Page 50 of Steel Beauty

Heat floods my cheeks, but I manage to keep my composure. “Oh? Is that so?”

He leans in enough to make my pulse stutter. “I’m happy to keep testing the theory… for the sake of science.”

I bite my lip, letting the moment stretch between us for a moment. “Well, I’m always willing to contribute to scientific discovery.”

The heat in his gaze makes it clear we’re toeing a dangerous line. I swallow, searching for something—anything—to steady myself.

He’s read me pretty accurately so far, but I want to know more about him. “You seem to have me all figured out. Tell me what you want in life.”

He’s quiet for a moment, his hand still lightly tangled in my hair. Then, with a quiet exhale, he simply says, “Peace.”

The single word hangs between us, uncomplicated yet profoundly heavy. It settles somewhere deep inside me, resonating in a way I understand far more than I’d like to admit.

The next song thrums softly in the background, wrapping around us as the silence stretches. In this moment, I realize something unexpected: being here with him, in this space, might be the closest I’ve ever come to finding peace myself.

And maybe—just maybe—that’swhat makes this so dangerous.

Chapter12

Magnolia Steel

The faintest hintof morning slips into the room, barely peeking around the edges of the blackout shades. The soft glow casts everything in muted shadows, just enough light to make out the shape of him beside me.

My eyes drift over him, taking in every detail, savoring the sight of him sprawled out on the bed. The sheet lies low on his hips, barely covering him. He’s naked underneath—completely—and that knowledge makes my pulse skip. The dark waves of his glossy jet-black hair stand out against the stark white of the pillow, a contrast that draws my gaze, much like everything about him.

As my gaze roams, it traces the sharp line of his jaw, the proud slope of his nose, and the curve of his lips. His chest rises and falls with steady breaths, the intricate tribal tattoos etched into his skin shifting subtly with each inhale. My gaze trails down to his waist, the sheet clinging to his hips, teasing me with what lies beneath.

He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever been with. More than that, he’s the sexiest… a literal dream. And last night? It was everything I imagined and then some.

Hotter than a skillet of cornbread.

Every fantasy I’ve ever had… he made them real. And then there were things I didn’t even know I wanted until he gave them to me.

Caesar wasn’t just good. He was a giver, not a taker, not the kind of man who’s only interested in his own pleasure. He gave himself completely. And the way he touched me was like every inch of me mattered, even the imperfect parts. It was more than I ever dared hope for.

I lie here, drinking in the sight of him, knowing I’ve never experienced anything like last night. This man is special. That much I know.

He stirs beside me, shifting under the sheets. His dark lashes flutter for a moment, and then his eyes meet mine, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “Morning.”

“Good morning,” I whisper back, warmth spreading through my chest simply from the way he looks at me.

He stretches slightly, his muscles shifting under the sheet. “Didn’t sleep well? Was the bed uncomfortable?”

I shake my head, my lips curving into a playful smile. “The bed was wonderful. And so was my bedmate.”

His laugh is low and easy, the kind of sound that makes me want to hear it again. “I was pretty pleased with my bedmate too.”

I prop myself up on one elbow, rubbing my hand over the sheet, appreciating its softness. “I don’t sleep with men afterward. It’s not something I do.”

It takes a lot of trust to close your eyes and sleep beside someone. But that’s not what kept me awake. It wasn’t fear or discomfort, rather the rush of something I’m not used to. Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin—a mix of all the feel-good hormones that happens after a night like we had. That’s what kept me up.

After all, he made me come twice before midnight… and I lost count during the small hours.

Concern tugs at his features. “I hope I wasn’t the reason you didn’t sleep.”

A laugh slips from my lips. “Oh, Julius Caesar. You absolutely disturbed my sleep but in the best way possible.”

He shifts a little closer, the warmth of his body radiating through the thin sheet. “Good. That’s exactly what I was going for.”

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