Page 57 of Little Did You Know

Liam stepped closer, the usual playfulness gone from his features. "Are you okay, Nick?"

"This time, it's different." My knuckles whitened as the curled into fists. The rage that had been simmering all night finally boiled over. "They involved Olivia, and I want to know who leaked those photos."

Justin's hand settled on my shoulder, steady and grounding. "We'll take care of it."

Liam was already pulling out his phone, the blue light casting shadows across his face as his fingers danced across the screen. The intensity in his eyes was familiar—the same look he'd worn when erasing every trace of my last scandal. "I'll get them scrubbed." He was already hunched over his phone, his fingers flying across the screen with the intensity that had earned him his reputation as a digital ghost. "Within the hour, those photos won't exist anywhere but in their nightmares." The quiet confidence in his voice wasn't bravado; I'd seen him destroy bigger stories than this.

"Thank you," I said, calming down. I knew Justin and Liam would take care of it.

"I'll walk you out," I said to the three of them. "Olivia, stay here. I'll be back." Hannah, Liam, and Justin followed me out. "Jackson will take you back to your cars. It should be cleared out now. If not, he'll take you home.”

I stood silently, towering over Olivia as she sat still, staring at the ground.

The words felt hollow in my throat. "I'm sorry, Olivia."

She rose from the leather couch, tilting her head back to meet my gaze. In the dim light, her eyes held none of the accusation I deserved. "It's not your fault. It's just pictures."

A bitter laugh caught in my chest. "I wish that's all they were." My fingers brushed against her cheek, memorizing the softness there. "They're going to go crazy trying to figure out who you are." My hand dropped to my side, heavy with guilt. "And then they're going to stalk you like they stalk me. Every grocery run, every coffee stop, every moment you think you're alone—they'll be there, waiting. It's worse because of the compromising position we were in." I grabbed her hands and pulled her closer to me. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to go through this, and I am truly sorry. I will do everything I can to take care of this and ensure you are protected from them."

"I trust you." Olivia's smile held a mix of vulnerability and strength that kept catching me off guard. Her fingers intertwined with mine, steady despite everything that had happened. Exhaustion had smudged shadows beneath her eyes, but her gaze remained clear.

"Let's get some sleep." I released her hands. I lifted her into my arms and carried her upstairs. Setting her down on my bed, I removed her clothes, and she yawned. Once I had her completely naked, I guided her up to the pillows, kissed her on the forehead, and removed my clothes before climbing into the bed next to her.

Moonlight filtered through the gauzy curtains. She curled into me, her breath evening out to match the subtle tick of the antique clock down the hall. As she drifted off, her fingers slowly uncurled against my chest. In the hushed darkness, Anthony's words echoed in my mind with new weight, each syllable dropping into the quiet like stones into still water.

Watching her sleep, I caught myself categorizing the small details—the way her fingers curled against my chest, how her breathing had synchronized with mine, the familiar scent of her shampoo that had somehow become part of my home. My chest tightened with a familiar warning. I'd built my empire on control, on keeping everyone at a carefully calculated distance. But Olivia had a way of slipping past my defenses when I wasn't looking, leaving traces of herself in my space, my routine, my thoughts.

The last time I'd let someone get this close... I pushed the memory away and focused on the weight of her against me, solid and present. This was different. This was just proximity, just protective instinct. Just because I'd memorized the cadence of her laugh didn't mean anything deeper. I'd learned my lesson about love a long time ago, paid for it in ways that still showed up in my nightmares.

Gently, I kissed her on the forehead and pulled her tighter against me before dozing off myself.

Chapter Twenty-Five

My body quivered with pleasure, a dream that felt all too real. Strong, firm hands roamed my body, and my most sensitive spot was electrified. "Mmmm," I moaned. My eyes eased open only to realize it was real.

It was still dark, with only the moon shining through the large window, illuminating the room in a soft glow. Looking down, Nick gazed back up at me with dark, hungry eyes. Oh god, this was real and felt amazing. My body arched into him as he stopped.

His eyes met mine, dark with desire. "Good morning."

"Oh god, don't stop." My legs hooked over his shoulders, body arching toward him.

He continued to run his mouth over me, using his tongue in ways I never knew existed. The louder I became, the more pleasure he brought me. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me down hard against his mouth as I ran my fingers through his dark hair. My body began to vibrate with ecstasy as the erotic tension built up. My muscles tightened as he circled my clit, and when I thought I couldn't take anymore, he flicked his tongue once, twice, a third time. I trembled uncontrollably as the release of all that tension erupted hard into a powerful orgasmic rush.

My body went limp with satisfied delight as Nick kissed his way up my body until he was hovering over me. Gently, he kissed my lips until the kiss deepened into raw desire and hunger for each other as if my mouth was his only source of survival. Then, he slowed it down until he was able to pull away.

A satisfied smile curved my lips. "Good morning."

"Good morning." He rolled away, the mattress shifting as he rose, muscles rippling beneath tanned skin.

He was magnificent naked. His body was sculpted with strong muscles everywhere. He was a big man, tall with broad shoulders and thick, solid legs, and big didn't begin to describe his manhood. "I wanted to wake you up to see if you wanted to go run with me." If that was how he woke me up to see if I wanted to run with him, then yes, I wanted to run with him every morning and every night.

"Yes, I would," I replied. "I'll go get dressed." I began to get up, only to be shoved back onto the bed.

"Where are your workout clothes," he asked, his fingers stroking over my body.

"I can get them," I replied.

"No, I'll get them," he stated firmly. "I like you in my bed."

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