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Romance

Beneath the Tension

When Aria Morgan, a mischievous and fearless college student with dreams of making it big in the world of marketing, lands an unexpected internship at one of the top corporate firms in the city, she’s determined to prove herself. But her confidence shatters the moment she meets her boss—liam Blackwood—a cold, arrogant CEO with piercing gray eyes and a reputation for being ruthless in the boardroom. The catch? He’s also her best friend’s overprotective older brother, the same guy she’s clashed with at countless family gatherings.Ethan remembers Aria as the stubborn, sharp-tongued girl who never backed down from a challenge. Now, she’s grown into a bold, witty woman who refuses to be intimidated by his authority. Their work relationship quickly turns into a fiery battleground of clashing egos, heated arguments, and undeniable tension simmering just beneath the surface.But when a business trip forces them into close quarters, the thin line between hate and desire blurs. A late-night confrontation filled with sharp words and smoldering glances spirals into a steamy encounter neither of them can forget. As secrets unravel, stolen moments grow harder to resist, and their enemies-to-lovers dynamic threatens to ignite something much deeper—something dangerously close to love."Is that what you think this is, Aria? A game?" Ethan's voice was a low, gravelly growl, his tall frame pinning her against the sleek glass wall of his office, city lights casting shadows across his sharp jawline.Aria's breath hitched, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. She tilted her chin defiantly, her pulse betraying her cool facade."If it is, you're losing."His eyes darkened, gray flickering with something dangerous-something primal. He leaned in, his mouth inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin."Oh, sweetheart, I never lose."Her laugh was shaky, filled with defiance and something else-something warmer."Keep telling yourself that."And then his lips crashed onto hers-hard.

Mar 19, 2025  |   34 min read

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Beneath the Tension
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Chapter 8 : Cross the Line

Ethan wasn't thinking anymore. Logic, restraint, all of it had snapped the second she had *tilted her head*, silently inviting him to take more.

And *fuck*, did he want more.

His lips trailed lower, his teeth scraping against her skin, leaving a trail of marks along her neck. He wasn't just kissing her - he was *branding* her, making sure every inch of her screamed *his*.

Aria's breath hitched, her fingers clenching into fists above her head where he still held her captive. "Ethan?" His name left her lips in a whisper, half a plea, half a challenge.

He smirked against her skin, pressing his body even closer until she could feel the full weight of his need pressing into her. "You started this, sweetheart. You *wanted* this," he murmured, his tongue flicking over a fresh mark he had just made. "So don't act so *innocent* now."

Her thighs clenched at his words, her breath coming out in shallow, desperate gasps. He could *feel* her unraveling beneath him, could *see* the way her body betrayed her, melting against him despite every logical reason to stop.

"Tell me," he demanded, his voice low, rough, edged with the jealousy still burning in his veins. "Was it fun? Watching him flirt with you? Watching *me* lose my fucking mind?"

Aria's lips curled into a teasing smirk, though her voice wavered as she whispered, "*Maybe.*"

Ethan let out a dark chuckle, his grip on her wrists tightening. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?" His free hand slid down her body, slow, deliberate, stopping just shy of where she needed him most. "But don't worry, sweetheart," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. "*I'll teach you.*"

And then he *moved*.

A sharp gasp escaped her as his grip tightened on her thigh, lifting it around his waist as he pressed her harder against the wall. His lips crashed onto hers again, but this time, it was different - this wasn't just a kiss. This was a *claim*, raw and unforgiving.

He swallowed every sound she made, every tiny whimper, every stuttered breath. He was *consuming* her, breaking her down piece by piece, making sure she *felt* just how badly she had pushed him.

Alex had flirted with her. But *he* was the one who had her *like this*.

Breathless. Desperate. Completely at his mercy.

He pulled back, just enough to look into her dazed, hazy eyes. "You're *mine*, Aria," he growled, his thumb tracing over her kiss-swollen lips. "And I don't fucking *share*."

She didn't argue. She couldn't.

Because in that moment, she knew she had just crossed a line she could never come back from.

And *God help her*, she didn't *want* to.

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Adeyemi Sekinat

Apr 9, 2025

wow, it's interesting and amazing

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