My fingers began to tremble, a sudden wave of heat rushing through my veins as memory snapped violently into focus. That deep, guttural groan of his, rough and heavy with intoxicating heat, was still echoing against the shell of my ear like a wicked spell. The phantom friction of his burning skin, the breathless pants muffled against my neck, the ruthless grip of his large hands-it all rushed back in a dizzying wave, making my face flush crimson and my heart stutter in my chest.
I cut off my spiraling thoughts immediately. I needed to get out of this dangerous place before whoever owned this room returned.
Reaching down, I picked up the white silk shirt lying crumpled on the floor. It was completely shredded down the front.
Could this even be worn outside?
My trembling hand tossed the ruined fabric aside.
Right by the edge of the bed sat a clean set of clothes. It had obviously been left behind by him-a sharp, tailored skirt suit. I slipped into it in a hurry. It was definitely not my usual style, most likely bought off the rack on short notice just to handle the emergency.
Heading into the bathroom, I caught sight of myself in the mirror and froze.
My neck was clean, not a single visible blemish in sight. But right beneath my collarbones? Absolute, unmitigated chaos. Feverish red marks, bruised bites, and lingering heat trailed all the way down.
Ha! Should I actually compliment this man on being a gentleman?
He had taken such meticulous care to keep my neckline spotless, terrified someone might find out he had spent the night with another person!
I let out a breath, walked out of the bathroom, and grabbed my clutch from the nightstand.
This was a massive suite, completely stripped of any lived-in warmth. It did not look like a hotel, yet in many ways, it felt just like one.
I pushed open the door and stepped out.
Sure enough, it was not a hotel.
A sprawling, luxury living room stretched out before me, and sitting right in the center was a figure that made my breath catch in my throat.
He was wearing high-end black loungewear, headphones over his ears, lounging on the sofa with a pillow propped under his laptop. He looked indolent, effortless, and strikingly aloof.
Hearing movement from the doorway, he slowly lifted his deep, piercing gaze.
The man sitting there was none other than my CEO, Winston Kensington...
Wasn't he supposed to be the untouchable, chaste god of the corporate world?
Judging by his unhinged appetite last night, that monastic restraint was a total joke. He had not been practicing discipline; he had acted like a starved S-class Alpha unleashed for the first time in decades.
I stood frozen in shock, my lips parting to speak, but Winston beat me to it.
"I am in a meeting," he said, his voice low and dark.
I clamped my mouth shut instantly, knowing full well what he meant.
"Come here. Have some breakfast."
He leaned forward slightly, his slender fingers pushing a warm glass of honey water across the coffee table, nudging it toward a plate with a breakfast sandwich identical to his own.
As he leaned forward, his loose collar fell open. My heart stopped-the webcam on his laptop was pointing directly at the violent red marks on his throat. If the camera was running in high definition, every single executive on that call was looking straight at my handiwork.
My face burned so hot it felt like it was on fire.
Those... were definitely left behind by my nails and teeth.
I silently prayed this place had an invisible exit so I could step through the door and run straight home. Shivering slightly, I sat down on the edge of the sofa, my eyes darting everywhere except toward him.
All I could do was obediently sip the honey water and nibble on the sandwich.
Winston Kensington was famous for being ice-cold. Cold temper, cold personality, cold through and through.
I had truly kicked a titanium plate this time.
I must have stumbled into the wrong car last night.
Just yesterday, I had discovered that my fiancé of five years, Nolan, was secretly entangled with my so-called best friend. The sheer nausea and rage had driven me to drink far too much at the dinner, completely clouding my judgment.
Getting into the wrong car to drown the humiliation of a cheating fiancé was disastrous enough, but waking up to realize I had tangled with my own CEO was a full-blown catastrophe. How could this razor-sharp billionaire mistake who was in his arms? Sleeping with an employee-did he not care about his reputation at all?
Fifteen minutes later, he concluded the call and shut the laptop, finally picking up his cutlery to eat with calm, measured grace.
"My apologies. I did not know it was your first time. I was... a bit too rough."
He was as cold as ever, speaking in the exact same detached tone he used during executive board resolutions, his face entirely expressionless.
"Cough, cough..." Having just managed to regain my composure, the red flush instantly rushed back into my cheeks.
What happened, happened! Did we really need a verbal review?!
"The family physician will be here shortly. Wait until you are checked before you leave."
Unbelievable. The moment the ride was over, he was calling in the medical team. Was he terrified I might end up pregnant with an unexpected heir to claim his family throne?
I finished the last gulp of honey water in one go, having no idea how to answer him.
He ate very quickly, finishing his portion in minutes.
"Wait here. I need to head to headquarters today. I will have Liam drive you back."
I urgently cut in. "Lord Winston, I can head back on my own, it's no trouble at all."
"Are you blaming me for not performing well last night?"
He lifted his gaze slightly, looking faintly aggrieved.
"Huh?!"
For some reason, my heart began to thud wildly against my ribs.