A DANGEROUS GAME

Chapter 5: A Dangerous Game

Serena's heart pounded at Nathaniel's words.

My weakness.

The way he said it—calm, certain, as if it was a fact written in stone—sent a shiver down her spine.

She should have denied it. Should have laughed it off and reminded him that their marriage was nothing more than a business deal.

But she couldn't.

Because some part of her wanted it to be real.

Nathaniel studied her reaction, his dark eyes unreadable. "Does that scare you?"

Serena swallowed. "Should it?"

A slow, almost wicked smile spread across his face. "Only if you plan on running."

She straightened her shoulders. "I'm not running."

Nathaniel's smirk deepened. "Good."

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. His expression hardened as he glanced at the screen.

"What is it?" Serena asked.

Nathaniel exhaled sharply. "Adrian."

Her stomach twisted.

"What did he do this time?"

Nathaniel slid his phone toward her, revealing a news article.

"Rival CEO Adrian Locke Claims Serena Ashford Still Has Feelings for Him—Was Last Night Just a Publicity Stunt?"

Serena's blood ran cold.

"That bastard," she muttered.

Nathaniel chuckled darkly. "He's trying to make you look unfaithful. Make me look weak."

Serena clenched her fists. "We can't let him win."

Nathaniel leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "What are you suggesting?"

Serena took a breath. "We fight back. Publicly."

Nathaniel arched a brow. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Serena hesitated, then met his gaze. "We give the world something even bigger to talk about."

Nathaniel's smirk returned. "You're playing with fire, wife."

She lifted her chin. "Then let's burn him."

---

If Adrian wanted to test them, then Serena would make sure he regretted it.

Nathaniel wasted no time. He arranged for them to attend a very public charity event that evening—one attended by celebrities, business moguls, and, most importantly, the press.

As they arrived, the cameras swarmed them. Reporters shouted questions.

"Serena! Are Adrian's claims true?"

"Nathaniel! Is this marriage just for show?"

"Are you still in love with Adrian?"

Serena felt her anger flare.

You want a story? I'll give you one.

Before she could overthink it, she turned to Nathaniel and pulled him down into a kiss.

Not a simple, staged kiss.

A real one.

She felt Nathaniel tense in surprise for a split second before he responded. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him, his other hand cradling her jaw as he deepened the kiss.

The world around them faded.

For a moment, there were no cameras, no reporters, no scheming rivals.

Just them.

When they finally broke apart, the world was in chaos.

Flashes blinded them. Reporters screamed.

But all Serena could hear was the pounding of her own heart.

Nathaniel leaned down, his lips grazing her ear. "If you keep kissing me like that, wife, I might actually start believing this is real."

Serena forced herself to smirk. "Maybe that's the point."

Nathaniel chuckled, but there was something darker in his gaze now. Something dangerous.

And Serena had the sinking feeling that she had just crossed a line she could never uncross.

---

Serena paced the hotel suite, replaying the kiss over and over in her head.

What was I thinking?

Nathaniel had gone to make a few calls, but she knew he'd be back any moment. And when he did, she had no idea how to face him.

The door clicked open.

She turned, heart racing as Nathaniel stepped inside, his sharp features unreadable.

"Well," he said, tossing his phone onto the table. "That certainly made headlines."

Serena folded her arms. "Did it work?"

Nathaniel smirked. "Adrian hasn't said a word since. I'd say he's rethinking his next move."

Serena exhaled in relief. "Good."

Nathaniel took a step closer. "But that still leaves one question."

She tensed. "What question?"

Nathaniel's gaze darkened. "Did you kiss me for the cameras… or for yourself?"

Serena's breath hitched. "Does it matter?"

Nathaniel's smirk disappeared. "Yes."

A thick silence filled the room.

Then, before she could think, Nathaniel reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering.

"I don't lose, Serena," he murmured. "Not in business. Not in war."

Serena swallowed hard. "And this is war?"

Nathaniel's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile.

"This is something much more dangerous."

Serena's heart pounded.

Because for the first time…

She wasn't sure if she wanted to win.

---

Serena inhaled sharply as Nathaniel's fingers brushed her cheek. His touch was warm, deliberate—just enough to make her aware of how close they were.

She knew she should step back. Set boundaries.

But she didn't.

Instead, she met his gaze head-on. "And what exactly is this, Nathaniel?"

His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You tell me."

Serena's breath caught. This was a game, but she wasn't sure of the rules anymore.

"I kissed you because it was necessary," she said, keeping her voice steady.

Nathaniel tilted his head, amused. "Necessary?"

She nodded. "Adrian needed to be shut down, and the media needed a story."

Nathaniel's lips curled into a smirk. "So, that was just strategy?"

Serena swallowed. "Yes."

His hand trailed down, fingertips grazing her jaw before he stepped back. "Then do it again."

Serena blinked. "What?"

Nathaniel leaned against the table, arms folded. "If it was just for the cameras, there shouldn't be a problem."

She hesitated. He was testing her.

