The kiss wasn't gentle. It was a desperate, hungry collision. Kenzo's lips were warm and demanding, tasting strongly of expensive sake and a familiar, bitter despair. The shock of it froze Nadia for a second, but then a slow, unbeaten heat spread through her chest. Finally, she melted into him, her eyes closed slowly. For a fleeting moment, she was back in his penthouse two years ago, the city at their feet, believing she was the only woman who could ever tame Kenzo Hayashi.
The memory was intoxicating, but the wet, sloppy reality of his drunkenness broke the spell. She pulled back, breathless, she was clearly aware of the driver's presence in the front seat.
"The Signiel Hotel," she told the driver, her voice a little unsteady. She hadn't planned this, but her mind, clouded with confusion and a rekindled desire, made the decision for her. The temptation to have him all to herself, to reclaim what was once hers, was too powerful.
The car glided through the neon-light streets. Nadia watched Kenzo slump against the window, his brow furrowed even in his daze. He's still so beautiful, she thought, a pang of possessive longing shooting through her.
At the hotel, she paid the driver and, with practiced ease, helped a unsteady Kenzo out of the car and through the glittering lobby, supporting his weight with a smile that dared anyone to question them.
Inside her suite, the luxurious one the place was elegant, with her scent in the air, the massive bed was draped with flawless white sheets, the kind that looked untouched, she closed the door with a soft click, the outside world locked away and then she turned to see him sitting heavily on the edge of the plush bed, his head in his hands. A slow, seductive smile curved her lips as she walked over, her heels silent on the carpet.
She stood before him, so close her thighs almost brushed his knees. He looked up, his dark eyes hazy and unfocused. From this angle, she was in complete control. He could feel the heat from her body, smell her signature, sultry perfume, a scent he once knew by heart.
She cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs stroking his jaw. "I missed you, Luke," she whispered, using the old, intimate nickname from their past.
Before he could process it, she leaned down and captured his mouth in a deep, claiming kiss, pouring all her deliberate passion into it. When she pulled away, he instinctively followed her lips, a low groan escaping him.
"Shhh," she teased softly, placing a single finger against his swollen lips to stop him. "You seem so hungry, my love. It seems you haven't been fed well since I left you."
A wicked glint in her eye, she took a step back, her fingers slowly working on the clasp of her dress, when it dropped down she remained only with her pants, revealing the curves of her perfect body. She then took both of his hands, pulling him to his feet. "Come on," she purred, leading him towards the bathroom.
When they were in she turned back to him and started unbuttoning his shirt. She looked at him straight in the eyes, and her hands were so soft on his chest. He couldn't handle it anymore. The intensity was too much.
He panicked. "Stop," he said in a whisper. "I can handle this" his breath still carrying the smell of alcohol.
She paused and stepped back, amused raising an eyebrow. That smile never left her face. "You don't want me to help you? Okay, I will be waiting in the shower." She got into the shower box. He quickly took off the rest of his clothes, opened the door and joined her in the glass-walled shower
The steam was thick, a suffocating, humid cloud. Then he saw her. She was completely naked, not an inch of her body was covered. His gaze was greedy and immediate, fixed on her, took in every detail, even noticing the faint round nipples of her boobs, He simply could not stop watching.
She finally broke the spell with a slow, challenging smile blooming on her lips. She reached out, her hand finding his wrist, and pulled him in with a confident tug.
"How long are you going to stare, Kenzo?" she murmured, her voice low and absolutely lethal, she slid the glass door shut.
He was pressed against her, skin to skin, chest to chest. The intense contact, combined with the rapid flow of hot water on their backs, sent a shockwave through his body. Goosebumps erupted and raced over every surface of his skin.
The sensation was too much; a sound escaped him, a small disoriented gasp, before he could clamp mouth shut.
He reached up, his hand tangled in the wet strands of her hair, pulling her head down until their mouths met in a collision. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to escape blinding reality of the moment. Her lips were incredibly soft, warmer and more yielding.
