Then, more visceral memories surfaced, him standing over me, his body tense, his hand gripping his shaft as desire pulsed through him with raw hunger.
I sighed, leaning against the wall in the corner, surrendering to the past, even for a brief moment.
Our time together was fleeting but intense and passionate. The chemistry between us crackled like static, leaving behind an indelible mark full of endless memories that haunted and captivated me, no matter how much I’d tried to forget over the years.
Chance led me to a luxury resort in the Caribbean, where I found myself alone, free from Zeno’s usual control. He had sent me on this rare vacation as a reward for my loyalty, and I cherished the solitude, no leashes, no commands.
I remembered feeling an exhilarating sense of independence, checking in under an alias, reveling in swimming, sunbathing, partying, and mingling with strangers, each moment more freeing than the last.
That was where I’d met Thal.
He’d immediately caught my eye. He was charming beyond words, confident, with an aura of sexiness that made my knees weak. We clicked in an instant, and I soon discovered he was an incredible lover, able to explore every inch of desire with finesse that left me breathless. We’d spent hours tangled in bed, pushing each other to the edges of pleasure, caught up in a whirlwind of decadence.
Neither of us were aware of the true stakes or our connections to Zeno. He was one of Zeno’s main rivals, and I was Zeno’s ward and understudy.
Zeno kept me, for the most part, in the dark about his business affairs, and I had never even heard Thal’s name before that moment.
When the truth finally surfaced, it shattered everything. Our paradise crumbled into a million pieces, as if our time together had never existed. We went our separate ways, but Thal’s image refused to fade from my mind.
I had spent many hours replaying those moments, questioning whether he thought of me as well and if he ever wondered what might have been.
Right now, all I could think about was how he’d react when he saw me again.
Zeno’s face flashed in my mind. He’d sent me here to get close to Thal, without knowing that I had already been very close to him in a much more intimate way. We’d gone to great lengths to keep that secret. If Zeno knew how much had happened between Thal and me, he would explode with rage.
Not out of jealousy.
No, it was nothing like that. He’d feel like I’d betrayed him. My relationship with Zenobius Theodorus was complicated, if you could even call it that. He believed I owed him so much, and maybe I did. Still, that didn’t stop me from doing everything I could to free myself from his control.
The truth was, Zeno had been kind to me. He’d saved my fucking life when no one else was around to do so. I was fifteen when my parents died. Losing them left me empty and forlorn, just a shell of the vibrant girl I’d used to be before that tragic accident.
Zeno took me under his wing.
He gave me a place to live. He became a father figure when I desperately needed one. He taught me things I never would have learned anywhere else. Now, he was my only family.
But did that mean I owed him the rest of my life?
His generosity years ago had saved my life, sure, but I had never wanted to grow up and be just his loyal servant.
I had my own dreams about what my life would be like, what I wanted it to be.
And that certainly didn’t include hiding out in the shadows and spying on my former lover, but here I was.
Doing just that.
For Zeno.
Some days, it felt like I was living my entire life for him.
A waiter passed by, and I grabbed a flute of champagne from his tray, drinking it before reaching for another.
A slow smile crept across my lips as I watched Thal. His charm was undeniable, and he seemed fully aware of it. With effortless ease, he tossed endearing smiles to everyone at the table, his intense focus and casual demeanor contrasting yet amplifying his disarming presence.
One by one, he drew in those around him, including me, with that magnetic pull. There was something about him that made you crave his proximity.
Unease settled like a heavy weight in my stomach. Seeing Thal again ignited turmoil—part desire to rush into his arms, part impulse to escape the moment and not risk trouble.
My loyalty to Zeno gnawed at my insides, tearing at my resolve.
