Chapter 8 _ Ethan's pov

The hotel suite was quiet except for the steady hum of the city outside. Tokyo’s night bled in through the floor to ceiling windows. everything about this place is exactly as it should be seeing as it's a five star hotel meant for the likes of Alex. I meant the kids from money.

I let the bathroom door shut behind me, steam clinging to my skin like a second layer. My body really needed the shower to take away the tiredness. My towel was knotted around my waist and my hair was still damp and dripping over my temple, muscles loose from the scalding water I’d just stood under for way too long. But none of it helped. The shower hadn’t washed away the problem, hadn’t burned out the memory of the way Alexander Blackwood kept looking at me with those pretty eyes.

Speaking of the devil.

Alex was stretched out on the couch of the suite’s living room, his shirt undone halfway, sleeves rolled up, giving me a view of his sexy arms, a glass of whiskey dangling between his fingers. His gaze slid lazily toward me as though he’d been waiting for this exact moment.

“Comfortable?” His voice was low and teasing. From what I've gathered, this man don't give up easily.

I kept walking, heading for my bag near the bedroom door, trying to sound nonchalant about his whole demeanor. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t even pretend not to look. His eyes traced every movement of my body and when I stopped walking he slowly brought his gaze to mine. My fists tightened at my sides. I don't know how much of my self control is left , cause I'm sure as hell it's not up to ten percent.

“You know,” Alex continued, sipping from his glass, “I’m starting to think you enjoy torturing me.”

I paused and looked at him, my jaw tightening. “Excuse me?”

He smirked, slow and devastating, tilting his head back against the couch cushion. “Walking out here like that. Looking like a whole course meal Dripping and acting like you don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

“I came out of the shower,” I said flatly. “Not everything revolves around you.”

“Liar,” he murmured.

I hate that he is slowly getting to me .

My pulse was unsteady, but I forced myself to grab clean clothes and move toward the bedroom, cause there is no fucking way I'm hell am I waiting out here to know whatever his plans are . The smart thing was to shut the door, put distance between us, drown myself in professionalism again. Something I keep reminding myself about.

But Alex’s voice caught me before I could.

“Why do you keep fighting it, Ethan?”

I froze. My hand hovered over the doorknob, but my body refused to move.

“Fighting what?” My voice was rougher than I wanted it to be."There is nothing to fight here."

“wanting me but pretending you don't .” His words were unhurried, confident, as though he had all the time in the world. “You’re a fortress, Pierce. But even fortresses fall. And you...” He stood, moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. “ you’ve already cracked.”

I turned, ready to tell him to back the hell off, but the second I faced him, he was too close. I couldn't take my eyes off his and those plumb, soft, kissable lips of his. My chest brushed his with every breath, his scent flooding me . He smell so good.

“This is a huge mistake,” I said, voice hoarse.

He smiled like the devil who’d already won. “ you haven't done anything yet. When you actually....”

Fuck it. I grab him by the neck and slam our mouths together.

Nothing about this kiss is gentle. Hell nothing about the way I feel is gentle. heat, lust and hunger where dragging spots currently. My resolve shattered the second I felt him press closer.

The little shred of sanity in me made me stop for a second " we really shouldn't be doing this." He Ignored me and this time he went for my neck like a prey he was holding down not to escape.

I should’ve pulled away. I should’ve shoved him off. But instead, my body betrayed me, lips parting, a groan slipped out of my mouth.

He sucked on my neck for a few seconds then he was back on my lips pressing his body against mine ,like he was about to crawl into me. If we don't stop now something will definitely crawl into someone.

My hands found his waist before I could stop them, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. His smirk curved against my lips, and I hated him for it, I hated how easily he unraveled me.

Then my phone decided to ring . Just when I was beginning to enjoy myself.

The sound cut through the haze like ice water. Loud and Jarring .

I jerked back, my chest heaving, I looked at Alex and his perfectly shaped lips . Alex’s eyes burned into mine, his smile both satisfied and infuriated. “Saved by the bell?” he murmured.

I didn’t answer. My hands were already fumbling for my phone, forcing distance between us as if it would undo what had just happened.

The screen lit up with a name that made my chest tighten. Noah.

“Shit,” I muttered, turning my back on Alex as I answered. “Yeah?”

“Ethan?” Noah’s familiar voice came through, grounding me instantly. “You sound out of breath. Everything okay?”

I ran a hand over my face and through my still damp hair. “I’m fine. Just had a really long day.”

Behind me, Alex chuckled softly, clearly entertained, clearly not moving away.

Noah wasn’t buying it. “You don’t sound fine. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder. Alex leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes gleaming like a man who knew he’d just lit a fuse and was waiting to watch me burn.

I stepped into the bedroom and shut the door behind me, lowering my voice. “I did something reckless and stupid.”

Noah exhaled like he’d been expecting that. “With who?”

My silence was answer enough.

“Don’t tell me it’s your new boss.” Noah said finally, voice sharp with warning.

“It’s complicated,” I muttered.

“It’s not complicated,” he shot back. “It’s dangerous. You’re supposed to just work and get the hell out of there, not do whatever the hell you’re doing.”

I sank onto the edge of the bed, dragging a hand through my hair. “I know, man. I know it’s reckless. But… fuck, I can’t get him out of my head. And tonight...” My voice broke before I could finish.

“And tonight you decided to give in. His tone softened, but only slightly. “Ethan… you’ve worked too hard to build this career. You can’t throw it away over someone like him.”

“He’s not just...” I stopped, jaw clenching.

Noah caught it instantly. “Not just what. Please don't tell me you have feelings for some you just meet."

I didn’t answer. Even if i wanted to I couldn’t.

Silence stretched between us before Noah sighed. “You’re in deep, brother. And that terrifies me, because Alex Blackwood doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who does safe. If you get yourself involved with him, you’re not just risking your job. You’re risking yourself too, and everything you've worked for.”

His words lodged in me.He was right But knowing that didn’t stop the ache in my chest, nor did it erase the way Alex’s lips felt against mine. God I think I have it bad for him while he probably just see me as a play thing to satisfy his sexual need.

“I’ll figure it out,” I said finally, though my voice lacked conviction.

“You better,” he warned. “Because once a line like that is crossed, it’s damn hard to go back.”

We talked a little longer about nothing, about everything.before I finally hung up, shoving my phone aside like it was to blame. I and Noah don't talk often but we know that we alway have each others back.

When I stepped back out, Alex was still there, waiting.

“Everything okay?” he asked smoothly, though his eyes told me he already knew the answer.

I brushed past him toward the bed. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

He chuckled darkly. “ you kissed me back. Besides who was the one who pulled me in and kissed me ?"

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

He continued " The only thing hard right now is my precious little man which you won't pay any attention to.

Alex's meeting went pretty well.

On our way back to New York, silence hung between us . There was Nothing comfortable about the silence. we where both on edge, I could feel it.

At one point, he leaned close, his lips almost brushing my ear. “That kiss wasn’t nothing. You can lie to yourself all you want, but you can’t lie to me.”

I clenched my fists, staring out the window at the endless stretch of sky. I didn’t respond.

Because the truth was simple.

He was right. But he wont hear it from me .