Page 4 of The Billionaire's Gamble

Hannah

I know you love to dance.

So he does remember me. I recognized Dean as soon as he came to my rescue, but I feared he had no recollection of our flight four years ago and didn’t want to risk embarrassing myself in front of him.

He looks way hotter… I thought he was attractive back then, but now he’s absolutely irresistible. He's grown buffer, his shoulders broader and his muscles more defined. He's wearing a tailored suit that clings perfectly to his frame, emphasizing every sculpted line of his body. Beneath the impeccably cut classic black suit is a crisp white shirt with the top few buttons undone just enough to reveal a glimpse of his strong, tanned neck. He’s also grown out his beard, a neatly trimmed expanse that adds an air of rugged sophistication to his chiseled jawline. There’s a hint of gray at his temples now, and that only adds to his allure.

His eyes, though... Those deep, piercing blue eyes are the same. And right now, they're boring into mine with a breathtaking intensity. It's like looking into a stormy sea, vast and tumultuous, but undeniably beautiful.

“You remember me?” I ask, blinking up at him in disbelief.

“Oh, Honey, of course I do,” he says, his eyes twinkling with amusement and something else… something soft yet thrilling. “What are the odds that we meet like this again?”

“I can't believe it,” I mutter, shaking my head at how surreal this moment is. I’ve thought about him often over the last four years, thinking of how his nudge of common sense changed my life. How I wished I could see him again and thank him. He was the first person I thought of when I joined a dance group at school. I owe him for all the happiness I’ve found in New York.

I knew that the chances were next to nothing but in a deep recess of my heart, I held hope that I'd meet him again one day, and if that day ever came to pass, I had a lot to say to him but now it's happening, and it feels like I have suddenly lost the ability to form rational thought… Or breathe. My chest feels like it's going to burst at any moment from how hard it's beating. I feel like I'm drowning in the endless depths of his eyes, unable– unwilling to look away.

He pulls me even closer to his chest, his lips tilting upward in a soft, almost teasing smile. “Dance with me, Honey.”

He starts to sway along to the music, and I have no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck and follow his lead.

The music envelops us, and soon, we're moving together as if we've been dancing for years. His hand rests firmly on the small of my back, guiding me effortlessly. Our bodies fit together like they’re made for each other, each movement sending electric jolts through me. The closeness is intoxicating, the warmth of his body pressing against mine, the feel of his muscles beneath his suit as my fingers trail over his broad shoulders.

I’ve never been this close to anyone before, and every touch, every brush of his hand, ignites a fire inside me. The sexualtension between us is palpable, a heavy, charged energy that neither of us can ignore. He grinds his hips against mine in time with the music, and I feel a surge of heat rush through me, my breath catching in my throat.

His hands slide down my back, fingers grazing the curve of my hips, pulling me even closer. I can feel his breath on my neck, hot and tantalizing, as he whispers, “You’re a beautiful dancer, Hannah.”

I shiver at the sound of my name on his lips, the intensity of his gaze sending a thrill through me. “Thank you,” I manage to whisper back, my voice trembling slightly.

“I'm curious,” he says in a light tone that contradicts the intensity in his deep blue eyes. “Did you keep dancing?”

“Yes, I joined a dance group at school,” I answer, lifting my gaze to meet his ocean eyes. “It’s helped so much; I can’t imagine my life without it.”

Dean’s expression softens, and his lips curl into a gentle smile. “I’m glad you found a way to keep dancing. It suits you.”

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I look away, feeling suddenly shy. "It's all thanks to you," I admit quietly. "You brought me back to my senses that day and made me realize that I had so many options to keep doing what I loved. So, thank you, Dean."

He tilts his head, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You don’t owe me any thanks, Honey. You found the strength within yourself. I just helped you see it.”

“I still want to thank you,” I insist, my voice trembling with emotion. “You don’t know how much it meant to me. I even wona few international dance awards. You have no idea how much that's helped build my confidence.”

Dean’s eyes light up with genuine pride, a small smile grazing his full sensuous lips. “I'm proud of you, Hannah.”

My heart skips a beat at the sound of my name on his lips. There's something about the way he says it, with a mix of tenderness and admiration, that makes me feel good about myself. His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, filling the spaces within me that I hadn't even realized were empty.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”

His hand finds its way to the small of my back, pulling me even closer against him. He tilts my chin up, our eyes locking, and for a moment, the world around us fades away. There’s only him, his touch, his eyes, the raw attraction that binds us. He lowers his head, his lips brushing against my ear. “I’ve thought about you every day since that flight. I never forgot you, Honey.”

His confession makes my heart pound even harder, and I lean into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my chest. “I never forgot you either,” I admit, my voice barely audible over the music.

He smiles, a slow seductive curve of his sexy lips, sending a ripple of anticipation through me. "Good. Because I don't intend to let you go this time."

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks, my body responding to the intensity of his gaze. My heart starts to race, my mind whirling with several conflicting emotions. His presence is overwhelming but in the best possible way. I don't want this moment to end, I don't want to lose the connection we've just found again.

Dean’s hand slides down my back, resting possessively on my hip. “Would you like to come up to my suite for a break?” he asks, his voice low and inviting.

His words send a shiver down my spine. I’ve never been one for casual encounters, never felt comfortable with the idea. But tonight, with Dean, it feels different. The way he looks at me, the way he holds me – it’s as if we’re the only two people in the world. And right now, I don’t want to stop feeling like this. I’m not ready to let go of him quite yet.

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