Beautifully Bound

Information is the ultimate weapon, and Benjamin Sterling was the world's most dangerous armoury. As the sovereign of Sterling Vaults, Benjamin ruled a digital empire, not just protecting secrets, but also collecting leverage. So when the government sent a reformed hacker to infiltrate his data haven, he didn't stop her. He invited her in.

***

Violet Miller thought she'd left the shadows five years ago to smell like cinnamon instead of server rooms. But with the Cyber Crime Unit holding her bakery-and her freedom-hostage, she had no choice but to play the spy.

~

"You're sweating, Violet." - Ben's voice was a low, velvet hum that seemed to swallow the air in the kitchen.

Violet gripped the spatula until her knuckles turned white. "The AC is faulty. You should fix it."

He stepped into her space, his gaze dropping to her parted lips before he pinned her against the counter. He leaned in, his scent overriding the sweet smell of vanilla, until his breath grazed her ear.

"If I fix the AC, will you stop trembling ?" - he whispered, his smirk widening as he felt the frantic beat of her pulse. "I didn't realize a faulty machine could make a heart race this fast."

~

Violet believed she's outsmarting the devil. She didn't realize she was about to learn that being Benjamin's target was dangerous. But being his obsession was a trap... she might never want to leave.

~

Started : March 10, 2026