Chapter 6:

The Risk

Mom’s hug lingered a little too long, her perfume wrapping around me like a reminder of everything we were betraying. “You two look so cozy! The house feels warmer already.” She pulled back, smiling, but her eyes flicked between us for a beat longer than usual.

“Missed you, love,” Marcus said smoothly, kissing her cheek. His hand stayed low on my back, thumb brushing just above the curve of my ass where her view was blocked. I shivered.

That night, the three of us had dinner like nothing was wrong. Mom chattered about London deals while I pushed food around my plate, hyper aware of Marcus’s...