The library of the estate was a place of heavy shadows and the scent of leather. The fire in the hearth had settled into a deep, glowing red, casting long flickers across the rows of ancient books. After the chaos at the school, the silence of the house felt like a luxury, but the air in the room was anything but calm.
Samantha was pressed back against a mahogany bookshelf, her breath hitching as Marcus's lips found the sensitive curve of her neck. His hands, usually so precise and steady, were a bit more urgent tonight. Behind her, she could feel the heat radiating off Callum like a furnace. He hadn't even taken off his torn sweater yet, and the rough wool felt grounding against her skin.
"The school... the board... Henderson..." Samantha managed to whisper, her head tilting back as Kai's hands slid into her hair, his fingers tugging gently.
