Shadows Of Disire

ce. The emotions she had long buried were surfacing, colliding with the confusing feelings she was developing for Alexander Car

hy was he suddenly interested

h David ended. She walked in, hoping a warm drink might steady her nerves. The barista gave her a kno

she felt the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. Her art, her liv

her out of her thoughts.

Let me know when you'd like t

the two very different men in her life: the one who had left her shat

r fingers hovering over th

afternoon. Let's

sage, already feeling the ten

uit. The contrast between his polished appearance and her chaotic, paint splattered workspace w

nated. He had seen many art collections, but ther

hands on her apron. "It's

eyes softening. "It's more than

moved to a blank canvas in the corner. "So, I've been thinking about the piece for your office," she began, try

ant it to be more than that. I want it to

a flicker of something unspoken between them. "That's a tall order, Mr.

aving hers. "I have no doubt

niable. Sophie felt her pulse quicken every time he brushed past her, his presence overwhelming in the small

ucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You'v

flicking to his lips. "Occupa

utside faded away, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of anticipati

e to your clients?" she aske

ibrating through her. "Only whe

need that mirrored her own. The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as if testing

pulled him closer. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the streng

lding between them over the past weeks exploded in th

foreheads pressed together. Alex's fingers traced the line o

e whispered, his voi

ent, lust, but the words never came. Instead, she pulle

eel a sense of dread creeping in. Her encounter with Alex had left her reeling, but it also filled her with a sense of vulner

she picked it up to se

y. He was asking abo

reeping back into her life, threatening to destroy the fragile new connec

eed some time to

't fine. And she had no ide

oughts were consumed by Sophie, her smile, her laugh, the way she had kissed him back with

ed in, her lips painted a deep red, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "

hed. "What do yo

. "So cold, Alex. I was hoping we could c

usy," he rep

artist friend?" she asked,

wed. "What are yo

Alex. You think I wouldn't find out? The whole office is

ness, his fists clenching. "L

tory?" Evelyn taunted, her eyes gleaming. "Or maybe

unyielding. "Whatever game you're playi

ou can't protect her from everything, Alex. Sooner or l

and left, leaving Alex to grapple

in, her emotions in turmoil. She had spent the entire night thinking about Alex, abou

iting for her, his face a mask of unreadable emot

king a deep br

as the first to speak. "I need to know what this is," she said, her voi

nd he reached across th

ars building walls, protecting myself from getting too close to anyone. With you, it's different. I don

l, carefully curating every aspect of his life. But with Sophie, he felt that control

pected from the confident billionaire. Her hand tightened around his, and she nodded slowly. "I want that too," she admitted

s, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "I'll wait for you to t

ars behind her art. But with Alex, she felt seen, truly seen, in a way she hadn't

r. It was Marcus, Alex's long time friend and busi

ou," Marcus said, his eyes fl

assuring smile. "I should go anyw

dbye," Alex insisted, squeezing

r, his expression grave. "We have a problem," he said, h

cold. "David? A

n't be good. Evelyn's been digging into Sophie's past, and I'm wor

g him. "Find out everything you can, Marcus," he ordered, his voice

the duality of power and vulnerability, a reflection of the man she was beginning to know beyond the billiona

was she going to do about David? He had made it clear that he wouldn't leave her alone. The fear of her pa

ound, startled, and there stood David, leaning casually agai

e demanded, her voice trembling

st. "Just thought I'd drop by and see how my favorite artist is doing," he said

"Get out, David. You ha

t for you. I heard about your new billionaire boyfriend. Alex Carlisle, right? Did you know he

she refused to let him see her fear.

x, Evelyn Monroe, has a vendetta against him. And I know she's willi

cold dread washing over

n't the only one who can dig up dirt. I know things about him that co

but she refused to back down. "I'm not afrai

l the faint hint of whiskey on his breath. "Maybe not n

aking. She sank down onto the floor, her back against the wall, as tears welled up in her eyes.

louds rolling in as a light rain began to fall. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, the cool droplets s

esitated, her hand hovering over the call button. She hadn't planned on

her standing there, drenched and shivering in the rain. Without a word, he

ng here?" he asked, his v

h unshed tears. "I didn't know where else

he living room. The warmth of the room enveloped her, but she

s hands cupping her face. "Tal

said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He found me. He's been

face. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

over. She buried her face in his chest, the sobs wracking her body. "I'm

to the top of her head. "You won't

his eyes took her breath away. "I don't care about your past, Sophie," he said. "I care a

he reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "I believe you,

a kiss filled with promise, with unspoken words and shared fears. It was a kiss that

st hers, his breath mingling with hers. "We'll get

x of fear and love. "Together," she agre

, a phone buzzed on the table. Alex reached over,

her move. We ne

f moment of peace was about to shatter, and he could only ho