Elara pov
Ever since that day in his office, Chase had found every possible excuse to make sure he was the one taking me home, always using that damn deal as a trap to keep me under his thumb. He knew exactly how to play the game, leveraging the contract to make me feel like I had no choice but to comply with his whims, and today was no different. Out of nowhere, he had demanded that we have lunch together, but as the hours slipped away, it turned into a full-blown dinner at the most expensive restaurant in the city. Sitting across from him in a place like this felt completely wrong, as if we were pretending to be some high-society couple instead of a powerful CEO and a journalist who was essentially his prisoner for the month. The atmosphere was thick with a tension that I couldn't shake, and the more he looked at me with those knowing eyes, the more I felt like I was losing my grip on the situation.
I had been chunking down the wine that had been placed on the table, glass after glass, trying to calm the nerves that had been frayed since the moment he first kissed me. I could feel the alcohol starting to blur the edges of my vision and loosen the tight knot of anxiety in my chest, and I knew I was getting drunk, but I didn't really care. The memory of that kiss had been messing with my mind for days, playing on a loop in my head every time I closed my eyes, and the wine was the only thing that made the longing feel manageable. I wanted to hate him for the way he manipulated me, but the physical pull I felt toward him was becoming an obsession that I couldn't control, no matter how hard I tried to remind myself of the power dynamic between us.
When the meal finally ended and I tried to stand up to leave, the world tilted on its axis, and I stumbled a little, my heels catching on the plush carpet. Before I could fall, Chase was there, his strong arms catching me and steadying my frame with an ease that made me feel small and fragile. I tried to shake him off, mumbling that I was fine and that I didn't need his help, but he didn't listen to me. He kept his hand firmly around my waist, pulling me close to his side as he guided me out of the restaurant and toward the waiting car. I could feel the heat of his palm through my dress, and instead of fighting him, I found myself leaning into him, the alcohol making me crave the contact I had been denying myself for so long.
The moment we entered the car and the door clicked shut, the privacy of the leather interior felt like a sanctuary. Without even thinking about it, I unconsciously snuggled close to him, pressing my face against the fabric of his expensive suit and breathing in his scent. I let out a soft sigh and whispered that he smelled nice, the words slipping out before I could filter them. I felt him stiffen slightly beside me, and I could tell he was surprised by my sudden change in demeanor, but he didn't push me away.
“You are drunk, Elara,” he said, his voice low and steady, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone that made me want to argue.
I frowned, pulling back just enough to look at him, my eyes probably glazed and my expression far too open. I told him that I wasn't drunk, my voice sounding a bit too loud in the quiet car, and then, driven by a sudden surge of reckless courage, I blurted out that he should kiss me. I didn't wait for him to answer or give me permission; I initiated the kiss myself, throwing my arms around his neck and pulling his lips to mine with a desperation that had been building up for weeks. It wasn't a gentle kiss; it was a collision of hunger and frustration, and I could feel him respond instantly, his hand gripping my waist tighter as he took control of the kiss, deepening it until I was gasping for air.
When we finally stopped kissing for a second to breathe, Chase didn't look at me, instead leaning forward to tell the driver to take us straight to his hotel. The ride felt like it took an eternity, with both of us sitting in a heavy, charged silence, the air between us practically sparking with an electric current. I knew I was crossing a line that I couldn't uncross, but the wine and the longing had stripped away my inhibitions, leaving me wanting nothing more than to feel him against me without any clothes or contracts getting in the way.
The moment the door to his hotel room closed behind us, all the restraint we had maintained in the car vanished. We crashed into each other, kissing with a raw intensity that felt like a battle, our hands roaming over each other's bodies as we stumbled toward the bed. Chase pulled back for just a second, his eyes dark and searching mine, and he told me not to regret this in the morning. I didn't even hesitate, whispering back that I wouldn't, and then I pulled him back down to me, wanting to lose myself in him completely.
He didn't waste any more time, his fingers finding the zipper of my gown and sliding it down in one smooth motion. He stepped back just enough to let the fabric fall to the ground, leaving me standing there in nothing but a thin thong. I felt a sudden flash of vulnerability and tried to cover my breasts with my hands, but Chase wasn't having it. He reached out and firmly removed my hands, pinning them for a moment before letting them drop, his gaze taking in every inch of my naked body with a hunger that made me shiver.
He stepped back in, his large hands reaching out to cup my breasts, rubbing and pinching the soft flesh with a confidence that made my head spin. I let out a loud moan, my back arching as he manipulated my n*****s, twisting them just enough to send jolts of pleasure straight down to my core. I felt completely exposed and entirely his in that moment, and the feeling was more intoxicating than any amount of wine. He leaned down, taking one of my breasts fully into his mouth, sucking on my n****e with a rhythmic intensity that had me gripping his shoulders for support.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” he muttered against my skin, his voice vibrating through my chest.
I could only moan in response, my fingers digging into his muscles as he continued to devour me. I didn't care about the deal, the interview, or the fact that he was my boss; all that mattered was the way his mouth felt on my skin and the way he was making me feel things I had never experienced before. I wanted more, I wanted everything, and as he moved his mouth to the other breast, I knew that there was no turning back from this. The power dynamic had shifted again, but this time, I didn't mind being the one under his control, as long as it meant he kept touching me exactly like this. I felt my body heating up, a deep ache starting to bloom between my legs, and I pushed myself closer to him, desperate for the friction and the heat of his body against mine. He could feel my desperation, and the smirk I knew was on his face only made me want him more, driving me to forget every reason why this was a bad idea.