The weight of Mark's hand on her thigh, the warmth of his breath against her ear, it all felt so dangerously intimate. Lilly could barely focus on anything other than the commanding presence of Mark beneath her. His hands firm around her, holding her in place as if she belonged on his lap, feeding him.
Her stomach twisted with confusion, guilt, but also something deeper, something she wasn't ready to admit. Every part of her screamed to pull away, to escape the feeling of being trapped in his power, but something held her rooted to the spot. She wasn't sure if it was fear or desire, but she felt both in equal measure.
Lilly's fingers trembled as she fed him another bite. Mark took it from her slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, his lips brushing against her fingertips just enough to send a jolt of heat rushing to her cheeks. She looked away, her breath catching in her throat.
And then, just as the tension reached its peak, a sharp knock at the door sliced through the air, pulling her back to reality. Her heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, she scrambled to her feet, pulling away from Mark's lap with a rush of relief and dread.
Mark didn't move. He stayed seated, his hands resting casually on the desk, but there was no mistaking the glint of something dangerous in his eyes. He didn't need to say anything for Lilly to know that she was supposed to be the one to step away, to act as though nothing had happened.
"Come in," Mark said, his voice cool and unaffected.
Lilly stood stiffly beside him, still shaken, unsure of how to even feel. She felt exposed, as though everything about the past few minutes had been laid bare. Her body still tingled where Mark had touched her, but she focused instead on the door, waiting for the intruder.
The door opened, and Luna walked in. Her gaze immediately flicked to Lilly, pausing for a beat longer than necessary. She took in the scene with a sharpness that made Lilly's heart race. The food on the desk, the way Lilly was standing so close to Mark… it was clear to Luna that something had happened.
Luna's eyes narrowed, but she kept her expression neutral. She looked at the food, the coffee cup, and the half-eaten toast.
"Did you need anything for your breakfast, Mr. Bergen?" Luna asked almost casually, but Lilly could hear the edge of suspicion. She glanced at the food on the desk, then back to Mark, narrowing her eyes just slightly.
The question hung in the air, thick with unspoken implications.
Mark didn't seem bothered in the least by Luna's pointed observation. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes flicking to Luna before returning to Lilly, "Thank you, Luna, but I'm eating now. No need for you to worry about it."
Luna's gaze lingered on Lilly for a moment longer, her lips pressed into a thin line. She had always been the one to take care of Mark's breakfast when it was brought to the office. This wasn't something new for her. But there was something new about the way Lilly was standing beside him.
"Do you need anything else, Mr. Bergen?" Luna asked, her voice cool, though there was an undertone of something else. It wasn't quite jealousy yet, but Lilly could sense it bubbling beneath the surface.
"No," Mark replied, his voice sharp, "I don't want to be disturbed today. That will be all."
Luna hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking between them. First to Lilly, then to Mark. She could see it now, the subtle change in the air. She knew what Mark had been like before, what he'd done, but this time it was different. She could feel it.
She had always been the one to serve him breakfast. To make sure he had everything he needed. But now? Now it was Lilly?
"Understood," Luna said quietly, though her eyes burned with something unreadable. She turned to leave, but as she reached for the door, her fingers brushed the handle for just a moment too long.
She wanted to say something. To ask why Mark was treating Lilly in the way he was treating her, to confront him, but she couldn't. She could feel her own jealousy clawing at her insides, a deep, angry ache that made her stomach churn.
With a quiet, final glance at Lilly, Luna stormed out of the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she left, fury simmering just beneath the surface.
Mark watched her go, his expression unreadable. Only when the door clicked shut did he shift his focus to Lilly, his eyes dark with something that wasn't quite possessiveness, but it was close.
Lilly didn't know what to say. Her stomach was still tight from the intensity of what had just happened, and she felt like she was caught between two worlds. Mark's power, and Luna's quiet rage.
Mark's voice cut through the air again, the words sending a shiver down her spine.
"Come here, Miss Levine."
Her heart thudded in her chest as she took a hesitant step forward, but as she did, the phone on Mark's desk rang, its sharp tone filling the room.
Mark paused, holding up a hand, signaling her to wait.
"Luna's leaving," he muttered, almost to himself. "But that doesn't mean she's gone."
Lilly froze. She wasn't sure if he was speaking to her or if it was more of a warning.
He picked up the phone. His next words were barely above a whisper, but they hit her like a blow to the chest.
"Karen," he said, his voice low but unmistakably commanding, "Make sure I'm not disturbed again today. I need the office cleared."