The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 38

**Dust Writes New Stories by Rei Holt Wilder**
**Chapter 38**

Ethan’s smile wavered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. “Surely, you can spare just one weekend for us,” he urged, a hint of desperation lacing his voice.

I felt a pang of sympathy for him, but I reminded him softly, “There is no ‘us,’ Ethan.” My words hung in the air, a gentle reminder of the reality we faced, while our parents continued their animated discussion across the table, blissfully unaware of the tension brewing between us.

Before he could muster a response, I took the opportunity to excuse myself. “Please, excuse me for just a moment. I need to use the restroom.”

With that, I navigated my way through the bustling restaurant, nodding politely to a few familiar faces from New York’s elite social circles. Each nod felt like a chore, the weight of the evening pressing heavily on my shoulders. As I rounded the corner toward the ladies’ room, a firm grip suddenly seized my arm, yanking me into a secluded alcove, hidden from the prying eyes of the main dining area.

There, standing before me with an intensity that sent my heart racing, was Devon. His gray eyes bore into mine, a storm of emotions swirling within them. Without uttering a single word, he pushed me against the cool wall and captured my lips in a fierce kiss that ignited a fire within me. Electricity surged through my veins, and I instinctively responded, my hands finding their way to his shoulders as his tongue sought entrance, demanding and passionate.

When we finally broke apart, both of us gasping for breath, he kept me pressed against the wall, his body a solid barrier against the world outside. “What are you doing here with Blake?” he growled, his voice low and laced with a dangerous edge.

“Family obligation,” I managed to reply, still reeling from the intensity of his kiss. “What about you? What are you doing here with Caroline Hayes?”

“Business,” he dismissed with a wave of his hand, but his eyes remained fixed on me, searching for the truth. “Answer my question properly, Aria. Are you reconciling with Blake?”

“No,” I asserted firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “Absolutely not. My father is pushing for this because of some merger between our family companies.”

Devon’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized me. “And you’re just going along with it?”

“I’m playing the game,” I corrected, the words spilling out with a hint of defiance. “There’s a difference.”

He studied me for a moment, the tension crackling in the air between us, before he took a step back, creating a small space that felt both relieving and frustrating. “Meet me in the ladies’ room in two minutes. The one by the private dining rooms, not the main one.”

I gasped as his teeth grazed my skin, my breath hitching in my throat. “Not Ethan. Never Ethan again.”

Devon’s grip on my thighs tightened, his touch a mix of punishment and arousal. “Good. Because the thought of him touching what’s mine doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Yours?” I challenged, my heart racing even as my body betrayed me, responding eagerly to his touch. “I believe our arrangement is strictly professional, Mr. Kane.”

A dangerous smile curled his lips, a predatory glint in his eye. “Is that what you think?” His hand slid higher, and I had to stifle a moan that threatened to escape. “Your body seems to disagree.”

Just then, a knock at the door startled us both. “Aria? Are you in there?”

Ethan’s voice was like a bucket of icy water, cutting through the heat of the moment. Devon’s expression darkened, but he made no move to step away, the tension between us thickening in the confined space.