The first scream ripped through the Rossi mansion so violently that I dropped the towel in my hands. “Harper!” five-year-old Finn cried from upstairs

Before I could process his words, Victor closed the remaining distance between us, pulling my mouth to his in a deep, fiery kiss that obliterated every fear, every hesitation, and every wall I had ever built around my heart.

This wasn't the gentle, hesitant touch from weeks ago. This was a man claiming what he had wanted for months. His arms wrapped tightly around my waist, lifting me slightly off my feet as he pulled me against his hard frame. I buried my hands in his dark hair, kissing him back with a fierce, starving passion that matched his own.

He tasted of dark coffee, rain, and raw desire.

Victor shifted, setting me back down on the edge of the large mahogany desk, his body pinning mine as his hands moved up my spine, sending shivers through every nerve ending. He broke the kiss for a fraction of a second, his breath hot against my neck as he pressed soft, urgent kisses along my jawline down to my collarbone.

"Tell me to stop, Harper," he groaned against my skin, his hands gripping my hips. "Tell me right now, or I swear to God I won't be able to."

"Don't stop," I gasped, threading my fingers through his hair, pulling his face back up to mine. "Don't you dare stop, Victor Rossi."

A low, guttural growl escaped his throat. He claimed my mouth again, deeper this time, his hands slipping beneath my sweater to touch the bare skin of my waist. His palms were warm, slightly rough, and sent electric shocks straight to my core.

We moved together in the warm, rain-dappled light of the library, lost in a storm of our own making. For fourteen months, we had tiptoed around this fire, terrified of the damage it could do. But as Victor pulled me closer, his heart thudding violently against mine, I realized this wasn't destruction.

It was healing.

Suddenly, a soft knock sounded on the library doors.

"Harper? Dad?" Finn's sleepy voice called out from the hallway. "Are you in there?"

Victor instantly froze. He rested his forehead against mine, his chest heaving as he let out a long, shaky laugh. The terrifying mob boss was currently breathless, his hair wildly messy, completely undone by a five-year-old at the door.

"We need to fix our timing," Victor whispered, pressing one last, sweet kiss to my swollen lips.

"Agreed," I giggled, my face burning red as I quickly smoothed down my sweater and straightened my hair.

Victor took a step back, adjusting his clothes, taking a deep breath to compose himself before walking over to open the heavy doors.

Finn stood there holding his blanket, looking up at us with wide, curious eyes. "What were you guys doing? The door was locked."

Victor dropped to one knee, looking at his son with a warm, relaxed smile I had never seen before. "We were just talking about the future, buddy."

"Is Harper staying?" Finn asked, his eyes flicking to me nervously. "Her contract is ending. I heard Mateo say it."

Victor stood up, reaching down to take Finn's hand, then turned to look at me, extending his other hand toward me.

"Harper isn't going anywhere, Finn," Victor said, his eyes locking onto mine with an absolute, unwavering promise. "She's staying with us forever. If she'll have us."