Vesper’s POV
Moving into Jaxon Laurent’s island villa was exactly the kind of decision women in horror movies made right before things went terribly wrong.
The gates alone looked expensive enough to reject poor people automatically.
“This place screams tax fraud,” I muttered as the car rolled down the long private driveway.
Beside me, Sunny sat quietly, clutching her stuffed rabbit and Jaxon’s hockey puck in her lap while staring out the window in awe.
Jaxon glanced at me lazily from the driver’s seat.
“You say something?”
”I said if I disappear mysteriously, the police should start here first.”
”That hurts,” he said dryly.
“I at least deserve the benefit of the doubt.”
”You own a private island.”
”It’s technically not an island.”
”That sounds exactly like something a future criminal mastermind would say.”
A quiet little laugh came from the backseat, and both of us looked at Sunny instantly.
She quickly ducked her head shyly, but my chest still tightened painfully.
That was the third time she’d laughed around Jaxon today.
The man was out here rehabilitating traumatized children with sarcasm and hockey pucks.
Annoyingly attractive behavior.
The villa itself looked unreal.
Massive glass walls overlooked the ocean while soft golden lights reflected across dark polished floors.
Everything smelled expensive and clean and aggressively luxurious.
I hated how naturally Jaxon fit inside it.
Like this kind of power belonged to him.
Staff moved luggage upstairs while Sunny wandered toward the giant windows in silent fascination.
I was still trying to figure out why a house needed two staircases when Jaxon casually dropped a bomb into my evening.
“You’ll stay in the master bedroom.”
I turned so fast I nearly got whiplash.
“Absolutely not, that’s too huge.”
”Don’t worry, little chaos, we’ll he sharing the bed and I’m quite big.” My eyes widened, and I glared at the ridiculous explanation.
“No way!”
”Yes.”
I stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.”
Jaxon tossed his car keys onto the marble counter before leaning against it with infuriating calm.
“Paparazzi already know we moved here,” he said.
“Court officials can show up anytime.
If they discover we sleep separately, everything starts looking fake.”
”I can walk into your room if someone visits.”
”And if they arrive at six in the morning?”
I opened my mouth then closed it again.
Damn him.
Jaxon watched my expression carefully, clearly enjoying himself.
“There’s also Elias.”
My irritation faded slightly.
“What about him?”
”He’s watching, you might not know it, but I do.”
Something cold slid down my spine instantly.
Of course he was.
Jaxon folded his arms.
“My brother doesn’t trust easily.
If he thinks this marriage is fake, he’ll use it against you during the custody hearing.”
Sunny was upstairs with one of the staff members unpacking toys, but I still lowered my voice instinctively.
“So your solution is forcing me into your room?”
”My solution is protecting the case.”
And something about that bothered me.
Because lately Jaxon kept saying things like protecting you and taking care of this, and we’ll handle it together in a way that no longer sounded fake.
That was the dangerous part.
I crossed my arms tightly.
“Really, is this a temporary arrangement?”
Jaxon’s mouth curved slightly.
“You say that as I asked you to donate an organ.”
”You basically did indirectly.”
”Relax, sweetheart.
I promise to behave.”
”That sentence alone feels dishonest.”
His grin widened, and I sighed in danger.
Everything about this man should’ve been illegal.
An hour later, I regretted agreeing entirely.
Because the master bedroom looked less like a bedroom and more like a seduction trap designed by billionaires.
Huge bed, Dim lighting, and Ocean view.
Soft gray sheets that practically screamed bad decisions.
I was angrily unpacking clothes into the closet when Jaxon disappeared into the bathroom after muttering something about needing a shower before his “tragic death from domestic stress.”
”You are the domestic stress,” I called after him.
His laugh echoed through the bathroom door.
Unfortunately, my body had started recognizing that sound entirely too well.
By the time Sunny finally fell asleep downstairs after dinner and cartoons, the villa had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
I grabbed my pajamas and headed toward the bathroom the second the shower shut off.
Then the bathroom door opened.
And my brain immediately left the chat.
Jaxon stepped out wearing nothing except low black athletic shorts hanging dangerously beneath his hips.
Water still glistened across his chest.
His hair was damp and messy, with tattooed arms and broad shoulders that looked illegal.
Abs that honestly felt disrespectful at this point.
I stopped walking so abruptly that I nearly tripped over my own feet.
Jaxon noticed instantly, and a slow smirk spread across his face as his eyes dragged over me lazily.
“Well,” he murmured.
“This feels personal.”
I blinked at him, then immediately looked away because dear God.
“You could at least wear a shirt,” I muttered weakly.
“You’re in my room.”
My eyes snapped back to him.
“Excuse me?”
His smirk deepened.
Sorry.”
The correction did something deeply unfortunate to my heartbeat.
I hated this man.
Jaxon leaned one shoulder against the doorway casually while watching me unravel in real time.
“You’re staring again.”
”I’m being assaulted by your ego.”
”That’s not what your face says.”
Heat climbed straight into my cheeks, but I chased and tried walking past him quickly.
Huge mistake.
Because the second I got close, I caught the clean scent of soap mixed with his cologne and warm skin.
My pulse instantly lost all professionalism.
Jaxon’s gaze darkened slightly as I froze beside him.
The air suddenly felt heavier and thicker, as if the room itself noticed whatever was happening between us.
“You nervous?” he asked softly.
“No.”
”Liar.”
The word slid down my spine like warm whiskey.
I looked up before I could stop myself.
Big mistake because his eyes were already on me, roaming all over me heavily and focused.
Hungry in a way that made my stomach tighten dangerously, and for one horrifying second, I forgot how to breathe.
Jaxon stepped closer slowly.
“You know what your problem is?” he murmured.
“I have several problems.”
”You keep acting like you don’t feel this.”
My throat went dry instantly.
I forced myself to lift my chin stubbornly.
“You’re very confident for a man standing around half naked.”
His eyes flicked briefly to my mouth.
Then back up again.
“Sweetheart,” he said quietly, “if I were trying to seduce you, you’d know.”
My stomach flipped so hard it should’ve been medically concerning.
The worst part?
Part of me wanted him to try.
Jaxon watched every reaction cross my face slowly before finally stepping back.
Just enough to let me breathe again…barely.
“We need rules,” he said calmly.
I grabbed onto the subject immediately like a lifeline.
“Yes.
Definitely.”
”Affectionate in public,” he said evenly.
“No interference in private.”
The words sounded professional for someone who was doing exactly the opposite right now.