His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 51

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**
**Chapter 51**

Her waist felt delicate and inviting, and the faint, alluring fragrance that enveloped her was enough to send his heart racing.

Daron’s expression darkened, an intensity flickering behind his eyes. His hand tightened for just a moment before he released her with a courteous elegance, as if to mask the turmoil within.

Marina could still sense the warmth radiating from the place where Daron had just held her, a lingering heat that seemed to pulse through her.

Unable to suppress her reaction, she instinctively bit her lip, feeling her cheeks and ears flush with warmth.

The embarrassment was almost overwhelming, and she found herself unable to meet his gaze, fearful of being drawn into the depths of his dark, captivating eyes.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice soft and tinged with an unexpected huskiness.

Daron looked down at her, his tone low and teasing. “Is it really that beautiful?”

For a fleeting moment, Marina’s thoughts drifted away, lost in a haze of confusion. She nodded reflexively, only to shake her head in denial just as quickly.

*‘He’s totally setting me up!’* she thought, her mind racing. *‘Why would I ever be interested in something so risqué?’*

The venue around them was audacious in its decor, adorned with provocative body art that seemed to challenge her to look away. Yet, she felt as if she had no choice but to absorb it all.

Daron’s lips curled into a half-smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I didn’t expect you to have such unusual interests, Ms. Finley,” he teased, his tone playful yet probing.

Marina shook her head vigorously, her denial spilling forth. “I swear, it’s not like that!” she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly in her haste to defend herself.

Daron chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered state. “Oh really? Then why were you so glued to it that you didn’t even notice the stairs?”

Marina offered an awkward smile, her cheeks still flushed. “It was just a coincidence, really. A total accident,” she mumbled, hoping to brush it off.

Daron leaned in closer, his brow arched with a teasing glint. “Once is an accident, but twice? What’s your excuse now?” he smirked, clearly reveling in the banter.

Marina found herself at a loss for words, her mind racing. *‘If it’s not an accident, then what is it?’* she thought, feeling flustered under his gaze.

When she finally looked up, she was met with Daron’s teasing eyes, and a realization struck her.

“Mr. Zamora…” she began, but he interrupted her.

“Next time you ‘accidentally’ throw yourself into my arms, Ms. Finley, make sure you know your boundaries and pick the right place. In a spot like this, things could get messy,” Daron warned, his words laced with an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.

The way he pronounced “messy” was almost like a challenge, and Marina felt her cheeks burn as she instinctively stepped back, desperate to create some space between them.

But fate had other plans. As she moved, her heel caught on the step behind her, and she felt herself tipping backward, her heart racing in panic.

In a flash, Daron reached out, wrapping his arm around her waist and steadying her before she could fall.

Marina’s heart skipped a beat, the sudden rush of adrenaline making her feel alive. She quickly righted herself, stepping back again, determined to maintain some distance.

*“It really was just an accident,”* she reassured herself, clinging to the thought.

But when she met Daron’s gaze again, his eyes sparkled with amusement, and all her excuses felt weak and flimsy in that moment.

“Yeah, just an accident. I get it,” Daron said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

His eyes glinted with mischief, embodying that devil-may-care playboy persona that both intrigued and frustrated her.

Marina was at a loss for words, feeling hopelessly ensnared.

She had to admit it; she had completely fallen for his smooth charm.

Nothing she could say would help her case now.

A wave of frustration washed over her; he had branded her as some kind of flirt, yet she couldn’t muster the anger to combat it.

After all, indulging in good food and a bit of pleasure was simply a primal way to honor life itself.

But the truth was, she had no intentions toward him.

She understood the game well enough, and she could see the sharp intellect hidden behind his laid-back facade.

After reflecting deeply, Marina had come to a realization.

In this world, nothing was simpler than a relationship based purely on self-interest.

Seven years ago, she had already recognized that she was out of his league.

And now, seven years later, nothing had changed; she still knew precisely where she stood.

For the sake of maintaining smooth relations between the Finley Group and the Zamora Group, Marina understood that she needed to clarify her position unequivocally.

She had to make it abundantly clear where her loyalties lay.

There was no way she would ever pursue the man she had once willingly let go, even if he was her ex-fiancé.

That simply wasn’t her style.

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