Chapter 7. I want something more
1931 Words
Sebastian walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, shoving his hands in his pockets as if the cool air outside could calm the storm building inside him.
Delilah stayed perched on his desk,eyes shamelessly trailing over every line of his body.For all his control and composure,those broad shoulders and that hard,lean frame were pure temptation.
“Where exactly do you want me to go?”
Her voice dripped with mischief as she sauntered up behind him,close enough for her breath to graze his ear.
“To Elliot’s place?He asked me to go swimming today.Want to join us?”
“Shut your mouth.”
His head whipped around,eyes blazing.
“Don’t you dare use his name to push me.Try that again,and I swear you’ll regret it.”
“Why so harsh?”
She didn’t back off.Instead,her arms slid around his neck like a silken trap.Her tone turned light,teasing—dangerously playful.
“Let’s make a deal.A little game.If I lose,I walk out of here and never bother you again.”
Sebastian’s jaw locked.His gaze was ice,but there was something else simmering deep in those eyes.
“What game?”
Delilah’s lips curved into a wicked smile.
“Simple.I guess what brand of underwear you’ve got on.If I’m right,I win.If I’m wrong…I leave.”
His face darkened.A muscle ticked in his jaw as he shoved her back.
“Enough.”
But Delilah only laughed softly,leaning in again,her voice a low purr.
“Armani,right?”She brushed her fingers against his tie,eyes locking on his with shameless heat.“Come on…tell me I’m wrong.”
Every nerve in his body screamed to push her away,but the feel of her—soft,warm,relentless—was shredding his control thread by thread.
“I told you to leave.”His voice was harsh,breaking under the weight of desire.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“Not until you tell me if I guessed right.”
“No.”
“Guess I’ll have to find out myself then…”
Before he could stop her,her hand slid down—bold,deliberate—fingers hooking the belt at his waist...
He could only sit there,watching as she stripped away his control,piece by piece.
His eyes slid shut,his jaw tight,Adam’s apple bobbing hard.
Whatever anger he had left burned out like paper in a fire.
In seconds,every ounce of resistance vanished,and he gave in—falling headfirst into raw,reckless heat all over again.
The sleek,high-end office turned stifling,the air thick with tension and desire.
His phone lit up on the desk.It rang twice.Someone even knocked once.He ignored everything.
Delilah was everything she had always been—fearless,wild,and unapologetically bold.
She moved with skill and hunger,taking what she wanted without shame.
When it finally ended—after more than an hour—it was like a storm burning itself out.
Sebastian collapsed into the leather sofa,half-reclined,long legs stretched out in lazy defiance.
He poured himself a glass of whiskey,swirling the amber liquid before taking a slow sip.
Whatever storm had raged inside him was gone,leaving his expression carved in stone—controlled,cold,unreadable.
Then she slid beside him,lips parting to speak—
—but Sebastian didn’t even look at her.He picked up his phone,tossed it onto her lap,and said in a voice colder than the ice in his drink:
“Whatever amount you want,transfer it yourself.Once it hits,you’re gone.”
To him,that brutal,breathless hour had meant nothing more than a transaction.
But this time,Delilah wasn’t playing that game.
A soft,bitter laugh slipped from her lips as she tossed the phone back onto the table.
“Relax,Mr.Cole.I don’t need your money anymore.”Her smile curved like a blade.“I want something different.”
His gaze sharpened.“What the hell do you want?”
“You,”she said simply.
“…What?”
His jaw tensed,voice dropping low,rough with warning.“What do you mean?”
Delilah swung one leg over his lap,straddling him with deliberate ease.Her dark,fearless eyes locked on his.
“I mean I’m not done with you.Not even close.”
The words landed like a match dropped into gasoline—direct,dangerous,a declaration of war.
For a split second,something flickered in his eyes—shock,maybe.Then it was gone.
He shoved her off his lap,his voice dropping to a harsh growl.
“Don’t think just because I wanted you once,you get to keep pushing.”
His tone was pure ice.He grabbed his whiskey,threw back the last burning sip,and slammed the glass onto the table without sparing her another glance.
Delilah didn’t flinch.She had expected this.
Calm as ever,she leaned against the sofa,lips curling into a slow,taunting smile.
“Sebastian,”she murmured,her voice soft and sharp all at once,“you really shouldn’t have started this if you didn’t know who you were dealing with.Because now…”
Her smile turned lethal.“You’ll never get rid of me.”
She stood,smoothed down her skirt,and slung her bag over her shoulder.
“Think I’m crazy if you want.Just remember—women like me don’t quit.So…be ready.See you next time.”
”
She walked away without hesitation,heels clicking against polished marble.
Sebastian didn’t move.Didn’t say a word.He didn’t even look at her.
But something twisted deep in his chest—a tight,unfamiliar weight he couldn’t shake.
A second ago,she was in his arms.The next,she walked out like she owned the room—like she owned him.
At the door,Delilah stopped,turned her head slightly,and tossed one last line over her shoulder:
“Oh,and about your engagement party next week…”Her voice was a silky blade.“You might want to cancel it.That date?Feels cursed.”
