"Lucy Chen didn't move to Moscow for romance. She moved for distance from her mother, from expectations, from the version of herself everyone assumes she'll become. Tim Bradford didn't move to Moscow for complications. As a billionaire CEO expanding his empire overseas, he prefers control, precision, and deals that stay strictly professional. Unfortunately for both of them, Moscow has other plans. A chance encounter at two in the morning turns into something neither of them asked for and definitely didn't agree to. Suddenly, public appearances are required. Personal space becomes optional. And keeping their distance proves harder than either of them expected. He calls her "trouble." She calls him insufferable. The tension? Unavoidable. With forced proximity, razor-sharp banter, and a mother who may or may not be pulling invisible strings behind the scenes, what starts as a temporary arrangement quickly blurs into something far more complicated. Set against the icy glamour of Russia's elite circles, Cold Contracts & Colder Hearts is a slow-burn, high-tension romance filled with power plays, lingering stares, almost-touches, and the dangerous realization that sometimes the most binding contracts are the ones you never meant to sign. And in a city this cold, sparks don't just fly. They burn."

Twenty-two-year-old Lucy Chen arrives in Spain for the final year of her art degree determined to finally build a life for herself. Surrounded by art, freedom, and endless possibility, she begins discovering who she truly wants to be. Professor Tim Bradford keeps his distance from everyone. Quiet, disciplined, and impossible to read, he returned to the art world for reasons no one knows. Beneath his calm exterior lies a dangerous secret tied to an undercover FBI investigation hidden within the academy. As Lucy and Tim grow closer, feelings neither of them expected begin to change everything. But with secrets closing in and danger growing around them, they quickly learn that some truths can destroy everything they care about.

The man in the corner-the guard assigned by our families to ensure the union is 'properly consummated' watches us with dispassionate eyes. It makes my skin crawl, but then Tim shifts his hips, and a sharp gasp tears from my throat, drowning out everything else. I bury my face in the crook of his neck to hide from the guard, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and expensive whiskey. My fingers dig into his shoulders as the rhythm builds. "Tell me something about you," he murmurs against my hair, his voice ragged but clear despite the exertion. "What?" I moan, confused and dizzy, pressing my lips to the damp skin of his neck in a desperate attempt to anchor myself. He slows his pace just enough to force me to focus, pulling back slightly so he can look me in the eye, even as his body remains connected to mine. "I want to get to know my wife."