The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121

I gasped as his teeth grazed a sensitive spot below my ear, my body arching toward him of its own accord. Emboldened by his

response, I pushed him back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes, to see the same desire I felt reflected there.

Then I was the one initiating the kiss, pressing forward with an urgency that surprised even me. There was a sweet revenge in

taking control, in feeling him respond to my touch. I bit his lower lip gently, drawing a low groan from deep in his throat.

Derek’s hand slipped under my thermal layer, palm flat against my bare stomach, then slowly sliding upward. The contrast between

the cold air and his warm touch sent shivers through me that had nothing to do with the temperature. I pressed closer, wanting

needing to feel more of him.

“Eleanor, he breathed against my lips. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

The words hung between us, fragile as frost in the morning light. I pulled back slightly, searching his face for any sign of deception.

What I saw instead was vulnerability-raw and unguarded.

I knew I should question him, demand explanations for his past coldness, for the years of neglect. But in that moment, with the sun painting the world in gold and his hands warming my skin, I couldn’t form the words.

Instead, I pressed forward, capturing his mouth again, my hands slipping inside his jacket to feel the solid warmth of him. Derek responded instantly, backing me against the sheltering rock wall, his body pressed fully against mine.

“Someone could see, I managed to whisper between kisses.

“They can’t,” he assured me, nodding toward the rock formation that shielded us from the main viewpoint. “Not unless they come

looking.”

His hand moved higher beneath my clothes, fingers tracing the underside of my breast, and rational thought began to slip away. I hitched one leg around his hip, pulling him closer, feeling the unmistakable evidence of his desire pressed against me.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, the sun had fully risen. Golden light bathed the valley below, revealing a world transformed by dawn. Derek’s forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed as though savoring the moment.

“We should join the others,” I said reluctantly, though I made no move to step away.

Derek nodded but tightened his arms around me. “Eleanor,” he said again, voice rough with emotion. “I meant what I said.”

I placed my finger against his lips, not ready to hear or respond to those words again. “Let’s go,” I whispered, slowly disentangling

myself from his embrace.

As I stepped away to adjust my disheveled clothing, I could feel his eyes on me-intense, questioning, hopeful. I smoothed my hair and pulled my jacket back into place, trying to erase the evidence of what had just happened between us.

“You should go first, I said, nodding toward the path that would lead us back to the main viewpoint. “I’ll follow in a minute.

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Chapter 121

He nodded. With one last lingering look, he turned and disappeared around the rock formation.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and collect my scattered thoughts. What had just happened? What had I allowed to happen? 1 touched my lips, still feeling the pressure of his kiss.

A minute later, I followed the path back to the main viewpoint. I could hear Olivia’s animated voice before I saw her.

“There you are!” she exclaimed when I emerged. “Did you find your phone? We were getting worried.”

“Yes,” I said, forcing a smile. All sorted.”

James approached, concern evident in his expression. “Are you okay? You look flushed.”

“Just the climb,” I lied. “It’s steeper than it looks.”

The sunrise was incredible, Olivia gushed, linking her arm through mine. “Worth every minute of lost sleep. Though I bet you had

a better view from wherever you were.”

I caught Derek’s eye across the group. He was standing slightly apart from the others, his expression carefully neutral, but his eyes-

those eyes that had always seen too much-held mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.

“It was beautiful, I agreed, unable to look away from him.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love