The private elevator doors slid open witha soft chime d epositing Anissa directly into the foyer of the penthouse
It was early evening The massive apartment was dead silent. The only light came from the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long, orange shadows across the Italian marble floors.
Anissa st epped out. She was holdingthe pristine Harry Winston shopping bag inone hand, and the crumpled, tor black paper bag hiddenunder her 'white suit jacket inthe other.
She looked around nervously. She didn't want Eleanor, the houseke eper 10 see the adult toys. She quickly openeda discreet, dark wood storage cabinet built into the entryway wall and shoved the torn black bag onto the bottom shelf, pushingit out of sight
She took a de ep breath, smoothing her jacket, and walked into the main livingroom.
Harding was standing by the glass wall
He was facing the Manhattan skyline holding a heavy crystal glass of amber whiskey. He was wearing a dark charcoal, custom tailored suit, but the jacket was unbuttoned and his silk tie had been pulled loose. His broad shoulders looked tense, carrying the physical exhaustion of a transatlantic flight
Hearing her heels click on the marble, Harding turned around
The moment his eyes locked onto Anissa the sharp line of his jaw. instantly clenched. The muscle feathered under his skin
They stood fifteen feet apart. The air in the room instantly thickened heavy with the weight of three days of absolute silence, suffocating pride, and a desperate, unacknowledged physical craving. Hardinglowered his whiskey glass. His voice was rough scrapingagainst the silence like sandpaper.
“You went out”
It wasn't a question. It was an observation of her flawless white suit and perfect makeup.
00% 1712 N87
Clea 3 +120 Points at most Anissa swallowed the hard lump of pridein her throat. She took a de ep, steadying breath, forcing down the lingering sting of Trent Vances malicious provocations from the past three days. The dark insecurities that had gnawed at her during Hardings silence threatened to choke her right now, but she aggressively pushed them aside. Regardless of the rumors or the fear, Harding was her only true ally. He was the family she had chosen This ridiculous suffocating cold war had to end tonight, and she would be the one to break the ice. She wasn't goingto fight.
She walked forward, closing the physical distance between them until she was standing only three feet away.
She held out the dark blue velvet Harry Winston box.
“I was on Fifth Avenue” Anissa said, ke epingher voice soft. ‘I saw these. | thought they would suit you. Considerit... a welcome home gift."
The words welcome home hit Harding physically. His chest expanded as he suckedin a sharp breath. He stared at the velvet box in her hand as if it were a loaded gun
He slowly reached out. As his large fingers took the box, his knuckles intentionally brushedagainst the sensitive skinof her wrist.
Afoit of pure electricity shot up Anissa's arm. She suppresseda shiver Harding popped the lid open with his thumb. The de ep ocean-blue sapphires caught the dim light of the room. The cold, defensive wall behind his eyes instantly shattered, r eplaced by a dark, overwhelming ‘wave of heat.
He set his whiskeyglass down on a side table.
“Put them on me,” Harding said. His voice was a low, vibrating command. “Please.”
Anissas heart slammed against her ribs. It was an incredibly intimate request. She nodded slowly.
Harding shruggedoff his charcoal suit jacket, tossing it carelessly onto the white leather sofa. He stood in front of her in his crisp white dress. shirt. The fabric pulled tight across the heavy muscles of his chest.
He took a half-st ep forward. The physical distance between them vanished.
Anissa was instantly enveloped in his scent-a sharp, intoxicating mix of cold cedarwood and dark tobacco. She looked down, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for his left wrist.
282% 1712 1
Cmte 4 +120 Points at most She unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt. Her fingertips brushed against the hot, pulse-pounding skin of his inner wrist. His skin was buming She carefully threaded the heavy platinum post of the sapphire through the buttonholes, snappingit securely into place.
Harding didn't look at his wrist. He was looking down at the top of her head, tracking the rapid rise and fall of her chest. His Adams apple bobbed sharply as he swallowed.
Anissa moved to his right wrist. As she secured the second sapphire, she looked up
Her eyes crashed directly into his They were inches apart. She could feel the heat of his breath brushingagainst her forehead.
Harding didn st ep back.
*| was in London for three days," Harding whispered his voice incredibly thick “And | couldn't focus on a single goddamn number | thought about you the entire time."
The brutal honesty of his confession cracked Anissa's heart wide open. All the anger, all the feelings of rejection, evaporated instantly.
Her eyes burned She reached into the box and pulled out the matching. black diamond bracelet.
Harding saw it. He immediately held out his wrist, offering it to her, surrenderingcompletely to her touch.
Anissa wrapped the cold platinum chain around his hot skin and clicked the clasp shut It felt like lockinga physical tether between them.
Harding tumed his hand over. He laced his long fingers throughhers, His rough thumb slowly, deliberately stroked the back of her hand. The friction sent a wave of heat straight to her core.
“Thank you for the gift," Harding murmured leaning his face down until his lips were hoveringa fraction of an inch above hers. ‘But | need you to stop acting like a guest in this house.”
Anissa’s breath hitched. She tilted her chinup, her eyelids fluttering shut, waiting for the impact of his mouth.
“Master Harding?"
The sharp, polite voice of Eleanor the houseke eper echoed from the hallway. "Dinneris served inthe diningroom."
Anissa and Hardingjumpedapart as if they had been struck by lightning 533% 1712 N1
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Chapter 44 +120 Points at most Harding cursed under his breath, dragginga nang through his dark hai. Anissaturned her face away, her cheeks bumingwith intenseheat. But as she walked toward the diningroom, a small, genuinesmile touched her lips. The ice was finally broken
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€ Maryiog My Exs Powerl Bllonare Dn... #% 4120 Points at most