Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

Right on time, the black SUV pulled up outside the door like a lustful promise.

Alexander got out. Reflective sunglasses, gray polo shirt, dark jeans—less CEO, more weekend lover.

“Cloe,” he said, nodding at me. His smile was a mixture of respect and “I have a recording of you moaning.”

“Alexander,” I replied curtly, coolly, and handed him my travel bag. While he loaded it into the trunk, I leaned against the side of the car. "You're pretty brave, inviting the intern to the hotel. Again. Isn't there a compliance rule against that? Or are you already addicted to me?“

”I'm brave,“ he said. ”But not stupid. You've triggered something in me that I can't ignore. Even if it might be a mistake."

I got in. The interior smelled of leather and of him.

We drove off.

The ride was quiet. The city fell behind us. Music, forest, sun. He drove with concentration. But I could feel the tension in him. His hand was only loosely resting on the gear stick. I couldn't help wondering what it would be like if it were on my thigh instead. And I wondered if he was also imagining what it would be like if he put it on my thigh. Just like that.

“Tell me,” I said at some point. “When I was standing in front of your desk yesterday... didn’t you really... do anything?”

He looked straight ahead, wondering if he could avoid answering. I pressed him.

“Nothing at all? Not even under the desk where I couldn’t see?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. A vein in his neck swelled.

Then: “Just watched and listened.”

“And? What did you see? And hear?”

“That you're dangerous. And beautiful. And that self-control is a damn expensive luxury that not everyone can afford. A weaker man wouldn't have let you go so easily.”

I laughed.

“And now?”

“Now,” he said calmly, “I'm on my way to a hotel with a woman who makes me tremble. A woman who I know will continue to provoke me until I'm red-hot—and a woman who I hope will forgive me if I ever forget how to control myself.”

I felt my lower abdomen begin to tingle.

But I remained cool. Outwardly, absolutely cool. Glacier ice. “Let's wait and see if you actually manage to make me forgive you for something.”

He smiled crookedly. “Is that a warning?”

“A promise,” I cooed.

The lake was already twinkling through the trees.