Christiano lay on his back, one arm resting behind his head while the other kept Astrid close against him. The sheets were tangled around their legs, their skin still warm from the quiet that followed.

She traced idle lines along his chest before murmuring, “How was your meeting with your new business partner?”

Christiano brushed her hair away from her face, his fingers slow and steady. “I didn’t meet him. My aide handled it.”

Astrid lifted her head a little, studying him. The ...