Page 17 of The Payment

Chapter Seven

Jarek

The master bedroomat the penthouse...

Jarek’s room was a sanctuary of elegance and intimacy, a perfect backdrop for the passionate dance he intended.It was bathed in the soft, silvery glow of the moonlight streaming through the windows.The walls were a soothing shade of dove gray, punctuated by tasteful artwork that depicted abstract landscapes in muted tones, adding a sense of tranquility to the atmosphere.

The centerpiece of the room was a massive king-sized bed, creating a nest of comfort and allure.The bed was piled high with plush pillows and a soft, inviting duvet that promised a night of indulgent rest—or passionate abandon.The headboard was intricately carved from dark, rich mahogany, echoing the classic elegance of the room.

The moment they entered his bedroom, Tatiana wrenched her hand free and backed away, putting the massive bed between them.Her eyes blazed with fury and something else—fear, perhaps, not of him but of her own response to him.

“Whatever game you’re playing, Jarek, I’m not interested.”Her voice carried a sharp edge, but he caught the slight tremor beneath.

He studied her for a moment, noting how the moonlight streaming through the windows cast shadows across her face.She looked dangerous and vulnerable all at once, like a wounded tigress backed into a corner.

“No games.”He reached into his pocket, withdrawing a small velvet box.“Just a gift.”

“I told you, I can’t be bought.”But her eyes fixed on the box, a flicker of curiosity betraying her.

“Then consider it a peace offering.”He placed it on the bed between them.“Open it.”

Her hesitation was palpable.Finally, with visible reluctance, she reached for the box.The moment she saw the sapphire pendant, her carefully constructed mask cracked.Her fingers trembled as she lifted them.

“This...this looks exactly like...”She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“The one your mother gave you at birth.The one that disappeared when you were ten years old.”He moved around the bed slowly, like approaching a skittish animal.“You described it once, before all this.I had it recreated.”

“Why?”Her voice was barely a whisper.“Why would you do this?”

Instead of answering, he took the necklace from her trembling hands.She flinched when he stepped behind her but didn’t move away.As he brushed her hair aside, his fingers grazed her neck, feeling her pulse jump beneath her skin.

“You don’t get to do this,” she said, but the usual venom was missing from her voice.“You don’t get to act like you care after everything...”

His lips found the sensitive spot behind her ear.“I never said I didn’t care.”

“Stop it!”She spun to face him.Her eyes were bright with unshed tears and anger.“Stop trying to confuse me.This doesn’t change anything.”

But when he cupped her face, she didn’t pull away.His thumb traced her lower lip, feeling her quick, shallow breaths.

“Nothing has to change,” he murmured.“Just let me show you...”

Her resistance became a challenge.Knowing she expected a forceful attack, he kissed her—gentle at first, a mere brush of lips that made her gasp.She stiffened but didn’t push him away, so he deepened the kiss, tasting her uncertainty, her reluctance, and underneath it all, her growing hunger.

Her lips remained stiff against his for several heartbeats before she surrendered with a soft, intoxicating moan.Her fingers curled into his shirt as she seemed to waver between resistance and desire.He took advantage of her indecision, threading his fingers through her hair to angle her head, deepening the kiss.

The first touch of his tongue against hers sparked a fire that threatened to consume them both.She surprised him by kissing him back with a hunger that matched his own.Her response held a primal intensity, as if her body remembered what her mind fought to forget.Her breath hitched as he explored her mouth with a slow, deliberate rhythm designed to ignite her senses.Her resistance crumbled as she unconsciously pressed her body closer to his.

With a carnal growl, he deepened the kiss as the heat between them grew with each passionate stroke of his tongue.Every fiber of his being was alive with desire, urging him to take more, to lose himself in the intoxicating taste and feel of her.His careful control began to slip.

“I hate you,” she gasped against his mouth.“I hate what you’ve done to me.”

“Hate me tomorrow,” he growled, trailing kisses down her throat.“Tonight, just feel.”

His hands slid beneath the bulky sweatshirt, finding the silky-soft skin he remembered.She arched into his touch despite herself.The betrayal drew a frustrated sound from her throat.Every caress was a battle as her body responded while her mind rebelled.

He took his time, rediscovering each sensitive spot that made her squirm and catching her breath.Her skin felt like heated silk beneath his palms, responsive to his lightest touch.

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