Curves,claws and contracts

The Kiss They Regret

The office smelled like coffee and exhaustion.

48 hours. No sleep. Just them and evidence against Victor.

Amara was typing with one eye open. "Got it. The transfer. $2 million from Hale Holdings to the fake account."

Damian leaned over her shoulder to see. His chest against her back. "Send it to legal."

Her fingers slipped. He caught her hand to steady it.

They both froze.

"Sorry," he murmured.

"It’s fine."

But it wasn’t fine. Because his hand was still on hers. And he wasn’t letting go.

"Damian," Amara whispered.

"We shouldn’t," he said.

"I know."

"Section 4."

"I know."

He turned her chair. Slowly. "Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because I’m tired. And scared. And you’re the only person who isn’t lying to me right now."

"Amara..."

She kissed him first.

It wasn’t soft. It was desperate. Angry. Tired. Real.

His hands came up to her face, then her waist, pulling her closer like he’d been holding back for weeks.

For 10 seconds, the contract didn’t exist. Victor didn’t exist. Just heat and breathing and the taste of coffee.

Then Amara pulled back like she’d been burned. "No."

Damian’s chest was heaving. "Yeah. No."

They stared at each other. Regret. Want. Fear.

"I’m going to my room," Amara said.

"Yeah."

She walked out. Closed the door. Leaned against it.

Down the hall, Damian punched the wall. Once.

His phone buzzed. Victor.

_Heard you had a late night. Shame about the cameras in the office. -V_

Damian went cold. "What cameras?"

_The ones I installed 6 months ago. The kiss is beautiful. 48 hours to sign the merger or I release it. -V_

Damian deleted the message and called security.

At 5am, he knocked on Amara’s door. "We have a problem."

She opened it, eyes red. "What?"

"He has the video."

Amara’s world dropped. "$50 million."

"And our reputations."

She laughed, bitter. "We really messed up."

"We did." Damian ran a hand through his hair. "But we’re going to fix it. Together."

"How?"

"By beating him before he can release it."

Amara nodded. "Okay. Team?"

"Team."

They shook on it. Then immediately pulled their hands back like it hurt.