Chapter Nineteen - Erik
The hum of the engine fills the car as I grip the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles white against the smooth leather. The streets are dimly lit, the glow from passing streetlights casting fleeting shadows across the dashboard.
Beside me, Chloe sits in silence, her body angled slightly away as she gazes out the window.
She hasn’t spoken since we left the event, but her curiosity is palpable. It’s in the way her fingers toy with the hem of her dress, the way her eyes flick toward me occasionally when she thinks I’m not paying attention.
I shouldn’t have kissed her in front of everyone. I shouldn’t have let her affect me like this. Yet, the memory of her lips on mine, the way her body melted into me, is burned into my mind.
The tension between us is thick, an invisible thread pulling tighter with every passing moment. My jaw tightens as I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. That dress—sleek, daring, clinging to her figure like it was painted on—has been driving me insane all night.
I make a sharp turn, the tires hissing softly against the asphalt, and Chloe shifts in her seat, her head snapping toward me.
“Where are we going?” she finally asks again, her voice breaking the silence.
“Don’t be so impatient,” I reply curtly, my voice a low growl that offers no room for further questions.
Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t press me.
Minutes later, I pull into the driveway of a sleek, upscale hotel. The building rises into the night sky, its modern design glowing softly under the muted city lights.
Chloe looks at me in confusion, her lips parting as though to ask why we’re here. I don’t give her the chance.
I step out of the car and round to her side, opening the door with swift precision. “Come,” I order, my voice clipped.
Her hesitation lasts only a second before she slips out of the car, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.
I lead her through the grand entrance, the hotel lobby quiet but luxuriously appointed. Polished marble floors gleam under soft golden lights, and the air carries the faint scent of vanilla and fresh-cut flowers.
She doesn’t say a word, but I can feel her questions bubbling beneath the surface, her curiosity mingling with something else—something hesitant, maybe even nervous.
The elevator ride is silent, the tension between us almost suffocating as we ascend to the top floor. Chloe glances at me briefly, her teeth worrying her bottom lip, but I keep my gaze fixed on the doors, my thoughts a storm of frustration and desire.
When we reach the room, I push the door open and step inside, holding it for her to follow. She moves past me cautiously, her eyes scanning the sleek, minimalist decor. The city skyline stretches out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my attention is solely on her.
I close the door with a deliberate slam, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
Chloe turns sharply, her eyes narrowing. “Erik, what—”
I don’t let her finish.
In two swift steps, I’m in front of her, my hands gripping her hips as I back her against the wall. My body cages hers, the heat between us igniting like a match struck against dry wood.
Her breath hitches, her hands instinctively coming up to rest against my chest.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me tonight?” I growl, my voice low and rough with desire.
Her lips part, but no sound comes out, her hazel eyes wide as they lock on to mine.
“You,” I continue, my hands sliding up to brace against the wall on either side of her head, “walking around in that dress, looking like that—testing me all night.”
Her cheeks flush, her breathing quickening, but she tries to muster a glare. “I wasn’t—”
“Yes, you were,” I cut her off, my voice dipping lower. “Now, I can’t wait another minute. Not another second.”
I’m practically vibrating with need, hard cock standing to attention. She’s so perfect.
I tilt her chin up with my hand, forcing her to look at me fully. “Do you know what you’ve done, Chloe?”
Her gaze flickers, her hands pressing lightly against my chest as though debating whether to push me away or pull me closer. “You’re being ridiculous,” she whispers, though her voice trembles slightly.
“Am I?” I murmur, leaning in so close that our noses nearly touch. “Tell me to stop.”
The challenge in my voice hangs heavy between us, daring her to push back, to say the words.
She doesn’t.
Instead, she exhales a shaky breath, her eyes dropping to my lips before flicking back up to meet mine.
I don’t wait for further permission.
My lips crash against hers. She stiffens for a moment, her fists clutching at my shirt, but then she responds, her lips parting as her hands slide up to tangle in my hair.
The kiss deepens, raw and consuming, my body pressing hers more firmly against the wall. Her soft moan sends a jolt of heat through me, and I grip her waist, pulling her closer.
Chloe melts into me, her resistance fading as the tension between us gives way to something electric, something undeniable.
When I finally pull back, we’re both breathing heavily, her lips swollen and her cheeks flushed.
“Still think I’m being ridiculous?” I ask, my voice a low rasp.
She doesn’t answer, her gaze dazed as she looks up at me, her chest rising and falling with each rapid breath.
“Come,” I say, stepping back and offering her my hand.
This time, she takes it without hesitation.
The air in the room crackles with tension as I lead Chloe toward the bedroom, my hand firm around hers. She doesn’t resist, her footsteps quick to match my determined pace. The door to the adjoining suite stands open, and as soon as we cross the threshold, I turn to face her, my body alive with need that I can no longer contain.
