Chapter 4: The Deal

Kai's POV

The elevator doors opened, revealing a space that was equal parts luxury and fortress. Her penthouse wasn’t just a home—it was her throne, her sanctuary, and a reminder of the power she wielded. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city below, and the lights of the skyline seemed to bow to her. It was impossible not to feel the weight of her dominance here.

Scarlet walked ahead of me, her heels clicking against the marble floor, each step deliberate and commanding. I followed, my eyes tracing the curve of her back, the sway of her hips, and the tension in her shoulders. She carried herself like a queen, but even queens had their weaknesses.

She stopped in front of the massive windows, the city lights casting a soft glow on her figure. Without a word, she reached up and unclasped her jacket, letting it slip from her shoulders. The fabric fell to the floor, pooling around her feet like a shadow. Underneath, she wore a silk blouse that clung to her skin, hinting at the strength and vulnerability beneath.

“You’re safe for now,” she said, her voice low and laced with warning. She didn’t look at me as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the city below. “But you’d better stay out of my business.”

I leaned against the edge of her sleek black couch, the smirk on my lips impossible to hide. “You really think I’m the type to stay out of anything? Especially when it comes to you?”

She turned slowly, her eyes locking onto mine. Her gaze was like fire—sharp, scorching, and impossible to look away from. The tension in the room thickened, crackling like a live wire.

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Kai,” she said, taking a step closer. Her voice was softer now, but it carried an edge that sent a shiver down my spine. “Men like you think they can handle me. They never can.”

I pushed off the couch, closing the distance between us in a few deliberate steps. She didn’t move, didn’t flinch, but I could see it—the flicker of something in her eyes. Was it hesitation? Curiosity? Desire?

“Maybe I’m not like the others,” I said, my voice dropping as I came to stand in front of her. I was close enough now to catch the faint scent of her perfume—something dark and intoxicating, like her. “Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t know what you’re dealing with.”

Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, the cool, untouchable Scarlet Vayne faltered. It was subtle—a quick intake of breath, the barest tilt of her chin—but it was enough.

She tried to recover, her expression hardening. “You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice steady but quieter now.

I stepped even closer, so close that the heat of her body mingled with mine. My hand brushed against her arm, a deliberate touch that sent a spark of electricity through the space between us. “I like fire,” I murmured, my eyes never leaving hers.

Her breath hitched, and I felt a surge of satisfaction. She was trying so hard to stay in control, to keep the upper hand, but the crack in her armor was widening.

“You’re going to regret this,” she said, but her voice wavered, betraying the battle she was fighting within herself.

“Maybe,” I said, my voice low and rough. I reached up, my fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. She didn’t pull away. “But I don’t think I will.”

The air between us was thick, charged with something primal and unspoken. I could see it in her eyes—the same pull that was consuming me. Her walls were crumbling, and for once, she wasn’t stopping it.

Her lips parted as if to say something, but I didn’t give her the chance. I closed the final sliver of space between us, my hand sliding to her waist as my lips captured hers.

The kiss was fire and fury, a clash of wills and desires. She didn’t hesitate, her hands gripping the front of my shirt as she pulled me closer. Her control, her composure, all of it melted away in an instant.

She tasted like power and danger, and I wanted more. My hands explored the curve of her back, her body pressing against mine as we lost ourselves in the heat of the moment.

When she finally pulled back, her breath was ragged, her cheeks flushed. For a moment, we just stood there, the city lights casting shadows around us.

“This doesn’t mean anything,” she said, her voice shaky but defiant.

I smirked, brushing my thumb across her swollen lips. “Sure it doesn’t.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't push me away. Instead, she turned sharply, her composure snapping back into place like a mask. "Get some rest," she said, walking toward the hallway without looking back.

"You'll need it."

I watched her go, the sway of her hips seared into my mind. She was chaos and control, fire and ice-and I was all in.

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