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彡┆17

"please," i say, the word sharp. "let me come back next year."

he raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "that didn't sound very convincing."

"please," i say again, slower this time, looking him directly in the eyes. "i want to participate again next year. let me in."

he studies me, dragging the moment out longer than necessary. then, after what feels like an eternity, he smirks.

"was that so hard?" he asks.

i roll my eyes, sitting back against the couch. "don't push it."

he chuckles, reaching for his drink again. "alright, tiger," he murmurs. "you're back in."

relief floods through me, but i don't let it show. i simply nod, picking up my mojito and taking a sip.

"good," i say smoothly. "now we can move on."

but he's still looking at me, still smirking like he's won something. and i have the unsettling feeling that this was never just about the games for him.

he gets up from the couch and steps in front of me, towering over where i'm sitting.

"stand up." he demands.

i hesitate for only a second before rising to my feet, my posture straight, my expression unreadable. i refuse to let him see that my heart is pounding.

he watches me for a moment, his dark eyes flickering over my face like he's searching for something. then, his lips curve into a smirk.

"now," he murmurs, his voice dangerously smooth, "thank me for letting you go."

i scoff, narrowing my eyes at him. "you're crazy if you think i'm going to do that again."

his smirk doesn't fade. if anything, it deepens.

"you already begged once tonight," he reminds me. "what's one more time?"

my jaw tightens, my hands curling into fists at my sides. "i'm not here to give you the satisfaction of begging."

before i can say anything else, his hand moves slow, until his fingers wrap gently around my throat. not tight, not forceful, but firm enough to steal the air from my lungs for just a second.
his touch is warm, his thumb pressing lightly against my pulse.

his voice drops lower. "say it."

a shiver runs down my spine, but i don't move. i can't. my pride is screaming at me to resist, to push him away, but my body betrays me.

my lips part, and in a barely audible whisper, i murmur, "thank you."

without warning, he crashes his lips onto mine. the kiss is nothing like the first. it's not slow, it's hungry. demanding. his hands grip my waist, pulling me against him, and i barely have time to react before i find myself kissing him back just as desperately.

every ounce of restraint, every carefully built wall between us shatters in an instant. i should stop.
but i don't. because, god help me, i don't want to.

i don't think. i don't hesitate. i match his intensity, my fingers grabbing his hair. without breaking the kiss, he moves, guiding me backward until the couch presses against the back of my legs. before i can react, he lifts me, strong hands gripping my thighs, and in one swift motion, i'm beneath him, the weight of his body pressing me into the cushions.

his lips trail lower, brushing against the sensitive skin of my jaw, my throat. i tilt my head back instinctively, giving him more space, and he takes it without hesitation.

"you like giving up control, don't you?" his voice is rough, teasing.

i narrow my eyes, refusing to answer, but he just smirks.

"that's what i thought." he says.

his lips find mine again, and this time, there's no holding back. we take our clothes off and the next thing i feel is him pushing himself into me. nothing matters except the heat of the moment, the quiet gasps, the way our bodies move toward each other.

with every second that passes i think it can't get better but it does until we both reach our peak.

we lay there, body to body, skin to skin. my breath is unsteady, my fingers still pressed lightly against his chest.

i tilt my head slightly, looking up at him. "you didn't just call me here to discuss business, did you?"

his lips twitch, amusement flickering in his gaze. "and if i did?"

"then you have a very interesting way of negotiating." i scoff.

his smirk deepens, and he leans in, his voice low, teasing. "maybe i just know how to get what i want."

i raise an eyebrow, matching his tone. "and what exactly is it that you want?"

he doesn't answer immediately. instead, he studies me, his fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on my hip, like he has all the time in the world.
then, after a moment, he smirks again, leaning down so his lips are barely a breath away from mine.

"i think you already know." he says.

"after our first kiss," i say, arching a brow, "you were the one who said this isn't professional and yet, here i am, in your apartment... naked."

he doesn't even flinch. his dark eyes trail over me like he wants every inch of me burned into his memory.

"interesting how that happened," he says, voice low, teasing.

i roll my eyes. "you're unbelievable."

he shifts, propping himself up on one elbow. "and yet, you still came here."

i exhale sharply, shaking my head. "for business."

he chuckles, sitting up slowly, his hand reaching out to trace a slow line down my bare spine.

"and we did discuss business," he says smoothly. "you got what you wanted, didn't you?"

i shoot him a look over my shoulder. "did i?"

his smirk lingers, but there's something else in his eyes now. something deeper.

"you tell me," he murmurs.

i hate how my skin burns under his touch, how my body still reacts to him even when my mind knows i should be irritated. i hate that he's acting like he is the one in control when i know damn well that i let this happen just as much as he did.

i scoff, shaking my head. "this is not professional."

he tilts his head slightly, his fingers still lazily tracing my skin. "no," he agrees, voice soft, knowing. "it's not."

and yet, neither of us moves away.

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this chapter was so hot, and i just know you guys are screaming right now.

also, please don't be mad at me for not making it too explicit 😭 i just feel really weird writing fully detailed scenes, but i know y'all will understand.

vote if you want to see what'll happen next with them. 🌟