Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 104

11:15 Tue, Feb 17 G

Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Anna’s POV

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Guilt washed over me. I’d been so caught up in my own hurt feelings that I hadn’t considered what it cost him to drop everything.

“Roman, I…

“So yes, Anna.” His eyes bored into mine. “I expect to be forgiven I’ve done everything short of getting on my knees and begging”

The mental image of Roman Blackwood on his knees sent an unwelcome jolt of heat through me.

I bit my lip, then nodded slowly. “Fine. Your efforts have proven adequate.”

His eyebrow arched. “Adequate?”

“Okay, more than adequate,” I amended, unable to stop the small smile tugging at my lips. “You’re forgiven, Mr. Blackwood. Happy?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Ecstatic. Though I should point out, you didn’t really have a choice.”

“Excuse me?”

“Anna, you signed a contract. You’re obligated to work with me whether you forgive me or not.” His smile turned teasing. “Forgiveness is just a nice bonus that makes both our lives easier

I grabbed a grape from the fruit bowl and threw it at him.

It bounced off his chest. He caught it midair with reflexes that shouldn’t have been as attractive as they were, popping it into his mouth with infuriating smugness.

“Respectfully, sir, you’re such an ass.”

“And yet, you forgave me anyway.” He gestured to my plate. “Now finish eating. You’re going to need your strength.”

I narrowed my eyes. “For what?”

“For our conversation. The one we’re going to have as soon as you’re done stuffing your face.”

I shook my head, already reaching for another croissant and tearing off a piece. “I can multitask. Talk while I eat.

“No.” His voice was firm. “I want your full attention for this.”

The seriousness in his tone made my stomach flip. What does he want to talk about? Please don’t let it be about last night, the car, the club, or any of the dozen stupid things I’ve done since meeting him.

I ate faster, suddenly nervous about what he wanted to discuss.

After a few more bites, I realized he still wasn’t eating. His plate sat untouched.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

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11:15 Tue, Feb 17 G

Chapter 104

“Because I’d rather watch you.”

I frowned. “That’s… weird.”

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“I’ve been called worse.” He shrugged, completely unbothered. “Ruthless. Cold. Heartless. Compared to those, ‘weird’ is almost a compliment.”

“You forgot arrogant,” I added, counting on my fingers. “And controlling. And infuriating.”

“Careful, Anna. Keep listing my faults, and I might think you’re obsessed with me.”

“More like cursed by you.”

He chuckled. “Same thing.”

Despite myself, I smiled. This back and forth felt natural, easy, like we’d been doing it for years instead of days.

I finished the last of my breakfast and wiped my mouth with a napkin. “Okay. I’m done. What did you want to talk about?”

Roman’s playfulness faded into seriousness.

He leaned back in his chair and studied me with those eyes that always saw too much.

“We need to talk about last night. And the past few days. Everything that’s happened between us.”

My body tensed. I reached for my coffee cup. I needed something to do with my hands. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

Using his own words against him felt petty, but I didn’t care. I needed to deflect, to avoid this conversation that would only lead to heartbreak.

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “You know that’s a lie.”

I took a slow sip of coffee, forcing myself to appear thoughtful and unbothered. I set the cup down carefully. “Nothing happened between us last night. That’s what’s worth remembering.”

His face hardened. He was getting angry. I held my breath, fearing his reaction. Would he yell? Storm out? Punish me for real this time?

Then, before I could blink, he pulled me onto his lap and kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. His mouth claimed mine with fierce possession. His hand threaded into my hair to angle my head exactly how he wanted.

I melted into him despite every logical thought screaming at me to push away. Instead, I kissed him back with equal fervor, pouring all my confusion and frustration into it.

My hands fisted in his shirt, then moved upward, fingers spreading across his chest, wanting to feel him, touch him the way he’d touched me.

His hand shot out, caught my wrist, and held it firm, not allowing me to move.

He pulled back, almost like my touch had burned him.

We were both breathing hard.

What was that?

It had happened before, in the car. Every time I tried to touch him, he stopped me, redirected my hands, or held them away.

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11:15 Tue, Feb 17 G.

Chapter 104

I wanted to ask, wanted to understand why he could touch every inch of me but wouldn’t let me do the same.

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But I didn’t ask, because asking meant admitting I cared, admitting I wanted to kiss him again, touch him again.

And I didn’t intend on doing either.

“Does that ring a bell?” His voice was rough.

“I… um…”

“Because it sure as hell does for me.” His thumb traced my swollen bottom lip, and I shivered. “For days now, every time I close my eyes, I see you. In that restroom at the club. The elevator. Last night in the car.”

His voice dropped lower. “Feel you wrapped around me. Hear the sounds you made when you came.”

Reality crashed back in.

What am I doing? This is exactly what I can’t let happen.

I pushed at his chest, creating distance. My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself to step back. “Let’s blame it on the wine.”

His laugh was harsh and disbelieving. “The wine?”

“Yes. Too much wine, poor judgment, a moment of weakness.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warm sunlight streaming through the windows. “Let’s forget it happened and move on. Professional boundaries and all that.” I looked up at him, forcing steel into my voice. “Remember your rules?”

“Fuck the rules.” He stood and paced toward the window. “I created them, so I can undo them. And that’s what I want.”

I pulled away further, upset. “You can’t just change the rules when you feel like it and I’m supposed to just what? Fall in line?”

“No.” I shook my head firmly. “That’s not how this works. You cant just decide things have changed and expect me to go along with it.”

“I’m not deciding anything. I’m acknowledging what’s already there.”

“What’s there is a contract.” My voice rose. “An NDA that you made me sign. Do you remember that, Roman? The one that makes it crystal clear that nothing can happen between us.”

FI

“No clause in the NDA stipulates that.” He turned back to face me

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