Amber’s knuckles were white as she gripped the armrests, her eyes darting nervously to the window of the first-class cabin. She tried to focus on her breathing, but the hum of the engines and the slight turbulence made her stomach churn.Ryan glanced at her, lounging effortlessly in his seat with a bottle of beer in hand. He tilted his head, amused by her discomfort. "You’re not going to claw the armrest off, are you?"Amber shot him a glare, her voice tense. "I’m fine.""Right. You look totally fine," Ryan said with a chuckle. "Alright, let’s make this easier. How about we play a game?"Amber frowned but turned to him, curious despite herself. "A game?""Yeah, to distract you. Something simple. We ask each other questions. You answer honestly, I answer honestly."Amber raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "That’s it?"Ryan smirked. "That’s it. Unless you’re scared of my questions."Amber rolled her eyes. "Fine. Go ahead."Ryan leaned back, clearly pleased. "Alright, what’s your favorite mov
Ryan had barely landed when his phone buzzed with a message from Tom: Good luck with your stripper... try not to have too much fun 🍆😆Ryan rolled his eyes at the message, irritation rising within him. Without a second thought, he typed back: You sound like a kid. I won’t even bother replying. Goodbye, loser.The moment he sent it, the shift in his mood was instant. The easy camaraderie and warmth he had felt with Amber on the plane were gone. Reality hit him hard, and what had felt like a connection now seemed like a distant memory.Ryan glanced over at Amber, his face cold. “Let’s go.”Amber froze, shocked by his abruptness. She thought they had come to some understanding during the flight, that they had reached a certain rapport. But now, his tone, so detached and sharp, felt like a slap in the face.As she picked up her trolley, she couldn’t help herself. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Two personalities in one?”Ryan looked at her and laughed,
Amber was sprawled on the sofa, wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts, watching Pretty Woman. She had a glass of champagne in one hand and a plate of strawberries beside her, a wedding gift from the hotel. She dipped a strawberry into the champagne and took a bite, her expression unreadable as she focused on the film.Ryan walked into the room, still wearing his tuxedo shirt and pants. He stood by the sofa, watching her for a moment before speaking.“You really think this is your story, don’t you?” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You want to be the hooker who finds the prince, but I’m not the idiot in that movie. I’m not some dumbass like that guy.”Amber slowly turned her head toward him, her gaze still on the screen. She didn’t seem fazed, taking another bite of her strawberry without a word at first.“You’re talking about me now, Ryan?” she said with a hint of amusement. “I’m not some movie project for you. Don’t bring your fairy tale crap into this.”Ryan clenched his jaw
Ryan woke up the next day with a splitting headache. It had been years since he’d had a hangover like this—probably not since his college days. He groaned as memories of the night before came rushing back, particularly how rude he’d been to Amber. After a hot shower and popping an ibuprofen, he made his way to the suite’s living room.Amber was already there, having breakfast and fully dressed. Ryan couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked, even in something as simple as a red shirt, jeans, and bare feet. His gaze lingered a second too long on her feet, of all things, and he felt a wave of arousal. What the hell? Since when do feet turn me on? I really need to get laid, he thought, shaking his head.“Good morning, Amber,” Ryan greeted her as he leaned over the table to grab the coffee thermos.“Good morning, Ryan. How are you feeling?” she replied, her tone teasing, a small smirk playing on her lips.Ryan took a long sip of his coffee, letting the warmth settle him. “Starting
yan stood rigid near the edge of the grand ballroom, the crystal tumbler in his hand trembling slightly as his grip tightened. The soft strains of a string quartet and the murmur of polite conversation were nothing but background noise to the fury roaring in his ears. His gaze was locked on the dance floor, where Amber moved with effortless grace.She looked breathtaking in her emerald gown, the silk clinging to her curves as though it had been painted on. Her hair fell in loose waves down her back, catching the golden light of the chandeliers. But none of that softened the fire in Ryan’s chest, because she wasn’t alone.Nathaniel’s hand was on her waist, pulling her closer than any dance required. His smile was smug, his every move deliberate as he guided Amber around the floor. She threw her head back, laughing at whatever nonsense Nathaniel was saying, and Ryan felt his blood boil.He clenched his jaw so hard it ached, the veins in his neck taut with the effort to keep himself in c
For the rest of the evening, Ryan remained distant, his expression a mixture of annoyance and boredom. He kept to himself, standing off to the side with a drink in hand, his eyes occasionally flicking toward Amber.She was seated at a table across the room, engaged in animated conversation with an older woman. Her laughter rang out softly, and she appeared completely at ease, unaware—or perhaps unconcerned—about the brooding presence watching her from afar.Nathaniel approached Ryan with a smug grin, his tone laced with playful mockery. “You’ve got quite the scowl going on for a newlywed,” he remarked, clapping Ryan lightly on the shoulder.Ryan finally turned his attention to Nathaniel, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t know me well enough to assume anything about me,” he said coldly, his voice sharp. “And I don’t appreciate the attention you’ve been giving my wife.”Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, then laughed softly, clearly unfazed by Ryan’s tone. “Calm down, Carter,” he said, taking an
