Page 32 of Tempting My Nemesis

When we finally break apart, I'm breathless. My heart races uncontrollably as I look up at him, searching his face for some sign of what he's thinking. His expression is unreadable, that cool mask slipping back into place.

"Caleb," I whisper, barely able to find my voice.

He doesn't respond immediately, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that takes my breath away. For a moment, it feels like we're standing on the precipice together, teetering on the brink of something real.

Suddenly, Caleb steps back, breaking the spell. Without a word, he turns and strides towards his office, disappearing into the shadows. The door closes behind him with a soft click that echoes in the abrupt silence.

I'm left standing alone in the kitchen, my lips still tingling from his kiss, my body aching for his touch. The emptiness of the room crashes over me like a wave, leaving me cold and confused. What just happened?

My mind races with unanswered questions. The unresolved friction hangs heavy in the air. As I stand there, trying to make sense of it all, I can't shake the feeling that everything has changed—and I have no idea what comes next.

CHAPTER TWELVE

CALEB

I try to stay away. Bury myself in work, drown in endless lines of code, hoping it'll be enough to keep her out of my mind. But it isn't. Every moment, every breath, is filled with thoughts of her. Zoe. Our relationship was just meant to be a mutually beneficial transaction, and it’s become anything but.

I find myself drawn back to the living room, where she's fallen asleep at the sofa, exhausted from her latest project. Without thinking, I scoop her into my arms, her warmth seeping into my chest, breaking down the walls I've desperately tried to maintain.

Now, I lie beside Zoe, my body still humming with the intensity of our encounter. Her soft breathing and the warmth of her body against mine fill my senses. As she drifts off, I gently adjust the pillow under her head.

"You're incredible, you know that?"

The words slip out before I can stop them, barely a whisper.

Zoe murmurs something unintelligible, sending a pang through my heart. I watch her for a moment, a storm of emotions brewing inside me—desire, protectiveness, and a fearI can't quite name. My fingers brush a strand of hair from her face, lingering longer than they should.

The conflict rages within me. Every instinct screams to protect her, to keep her close. But the rational part of my mind warns me to push her away, to shield her from the dangers that shadow my life. She's consumed my days and nights, and I can't stop thinking of her. The urge to stay away battles constantly with the need to be near her, leaving me torn and vulnerable in a way I've never experienced before.

As I watch her sleep, my mind begins to spiral. I've always been in control—of my life, my emotions, my surroundings. But now, lying next to Zoe, I feel that control slipping away. She's gotten under my skin, into my heart, and it terrifies me.

What the hell am I doing? This wasn't supposed to happen. I can't let myself... I can't lose composure like this.

The rawness Zoe brings out in me feels like a weakness, one I'm not prepared to handle. My stomach knots, a mix of fear and something I can't quite name. My hand, still resting near her face, trembles slightly. The panic starts to bubble up inside me, threatening to consume everything.

I slip out of bed, careful not to disturb Zoe. The warmth of her body lingers on my skin as I pad silently through the penthouse. My heart races, a mix of desire and panic coursing through my veins.

The hidden door to my lair slides open with a soft hiss. The cold air slaps me as I cross the threshold. This is where I belong. This is where I'm in command.

I flip the switches, and the room comes to life. Monitors flicker on, bathing me in their blue glow. The familiar hum of servers fills the air.

"I need to focus. I need to think," I mutter, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

But Zoe's scent still clings to me, a constant reminder of what lies just beyond the walls I’ve built. I grit my teeth, trying to push her out of my mind. The security feeds pop up, showing empty hallways and locked doors. Everything's secure. So why do I feel so exposed?

My eyes scan the camera feeds, but the images blur together. All I can see is Zoe's face, her eyes filled with trust I don't deserve. She's gotten under my skin, burrowed her way into places I thought were impenetrable.

My sanctuary feels different tonight. Colder. Emptier. The screens that usually bring me comfort now feel like a flimsy shield against the storm raging inside me.

She's a distraction. A weakness. But... she's more than that. And that's what scares me the most.

My hands tremble slightly as I type in commands, running diagnostics I don't really need to. I'm just going through the motions, desperately trying to regain some semblance of control.

But it's slipping away, like sand through my fingers. And for the first time in years, I'm not sure I want to stop it.

I lean back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. The screens in front of me blur as my mind wanders to the past, to the events that led me here. The magnitude of my choices, the price of my ambition—it all comes crashing down on me. I need answers. I need to understand how I got here, teetering on the edge.

With a deep breath, I lean forward, opening a hidden, encrypted file containing everything I have on Kane Holloway. As the data slowly decrypts and loads onto the screen, my jaw tightens.

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