Chapter 12 Claimed

• ARIA
• The rooftop pool was every bit as stunning as Nikolai promised, the water glowing a soft blue under the dim lights. A glass railing offered an uninterrupted view of the city and the ocean beyond, the stars twinkling like diamonds in the night sky.
• Nikolai leaned against the railing, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, the city lights casting a golden sheen over his skin. “Go ahead,” he said, nodding toward the pool. “I’ll join you in a minute.”