The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258

Aria’s POV

“I said no, I repeated firmly, turning my face away from Reed’s clumsy advance. His fingers dug into my shoulders with surprising strength despite his compromised state, the scent of alcohol and something medicinal washing over me.

My mind raced through options as his grip tightened. Twenty–five million dollars for Harper Group hung in the balance, but not at this

cost. Never at this cost.

As Reed leaned in again, his pupils dilated to alarming proportions, I grabbed the nearest object I could reach–a heavy stone garden ornament–and swung it with all my strength. It connected with the side of his head with a sickening thud.

Reed’s eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the ground. Blood trickled from a small gash on his temple, and for one terrifying moment, I feared I’d killed him. Relief flooded through me when I saw his chest rise and fall. Unconscious, but breathing.

The adrenaline drained from my body as quickly as it had surged. My hands trembled, and I nearly dropped the ornament, now stained with Reed’s blood. I placed it on a nearby bench, my mind suddenly blank with shock.

Footsteps approached from around the corner. I froze, unsure whether to run or stay. Before I could decide, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance to our secluded alcove.

“Ms. Harper, you seem to have encountered some trouble.” Devon’s voice was calm, almost casual, but his eyes told a different story. They darkened as they moved from Reed’s unconscious form to my face, a flash of concern quickly masked by his usual control.

“He was drugged,” I managed, my voice steadier than I expected. “I was just defending myself.”

Devon studied the unconscious man, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. He reached for his phone. “Marcus, send someone to the north garden. We have an inebriated guest who needs assistance. Ensure no media presence, take him to his hotel, and arrange for a doctor.” His tone was efficient, but I noticed his knuckles had whitened around the phone.

After ending the call, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned his full attention to me. The intensity of his gaze made my skin warm under his scrutiny.

“Now,” Devon said, stepping closer until I could feel the heat from his body, “perhaps we should talk?”

I straightened my dress, suddenly conscious of how vulnerable I felt. “There’s not much to tell. He was drugged by someone at the party. He became aggressive, and I defended myself.”

Devon moved another step closer, his presence both intimidating and oddly reassuring. “Did he touch you?” The question was soft, but I heard the tension beneath the words, saw it in the slight narrowing of his eyes.

I shook my head. “No, I stopped him before he could. Looking up at Devon’s imposing figure, I found myself searching his face for answers. “How did you know to come here?”

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Chapter 258

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He avoided my gaze momentarily, something unusual for a man who typically stared down opponents without flinching. Do you realize how dangerous it is to follow a man into a garden alone?” His voice had dropped to a near whisper, forcing me to lean in to hear him.

“I didn’t follow him for- I began to protest, but Devon was already guiding me deeper into the garden, his hand on the small of my back.

The contact was light but deliberate, making me acutely aware of his proximity.

“This way,” he said, his fingers pressing slightly firmer against my spine. “Somewhere more private, away from curious eyes.”

We arrived at a small gazebo nestled among towering hedges. The party lights were distant pinpricks from here, the music a faint

murmur.

“We could go back to the party,” I suggested, my heart beginning to race for reasons that had nothing to do with fear. “This is too-

My words died in my throat as Devon suddenly pushed me against one of the gazebo’s columns, his hands planted on either side of me.

His eyes locked with mine, searching, questioning.

“You consistently put yourself in danger,” he said, his face inches from mine. I could see the tension in his features, the slight clench of

his jaw. “It’s becoming a pattern.”

Before I could respond, his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that started as forceful, almost punishing. I felt his frustration, his concern, perhaps even his fear–emotions he never verbally expressed. Then gradually, the pressure softened, his lips becoming gentler, coaxing rather than demanding. My hands, which had been pushing against his chest, slowly relaxed.

A woman’s voice suddenly cut through the night. “Devon? Are you over here?” It was Mandy Stevens, her tone light and searching.

I pushed against Devon’s chest, my eyes widening in alarm. “Someone’s coming,” I whispered urgently.

Devon didn’t pull away. If anything, he pressed closer, one hand moving to my waist. “Someone?” he murmured against my lips, his eyes never leaving mine. “So what?” And then he was kissing me again, deeper this time, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck.

Footsteps approached, then receded as Mandy and whoever accompanied her moved away. I should have felt relief, but instead found myself responding to Devon, my arms wrapping around his neck. The world narrowed to just the two of us–his warmth, his scent, the surprising gentleness of his touch contrasting with the intensity of his kiss.

When he finally broke the kiss, we were both breathing heavily. Devon’s eyes had darkened, the usual coldness replaced by something warmer, more vulnerable. His thumb traced my lower lip, still tender from his kisses, his gaze following the movement with unusual focus.

“What about right here?” he whispered, his voice husky with desire.

I stared up at him, momentarily confused, lost in the unfamiliar territory of his undivided attention. “What?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile that was both confident and strangely uncertain. “Right here, he repeated, his hands sliding down to my waist with deliberate slowness, his touch causing my breath to catch.