Chapter 2 - The Shared Suite
The heavy oak door of the principal suite clicked shut behind them, sealing away the murmurs and calculating glances of Carmine Falco’s inner circle. The room was grand, draped in heavy velvet curtains, antique mahogany furnishings, and dominated by a massive, king-sized poster bed draped in deep crimson linens.
Harper stood frozen just inside the threshold, her coat clutched tightly around her like armor. The storm outside lashed violently against the reinforced glass windows, howling through the Catskill pines.
Dominic tossed his leather gloves onto a side table and unbuttoned his suit jacket, his expression a mask of cold calculation. He walked over to the windows, gazing out into the blinding white blizzard.
“A deliberate trap,” Dominic said, his voice low and vibrating with contained fury. “Carmine thinks he can test our unity by forcing us into close quarters. He wants to see if the cracks in our facade will show.”
Harper forced her breathing to remain steady, walking further into the room. “And what do we do? Sleep on opposite sides of the room? There’s only one bed, Dominic.”
Dominic turned slowly, his dark eyes locking onto hers with a intensity that made the air in the room feel thin. He walked toward her, closing the distance until the scent of pine, rain, and expensive cologne wrapped around her senses.
“You will take the bed, Harper,” he said quietly. “I will take the armchair by the fireplace. The rules of our contract do not change just because an old tyrant plays games.”
Harper looked up at him, feeling a strange tug of defiance and something far more dangerous—admiration. “You’ll freeze or ruin your back in that chair. We’re both adults. We can share a bed without crossing lines.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. A muscle jumped in his cheek. “You underestimate the danger of proximity, Harper. In my world, letting someone close is a fatal flaw.”
“We are already close enough to fool the entire commission,” she whispered, stepping closer, braving the cold barrier he tried to maintain. “Or are you afraid that you’re the one who can’t handle the proximity?”
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For a second, the mask slipped. Dominic’s gaze dropped to her lips before flashing back up to her eyes. He exhaled a slow, sharp breath, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His knuckles brushed her cheek, sending a sudden, electric shiver down her spine.
“Be careful what you challenge, wife,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. “You might just win.”
