Isabella Kane has always been driven by one thing: justice. As an elite FBI agent, she's never shied away from danger or backed down from a challenge.
But when her latest assignment leads her into the shadowy world of Sylus Draven, the enigmatic an...
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I woke up to a dull ache in every muscle, the kind of soreness that comes from an intense workout-or, in my case, a night with Sylus Draven. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, and I groaned, trying to roll over, but my body had other ideas. The sheets felt heavy against my skin, and even the thought of getting out of bed seemed impossible.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Sylus's voice rumbled from beside me. He sounded far too cheerful for someone who had kept me up most of the night.
I tried to sit up, but my legs had other plans. "Ugh, I can't move. I think you broke me," I mumbled, shooting him a half-hearted glare. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "You did say you wanted this," he teased, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "Not this," I protested weakly, gesturing to my uncooperative legs. "I think I need a stretcher."Sylus chuckled, the sound vibrating through the room. "I could carry you," he offered, already moving to scoop me up."No, no!" I quickly held up a hand to stop him, knowing that if he did, I'd never live it down. "I'll walk...eventually.""Suit yourself," he said, a playful gleam in his eyes. But he didn't leave my side. Instead, he leaned back against the headboard, watching me struggle to sit up with a mix of amusement and concern.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to swing my legs over the side of the bed, only to immediately realize my mistake. Standing was a bad idea. A really bad idea."I think I'm going to need help," I admitted reluctantly, reaching out for Sylus.With a fluid motion, he was by my side, his strong arms lifting me effortlessly. I should have felt embarrassed, but the way he looked at me, with that mix of tenderness and possessiveness, made my heart skip a beat. He carried me to the bathroom, setting me down gently on the counter.
"Thank you," I said softly, trying not to meet his gaze. The intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, especially after everything that had happened last night. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering. "You're welcome, Izzy."As I tried to make myself presentable, Sylus left the room to get breakfast ready.
I managed to pull on the only outfit I could find-an adorable pink dress with little bows that Leila had insisted I buy. It wasn't exactly my style, but today, I didn't care.
When I finally hobbled out of the bedroom, I found Sylus waiting for me, a smug grin on his face. "Pink suits you," he commented, his eyes raking over the dress."I look like a giant cupcake," I muttered, though secretly, I kind of liked it."An adorable cupcake," he corrected, leaning in to steal a kiss before I could protest. Later that day, after Sylus reluctantly left for a meeting, I called Leila and Seraphina for an emergency brunch. If anyone could distract me from the chaos that was my life, it was those two.
We met at our favorite spot, a cozy little café that served the best mimosas in the city. As soon as I hobbled in, Leila's eyes widened, and Seraphina barely suppressed a giggle."Oh my god, what happened to you?" Leila exclaimed, taking in my awkward walk and the pink dress.
