His Property: A Billionaire Possession Romance

When Aria opened her eyes, sunlight was spilling through the windows in pale gold ribbons. The storm had passed. Manhattan was still. Quiet. Too quiet.

Leon's arm was still wrapped around her.

She didn't move.

His chest rose and fell behind her in slow, even breaths. His skin was warm where it touched hers—under her cheek, against her waist, the curve of her hip.

They hadn't had sex. Not technically.

But something far more dangerous had happened.

He'd stayed.

And so had she.

No performance. No mask. Just two people lying in silence, like they were trying to breathe each other in.

She closed her eyes again, just for a moment.

It felt too safe.

Too... real.

And that's what made it terrifying.

When she woke again, he was gone.

The sheets beside her were still warm, but the room was empty.

She sat up slowly, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. The clock on the wall read 9:12 a.m.

No note.

No text.

Just silence.

And suddenly it was like last night hadn't happened at all.

He didn't show up for breakfast.

Or lunch.

Or dinner.

His room stayed locked. His schedule full. His assistant sent a polite email about her upcoming commitments for the week: two dinners, one gala, a press shoot.

Leon's name wasn't on any of them.

Aria stared at the screen.

Then closed her laptop and laughed.

It wasn't funny.

Not really.

But the sound that escaped her mouth was bitter enough to burn.

He was retreating. Again.

Because vulnerability wasn't something Leon Castellan knew how to process.

He could handle billion-dollar takeovers. Public scrutiny. Ruthless power plays.

But one night in bed with a woman who made him feel something?

Too much.

By day three, Aria snapped.

She stormed into the study without knocking.

He was at his desk, crisp in a three-piece suit, tie knotted like a noose.

He didn't look up.

"Get out," he said flatly.

"No," she shot back.

Finally, he raised his eyes.

They were tired.

Guarded.

And so carefully unreadable it made her want to scream.

"I'm working," he said.

She crossed her arms. "Good for you. I'm talking."

He said nothing.

So she filled the silence.

"You don't get to pretend it didn't happen."

He blinked once. "Pretend what didn't happen?"

"Oh, screw you, Leon."

She moved closer, slamming her hands on his desk. "You spent the night in my bed. You held me like I was oxygen. You kissed me like you meant it. And now you're hiding again."

"I'm not hiding."

"No? Then what do you call locking yourself in here for three days like a coward?"

His jaw flexed.

Aria leaned in. "Tell me the truth. Was it a mistake?"

He stood, abruptly.

Towering. Cold.

But not angry.

Just... distant.

"It wasn't a mistake," he said.

"Then why are you acting like it broke some kind of rule?"

"Because it did."

Her voice cracked. "Whose rule, Leon? Yours? Mine? The contract?"

He stared at her.

Then said the one thing that hurt worse than anything else:

"You were never supposed to matter."

She froze.

Her breath caught, the words slicing through her like ice.

He closed his eyes. Regret flickered across his face.

But the damage was already done.

She stepped back slowly. "Got it."

"Aria—"

"No," she said, holding up a hand. "You don't get to rewrite this. You don't get to pretend you didn't fall, too."

"I didn't—"

She laughed. Sharp. Hollow. "You did. And it terrifies you."

She turned and walked to the door.

Stopped just before leaving.

Then without turning around, she said quietly, "You're the most powerful man in this city. But when it comes to feeling something real… you're a coward."

He didn't follow her.

He didn't call.

He didn't even apologize.

And that night, for the first time since the auction, Aria slept alone not because of rules…

…but by choice.

Across the penthouse, Leon stood alone in the dark, staring out the window like the skyline might offer answers.

He pressed a hand to the glass.

Last night had been too much.

Too soft. Too real. Too close.

He didn't know how to feel that way and keep the rest of his world intact.

But what scared him more?

Was that he already missed her.

And he didn't know how to stop.