: Chapter 25

We’ll see? This infuriating man!

“I’m just letting you hug me because you needed it. Don’t think of anything else. I’m still mad at you for what you did up in your penthouse.” My cheeks flamed at my slip of tongue. Why did I need to mention it right now? My lips tingled recalling the earth-shattering kiss on his bed.

He pressed his nose against my hair. “And don’t think I forgot what you did last night. It was a really reckless move. And about kissing you,” he rasped, arms tightening around me, “I don’t regret a second of it. I’ll do it again and again, even if you don’t like it.”

A gasp slipped through my parted lips as he placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck and then on my throat.

“And I know you loved it,” he said in a deep husky voice, brushing his lips over my jaw.

My heart raced in my chest as hot desire shot through my veins at the touch of his scorching mouth. A tug in my lower region made me want to seek those sinful lips again, the same lips that were on mine this morning. My skin burned with his bold touch over my curves.

But even if I wanted to burn in his flames for the rest of my life with pleasure, with all the strength I’d in me, I untangled myself from him and stepped away.

I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t let my control slip again. I had to go.

When I turned around to run, his arms again shot out to me. Holding my shoulders, he pulled me back against him.

“Stop running away from me, Rose. We both know what we want. Stop escaping the truth,” he murmured in my ear, stroking my mid-section.

His touch was making me unable to think. My body reacted to him strongly every time he touched me. My mind warned me to keep my distance, but my heart longed for him every time he was away. His closeness was a sweet poison to my brain. Because it loved it, even if it made it numb.

Keep it together, Em!

“I have to go. Let me go.” My voice came out as a weak whisper.

“Never. I’ll never let you go.”

Huh? He’ll keep me in his office forever?

“I have work. Let go,” I huffed.

“No work today. It’s your free day.”

“What? Why?” I turned to look up at him.

“It’s been a long day for you. Not to mention the terrible night you had. It’s your day off.” He brushed some tendrils away from my face. He was so close…

“Can you keep some distance? Move!” I wiggled, slapping his strong arm.

Amusement etched in those gray orbs. “Why? My closeness bothers you, Rosebud? It makes you all hot for me?” he teased.

My eyes widened. The arrogance!“Not at all! I don’t feel anything. Now let go!”

“Only on one condition.”

My brows narrowed. “No conditions!”

He shrugged. “Then no leaving.”

I groaned. “Fine! What’s it?”

The corner of his lips twitched as he kissed my forehead. My heart stuttered at the gesture. “Have lunch with me?” When I didn’t answer, he continued.“Let’s talk. I even ordered your favorite dish.”

At the mention of food, my stomach growled. I didn’t have breakfast this morning in a hurry.

I tried to ignore the amusement in his eyes. “Okay. But only because I’m hungry.”

Nodding, a smile spread across his face. A genuine one, which was very rare. “Only because you’re hungry.”

I stared at the cheesy garlic shrimps with extra sweet and sour sauce before me. Exactly how I liked to take it. Not a usual combo, but it used to be my favorite. Our favorite. Whenever he used to visit our home, he’d bring it for me. It was our regular thing after our chess matches.

“You remembered?” I whispered, looking up at him.

Leaning forward, he put some prawns on my plate and then poured the sauce onto it. “It’s not possible for me to forget even a single thing about you, even if I want to.”

The look in his orbs was so intense it left me breathless. I had to avert my gaze. I couldn’t let him see the moisture the old memories fetched in my eyes. Picking up a prawn covered in the sauce, I put it into my mouth. Exceptional! Just as I remembered. The sweet and savory taste blasted on my tongue.

A moan left my mouth. “It’s so good!”

I’ve missed it so much. In those years, in the process of avoiding him, I avoided everything related to him as much as possible. Even this sweet and sour heaven. It awakened too many memories.

A smile danced across his lips as he watched me, still not touching the food. “You’re not eating it with your hand anymore.”

Embarrassment rose from my neck to my ear. I used to hate using forks to eat them. Using my fingers, it was easy to lick the cheese and sauce. I’d do the same right now, but self-consciousness held me back.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed, Rosebud. It’s just me. I want you to be yourself when you’re around me,” he said, taking my fork from my hand.

