The CEO's Match

Stop me

The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating, filled with everything we weren't saying. My heart pounded in my chest, so loud I was sure he could hear it. I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and intoxicating, and I was acutely aware of how close we were. Too close. Not close enough.

"Nova," he murmured, my name a low rumble in his chest, sending a shiver down my spine. His voice was softer now, not the usual sharp edge I was accustomed to, and it threw me off balance. The way he said my name made it sound like a confession, like he was admitting something he'd been holding back for a long time.

I was still pinned to his desk, his hands firm on my waist, his body pressing against mine in a way that was both comforting and maddening. I felt trapped, but it wasn't just by his hold on me. It was this tension, this invisible force that had been pulling us together for years. Every argument, every sarcastic remark, every look that lingered just a little too long-it had all been leading to this moment.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice, trying to say something that would break the spell he had over me. But the words caught in my throat, and all I could do was stare up at him, my eyes betraying everything I was feeling.

He tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over my face as if he was searching for something-permission, maybe, or a sign that I wanted this as much as he did. And God help me, I did.

But I couldn't let him know that. I couldn't let him see just how badly I was unraveling under his touch.

"You think you can just fire me and then... what? Kiss me and it'll all be fine?" My voice was shakier than I intended, but I managed to inject it with enough sarcasm to remind him who I was. I wasn't some meek, starry-eyed girl who would melt at the first sign of attention. I was Nova Dice. The woman who had taken on the corporate world with nothing but a sharp tongue and an iron will. The woman who had brought his company to its knees.

He smiled, that infuriating, arrogant smile that usually made me want to punch him. But now, it just made my heart race even faster. "I didn't plan on kissing you, Nova. But here we are."

I wanted to retort, to say something cutting that would remind him that I was still angry, that I still hated him for what he'd done. But his hand slid from my waist to my lower back, pulling me even closer, and the words died on my lips.

"Stop trying to pretend you don't feel it too," he said, his voice low and dangerously smooth. "This... whatever this is between us, it's been there for a long time. You know it as well as I do."

I opened my mouth to deny it, to push him away with words if not with actions, but the way he was looking at me, the intensity in his eyes, made it impossible to lie. He was right. There was something between us, something that had been simmering beneath the surface for years, waiting for the right moment to explode.

And now, with his lips brushing against my neck, his hands roaming over my body like he had every right to touch me, I felt that explosion coming.

I hated that he was right. I hated that he knew me well enough to know exactly how to get under my skin, to tear down the walls I had built around myself. But most of all, I hated that I wanted this as much as he did.

"I shouldn't be doing this," I whispered, more to myself than to him. But even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. I wanted this. I wanted him. And that terrified me more than anything.

"Then tell me to stop," he challenged, his voice low and rough, filled with a dark promise. "Tell me to let you go, and I will."

He was giving me an out, a way to end this before it went too far. But I didn't take it. I couldn't. Because the truth was, I didn't want him to stop. I wanted to see where this would go, what would happen if we gave in to the tension that had been building for so long.

But I couldn't just let him win. I couldn't make it that easy for him.

"You're such an asshole," I muttered, but there was no heat behind the words, no real anger. Just a deep, aching frustration that made me want to scream. Or kiss him again. Or both.

His smile widened, and for a moment, I saw the man behind the ruthless CEO facade, the man who, despite everything, had somehow wormed his way under my skin. "And yet here you are, letting me do this."

Before I could respond, he kissed me again, and this time, there was no hesitation, no gentleness. It was raw and hungry, full of the pent-up frustration and desire that had been brewing between us for years. His hands were everywhere, pulling me closer, holding me tighter, as if he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.

And maybe I would have, if I had any sense left. But with his lips on mine, his body pressing me against the desk, I couldn't think straight. All I could do was give in, letting myself get lost in the feel of him, the taste of him, the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard, our bodies still pressed together, the tension between us thicker than ever. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, matching the frantic beat of my own.

"This doesn't change anything," I said, my voice shaky but firm. I needed to say it, to remind myself that this was just a moment of weakness, a lapse in judgment. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't.

He looked at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, and for a moment, I thought he might agree. But then he shook his head, a small, rueful smile playing on his lips. "It changes everything, Nova. You know that as well as I do."

I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, but I couldn't. Because deep down, I knew he was right. This did change everything. And there was no going back.