“Never,” I deny, my eyes locking with hers. “Just confident in my skills.”
“Your skills, huh?” She arches a brow, taking a deliberate step forward. “Care to show me more of those skills?”
Her proximity stirs something primal within me. I want to pull her against me, taste her lips, feel her body against mine. But I hold my ground, enjoying the dance of words and glances.
The tension hangs heavy in the air, a tangible force crackling between us. Liv stands there, naked and defiant, her green eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. I can feel the heat radiating off her body, but my own pulse is ice-cold. I refuse to let this woman get under my skin,even as she challenges every shred of control I’ve built around myself.
“Your skills, huh?” she asks, stepping closer, each footfall deliberate. “Care to show me more of those skills?”
I smirk at her bravado. She thinks she can intimidate me? The nerve of this woman. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Eve,” I say, letting my voice drop to a low rumble that I know will get under her skin. “One you’re not equipped to win.”
She narrows her eyes, a flash of anger sparking within them. “And what makes you think that? Because I’m not armed with your kind of violence?” She shakes her head, dark hair cascading around her shoulders like a wild halo. “I know how to handle myself in situations like this.”
“Clearly,” I retort, unable to hide the mocking lilt in my voice. “You did such a great job last time you were on your own.” The reminder stings: it’s meant to wound, and it does—just as much as it reveals my own weakness for this woman.
For a heartbeat, I think she’s going to slap me. The fire in her gaze sharpens, her jaw tightening as if she’s summoning all her strength for one decisive blow. It would serve me right for pushing too hard; after all, I’m the one who should be careful about provoking this journalist.
But instead of striking out at me physically, Liv steps even closer until there’s hardly any space left between us. The shift in our dynamic is electric—her anger fuses with something else entirely: raw desire.
In an unexpected move that takes my breath away and leaves me momentarily stunned into silence, she leans forward and presses her lips against mine.
Chapter 14
The kiss ignites like gasoline on a fire—sudden and consuming. It’s no longer just about power plays or mind games; it’s something primal that pulls at both of us with relentless force. My hands find their way to her waist instinctively as I pull her closer.
She kisses me fiercely—there’s no hesitation now—and all those carefully constructed barriers begin crumbling under the weight of our shared history and the urgency we’ve both been trying so hard to ignore.
My mind races with conflicting thoughts: confusion mingled with undeniable desire, fury twisted into exhilaration as every kiss unravels more of the tension we’ve built up over years of distance and bitterness.
She wants to play with fire, does she? I can play this game. I step back, deliberately slowing my movements as I unwind my tie. I watch her eyes darken with desire, and a satisfied smirk tugs at my lips.
But before I can finish, she’s on me, tugging at my tie to pull me closer. I almost lose my balance, but she’s already wrapping herself around me, her lips crashing against mine. This time, I don’t hold back. My hands roam her body, taking in every curve, every dip, every soft inch of her skin.
I feel her soft breasts pressing against my chest, her heart pounding beneath my palms. Her skin is like silk, and I can’t help but stroke her, caressing her hips, her thighs, her soft, round ass. I want to consume her, brand her as mine.
She moans into my mouth as I cup her breasts, my thumbs grazing her hardening nipples. I want to hear more of that sweet sound. I want to hear her beg.
Sliding my legs between hers, I feel her heat immediately. She’s already wet, her core pressing against my pants. A growl escapes my throat, and I know I won’t be able to hold back much longer.
She starts to move against me, her hips rocking in a tantalizing rhythm. Her need fuels my own, and I tighten my grip on her, pulling her closer, wanting to feel every inch of her body against mine.
I nip at her neck, tasting her skin. She tilts her head back, giving me better access, and I take full advantage, sucking and biting gently as I feel her shiver in response. My mouth travels down her neck, leaving a trail of kisses and bites while my hands continue their exploration. Her hips accelerate against me.
She is relentless, her body moving against mine with a hunger that matches my own. I can feel her sex rubbing against my thigh, the friction. My resolve to go slow, to savor this moment, is weakening with every touch, every kiss.
“You’re ruining a very expensive suit, Ms. Consoli,” I growl, my voice straining as I try to maintain some semblance of control.
She pulls back slightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Not my problem, Mr. Harding. Maybe you should satisfy me instead of making me work so hard for it.”
Her words are like a match to the tinder-dry kindling of my desire. With a snarl, I lift her effortlessly and throw her onto the bed. She lands with a soft laugh.
I take a moment to admire the sight of her, naked and wanton, before me. Her breasts rise and fall with her quickened breath, and her skin glistens with a fine sheen of sweat. But I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me rush. Slowly, deliberately, I begin to undress, watching her eyes follow my every move.
I unbutton my vest, shrug it off, and let it fall to the floor. Then, with deliberate slowness, I start on the buttons of my shirt, taking my time to reveal the hard planes of my chest. I can see the desire burning in her eyes, and it only fueled my own need.
As I reach for the waistband of my pants, ready to finally have her beneath me, she surprises me once again. With a swiftness that belies her relaxed pose, she launches herself at me, her hands going to the fastenings of my pants.
“Let me help you with that,” she purrs, her fingers already working to release the buttons.