Before she can say a word, I sweep her into my arms, her surprised gasp swallowed by my lips as I kiss her hard and deep. Her hands press against my chest as though to push me away, but the resistance is fleeting. Within seconds, her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, holding on as I pour every ounce of my frustration and desire into the kiss.
Breaking away just long enough to catch my breath, I stare down at her, my chest heaving. Her lips are swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes wide with a mix of defiance and something darker.
“Erik,” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly, though I can’t tell if it’s from anticipation or nervousness.
“Don’t,” I growl, cutting her off. “No more games, Chloe. No more pretending you don’t feel this.”
Without waiting for a response, I grip her waist and lift her, tossing her onto the bed with effortless strength. She bounces slightly against the plush mattress, her hair fanning out around her like a halo.
Her lips part in shock, but her gaze locks with mine, and I see it—the flicker of heat that mirrors my own.
I shrug off my jacket, letting it fall carelessly to the floor, then loosen my tie with deliberate slowness, my eyes never leaving hers. “You’ve been driving me insane all night,” I say, my voice low and rough. “Walking around in that dress, knowing exactly what you were doing.”
Her cheeks flush, but she lifts her chin in defiance. “I wasn’t doing anything,” she says, though her voice lacks conviction.
I smirk, climbing onto the bed and straddling her, my knees pressing into the mattress on either side of her hips. “Liar.”
I’m on fire, my body desperate for her. Staring down at her, I keep my unblinking gaze on her flushed face as I free myself from my pants. My cock springs free and she gasps, eyes widening.
My hands move to her shoulders, sliding down the smooth fabric of her dress. The material clings to her, an infuriating barrier between us.
“This dress,” I murmur, my fingers gripping the thin straps. “It’s been tormenting me all night. Let’s fix that, shall we?”
Before she can respond, I yank the straps down, the fabric tearing slightly under my hands as I pull it away.
“Erik!” she gasps, her hands flying up to cover herself, though her flushed cheeks and rapid breathing betray her.
“Don’t hide from me,” I command, my tone leaving no room for argument. I grab her wrists gently but firmly, pinning them above her head with one hand. “You don’t get to tease me all night and then pretend you don’t want this.”
Her breathing quickens, her chest rising and falling beneath me as I let my free hand trail down her body, my fingers brushing over the lace of her lingerie.
“You’re mine, Chloe,” I say softly, my voice rough with need. “Every inch of you.”
She doesn’t argue, her body arching slightly beneath my touch. Her eyes flutter closed, and I take the opportunity to explore, my hand sliding along the curve of her waist and down her thigh to her pussy. She’s soaked already.
“Soaked for me already, love?”
My hand moves higher, slipping beneath the lace, and her breath catches, her back arching against me.
“Say it,” I demand, my lips trailing down to her collarbone. “Say you want this.”
She shakes her head, her eyes squeezed shut, but her body tells a different story, her thighs pressing together as though trying to fight the sensations coursing through her.
“Chloe,” I growl, my tone dark and commanding. “Say it.”
Her lips part, and a soft, broken moan escapes her.
“Say it,” I press again, my teeth grazing her skin.
“I…,” she begins, her voice trembling. “I need this.”
I smirk against her skin. “That’s not what I asked.”
“I want you. ”
Her body writhes as I enter her, and her walls clench deliciously around the girth of my cock. It’s enough to have me moaning already, and she grips my shoulders so tightly, I wonder if they’ll bruise.
I hope so.
When I rock my hips into her, she spills something I can’t even decipher from her full lips. Her breasts shake as I set an agonizing pace, but the blissed out expression on her face makes me even hotter.
My hand slides back to her waist, my fingers tracing slow, deliberate circles along her bare skin. They swirl around her nipple, down the dip of her stomach, and I delight in watching her contort beneath me.
Experimentally I duck down, capturing one pert nipple between my teeth. She screams, hands raking down my arms, as I swirl my tongue.
“You’ve been torturing me all night, Chloe,” I murmur against her breast, my lips brushing over the sensitive skin. “Now I’m going to wreck you. Was this what you wanted?”
Her breath hitches, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know,” I echo, my smirk returning as I let go of her breast with a pop. “I think you do”
Her soft gasp is the only response I need.
I shift slightly, positioning myself above her so that there’s no space between us. Her hands fly up to my chest, not to push me away, but to steady herself as I lean down and capture her lips with mine again.
My pace wavers, but I arch my hips and fuck her so deeply, I can already feel her stamina waning. I’m so hot I may as well be on fire, whole body burning with need.
Her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, tugging me closer, and I oblige, pressing her deeper into the mattress. The heat between us is overwhelming, the tension snapping like a taut wire as her barriers crumble completely.
