Amara’s pulse quickened as she tried to steady herself, but the room felt too small, suffocating under Rowan’s oppressive gaze. His words hung in the air, dark and heavy with intent. She had to regain control of the situation before everything spiraled beyond her grasp.
“Move aside, I need to get dressed,” she said, her voice clipped and sharp, though a tremor betrayed the turmoil brewing inside her.
Without waiting for Rowan’s response, she turned her back on him, storming out of the spa room with hurried steps.
She needed space, air.. anything to clear her mind from the confusing fog Rowan had brought into it.
The suite felt colder than the heated spa, the air biting at her wet skin. Amara moved quickly, her eyes scanning the clothes laid out for her on the bed. Her expression darkened the moment her gaze landed on the provocative dresses. These weren’t her style.
“Alessandro…!!!!” She cursed under her breath, her jaw clenching as she sifted through the garments.
Each one seemed worse than the last, designed to make her look like a trophy rather than herself.
After what felt like an eternity, she settled on a purple dress… still elegant… but subtle enough not to feel like she was on display. It clung to her figure in all the right ways, but at least it wasn’t as garish as the others.
As she slipped into the dress, the fabric hugging her curves, she felt Rowan’s presence behind her, his eyes burning into her back. The tension was unbearable. She could sense his rage without looking at him… the air around him seemed to darken, heavy with his unspoken fury. When she turned, his gaze had fallen to the scattered clothes on the bed, and the hard lines of his jaw were set in a way that promised danger.
Rowan stepped closer, inspecting the clothes with a look that bordered on murderous. His silence was far more chilling than any words could have been. Alessandro’s intentions were clear in every stitch of fabric…. These dresses weren’t meant for her.. they were Alessandro’s attempt to control her, to mold her into something he desired.
The thought made Rowan’s blood boil, but he remained silent, his anger manifesting in the shadows of his eyes.
Amara could feel the weight of his anger pressing down on her, but she wasn’t in the mood for his unspoken accusations. She glanced toward the door, then at Rowan again, shaking her head as she dried her hair.
She could feel Rowan, who leaned against the wall, still watching her like a predator biding its time.
The tension between them was palpable, and her nerves were on edge. His brooding, dark presence seemed to make the air around them thicker, more oppressive.
A sudden knock on the door startled her.
Amara’s heart jumped into her throat.
“Can I come in, Amara?” Alessandro’s voice sounded muffled through the thick wooden door, but it was enough to send a jolt of panic through her.
In the intensity of her moment with Rowan, she had almost forgotten Alessandro was still there, waiting just outside.
Amara’s heart raced as she glanced back at Rowan. “You need to leave, Rowan. Now!” Her voice was urgent, almost panicked, but Rowan didn’t budge. He remained rooted to his spot, leaning casually against the wall as if he had all the time in the world.
His refusal to budge sent a fresh wave of anxiety through her. Amara’s eyes darted around the room, her mind racing. How was she going to get him out before Alessandro came in? Then her gaze landed on the window.
Without thinking, she rushed toward it and glanced down. It wasn’t that high. He could make it.
“You can jump out of the window,” she urged, turning back to him.
Rowan raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh?”
Amara huffed, her patience wearing thin. “What do you mean ‘oh’? Just leave, Rowan!”
But he didn’t move. He took a step closer to her, his eyes gleaming with mischief, with challenge. “What if I don’t want to leave?”
Amara’s eyes widened, her breath hitching. “What do you mean you don’t want to leave?”
“I want to stay,” he said simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. His tone was calm, but there was a dark undercurrent to his words, a challenge that made her pulse race even faster.
“Are you kidding me?” she snapped, her voice rising slightly in desperation.
“Am I?” His gaze was unwavering, relentless, as if daring her to try and force him out.
Amara’s mind raced. Where was her gun? She cursed herself for not bringing it. How could she have been so careless?
She needed something… anything… to gain the upper hand, but her weapon wasn’t here. She cursed silently, her fingers twitching as she glanced around the room. She couldn’t let him stay.
She needed to get Rowan out of here before Alessandro opened that door and saw everything.
But Rowan just stood there, watching her slowly unravel, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and then did something that caught Rowan completely off guard. She stood on her toes, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him down just enough to press a quick kiss to his cheek. Rowan froze, the smirk fading from his face, replaced by a look of surprise.
Amara stepped back, her heart hammering in her chest, and looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “Please, pretty… can you leave now?” she asked, her voice soft, almost sweet.
Rowan’s expression shifted, the surprise morphing into something darker, more possessive. He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze dropping to her lips. “Don’t you think you kissed the wrong place?”
Amara’s breath caught. She understood immediately what he meant. He wanted more. He wanted her to kiss him on the lips. She hesitated for only a second before her resolve hardened. If this was the only way to get him out of here, then so be it.
With a resigned sigh, she leaned in and lightly pressed her lips against his, intending to pull away just as quickly.
But Rowan wasn’t having it.
The moment her lips touched his, he grabbed the back of her neck, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss, his mouth moving against hers with a fierce, possessive hunger.
The force of it left her breathless, her mind spinning. When he finally pulled away, her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.
Rowan’s eyes burned into hers, the intensity of his gaze making her knees weak. “You want me to leave?” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “Fine. But…”
Amara’s heart sank at the word “but.” Of course, there was always a condition with Rowan. “But what?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Go on a date with me. Tomorrow.”
Amara blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. “What?”
“You heard me,” Rowan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Tomorrow. You’re coming with me.”
Amara shook her head, still dazed from the kiss. “I can’t go tomorrow.”
“Your choice,” Rowan said, his voice calm but threatening. “Either you go with me tomorrow, or I stay.”
Amara opened her mouth to protest, but the sound of urgent knocking at the door cut her off. Alessandro was getting impatient.
“Fine!” she hissed, her frustration boiling over. “Tomorrow. I’ll go.”
Rowan’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. He leaned in and kissed her again, this time softer, almost tender, before finally stepping toward the window. With one last glance at her, he slipped out of the window..