The Billionaire's Forbidden Flame

CHAPTER 3 THE FIRST SCAR

Ariana had trouble falling asleep.

She was unable to stop Jason's voice from echoing in her ears like a sweet melody. The feel of his breath on her skin. The way his eyes appeared to see right through all of the barriers she had painstakingly built.

Worst of all, she wanted him to do it.

Staring at the ceiling fan spinning in slow, lethargic circles, she laid on her bed. She hadn’t let a man affect her like this in years. Nobody ever came close. Not after everything.

However, Jason Ashton had entered her life like a silk-clad hurricane.

And she already had a part of her waiting in the rain.

There was a package the following morning. She received a black velvet box at her front door, tied with a deep crimson ribbon. Not a card. Not a word. Only his initials, J.A., were engraved in gold.

A beautiful platinum bracelet with a solitary ruby in the center, blood red like her gala gown, was nestled on black satin within.

Classy. Easy. Wonderful.And terrifying.

She gazed at it as if it might explode in her grasp.

Naturally, Celia went crazy.

"You must wear it!" she said.

"It's essentially an outspoken declaration that you completely blew his mind.

"A flare of fire exposed Ariana's heart as she whispered, "I didn't even kiss him."

Celia made a shrug. "It still counts."

Ariana wore the bracelet and looked at herself in the mirror that evening.

Like a promise, it shone.

Or a bright caution sign.

The next night Jason dispatched a vehicle. No SMS messages. Don't call. "He'll meet you where the city ends," is all that is conveyed by the driver.

Obscure. Overwhelming. Unacceptable.

Still, she left.

This time, she wore black, complete with heels, form-fitting slacks, and a silk shirt that clung to her body just so without screaming "look at me!" Nevertheless, Damien's eyes darkened like a man facing temptation when he saw her.

He pointed to the bracelet and remarked, "You wore it."

"I got it from you," she said calmly.

"It didn't mean you would agree to it."

"I didn't claim to have accepted you."

He smiled. "Not just yet."

Then, she ought to have left. But her feet were rooted by curiosity and something more profound.

Damien took her to a peaceful, secret location by the sea instead of a five-star restaurant or rooftop bar. A lone luxury boat is docked at the end of a private pier that is solely illuminated by moonlight and golden lighting.

As they boarded, she remarked, "I don't know what kind of dates you're used to, but I usually do coffee."

"I'm not good at average," Jason declared.

"And you're not worthy of it." She paused at that.

There was genuineness underneath his arrogance. Unexpected. Sincere. The deck of the yacht was small, with cushions, a little table with lamps and wine, and a private chef who nodded courteously and vanished below.

Behind them, the faint sound of water pounding the hull and distance clouded the city's skyline.

As they got comfortable, Ariana said, "So, am I lucky, or are you always this intense?"

Jason poured wine for them both. "It depends. Are you a fan of intensity?”

She didn’t respond, so he laughed.

“Let me ask you something else,” he said. “Why are you really here?” “You invited me.”

“I’m used to people pretending to want me because of what I own.”

“And me?” He leaned back.

He looked at her with something like respect. “You’re different. You’re not impressed. You don’t fawn. You challenge.”

“Maybe I just don’t trust you.”

“Smart girl.” That startled her.

“You want me to distrust you?”

“I want you to see me."Ariana's head c****d.

"Then show me a real thing."

At first, Jason remained still. Then he carefully took a silver lighter out of his jacket pocket. He opened it with a flick. He closed it with a gentle click after a moment of dancing flame.

He said, "My father used to carry one just like this."

"Even after quitting smoking claimed that it gave him a sense of strength.”

"Did he get it wrong?"

"No. He was correct. Until the night he shot himself in the head and burned his office with it.”

Ariana stopped.

Jason's hands—those flawless hands—shook just a little, but his expression was still inscrutable.

"I was 15 years old," he stated. "It was the first time I realized that breaking is not a big deal to the world."

She took a swallow. "I apologize."

"I'm not." He glanced into her eyes.

“I became ruthless as a result. concentrated. and prosperous.”

"But by myself, too." He didn't dispute it.

Between them, there was stillness. Heavy actually.

Reaching out, Ariana stroked his hand tenderly. "Isn't that your first scar?"

He gave her a glance."Don't you think I'm all ice and steel?" He inquired.

"No," she muttered."You seem like fire to me. Managed. Contained. Up till the match is struck.”

His mouth tightened. "And you believe that someone is you?"

"I'm not sure," she muttered.

"However, it seems like you're challenging me to find out."

Her eyes were pierced by Jason's. "Then perhaps I am."

Too close, too electric, the air between them shattered.

Slowly, as though to give her an opportunity to back away, he leaned forward. She didn't. His fingers threaded into her hair as he placed his hand behind her neck.

It wasn't gentle when their lips finally touched. One intense kiss was formed by the coiling of heat, desire, and frustration. Every part of her that had yearned for something she wasn't even aware she wanted was affected, including her knees and spine.

She didn't fight as he dragged her onto his lap; he tasted like wine and fire.

She felt the tightness in his muscles and the strength that was hardly contained as her hands crept under his jacket. She recognized something crucial: he wanted her just as much as she did, and his breath caught as she drew closer.

Jason, however, halted the kiss before it got too far. His breathing was labored when his forehead touched hers.

"I won't stop if we continue," he sounded.

Ariana's heart was racing.

"So don't," she said.

Jason, however, Retreated. Seldom. Enough.

"Not yet," he said. "Because it won't be in the dark on a borrowed boat when I finally take you, Ariana." It will be when you are certain that you want me to ruin you.

She gasped. "But what if I am already?"

He grinned."After that, I'll just make sure it's worthwhile."