She comes with a scream, the orgasm wrecking her entire body. Manicured nails score down my biceps and leave a sting that has me shuddering.
Her pussy clenches one last time, and I spill over the edge. I grunt out Chloe’s name as I come, my vision swimming as heat and arousal course through me.
Thick, hot come leaks from Chloe’s entrance as I pull out moments later. It cools between our joined thighs, and I smirk at the sight.
I pull back just enough to look at her, my thumb brushing over her flushed cheek. “Beautiful,” I say, my voice low but firm.
Her eyes, wide and searching, hold mine for a long moment. Then, she nods, her lips parting as she whispers, “Thank you.”
Her admission sends a jolt of satisfaction through me, a primal sense of victory that only intensifies the pull between us.
Leaning down again, I press my forehead to hers, our breaths mingling in the charged silence. “Good,” I murmur, my lips brushing against hers. “I’m not letting you go.”
This time, she doesn’t argue. Instead, she pulls me back into her, her actions speaking louder than any words ever could.
The room is quiet now, the chaos of moments before giving way to a comfortable stillness. Chloe lies nestled against me, her head resting on my chest, her breath soft and even as it fans against my skin. My arm is draped around her waist, holding her close, the heat of her body seeping into mine.
Her hair spills over the pillow in dark waves, the faint scent of her shampoo lingering in the air. She looks peaceful like this, her guard momentarily lowered. It’s a rare sight, one I find myself wanting to preserve longer than I should.
I can’t.
I need to tell her.
“Chloe,” I say softly, my voice cutting through the silence.
She hums in response, her eyes still closed, her fingers absently tracing patterns on my chest.
“I need to tell you something.”
Her movements still, and she tilts her head up to look at me. “What?”
“I’m leaving for Russia in a week,” I say, my tone even. “I’ll be gone for a few months.”
Her eyes widen slightly, the news catching her off guard. For a fleeting moment, I catch a flicker of sadness in her gaze, so brief it’s almost imperceptible. I know her well enough now to see it, to feel it in the way her body tenses slightly against mine.
A smirk tugs at my lips as I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. “Don’t look so heartbroken, love ,” I tease, letting the endearment roll off my tongue. “You’ll survive without me.”
Her lips press into a thin line, the sadness quickly replaced by defiance. She sits up slightly, her hair cascading over her shoulders as she fixes me with a glare. “I’ll do more than survive,” she retorts, her voice sharp but not as steady as she wants it to be. “I’ll be happy.”
The corner of my mouth lifts into a deeper smirk. “You keep telling yourself that,” I murmur, my hand sliding back to her waist and pulling her down against me once more.
She lets out a huff, her head resting on the pillow beside me, though her eyes remain locked on mine. “You think I’ll be pining for you?”
“I know you will,” I reply without hesitation, the confidence in my voice making her roll her eyes.
“You’re insufferable,” she mutters, though the faintest smile plays on her lips.
“Perhaps, but you still adore me,” I counter, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Her smile fades slightly, her gaze softening as she studies me. “Why are you going?” she asks quietly.
I hesitate, my grip on her tightening just a fraction. “It’s business,” I say, the lie smooth but heavy on my tongue. “There are things I need to handle personally.”
Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t push for more. Instead, she leans back against my chest, her fingers once again tracing idle patterns on my skin.
The silence that settles between us now feels different—heavier.
I don’t like the thought of leaving her, don’t like imagining her in the penthouse suite without me. I don’t like the idea of her convincing herself she’s better off without me, trying to erase the mark I’ve left on her life.
I have no choice.
The court case is a noose tightening around my neck. An insider confirmed the verdict will go against me—guilty of crimes I can’t afford to serve time for. The only option is to leave, to retreat to Russia where I can wait out the storm while my lawyer works to reverse the decision.
I can’t contact Chloe while I’m gone, not regularly. It’s too risky. Too much can be traced back to me if I stay connected. The thought of severing even the smallest thread between us leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I tighten my hold on her, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.
“You’ll be fine,” I say, my voice softer now, almost as if I’m trying to convince myself.
“Of course I will,” she replies, though her tone lacks conviction.
I glance down at her, watching as her lashes flutter against her cheeks, her eyes focused on the faint lines of my collarbone. “Chloe,” I say, my voice low.
She looks up, her hazel eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, neither of us speaks.
“I mean it,” I murmur. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
She bites her lip, nodding slightly, though her expression remains guarded. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Erik.”
Her words sting, a reminder of the wall she’s still trying to keep between us.
I press a kiss to her forehead, lingering there as I close my eyes. “It’s not a promise I can’t keep,” I whisper.
She exhales softly, her breath warm against my skin.
We fall silent again, her head resting on my chest, but the quiet is no longer comforting. It feels like a countdown, each second ticking closer to my departure.
As I hold her, I wonder if either of us will truly be the same by the time I return.