Novels by kina arinia

The sweat was still drying on Ezra’s skin, the frantic rhythm of "Phase 4" trailing off into the quiet hum of the penthouse’s climate control. Suthira lay across him, a heavy, silk-draped weight that felt more like a claim than a comfort. Her fingers traced the line of his ribs, a slow, methodical movement that made his skin prickle."Your heart rate peaked at one-forty-eight," she whispered, her voice a low, satisfied vibration against his chest. "Excellent data, Ezra. The 'Intimacy Protocol' is going to be flawless."Ezra stared at the ceiling, his breath finally hitching back to normal. "Is that all I am now? A data point?""You're the most important data point in the world," she murmured, nipping at his collarbone before sliding off him with effortless grace.She stood up, naked and unashamed in the moonlight, and walked toward the glass console. The glow of the screens illuminated her silhouette—a sharp, lethal outline that reminded Ezra of his father’s warning. She wasn't a girl

The flight back from the island had been a blur of pressurized cabins, cold champagne, and the suffocating realization that every move Ezra made was being mapped. By the time they reached the penthouse, the sun was dipping below the skyline, painting the marble floors in shades of bruised orange. Suthira hadn't let go of his hand since the car. She led him through the foyer, her grip like a velvet-lined shackle."You’re still tense, Ezra," Suthira whispered, backing him toward the sprawling sectional. "The data says your heart rate hasn't dropped below ninety since we left the tarmac.""Maybe because I'm waiting for the next 'leak' to drop," Ezra rasped, his hands finding the small of her back. "You really sold us out, Suthira. You turned us into a reality show.""I turned us into an empire." She leaned in, her lips grazing his jaw. "The world is watching. We should give them something worth the bandwidth, don't you think?""Is this Phase 4? Or are you just bored?""I'm never bored wh

The red glow of the hidden lens seemed to burn into Ezra’s retinas long after he had closed his eyes. The night had been a blur of forced luxury and the crushing weight of Suthira’s gaze—both through her own eyes and the electronic ones embedded in the walls.The morning sun arrived with a clinical, unforgiving brightness, flooding the master suite of the island villa. Ezra groaned, rolling over to find the other side of the bed empty, the silk sheets still smelling of sandalwood and the lingering heat of a woman who was more predator than partner.His phone, discarded on the floor, was vibrating so violently it was skittering across the polished hardwood.Ezra reached down, his fingers fumbling with the screen. "Hello?""Ezra? It’s Miller from the PR firm. Tell me you’re not looking at the internet right now."Ezra sat up, rubbing his eyes. "I just woke up, Miller. What’s going on?""Check the feed. You’re the most famous man in the world for all the wrong reasons. I’ll call you back

The Gulfstream G650 private jet banked sharply over a turquoise expanse of the Andaman Sea, the cabin smelling of leather and Suthira’s signature sandalwood. Ezra stared out the window, his reflection looking back at him—sharper, more expensive, but with eyes that were starting to look like those of a man who hadn’t slept in forty-eight hours."You’re still thinking about it," Suthira said. She didn't look up from her glass of vintage Krug. She was lounging across the cream-colored sofa, her legs tucked under her, looking far too relaxed for a woman who had just liquidated a rival’s life work on a whim."Thinking about what?" Ezra asked, turning back to her. "The fact that we’re heading to a private island for a 'marketing retreat' with a team I haven't seen yet? Or the fact that Leo Vance looked like he wanted to jump off a bridge?""Leo was a parasite," she said, her voice a casual wave of the hand. "I did him a favor by cutting him loose before he totally drowned in his own mediocr

The steam from the guest suite’s walk-in shower was still clinging to Ezra’s skin when the door clicked open. He was halfway through tugging on a pair of silk-lined trousers that probably cost more than his college tuition.Suthira stood in the doorway, already dressed for the gala in a gown of liquid silver that looked like it had been poured onto her body. She held a black silk tie in her hand, her amber eyes scanning him with a slow, appreciative hunger."You’re running behind, Ezra," she said, her voice dropping into that velvet-over-gravel register. "The car is downstairs.""It’s hard to move fast when my muscles feel like they’ve been through a tectonic shift," Ezra replied, reaching for his shirt. "You’re a demanding boss, Suthira. I think I need a hazard pay clause.""You’ve already received your bonus for the day," she countered, stepping into the room. The scent of her sandalwood perfume immediately dominated the humid air. "Turn around. Let me do the tie."Ezra obeyed, his

The elevator doors hadn’t even fully sealed when Ezra felt Suthira’s hand slide from his shoulder to his throat, her thumb pressing against the erratic pulse there. The gold-leafed car ascended with a silent, stomach-flipping velocity."You’re still riding the high, aren't you?" Suthira murmured, her eyes dark and reflecting the elevator’s warm light."I just took down Julian Thorne. Of course I am," Ezra said, his voice a bit more breathless than he wanted it to be. "The guy’s been a thorn in my side for years. Seeing him turn that shade of purple was worth the $14.22 I had in my pocket this morning.""It’s a good look on you. Power." She stepped closer, her silk suit rustling. "But don't get too comfortable, Ezra. The higher you climb, the thinner the air."The elevator chimed, the doors sliding open to the penthouse. But instead of the soft amber glow of the living area, the space was pulsing with a harsh, rhythmic crimson light.Ezra’s phone—and Suthira’s—started screaming with a