The CEO's Unspoken Love Novel

Chapter 33 My breath caught in my throat. I turned away quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed how my pulse had quickened, how my lips had parted involuntarily at his words. "You're impossible," I managed to say, but the sharpness I'd intended was missing from my voice. 1 This was another change-the Derek who left for London had never flirted with me, had never looked at me the way he was looking at me now. It was unsettling, confusing... and against my better judgment, thrilling. Back home, we moved through our evening routines carefully, like dancers avoiding collision.

The tension from the car ride lingered between us, making the spacious bedroom feel claustrophobic. When we finally lay in bed, I was acutely aware of the careful distance between us-inches that might as well have been miles. "Finally," Derek broke the silence, "no octopus attacks tonight. You were quite the clingy drunk last night, practically impossible to shake off." Mortification washed over me. "Can you please stop bringing up last night? I don't even remember what happened." He turned toward me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Really? You don't remember anything?

You said some rather interesting things while clinging to me like your life depended on it." I pulled a pillow over my face, wishing I could disappear. What had I said? What had I done? The gaps in my memory were terrifying. Derek pulled the pillow away, suddenly much closer than before. His proximity sent my heart racing. "You know what's interesting? I always thought you were this quiet, compliant wife, but drunk Eleanor tells me there's an entirely different woman hiding inside you." Something about his words-about the way he was looking at me-gave me courage.

"Maybe I was never who you thought I was," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "Just like you're not who I thought you were." "And who did you think I was?" he asked, with what seemed like genuine curiosity. Our eyes locked in the dim bedroom light. I found my gaze dropping to his lips before I could stop myself. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Derek mirrored the action, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. The space between us seemed to evaporate of its own accord. I could feel the heat radiating from his skin, count each of his breaths.

He leaned toward me, and I found myself drawn to him, my rational mind screaming warnings that my body refused to heed. My lips parted slightly, my eyes half-closed. We were mere inches apart. Part of me was terrified, but another part-a part I'd tried to silence for years-was desperate for his touch. A sharp bark from Sunny shattered the moment. We both jerked back, the spell broken. Derek cleared his throat and retreated to his side of the bed. "It's late. Goodnight, Eleanor." 1/2 "Goodnight, Derek, I whispered, turning away quickly, hoping he couldn't hear my racing heart.

We lay there, backs to each other, separated by a small physical distance but a vast emotional chasm. Sleep eluded me as I stared at the wall, replaying what had almost happened. Derek had changed-or perhaps he was simply showing a side of himself I'd never been allowed to see before. The way he'd defended me at the party, his flirtation in the car, his almost-kiss just now... none of it aligned with the cold, distant husband who had left me two years ago. But I couldn't trust these changes. In less than two months, our contract would end, and Derek would be free to leave again.

Whatever was happening between us now-this strange, electric tension-it couldn't last. We were from different worlds, thrown together by circumstance and a dying grandmother's wish. Our paths had crossed temporarily, nothing more. Still, as sleep finally began to claim me, a treacherous thought slipped through: What if this change was real? What if Derek was actually seeing me for the first time? What if... what if... I pushed the thought away. Hope was a luxury I couldn't afford. Not when our end date was already written in ink, signed and sealed by both of us.

Whatever game Derek was playing, I needed to guard my heart. I couldn't survive being broken again. Comments B Brenda Martinez this is the same chapter as the last one 7 days ago 4 15 4 2/2 Ruby Walker Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby's writing style is bold and irresistible-perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.