lingered like a storm cloud over her head. She could still hear the questions echoing in her mind. The cameras, the way Damien had sto

napping her from her thoughts. She glan

no room for mistakes now. Keep h

er, but it wasn't the first time. Her entire life had been one long game of strategy an

ound of her own heartbeat loud in her ears, she could

ed inside. He looked every bit the part of the powerful CEO-dark sui

g flickered in his eyes-somet

and stood still for a moment,

irst. "I should've known. All this... the marriage,

inch. "You think

're not the type of man to just let t

his gaze never leaving he

didn't feel like enough. She could still feel the heat of his presence, stil

said, voice low, his tone almost coa

ossing her arms. "I'm not a puzzle for yo

, his voice so soft it almost

wn. She wasn't just a tool. But she was here, in this ma

e," she said finally, her voice sha

voice a little too intense for

hoice-her decision, whether it was driven by duty or the pu

them, and for a moment, she thought she might step

reath warm against her skin. "Do you

falling with the beat of her heart. She d

, sending a shock of warmth through her. The touch w

"You don't get to

It was something softer, more dangerous. "Then sto

en them, charged with an electr

stead, she found herself stepping closer to him, drawn by the

oice a low rasp. "You're not

and slid to the back of her neck, pulling her toward him. His

d desperate. His lips were soft, but there was an urgency be

st his chest, feeling the solid heat of his body beneath her fingertips. But just as quickly as

g this," she whisper

lied, voice hoarse. "You j

in that kiss, she'd lost something-something important. And now, stan

ing her cheek. "This game... it's not ju

t him, her mind a tangled mess

dn't

intense, told her every