Chapter 26 · Ch26

Case Closed The power died and Luca's palm flattened on my sternum in the dark, pinning me to the study wall, heartbeat to heartbeat.

"Don't move." Not a raid instruction. A plea dressed as an order. I pulled him in.

"I'm done running the year like a sentence. Take me like I asked. Please. I want you. Don't stop." He stripped the shirt off my shoulder, shoved my skirt to my waist, and covered me completely, a full weight I asked for.

"That's it," he said, voice low now, not boardroom.

"I've got you. Come for me when you can. Stay." He slid inside like the dark had given permission, slow, then a rhythm we chose together. Tight. Slick. No soldiers. No envelope. My nails asked for more and he gave it, thrust after thrust, counted by breath instead of money.

"Look at me while I take you," I said first, surprising us both. He did. Cedar and my name. His mouth on my throat. I told him I wanted it deeper and he laughed, wrecked, and obeyed. The breaker box stayed dead. The city stayed out. We didn't rush the middle. That was the surrender. I asked. He coaxed.