Page 21 of Tempting My Nemesis

I lean in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. But she doesn't move. Our lips meet, gentle at first, then something inside me snaps.

The kiss deepens, and I'm lost. My hand cups her face, drawing her closer. She responds with equal fervor, her fingers threading through my hair. It's like nothing I've ever felt before—raw, real, electric.

This isn't just part of our arrangement anymore. This is something else entirely. The realization should terrify me, but instead, it sends a thrill down my spine.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathless. I rest my forehead against hers, unable to look away from her eyes.

"Zoe..." I whisper again, her name carrying the weight of everything that's just shifted between us.

"Yeah?" Her voice is soft, but I hear the tremor in it.

We stay like that, suspended in the moment, neither of us willing to break the spell. The kiss lingers in the air around us, too real to ignore, too powerful to dismiss.

For the first time in years, I let myself want something—someone—without restraint.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ZOE

I spread out the yoga mats on the sand, trying to steady my racing thoughts. Caleb joins me, his muscular frame moving with mesmerizing grace. We start with basic stretches, the silence between us filled with crashing waves.

"Morning," Caleb's voice breaks through with an edge of strain.

"Morning," I reply, trying to ignore the way his intense gray eyes watch me.

We flow through poses in sync, but his closeness sends shivers down my spine. I struggle to focus on my breathing, not on him.

"I didn't know you were into yoga," Caleb says hesitantly.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," I respond, my heart pounding.

He holds my gaze, his expression thoughtful. "Tell me more. I want to know."

I hesitate but decide to open up. "I started when things were tough with Archer Innovations. It helped me keep my head straight."

As we continue, I'm hyper-aware of his closeness. Every movement draws me in, making it harder to control my emotions.

"Why yoga?" Caleb asks, eyes locked on mine.

"It clears my mind. Gives me space to think."

He nods. "I get that."

We finish with a seated meditation, the silence laden with unspoken words.

"Maybe we can do this again," he suggests softly.

I nod, hope and fear swirling inside me. "Maybe we can."

Seemingly out of nowhere, a rain shower breaks over us. Laughing, we sprint across the beach, Caleb's hand gripping mine tightly as we race towards shelter.

I burst through the door of the beach house, soaked to the bone and breathless from laughter. Caleb's right behind me, his shirt clinging to his muscular frame. My heart's racing, and I'm not sure if it's from the run or his proximity.

"That was unexpected," I say, wringing out my hair.

Caleb hands me a towel, his eyes intense. "You're shivering."

I wrap the towel around myself, suddenly aware of how my wet clothes cling to every curve. The playful atmosphere shifts, the air between us charging with something electric.

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