlessly, and it didn’t seem like he would say anything at all. His eyes gave nothing away, just his stern demeanor. He could stare for minutes without blinking, and his eyes never watered to protect the dry surface of his eyes. He wasn’t bothered by the eye contact either.

Nothing knocked this man off-balance.

I kept waiting, kept hoping. He knew everything about me, every secret that I kept from the rest of the world. I trusted this man in a way I’d never trusted anyone before. I’d shared every piece of me with him.

I wanted some of him in return. “Conway.”

He pulled his hands out of his pockets and grabbed my wrists. He held them gently as he stared down at me, the intensity in his gaze slowly softening. Then he pulled my hands away from my chest, lowering them back to my sides. He pulled his touch away entirely and crossed his arms over his chest. “I used to have an aunt. She died before I was born, before my parents got married.”

Sadness overwhelmed me instantly. I knew he’d lost someone, judging by his mother’s tone. But I suspected the way she died was worse than the death itself.

“She was taken by a ruthless arms dealer. Apparently, he had bad blood with my family. He tortured her and raped her…and my father and uncle did everything they could to get her back. They finally settled on a deal, an exchange of twenty million dollars. But the man, his name was Bones, didn’t uphold his end of the deal. When my aunt was returned to my father, Bones shot her in the back of the head.”

I covered my mouth to quiet my gasp.

“And kept the money. My father watched the light leave her eyes. He watched her fall to the concrete, and before her head hit the ground, she was dead. My father said he would never forget that moment for as long as he lived. It still visits him in his nightmares.”

“Conway, I’m so sorry.”

He wore the same expression as he did before, his look cold and guarded. “Her name was Vanessa.”

I made the connection immediately. “They named your sister after her…”

He nodded. “My dad and uncle have never gotten over it…even though it’s been thirty years. They’re protective of my mother and aunt, hardly letting them out of their sights. And with Vanessa, it’s even worse. She’s so damn beautiful and so stubborn. She worries me. And now that I have you, I can’t let anything happen to you. Seeing you stripped naked while some psychopath tried to buy you… I can’t even think about it anymore.” He lowered his gaze. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you. And my mom… She’s a beautiful woman. Age hasn’t broken her the way it has most people. If someone wants to attack my father or me, she’s a prime target. So, yes, I’m extremely protective, overbearing, and paranoid. Don’t expect me to change, because I never will.”

I thought back to the woman he rescued from the Underground. He bought her and then handed her off to Carter so she could be returned to her family. Now it all made sense. “That’s why you save those women? That’s why you were at the Underground.”

“Partially,” he said. “I can’t lie and say it’s a totally selfless act. The Skull Kings purposely steal women from powerful men. They’re commissioned by their enemies. Then those families come to us and pay us to get their daughters back. It’s expensive, but Carter and I aren’t going to risk our necks for free. Then we bid on them and return them to their families. It’s an easy way to make money—and it helps people at the same time.”

The fact that he made a profit off it didn’t make me think less of him. He was still doing a noble thing. He could easily buy a woman to torture himself. Or he could capture women by the dozens and sell them on the black market. He didn’t do that either. “I think you’re brave. If they caught you…”

“I’m only brave for the money.”

“I don’t believe that. You’re a billionaire, Conway. What does a few million more mean to you?”

“It’s not just a few million. These families are paying us between ten and twenty million euros—tax-free.”

“And if someone spotted you in there, it could ruin your reputation.”

“I design lingerie. I don’t have much of a reputation anyway.”

“Yes, you do,” I said. “You’re a strong man who made his own way in life. You started from nothing in your industry and made yourself into something. You’re generous and kind. I think you’re a wonderful person.”

His eyebrows arched before his eyes narrowed. Like I’d said the wrong thing, his expression turned into a glare. “I’m okay with being what I am, Muse. Like I told you before, I’m not evil—but I’m not good either. The second I had leverage over you, I made you into my prisoner. I didn’t treat you with respect, and I took your virginity instead of letting you find the right guy. Let’s not rewrite history. Let’s not change my character.”

I knew he meant every word because I could feel the sincerity in his words. I could see the seriousness in his eyes. He wasn’t fishing for a compliment to counteract his statements. He just wanted to correct my assumption. “You were the right guy, Conway.”

His glare slowly faded away, replaced by a deeper look.

“You gave me money when you didn’t even know me so I wouldn’t have to sleep on the street. When I left your company, you tried to give me more money and a phone. Then when I was about to be sold off to a monster who would do horrific things to me, you spent a fortune just to keep me safe. You’ve paid all my debts and set me free. You’ve given me a place to live, food to eat. Without you, I would be dead right now. We both know it. You saved my life, Conway. You’ve given me a chance to start over. You’re the only man who has ever earned the right to have me…and I have no regrets.”

His breathing deepened as his eyes narrowed on my face.

