My body was definitely reacting, but I forced myself to ignore it. Since I still hadn’t figured out what I really wanted with him, I had to hold on to my last line.

I didn’t say yes, but I didn’t say no either. Ryan knew how to take a hint–he pushed his luck a little further, gently turning me around and leaning in, testing the waters with a tentative kiss.

The scent of his masculinity, mixed with that crisp, boyish vibe, hit me like a wave.

I was losing my mind–he really knew how to push my buttons. Ryan was surprisingly good at this.

“Wait… turn off the lights.” I pushed him away, turned around, and switched off all the lights in the living room.

He was sitting on the couch, his tall frame just quietly waiting for me.

The photo he sent me after his workout earlier popped into my head, and my heart was all over the place.

Ryan was sitting on the couch, watching me, eyes full of hope. I plopped down next to him and teased, “You worked out this afternoon, right? Aren’t you wiped out?”

Ryan shook his head. “Nope. Just knowing I’d get to see you tonight kept me going.”

I nodded. Seriously, who could ever turn down a guy this sincere?

On the couch, Ryan wrapped his arm around my waist. I tilted my head back a little, and he gently held my chin–his kissing skills had definitely leveled up.

Before I realized it, he had me pinned beneath him. My hair was a mess, my breathing quick and shallow, my chest rising and falling, and at some point, my collar had come undone. Ryan’s eyes were dark with desire as he leaned down for another kiss.

‘I’m seriously about to lose it,’ I thought. ‘If I could put all this willpower and self-control into my career, I’d probably be a huge success.’

But right now, I was just barely holding it together, pretending I was above it all while fighting off this insane temptation.

Ryan was even more intense than I was–and he had way more stamina. For someone so young, he had incredible self-control. I was totally outmatched.

He took his time, not rushing at all, until I finally pulled him into the bathroom. In the darkness, he was all over me, impossible to escape, and honestly, there was no way I could fight him off.

With my hands and my body, I managed to get him off twice. Only then did Ryan come out of the shower looking totally refreshed, a look of pure satisfaction in his eyes.

I urged him to leave, but instead, he pulled something out of his pocket–a necklace, unboxed, and like he was performing a magic trick, it suddenly appeared in front of me from his palm.

“Let me put it on you,” Ryan said, moving behind me to fasten it around my neck. I glanced down–the gemstone was crystal clear, catching the chandelier’s light and scattering it in a thousand dazzling directions. It was absolutely breathtaking.

“It’s for you,” Ryan murmured, admiring how the pendant rested right at the center of my chest. “It suits you perfectly.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Ryan glanced at the clock. “Vic, why does time go by so fast when I’m with you? But when I’m alone, just reading, it feels like a century.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Happiness never lasts long.”

Ryan looked reluctant as he walked to the door, then turned back to me. “I have to head back to Braylin this Friday.”

I nodded. “Alright, let’s meet up when you’re back from Braylin.”

Ryan hesitated, like he wanted to say something more, but in the end, he just said, “Alright,” and left.

I could tell he wanted me to go with him to Braylin, even if he never said it out loud–his eyes were practically begging me.

After I closed the door, my emotions were all over the place. I straightened up a bit, then sat down at my computer to get some work done.

Scrolling through the news online, I saw Nathan’s company blowing up again–everyone was talking about it, and it was trending everywhere.

People were breaking down the prospects and market for his company, and honestly, it looked like Nathan’s business was about to level up even more.

On Thursday morning, I was in a meeting, talking about the hotel’s plan to open a new branch in Sandanyo and getting ready to discuss a partnership with some real estate people over there.

After more than two hours, I stepped out of the meeting and saw my assistant come in holding a bouquet of roses. “Ms. Murphy, a Mr. Hallman just sent these over for you, and he left a note.”

I glanced at the bold signature on the note–it was Nathan.

‘He’s in Shaville?’ I thought to myself.