Page 47 of Vows of Deceit
Every thrust, every whispered name, every gasp between them was a testament to everything they’d held inside. Her nails raked down his back. His teeth grazed her collarbone. She came apart with a cry, clinging to him like she was unraveling.
He followed her over the edge, groaning her name into her neck as he collapsed on top of her, breathing ragged and uneven. Minutes passed. Maybe hours. They lay tangled in heat and sweat, heartbeats echoing in unison. Cassie brushed his hair from his brow and kissed him softly.
“You didn’t break me,” she whispered. “You made me whole again.”
Grayson pulled her close, voice rough with emotion. “And I’ll spend every day proving you were never less than that.”
Outside, the waves rolled gently. Inside, two souls finally found peace.
Chapter Thirty Nine
Leo Speaks Up
The early evening sun cast golden light through the tall windows of the Kings Hotel’s executive lounge, where Cassie sat nursing an espresso and skimming updates from the Seychelles resort team. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a simple message
Leo: Can we talk? I owe you that.
Her first instinct was hesitation. Not because she feared what he’d say, but because she already had a hunch. And that made her heart hurt more.
Cassie: I’ll be in the winter garden. 30 minutes.
The space was quiet, designed for calm. A small waterfall trickled nearby, and late-blooming orchids filled the air with delicate fragrance. Cassie sat beneath a white parasol, wearing linen slacks and a loose blouse, her face unreadable.
Leo approached a few minutes later, dressed in slacks and a light blue button-up. He looked uncomfortable. Tired. But determined.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
He sat across from her, exhaling slowly. “You look... different.”
“I feel different.”
A pause.
“I read the press statement. And saw the photo of you and Grayson at the launch.”
Cassie arched a brow. “This isn’t about Grayson.”
Leo nodded. “I know.”
A longer silence stretched between them.
“I knew,” he said finally. “Not everything. But enough. Enough to know something was wrong.”
Cassie stayed quiet.
“I saw Damien leaving her place once. Late. And they weren’t exactly discreet at a few charity galas. I overheard a few things.”
She swallowed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He winced. “Because I wasn’t sure. And because, if I’m being honest I thought it wasn’t my place. Damien was my friend. And you were...”
“I was his wife,” she said quietly. “Not just someone.”
“I know,” he said. “And I’m sorry. I should’ve told you the moment I saw that first red flag.”
“Why didn’t you?”