“No, you haven’t been Prince Charming. But a white knight in shining armor is overrated. That’s not what I want. I want you exactly as you are, all the good and all the bad. I accept you for who you are, Conway. But you need to learn to accept yourself too—that you’re a great man.”

When I woke up the following morning, Conway was gone.

I’d become lazier over the last few days, spending more time in the house and with Conway rather than outside in the blazing sun. So, when his alarm went off, I ignored it and stayed asleep.

I spotted the rose on the nightstand along with the note as I opened my eyes.

The rose was white, in full bloom and lovely. I held the flower to my nose and smelled it before reading the note.

Muse,

Join me in the studio.

Conway didn’t sign it, but I could smell his scent on the paper. I quickly brushed my teeth and got ready before walking down the hall to where he spent his time working. He was standing at the table, working a fabric with his hands. A breakfast tray sat at the table, the lid placed over the food to keep it warm. A pot of coffee with steam rising from its opening was waiting for me.

“Morning.”

He looked up from his work, his concentration shattered the second I spoke. He looked at me the same way he did anytime our eyes connected. Full of intense possessiveness, the warmth of his gaze could be felt across the room. He set down his tools then walked around the table to greet me. “Morning.” His thick arms circled my waist, and he bent his neck down to kiss me. His kiss was soft but full of restrained aggression. If he didn’t control himself, he’d probably crush my mouth with his excitement. Instead, he gripped me tighter than usual. His thumbs dug into my stomach, restricting my ability to breathe. There was a lot of lip and also touches of tongue. He breathed into my mouth, expanding my lungs with his masculine breath.

It was a great way to say good morning, to be cherished by this sexy man.

His hands slid down to my ass, and he squeezed my cheeks hard.

When he finally pulled away, I was so hard up that I didn’t care about breakfast. And I was one of those people who really believed breakfast was the most important meal of the day. I bit my bottom lip when he turned back to the table, wanting more of that kiss along with something else.

He grabbed the lingerie he was working on, a gray one-piece that was cut along the waistline. It showed bare skin before it connected to the panties at the bottom. With a crotch that unfastened, it allowed easy access without having to take the garment off. “I want to see you in this.” He walked over to me, feeling the silk fabric in his fingertips. There was a diamond pendant in the middle, another jewel that was more expensive than my mother’s house, even in a seller’s market.

It must have taken him a while to do this. He could never create something in less than three hours. His hands worked so much detail into his pieces, and he needed to construct every inch of clothing with expert hands. “How long have you been awake?”

“Since three.”

“Couldn’t sleep?” I took the lingerie from his hands, feeling the softness between my fingertips.

“Too inspired.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

As I looked down to stare at the lingerie again, I noticed the front of his pants. The outline of his big cock was noticeable, the bulge impressive. But it didn’t do justice to what was waiting underneath. “Turn around.”

He released a sigh of annoyance before he complied.

I removed the dress I wore and pulled on the gray lingerie. It was skintight around my bust, the strapless top fitting my measurements so well that it stayed up easily.

It was beautiful. So simple, but so perfect.

I didn’t have any heels on, and there wasn’t a pair in sight. Barefoot would have to do even though it wasn’t the best choice. At least it was easier on my feet.

He turned around when he thought enough time had passed, and the second his eyes raked over me, his entire body tensed as all his muscles tightened collectively. His eyes showed his desire, and the way his fingers curled toward his palm showed the way he wanted to grab me.

Now I felt like prey.

And he was the ultimate predator.

This time, he didn’t show any restraint. He moved into me and backed me into the wall, making my small body thud against the hardness. His hands snaked over my body, feeling the lingerie against my skin. He explored every inch, his face pressed to mine. He felt the curve of my hips then squeezed my tits with his large palms. A growl erupted in my face, the growl of an animal that wanted to sink his teeth into me.

He yanked his shirt over his head, pulling it from the back until his head popped through. All of his movements were sexy, even the way he rushed through undressing. He left his jeans on as he kissed me, his hands moving to my rib cage.

I kissed him back and undid the top button of his pants, feeling the incredible heat against my mouth. I couldn’t believe there was ever a time when he didn’t want to kiss me, that he’d taken something so incredible off the table. Now it was the thing I enjoyed most, the action that made me feel most connected to him.

I pushed his jeans and boxers down so his throbbing dick could come free. Throbbing and slightly red, he was drooling at the crown. My slickness would combine with his, and the combination of our two bodies would be utterly incredible.

His hand moved between my legs, and he unfastened my crotch. His fingers lingered behind, feeling the buildup of moisture coat his fingertips. “Fuck…” His lips moved to my ear, and he breathed into my canal as he fingered me, exploring my soaked cunt. When he fingered me for the very first time, he could only get a single finger inside. I was too tight, too innocent. Now I could take all of him with just a slight twinge of pain.

He lifted me against the wall and pinned my back in place as he tilted his hips to press his cock between my folds. His crown moved against my entrance before he shoved himself in, sliding down my wet channel until he was completely inside.

