Chapter 31

BattlefieldGigi closed the door to my office behind her which blocked out the noise from the hallway that was far away.Then she came over to my desk. Put a big folder on it and it made a soft sound when it landed.My new office is really nice.It has furniture that looks like great windows that go all the way from the floor to the ceiling, shiny wood and a fantastic view of the city that goes on and on, towards the horizon.This office was the kind of place people wanted to work in.It was the kind of office people dreamed of having. Yet, despite all of that, it still didn't feel like mine.It felt borrowed, as if I were only pretending to belong there.Gigi rested a hand on the folder and gave me a serious look."This has everything you'll need for tomorrow's board meeting," she said."Background on every board member, the latest updates on the Singapore deal, financial summaries, and notes on the points Soren wants emphasized. Read all of it."I glanced down at the stack of neatly

Chapter 32

Dangerous PaymentTALIAThe house felt strangely quiet when we got back.The rain had stopped sometime during the drive, but the night still carried the damp smell of wet earth and fresh pavement.Water dripped steadily from the roof outside, the soft rhythm echoing through the silence.Soren barely looked at me when we stepped inside.Without a word, he loosened his tie and walked straight toward his study.The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind him, followed by the unmistakable sound of the lock turning.He hadn't said much during the ride home.Neither had I.The silence between us had been filled with thoughts neither of us seemed willing to speak aloud.I tried not to think too hard about the almost-kiss in the car the way he'd leaned toward me, the warmth of his breath, the look in his eyes before the moment slipped away.Every time I remembered it, my stomach fluttered and tightened at the same time.Had I imagined it?Or had he wanted to kiss me just as badly as I wanted hi

Chapter 33

Midnight WhispersTALIAI ran upstairs to the bedroom as fast as I could.My heart was still beating fast from the text message.Every step I took felt harder than the one. It was like the message had put heavy weights on my feet.When I got to the bedroom door I made myself take a breath before I opened it.I closed the bedroom door gently behind me. I stood against the bedroom door for a moment letting the wrap around me.Then I did my nighttime routine. I washed my face hoping the cool water would wash away some of the fear that the text message had left me with.I brushed my teeth. Put on my soft sleep shirt and shorts.Each action was something I had done before , almost reassuring but nothing about my life felt normal anymore.I got into the bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin. The sheets felt cool and soft, against my skin.I switched off the lamp by the bed. The room became dark. Moonlight came through the curtains as silver lines spread across the floor.Sleep would not

Chapter 34

Dangerous GameTALIAI lay there in the dark, my heart still racing from the kiss.Soren was so close that I could feel the warmth of his body beside mine.My lips still tingled, and no matter how hard I tried to focus on everything else, my mind kept returning to his quiet confession.You're too dangerous for me.The words echoed over and over in my head.Dangerous.I didn't know whether he meant I was dangerous to his self-control, to his carefully ordered life, or to his heart. Maybe it was all three.But I couldn't afford to dwell on what he meant.I had a reason for doing this.A reason that had nothing to do with the way my pulse jumped every time he looked at me.My plan was simple, even if it terrified me.I needed to seduce him.If I could make him want me enough, maybe he would listen when I asked him to move Eli somewhere safer.Maybe he would agree without demanding too many questions.It was a risky plan, one that made guilt twist inside me, but I couldn't think of anothe

Chapter 35

Lessons in the DarkTALIAI tugged lightly at the handcuffs, the metal cool against my wrists.They rattled softly against the headboard, the sound strangely loud in the quiet room.My heart was racing so fast I could hear it pounding in my ears, every beat making me more aware of how trapped and exposed I felt.“Soren,” I said, trying to sound calm even though my voice betrayed me with the slightest tremble.“This is... we should talk about this. You don’t have to…”He leaned over me, his eyes dark and full of heat.A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips, patient and confident, as though he already knew exactly how this would end.“Oh, now you want to talk?” he murmured. “After you pushed and teased and dared me like that?”His smile widened. “Cute.”I swallowed hard. My cheeks felt hot.“I was just... playing. You can let me go and we can”“Playing?”He chuckled low in his throat. The sound sent a shiver racing down my spine before settling somewhere deep in my stomach.“You starte

Chapter 36

Always in ChargeTALIAThe heavy heat of Soren's mouth around my toes made my whole body shake.He sucked gently like he had all the time in the world, his tongue moving over every spot.The soft sounds he made were wet and hungry. Filled the quiet room.My wrists pulled against the handcuffs with every shiver.I was wet. The wetness between my thighs felt slick and clear and I knew he could probably smell how turned on I was.I tried to stay in control. This was still part of my plan.I needed him to listen. I needed that deal. So I pulled my foot away from his mouth, even though my body screamed at me not to.“Enough,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I… I need something first.”Soren’s eyes snapped up to mine. The heat in them turned darker, more possessive.He didn't like being left waiting.His hands held my ankles tightly for a moment then he moved back up my body until he was above me again.His face was close. His breathing was heavy.“You stop me now?” he growled very low. “Aft