When I didn’t proceed, still hesitating, he also put his fork aside and picked a prawn using his fingers. I watched him with surprise. He never used to use his hand while eating. He thought it was gross. But now…

“What? You want me to finish them all alone?” he asked when I stared at him.

Shaking my head, I happily dug in, using my fingers. Now it tasted even better.

“Since when did you start eating with your hands?” Taking a piece of pepperoni pizza, I took a bite.

Glancing up, he watched me with a strange emotion while sucking the sauce off his thumb. My eyes fell on his wicked mouth before I shifted my attention to food again.

“Since it started to help me keep my sanity.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Why don’t you taste the baklava? My chef is from Turkey, so it’s an authentic recipe. Here, take some. You’ll love it.” He put some of the dessert on my plate, clearly changing the topic.

I had so many questions preserved for him, and here he wasn’t even answering the simple ones.

“No, thanks.” I snapped, my temper suddenly flaring. I pushed the plate away. “I’m full.”

His brows furrowed. “What happened to you all of a sudden?”

“Nothing. Why don’t you eat the baklava? I’m sure you’ll love it,” I phrased his line.

He pressed his lips together. “I don’t need to eat it to know if I’ll love it. I do love it. Now, will you tell me what’s wrong?”

I wanted to ask the questions I asked Tess, but I didn’t know how to approach him with them.

Looking away, I replied, “Nothing is wrong. I’m done, so I gotta go.”

“You won’t leave without having dessert with me and answering my question.”

“Excuse me? And who are you to order me?”

He titled his head. “Your boss.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh yeah! I forgot. No one can deny the king here.”

“No one, except my queen.”

My gaze snapped up to him. His stare was intense. Pushing the dishes away, he tugged me onto his lap, emanating a gasp out of me.

“And as you’re my queen, you have every right to order and deny me around, my Rosebud.” My breath hitched in my throat and heart pounded down my chest as I stared at him. Cupping my face, he said, “I’m sorry if anything I said displeased you. I didn’t mean it. I’d never do anything intentionally to hurt you.”

“I-I’m not your queen,” I mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Placing a kiss on my forehead, he peered into my soul. “You are. You can deny anything you want, you have the right to do it. But you don’t have the right to deny this one thing. So, get that into your beautiful head. You are my queen. My every fucking thing. My world.”

I let out a shaky breath as a fierce emotion slammed into my heart, making me breathless. His every word was like an arrow to my heart, breaking the bricks one by one of the walls I made around my heart all these years. I wanted to ask why. But I feared I wouldn’t be able to handle his answer.

“I-I want to ask something,” I said.

Kissing my eyelids, he nodded.

“How did you know Liza was the one who put the drugs into Caleb’s car?”

“Like you suggested at that board meeting. I had people look into the recent activities of the staff having a direct connection to the projects. And I just got the reports after we returned from the police station.” His features tightened. “Liza’s phone records raised suspicion. She was also one of those people who went to Caleb’s house this morning. So, it was pretty clear it was her. That plastic packet just confirmed it.”

Nodding, I took in the information.

“Are—are you okay?” I bit my lip.

A crease set between his brows. “Why do you ask that?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “You were disturbed regarding something since we left the police station. I can tell it’s not just Caleb, it’s something else. What is it?”

Silence.

“Your reaction was strange when I told you there were drugs in that packet.” I still remember how he flinched away from the packet.

His jaw clenched as his grip tightened on me. “It’s a very vile thing, Emerald. People should stay away from it as much as possible,” he replied. Tone hard.

What are you hiding from me?

“Any other questions you have for me?” he asked, brushing his fingers against my cheek.

My heart skipped. This is the chance, Em. Say it. Ask him.

“Will you tell me the truth if I ask?”

He watched me for a moment, then gave a slow nod.

“I-I want to know everything, Ace. Everything that I should know. Everything that’s been hidden from me,” I whispered. “I-I want to know what happened that night, seven years ago.”