Delilah pulled out of the parking garage and eased her car onto the quiet suburban road.
Her hands were on the wheel,but her mind wasn’t on driving.It drifted back to what had just happened in that office—the heat,the chaos—and a slow,dangerous smile tugged at her lips.
Over the next couple of days,Delilah pulled herself together and got to work cleaning up the mess her business had become.
First,she wired out nearly two million dollars in compensation to calm down her clients.Then she hired a lawyer to handle the lawsuits piling up on her desk.Next on the list?Figuring out how to reopen her pet clinics.
The problem was,the story about those dogs had gone viral.Her brand name was trashed beyond repair.There was no salvaging it.She’d have to rebrand from the ground up.
And that wasn’t even the biggest hurdle.Most of her locations were still under suspension.Even if the inspections cleared,the damage was already done.Getting the green light from regulators could take months.
That afternoon,while Delilah was pounding away on the treadmill in her home gym,her phone started buzzing.
She slowed her pace,swiped to check the screen,and saw the name:Elliot Cole.
He wanted to grab dinner.
It had been a while since they last hung out—since that mountain biking trip,actually.After that,everything had spiraled.Between Delilah’s chaos and Elliot flying back to the States to wrap up school,their paths hadn’t crossed again.
Now he was back in town.And honestly?Considering how much he’d helped her before,she didn’t even hesitate.“Sure,”she said.
After finishing her workout,she hit the shower,slipped into fresh clothes,and went for a lighter look—just a touch of makeup.
Tonight,she kept it casual:a fitted white crop tee and wide-leg jeans.Effortless,easy.But on her figure,even“casual”looked runway-ready.
The dinner spot Elliot picked was a quiet French restaurant tucked into downtown—high-end,with all the soft lighting and subtle luxury money could buy.
When Delilah walked in,he was already there,waiting for her.
This place wasn’t just classy.It was the kind of restaurant where the waitstaff bowed like their lives depended on it,and the open kitchen looked more like a stage,where chefs in crisp white coats performed with precision.Every detail screamed top-tier.
The hostess led her upstairs to a private room Elliot had booked in advance.
She slipped into the seat across from him,smiling.“Didn’t you just head to the States?What brings you home so soon?”
“I’m about to graduate,”he said with an easy shrug.“My dad wants me to start training in the company sooner rather than later.So now,I’m back and forth all the time.”
“MIT,huh?”Delilah teased.“Impressive.Guess someone paid attention in class.”
“By the way,that day you asked me for the access code to my uncle’s floor…what was so important you needed to see him?”
It turned out the code Delilah used in the elevator that day—the one that got her to Sebastian Cole’s floor—was the one she got from Elliot.
She gave him a casual excuse,trying to sound natural.
“Isn’t your uncle about to get engaged to my stepsister?That basically makes him my future brother-in-law.I wanted to ask him for a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“My pet clinic got shut down.He’s a big name in the medical industry—I figured he might know someone who could help me navigate the process.”
She knew it sounded weak,but she couldn’t let Elliot suspect anything about her messy history with Sebastian.So she went with it.
“Honestly,I didn’t even get to see him that day.”
He laughed.“Not surprised.He’s the president of a major group.The guy barely sleeps—he’s on a plane half the time.No way he’d deal with something that small.Next time you need help,call me first.”
“…”Delilah lowered her gaze and took a slow sip of water.She didn’t respond.
After a pause,she suddenly asked,“Elliot,your uncle…he seems to care about you a lot?”
Elliot smiled.“Guess so.Honestly,he feels more like an older brother than an uncle.We’re close.We hang out when we can—just as long as he doesn’t rope me into drug R&D like him,we’re good.If that happens,I might have to start calling him Dad.”
“This is our first real date,isn’t it?”
Delilah looked up and caught the heat in his eyes.It made her uneasy.She quickly looked away,took a bite of steak,and said lightly,“Elliot,I brought the mountain bike you gave me last time.It’s in my trunk.Take it back later.”
His fork froze mid-air.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”His tone dropped,a hint of anger surfacing.“If you don’t like the specs or style,just say the word—I’ll replace it.”
“No.It’s just…it’s way too expensive.I can’t accept that.”
Elliot stayed quiet for a moment,then spoke low.
Elliot set his fork down slowly,his jaw tight,eyes locked on her.
“Delilah,we’ve known each other long enough. I’m done pretending.”
He leaned in slightly, his voice low, warm,and deliberate—every word landing heavy.
“I like you. More than I should. Honestly…the first time I saw you,I couldn’t look away.”
His lips curved in a self-mocking smile, but his gaze never wavered.
“I’ve dated before—too many times. But with you?It’s different. You’re different. You’re not just beautiful…”
She let out a soft laugh, one that never reached her eyes.
“You shouldn’t romanticize me, Elliot.I’m not your dream girl.You don’t know me.”
He tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he refused to abandon.
“Then let me.Show me who you really are.”
“You wouldn’t survive it.”
His breath caught.“Try me.”
She held his gaze for a beat, then shook her head with a quiet smile.
“No, Elliot. I’m the wrong kind of trouble for you.You deserve someone better”
- Writer
