Chapter 1019
“Dressed to seduce? Do you even hear yourself?”
Seth cleared his throat, trying to claw back some of his usual authority, though he sounded noticeably defensive. “I dress like this all the time.”
“Liar.” Noreen shifted in her seat, practically melting toward him.
Her warm breath, laced with the sweet tang of wine, instantly flooded Seth’s senses.
She reached out, her finger hooking delicately into the second button of his shirt.
Her eyes were hazy but gleaming with wicked intent. “But… I really like it.”
The air inside the car practically ignited, thick with an unbearable, suffocating tension.
Seth felt whatever was left of his self-control being rapidly dismantled by the alcohol on her breath and the heat of her skin.
He inhaled sharply, slamming his foot on the gas, the car surging forward as if he could outrun the fire she was starting in his blood.
“Sit properly,” he warned, his voice incredibly husky. It sounded more like a desperate plea than an actual command. “I’ll deal with you when we get home.”
Seeing the rigid clench of his jaw, Noreen couldn’t help but let out a low, musical laugh.
Did he really think she couldn’t see right through him?
She just wanted to tease him a little.
She just hadn’t expected him to be so easy to unravel.
He was a grown man in his thirties, but the second she pushed his buttons, he acted like an overwhelmed twenty-something.
For the sake of their safety on the road, Noreen took pity on him, sinking back into the luxurious passenger seat.
Seth wasted no time, smoothly navigating the car into the underground garage of Noreen’s apartment building.
The vehicle slid into its spot. The engine cut off.
Noreen, still riding the buzz of the wine, had drifted into a light doze during the drive.
The sudden silence woke her. Her long lashes fluttered as she struggled to open her eyes.
Her gaze was misty and unfocused from sleep, making her look incredibly soft and vulnerable.
“Are we here?” she mumbled, her voice sweet and raspy from her nap.
“We’re here,” Seth murmured, staring intensely at her. His voice was pitched dangerously low.
Noreen reached for the door handle.
Click.
The locks clicked shut, echoing loudly in the absolute silence of the cabin.
At the exact same time, something violently shifted between them.
She turned her head in surprise.
Before she could even register it, the man was surging forward, capturing her mouth in a devastating kiss.
All the raw, predatory hunger he had been fighting to suppress the entire drive completely snapped.
“Se-” she barely managed a syllable before the rest of her words were swallowed whole.
Seth tangled one hand in her hair, anchoring her head, while his other arm braced againsther seat, caging her firmly between his broadchest and the leather upholstery
His kiss was scorching, fueled by
years of pent-up desperation. Honet
gave her no chance to protest,
expertly parting her lips and invading her mouth with absolute dominance.
He was entirely different tonight.
Far more aggressive.
Far more demanding.
Startled by the sheer intensity of his assault, Noreen trembled and instinctively tried
to lean back, but he only pulled her closer.
His tongue swept through her mouth with irresistible force, greedily stealing her breath.
The kiss was punishingly deep, as if he wanted to devour her alive.
An eternity later, when they were both gasping for air, he finally pulled back just a fraction.
But he kept his forehead pressed flush against hers, his ragged, burning breaths fanning over her flushed cheeks.
“A little late to run now, don’t you think?” His voice was a gravelly whisper. He dragged his thumb over her swollen, well-kissed lips, a dangerous, barely suppressed fire raging in his dark eyes.
“You were awfully bold on the drive over. Why so shy now?”
He let out a dark chuckle, his proximity agonizing. “Noreen, I told you I’d deal with
you later. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
Noreen’s entire body felt like liquid fire, her fingers weakly clutching the lapels of his unbuttoned shirt.