Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Roman’s POV

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Anna smiled, looking genuinely flattered. “That’s very kind of you to say again, but I’m on the business side of things, not…”

“Nonsense,” Laurent brushed aside her protest. “You’re stunning. The camera will love you. And you already get the brand, the aesthetic.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice low. “I can already picture the lingerie on you. Trust me, we won’t do anything you don’t agree to.”

I reached them just as Anna opened her mouth to respond.

“Anna,” I said, my voice cutting through their conversation, furious. “It’s time.”

She turned, surprise flashing across her face. Laurent looked mildly annoyed at the interruption, his expression cooling slightly when he saw me.

“Roman,” he said with forced pleasantry. “I was just telling Anna about an exciting idea I have for the rest of the campaign…”

“The show is starting,” I said flatly, my hand already moving to Anna’s elbow. “We need to take our seats.”

“But I was just explaining…” Laurent began.

I guided Anna away, not giving him a chance to finish. His voice followed us anyway.

“Think about it, Anna. We’ll discuss the details next week. You’d look magnificent.”

The moment we were out of earshot, moving toward the discreet staircase at the back of the venue, Anna tried to pull her arm free.

“Roman, what was that about? Laurent was just…”

“Trying to get you naked on camera,” I finished.

“What? No, he was offering me a modeling opportunity. It’s actually quite flattering…”

“You’re not doing it.”

We reached the stairs. I gestured for her to go first, following close behind as we climbed to the mezzanine level.

“Excuse me?” Anna’s voice had taken on an edge, her earlier compliance evaporating. “You don’t get to tell me what opportunities I can or can’t…”

“He wants you to model lingerie, flimsy, thin material that would reveal all the intimate parts of your body.”

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Chapter 158

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We reached the private viewing area. Two plush chairs were positioned perfectly to oversee the entire venue, completely separate from the crowd below.

“Do you understand what that means?”

Anna turned to face me fully, her eyes flashing with irritation. “It means high-fashion photography. Artistic campaigns. You’re completely overreacting.”

“Am I?” I stepped closer, my voice dropping dangerously low. “You think I’m going to stand by while you pose half-naked on billboards for every man in the city to ogle? While Laurent Beaumont gets to photograph you in lingerie, gets to see you…”

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“See me what?” Anna challenged. “It’s professional modeling, Roman. It’s art.”

“It’s you. Naked. For everyone to see.”

“Not naked. Lingerie. There’s a difference.” She crossed her arms. “And besides, I did it for you. What’s the difference?”

The reminder of those photos, Anna in the lingerie I had sent her, posing for my eyes only, made my blood run hot and my vision narrow.

“It’s completely different,” I growled.

“How?”

“Because those were for me.” I moved even closer, backing her toward one of the chairs. “Private. Mine. Just mine.”

“I’m not yours. Yet.” She paused on that last word, her eyes gleaming with something that told me she was clearly messing with me.

Yet. She had said it like it was inevitable, and she knew exactly what that word did to me.

“The thought of other men seeing you like that…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

“Fantasizing about you. Imagining what you’d look like without the lingerie, Wanting you.”

Anna’s eyes searched my face, and I could see understanding dawning there. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m going insane,” I corrected, my voice rough. “The idea of Laurent or anyone else seeing what’s mine, touching you, even just to pose you for a photo, seeing your body…”

I cut myself off, blood pumping fast through my veins. My face hardened,

The lights in the venue began to dim. Music started playing, low and pulsing.

“Sit,” I said, my voice still rough with emotion.

For a moment, I thought she might refuse out of sheer stubbornness. But then she lowered herself into the

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Chapter 158

chair, her movements stiff with lingering irritation.

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I took the seat beside her, close enough that our arms nearly touched. I could smell her perfume and feel the warmth radiating from her skin.

Below us, the first model emerged onto the runway. The crowd fell silent, all attention focused on the show.

But I was focused entirely on Anna.

“What did you tell him?” I asked quietly.

“What?”

“Laurent. When he asked you to model. What was your answer?”

Anna kept her eyes on the runway, watching as another model appeared in a structured blazer with nothing underneath.

“I told him I’d think about it.”

“Anna…”

“It’s none of your business, Roman.”

Blood pumped fast through my veins. “Strike two.”

She finally looked at me, confusion and irritation warring in her expression. “What?”

“You’re on strike two. Last night was strike one. Sending me that photo and then leaving me hanging. Ignoring every message I sent afterward.”

Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed quickly by defiance. “I told you goodnight. I was ending the

conversation.”

“You were running away.” I leaned closer. “And now you’re telling Laurent you’ll ‘think about’ modeling lingerie for him. That’s strike two. One more, and you’ll find out what happens at strike three.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

Another model walked the runway, this one in a dramatic floor-length coat. The crowd murmured appreciatively, but I barely noticed.

Anna turned her attention back to the show, clearly trying to end our conversation.

I wasn’t done.

“Do you remember what you looked like last night?” I asked, my voice low enough that only she could hear over the music. “In that lingerie?”

Her breath hitched slightly, but she didn’t respond.

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Chapter 158

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“The way the silk clung to your breasts. Your nipples were hard and visible through the fabric.” I kept my eyes on the runway as I spoke, my tone conversational, as if I were commenting on the show. “And that last photo you sent me. Legs spread. Wet and swollen.”

“Roman,” she whispered, her voice filled with restrained outrage. “Stop.”

“You were beautiful,” I continued, ignoring her weak protest. “Absolutely beautiful. And you were all mine. No one else got to see that.”

The music shifted, becoming more sensual. The lighting dimmed further as models in provocative pieces walked the runway.

I pulled out my phone, unlocking it with my thumb. Then I turned the screen toward Anna.

Her photo stared back at her. The final one she had sent. Legs parted, hand between her thighs, arousal glistening on her fingers.

Anna’s eyes went wide with shock and alarm. “Delete that. Right now.”

“Never.”

“Roman, I’m serious.” She reached for the phone, but I moved it out of her grasp. “What if someone sees it? What if…”

“Then I’d take their eyes first,” I said calmly, locking the phone and slipping it back into my pocket. “That photo is mine. My treasure. And I protect what’s mine.”

She looked like she wanted to roll her eyes.

“Don’t.” I warned.

She didn’t.

The music on the runway shifted again, becoming even more intimate and sultry.

The pieces being showcased now were from the intimate apparel line. Sheer, barely-there designs meant to reveal rather than conceal. Delicate lace and silk that left little to the imagination,

“Last night,” I began, bringing my attention back to her, “you said you’d touch yourself for me. That you wanted to.”

Anna’s hands gripped the arms of her chair, her knuckles turning white. “I didn’t…”

“Did you do it?” I interrupted. “After you sent me those photos. After you told me goodnight. Did you touch yourself?”

A long pause. The music grew below us. Then, barely audible.

“No.”

“Why not?”

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Chapter 158

“Because I just couldn’t.”

:.

“And now?” I shifted slightly in my seat, angling my body toward hers. “Do you want to?”

Her eyes flew to mine, shock written across her face. “What? Here? In front of everyone?”

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13:01 Thu, Mar 26