Page 64 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

Darius laughed, the sound dark with appreciation for her stubborn resistance. "We'll see," he promised, his rhythm becoming erratic as his release approached. "We'll fucking see."

He pulled out at the last moment, his release spilling hot against her lower back. The deliberate denial of his knot was both relief and disappointment—her Omega instincts keening for the completion her rational mind rejected.

For long moments, the only sound in the office was their ragged breathing. Reality returned in increments—the hard deskbeneath her cheek, the sticky evidence of his release cooling on her skin, the distant hum of phones and voices from the main floor.

Darius stepped back, tucking himself away and rebuckling his belt with efficient movements. Serenity straightened, wincing slightly at the pleasant ache between her thighs, a physical reminder of what had just transpired.

She turned, facing him with as much dignity as she could muster with her skirt hiked up and her blouse partially unbuttoned. "This can't happen again," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

He handed her a tissue from the box on her desk, his expression unreadable. "We both know that's a lie."

Silence stretched between them as she cleaned herself and straightened her clothing. The professional mask she'd worn all morning felt impossible to reconstruct now.

Darius broke the silence, his tone shifting back to something more businesslike. "The Vale territory is under threat," he said abruptly. "Three families have formed an alliance to divide your father's empire. They don't know about you yet, but when they discover Marcus Vale's Omega daughter is alive and unclaimed, they'll move quickly."

The sudden change of subject gave her whiplash. "Why tell me this now?"

"Because despite what you believe, I made a promise to your father." His gray eyes held hers. "A promise I intend to keep, whether you cooperate or not."

Questions crowded her mind, but before she could voice them, something on the bookshelf behind his desk caught her attention—a tiny red light, almost imperceptible unless you knew what to look for.

A camera.

Recording everything.

Her blood turned to ice.

"You're recording this?" she demanded, fury rising to replace the lingering pleasure.

Darius frowned, following her gaze. When he spotted the camera, his expression hardened. "That's not mine," he said, moving toward the shelf.

Before he could reach it, the office door opened, and Ronan Drake sauntered in, his green eyes gleaming with amusement and something darker.

"Sorry to interrupt," he drawled, gaze traveling over Serenity's disheveled appearance with obvious appreciation. "Though from what I've been watching, the main event is already over."

Serenity's cheeks burned with humiliation and rage as understanding dawned. "You were watching?" she spat, hands clenching into fists at her sides.

Ronan's smile was all predator. "Someone has to keep an eye on our investment," he replied, his gaze moving deliberately from her to Darius. "Besides, little runaway, you put on quite a show. Makes me wonder if you'll be as responsive when it's my turn."

Serenity realized just how deep into the lion's den she had truly wandered.

13

STEAMY TANGO FOR THREE

~SERENITY~

"By the way, I've been recording you two fucking," Ronan announced, casually leaning against the doorframe of Darius's office, his copper hair slightly disheveled as if he'd just rolled out of bed.

Serenity's jaw dropped. The pen she'd been twirling between her fingers clattered onto the glass desk.

"You've been what?" she choked out, her golden eyes flaring with those distinctive red flecks that always appeared when she was caught off guard.

Darius didn't look up from the financial reports spread before him, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. "How long?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

Ronan smirked, pushing off from the doorframe and sauntering into the room like he owned it. "Long enough to appreciate your technique, Castellano. Though I have a few pointers, if you're interested."

Serenity's face burned hot. She couldn't decide which was worse—the violation or the casual way Ronan admitted to it. Her hand instinctively reached for the letter opener on Darius's desk.A $5 billion worth Alpha shouldn't be this fucking brazen, she thought, but then again, this was Ronan Drake.

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