The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 8

Ember POV

“Alya, John and I are exactly what you see–a boss and his secretary,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Over the years, we’ve developed a certain closeness. We’re friends, but there are boundaries between us, and I respect that. He does, too.”

Alya looked at me profoundly, her eyes searching mine. After a few seconds of silence, she sighed and said, “I’ll take your explanation, Ember. But is my brother seeing anyone?”

I shook my head. “No, he’s not.”

She sighed again, looking frustrated. “I can never get anything out of him,” she muttered. “I knew he was hiding something. Call it a twin intuition or something.”

At that exact moment, John and Leo appeared, their presence a welcome interruption. John, with a mischievous glint in his eye, extended his hand to me. “Care of a dance, Ember?” he asked.

I blinked, taken aback. “John, I–”

Before I could finish, he gently pulled me to the middle of the floor. “Let’s show them how it’s done,” he whispered.

The music went on, and John led me in an impromptu dance. He was surprisingly good, his movements confident and fluid. I found myself laughing, enjoying the unexpected performance. Everyone around us was delighted, clapping and cheering.

“I didn’t know you could dance like this,” I said breathlessly as we twirled.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he replied with a grin.

“Looks like it,” I said.

“Well, this is a talent I hide very well and only shows when I want to impress someone.” He winked at me before we did another twirl.

I didn’t know what to think about what he said. If he wanted to impress me, then he succeeded. But then, why would he want to impress me?

As the song ended, the applause was deafening. John and I took a small bow, then made our way back to the side of the room. Alya looked at us with a raised eyebrow and a lopsided smile, but she didn’t say anything.

The party didn’t last much longer. It was understandable, anyway, As Alya was pregnant, she needed to rest early. It was also a work night. Well, I doubted if the majority of the guests even work or just lived off on their parents’ or husbands’ paycheck.

John insisted on taking me home, a gesture that had become a habit. He always checked inside my place to ensure everything was in order before leaving.

That night, however, he lingered. There was a thoughtful look on his face, and I could sense something was different.

“Would you like something to drink?” I offered, trying to break the tension.

He shook his head. “No, thank you.”

“Is something the matter?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

He took a few steps toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight, Ember?” he asked softly.

I shook my head, my heart pounding. “No, you didn’t.” I wanted to laugh him off to calm myself, but he looked serious.

“You look stunning,” he said, low and sincere. “Did you enjoy the night?”

“Thank you. You look gorgeous yourself. You had the attention of all the ladies in there.” I wanted to kick myself for making that last remark. There was no need for that. “And yes, I did. I had a great time. Thank you for taking me.” The last few words were said in a whisper as I was suddenly shy.

John took another step closer, and I felt suffocated by his proximity. My mind raced, trying to process the situation. He couldn’t be drunk as I did not see him drink any alcohol. He didn’t smell like it either. All I could smell was his manly scent, the one I had always secretly craved. If only I could put his scent inside a bottle, I would have a room full of it.

“Ember,” he said with his voice dropping even lower. “I’ve been wondering about something for a long time.”

“What is it?” I asked, my breath hitching. I wanted to step backward, but the back of my leg hit the wall. There was no way out.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked. His eyes were dark and intense. His gaze gave me chills throughout my body. The pleasurable kind of chill that could make one weak.

My eyes widened in surprise, my heart hammering in my chest. I must be in my own dream, as I knew this couldn’t happen in real life. “Yes,” I whispered, almost in disbelief. Who wouldn’t want to be kissed by John, even if it was only in a dream, right?

I closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss. But instead of his lips on mine, I felt his breath on my neck. He brushed my hair aside and kissed the spot just below my jaw. The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through my body. He trailed kisses down to the base of my neck, making me feel weak in the knees. His arms snaked around my waist, holding me close. I didn’t protest; it indeed felt like a dream, and I didn’t want it to end.

“John,” I murmured, lifting my hands to the back of his head.

He continued his kisses, sucking lightly and even licking, sending waves of pleasure through me. I moaned softly, which seemed to bring him to his senses. He stopped, still holding me close, and I opened my eyes to find him looking at me with desire.

“I’m sorry I’m not sorry,” he said in a hoarse voice. “You’re a temptation I couldn’t resist.”

Without warning, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips, then stepped back. “Good night, Ember,” he said. “Sleep well.”

Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me standing in the living room, my heart still racing.

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The next morning, I arrived at the office early, my mind still reeling from the previous night’s events. I couldn’t stop thinking about John and the way he had kissed me. It was not just a dream. I shook my head as I tried to focus on my work, but it was impossible.

John arrived shortly after me, his usual composed self. “Good morning, Ember,” he said in the way he would usually greet me in the morning.

What did I want him to do, anyway?

“Good morning, John,” I replied with a shaky voice.

He didn’t mention what had happened, and I was grateful. We fell back into our routine, but there was an unspoken tension between us.