Nicholas just stood there by the vanity, his lowered eyes swirling with a dark, heavy intensity.
Scorching hot.
Yet tightly restrained.
He radiated the helpless aura of a man utterly at Serena's mercy.
"Serena..."
His voice was incredibly strained and deep.
Serena raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Lost your nerve?"
The words carried a blatant, teasing challenge.
No man alive would ever admit to 'losing his nerve' at a moment like this.
Nicholas pressed his lips into a tight line, the emotion in his eyes turning alarmingly dark.
He slowly walked to the side of the bed, resting one knee on the mattress as he leaned over her.
The crisp, smokey scent of pine washed over her.
Serena didn't flinch.
She just watched lazily as he closed the distance.
Nicholas braced his arms on either side of her, looming over her.
The proximity was so tight their breaths tangled together once again.
His lips were so close that, in the very next second, they seemed destined to crash against hers.
His hot breath fanned across her face. "I dare."
Serena cast a sideways glance at him, a half-smile playing on her lips, as if waiting
to see exactly how long it would take for him to actually kiss her.
But instead, the man's raspy voice broke the tension.
"But I know that if I actually stay the night, your three brothers will rip my title of 'provisional fiancé' to shreds the second the sun comes up."
He slightly lowered his gaze, his tone taking on an inexplicable hint of grievance. "I fought too hard for this title. I can't afford to be careless with it."
Serena was amused by how he was so visibly desperate for her, yet desperately trying to rein it in. "Weren't you the one who said you wanted to stay the night and sleep next to me?"
Nicholas was speechless.
He pressed his lips together. "Serena, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Why would I? It was your request. I'm just trying to fulfill my provisional fiancé's dying wish."
Nicholas's fingers tightened convulsively against the mattress on either side of her.
It was indeed his request.
But...
He had only said it to test her.
After testing the waters a few times, he was finally sure she had no intention of leaving alone.
Only then did he let out a mental sigh of relief.
And he knew perfectly well that the longer he lingered here, the
the chances of getting a high
by her
the
FindNovel.net
The second he was discovered...
He would instantly be downgraded to 'ex-fiancé.'
Nicholas closed his eyes, forcefully shoving down the dangerous impulses he had
no business entertaining right now.
When he opened them again, he looked at Serena, his voice burning low. "Not tonight."
Mockery danced in Serena's eyes. "Chicken?"
He leaned down a fraction more, his lips brushing practically right against hers. "Serena, don't tempt me..."
Serena lifted a leg and gave him a light kick. "Then why are you still here?" "I'm going."
Nicholas stared at her.
His gaze tracked from her stunningly cool eyes down to her lips.
The look was incredibly raw.
So raw it needed no translation.
Serena's lips curled up. "What do you want?"
Nicholas spoke softly, sounding impossibly tame. "The provisional fiancé would like
a goodnight kiss."
Serena smiled.
Now that he had a title, this man was seriously pushing his luck.
Lowering her eyelashes, her amused gaze swept over him.
He was far too close.
elne
His collar was loose, his collarbones half-exposed, and his eyes were heavy with desire, yet he was desperately holding himself back from taking what he wanted.
The sight was undeniably seductive.
She reached up, her finger hooking around his loosened tie.
She gave a gentle tug.
The already suffocating distance between them vanished. Their lips met.
Her kiss was impossibly light—nothing more than a fleeting reward.
But that single, feather-light brush
was
had forcefully buried to violently
flk for the heat Nicholas
e back to life.