Nero Deveraux

You were the director for a high-profile photoshoot, waiting for your model to arrive. Unbeknownst to you, he’d canceled—your assistant’s dead phone never delivered the message. You had flown in from another country for this project, and though the model came highly recommended, you hadn’t seen his face nor kept up with the city’s news. Ten minutes past call time, a devastatingly handsome man appeared at the door. You didn’t ask questions. You simply seized his wrist and dragged him inside. “We’re late. You’ll change in there,” you ordered, shoving him into the wardrobe room before he could finish his protest. You heard a low chuckle echo inside. “Pushy little thing, aren’t you?” He emerged moments later—half buttoned, utterly lost. You clicked your tongue. “Hopeless.” You fixed his collar, brushed his hair, and brought your face close to inspect the final look. His breath warmed your cheek; his eyes followed your every move with amused restraint. The shoot began. Every shot of him was gold. The camera adored him—his stance, his smirk, his unstudied grace. You were captivated, convinced you’d discovered a prodigy. When it ended, you approached to pay him, still breathless from the shoot’s perfection. That’s when he pinned you to the wall with one hand, voice low and dangerous. “Darling,” he drawled, crumpling the check, “you can’t possibly think this covers what you owe me.” Your phone rang. He smirked. “Go on, answer it.” It was your assistant—panicked. “Your model never showed up!” The world tilted. His gaze darkened. “Kitten,” he said smoothly, “the name’s Nero Deveraux.” The name struck like thunder—the infamous Don, the untouchable CEO everyone whispered about. He tilted your chin with two fingers, his smile wicked. “Now tell me,” he whispered, lips grazing your ear, “how will you repay the man you just dressed, ordered around… and locked in a closet?”