The distant echo of footsteps—measured, deliberate, Harold's unmistakable stride ascending the grand staircase—cut through the haze of their shared breath like a warning bell.

The spell fractured in an instant, the languid worship snapping into sharp, electric awareness as danger crept closer.

Phei's lips had just begun their slow, inevitable descent, tracing a heated path down the elegant line of her throat, over the delicate ridge of her collarbone, toward the soft, trembling plane of her sternum.

His hands still framed her ribs with reverent care, thumbs brushing the underside of her dress in silent promise.

Delilah's pulse fluttered wildly beneath his mouth, her body arching into every gentle kiss, every warm exhale against her skin. A tiny, desperate "mmh…" slipped from her lips as his mouth lingered, her hips shifting restlessly against him.

But the footsteps grew closer.

Her eyes flew open, wide and luminous with sudden alarm. "Phei—" she whispered, voice a breathless plea laced with fresh urgency, "That's Daddy. He's coming up… oh god, he'll see us…"

He lifted his head, purple eyes meeting hers, dark with desire yet sparkling with that same thrilled, reckless amusement. A low, velvet laugh rumbled in his chest as he pressed one last lingering kiss just above the neckline of her dress.

The sound of that laugh sent a fresh shiver racing down her spine, equal parts fear and helpless arousal.

"Then we'd better not let him find us like this, my sweet girl," he murmured against her skin, the words vibrating through her. "Come."

In one fluid motion, he swept her into his arms—effortless, protective—and carried her the few steps to her bedroom door. Delilah's fingers fumbled frantically with the handle, pushing it open just as the footsteps reached the landing.

Her breath came in shallow, panicked gasps—"hurry, hurry…"—heart hammering against his chest.

They slipped inside, and she shut the door behind them with a soft, hasty click, turning the lock with trembling hands. The faint thud of Harold's steps passed by outside, continuing down the corridor, and Delilah exhaled a shaky, relieved "haah…" that trembled into a quiet sob of lingering adrenaline.

Only then did Phei set her down gently, her bare feet sinking into the thick cream carpet. The city lights spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the vast room in a shimmering silver-pink glow that made everything feel dreamlike, suspended.

Safe—at last—in the one place she had guarded more fiercely than any other.

He turned—and froze.

Delilah watched him take it in, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain he could hear it.

She stood there, flushed and trembling, the city skyline framing her like a living portrait, waiting for his verdict on the secret she had never meant for anyone else to see.

She had never let him see her room before. Not truly. Not like this.

And now, standing in the soft, intimate light, she finally let him see her.

Delilah Maxton was breathtaking in the way only quiet obsessions could be—every lush curve, every delicate feature illuminated as though the room itself had been designed to worship her.

She was curvaceous like her mother—lush, womanly curves that the simple lines of her pale silk dress clung to with devastating elegance.

Full breasts strained gently against the fabric, the soft swell of them rising and falling with each quick breath.

Her waist dipped in dramatically before flaring into rounded hips that swayed instinctively when she walked, the kind of hourglass figure that turned heads without ever trying. Her legs were long, thick thighs soft and strong beneath the bunched hem of her skirt, skin flushed rose from desire and the rush of near-discovery.

Her hair—thick, glossy waves of warm chestnut shot through with subtle gold—tumbled loose over her shoulders now, framing a heart-shaped face that carried the refined beauty of old money: high cheekbones, a small, straight nose, and a mouth made for secrets—full, naturally pink, still swollen from his kisses.

Her eyes were wide and expressive, the color of warm cognac flecked with gold, framed by dark lashes that fluttered when she was nervous, which was often around him.

There was a delicate flush across her creamy skin, from the hollow of her throat down to where it disappeared beneath her dress, betraying how deeply he affected her.

She stood there barefoot on the plush rug, city lights catching in her hair like scattered stars, looking every inch the spoiled, untouchable princess who had just begged him in the hallway—and yet utterly, achingly human in her longing.

In the hush of the room, her breathing was audible—soft, uneven, laced with the faint tremor of nerves and need.

Phei's gaze traveled slowly over the room, then back to her, lingering on every portrait that bore his own face.

The air grew thick, reverent, as realization settled over him like moonlight.

Delilah's bedroom was a confession in pastel and gold.

The space itself was pure luxury—vast, high-ceilinged, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the glittering sprawl of Downtown Paradise. The floors were polished marble veined in soft gold, warmed by a thick cream rug that stretched beneath the oversized bed.

The bed dominated the room: a low, upholstered platform in pale blush velvet, piled high with silk pillows in shades of ivory, rose, and champagne. Flanking it were sleek nightstands in mirrored gold, holding delicate lamps that cast a warm, intimate glow. Accent chairs in cream leather sat by the windows, a small vanity nearby with a backlit mirror and neatly arranged perfumes.

The ceiling was a masterpiece of recessed lighting and subtle gold trim, reflecting the city lights like a private sky.

Everything was elegant. Tasteful. Expensive.

Except for the portraits.

Three massive ones commanded the walls—life-sized, professionally printed on canvas, framed in thin gold that matched the room's accents.

The first hung above the headboard: Phei in profile, violet eyes catching some unseen light, expression unreadable, brooding.

The second dominated the wall opposite the bed: a full-face portrait, his gaze locked directly into the lens, intensity almost accusatory, like he was staring straight into the room. Into her.

The third was beside the vanity: Phei looking down, lashes casting shadows, lips slightly parted, a rare softness in his expression—stolen, intimate.

Smaller photos dotted the surfaces: his hands on a book, his neck and collarbone from the side, candid moments he'd never noticed being captured.

Together, they transformed the room into something far more than a bedroom—this was devotion made tangible, obsession rendered in gold and canvas.

Together, they transformed the room into something far more than a bedroom.

This was a shrine.

And now he stood in the heart of it, city lights glittering behind him like a distant audience, while the real Delilah—the one who had built this secret sanctuary—stood before him, flushed and trembling, curves softly illuminated, eyes shining with a mixture of fear and fierce, unwavering want.

She drew a slow, shaky breath, the sound fragile in the quiet—

"Phei…"—barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the moment.

Phei's voice was quiet, almost reverent, when he finally spoke.

"All this time," he said, stepping closer, gaze never leaving her face, "you've been keeping me here… watching over you."

Delilah's breath caught, but she didn't look away.

"Yes," she whispered, the confession soft and steady, her voice trembling with the weight of years spent loving him in secret. "I am sorry I did not ask for permission."

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