My back ached as I sat up on the floor and rubbed my head. Where am I? I looked around the room, immediately recognizing it as Syn's and my eyes widened in shock. Memories of last night began to slowly pour into my mind, leaving me glued to my spot in embarrassment.

He saw me naked. Completely fucking naked. I let out a struggled breath as everything that happened flashed through my mind, and I immediately got up. Seeing as the room was empty and he was gone, I'd take my chance and try to leave before he got back. Once I got to my room, I'd come up with a plan as to what to do. At least there I could be alone and lock the door.

I tip toed around the room to his bed and grabbed my phone before dashing to the door. Before I could make it, the door swung open making me jump and let out a small scream. I held my phone against my chest, frozen in my spot and he walked in. His eyes remained on me as he closed the door, and leaned against it, blocking my exit.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I cleared my throat. "Back to my room. I don't want to bother you any more than I already have."

"You're not bothering me at all. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," I replied. "Thank you for-"

"Don't worry about it," he said. "I need to actually speak to you."

"About what?"

"Well firstly, Xavier," he said slowly, as if trying to see my reaction to his friend's name...a reaction that I didn't have of course. I looked at him blankly, waiting for him to continue and he took a step toward me. "Are you mad at him?"

I sighed, shrugging slightly as I shook my head. "I'm not mad," I said. "I'm hurt. I know he and I aren't close, but he did really hurt my feelings."

"I understand." He nodded, taking a step toward me. "Are you doing anything for the rest of tonight?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"Why you're asking," I said.

"I think we need to talk, and I'd like it to be out of the palace."

"Talk about what?" I swallowed, not moving as he stepped closer to me. The same fear that was usually there when he was around seemed nonexistent.

"Us," he answered. "Everything that's happening with us."

"And I-umm, what is happening with us?"

"That's what I'd like to talk about," he said lowly, standing less than a foot away from me. I bit the inside of my cheek, looking up at him and ignoring the butterflies floating around in my stomach. We were already closer than we needed to be. I needed to put some much-needed space between us before I was the one that couldn't control myself anymore.

Finally deciding on what I had to do, I tried to push away the memories of all the gentle and kind things he had been doing for me, and I took a step away from him. "I don't want there to be an us," I said, staring down at the floor. "It's not a good idea."

"Why not?"

"My family would kill me..."

"Who says they have to know?"

"You're marrying my sister, Syn."

"You didn't give a fuck about your sister when you were coming-"

"Syn, please don't." I grimaced, closing my eyes. I felt his hands at the hem of the oversized shirt I was wearing, and his fingers circled the bare skin on my hip. I sucked in a shaky breath, willing myself to step away from him, but I couldn't. I wanted him. I wanted him in the worst fucking ways. Ways that would most likely shatter me and damn me for all of eternity, but I still did.

He needed to be the one to step away from me.

Instead, he pulled my body against his, and I felt his breath skin across my lips as I slowly opened my eyes. My eyes fell to his lips and I licked my own, my breathing became heavy as the urge to kiss him became stronger. "Tell me you don't want it, Queen. Stop thinking about everyone else, and tell me right now that you're the one who doesn't want me."

"I..." My eyes met his, challenge and desire dancing in his and I bit my lip. Thoughts and memories of the way he touched me and kissed me began to infiltrate my mind and I cussed under my breath. Why my heart chose the worst moments to do stupid shit was beyond me.

"Fine, Queen. I'll leave you-"

My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down to me and I brought my lips to his, making him freeze in surprise. As my lips moved against his, he relaxed and wrapped his arms around me. Our hands wildly moved against each other, and I turned the both of us around, stepping forward until we both fell onto the bed.

His hands moved to my thighs, lifting me until I was straddling him and he groaned as I moved on top of him. I moaned against him as he squeezed my ass and my hands became tangled in his hair. "I can't get enough of you," he whispered between kisses.

Heat traveled through my body at his words and I deepened our kiss. I almost let myself continue to get deeper into our web of lust and desire, but a ringing from my phone reminded me that I wasn't supposed to be here.

I hopped off of Syn, grabbing my phone from beside his head and taking heavy breaths as I walked backwards to the bed. "That didn't happen," I said quickly. "What I said still holds." I swallowed.

He sat up, but before he could say anything else, I left the room and rushed down the hall, peeking down at the contact flashing across my phone. Vullons, I read, making my footsteps halt in the middle of the hall.

He and his associate owned the company I worked for, but I never personally spoke to him. I usually followed their orders through Sebastian, we all did. With shaky hands, I bit my lip that was still tingling from Syn's kiss and I raised the phone to my ear.

"H-hello?" I stuttered.

"Ms. Beverly!" A voice laughed through the phone, making me slightly relax at the welcoming greeting. "It's a pleasure to finally speak to you!"

"You too," I said as I began slowly walking. "How can I help you?"

"We're all eagerly waiting on your up close and personal article about the SinClaire family," he stated, "...but we can't help but wonder if you could do more."

"What do you mean?"

"From here on out, you are directly beneath us," he spoke. "You don't need to report to your boss any longer."

I stopped walking again and frowned. "Why?"

"We'd like to take this expose of yours in a different direction. One that he doesn't agree with and we wouldn't want him interrupting us."

"I don't understand." I frowned. "What direction?"

"No one at The Garden is aware of this yet, but our business is going down. People aren't buying magazines anymore, everything is online now," he complained. "We need you to save this company."

"I'm sorry Mr. Vullons, but it feels like you're talking in circles," I admitted. "What do you want?"

"I want buzz, Queen!" He said. "I want this company to be revived."

"Okay..."

"I want you to answer the question that all the realms have been wondering," he said in a calmer tone.

"What question is that?"

"Is the beast himself...capable of love?" My heart dropped to my stomach, and I remained silent, not knowing what to say. "I have eyes everywhere, Queen. I have sources that tell me he's taken a liking to you."

"No, that's not-"

"No need to lie to me, Queen. You're young and you're a very beautiful girl. I'm sure you'd have no problems making someone infatuated with you."

"Vullons I'm flattered, but this doesn't sound ethical and I-"

"Nothing about what we do is ethical," he said. "What is ethical is you doing this small thing to save thousands of jobs."

He spent the next fifteen minutes explaining in-depth what he wanted me to do, and with each word that fell out of his mouth, my heart sank lower and lower. I wasn't an actress and for me to succeed at what he wanted me to, I would have to lie my ass off to Syn, who was an expert at seeing past bullshit.

Vullons made sure to bring up the people who would lose their jobs if I didn't break the story, and I rubbed my head, stress and guilt eating at me. When the call was finished, I ran my hands through my hair and leaned against the hallway wall. What am I going to do?

I stood against the wall long enough for several servants to pass by, and after a few minutes, I came to a decision. I turned around, walking back in the direction I came from and hated every single step I took. I didn't like the idea of being so dishonest, but I couldn't give up my career and send hundreds of people into debt or homelessness.

When I arrived at Syn's door, I ignored the stinging tears in my eyes and knocked on his door. In the short time I'd known him, he was nothing like the rumors I heard, at least not to me. Taking advantage of him like this was going to destroy my soul. I only hoped that he was as indestructible as everyone said he was.

The door opened, and Syn's eyes landed on mine, making my heart stop as it always did. I cleared my throat, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and taking a deep breath. "I'd love to go with you and talk about...us. If you still want to, of course."

Say no.

"Be ready at seven."

Fuck.