Chapter 4: From Now On, You Have Me

Summer's POV

Mr. Stark's fingers traced the edge of his platinum cufflink as he spoke, the gesture casual yet somehow predatory. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I can help you."

That commanding tone... like he's used to people following his every word. I clutched the silk covers tighter to my chest, painfully aware of my nakedness beneath them. The realization that I wasn't wearing anything sent a wave of vulnerability crashing through me. "I don't need your help." The words came out sharper than I intended, tinged with the bitter memories of the last time I'd trusted someone's help. My fingers clenched in the fabric, knuckles turning white.

He moved closer, each step measured and deliberate, like a predator approaching cornered prey. My heart stuttered as his expensive leather shoes whispered against the plush carpet.

"Really?" His deep voice carried a hint of amusement, but his eyes... God, those eyes. Dark and intense, they seemed to see right through my fragile defenses. One corner of his mouth lifted in a knowing smirk as he continued, "Why did you come to Manhattan Club last night? Your fiancé becoming your brother-in-law, your parents' distrust - you've become the target of everyone's gossip."

"Who are you?" I demanded again, but this time the question carried a different weight. He knew too much for this to be a coincidence.

He took another step closer, and I caught that same winter-fresh scent from last night. "Brandon Stark."

The Brandon Stark? Seriously? The name hit me like a physical blow. My mind raced through the possibilities, the connections. "Wait... what's your connection to Alexander?"

His lips curved into a predatory smile. "If I say there's no real connection, would you believe me?"

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion flaring as I pulled the sheet higher, ensuring it covered me completely. "Are you trying to use me against him or something? Some Stark family feud I don't know about?"

A bark of laughter escaped him, sharp and dismissive. "Against him? You're giving him way too much credit!"

He closed the distance between us in two long strides, his movements fluid and graceful despite his imposing height. At this distance, I could see how his perfectly tailored suit accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame, how the morning light caught the sharp angles of his face. Suddenly the room felt too small, too warm. I clutched the sheet tighter around myself, terribly conscious of my complete nakedness beneath the thin barrier of silk. I tried to scoot back, but my bare skin against the smooth sheets reminded me of just how vulnerable I truly was. Trapped. Again.

His tie pin caught the morning light as he leaned closer, casting golden reflections on the wall. "Miss Taylor," his voice dropped lower, a velvet rumble that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. His eyes searched my face with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Don't you hate them? Being betrayed by the ones closest to you, don't you hate them?"

Yes. No. I don't know anymore. The conflicting emotions must have shown on my face because something flickered in his expression – satisfaction maybe, or triumph.

"That's none of your business," I whispered, but the words lacked conviction. His proximity was making it hard to think straight, especially with nothing but a thin sheet between my bare skin and his fully clothed presence.

His hands came to rest on either side of me on the bed, effectively caging me in. The morning light caught the perfect edge of his jawline as he spoke two words that stopped my world on its axis:

"Marry me."

The words hung in the air between us, stunning me into silence. I stared at him, certain I'd misheard, watching the way his lips curved into a slight smile. My pulse roared in my ears. "What?"

"I can give you happiness that no one else in this world can reach." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather rather than proposing marriage to a virtual stranger.

"Are you serious right now?" I felt heat rush to my face, acutely aware of my complete nakedness beneath the covers. "You're proposing to me while I'm completely naked in your bed? That's beyond inappropriate!"

I pushed against his chest with one hand while desperately clutching the sheet to my body with the other, trying to create some distance between us. "You're ridiculous!"

But he caught my wrist, using my momentum to spin me around until my back hit the cool glass of the floor-to-ceiling window, the sheet still wrapped securely around me like an impromptu toga.

"Ridiculous? Is that what you think?" His breath ghosted across my neck as he leaned closer, making my pulse jump erratically. One of his hands came up to tilt my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, while I clutched desperately at the silk sheet with my free hand.

"Just because you saved me doesn't mean I have to marry you," I managed to say, fighting to keep my voice steady despite my precarious state. "What era do you think we're living in?"

His dark eyes seemed to darken further, and something in them made my breath catch. "The more you resist, the more determined I am to marry you."

"You're insane," I breathed, but I couldn't look away from his intense gaze. "You don't even know me."

"I know enough." His thumb brushed across my jawline, the touch sending electricity dancing across my skin. "I know you're stronger than you think. I know you deserve better than what they've done to you."

"Stop it." My voice cracked on the words, betraying the tremor I was trying so hard to hide. "Just... stop." My hand pressed against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart through the expensive fabric of his suit while my other hand maintained its death grip on the only thing preserving my modesty.

His free hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face, the gesture startlingly gentle compared to his earlier intensity. "Don't belittle yourself." His tone softened slightly, but his grip remained firm, his thumb tracing a small arc along my jawline. "You're not alone."

He leaned closer, until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His next words seemed to brand themselves into my soul: "From now on, you have me."