Her choice

Chapter 4; Ava

His voice. Smooth, calm, commanding.

I didn’t turn around. I walked faster. I can't take this anymore.

“Ava,” he said again. Closer. Lower.

And then I felt it—his fingers wrapped gently around my wrist, stopping me. The second his skin touched mine, I forgot how to breathe. My chest rose and fell too quickly. My entire body felt like it remembered something I had never even experienced.

I turned, slowly. “yes?” I asked, trying to play it cool, when everything in me was shaking.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

“Leaving. Like a good employee should. I shouldn’t have e__”

His jaw tightened. Which makes me stop talking

“Employee,” he repeated, stepping into my space, close enough to taste the heat between us. “Is that what I am to you? Just your boss?”

I lifted my chin, meeting his eyes. “Isn’t that what you are? And what you said?"

His eyes darkened, and before I could take another breath, he grabbed my hand and pulled me down another hallway. I barely had time to protest—why is he angry at me?

He pushed open a door and dragged me inside. A sleek black marble bathroom—too elegant.

The door slammed shut behind us.

“You don’t say that,” he growled.

I turned to face him. “Say what?”

“That I’m just your boss.”

“You are,” I said, my voice thin, trembling.

His gaze dropped to my mouth, then his hands ran through his hair. “Of course I am your boss Ava, but am not just your boss” what did he just say, I was so distracted by his little messed up hair wanting to do what he just did.

“what?” it was barely a whisper but I said it “ Enough with the games” he barked

I swallowed hard. “You have Rosalie,” I muttered.

“She’s my ex,” he hissed. “She means nothing.” How did our conversation turn into this? Am I dreaming? Did I have a concussion or something? He came closer to me and I took a step back

My back hit the counter. He was inches away. Close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body.

“You walked away,” he said. “In that dress. With your *ss swaying like you wanted to be followed.” yes

“I didn’t—”

He cut me off by gripping my chin, tilting it up. His thumb brushed my lower lip, slow and punishing. “‘Shhhh____” I went silent. My heart, my body, my everything froze at his command.

“You knew exactly what you were doing,” he whispered. “And now I am going to punish you for it.” The words that he was saying to me were enough to bring me to my knees. It was all too much. He was too close. I could smell his scent. I could just move a little and kiss those lips.

I fought the urge to bite my lip.

My breath hitched as he pressed his body against mine. His one hand on my neck choking me. My hands gripped the counter behind me, trying to anchor myself.

“You don’t get to call me just your boss, Ava,” he murmured against my cheek, “and then walk away looking like this.”

His other hand moved from my chin, trailing heat along my collarbone, then lower. I gasped when his fingers found the sl*t in my dress, parting the fabric.

“You wore this for someone?” he asked.

“No,” I breathed.

“Liar.”

Then his hand slid beneath the sl*t. Higher. Up my thigh.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered, voice trembling.

“And yet, here I am.” I didn’t hear him. Not when he was close.

I bit my lip when his fingers brushed the thin lace of my panties.

“Wet,” he muttered. “Of course you are.” If it wasn’t for the counter I was almost sitting on and if it wasn’t for his hand on my neck I couldn’t have stood through this. I felt a little pressure on my cl*t. I gasped.

“Xavier…”

His eyes locked with mine. “Say it again.”

“…Xavier.”

“F__uck” he cursed

And with that. He picked me up, placed me on the counter, his fingers slipping under the lace and found me. I cried out, one hand slamming against the mirror behind me to steady myself. Everything happened so fast. My legs were up in the air wrapped around him.

“This is what happens,” he said through clenched teeth, “when you look like that and act like a stranger.”

His fingers moved in slow, deliberate strokes. Deep. Firm. His eyes never left mine. It was all getting too much. His eyes went down looking straight at my core.

I tried to close my legs, but he growled, “Don’t even think about it.”

The edge of the counter bit into my thighs, my legs wrapped around him. My breathing turned shallow.

“You don’t get to run,” he whispered, lips brushing my ear. “Not from me.”

I moaned when he added pressure, and speed. It was nothing I have ever experienced. His thumb is circling my clits . I was close—so close. And for a moment he added another finger for about two strokes taking me to that cliff. I was so…. so close.

And then he stopped.

My eyes flew open. “No—don’t—”

He leaned in, lips hovering over mine, but not touching.

“Next time,” he whispered, “you say am just your boss, remember this”

He stepped back, leaving me trembling, aching, empty.

And then he walked out. I was so shocked at everything that happened that I didn’t move for a full minute. You would think I would feel happy or exhilarated that he f*ck*ng touched me right where I wanted him to. Happy that he looked at me hungry. But no, I felt anger boiling through me. I washed my face and took a minute to cool off before I walked out.

I stormed out of the ballroom, heels clicking against the marble, chest rising with every angry breath I took. I could still feel Xavier’s fingers on my thighs, the heat of his mouth near my ear, and the way he walked away like nothing had happened—like he hadn’t just fingered me in a d*mn resort bathroom as punishment for calling him just my boss. I didn’t deserve that

Screw him.

I scanned the crowd in the garden terrace, my eyes searching for him. I saw him standing like nothing happened. standing under those soft golden lights, surrounded by people. Rosali was next to him, laughing at something he said. He looked up just then. Our eyes locked. And that b*st*rd—he f*ck*ng smirked. He smirked at me and then casually brought his fingers to his nose, like he was adjusting his cuff or something, but I knew. I knew. He could still smell me on him.

And it made me throb. There was nothing decent about the act, but god was it hot

My rage only grew hotter. I was going to give him a piece of my mind. I didn’t care if people were watching. I didn’t care if Rosali was next to him or if he was some goddamn Greek god in a midnight suit—I wasn’t just some pawn he could play with.

I took a step forward, jaw set, heart pounding. I was going to f*ck*ng bite his face.

But before I could reach him, a hand caught mine.

“Ava.”

I turned to find Diego.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, eyes searching my face. I opened my mouth to say something, but the words were stuck. I was still so full of everything—rage, lust, shame, power. I was so f*ck*ng horny. I didn’t know what to think. I wanted to tell him what happened. How he left me but no word came out

“What's wrong bab__? “ I didn’t let him finish

I kissed him.

I didn’t even think. I just grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him in.