Mariella’s feet barely made a sound as she took the winding staircase, yet somehow each step felt loud in the quiet stillness of the penthouse. The scent of Ethiopian coffee lingered faintly in the air, no longer comforting, just another detail drowned out by the slow, building tension between them.
The landing opened onto a long, dimly lit hallway. Paul guided her toward the massive master bedroom, his movements quiet but deliberate. He paused at the doorway, gesturing subtly toward the space beyond, the largest and most private room on the floor.
Mariella stepped inside and froze, breath catching in her throat.
The master bedroom was more than a room; it was a declaration. A king-sized bed dominated the center, dressed not in the soft neutrals of hotel linen, but in black satin and de
