The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1635

Alaric took a deep breath, unable to hold back any longer. He nodded slightly, grabbed Hertha by the throat, and pulled her close to him. Grinding his teeth, he said, "Won't spill the beans, huh? Let's see how tough you really are!"

As he spoke, his grip moved from her throat to her face, distorting it as he leaned down and captured her lips.

The series of actions, from the chokehold to the face grab and then the kiss, were executed swiftly and with deadly accuracy.

Hertha was taken aback, shocked, and bewildered.

She had no time to react.

Her pupils dilated, her breath was stolen, and as he drew the oxygen from her, Hertha's body went limp and numb.

Her mind couldn't keep up with the pace of her body. As the elevator doors opened, Alaric, supporting her head with one hand and wrapping his other arm around her waist, kissed her passionately, stumbling out of the elevator with her.

They made their way into Hertha's apartment, kissing passionately, spinning around, until Hertha was flipped onto the couch.

Alaric had intended only to punish her, but once their lips met, he lost control, desiring more, his blood boiling with heat.

He pinned Hertha on the couch, their kissing escalating from gentle to fervent, as he pried her mouth open.

Hertha's heart had already been defenseless against Alaric, and his intense kisses only made every cell in her body scream in response.

Her mind was a blank slate, focused only on the present moment.

They embraced each other, their kisses igniting a fiery passion, the temperature around them soaring, oblivious even to the sounds from the kitchen.

"Cough, cough..." Suddenly, a cough sounded from beside the couch.

Hertha and Alaric were too immersed to notice.

"Cough!" The coughing grew louder.

"You're a bit early with that 'mom,'" Kimberly chided.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Hertha asked nervously.

"So you remember I'm your mother. Look at what you're doing!" Kimberly couldn't bear to watch, her expression a mix of embarrassment and disapproval.

God, the first time Hertha was caught in a passionate kiss with a man, and it had to be by her own mother, live and in-person.

This was mortifying.

Hertha's face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly hugged Alaric, hiding her face behind his, as if by concealing herself, Alaric would bear the embarrassment for her.

As she hid, her cheek brushed against Alaric's face, their skin touching, sending another jolt of electricity through them both, tingling and intensely warm.

Alaric's breath hitched.