The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Derek POV

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I watched Eleanor try to brush past me toward the door, her movements slightly unsteady from the bourbon. As she took a step, her ankle wobbled, and she pitched forward unexpectedly. My reflexes kicked in before I could think, my arms shooting out to catch her before she could fall.

Her hands landed against my chest, her body suddenly pressed against mine. The unexpected contact sent an electric current through me that I hadn’t anticipated. I looked down at her face, now mere inches from mine, and found myself momentarily lost in the depths of her eyes.

“Why did you refuse the dare?” The question escaped my lips before I could stop it. I hadn’t planned to ask it, but now that we were standing so close, I needed to know.

Eleanor attempted to sound casual despite our intimate position. “I didn’t want to take advantage of you.”

I studied her face, noting the slight flush in her cheeks, the way her pupils dilated as she looked up at me. She was lying-or at least not telling the whole truth. The corner of my mouth lifted in a half-smile. “You were scared.”

“Are you kidding me?” she countered, her voice laced with incredulity. “What was there to be scared of? I was being considerate. I didn’t want to force myself on you in front of everyone. Besides, wouldn’t you have been disgusted if I had actually done it?”

Her words struck a nerve. Disgusted? Is that what she thought-that kissing her would disgust me?

“Admit it,” I whispered, my breath warm against her face. “You were afraid.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She was afraid-not of the kiss itself, but of what it

might reveal. I understood because I felt the same fear. That realization struck me with unexpected clarity.

For a moment, I hesitated. What was I doing? What was I trying to prove? This wasn’t a game, though I’d been treating it like one. 1 wanted to know what would happen if I crossed this line. I wanted to know if what I felt for Eleanor was merely physical attraction or something more complex that I’d been denying for years.

I’d convinced myself that my occasional desire for her was nothing more than basic biology-a man’s natural response to an attractive woman. I was certain I could differentiate between mere lust and deeper emotions.

Before she could protest again, I made my decision. I pressed my lips against hers, not forcefully but with clear intent. This wasn’t a rash impulse; it was a calculated risk, an exploration I needed to undertake.

Eleanor immediately showed resistance, her hands pushing against my chest, trying to create distance. I could feel her confusion and anger through her palms. Part of me had expected this reaction, even counted on it to maintain my emotional distance. Yet another part-a part I rarely acknowledged-hoped for something else.

I moved one hand to the back of her head, deepening the kiss, my tongue seeking entrance. I told myself I was simply being

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Chapter 18

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thorough in my experiment, that I needed to push past her initial resistance to get an accurate reading of our chemistry.

I felt her resistance begin to weaken, her body gradually relaxing from its initial rigidity, starting to respond slightly to my kiss. Something shifted in my chest-a tightness I hadn’t anticipated. This wasn’t going according to plan. Her surrender wasn’t supposed to affect me this way.

Seizing control of the situation, 1-pressed her against the bathroom door, reaching back to lock it. The soft click of the lock felt oddly significant, like crossing a threshold from which there was no return. In the dim light, I could clearly feel every subtle change in Eleanor-her breathing transitioning from rapid resistance to slow intoxication, her lips moving from tightly closed to slightly parted, from passive acceptance to active response.

When Eleanor let out her first soft moan, I felt a rush of heat course through my body, more intense than I’d prepared for. Her arms

had somehow found their way around my neck, her fingers gently threading through my hair. The sensation sent shivers down my

spine, disrupting my carefully maintained detachment.

Comments

R Visitor

This book is kinda rage bait. He is such an ass for no good reason and she just puts up with it….

7 days ago

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love