A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss (by Gregory Ellington) novel Chapter 444

Alexander

Her head whipped toward me, eyes widening. "Alexander."

"What? It's practical. I have shirts that'll fit you. Probably better than sleeping in what you're wearing now."

"I can't wear your clothes."

"Why not?"

"Because." She crossed her arms. "Because it's weird."

"Is it? You used to wear my shirts all the time."

Heat flooded her face. "That was different."

"How?"

"Because we were." She paused, searching for words. "We had an arrangement."

"An arrangement where you wore my shirts and looked incredible in them."

Madison's cheeks went pink. "Stop."

"Stop what? Telling the truth?"

"Stop flirting with me."

I shifted closer, watching her reaction carefully. She didn't move away.

The space between us narrowed to inches, maybe less. Close enough, I saw the way her pupils dilated, the slight parting of her lips. Close enough, her breath ghosted across my skin, warm and unsteady.

Her eyes dropped to my mouth. Stayed there.

My pulse kicked up, blood rushing in my ears loud enough to drown out the city noise filtering through the windows. I cataloged every detail. The rapid rise and fall of her chest. The way her fingers curled against her palms. How she swayed forward just a fraction before catching herself.

Five years since I'd been this close to her. Five years of nothing, and now she was here in my penthouse, looking at me like she was debating whether touching me would be a mistake.

I wanted to close the distance. Wanted to taste her again, feel her mouth against mine, remember exactly how she fit against me. My hand lifted automatically, fingers reaching toward her face.

She watched my hand move, her breathing going shallow. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips in a gesture that sent heat straight through my chest.

I traced the line of her jaw with my thumb, feeling her pulse jump beneath my touch. Her skin was impossibly soft, warm beneath my fingers. She leaned into the contact, her eyes fluttering closed for a heartbeat before opening again.

Her hands found my chest, palms pressing flat against my shirt. Not pushing away. Just there, feeling my heart hammer beneath her touch.

I moved closer, eliminating another inch of space. Our bodies were nearly touched now, separated by nothing but air and hesitation. Her scent wrapped around me.

My other hand found her waist, fingers splaying across the fabric of her sweater. She sucked in a breath, her hands curling into my shirt.

I looked at her mouth. She looked at mine.

The moment stretched, suspended. Neither of us was moving nor pulling away. Just existing in this charged space where everything felt possible and terrifying.

Her chest rose and fell, our breathing synchronized. Close enough, I felt her heartbeat through the thin fabric separating us.

I wanted to kiss her. Wanted it with an intensity that bordered on painful. But something held me back. Some knowledge that once I crossed that line, there'd be no pretending this was just about Ethan.

Madison's eyes held mine, dark and uncertain. Her lips parted slightly, and I tracked the movement like my life depended on memorizing it.

Time stopped. The city faded. Nothing existed except the two of us in my living room.

I broke the silence first, my voice coming out rougher than intended. "We can go out. Do some shopping if you want extra clothes."

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