I gripped his shoulders and breathed next to his ear, feeling full from his enormous cock. “God…”

He pressed his face to mine as he remained deep inside me, his thick cock stretching me as wide as I could go. My body could barely accommodate him, but that fullness made the sex so good. I couldn’t imagine being with another man, couldn’t imagine having sex as good as this. Friends told me sex was hit or miss. Sometimes it was good, but most of the time, it wasn’t. The guy usually cared more about finishing than getting the woman off. And some of my friends didn’t like sex at all because it was never good.

That meant Conway was different.

Not just different because he was gorgeous, but different because he prided himself on his performance. He’d never fucked me without letting me finish first—except when he was trying to punish me for something.

He started to move, pressing me hard into the wall as he rocked his hips back and forth. He gripped my ass as he kept me suspended, his thick arms tightening and bulging with the beautiful muscles of his body. As if he’d picked me up in a bar and couldn’t wait to take me home to fuck me, he gave it to me hard, right then and there. He didn’t kiss me, but he looked into my face with every thrust, watching my reaction to him.

It felt so good to watch this sexy man hold me so effortlessly and fuck me at the same time. I loved watching him build up a sweat, loved staring at his naked body in the mirror on the other side of the room. He was over six feet of all man, tight muscles in his ass and his back. The muscles of his flank tightened and shifted as he worked his body to please me. When we were pressed together this closely, he ground right against my clit. The stimulation was over the top and powerful.

I could barely keep my eyes on him because my lids were becoming heavy, not with sleep but with arousal. Like a spell had been cast over me, my body relaxed, but it only calmed in preparation for the storm.

“Muse.” He exhaled into my face, the sweat forming on his back and dripping all the way to his ass. He tightened his jaw as he breathed through his movements. “You.” He thrust into me deep. “Are.” He released a moan as he hit me in the perfect spot. “Mine.”

Every time he claimed me, I felt my legs quiver. I wanted to be his. I loved the way he got jealous whenever a man looked at me for too long. I loved the way he stepped in front of me so that a man wouldn’t kiss me on the cheek. I loved the way he didn’t allow his models to touch him anymore because he knew it bothered me. I loved all the sacrifices he made to keep me, by kissing me, making love to me, setting me free, and committing to me.

It was more than he’d ever done for anyone else.

Now he was ramming me into the wall, giving me his big cock over and over again.

I pressed my face into his neck and clawed at his back while I watched him fuck me. His jeans had slid down to his ankles from his movements, and his tight ass looked so good as it worked, grinding into me. “Conway…yes.” I breathed into his ear and closed my eyes, feeling my pussy tighten around him. I came with an explosion, squeezing his dick mercilessly. My nails were even worse, cutting into his back and nearly drawing blood.

Conway couldn’t wait until I was finished. He gave his final pumps and came inside me, giving me his heavy seed as he groaned. He pressed me against the wall and shoved his dick as deep as he could, his ass tight from keeping me in place. He gave me so much seed that it already started to drip out of me and onto the floor.

Conway held me in place as he caught his breath, the sweat streaked across his body and probably burning the small wounds my nails had caused. Once he recovered from the wave of pleasure that had just exploded out of his balls, he carried me to the couch and sat back against the cushion, placing me on his lap. With a flushed face and sweat on his upper lip, he looked just as sexy as he did when he finished a workout. He pushed his body to the max to make me feel good, giving me everything he had because he cared about my climax as much as his own. His cock slightly softened inside me, and he massaged my thighs gently as he looked into my face.

My arms circled his neck, and I kissed him. “I like it when you fuck me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’ve never fucked me before.” I sucked his bottom lip, giving it a gentle bite before releasing it.

His hands snaked up my body, feeling the silk that was now soaked with his sweat. It was tight on my chest and my waist, but it made me look more petite than I really was. That was the magic behind Conway’s designs. He could make your most flattering feature even better.

“Is there time to get this ensemble into the show?”

He pressed kisses down my neck and to my collarbone, his tongue licking away the sweat that sprinkled across my body. “No.” He rubbed his nose against mine. “I made this just for you.”

He made me a piece of lingerie he’d never debuted before, like the white ensemble he made me wear when he took me for the first time. At the time, the gesture didn’t seem special. I was scared and uncomfortable. But now, his actions meant something to me. They made me feel special, made me feel honored to wear something he created just for me. He only wanted me to wear it, so it was a one-of-a-kind piece from a genius designer.

And it was all mine.

“Thank you. That was sweet.”

His hand dug into the fall of my hair, and he brought my lips toward his for a kiss. He kissed me softly, his lips taking me gently. His fingers fisted my hair, wrapping it around his knuckles like he was trying to anchor me against him. There was no need to tie me down when I never wanted to go anywhere else.

And he hardened inside me all over again.

“You’re my woman,” he whispered. “And my woman deserves something no other woman can ever have.”