Private Supervision

The silence that followed Mateo’s "tour" comment was thick enough to suffocate. Ariana stayed focused on her tea, her throat still stinging from the cough, while her skin crawled with the awareness of his gaze. Every time she shifted, the emerald knit dress rode up, and she could feel the heat of Mateo’s eyes tracking the movement of her thighs.

"Oh! That reminds me," Cami said, checking her phone. "Dad, I have to run to the jeweler to pick up that necklace for the gala. Ari, do you mind staying here? It’s a boring errand, and you look like you need to rest after that... tea incident."

Ariana’s heart performed a violent somersault. "Cami, I should probably go with you. I need to get some of my things anyway—"

"Nonsense," Mateo interrupted, his voice smooth and authoritative. He didn't look up from his tablet, but the corner of his mouth tilted almost imperceptibly. "Camila, take the SUV. The city is crowded this morning. Miss Cole can stay here and familiarize herself with the hospital’s digital protocols. I have them pulled up in the library."

"Perfect!" Cami stood up, grabbing her bag and kissing Mateo’s cheek. "See, Ari? Dad’s already putting you to work. I’ll be back in two hours. Don't let him bully you into too much studying!"

Ariana watched in paralyzed horror as her only shield vanished through the dining room doors. The sound of Cami’s car fading down the long driveway felt like a death sentence.

She sat frozen. Across the table, the clink of a silver spoon against porcelain sounded like a gunshot.

"The library is at the end of the east wing, Ariana," Mateo said. He didn't use her title this time. The 'Miss Cole' had walked out the door with his daughter. "I suggest you head there now. I have a few things to... discuss with you before I leave for the hospital."

"I can wait for Cami in her room," Ariana whispered, finally looking up.

Mateo was standing now. He loomed over the table, the charcoal suit making him look like a wall of solid stone. He didn't say a word. He simply gestured toward the hallway. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command from a man used to being obeyed without question.

Ariana stood, her legs trembling. As she walked past him, the backless design of her dress felt like a target. She could feel the air shift as he stepped in behind her, his footsteps heavy and rhythmic, following her like a hunter stalking a wounded doe.

The library was a cavernous room filled with the scent of old leather, woodsmoke, and him. The heavy oak doors groaned as they swung shut, and the click of the lock turning sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through Ariana’s veins.

She spun around, her back hitting a shelf of medical texts. "Dr. Lopez—"

"You're wearing her clothes," Mateo remarked, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He didn't stop until he was inches away, his shadow swallowing her. He reached out, his large hand hovering just inches from her bare shoulder. "You look like a girl trying to play a woman’s game, Ariana. Did you choose this dress specifically to drive me out of my mind, or was it just another... accident?"

"It was all Cami had," she lied, her voice shaking.

Mateo’s hand finally made contact, his thumb dragging across the ridge of her collarbone. His touch was cold, but it left a trail of fire in its wake. "You were shaking in the hallway last night. You’re shaking now. Tell me, are you afraid of me? Or are you afraid of how much you want me to do exactly what I’m thinking about right now?"

He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear, his hand sliding down her back to where the dress ended, his fingers meeting the soft, exposed skin of her spine.

"Cami will be back soon," she gasped, even as her body arched toward him.

"Cami is stuck in holiday traffic," Mateo whispered, his hand gripping the small of her back and pulling her flush against his suit. She could feel the hard, unforgiving line of his desire pressing against her stomach. "And in this house, I am the only law. If I want to take you on this desk, Ariana, who is going to stop me?"

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his thumb catching her lower lip and pulling it down.

"Now," he murmured, his eyes darkening to a shade of black that promised total ruin. "Turn around. Let's see exactly how much of your skin you decided to show me today."