Victoria smiled, her touch becoming gentler. "I think you're brilliant, and whatever you decide to pursue, you'll find a way to make it work. I believe in you."
When she tried to flirt, he would shift the power back with a subtle rebuff.
It drove her mad.
But she was smiling more.
And everyone noticed thinking it was thanks to the company's retreat.
When James looked tired, she suggested they'd stay in at his place rather than go out.
She was having fun and was the happiest she had ever been. For the first time in her adult life, Victoria felt truly seen by someone. Not Victoria Sharp the CEO, but simply Victoria. The woman who had fears and dreams and secret longings she had never shared with anyone.
Yet beneath the growing emotional connection, desire simmered constantly. Every casual touch sent electricity through her system. When James helped her out of cars or guided her through doorways with a hand on her lower back, Victoria felt her body respond with an intensity that left her breathless.
She wasn't in love with him, not yet. But she could feel herself falling, could sense the precipice approaching with each shared glance and gentle gesture. The emotional intimacy they were building made her physical hunger for him even more acute.
Although she appreciated the meaningful connection James was fostering, Victoria wanted to bridge the gap between them and connect physically. The memory of that night at the retreat haunted her dreams and invaded her thoughts during quiet moments. She craved the feeling of surrender, the exquisite helplessness of being completely at his mercy.
After two months of sweet romance, Victoria decided to take matters into her own hands. They had been to see a movie, a romantic comedy that she had paid no much attention to. The real entertainment had been the subtle game of proximity they played, the way James's arm around her shoulders had made her hyperaware of every point of contact between them.
On their way back to Victoria's house, walking slowly to extend their time together, hand in hand she made her move. The evening air was cool, perfect for the light jacket she wore, though she hardly needed it with the heat building under her skin.
They were discussing the movie, making gentle jokes about the predictable plot, when Victoria suddenly stopped walking and James turned back to face her. Before he could ask what was wrong, she launched herself at his back with the same wild energy she had shown that night at the retreat.
James easily held and carried her steady, his reflexes quick enough to secure her as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. His hands automatically went to support her legs, holding her securely against his back. The position allowed her to rest her chin on his shoulder, her breath warm against his ear.
Victoria could feel his gentle amusement in the relaxed set of his shoulders, his pure contentment at being close to her. The knowledge that he found genuine joy in her spontaneous behavior sent warmth rushing through her veins.
He walked them to her front porch, his steps careful and measured despite the armful of determined woman he carried. Victoria used the opportunity to study his face up close, to trace the line of his jaw with her eyes and memorize the way his breath caught when she shifted against him.
James carefully set her down when they reached her door, his hands gentle and respectful as he helped her find her footing. Victoria could see the pure admiration in his eyes, the way he looked at her like she was something precious and wonderful.
She turned to unlock her electronic door, her fingers trembling slightly with anticipation. The soft beep of the security system seemed abnormally loud in the quiet evening air. When the lock disengaged, Victoria pushed the door open and turned back to James with an invitation clear in her expression.
He stood on her threshold, hands in his pockets, looking every inch the gentleman he had proven himself to be over the past months. His expression was one of genuine happiness at spending time with her, completely oblivious to the deeper intentions behind her invitation. To James, this was simply another lovely evening with someone he cared about deeply.
Victoria stepped backward into her foyer, her eyes never leaving his face. The invitation was wordless but unmistakable. She had the feeling she might succeed this night, that the careful patience James had shown was finally reaching its limit.
James remained on her porch for a long moment, his face reflecting nothing more than the quiet contentment he always showed in her presence. There was no internal battle, no wrestling with desire. He was simply a man who enjoyed being around the woman he had grown to care for deeply.
Finally, he stepped across her threshold with the same easy acceptance he brought to all their time together. Victoria felt a flutter of both excitement and victory surge through her. James was completely unsuspecting of her specific intentions, viewing her invitation as nothing more than a natural extension of their evening together definitely not crossing a line he had been carefully avoiding.
The door closed behind him with a soft click, sealing them both inside the space where Victoria intended to finally bridge the physical gap between them. She had spent two months being patient, being the good girl he seemed to want her to be.
Tonight, she planned to remind him exactly why he had been so desperate to restrain her in the first place.
The evening stretched ahead of them, full of possibilities and the promise of finally satisfying the hunger that had been building in her since that transformative night at the retreat. Victoria felt every nerve ending come alive with anticipation.
James Mitchell might want something meaningful, but Victoria was determined to show him that meaningful could include the kind of physical connection that left them both breathless and desperate for more.
The game was about to begin again, and this time, Victoria had home field advantage.