Page 4 of Forbidden Empire
I raised my glass in a teasing toast. "Nice chair. I can see why you like it."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't take the bait. Instead, he walked toward me with purpose, stopping just short of the desk and leaning forward until his hands rested on its edge. His presence filled the room, making it feel smaller and more suffocating.
"Get out of it," he commanded, his gaze piercing.
I arched a brow, enjoying the flicker of frustration crossing his features. "And here I thought we were supposed to be partners. Or is this how you treat all your allies?"
Aidon's eyes flashed with anger as he moved closer. His hand came to rest on the armrest of the chair, caging me in.
"Partners require trust," he growled. "Something you haven't earned."
"Trust is overrated," I replied, though my heart was pounding under his intense gaze. "Besides, I wouldn't be here if you didn't trust me even a little."
He didn't deny it, instead moving around the desk to grab the back of the chair, spinning it so I was facing him.
He leaned against the edge of the desk, his hand still on the armrest as if to block my escape.
"Are you trying to provoke me, Esme?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft.
I tilted my head, meeting his glare without flinching. "Maybe. Is it working?"
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him. "You've always had a talent for pushing limits. But this?" His eyes flicked toward my legs, now sitting tucked on the seat of the chair. "This might be your boldest move yet."
I leaned forward and closed the gap between us. "You know I've never been one to play it safe, Aidon. That's why you like me."
"Like you?" He leaned in closer, his breath brushing against my cheek. "You're a liability I tolerate."
I laughed, the sound echoing through the charged air between us. It was my one defense against this man who smelled so good and prickled every one of my senses.
"Keep telling yourself that." I reached out to run my fingers along the edge of his tie. "If I'm just a liability, why haven't you thrown me out?"
His hand shot out, grabbing my neck and holding it in a firm grip. The sudden contact sparked a buzz over my skin, and neither of us moved for a moment. It was as if years of memories flashed before us.
His eyes darkened, and my pulse hammered.
"Don't mistake my patience for weakness, Esme," he warned, his voice a low growl. "You're here because I need you. Nothing more."
I tilted my head, letting my lips form a slow, teasing smile. "And yet, here we are. You could have left me to fend for myself,but instead, you brought me here. Into your domain. Your sanctuary. Why is that, Aidon?"
His grip on my hand tightened for a fraction of a second before he released it and stepped back. The absence of his touch made me feel colder than I expected. This reaction to him wasn't fair. He tormented me, and he knew it.
"Don't overthink it," he said with composure once more. "Stay out of my office and don't get in my way."
No, I wasn't going to let this be the end.
"Are you afraid of what might happen if I don't?"
He paused at the doorway, his back turned. "Afraid? No. Curious? Always."
With that, he disappeared, leaving me alone in his office, with the lingering heat of his presence and the ache deep inside me.
I leaned back in his chair and shot back the last of my whiskey, savoring the burn as it made its way down to my belly.
I took a deep breath. Aidon thought he could control me, but I was always at my strongest when operating on the edges of control. And I had no intention of playing by his rules.
Later that evening, as I sat in my armchair, I watched the distant city lights flicker against the window, casting a soft glow in the darkened room. I couldn't shake the heavy weight of Aidon's words. They pressed down on me, suffocating and stifling.
His warning echoed in my mind in a non-stop look, cutting deeper than a knife.
