Page 71 of Unleashed

“Why not a restaurant?” I asked, suddenly feeling the weight of the decision.

“I’m tired, and I don’t want to compete with the noise of a restaurant,” he said. “But you can decline.”

I studied him for a moment. “But you want me to say yes.”

He smiled, the kind that made my pulse race. “I’d be lying if I said no. I want to share a dinner with you.”

His words hung between us, the tension thick. When I didn’t resist as he gently guided me toward the exit, I knew my decision was already made. Winston was waiting at the curb, as usual, and I slid into the cool leather interior of the car, Michael following close behind.

Once we were settled, he reached for my hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss my palm. His touch sent a ripple of heat through me.

“I’m doing something I said I wouldn’t,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my skin.

My breath hitched. “Which is?”

“I’m falling for you,” he admitted, his eyes dark and serious.

I let out a nervous laugh. “I thought you already did.”

He smiled, but it was softer, more vulnerable. “I have a severe case of the likes. I really like you, Morgan.”

“I like you too,” I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

He leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. “Will you have dinner with me?”

I met his gaze, feeling the pull between us. “I thought that was the plan.”

“You didn’t agree,” he said, his tone gentle but insistent. “I wouldn’t force you.”

I smiled, the tension slipping away. “Take me to your home.”

"You have a beautiful home.How lucky you are to have this," I said, taking in the sleek, modern lines of Michael’s apartment.

"I'm not here enough to enjoy it," he replied with a shrug. "What would you like to eat?"

"Are you cooking?" I asked, teasingly.

He smirked. "No, I'm ordering. You can have anything you want."

I raised an eyebrow. "So, if I said pizza, you'd order it?"

"I said anything."

I laughed, feeling a bit lighter. "Can I think about it?" I kicked off my black heels in the foyer, leaving them behind as I wandered around his place in my bare feet. My fingers brushed over the polished wood shelves next to the massive flatscreen in his living room. A carved jade figurine caught my eye, its intricate details glinting in the soft lighting. I picked it up, running my fingers over the cool, smooth surface.

"That was given to me by a Chinese business acquaintance," Michael said, walking over to join me.

"It’s beautiful," I said, admiring the craftsmanship.

He gently took the figurine from my hands, placing it back on the shelf with care before turning to face me. His eyes darkened with intensity. "You're beautiful. This?" He gestured toward the jade carving. "This is nothing compared to you."

My cheeks flushed under his gaze. Between Michael and Slade, I was starting to feel like my ego was being inflated in ways I hadn’t experienced before. "Nonsense. That is fantastic."

"Do you want it?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

I blinked, taken aback. "I wasn’t complimenting it because I wanted it."

"But you can have it, if you do."

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