He didn’t let go, keeping one hand on her back while he punched in a code to unlock the door and guidedinside her with the certainty that had made her trust him from the start.
Peering up at him, emotions knotted in her chest. She couldn’t seem to process the grandeur and scale of it all.
Jamie never mentioned the enormous house he owned, the vast grounds it’s nestled in, the magnificent floating staircase, or that he had so much money.
Did she really know him at all? Because this place wasn’t just a rich man’s home.
No, it commanded the eye as a residence where legends were born. A statement. A huge revelation telling her Jamie might not be the man she thought she knew.
“Fuck, love, your face is so pale,” he said, keeping her tight to his side.
But when she wobbled, he used one arm to scoop her into his arms again. With the backs of her knees draping his forearm and her arms around his neck, he cradled her close to his chest.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?”
“No…” The word came out quieter than she intended.
“Once you’ve settled, we’re gonna have a chat. Okay?”
She nodded, closing her eyes as she breathed him into her lungs.
With the click of a button, well-placed lighting flickered to life while ambient melodies drifted through hidden speakers.
Glossy floor tiles stretched like a blanket of fresh snow, leading them from the reception and into thekitchen. The space was vast and open with high ceilings and dark wooden beams.
Expansive windows on the far wall framed the night sky like a living painting, offering a view of the quiet, moonlit landscape outside.
The kitchen was a study in modern elegance, its coal-coloured surfaces gleaming under the soft light.
Polished countertops and sleek black appliances made it look almost too pristine to use. Yet the soft scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air, offering a homeliness despite the modern design.
Jamie lowered her onto a comfy grey couch, his arms staying around her and his hands lingering on her waist to make sure she was settled.
Plush cushions welcomed her stiff body, and the warmth from the fire crackling opposite her seeped into her bones.
He knelt in front of her, his hands moving to her thighs, his gaze never leaving her. The firelight flickered shadows across his features, making him look even more intense than usual.
After a beat, he reached up, his fingers brushing under her chin, tilting her gaze upward to meet his.
“Look at me,” he said, pulling her gaze to his.
His eyes searched hers, watching her every reaction, as if trying to read her without words.
“You need to drink a glass of water,” Jamie ordered, a note of concern threading through his voice. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s not good for you to be running on empty.”
Shannon’s lips curled into a teasing smile.
“I know… I missed the cocktail sausages at the races,” she replied, her voice light, trying to inject some humour into the moment, even if her hands were trembling.
He rose to his full height, the movement fluid and powerful. Then he laughed, a low, rich, and deep raspiness that pulled at her like a magnet.
The rumble of it sent a thrill through her, making her heart hammer in her chest.
“My housekeeper left a chicken curry out of the freezer. I’ll heat it up for you instead.” He moved to the standalone granite island.
“I’d love that.” She turned to see him better, aware of how lonely she’d become without his body heat next to her. “Want me to help?”
He shook his head, taking a glass container from the double fronted fridge and unclipping it. “No, love. I can handle heating a curry.”
