Lyra's POV
The sound of Mira's soft breathing was the only thing keeping me grounded. I watched her sleep, her small face peaceful and untouched by the storm brewing around us. For a moment, I let myself believe that everything was normal, that I was just a nanny in a beautiful estate taking care of a sweet little girl.
But it wasn't true, and I knew it.
Everything was spiraling out of control. Ever since that night, the boundaries between Leo and me had blurred to the point where I wasn't sure there were any left. His kiss still lingered on my lips, hot and demanding, as if he had branded me with his touch. And Adrian. he wasn't going anywhere either. Between them, I felt like a rope being pulled from both ends, about to snap.
I made my way downstairs, the soft click of my heels echoing in the vastness of the house. The kitchen was dimly lit, and I poured myself a glass of water, hoping it would calm my nerves. But it didn't. Nothing did. Not when I felt his eyes on me, even when he wasn't in the room.
The kitchen door swung open without warning, and I nearly dropped my glass. Leo.
He stepped inside, his movements deliberate, predatory, as if he had been waiting for this moment. His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, and the air around us seemed to thicken with the weight of unspoken things.
"Couldn't sleep?" His voice was low, rough around the edges, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed hard, setting the glass down on the counter. "No. I... I just needed some air."
Leo moved closer, the space between us shrinking with every step he took. My pulse quickened, and my body betrayed me, reacting to the heat of his nearness even though my mind screamed at me to push him away.
"You think I don't see it?" he murmured, his gaze never leaving mine. "The way you try to keep distance between us. The way you pretend you don't feel this."
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My breath hitched as he closed the final gap between us, his body brushing against mine, his hand coming up to cup my chin. His touch was firm, possessive, and it sent a flood of warmth through me that I couldn't control.
"You can't deny it, Lyra," he whispered, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine. "You belong to me. You've always belonged to me."
"Leo..." I tried to protest, but my voice was weak, trembling.
He didn't wait for me to finish. His lips crashed against mine, hard and hungry, as if he was claiming me all over again. I gasped into the kiss, my hands instinctively finding their way to his chest, pushing lightly against him—but it wasn't enough. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to stop.
His hands moved to my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I felt my resolve crumbling. The kiss deepened, becoming rougher, more urgent, as if he was trying to burn his touch into my skin. Every nerve in my body was alight, every inch of me responding to him even though I knew I shouldn't be.
This was dangerous. This was wrong. But I couldn't pull away.
Leo's hands slid down to my hips, gripping them tightly as he lifted me onto the kitchen counter. I gasped, my fingers digging into his shoulders as his body pressed between my legs. The heat between us was unbearable, suffocating, and yet I wanted more. I hated that I wanted more.
"You feel that, don't you?" Leo's voice was a low growl, his breath hot against my neck as his lips trailed down to my collarbone. "You're mine, Lyra. You've been mine since the moment you stepped into this house."
I bit my lip, my head spinning with desire and fear. "This... this isn't right, Leo."
He pulled back slightly, his eyes burning into mine. "What's right doesn't matter anymore. You know that as well as I do."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I realized he was right. Nothing about this was right, but that didn't seem to stop me. It didn't stop him.
I reached up, threading my fingers through his hair as I pulled him back into the kiss, desperate for something I couldn't name. His lips moved against mine, rough and demanding, and I felt myself sinking deeper into the darkness that surrounded him. That surrounded us.
But just as quickly as the heat between us flared, it was doused by the sound of a door creaking open from the hallway.
We both froze, our breathing ragged as we turned toward the sound. Mira. My heart lurched, the reality of the situation crashing down on me like a wave. I pushed Leo away, scrambling off the counter, my chest heaving with guilt and panic.
"Mira..." I whispered, my voice shaking as I stepped away from Leo, putting space between us. "I need to check on Mira."
Leo's expression darkened, but he didn't stop me. He didn't say a word as I hurried past him, my pulse racing for all the wrong reasons.
As I climbed the stairs to Mira's room, my legs felt weak, my mind spinning. What the hell was I doing?
I paused outside her door, pressing my forehead against the wood as I tried to catch my breath. I was drowning in this, in Leo, in the chaos he had brought into my life. And Adrian... Adrian wasn't going to let me go either.
I was trapped. Trapped between two men who wouldn't stop until I was theirs.
And the worst part?
A part of me didn't want to escape.