BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 11: Tension and Triumph

Chapter 11: Tension and Triumph

Weariness soaked deep into my bones, the price of those relentless, caffeine-fueled hours. But something changed as I neared his desk. Maybe it was the thrill of the challenge, the rush of nailing it. Our chairs were almost touching, his warmth a tangible presence that sent a weird tingle down my spine.

The leather of the chair felt luxe under me, mixed with the sharp, earthy scent of his cologne. It was like being caught in some kind of magnetic field, the air charged with something unspoken, something edgy. His hand brushed against mine accidentally, or maybe not, and damn, it sparked a jolt right through me. When he leaned in, his breath a warm whisper against my skin, goosebumps erupted everywhere.

I was all business, showing him the results on his laptop. "See this?" I pointed out the fixes and tweaks, my voice steady but my hands betraying me with a slight shake. Each detail I explained was a tiny victory, but damn, why did it feel like I was laying myself bare?

When I finished, the room was wrapped in this thick, tense silence. Luke's gaze felt like it was drilling into my soul. He broke the quiet with a rumble. "Face me, Emily." That command in his voice made me shiver.

My heart was thudding so loud, I was sure he could hear it. Facing him in a meeting was one thing, this felt way too intimate. "I... I can't," I managed to whisper, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.

"Why not?" He had this teasing tone, but I could hear the power underneath. "Scared I might just kiss you right here?" His words were flirty, but they hit me like a shot of something strong.

I took a deep breath and turned to face him. Our eyes met, and damn, it was intense. But I had to look away, his gaze was too much. That's when he leaned closer, his voice low and husky. "Don't think I've forgotten you, Emily. I remember every inch of you." It was like a match to dry tinder, that voice of his sending a blaze through my veins.

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked, softer now, but with a knowing edge.

"Yes," I barely got the word out, my voice shaking.

He closed in even more, his dominance filling up the space. "Why?" he pushed, wanting an answer, maybe more than I wanted to give.

The tension was like a live wire between us, thrilling and scary all at once. His power in the room was undeniable, drawing me in, even though every nerve in me screamed to back off.

Blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "You're like the office boogeyman, turning everyday stuff into something out of a horror flick." It sounded lame even to my ears.

He paused, then pulled back, suddenly all business. "Impressive work, Ms. Smith. Now get the fuck out of my office." Just like that, he flipped the switch, going from hot to icy in a heartbeat.

Stunned, I walked out, my mind a mess. How could someone switch gears so fast? Was he playing some twisted game, or was this just how Luke operated? The confusion twisted tighter inside me as I left his office, the door closing with a final click behind me.