Marked by Desire: Stealing My Mother's Man

From the back cover

I blinked in confusion, lowering my gaze with difficulty toward my chest, where I noticed the dress slipping down my breasts. I wasn't wearing a bra. Panicked, I hastily pulled the fabric up, clearing my throat in deep embarrassment, my cheeks flushing a crimson hue.

"I spotted it while leaving with my mother, so I put it on without thinking. It's short... far too short. Please, just ignore its design, Mr. Vlad."

He pulled out another cigarette as if he had stomped my words beneath his feet, dismissing them entirely. It was as if he intended to provoke me. But for a fleeting moment, I felt that he wasn't so much provoking me as... speaking in a voice so alluring it was almost hypnotic.

"And what if I don't?"

I swallowed hard, embarrassment tightening its grip on me, and forced a paralyzed smile.

"You should. It would be better for both of us."

He furrowed his brows, taking a long drag from his cigarette, his gaze unreadable.

"How?"

I glanced around in a daze, licking my lips before pressing them together with difficulty.

"I'll get over my embarrassment, and you'll stop being bothered by my dress... Do you understand now?"

He exhaled a cloud of smoke in my face for the second time, then ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek with arrogant ease.

"Who said I was bothered?"

What does he mean? Does he... like what he sees? Was he watching my chest nearly spill out in front of him without me realizing? Oh, God, help me.

"What do you mean by that? Do you..."

Ignoring my question, he crushed the cigarette against the ashtray, his gaze avoiding mine. Then, without warning, he stood up, dropping some money onto the table carelessly.

"The hour is up. Let's head back to the estate."

He had deliberately ignored me under the guise of time running out... Could this really be happening?