The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 92

Chapter 92

The bedroom was a cunctuary of shadows, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting a soft, intimate warmth over the space I stil by the wardrobe, my fingers tracing the delicate fabric of a wilk nightgown I’d just pulled ant. The weight of the day pressed info my shoulders, and all I yearned for was the escape of a steaming shower to rinse away the tension of another strained (amily dinner

My hair was loosely pinned up, a few rebellious strands framing my face, and the lightweight robe | wore whispered against my skin

as I turned toward the bathroom

The door swung open with a sharp click, slicing through the stillness. My breath hitched as Derek stumbled into the room, his

presence a sudden storm in the quiet

His suit jacket was nowhere to he seen, the crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, exposing the sharp edge of his collarbone A

faint flush stained his cheeks, and the heavy scent of whiskey rolled off ham potent and intoxicating. His steps faltered, his tall

frame swaving as he braced himself against the doorframe Those blue gray eyes, usually so piercing and controlled, were clouded

with a caw hazy intensity as they fixed on me

A slow reckless smile tugged at his lips “You you haven’t gone to bed yet,” he rasped, his voice low and rough, thick with a

drunken warmth I’d never heard before

My heart jolted gripped the nightgown tighter nearly letting of slip from my fingers I’d never seen Derek like this unraveled,

vulnerable in a way that felt dangerous At dinner, he hadn’t touched a glass or so I’d thought Where had this come from? Unease

twisted in my chest sharp and icy pulled my robe tighter around me, stepping back instinctively “Derek what’s wrong! Are you

drunk?”

He didn’t answer

Instead, he pushed off the doorframe the lock clicking shut behind him with a finality that made my pulse spike He staggered

forward his movements clumsy but charged with a predatory focus that panned me in place Before I could move, he lurched, his

armis wrapping around me in a crushing embrace: The force of it stole my breath, his grip like steel around my waist His face buried

into the curve of my neck hot breath fanning over my skin, reeking of whisker

I froze, my body rigid against the hard planes of his chest. My mund spun a chaotic storm of confusion and alarm “Derek, let go of

me: What are you doing?

He didn’t loosen his hold, his arms tightening as if I might vanish. I pushed against his shoulders, my hands trembling, but it was

like pressing against stone

Swallowing the rising unease, I forced my voice to soften, to steady “Derek, what happened? You’re drunk, aren’t you’ Come on let

me help you rest.” Carefully, I raised a hand, my fingers brushing his cheek His skin burned under my touch, the taint Toughness of

stubble grazing my palm. His lashes fluttered, a flicker of something vulnerable breaking through the chaos.

Slowly, his eyes opened, those stormy depths piercing through the fog of intoxication. They held something raw, something t

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Chapter 92

sidn’t name but it burned into me Hi gaze locked with mine, and his are emerged in a ragged me I’m drunk tech a daron messed a showy The self-truthing in his tome sliced thenugh me sharp and mespotest

Before uld respond, his arms chifted beneath me With a sudden, startling strength, he swept me off my feet, my bedly pressed against hit chest as he stumbled toward the bathroom I gasped, my hands clotching at his shirt in a frantic bed for balance “Derek. what are you doing? Put me down

He ignored me The bathroom door slammed shut behind us, the harsh light glaring off the white porcelain tiles The space felt suffocating with him in it, the air charged with tension Without warning, he lowered me into the empty bathtub, my back hitting, the cool surface with a jolt My robe tangled around my legs, exposing the pale skin of my calves as I scrambled to sit up

Shock rendered me speechless as I watched him yank off his shirt, the fabric falling away to reveal the hard, sculpted planes of

chest and the taut lines of his abdomen He stepped into the tub, barefoot, clad only in black briefs, his movements deliberate

despite the drunken haze He crouched down, hands bracing on either side of me, caging me in

A dangerous smirk played on his lips. “We’re taking a shower weren’t you about to do that anyway?” His voice was a low growl,

laced with a seductive edge that sent an involuntary shiver racing down my spine

“Derek, what are you My protest died as he leaned in, his lips crashing against mine with a fierce, desperate hunger The taste of

whiskey flooded my senses bitter and heady, his kiss rough and consuming. One hand gripped the hack of my neck, fingers tangling

in my dampening hair while the other shid to my waist, pulling me impossibly closer

I struggled for a fleeting moment, my hands pushing against his chest, but the heat of him, the familiar, maddening pull of his

touch, overwhelmed me My resistance crumbled my body betraying me as I melted into the kiss, a soft gasp escaping my lips

The hiss of water broke through the haze as he reached out, twisting the faucet Warm streams poured from the showerhead above,

drenching us both in seconds. My silk robe clung to my skin turning transparent and useless, as steam began to rise, blurring the

edges of reality. His lips traded from mine to my neck, wet and searing, drawing a shudder from me I couldn’t suppress

“Derei stop My voice was weak, barely audible over the rush of water more a plea than a command His hand slipped beneath

the soaked fabni of my robe, his touch scorching along the curve of my spine. He murmured against my ear, his breath hot and

tagged

“Don’t push me away, Eleanor I know you want this We both do There was a crack in his youce a rawness that shattered

something inside me a wall I’d built over years of longing and pain

I wanted to fight it. Every rational part of me screamed to shove him away, to reclaim control But the ache in his words, the desperate edge to his touch, mirrored a hunger buried deep within me Anger and longing warred viciously in my chest, but my body

surrendered

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KIKA

The CEO’s Unspoken Love