She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 417

Splash!

Melanie squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for a brutal impact.

But the bone-jarring pain she expected never came.

She cautiously peeked one eye open, instantly met with Preston's strikingly handsome face hovering right above hers.

They had both tumbled over the edge and into the oversized tub. However, Preston had instinctively wrapped one arm tightly around her waist while using his other arm to brace his weight against the rim, completely cushioning her fall.

"Are you okay?"

Preston's gaze swept over her frantically.

They were quite literally soaking wet in a giant tub filled with floating rose petals, a scene that screamed of heavy erotic tension. Yet, there wasn't a single trace of teasing or lust in Preston's eyes right then—only raw, unfiltered panic and concern for her safety.

Being this close to him, his sharp, sculpted features seemed even more devastatingly perfect.

Melanie could practically hear her own heart hammering wildly against her ribs.

"I'm fine..."

As she spoke, Melanie's peripheral vision caught sight of his hand.

The very same hand she had just painstakingly cleaned and wrapped in fresh gauze was now completely submerged in the water, all because he had used it to protect her from the fall.

"I literally just told you not to get that hand wet!"

Hearing her scolding tone, Preston finally realized what he had done.

"I'm sorry."

Seeing him apologize so meekly made a strange pang of guilt twist in Melanie's chest.

She hadn't meant to snap at him.

She was just worried about his injury.

But an inexplicable wave of frustration washed over her, an agitated restlessness she couldn't quite name.

Preston studied her face. The clear signs of distress and annoyance in her expression caused the bright relief in his eyes to noticeably dim.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have scared you like that... Don't worry, I won't cross the line."

Preston tried to stand up and pull her with him, but Melanie's wet heel slipped against the smooth porcelain. She instinctively grabbed onto his neck for balance, dragging them both crashing right back down into the water.

Their noses bumped. Melanie's eyes widened in sheer shock as Preston's devastatingly handsome face filled her vision.

A split second later, it was their lips crashing together.

Preston kissed her.

Was he seriously going to get her entirely worked up and then just leave her hanging?

Even though he had been the one to pull away, his eyes were practically burning with desire as they dragged over her soaked figure. He clearly wanted to take this all the way.

Preston's chest heaved with ragged breaths. It was painfully obvious he was fighting a massive internal war against his own basic instincts.

"Melanie, I love you... which is exactly why I want you... but I refuse to take you just because you're caught up in the heat of the moment."

Preston's expression was dead serious as he forced the words out.

Melanie stared deeply into his eyes, feeling as though he were physically carving his heart out of his chest and offering it to her on a silver platter.

She reached out, tracing her fingertips lightly over his Adam's apple, trailing down his chest to wipe away a single, crystalline drop of water. A soft, knowing smile curved her lips.

"You talk way too much. Are you sure you can actually perform?"

"I..."

"Let me get one thing straight. If my boyfriend can't keep up with me all night long, I'm dumping him."

Hearing the word "boyfriend" fall from her lips made Preston's eyes snap wide open. The torturous restraint in his gaze instantly shattered, replaced by the ecstatic thrill of a man whose deepest prayer had just been answered.

Without another word, he scooped Melanie out of the water and carried her straight toward the massive bed, its sheets bathed in that highly erotic crimson glow.

"You're about to find out exactly what your boyfriend is capable of."