Chapter 143
Chapter 143:
“Call me,” he said, his voice dropping to near silence. “My title p>
Eliza trembled. The towel was slipping. She didn’t care.
“Husband,” she breathed.
Dallas groaned — a sound of pure possession. He brought his lips down onto hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was hungry, desperate, and claiming.
Eliza melted. Her hands found his hair and gripped tight.
He lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist instinctively. A sharp wince crossed his face as the stitches in his side pulled — a fleeting shadow she didn’t see.
The towel fell to the floor.
“Bedroom,” he growled against her mouth. “Now p>
Sunlight hit Eliza’s face. She woke slowly, warm and heavy.
She was in her new bed at The Aurelia. But she wasn’t alone.
Dallas’s arm was draped over her waist, holding her with the easy certainty of a man who had no intention of letting go. He was asleep, his face buried in the crook of her neck. In sleep, he looked younger — less like a titan of industry, more like simply a man.
𝖱е𝘢𝗱 𝖿𝗿𝘦𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝘃e𝘭𝗌 𝗈𝗇 ѕ.𝖼o𝗆
She tried to ease out from under his arm.
His grip tightened instantly.
“Where are you going?” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
“Work,” she whispered, trying to untangle her legs from his.
“S&D doesn’t start until nine,” he murmured into her skin. “Stay p>
“Not S&D,” she corrected him softly. “I have to go to The Gilded Lily. The manager needs me to sign off on the new menu p>
“Call in sick.” He kissed her shoulder, refusing to move.
“I can’t call in sick, Dallas,” she laughed, finally wiggling free enough to sit up. “I own the place now, remember? You made me the boss p>
Dallas opened one eye. A lazy, satisfied smirk spread across his face. “Best investment I ever made p>
“You are impossible,” Eliza said — but she couldn’t stop smiling.
Dallas got up, entirely unbothered by the morning chill or her gaze. Eliza looked away, color rushing to her cheeks despite everything that had happened the night before.
“You’ve seen it all before,” he said, moving toward the kitchen. “I’ll make coffee p>
Eliza watched him go. He moved through her small apartment with the quiet confidence of a man who had already made himself at home in it. This domesticity was dangerous. It was addictive.
In the kitchen, the coffee machine hissed to life.
Dallas leaned against the counter, waiting for it to brew. He picked up his phone — but he didn’t open his emails. He opened a secure app connected to his personal lifestyle management team.
He had noticed the empty spaces in Eliza’s closet that morning. It bothered him. She was still living half-in, half-out, one foot always pointed toward the door.
He tapped a pre-set command: Initiate Protocol Nest. Transfer all remaining personal effects from Penthouse Guest Suite to Aurelia Unit 4B. Execute immediately.