Page 49 of Romance with Mr. Bossy Pants

“You should just go,” Daniel mumbles.

“There you go again—reeling me in only to push me away. Which is it?” I feel the anger–or some special kind of frustration–bubbling up inside me.

“I said go, Chloe. Just go.”

But I plant my feet. “Make up your mind. You can’t keep swinging back and forth like this.”

“Leave now before I do something I might regret.”

“And what exactly would you do?” I ask daringly. “Spank me?”

I expect Daniel to get angry and say something mean, but what I don’t expect is the flash of hunger that darkens his eyes.

He wants me. I can see it in his eyes.

And, mercy, how I crave him, too.

I clutch the back of my neck tightly, pulling at it in an attempt to ease the tingling in my lower abdomen. This is uncharted territory for me. While I’ve felt desire with men before, nothing compares to the intensity I feel right now. It’s an overwhelming urge that threatens to make me explode with longing. And I’m not sure if it’s because he’s off-limits or if it’s the mystery surrounding his personality, but with every word that escapes his soft lips, I want him more and more.

My heart pounds in my chest, and my breath becomes shallow as I watch him, completely captivated. His eyes, smoldering with a passion that mirrors my own, lock onto mine. It's as if he's daring me to act, challenging me to cross that line. The air between us crackles with electric tension, and I feel my resolve slipping away.

Maybe that’s why I do what I do next.

I take a step closer, my fingers trembling as they brush against the fabric of his shirt. His warmth seeps through, igniting a fire that spreads within. I grab his shirt with a surge of boldness, pulling him towards me, and crash my lips to his. The world around us fades away, and all that matters is the taste of him, the sensation of his mouth moving against mine.

He kisses me back with an urgency that leaves me breathless, his hands finding their way to the small of my back, pulling me closer still. The kiss is a perfect blend of hunger and tenderness, a desperate need to feel connected. I melt into him, my hands roaming up to tangle in his hair as I lose myself in the moment.

Things will never be the same again.

16

Daniel

The soirée unfolds in a grand ballroom, bathed in the warm glow of chandeliers. Conversations hum softly, children’s laughter fills the space with joy, mingling with the melodies of a string quartet. Stepping into the scene, I feel the weight of my CEO role and the recent turbulence of my interactions with Chloe.

Since that unexpected kiss, my thoughts have been a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Should I have leaned into it? Is it wrong of me to want more of her, to glide my hands across every inch of her body? Tonight, amidst the elegance and high expectations, I mingle with guests with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Chloe's presence is palpable, her graceful movements catching my eye now and then.

What will tonight bring? Will it ease the tension between us or deepen the complexities of our newfound connection?

“Did you actually ask Chloe to come with you tonight?” Garamond inquires, clearly taken aback.

“Yes, why?”

Bringing an actual date isn’t practical for these events; it’s mostly about making connections. Besides, Chloe is courteous and sociable—except when we’re driving each other up a wall. She's witty and intelligent. She’s more than capable of taking on high profile guests.

“You weren’t going to bring a real date?” he probes, and I shoot him a warning look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, this is a corporate event, not a mixer. Isn’t it you that always tells me to keep work and personal life separate?”

Garamond shrugs. That boundary between love and pleasure is nonexistent in his world. My ears have been full about him wooing employees and clients since getting into real estate. I sometimes wonder if that’s why he chose that business in the first place—the options. Quite the charmer.

“Chloe will make a great impression on people.”

He smirks, “She already is.”

“What do you mean she already is?”

Garamond just smirks and nods toward the crowd. I follow his gaze and see Chloe engaged in conversation with a man I recognize all too well. It’s Harrison, a rival with a reputation for laying it on thick. He’s leaning in and whispering something that elicits a bright smile from Chloe. I figured this would happen from the moment she’d stepped foot in this venue—she naturally exudes a welcoming aura.

---