Despite the sudden storm of venom from the tabloids and the fractured howling of the public, I refused to let their noise disrupt my spirit. I traded my runway silks for a flowy, Bohemian maxi dress, letting the wind catch the fabric as I reclined on the deck of a private yacht. Connor sat across from me, shedding his usual heavy burden for a casual white linen shirt that made him look less like a king and more like a man at peace. I had severed my connection to the world, leaving my phone tucked away in a villa drawer; only my camera remained in my hand.
Connor pulled me into his heat, his arms a familiar, grounding weight. At first, I sensed his worry—he thought I was masking my scent, pretending to be unbothered. But as he looked into my eyes, he saw only the calm of a predator who kno
