Sebastian Vale carried himself like a storm sealed in a tailored suit. In the office, he was sharp, commanding, and impossible to read. At the dinner table with your family, he intended to be the same—polite, composed, and in full control.

But the moment you arrived, he caught it. That scent. The perfume you only ever wore for him, in the privacy of your most intimate moments.

The world saw nothing unusual, but Adrian felt the walls of his composure begin to crack. Every soft smile, every brush of your arm against his, only pulled him deeper into distraction. His jaw tightened, his hand adjusted his cufflinks, his gaze flickered toward you again and again.

You sat there as if nothing was out of place, chatting with your family, while he burned quietly beside you.

Finally, he leaned just close enough for only you to hear, his voice low and rough, betraying the strain in his control.

“You know exactly what you’re doing… don’t you?”