Chapter 14

His hand moved this time. I can feel it hovering on my skin.

I froze.

For the first time, he was touching me.

His fingers traced over my knuckles, up my wrist, slow and deliberate.

I stopped breathing. I didn't know whether to look deep into his eyes or to just pretend I don't care.

And the coward I am, I continued getting busy on his hand-like a coward.

His palm flattened against my forearm, trailing upward, so light yet so devastatingly intense.

Goosebumps erupted in his wake. My heart is thundering my tongue licking on his thumb paused, tremble. I didn't know what to do.

He moved higher.

Up to my shoulder.

To my jaw, pulling my head to look at him. I swallowed hard as I look at him. I couldn't hold the fire in his eyes so I focused on his hand.

His thumb brushed over my ear, playing with the lobe, soft, teasing.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't think.

His hand traveled down again, back over my arm.

Lower.

Lower.

And then—

He stopped.

Just before my breast.

My entire body burned, pulsed, ached, waiting, anticipating—

But he didn't touch.

He just… stopped.

Then, without a word, without even looking at me,

He pulled away.

Picked up his tablet.

And continued working.

Like nothing had happened.

Like I wasn't standing there, completely shattered and utterly confused.

I swallowed.

My mind was a mess.

I didn't understand.

But I turned.

Walked out.

Sat at my desk.

And forced myself to keep working too.

Like he hadn't just ruined me.

I couldn't take it anymore.

This stupid game.

This endless cycle of teasing, of him touching but never taking.

Of giving me just enough to ruin me but never enough to satisfy me.

I needed more.

So when he called me in like usual, when he brushed his fingers up my arm again, teasing me like I wasn't already unraveling,

I snapped.

I grabbed his **hand—his lethal, cruel, perfect hand—**and cupped it over my breast. My face going red from shame and lust.

Pressed it there. I can feel his heat through my clothes.

And for the first time ever, Cassian didn't pull away. He just looked at me intently.

He just let me.

Let me guide him, let me feel the warmth of his palm through my blouse, let me press into his touch like I was drowning and he was the only thing keeping me afloat.

And then—he moved.

His fingers curled.

Toyed with the fabric.

Worked on the buttons of my shirt, undoing them one by one, slow and precise.

I was so focused on his hand.

On the way he freed me.

On the way his fingers brushed over my bare skin, my nipple pebbling the second he touched it.

On the way he rolled it between his thumb and forefinger, playing, teasing, stroking.

And I—

I came.

Hard.

Without a single other touch.

Without him even trying.

Just from his hand.

Over and over, pleasure hitting in waves so intense my whole body trembled.

My head tilted back, lips parted, utterly gone.

When I finally opened my eyes, Cassian was staring at me.

And then—his tongue flicked out.

Licked his lips.

That red, sinful thing dragged over his mouth, and I couldn't stop watching.

I was completely, utterly mesmerized.

And then, as if nothing had happened at all,

He turned back to his work.

Picked up his pen.

And continued like he hadn't just destroyed me.

I fumbled with my buttons, breath shaky, legs weak, stumbling out of his office like I wasn't just standing there, coming apart in his hands.

Back at my desk, I sat down slowly, still trying to make sense of what just happened.

Of what we had just done.

Of where the hell we were heading.