Chapter 5:My Boss;My Maniac

The darkness swallowed everything but my heartbeat.

It was loud. Thunderous. Not in my ears but in my chest, echoing through my entire body like a warning… or a wish.

I felt him move.

Not away.

Closer.

The air between us grew hotter, tighter, until I could taste the spice of his cologne and the electricity buzzing off his skin. His hand brushed against my jaw, featherlight, and I nearly forgot how to breathe.

"Rennie..." His voice was lower than before. Rougher. "We should stop. We really should."

But he didn’t.

And neither did I.

Then soft, searching, inevitable his lips met mine.

It wasn’t gentle.

It was like all the silence between us had burst. Hours of careful glances, strict rules, tension laced between clumsy mistakes set on fire.

His kiss was demanding and desperate, yet calculated, like he’d been holding back too long and now couldn’t remember why.

Before I could even think, his strong arms lifted me with practiced ease and set me carefully on the desk, cold polished mahogany wood.His hands against the backs of my thighs. His lips returned to mine, hands cupping my face with surprising tenderness.

His lips devoured mine like he’d been starving for them like they were the answer to a question he never dared ask out loud.

His hand gripped my waist, pulling me closer, pressing me against the heat of his body. I gasped, and he swallowed the sound with another kiss, this one slower, deeper, like he was trying to memorize every shape, every sigh, every taste.

My fingers curled into his hair.

And for a second just one reckless, wild second I let go of every reason why this was wrong.

Because at that moment, it felt right.

It felt like falling.

But as his mouth trailed down to my jaw and his hand slid up my thigh, reality came crashing back.

Diane.

Her little hands. Her laughter. Her trust.

The promise I made. “I am not interested in becoming your mom or auntie”

I pulled away, breath ragged. “I,We can’t.”

His hand dropped, his breathing just as uneven, his expression unreadable, eager and intense.

“This is wrong,” I whispered.Am sorry I am leaving“

He nodded slowly, running a hand through his dark hair. “You’re right.”

The words should’ve calmed me.

But then he said unexpectedly, “Doesn’t mean I’m done with you, Rennie.”

My stomach flipped.

He stepped back as if to give me space. I slipped off the desk, adjusting my robe like armor. My lips still tingled, my heart was still racing. I needed to get out before I gave in again.

I turned to the door.

Steel. Code locked.

I remembered I was too busy being afraid of the settings in his “hideout” that I forgot when she was pressing in the code.

I tried a random number.

Beep. Error.

Panic clawed at me as the keypad flashed red.

I looked over my shoulder.

He was leaning against the wall now, arms folded, one brow raised.

“Do you need the code?” he asked, voice drenched in amusement.

“I… need it”

“You’re not getting out,” he said, pushing off the wall with a slow, confident stride.

“I can try again—”

“You could,” he said, stopping just a breath away from me, his tone dark and teasing, “but where’s the fun in that?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

His eyes roamed my face, his hands searching for something he didn't lose around my waist.

“You want to get out,” he said softly, “you’ll have to beg.”

My breath caught.

He leaned in, his fingers caressing my lips “Beg me, Rennie. Just once. Sweet and soft. And maybe I’ll let you go.”

My skin flamed. My pulse pounded.

This man…

This dangerous, arrogant, magnetic man was playing with fire and I was the match stick he’d just struck.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to be let go but as flashes of Diane's smile came I knew I had to make my decision.As I leaned in to give him what he wanted he dared to outsmart smart me.