t when Elena arrived

ant horns, and sirens humming in the background like

the door before

ever seen him. His dark hair was tousled like he'd run his hands through it all evening. But hi

e silently, and

of the

. Like they were already speaking wit

od floors, black steel beams, and walls lined with bookshelves and abstract art. But it was warm

gently, then tu

you'd come ton

I would," she r

ou're

m h

e. A b

h

he aske

eeded to see you. Not the bos

l their bodies were a breath

nd tender. "A man who terrifies me. Not because he's cruel

oved as he s

't want to be your escape from loneliness or guilt.

said, his v

ther reached for the other, but something shifted in the

," she said finally,

ere early layout sketches for the gala - seating chart

he said, "but I wanted your sign-o

folder. He set it down on t

t the table layout

she saw it all in his eyes: restraint.

e abou

pulse thunder

"No more pretending like I

ok a sha

you kissed me ye

didn't

fingers brushing the side of her face, then threading gently into her hair. She lea

, pausing just bef

do," he murmured

faintly. "T

n he ki

tly. No

d ever built. His lips moved over hers with hunger, with reverence, like he was memorizing

horing herself to reality. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, hi

t, breathless, she w

darkene

hers, firm but trembling slightly - like eve

heets, low lighting, and floor-to-ceiling window

ed the door

ardrooms and brokered million-dollar deals

sure?"

r hands on his chest. "I've ne

pace between t

owed wasn

tient. In

t simply removing clothes. His hands were slow, reverent, tracing every inch

Her skirt dropped to the floor. A

Elena gasped - not because of the temp

was somet

kiss was a question, and she answered each one with trembling sighs a

his shirt over his hea

s were strong. But there were scars, too. Faint lines across

ed, fingertips brush

the line slowly - as if

d slow, and the room blurred i

y, but with reverence. As if he was giving her som

ith every part of hers

e waves - rising, crash

o rehearsed moans. Just raw

t was the breaking of walls, the collapse of fears, the meeting of

ward, skin against skin, he

back. The rain had started again outside -

e. The silence wasn't em

"I used to believe l

is head sli

ed asked me to prove my worth

ightened a

he said. "You're not a placeholder. You're not a c

him. "What if I

. "Then we'll reb

not with pain, but

d. "The cold, unattached CEO who n

ns out pleasure

softly and sn

es pa

etly, tentativ

ling in love wit

reply im

her, cupping her cheek, brushing

ready

he kissed

y. Sl

derstood what fore