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I pressed closer, tilting my head to let him in, tasting the remnants of wine on his lips, breathing in the intoxicating scent of him.
I imagined what it would be like to belong to a man like him.
To let him strip away the carefully built walls I’d spent years hiding behind.
The thought sent a delicious shiver down my spine.
But then?—
Reality came crashing in.
Business. My career. The risk of getting involved with someone like him, someone who could so easily turn my world upside down.
This was a terrible idea.
And yet, I still didn’t want to stop.
But Christian did.
He pulled away, just enough to meet my gaze, his breath warm against my skin.
His thumb traced along my jawline, and for a second, I thought he might change his mind.
That he might push open the door behind me and take this even further.
But instead, he smiled—a slow, knowing, devastating smile—and murmured, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Then, just like that, he took a step back.
I swallowed, my mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened.
Part of me was relieved that he had the self-control I clearly lacked.
The other part?
The other part was downright frustrated.
I watched as he turned, heading back toward his car without another word.
I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to unlock my door and step inside before I did something reckless.
The second I was alone, the night replayed in my head on a loop.
The way he looked at me over dinner.
The way his lips had felt against mine.
The way he’d stopped, even when I didn’t want him to.
I pressed my fingers to my lips, still feeling the ghost of his kiss.
God, I was in trouble.
Because earlier that night, I’d told myself I’d take a risk.
And now?
Now, I knew I was about to fall headfirst into something that could either change my life for the better?—