The CEO's Match

Who said I wasnt ready?

My heart raced faster with each step I took, the soft thud of my bare feet against the wooden floor almost drowned out by the pounding in my chest. I couldn't help it. Every time I looked at Alexander, I felt a magnetic pull, something deep inside that made it impossible to resist.

Before I knew it, I was standing right behind him. His broad shoulders rose and fell with his steady breathing, completely unaware of the storm of emotions I was battling. I reached out, my fingertips brushing the edge of his chair. With a soft inhale, I gripped it firmly and slowly turned it around, making him face me.

His eyes widened for a second in surprise, then narrowed in curiosity as his gaze locked with mine. The air between us was thick with tension, my heart beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I swallowed hard, trying to gather my thoughts, but all I could focus on was the heat radiating from his body and the way his lips curved ever so slightly at the corners.

"Nova..." he said softly, his deep voice rumbling through me like a wave. "What are you doing?"

For a moment, I didn't respond. I was caught up in the intensity of his stare, the sharpness of his eyes that seemed to see right through me. I could feel my pulse in my throat, in my wrists, in every nerve ending in my body. My hands were trembling slightly, but I refused to back down.

I stepped closer until my knees brushed against his. The scent of him, so familiar and intoxicating, filled my senses and made my head spin. He was watching me, waiting, and I knew this was my moment to make a choice.

"Nothing," I whispered, my voice low and teasing. "Just wanted to see if you were still working."

I could see the shift in his expression, a flicker of something darker, more intense, in his eyes. His hands, which had been resting casually on the armrests of the chair, now tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white. He was holding back-barely.

"You're playing with fire, Nova," he warned, his voice husky filled with tension.

"Maybe I like fire," I replied, stepping even closer until my legs were between his, brushing against his thighs. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, every inch of me alive with anticipation. My heart raced faster, but I wasn't going to stop now. I wanted to see how far I could push him.

His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening as he studied me. For a moment, I thought he would pull away, break the spell, but instead, he leaned forward, his face just inches from mine. I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and steady, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"You don't know what you're doing," he said, his voice low, dangerously low. His hand reached out, brushing against my hip, the touch so light yet electrifying.

I bit my lip, my pulse racing out of control. "Maybe I do."

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk, but there was no humour in his eyes, only a raw, unspoken tension. He leaned in even closer, so close that I could feel his lips just a breath away from mine. His hand tightened on my hip, pulling me slightly forward, and my heart practically leapt out of my chest.

"Don't test me, Nova," he growled softly, the deep vibration of his voice sending shockwaves through me. "You have no idea how much I want to give in right now. But I won't. Not until you're ready."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words hang in the air. I was playing a dangerous game, one that I knew could change everything between us. But in that moment, with him so close, the heat between us almost unbearable, I realized something:

I wasn't afraid anymore.

I wanted to see where this would lead.

I leaned in, letting my lips brush the corner of his mouth as I whispered, "Who said I wasn't ready?"

Alexander's pov

Her words sent a jolt through me, like gasoline tossed on a fire that was already out of control. "Who said I wasn't ready?" The way she whispered it, her lips brushing the corner of my mouth--God, it took everything I had not to lose control right there.

Nova was always bold, always testing limits, but this was different. This wasn't just her sharp tongue or sarcastic wit. This was her, stepping right up to the edge of something we'd both been pretending wasn't there for far too long.

My grip on her hip tightened, and I leaned my forehead against hers, eyes shut tight as I tried to steady my breathing. She didn't move, didn't pull away. She was waiting for me to make the next move.

I should have stopped. I knew that. She had just come out of the hospital. She needed time to rest and recover not to be wrapped up in this mess we were creating.

But the feel of her skin against mine, the way she fit so perfectly between my legs, her lips so close to mine... it was becoming impossible to think rationally.

"Nova," I muttered, my voice a low growl, but it sounded more like a plea than a warning. My mind was screaming at me to pull back, but my body had other ideas.

Her breath was shallow, her chest rising and falling quickly, matching the rhythm of my own. She wasn't backing down. If anything, she was pressing closer, her body melting into mine as if it belonged there. She smelled like vanilla and danger - sweet and tempting - and I was drowning in it.