All Chapters of Guilty Pleasure #2: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The gentle hum of the car’s engine filled the silence as Elena sat in the passenger seat, her hair tied up in a loose bun, wearing one of Ryan’s oversized shirts over her shorts, a soft smile dancing on her lips. The sun had begun to dip behind the trees, casting a golden glow through the windshield as Ryan drove them away from the lakeside cottage. Her body still hummed with the memory of the day. Every part of it felt surreal, like a beautiful, passionate dream. The soft music in the background played something mellow, and Elena found herself humming along.Ryan glanced sideways at her, his hand resting gently on the gear while the other was curled around hers. His thumb traced small circles against her skin.Ryan’s hand left the gearshift to brush against her knee. “You okay?”His voice was casual, but his eyes flicked to her for half a second too long, dark with something unreadable.Elena bit back a smile. “Mm.”Ryan glanced over at her. “You’ve been quiet for fifteen minutes str

The next morning at work was unusually slow for Elena. Her fingers hovered over her keyboard, eyes occasionally flicking to her phone screen. Maybe waiting for someone’s call, or messages. Last night was intense. Ryan had dropped her home late the previous night after an intensely unforgettable birthday weekend, his fingers tangled in her hair as he kissed her breathless against her front door, but since then silence.But the second she’d gasped "Come inside," he’d pulled back with that infuriating smirk."Patience, sweetheart."And then he’d left.Now, with him gone for the day, she buried herself in work. “C’mon, Elena,” she mumbled to herself, shaking her head and turning her attention back to the glowing spreadsheet on her screen.Just then, Jade’s voice buzzed through the intercom. “Elena, could you come to my cabin for a second?”She pressed the button, “Sure, on my way.”Grabbing her notepad and a pen, she walked swiftly toward the executive area. Jade was standing by the windo

The sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of Ryan’s penthouse, the city lights glittering far below like scattered diamonds. "Nervous?" His voice was a low hum, fingers brushing the inside of her wrist as he took the glass from her.She exhaled, meeting his gaze. "Should I be?"Ryan’s lips curved, slow and deliberate. "That depends on how well you follow instructions."The promise in those words sent a shiver down her spine.The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Elena stepped out into Ryan’s penthouse. She’d been here before, but every time it still felt like stepping into another world, one where the city lights below belonged to them, where walls of glass and sleek lines wrapped around an atmosphere that was purely Ryan.He set her coat on the stand, his hand brushing her back as he guided her toward the dining area. The long table was already set, dim golden light casting a warm glow over the silverware.“I had the chef prepare something special,” Ryan said, pulli

The morning light filtered in through the tall glass windows, spilling golden warmth across the dark, luxurious sheets. Elena stirred awake, the silk sheets cool against her bare legs. Her lips curved sleepily into a smile as she stretched, only to realize she was alone. The space beside her was empty, but still warm Ryan hadn’t been gone long. She stretched, wincing slightly at the pleasant soreness between her thighs, a reminder of last night’s exploits.Blinking the haze of sleep away, she sat up, the sheets falling to her waist. She rubbed her eyes, looking around the vast bedroom. The faint scent of smoke caught her attention.Her gaze drifted to the balcony, where Ryan stood, shirtless, sculpted like sin and standing on the balcony with a cigarette between his fingers. His dark hair was tousled, jaw dusted with the kind of stubble that made her thighs clench. The morning light traced the hard lines of his back, the ripple of muscle as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke. Ryan lean

The glass doors of the boutique closed behind them with a soft chime, but Elena swore every salesgirl inside was still staring at her back. Her face felt hot, and she clutched the small shopping bag to her chest as if it could shield her from their knowing glances.Ryan, on the other hand, walked beside her with the casual grace of a man who had absolutely nothing to hide. He walked as if nothing in the world could ruffle him. In fact, she was convinced he was enjoying this little walk of shame far too much.“You’re walking too fast,” he drawled lazily, his free hand brushing against her lower back in that proprietary way of his.“I’m not…” she muttered, quickening her pace anyway.“You are,” he said, cutting her off smoothly, his voice laced with amusement. “And you look adorable doing it.”“And you walk like everyone knows what happened in there,” Elena muttered, keeping her eyes on the pavement.“That’s because everyone does,” Ryan replied smoothly, not even lowering his voice.Her