Off-Limits Love: My Father’s Business Partner

Lily shifted under the covers, her breath shallow, her body tense. The heat of his touch lingered around her skin, the weight of his body pressing into hers, the soft graze of his lips tracing over her skin. She felt consumed by his hands, his warmth, the way he whispered her name like it belonged to him. Ethan… she barely murmured, lost in the fire of her own desire. The intensity wrapped around her, stealing her breath, making her body arch, desperate to hold onto the sensation before it faded. His mouth was at her neck, teasing, his voice a low growl against her skin…. “Lily… you’re mine.” And then….. A sudden shift. The warmth vanished. Her body jolted awake. She blinked rapidly, the hazy remnants of her dream still gripping her senses. The lingering heat in her skin made her press her thighs together instinctively, but the moment her eyes focused, all color drained from her face. Her father stood at the edge of her bed, arms crossed, staring at her with amusement. Oh, God. “My dear princess, the sun is up. What are you dreaming about?” His voice held a teasing lilt, and Lily’s stomach twisted. Her entire body went rigid. He heard her. The blood rushed to her cheeks, burning hotter than the dream itself. “You seem so happy, huh?” His brow arched as he leaned slightly forward. Lily wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. “And your cheeks are red… are you okay?” No. No, she was not okay. Her dream was still vivid, Ethan’s hands, his lips, the way he took her without hesitation. It was so real that her body still tingled from it. And now, here she was, face to face with her father, struggling to breathe, to think, to exist without screaming into a pillow. She forced a tight, awkward smile, gripping her blanket as if it could shield her from the embarrassment. “I….. I just had a nice dream, that’s all.” He hummed, unconvinced. Lily swallowed hard, praying he wouldn’t ask anything else. She had just woken up from the most intense dream of her life, and the last thing she needed was her father dissecting her expressions like a detective. “Well,” he finally said, smirking as he turned for the door. “Don’t let me interrupt your… pleasant morning. Breakfast is ready.” And just like that, he was gone. Lily exhaled sharply, burying her burning face into her hands. I am never going to recover from this. Chapter Title: A Morning of Secrets and Smiles When her father disappeared through the door, she dragged herself out of bed, her body still heavy with sleep. Stretching her arms, she yawned before making her way to the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, tilting her head slightly. Her dark eyes held a quiet intensity, but it was the way her lips curled into a soft, almost secretive smile that gave her away. Ethan’s face flashed in her mind, his sharp jawline, the way his eyes darkened when he was focused, the quiet confidence in his movements. She imagined him in action, commanding, powerful, completely in control. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and her smile deepened. Shaking herself out of the moment, she turned on the water and stepped into the shower, letting the warmth wake her up fully. The scent of her expensive shampoo filled the small space, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. By the time she was done, she felt refreshed, her skin glowing as she slipped into her usual designer clothes, a fitted blouse, high-waisted trousers, and heels that clicked softly against the floor. It was a simple yet elegant choice, one that spoke of quiet wealth and effortless confidence. Descending the grand staircase, she found her father already seated at the long dining table, his fingers tapping absently against the surface as he waited. “Took you long enough,” he muttered, not bothering to look up from his newspaper. She rolled her eyes, slipping into her chair as the staff set her breakfast in front of her. “Good morning to you too, Dad.” He finally glanced at her, studying her for a moment before sighing. “You look just like your mother when you smile like that.” Her fingers tightened around her fork, but she kept her expression unreadable. “Do I?” Her mother died when she was just ten years old. She grew up by her father's side, taking business management courses as she was the sole heiress of De La cuesta Builders. Her father didn’t respond, simply taking a sip of his coffee. She let the silence linger, pushing a piece of fruit around her plate, her thoughts drifting back to Ethan. A small, knowing smirk played on her lips. But she was surprised by what her father was going to say next. “You’ll be working directly under Ethan. He’s the best person to guide you in this industry.” She froze. Her fingers tightened around the coffee cup, and her heart gave an unforgivable stutter. Ethan Carter. Her father’s business partner. His most trusted confidant. The man she had spent years pretending she didn’t fantasize about. “Ethan?” She tried to keep her voice even, casual, but the slight tremor betrayed her. “Are you sure about that?” Her father gave her a look, the kind that left no room for argument. “He’s brilliant at what he does, and I know you’ll learn a lot from him. Besides, I trust him more than anyone else.” Of course, he did. That was the problem. He had no idea that the man he was entrusting her to was the same man who kept her up at night, invading her thoughts in ways that should never happen. Ethan Carter was off-limits. Forbidden. Twice her age, powerful, dominant, completely out of reach. But none of that stopped her body from betraying her every time he was near. Get it together, Lily. This is your career. Your chance to prove yourself. You cannot, will not, screw this up. She forced a smile, ignoring the way her stomach twisted with anticipation. “Right… Well, I’ll do my best to learn from him.” Her father clapped her shoulder, pride gleaming in his eyes. “That’s my girl. You start on Monday. Make sure you’re prepared.” Monday. Three days. That’s all she had to prepare herself for stepping into Ethan Carter’s world. Three days to convince herself she wasn’t excited about it. She tightened her grip on her coffee cup and murmured under her breath, “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long.” But she wasn’t sure if she was talking about the job… Or the man.