ACCIDENTAL AFFAIR

Chapter 03: Let’s play your game.

Andrea

My friends were the most annoying creatures in the entire universe.

I mean could they whisper any louder?

I had already told Dominic that the reason I had walked up to him was because of my friends but that didn’t give them the right to act like uncultured freaks.

Even after I signaled to them where I was going and told them to shut the f**k up they still had to create a stupid scene while Dominic and I passed by.

I was just so happy that Dominic decided to pretend he wasn’t hearing anything.

I am so going to make them pay when I get back.

“What? Are you scared?” I quickly snapped out of my thoughts in time to see Dominic turn back with that mocking smile of his. “You want to go back and hang out with your friends?”

“Very funny.” I sneered at him as I walked past him and into the elevator.

Who did he think I was? Some coward that always ran to her friends for solace? Well, I was about to show him.

I heard him chuckle behind me before he then followed me into the elevator. I watched him punch in the floor number since I had no clue where we were headed—yeah, I know. That was pretty careless of me. But the whole point of this damn thing was to let loose and have fun right?

The soft buzz of the elevator filled the silence as it carried us upward, each passing second stretching longer than the last. I could feel his gaze burn into me before I even looked. And when I finally did, he was already turned my way, his eyes raking over my body like the damn freak he was.

I yanked my phone from my bag, not making my discomfort obvious though. I then began scrolling through my phone, pretending to do something important as I didn’t want to converse with him right now. Anything to keep from meeting that gaze.

Still, it didn’t stop the prickle running up my spine, the unwelcome heat of his attention crawling over me.

Relief only came when the elevator chimed and the doors slid open. I slipped out first, grateful for the cool air of the fourth floor as we made our way down the long hall, his steps steady behind me.

Yes, I checked when he typed in the floor number.

I took another deep breath as his footsteps echoed beside me.

It wasn’t like I was scared of him or anything, I just didn’t want to talk to him until we got to the room. Plus I didn’t like being in a cramped space with people, unless I was comfortable around them.

And it was safe to say that I was not comfortable around Dominic—but here I was, following him into a hotel room so we could have a drink together.

Yeah, I could definitely see myself regretting this decision later on.

Speaking of the room, I never really saw him going to the front desk to make a reservation.

Did he know the owner or something?

Or was he already planning on bringing someone in tonight?

Hmph. The audacity.

Oh he was in for the shock of his life now.

I was walking behind him when he finally stopped at a door, pulling a key card from his pocket. With a quick swipe, the panel chimed, and the lock clicked open. He pushed the door wide, pausing to hold it for me and I couldn’t help but shoot him a side‑eye as I slipped past.

The room was wrapped in dim, crimson glow, shadows pooling in the corners. Crisp white bedsheets stretched tight across the king‑sized bed, the whole place smelling clean and warm—like him. Dark chocolate, sandalwood, and that faint edge of cigarettes clung to the air, a scent I hated to admit I’d already come to recognize.

Was this… like a personal room?

One that was always and only rented to him?

Because that would explain why it smelled like him.

So I guess he did know the owner then.

Hmm. Interesting.

I made my way into the room, still taking in the view of the room. I didn’t even notice when Dominic had pulled out a bottle of fine from… wherever it was that he pulled it out from.

Probably a refrigerator, since the bottle was veiled in cold mist, droplets racing down its smooth surface.

“So… is this like your personal room or something?” I finally decided to ask as I settled on one side of the bed, leaning my knees to one side.

He seemed rather amused by my question. He had taken two wine glasses off the shelf and was rinsing them now. Apparently, this wasn’t just a bedroom. It also had like… a mini kitchen along with the bathroom.

So yeah, it had to be his personal room.

My question was, why didn’t he just rent a luxury apartment… or even a pent house?

He had the money didn’t he?

Or did he just pay triple the amount for the wine because he knew I was watching and was trying to impress me?

Well that’s stupid.

But then again, he did look financially comfortable and it would be weird to have a personal penthouse in the same town where you’re living.

Wait… he was living in Chicago right?

Or was he just here on vacation? Or a business trip?

“Yes it is my personal room.” Dominic answered my question, just before my intrusive thoughts could take over. Or perhaps they already did.

He then walked over, with the two wine glasses in one of his hands and the chill bottle of white wine on the other. I didn’t really pay attention to him as we walked up here since I didn’t want to converse with him yet but damn, he was tall. Probably towering over me with a good six inches, and I was 5”8.

I guess that was one of things he had going for him besides his chiseled body and beautiful face. He should probably ditch his job and go into modelling. I know I would pay to see him walk on a runway.

“Why did you ask? And why are you smiling?” He questioned, pulling out a mini table from under what probably looked like a huge study desk.

I was now convinced this place had everything.

It took me a few seconds to process his questions and when I did, it took everything inside of me to feign indifference. “I’m not smiling.”

Damn Andrea. You’re letting your intrusive thoughts win! I inwardly scolded myself. I thought we agreed we weren’t going to have s*x with this man, and now here you are picturing him on a runway and enjoying how deliciously good he looked bathed in the crimson glow of the room.

“And I only asked because I was curious.” I tried to change the topic.

“Hmm.” He hummed in reply before uncorking the wine with a loud pop and pouring me a glass. “Here.”

“Thank you.” I intentionally made sure our fingers didn’t touch as I took the glass from him and I think he noticed.

I shifted under his gaze.

“Are you…” his eyes narrowed at me as he poured himself a glass. “…afraid of me?”

“No.” My brows furrowed as I took a sip of my wine.

Wow. It was good.

“I’m just cautiously aware that I’m in a room with a stranger. Alone.” I added after a few beats. “Anything could happen.”

He stared at me for a while and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. “Fair enough. But I can assure you that I won’t be hurting you.”

I eyed him with suspicion as I raised my glass to my lips.

“But just so you’ll be comfortable I’ll keep my distance.” He said before walking over to the study table, and leaning against it with his glass of wine in his hand.

Okay… that was very… gentlemanly of him.

But I’m still not impressed or convinced though.

“So…” he took a sip. “Tell me about yourself.”

My brows pinched. “Why should I tell you about myself?”

He also looked a bit thrown off. “So I get to know you better? Wasn’t that the point of this whole thing?” He gestured towards the wine.

“Mhmm.” Another sip. “Why am I the only one who gets to talk about myself? Why didn’t you start?”

“Because you didn’t ask.”

“Well I’m asking now.” I hadn’t noticed before, but he had loosened a few more buttons on his shirt, and I could now get a full view of his tanned chest.

“Okay…let’s make a game out of it then.” He shrugged his shoulders and I lifted a brow.

“I’m listening, but first of all why did you unbutton your shirt.”

“Because I felt hot.” He answered almost immediately, almost like he was waiting for me to notice.

My eyes narrowed. “The AC is on full blast.”

“Doesn’t stop me from feeling hot.” He shrugged again and when I gave him a skeptical look, he continued. “I guess I’m just built differently.”

Or… he was just teasing me.

Well we’ll see who wins this game he’s playing.

“Mhmm. So what’s this game about?”

“Okay. I’ll ask you a question, you’ll answer. But if you don’t want to, you’ll have to take something off. Same applies to me.”

Wow. He was good. Why the hell didn’t I think of that? He’s trying to get me to strip in front of him.

I almost laughed.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

Like I was actually impressed.

I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore. “Alright then. Let’s play your game.”