Page 31 of Tempting My Nemesis

"About us. This... whatever this is between us."

Caleb's jaw tightens.

"I thought we had an understanding, Zoe. This is business."

"Even now?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Because that—what we had at the beach house—wasn’t part of the deal ."

I step closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it.

"Because it doesn't feel like it anymore," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Caleb steps closer, closing the distance between us. His hand reaches out, gently tilting my chin up. The touch sends a shiver down my spine, my pulse quickening. His gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us.

What am I doing? This is dangerous... but I can’t stop myself. My mind races, torn between stepping back to protect myself and diving in, consequences be damned. I need to know—need to feel something real.

His thumb brushes my lower lip, and I bite down on it reflexively. Caleb's eyes darken, his breath mingling with mine as he leans in. The tension is almost unbearable, every inch of me screaming for his touch.

"Zoe..." he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends heat coursing through me.

I search his face for any sign that he's as affected by this as I am. The vulnerability in his eyes mirrors my own, and for a split second, everything else fades away. It's just us—two people standing on the edge of something profound and terrifying.

His lips hover inches from mine, and I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. Anticipation coils tight within me, every nerve ending alive with the possibility of what comes next.

Please, Caleb, give me something—anything.

The thought barely forms before his lips capture mine. The kiss is gentle at first, testing the waters. But it quickly deepens into something fierce and consuming. My hands find their way to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring myself to reality.

The taste of him is intoxicating—dark coffee and something else, something distinctly him. His other hand slides around my waist, pulling me closer until there's no space left between us.Every point of contact ignites a fire within me that I've never felt before.

I lose myself in the kiss, all my fears and doubts melting away under the heat of our connection. It's everything I've wanted—needed—and more than I ever dared to hope for. The world outside these walls ceases to exist; it's only us in this moment of raw vulnerability and undeniable passion.

When we finally break apart, both of us are breathing hard. Caleb rests his forehead against mine, eyes closed as if grounding himself in our shared reality.

"Zoe," he starts, his voice low and rough. "This isn't?—"

I cut him off, my heart pounding.

"Don't tell me what this isn't, Caleb. Tell me what it is."

"You know what this is," he says, his tone edged with frustration. "A business arrangement."

It hurts that he still won’t admit it, but I refuse to back down.

"You know that isn’t true—not anymore," I challenge, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze.

Caleb's jaw tightens, and I see the internal struggle play out across his face. His hand reaches out, fingers grazing my cheek before gently tilting my chin up further. The touch sends electricity coursing through me, and I can't help but lean into it.

Caleb's eyes search mine, and I see the moment his control snaps. He closes the last bit of distance between us, his lips crashing down on mine with an intensity that steals my breath.

It's immediate, intense—an explosion of all the emotions we've been holding back. My mind is a whirlwind, but my body responds instinctively, melting into his embrace. His hands grip my waist, firm and possessive, sending shivers through me.

The world around us fades away, leaving only the sensation of his lips on mine, the intensity of the moment drowning out everything else. I can feel the firmness of his chest pressed against mine, every heartbeat echoing in my own chest.

But even as I kiss him back, doubt lingers in the back of my mind. This feels so right... but what if he’s just taking advantage of our agreement? What if I'm just another pawn in his game? The thought tugs at me, but it's too late—I'm already in too deep, and there's no turning back.

His hand slides up my back, fingers threading through my hair. The touch sends a jolt of electricity down my spine. I can't help but cling to him, desperate for the connection that feels so real in this moment. My heart races, each beat pounding against the cage of my ribs as if trying to escape.

The kiss deepens, filled with both passion and desperate longing. It's like we're both on the edge of something huge, something that could either lift us up or break us completely. His other hand cups my face gently, holding me as if he's afraid to let go.

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