Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 441 A Losing Battle

I slipped into my new lace nightgown, the soft fabric hugging my curves just right. With a warm glass of milk in my hands, I walked to the study door and gave it a gentle knock before flashing my sweetest smile.

“Caden, I warmed this up for you. Have a sip,” I said, setting the glass down on his desk.

Leaning forward slightly, I let my neckline dip just enough to reveal the soft curves of my chest, hoping to catch his attention. But Caden barely spared me a glance before returning to his work.

“Thanks. Just leave it there–I’ll drink it later,” he said casually.

“Oh!” A pang of disappointment hit me. I mean, come on! I wasn’t just any girl–I had the kind of body that turned heads. And yet, standing right here in front of him, he wasn’t the least bit tempted?

With that thought, I slid my hand onto his arm and eased myself onto his lap, looping my arms around his neck. My voice softened into a whisper. “Caden, it’s getting late. You’ve been working all day at the office–why don’t you take a break and rest?”

As I spoke, I leaned in closer, lowering my eyes as I moved to press my lips against his.

Just as our lips were about to meet, a moan escaped my throat; Caden’s hand came up, firm against my shoulder, halting my progress.

Stunned, I looked up at him as he gently but decisively put space between us. His voice remained calm, polite–even warm–but there was no mistaking the rejection. “Tessa, it’s late. I still have work to do for tomorrow’s meeting. You’re not in the best health; you should get some rest before you catch a cold,” he said, his tone gentle but distant.

“Caden!” I widened my eyes in disbelief.

I hadn’t expected him to reject me. For a moment, I was at a loss for words, still unwilling to give up. But when I met his cool, unreadable gaze, the small flicker of confidence I had left was extinguished.

Eclipse Pack certainly

of him and nodded. “Alright, I’ll head to bed. You

Caden’s POV:

soon as Heidi’s bedroom door clicked shut, I finally let out

to do–she thought seduction would work on me,

been more wrong.

Caden.”

end of it, but barely three hours later, I

walked toward the sound. It was coming

the door, I found Heidi sitting up in bed, her face

1/2

2:45 pm 70

A Losing

seen something horrible.

her voice trembled with unshed

exhaled slowly. She’s still at it,

+8 Pearls

her hand in mine, my expression concerned. “Tessa, what’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”

chest. “It was horrible,” she whimpered. “I dreamed we were back in that cabin, the one where those kidnappers kept us apart. It felt so real. I couldn’t see you; I couldn’t

dream, Tessa. It’s over. Nothing like that will