Chloe
In the afterglow, I lie against Tristan’s shoulder, soaking in the feel of his skin against mine. I let my fingers trail over his chest, exploring the hard lines of his muscles and tracing the tattoos on his arms.
The windows across the room are open, and the distant murmur of waves drifts in and echoes around the vaulted ceiling.
The cool sea breeze brushes my face, mingling with the faint scent of sweat and sex.
Every sensation, from the coolness of the breeze to the heat of Tristan’s body, is a reminder of how perfect this moment is.
I glance up at him, my chest full of a deep, quiet contentment. His eyes are closed, a peaceful smile playing at his lips.
I never want to leave this bed or his side. I’m so comfortable here, so at peace.
“Do you know any other sign language?” I ask, half joking, although my curiosity is real.
Tristan’s eyes light up before he lifts his hand and begins to sign. I watch in surprise as he forms a complete sentence in fluid, easy movements. The signs are precise. “Yes, some. I’m trying to learn more.”
I can’t help but grin. “You’ve been learning this for a while, haven’t you?” I ask, a touch of awe in my voice.
He nods. “Yes. As soon as I found out about your hearing issues, I started learning. I wanted to be able to communicate with you on terms that felt natural and comfortable for you.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tight. I reach up and touch his cheek, my fingers lingering as I take in the depth of his dedication. “That means so much to me, Tristan. I didn’t know you’d been working on this for so long.”
“I wanted to make sure I could always be there for you, in every way that matters,” he says.
I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips, taking my time with it as we lie together in the moonlight spilling in from the open windows. For a few moments, we just exist together, wrapped up in each other. The quiet is welcome after weeks of chaos.
Eventually, I break the silence with a hesitant sigh. “So… I caught the end of your conversation with my father, but I didn’t hear the beginning. What got him going?”
Tristan grimaces. “Oh, right. I forgot you didn’t know.”
I sit up slightly, regretting that I brought this up. I needed to know, but I should’ve known it would interrupt the peaceful moment between us.
“My brothers and I met with legal. We’re pushing forward with a lawsuit against MediaSphere, and it’s one hell of a lawsuit.”
“What are you gunning for?” I ask.
He blinks up at me. “Everything.”
I nod. I expected nothing less. I don’t regret it, either. After everything my family did, after how horrible they’ve been, they deserve this. Giving Tristan the green light was the right move.
But still, it feels strange to be discussing the downfall of the empire I helped build. The empire I was set to inherit. It feels even stranger to be… relieved, almost.
“He was confronting me about the papers. He’d just been served earlier in the day.”
“That makes sense.”
“Things didn’t really get heated on my part until… well.”
I bite back a smile. “Oh, I heard that part, trust me.”
“He mentioned that you’d quit your job,” Tristan says. The casual phrasing, as though Tristan and my father were just catching up, makes me snort a laugh.
“Yeah, I did. After what they did to you, and what they did to me, I couldn’t stay there.”
“I don’t blame you.” He reaches out to clasp my hand, lacing his fingers with mine.
“I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do now that I’ve quit at MediaSphere,” I admit in a whisper.
And there it is. The feeling I’ve been trying to keep at bay. Fear. I have no idea what to do with myself. I’ve spent so many years of my life shaping my career, knowing that I was destined to fill a role in my family’s company. Without that, I have no direction at all.
I know I’ll be taken care of. I’m married to the CEO of Thorne Enterprises. But I can’t stand the thought of being idle. I’ve always been ambitious. I like to be kept moving. The best thing about business was the feeling of chasing a project to its completion, and without that…
Tristan is quiet, listening. I wonder if he can hear the gears grinding in my head.
“I’ll probably have to start applying elsewhere.
I just know that the interview process is going to be a bitch.
” I sigh. “Everyone will want to know what happened at MediaSphere, and I just can’t stomach getting into it, you know?
It’s a mess, but it’s a family mess. It feels like it should be at least a little bit private. ”
He hums in agreement. “Well, have you thought about doing something else? Something outside of business development?”
I scoff, shaking my head. “I’ve been prepped for that role since my MBA. It’s the only thing on my resume.”
Tristan gives me a look I can’t interpret, tugging his lip between his teeth as he studies me. “I have an idea,” he says after a moment.
“What?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
He starts to slide out of bed. I groan in protest as he moves his body out of my arms, but he smiles down at me and runs his thumb across my cheek, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Wait there, dimples. I’ll be right back.”
With that, he stands up and moves toward the door, leaving me nestled in the sheets. Without him beside me, the spell is broken. I no longer feel a gravitational pull to this bed. But I still lie back against the pillows to wait like Tristan asked me to.
Moments later, I hear the soft rustling of papers and he reappears, a binder under one arm. With a smile that hints at his excitement, he sits on the edge of the bed beside me.
“Our graphic designer did some sketches for me. A logo for the new movie studio.”
As Tristan flips open the binder, my eyes are drawn to a series of sketches neatly arranged on the pages.
I’m expecting something related to Eclipse Studios, but instead I’m met with a striking image that takes me by surprise.
It’s the silhouette of a songbird in flight, rendered with clean lines and an elegant curve.
Above it, in bold letters, are the words Warbler Studios.
I blink, trying to make sense of it. “This isn’t for Eclipse Studios. What’s Warbler Studios?”
“Well, since the collaboration with MediaSphere isn’t happening, we decided to go a slightly different direction with it. A different name seemed fitting. There’s no eclipse happening here, not anymore.”
“Oh. It’s beautiful,” I say. “But—”
“I want you to direct the first project for Warbler Studios, dimples.” He pauses, letting his words settle before continuing. “And beyond. As many films as you want to make. Whatever films you want to make.”
I’m speechless, my pulse racing at the sheer scope of what he’s offering. The idea of directing my own projects, having a studio named with such a meaningful and personal touch—it feels almost surreal.
“You… you want me to be in charge? To direct the first project?”
He nods seriously. “Absolutely. I want this to be your creative haven. I believe in your talent and your dreams, and I really, really want to see what you make.”
My eyes well up, my chest overflowing with emotions. “This is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say.”
Tristan reaches out, brushing a stray tear from my cheek as he grins with fond amusement. “Say you’ll do it.”
“I… of course. Of course. Thank you!”
“You don’t have to thank me.” Pride gleams in his eyes. “Just take this opportunity and make it your own. I know you’ll do amazing things.”
As I look at the sketches for Warbler Studios, I feel a sense of possibility and hope so powerful that I can barely catch my breath. My thoughts race ahead, scrambling for the idea that will become my first film. Then something occurs to me, and I frown.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but… what if I hadn’t taken you back? What would you have done with all of this?”
“Oh.” He lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug. “I still would’ve given the studio to you.”
“Are you serious?”
“More than serious.” He doesn’t look away. “All I want is for you to be happy, Chloe. Nothing else matters to me.”
Without a word, I lean in and press my lips against his.
The kiss starts soft, an exploration of everything moving between us.
Then his arms come around me, pulling me closer, and I feel the heat of his body against mine.
His lips move with a hunger that matches mine, and I let my hands trail down his body.
The heat of the moment builds as I’m swept up in his scent and the feel of his touch.
In the dim light, with the soft murmur of the ocean as our backdrop, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world. Everything else falls away. Our bodies move together in perfect rhythm, our breaths matching, our skin hot against each other.
Just us.