Serena lifted her chin. "Fine."

Before she could second-guess herself, she stepped closer and pressed her lips to his.

But the moment they touched, everything changed.

Nathaniel didn't just let her kiss him. He responded.

His hand slid to her waist, pulling her against him, deepening the kiss until she felt lightheaded. His lips moved against hers with slow, deliberate confidence, as if daring her to admit the truth.

Serena's fingers curled into his shirt.

She needed to stop. Needed to breathe.

But she didn't want to.

Nathaniel finally pulled back, his thumb grazing her lower lip. "Still just strategy?"

Serena's pulse raced.

She wanted to say yes.

But for the first time, she wasn't sure if it was a lie.

--

The next morning, Serena tried to convince herself that nothing had changed.

She was still Serena Ashford. Still in a contract marriage with the most powerful man in the business world.

And still dangerously close to falling into something she couldn't control.

Nathaniel sat across from her at breakfast, scrolling through his phone. "The media loves us."

Serena sipped her coffee. "Great."

He glanced at her. "You sound thrilled."

She shrugged. "I didn't sign up for… whatever this is turning into."

Nathaniel set his phone down. "And what is this turning into?"

Serena hesitated. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

Nathaniel leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "You're overthinking, wife."

Serena scoffed. "Excuse me for not blindly trusting a man with a reputation for breaking hearts."

Nathaniel chuckled. "Would it help if I promised I wouldn't break yours?"

Serena met his gaze. "That would require me to give it to you first."

Nathaniel smirked. "Fair point."

She pushed her plate away and stood. "I have work to do."

Nathaniel caught her wrist, his grip gentle.

"Serena."

She paused, glancing down at him.

"Whatever this is," he murmured, "I'm not letting Adrian win."

Serena's heart clenched.

Neither was she.

But she was starting to realize that the real danger wasn't Adrian.

It was Nathaniel Ashford.

And the way he was slowly, dangerously making her forget that this was supposed to be just a contract.

---

The tension had been building for days. Maybe even weeks.

Serena felt it every time Nathaniel touched her—his fingers brushing her wrist, his lips close to her ear when he whispered something teasing. It was a slow, deliberate game, and she had done everything she could to pretend she wasn't affected.

But tonight…

Tonight, the game was over.

They had just returned from another event, dressed in their finest, cameras flashing as they put on the perfect show. But the moment they stepped into their penthouse, the energy between them shifted.

Serena turned away to remove her earrings, trying to calm her racing heart. "You were extra charming tonight," she murmured.

Nathaniel smirked, his jacket sliding off as he loosened his tie. "Jealous?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of what?"

He stepped behind her, his fingers grazing her shoulders as he slid the strap of her dress down. "Of the fact that every woman in that room wanted me."

Serena's breath hitched. His touch was light, teasing, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

She turned to face him. "You think too highly of yourself."

Nathaniel's gaze darkened. "And you lie too easily."

The space between them was nonexistent.

Serena could feel the heat radiating from him, the intoxicating scent of his cologne, the raw power in the way he looked at her—like he was waiting for her to stop pretending.

"I don't—"

Before she could finish, Nathaniel's lips crashed into hers.

It wasn't soft. It wasn't careful.

It was hungry. Demanding.

Serena gasped as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. He carried her to the bed, never breaking the kiss, his hands sliding up her thighs, fingers pressing into her skin as if memorizing every inch.

Serena's hands found his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders, running over the hard planes of his chest. He was all muscle, strength, and controlled power.

Nathaniel smirked against her lips. "You're not stopping me this time."

Serena shuddered. "I don't want to."

That was all he needed to hear.

His lips trailed down her neck, his hands making quick work of the fabric between them. Serena arched beneath him as he explored her skin, his touch leaving her breathless, her body burning under his.

There was no hesitation. No second-guessing.

Only them.

And for the first time since this marriage began, Serena wasn't thinking about contracts, business, or rival CEOs.

She wasn't thinking at all.

She was feeling.

And she knew, deep down, that nothing would be the same after this night.

---

Nathaniel's lips traced a slow, burning path down Serena's neck, each kiss sending shivers through her body. His hands, firm yet careful, explored her skin as if he was memorizing every inch of her.

Serena's breath hitched as he pulled her closer, their bodies molding together effortlessly. His warmth, his strength—it was intoxicating. The controlled, powerful CEO was gone, replaced by a man who wanted her with undeniable intensity.

She wasn't thinking anymore. She was feeling.

Nathaniel's fingers skimmed her bare shoulders, sliding down her arms before settling on her waist. His touch ignited a fire in her, one she didn't want to put out.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against her lips, his voice husky with restraint.

Serena met his gaze, her heart racing. "I don't want you to."

That was all he needed.

His mouth claimed hers again, deeper this time, a kiss that left no space for hesitation. Serena's fingers tangled in his hair as he lowered her onto the bed, his weight pressing her into the soft sheets.

