The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Eleanor POV

The narrow path twisted through dense forest before suddenly opening onto a rocky outcropping. Derek had been right-the view was spectacular. The valley spread out below us, mountains rising in the distance, their peaks catching the first hint of golden jight. We’d arrived at our destination before the others had likely reached Eagle’s Point.

“How did you know about this place?” I asked, momentarily forgetting my irritation in the face of such beauty.

Derek stood a few feet away, his eyes on the horizon. “Family trips. Alexander and I found it exploring one summer.”

I approached the edge cautiously, noticing how the rock formation created a natural platform, partially shielded from the main trail

by a jutting wall of stone. The eastern sky was beginning to glow with bands of pink and gold, the stars fading as dawn approached.

“Why did you help her?” Derek asked suddenly.

i didn’t need to ask who he meant. “Because she was hurt.”

“You don’t even like her.”

I turned to face him, wrapping my arms around myself against the cold. “Female solidarity doesn’t disappear just because a man is

involved. Besides, an injured person is an injured person.”

He studied me intently, as though seeing me for the first time. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know you at all.”

“You never tried, I replied quietly.

Derek moved closer, the space between us shrinking with each step. “Maybe I want to know you now.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. “Why now?”

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he finally said, his voice so low I had to strain to hear it. “Because I want to understand

why you’re

my head.

in my throat as he reached up to brush a strand of hair from my face. His gloved fingers lingered against my despite myself, I found myself leaning into his touch. The cold morning air suddenly felt charged with electricity.

“Derek, I whispered, uncertain what I even wanted to say.

His eyes dropped to my lips, and I felt a familiar tightening in my chest-that same magnetic pull that had always existed between us, despite everything. The anger, the hurt, the betrayal-none of it seemed to matter in this moment, with the dawn breaking

around us and his body so close to mine.

5

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured, his face inching closer. “Tell me you don’t feel this too.”

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Chapter 120

I couldn’t lie-not to him, not to myself. Not here, with the whole world spread out below us and the sky changing colors abové.

Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. His kiss was tentative at first, questioning, so unlike the demanding passion I remembered. My hands came up to his chest, neither pushing him away nor pulling him closer, caught in the

same indecision that had characterized our entire relationship.

Just then, the first true ray of sunlight broke over the distant mountains, bathing the landscape in golden light. From somewhere behind the rock formation, I heard Olivia’s excited voice: “Wow! It’s beautiful! Eleanor, where are you? We made it!”

I could hear Daniel’s voice responding: “Maybe they took another trail. They might not be here yet.”

Derek pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. Our breaths mingled in the cold air, creating small clouds between us. The interruption should have broken the spell, should have been my chance to step away and return to sanity.

Instead, I found myself staring at his lips, remembering every kiss we’d ever shared. Something shifted in that moment-some

invisible barrier crumbling away.

“We shouldn’t,” I whispered, even as my body leaned toward his.

“I know,” he agreed, his hands already sliding to my waist.

I don’t know who moved first, but suddenly we were kissing again, with a desperate hunger that took my breath away. All the confusion, all the hurt, all the longing of the past years seemed to pour into that kiss.

My fingers tangled in his hair as I pulled him closer, drinking him in like I was dying of thirst. His hands slid beneath my jacket, seeking the warmth of my skin. The cold air rushed against my exposed neck as my head fell back, giving him access to trail his lips

down my throat.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love