The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Alaric stood rooted to the spot, digesting Hertha's words before the penny dropped. He hurried after her, "Hertha, they're newlyweds, basking in their honeymoon bliss. Is it really right for me to intrude and expect thanks?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," Hertha said.

"Every moment of a honeymoon is precious, don't you know?" Alaric said.

"I wouldn't know; I've never had one," Hertha replied nonchalantly, not slowing her pace.

"How can you say you've never had one? Three years ago, we had our moment, and that night gave us two beautiful kids," Alaric whispered, edging closer to Hertha with a mischievous grin, his words laced with an intimacy only they could understand.

Just thinking about that night made Alaric's throat tighten and warmth spread through his abdomen.

him feel this way. Just the thought

fleeting affairs, strangers passing by, with whom he

was different. Though they'd been together just once, she had lingered in his heart, impossible to shake

night, its sweet intoxication, would swirl in

of Hertha, the more his heart yearned for her, craving even a

of flitting from flower to flower, Alaric realized, this must

the quagmire of love, unable to extricate

heartfelt words, coupled with his roguishly

and she instinctively recoiled, stopping in her tracks to turn and glare at Alaric, her wide eyes shimmering with

mocking me?" Hertha hissed, bristling

aback, "How could I be mocking you? I was