Amber let out a playful giggle as she made her way towards the door, but before she could leave, Ryan's anger boiled over and he grabbed her arm forcefully."Do you think this is a joke?" he growled, his eyes dark with desire.Amber was taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, but before she could react, Ryan pressed her against the wall and hungrily kissed her.His hands roamed her body, pulling down her dress to expose her bare breasts. "I've been wanting to taste these since the moment I laid eyes on you," he moaned, devouring her nipples with hot kisses and teasing bites. Each flick of his tongue sent shivers of pleasure through Amber's body as Ryan explored every inch of her eagerly.Amber tried to protest, but her words were lost in a moan as Ryan's hands squeezed her bottom, lifting her up and grinding her core against his rock-hard length. His breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "I've been so fucking hard for you... I can't stand it anymore." With that, he roughly unz
The next morning, Ryan couldn’t shake the memories of last night. His mind kept circling back to the explosive moment he shared with Amber—the way her body had moved against his, the soft gasps that escaped her lips, and the fire that burned between them. It was maddening. He was furious at himself for letting her get under his skin and even angrier that he couldn’t stop reliving it.He sat at the marble counter in the penthouse’s sleek kitchen, his coffee untouched as he stared blankly at his phone. The buzz of a notification pulled him out of his thoughts.“Where are you?” Tom’s voice came through as Ryan answered the call, casual yet probing.“Home,” Ryan replied curtly. “I’ve still got a few things to handle.”Tom’s chuckle was faint but laced with surprise. “Home? That’s not like you. I’m waiting at the office to go over the new condo project, and you’re still there? Not your style, Carter.”Ryan clenched his jaw, irritation flickering across his features. “I’ll be there soon,” h
Amber avoided Ryan like the plague. It had been a week since she began finding reasons to distance herself, excuses piling up as if trying to build a fortress between them. He hadn’t said much at first, probably assuming she needed space. But tonight, as they sat across from each other at the dinner table in their large, cold house, Ryan finally snapped.“What’s going on, Amber?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.Amber felt her heart stutter. She hadn’t expected him to confront her so soon. She fumbled with her fork, pushing the food around her plate as if it would give her the answers she needed.“Nothing’s going on,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Bullshit,” Ryan countered, his tone frustrated but steady. “You’ve been avoiding me for days. You won’t even sleep in the same bed anymore. What the hell is going on?”Amber clenched her fists under the table, fighting the urge to look away.
As they entered the penthouse, the silence between them was palpable. Amber felt a knot form in her stomach, her thoughts still swirling from the gala and everything that had happened—the unexpected appearance of Jessica, the ex-fiancée, and Ryan’s tense reaction when she appeared.Amber had tried to brush it off earlier, but now, in the quiet of the penthouse, it was harder to ignore the knot of jealousy that had been steadily growing inside her. Watching Ryan’s reaction to Jessica had stung more than she expected, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more between them than Ryan was letting on.She slipped off her heels, the sound of them hitting the floor echoing through the otherwise silent apartment. Ryan stood by the door, his posture stiff, not looking at her.Amber crossed the room, unable to keep her emotions in check. “What was that back there, Ryan?” she asked, her voice tight with tension. “You acted like you were about to tear Jessica apart.”Ryan turned to fa
Amber returned to the ballroom, her head still reeling from the heated exchange in the conference room. Her body still buzzed with the electric tension of the moment she’d shared with Ryan, but now, as she made her way through the crowd, everything feltdifferent. His hand rested possessively on her waist, guiding her through the maze of guests. It wasn’t affectionate or comforting, just a firm reminder that she was there beside him, but not truly with him. They moved among the people, exchanging pleasantries and mingling, but it felt as though Ryan was miles away, both physically and emotionally. His mind wasn’t on her, it never was.Amber’s thoughts circled back to what had transpired in the conference room. “Amber, sweetheart, don’t start games you know you can’t win.” His words echoed in her mind, each syllable colder than the last. She had hoped for more between them, had allowed herself to believe that there could be something real, something beyond the cold contract that bound
