DATING THE CEO

Chapter 13

"Siguro nga, Ms. Manalansan," he teased back, his lips curling into a playful smile. Lance’s closeness was enough to make Desiree's heart race. The air around them felt thick, heavy, and electric, but she forced herself to focus on the present.

She gently pulled away from his embrace, her mind struggling to keep the emotions at bay. “I—I still need to finish cooking,” she stammered, hoping to break the intensity of the moment. "You didn’t even tell me you’d be coming by today."

Lance tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. “I had some work to wrap up at the office, but I figured I could visit you afterward. I was hoping we could have dinner together,” he said, his voice lowering, becoming more sincere, almost too intense for Desiree to handle in that moment.

“I—uh, sure, that sounds good,” Desiree managed to say, though a hint of hesitation remained in her voice. Her heart wasn’t sure how to handle his proximity. Part of her still wanted to pull back, but the other part... the part she tried to suppress, longed for his attention.

As Desiree moved back to the stove, Lance followed her. He stood behind her, his chest almost brushing her back as he looked at the food she was preparing. His presence felt like an overwhelming wave crashing against her calm shore. Desiree could feel the heat from his body and the weight of his stare. It was almost suffocating, yet oddly comforting.

“Do you need help?” Lance asked, his voice soft but with an edge of amusement, as if he already knew the answer.

Desiree shook her head, trying to focus on the food. "No, I’ve got it. You just relax." She added the final touches to the dish, silently hoping it would help distract her from the growing tension between them.

A few moments passed in silence. The only sound was the gentle sizzle of the food in the pan. Desiree didn’t know how long she could keep this up—focusing on her cooking when all she could think about was the closeness of Lance.

Then, just as she finished plating the food, Lance leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. It was brief, but the sensation lingered, leaving Desiree frozen for a moment. She could feel the heat in her cheeks as she slowly turned around to face him.

“Lance...” She said his name softly, almost as if questioning what was happening between them. They were still technically colleagues, but the boundaries they once had were blurring.

He smiled, and the familiar warmth in his eyes returned. “I’m sorry, Desiree. I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve missed you today.”

His words stirred something inside her, a longing she wasn’t sure how to interpret. It was as if everything about him had this magnetic pull that drew her in, even when she tried to resist. It was dangerous, she knew that. But at that moment, she couldn’t find the strength to push him away.

"Maybe you should sit down. I’ll bring your plate over,” Desiree said, trying to distance herself physically and emotionally.

Lance didn’t move. Instead, he took a step closer, his face inches from hers now. “Why do you keep pushing me away, Desiree?” His voice had softened, a quiet intensity creeping in. “You can’t hide what’s between us. I know you feel it too.”

Desiree swallowed hard, her mind spinning. She didn’t know how to respond. Part of her wanted to shout at him to stop, to give her space, to let her breathe. But another part of her, the one she kept locked away, wanted to throw all caution to the wind and kiss him back.

“I—” Desiree started, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn’t form the right response, couldn’t think of a way to explain how torn she was feeling. This wasn’t just about them anymore. There was a history between them, complications, feelings that were too deep to ignore.

Before she could continue, Lance gently cupped her face with both of his hands, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. “Desiree,” he murmured, his voice almost a whisper. “You don’t have to be afraid of this. Whatever this is... We can figure it out together.”

Desiree closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the heat of his touch. His words were like a balm, soothing the part of her that was afraid, but also igniting something inside her that she had no control over.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze met his, and there was no turning back. The air between them seemed to thicken once more, and before she knew it, their lips met in a kiss—slow, tentative at first, then deepening with each passing second.

Desiree’s heart raced, her pulse quickening as she felt Lance pull her closer, his hands wrapping around her waist. Everything else faded away—the kitchen, the dinner, the world outside. All that mattered in that moment was the feeling of his lips on hers, the electricity between them sparking to life once more.

But just as quickly as it started, the kiss broke. Lance rested his forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily. Desiree’s chest was rising and falling rapidly as she tried to process the overwhelming emotions coursing through her.

“Are you okay?” Lance asked, his voice rough but gentle. His hands remained on her waist, and she could feel the warmth of his touch even through the thin fabric of her shirt.

Desiree nodded, though she wasn’t sure if she was okay. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

“I—I don’t know what this is, Lance,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if I can do this... with you. With everything that’s happened.”

He tilted his head, his eyes filled with understanding. “I know, Desiree. I’m not asking you for anything right now. I just want you to know that I’m here. Whatever you need.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, the sincerity in his voice making it hard to resist him. But a part of her still hesitated. Was she ready to move forward with him? Could she trust herself to be with him after everything that had happened?

“I... I need time,” she said softly, pulling back slightly.

Lance smiled, a soft, understanding smile. “I’ll wait for you, Desiree. No pressure.”

She nodded, relief flooding her as she finally allowed herself to breathe.

As they sat down to dinner, Desiree couldn’t shake the feeling that things had changed between them. It wasn’t just about work anymore; it was about something deeper, something she wasn’t sure she was ready to face yet.

But whatever came next, Desiree knew she wasn’t alone. Lance was here, and that gave her a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.