Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Ground Rules

Anna’s POV

“And your face.” I met her eyes in the mirror, holding her gaze. “I’ve never seen you more beautiful than you are right now. The makeup brings out your eyes. Your lips…” I paused, watching her tongue dart out nervously to wet them. “Devastating.”

She stared at her reflection like she was seeing herself for the first time.

“You’re not too exposed, Anna. You’re perfect. And tonight, every person at that ball is going to see what I see. A beautiful, captivating woman who deserves to be looked at.”

“I…” She swallowed hard, her eyes still locked on mine in the mirror. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I stepped back, giving her space, watching as she continued to stare at herself with new eyes. “Just believe it.”

She turned to face me. The doubt in her expression from earlier gave way to confidence.

Good.

“We should go.” I checked my watch. “We’re already running late.”

She nodded, still looking slightly dazed.

The ride to the Beaumont estate was quick. Twenty minutes through the city, and we were pulling up to the grand entrance, where valets in period costumes waited to open doors and guests in elaborate masks streamed toward the marble steps.

The car came to a stop, but I didn’t move to open the door yet.

Anna reached for the handle, but I caught her wrist gently.

“Before we go in, there are ground rules.”

She turned to look at me, eyebrows raised. “Ground rules?”

“Yes.” I released her wrist but held her gaze. “First, you stay close to me at all times. Within arm’s reach. I don’t want you wandering off.”

“Mr. Blackwood…”

“Second, you don’t speak unless spoken to. This is a business event for me, and I need you to follow my lead.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, but I continued before she could protest.

“Third, you don’t smile at Laurent Beaumont. I already know exactly what he wants, and I won’t have you encouraging him.”

“Encouraging him? I barely know the man…”

“You stay on my arm all night,” I ordered. “No other man is allowed to dance with you, talk to you, or so much as look at you for longer than necessary. Is that clear?”

Anna held my gaze for a moment. Whatever doubt she’d had earlier was gone.

“You might have bought the dress, Mr. Blackwood,” her eyes flashed with defiance, “but you don’t control me.”

Her words stirred a possessive spark in me.

“I most certainly do.”

“I’m not some accessory you can parade around and dictate orders to.” She lifted her chin. “I agreed to come tonight as your date, not your property.”

Heat surged through me at her audacity. “Anna…”

“I’ll stay close because I want to, not because you ordered it. I’ll be cordial and professional because that’s who I am, not because you told me not to paak And Laurent Beaumont is kind to me, I’ll smile at him

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Chapter 49: Ground Rules

because I have manners, not because I’m ‘encouraging’ anything.”

She was magnificent when she was angry. Absolutely magnificent.

“Are you finished?” My voice came out rough.

“No, actually.” She crossed her arms, and I watched the movement push her breasts higher in that sexy neckline. “Your rules, your structure, your need to control everything and everyone around you? It’s exhausting. Maybe if you relaxed for five seconds, you’d realize that not everything needs to be a power play.”

I was silent for a moment. Then I moved.

I reached out and pulled her toward me, one hand sliding around her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck. She gasped as I brought her close enough that I could feel the warmth of her breath, see the way her pupils dilated behind that delicate mask.

“You think I don’t control you?” I asked, my lips just inches from hers. “You think buying you a dress is the extent of my influence?”

“I…” Her voice shook, but the fire in her eyes didn’t dim.

“I could make you tremble with a single touch. I could make you beg with a single word. I could have you exactly where I want you, exactly how I want you, and you’d thank me for it.”

Her breath hitched, and I felt her body respond even as her mind fought back.

“That’s not control,” she whispered. “That’s just chemistry.”

Smart girl.

“Maybe.” I let my thumb trace along her jaw, felt her pulse racing beneath my fingers. “But here’s what you need to understand, Anna. Tonight, when every man in that ballroom looks at you in this dress, when Laurent Beaumont undresses you with his eyes and tries to charm his way into your bed, they’re going to see my hand on your waist. They’re going to see you at my side. And they’re going to know exactly who you belong to.”

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

“Don’t you?” I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against her ear. “Then why is your heart racing? Why are you leaning into my touch instead of pulling away? Why do you look at me like you’re starving and I’m the only thing that can satisfy you?”

She shuddered, and I felt victory surge through me.

But then she pulled back slightly, just enough to meet my eyes, and I saw that defiant spark still burning. “Fine,” she said, her voice breathless but steady. “I’ll follow your rules tonight. I’ll stay close, I’ll be polite, I’ll play the perfect date. But not because you ordered me to, Mr. Blackwood.”

“Then why?”

“Because I choose to.” Her eyes held mine, unflinching. “And that’s the difference between control and consent. Remember it.”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak or move. This woman, this brilliant, infuriating, intoxicating woman, had just put me in his place without backing down an inch.

And God help me, it made me want her even more.

“Say you agree to my terms,” I pressed, refusing to let her win.

My hand still held her waist, and I could see the internal battle playing out across her face. The part of her

that wanted to push back fought with the part that wanted to give in.

Finally, she let out a soft breath. “I agree to your terms, Mr. Blackwood.”

“Say it properly.”

Her eyes flashed again, but I saw the corner of her mouth twitch. “I agree to stay close to you tonight. I agree to follow your lead at the ball. I agree that I’m your date, and I’ll act accordingly.”

She flipped her hair back. “Happy now?”

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