Billionaire's match novel

---- Chapter 446 "Ethan, I... | don't think this is really appropriate." Charlotte tried to turn Ethan down. "What's inappropriate about it?" Ethan said, sliding onto the sofa and leaning forward slightly. The curve of his lower back dipped in a way that was... undeniably provocative. "Consider it your way of repaying me. You wouldn't want to owe me a favor, would you?" The air of entitlement, the way he seemed completely certain she'd comply-it made Charlotte's chest tighten with frustration. She froze in place, her mind racing for an escape.

After a few seconds of silence, Ethan glanced over his shoulder. "Relax. | said | wouldn't touch you, and | won't. Even if you wanted to be mine, it'd still be a hassle." Hearing that, Charlotte finally stepped forward, moving to his side. She flexed her fingers, inhaled deeply, and pressed her hands against his lower back. "Ugh" Ethan wasn't expecting her to press so hard. This petite, seemingly delicate woman packed quite a punch, and the sudden jab made him suck in a sharp breath. ---- "Hey, Charlotte! Easy! Are you trying to murder your benefactor?" "You said 'just press,' didn't you?

| don't know what I'm doing. Isn't it true that anyone who likes this kind of massage usually likes it with a lot of force?" Charlotte retorted, annoyed, though she eased her pressure slightly. "| hate pain," Ethan grunted. Through the thin fabric of the bathrobe, Charlotte could feel the taut lines of his muscles and the warmth of his body. The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted. Ethan no longer complained; instead, he closed his eyes slightly, seemingly enjoying her clumsy, untrained massage. Despite her deep aversion to him, Charlotte had never been this close to a man before.

She could smell the lingering scent of his shower, and her thoughts were starting to spiral. "A little higher... yes, the shoulders. That spot's a little tight too," Ethan murmured, his voice lower now, tinged with a lazy comfort. Charlotte adjusted her hands as he instructed, pressing around the muscles near his shoulder blades and feeling the tension there. ---- For a while, neither spoke. After five or six minutes, Charlotte's fingers grew sore. She was about to say, "That's enough," when Ethan suddenly broke the silence. "Alright...

and thank you, for today." Charlotte froze, her hands halting mid-motion. Thank her? For what-helping him knead his muscles? Ethan seemed to sense her confusion and added softly, "Thanks for letting me help and not guarding against me like I'm some sort of jerk." Knowing Charlotte's personality, she would never let him meddle with her brother's affairs. Yet, despite his assistance, he felt oddly content. Charlotte hesitated before saying, "Ethan... you're not such a big jerk after all." Of course, it was only half-true. He was still a jerk, and that would never change.

But the compliment hit Ethan right where it mattered. He chuckled lightly, his shoulders shifting with the sound. "So, how do you think | did today?" he asked. ---- "Well..." Charlotte hesitated, then said, "When you helped Christopher, you seemed... reliable." "Just reliable?" 1 Ethan suddenly turned to her. The robe slipped slightly, revealing the sculpted lines of his collarbone. Charlotte blinked, caught off guard by his gaze. His eyes were bright, and for a moment, the usual mischief and calculation were gone. In their place, there was a surprising trace of... innocence.