Stella's POV:
The abrupt illumination in the study jarred me awake.
Blinking, I saw a towering figure by the door.
I checked the time. It was slightly past seven in the evening.
Staggering to my feet, I said, "You're back?"
A grunt was James' confirmation. He didn't enter with an unreadable expression. "I'm hungry."
I took his hint, springing forth. "Sorry, I'll go cook dinner right away."
A pang of regret hit me. I should have asked the housekeeper to stay. What seemed easy at lunch suddenly felt daunting. I had no idea if I could cater to his taste.
James stood there, unyielding, watching me with scrutinizing eyes.
Since he didn't seem to intend to move aside, I had to tilt my body, preparing to circle around him.
But just as I did so, his arm swept around my waist, pinning me
