Captivated by You (crossfire, #4)

Sylvia Day's novel alternates between the perspectives of Gideon Cross, a billionaire entrepreneur in his late twenties, and his wife, Eva, a twenty-four-year-old who works at the advertising agency Waters Field & Leaman. The two have secretly eloped, but publicly they present themselves as newly engaged. They do not share a bedroom: Gideon sleeps in an apartment next door to Eva's because his violent nightmares, rooted in childhood sexual abuse by his therapist, Hugh, make it unsafe for Eva to sleep beside him.

The novel opens from Gideon's perspective as he wakes from a nightmare and begins managing the threats circling his marriage. He instructs his security specialist, Raúl Huerta, to investigate Anne Lucas, Hugh's sister, who may have approached Eva at a recent event. When Eva arrives, she confesses she feels something unresolved about her ex-boyfriend, Brett Kline, the lead singer of a band called Six-Ninths. She will encounter Brett during an upcoming trip to San Diego with her best friend, Cary Taylor. Gideon reacts with jealous fury, cruelly suggesting they take a break so Eva can sort out her feelings while he reconnects with his former fiancée, Corinne Giroux. Eva is deeply wounded. The argument escalates until Gideon regains control and apologizes. Eva explains that Brett's renewed attention stirs feelings from a period when she hated herself and plans to discuss it with her therapist.

At work, Gideon confirms the engagement publicly and decides to sell a hotel Eva considers his former "fuck pad." His attorney, Arash Madani, warns him about Ryan Landon, whose family lost its fortune to Gideon's late father's financial fraud and who now targets Gideon through his company, LanCorp. Meanwhile, Eva manages fallout from the engagement news, including a call from her upset mother, Monica Stanton, who learned about it online. Gideon's mother, Elizabeth Vidal, arrives at his office in the Crossfire building to challenge Eva's right to wear the engagement ring, insisting Eva is using Gideon. Gideon defends Eva and tells his mother not to return.

Eva and Cary fly to San Diego on Gideon's jet. Eva tells Cary about the elopement, and he reacts angrily, arguing it is too soon. She reunites with her father, Victor Reyes, a police detective, and visits Dr. Travis, her former therapist, who suggests her lingering feelings about Brett stem from regret, a wish for simplicity, and a belief that she does not deserve what she has with Gideon. Separately, Gideon travels to San Diego and negotiates with Brett's former manager to acquire an illegally filmed sex tape of Eva and Brett. He attends Brett's concert and sees Brett with a blonde woman who closely resembles Eva. Eva arrives at the venue and observes the scene, reaching a new peace about Brett. That night, she tracks Gideon to his hotel, and they reunite, both concluding they could never find comfort with someone who merely resembled the other.

Back in New York, Eva learns her coworker Megumi Kaba has been sexually assaulted by an ex-boyfriend and arranges help. Gideon deflects a visit from Corinne, who pleads for another chance; he tells her their relationship is over permanently. His half-brother, Christopher Vidal Jr., storms in accusing Gideon of sabotaging Six-Ninths' media opportunities and makes a vulgar remark about Eva, sparking a physical fight that security breaks up.

Eva tells Gideon's stepfather, Christopher Vidal Sr., about Gideon's childhood sexual abuse, believing Chris did not know. Chris appears genuinely shocked. Gideon walks in on the conversation and is furious, pulling Eva from the room. At the penthouse, Eva pushes him to discuss Chris's reaction, but Gideon insists the information changes nothing. That night, Gideon has a horrifying nightmare blending memories of Hugh's abuse with his killing of Nathan Barker, Eva's childhood abuser, ending with a vision of Eva dying at his hands.

The couple hosts a group outing at a karaoke bar. Eva sings "Brave" by Sara Bareilles to encourage Gideon to speak about his past, and he responds with "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse. Separately, Gideon meets Brett at the Crossfire and offers two million dollars for exclusive rights to the sex tape. Brett refuses, but a private security firm Gideon hired wipes all copies from Brett's devices and those of anyone who received them, including one found on Christopher Jr.'s hard drive. Later, Eva agrees to meet Brett for lunch, where he reveals he has seen the tape and that the band watched it too. Eva is horrified and flees. Gideon, who anticipated the meeting going badly, is waiting nearby and assures her the footage has been dealt with.

Gideon visits Anne Lucas and warns her to stay away from Eva; Anne threatens to hurt Eva in retaliation. Chris visits the penthouse and tells Gideon he has left Elizabeth, confronted Anne's husband, and learned the truth about the abuse. Overwhelmed, Gideon shoves Chris away. After Chris leaves, Gideon breaks down. Eva races to the penthouse and finds Gideon drunk and bruised from a punishing workout. He alternates between pushing her away and desperately needing her. They have intense, emotionally charged sex, and for the first time, Gideon remains beside Eva through the entire night.

A reporter warns Gideon that Corinne has sold a tell-all book about their relationship; he offers to buy out the contract, but Corinne refuses. Gideon confesses to Eva that his sexual relationship with Anne was twisted because Anne's resemblance to Hugh blurred boundaries in his mind.

Eva tells Gideon she wants to become involved with his Crossroads Foundation, an organization supporting survivors of abuse, a step toward the professional partnership he has long wanted. But Gideon confesses he has already offered Eva's boss, Mark Garrity, a job at Cross Industries, effectively eliminating Eva's position. Eva is furious: She was moving toward the decision to work with Gideon on her own, and he took that choice from her. Gideon argues he was protecting her from Landon, who sought leverage over Eva through her work. Eva acknowledges his reasoning but insists the problem is that he acted unilaterally. When Gideon physically holds her during the argument, Eva invokes their safe word, "Crossfire," and he releases her. She leaves for her mother's home.

Eva stays at Monica's penthouse with Cary for four days, devastated but resolute. Gideon texts constantly and barely sleeps, tormented by recurring nightmares. At a session with Dr. Lyle Petersen, their couples therapist, Gideon tells the therapist about Hugh's abuse for the first time, a major breakthrough. He calls Eva at three in the morning and voluntarily describes his dream for the first time: walking on a beach with his father, seeing Eva walk away, his father transforming into Hugh, who tells him Eva left because she knows everything. Eva listens, cries, and decides to meet him.

They reunite at an all-night café in the predawn hours. Eva tells Gideon she cannot work on the campaign involving LanCorp and is unsure whether she will join Cross Industries. They agree to take small steps: dinner that evening, drinks with friends during the week. Eva moves to sit beside Gideon rather than across from him. They hold hands and watch the city wake up, committing to keep fighting for each other.