Her dress slipped away, pooling onto the floor as Nathaniel's lips followed the curve of her collarbone, trailing lower. His touch was both possessive and reverent, like he had waited long enough and wouldn't hold back anymore.

Serena arched into him as his hands explored, his lips teasing, his breath hot against her skin. Every touch sent sparks through her, a slow unraveling of the walls she had built around herself.

"Nathaniel…" Her voice was barely a whisper.

He lifted his head, his dark eyes filled with something she couldn't quite name—something deeper than desire.

"I'm going to ruin you," he murmured, his fingers tracing the curve of her thigh.

Serena's heart pounded. "Then do it."

A slow, wicked smirk curved his lips before he captured her mouth again, pulling her completely into his world—one filled with heat, passion, and a connection far stronger than either of them had expected.

And as the night unfolded, Serena knew one thing for certain.

There was no turning back.

---

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow over the room. Serena stirred, her body still wrapped in the warmth of the previous night.

She blinked, her heart pounding as memories flooded back—Nathaniel's hands, his lips, the way he had completely unraveled her.

And now… she was in his bed.

Serena turned her head slowly, only to find Nathaniel already awake, leaning on one elbow as he watched her with a lazy, satisfied smirk.

"Morning, wife." His voice was husky, teasing.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "You're awake."

Nathaniel's smirk deepened. "Hard to sleep when I have you in my bed." His fingers traced slow circles on her bare shoulder, sending shivers down her spine. "Regretting last night?"

Serena hesitated. She should have regrets. Everything about this arrangement was supposed to be business. No feelings. No entanglements.

But last night…

"No," she admitted, meeting his gaze.

Nathaniel's expression flickered—just for a moment. Then, he leaned down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her lips.

"Good," he murmured against her mouth. "Because I don't intend to let you pretend this didn't happen."

Serena swallowed, her heart racing. "This changes things."

Nathaniel arched a brow. "Does it?"

She sighed, pushing herself up slightly. The silk sheets slid down, and Nathaniel's gaze darkened as his fingers traced absent patterns against her skin.

"This was never supposed to be real," she said softly.

Nathaniel's smirk faded. "You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

He studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"I don't do things halfway, Serena," he said, his voice low and firm. "You should know that by now."

Serena's breath caught.

Nathaniel Ashford didn't just want her.

He was claiming her.

And that terrified her more than anything.

—

Serena sat up, gripping the sheet around her as if it could shield her from the reality she had just stepped into. Nathaniel watched her with a mixture of amusement and something deeper, something unreadable in his dark gaze.

"You look like you're about to run," he murmured, tracing his fingers along her bare back.

She shivered at his touch but forced herself to focus. "I just need to think."

Nathaniel chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "Thinking is what got you into this contract in the first place. Maybe it's time to stop overanalyzing and just feel for once."

Serena turned to face him, searching for something—anything—that would make this easier. "Nathaniel, last night—"

"Was inevitable," he finished smoothly, sitting up and resting an arm behind his head. The sheets barely covered his sculpted body, and Serena hated how easily he could look so composed while she felt like she was falling apart.

She swallowed. "This was supposed to be a business arrangement."

Nathaniel leaned in, brushing his lips against hers before pulling back just enough to whisper, "And yet, you moaned my name last night like it was the only thing keeping you grounded."

Heat surged through Serena's body. "You—!"

He smirked. "Yes?"

She huffed, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. He caught it easily, laughing as he pulled her back onto the bed. She gasped, but before she could protest, Nathaniel had her pinned beneath him, his body warm and impossibly close.

"Tell me," he murmured, his fingers trailing down her arm. "What scares you more? That you want this… or that you want me?"

Serena's breath caught.

Because she didn't know the answer.

And that was the problem.

---

Serena stared up at Nathaniel, her pulse racing. He was too close, his body radiating heat, his dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breathless.

"You think this is just about fear?" she whispered.

Nathaniel smirked, fingers grazing her jaw. "Isn't it?"

Serena swallowed hard. Maybe it was. Maybe she was scared of how easily she had surrendered to him, of how much she wanted this—wanted him. But admitting that would give him power over her, and Nathaniel Ashford already had too much control.

"This is a mistake," she murmured.

Nathaniel didn't move, his gaze searching hers. "Lying to yourself won't change what happened."

Serena's fingers curled into the sheets. "It doesn't have to happen again."

His lips twitched. "That's adorable."

She scowled. "I'm serious, Nathaniel."

"So am I." His voice was softer now, the teasing edge gone. "Tell me you didn't want it. Tell me you don't still want it."

Serena opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Because she did want it.

The realization hit her like a storm. It wasn't just the physical attraction—it was the way he looked at her, the way he challenged her, the way he made her feel alive.

Nathaniel smirked, as if he already knew her answer. He leaned down, lips brushing her ear. "We've already crossed the line, Serena. There's no going back."

A shiver ran down her spine.

She should push him away. She should fight harder.

But when he kissed her again, slow and consuming, she didn't stop him.

She pulled him closer.

---

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