I slipped into the grand library like a ghost, closing the heavy oak door behind me with a soft click that echoed through the cavernous room. Dust motes danced in the slanted beams of afternoon sunlight filtering through tall, arched windows. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined every wall, filled with leather-bound volumes that smelled of aged paper and forgotten stories. This had always been my sanctuary in this cold mansion, a place where I could disappear for hours without Derek noticing or caring. Today, I needed it more than ever.
My legs still felt unsteady from the morning’s tensions. The soreness between my thighs was a constant, throbbing reminder of the previous night and the stolen hallway kiss from Marcus. I sank into the deep velvet armchair in the far corner, the one tucked behin