The kiss instantly deepened, ravenous. The warmth of the water poured down their shoulders as he drove her back against the tiled wall, asserting the dominance.
She responded without hesitation. She really knew how to kiss; She devoured him like she had been starving, waiting for this moment and he could barely keep up, her tongue was demanding.
His mind kept playing the sharp words from Sharon earlier which gave him driving force to continue, he knew he had nothing left to lose.
His hand brushed over the wet curve of her breast, soft and firm under his touch. The moment he grabbed it, she let out a sharp, trembling moan, "Ahhh!" her breath mixing with his own, it was proof that she wanted this as badly.
She responded by pulling him tighter into her chest, crushing him against her. "I... I can't... let's do this," she whispered her voice came out like a short, desperate rasp.
His grip on her tightened, one hand around her waist while the other found the space between her legs, rubbing gently.
His fingers were slick with her juices, and he could feel her body trembling violently under his touch. She couldn't help herself, letting out soft, broken sounds of pleasure desperate moans, as she leaned into him like her legs could no longer stand.
He lifted her left leg, hooking it around his hip, and his six inches was ready and eager to fulfill its purpose. He slid into her slowly, her mouth fell open in a silent gasp of surprise and he felt the immediate, consuming heat of her inner walls, welcoming him with a wet, tight embrace and softness of her interior, wetness made the connection slide without struggle.
"Ahh!.. Mmmmm!' She tried to catch her breath while her nails dug into his skin, holding him tight.
Outside the the bathroom on the bedside table his phone buzzed, Sharon was calling but the room filled with moans for anyone to hear it.
---
Meanwhile at Countryard Seoul Hotel.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Sharon stared at her phone screen, the light illuminating her worried face in the dark room. Call Failed. Call Failed. Call Failed. Five missed calls. Five times Kenzo's phone had rung into a void.
A cold knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. She sat on the edge of her bed, the plush comforter feeling like a prison. Where is he?
Regret washed over her. Maybe I was too harsh. I shouldn't have left him like that, not when he was so vulnerable. The image of his broken expression when she tore up the resignation letter haunted her. He had bared his soul, and she had thrown up her walls.
She rushed to the balcony, staring out at the huge glittering maze of Seoul. Where could he be? He knew this city; she was a stranger here. The feeling of helplessness was suffocating. In that moment, all her anger and pride melted away, replaced by a fierce, aching love for him.
Her fingers flew across the screen. Sharon: I'm sorry, Kenzo. I know I hurt you, but please, just answer. I'm worried. When are you coming back?
Just as she sent it, her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Sasha: So??? How's the romantic Seoul getaway? Have you sealed the deal with Mr. Private Jet yet?
Sharon sighed, her shoulders slumping. She typed back, her heart heavy.
Sharon: It's complicated. His ex, Nadia, texted him right in the middle of our date. It ruined everything.
Sasha: EX?! RED FLAG, What did he do?
Sharon: He begged me to stay. In front of everyone at the gala. He looked so… broken.
Sasha: Broken? Or guilty? Sounds like a performance to me. Maybe they never really broke up. You're his secretary, not his shadow. How would you know what he does after hours?
Sharon's brow furrowed. They never really broke up? The thought was a poison dart. But she shook her head, trying to dispel it.
Sharon: No, I'd know. I'm with him almost 24/7. He's not like that.
Sasha: Are you sure? Maybe Kenzo isn't the good guy you think he is. He's a CEO. They're all players.
A strange feeling prickled at the back of Sharon's mind. Why was Sasha so instantly determined to paint him as the villain? She was her best friend, shouldn't she be supportive?
Sharon: Let's not talk about him anymore. I'm tired.
She put the phone down, trying to ignore Sasha's insinuations. Instead, she let herself remember the feel of Kenzo's arms around her on the jet, the raw need in his voice when he whispered, "I need you." A shiver, desire and longing, ran down her spine. She needed him too. She saw that clearly now.
Little did she know, on the other side of the city, Kenzo was lost in a world of his own, and the only name on his phone, Sharon—was drowned out by the sound of the shower and intimate noises.