Amber moaned into the kiss, melting against him as his hands moved down her back, lifting her up and pressing her against the cold, hard wall of the conference room. He ran his hands up her thigh-high stockings, feeling every inch of her silky skin. His fingertips left a trail of goosebumps on her thighs, causing her to shiver with anticipation.Ryan's tongue and lips trailed down her neck, sending chills down her spine. She gripped his shoulders tightly as he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress, lowering it in one swift motion.The black satin fabric pooled at their feet, leaving her in nothing but a matching black lace bra and panties set that accentuated her curves perfectly.Ryan's eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of her half-naked body, his breathing ragged. "You're so beautiful," he whispered before claiming one of her erect nipples between his lips through the lace.Amber moaned as he teased and sucked on each peak in turn, sending electric shocks s
Amber was talking to a man who couldn’t stop staring at her, his eyes roaming over her body, taking in every curve of her black satin dress.Ryan was at the bar, his jaw tightening as he watched. He could feel the irritation building, deep in his chest. He didn’t want to admit it, but the jealousy was there, gnawing at him. The longer he watched, the more he hated the way the guy was looking at her. He started to regret coming to the party in the first place.He had known from the moment he saw her in that dress that the night was going to be a problem. The dress wasn’t even that daring. It was modest compared to what most of the women were wearing tonight. But it didn’t matter. It was her. The way she moved, the way she held herself—she owned the room. And he hated that she was giving all that attention to someone else.Ryan downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp, his eyes never leaving Amber. He stood up, his movements deliberate, and walked toward her."Brady, I see you've met
Ryan stood silently at the edge of the bed, watching Amber's serene, unguarded form. Completely nude, he moved silently towards her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Gently, he pulled the sheet down, revealing her smooth skin and delicate form.His fingers trailed along her inner thigh, moving gradually closer to her center. He applied light pressure, ensuring his touch was gentle but deliberate. With each stroke, he aimed to stir her from sleep, carefully watching her reaction. He started by caressing her thighs, then moved upwards, his hand gliding over her stomach before finally reaching her slit.Amber moaned softly in her sleep as she felt the touch, her body instinctively responding. She woke up with a start, her eyes snapping open, locking onto him with a mix of surprise and something deeper, more knowing."I see you're awake now," Ryan said with a smile on his face. "I've been dying to taste you again." Before she could say anything, with the help of a sleepy Amber, Ryan t
The London skyline stretched out beyond Ryan's hotel room, a hazy blend of historical architecture and modern skyscrapers. He leaned against the glass, his phone buzzing in his hand. A message. From her. Amber.Ryan's lips curled into a smirk as he unlocked his phone, her name lighting up his screen.Amber: Do you miss me yet? Or are you too busy exploring all the pleasures London has to offer?He chuckled, feeling a surge of excitement at her bold words. His fingers hovered over the screen, debating his response before typing back.Ryan: Trust me, I have plenty of time for both. But right now, all I can think about is the way you taste and feel.Her reply was immediate, as if she had been anticipating his words.Amber: Is that so? Maybe we should put technology to good use and give each other a little preview of what's to come when we're reunited.Ryan grinned, eagerly accepting her proposition.Ryan: Oh, I'm all for that. Show me what you've got, Amber.The next message that came th
Ryan was already tired of being at the party. John Broodworth was an insufferable bootlicker. Tom and Ryan exchanged a glance, both equally fed up with hearing his endless stories. Ryan discreetly checked his watch once more.Amber was further ahead, chatting effortlessly with a group of women. As always, she excelled at small talk. Ryan couldn’t help but admire how stunning she looked in her emerald-green dress. Tonight, her hair was styled in a classic updo, and though she looked breathtaking, Ryan silently admitted to himself that he preferred her hair down.With a low grunt of irritation, he excused himself from Broodworth’s presence and made his way toward his wife. Lightly touching her arm, he said, “Amber, darling, there’s someone over there I’d really like you to meet.”Amber turned to him, nodded gracefully, and bid farewell to the women she’d been conversing with. Noticing that Ryan was leading her out of the ballroom, asked him, “Where are we going?”“You’ll see,” Ryan repl
Ryan wasn’t sure when the shift had started, but the air between him and Amber had softened in recent weeks. It wasn’t something dramatic or sudden, but subtle and steady, like the first thaw of winter giving way to spring.It was in the small things—a passing smile, the way her shoulders didn’t stiffen when he entered a room, the way her gaze lingered just a second longer than before. The house, which had once felt like a battleground, now felt... lighter.Tonight was no different. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Ryan stood in the kitchen, watching Amber as she pulled two mugs from the cabinet, her movements easy, unguarded. She’d offered to make coffee, a gesture so simple yet so unlike the woman she’d been when they first married.“Dark roast or decaf?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.“Dark roast,” he replied, leaning against the counter with a small smile. “You’re spoiling me tonight.”Amber smirked, pouring the freshly b