The aftermath of their passionate encounter left them wrapped in each other's arms, their breathing slowly returning to normal. Victoria rested her head against James's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat while the warmth of their bodies mingled in the confined space of the backseat. The windows remained fogged, creating a private cocoon where only they existed.
Victoria's phone buzzed against the leather seat where it had fallen during their embrace. She reached for it lazily, her movements languid and satisfied. The screen illuminated her face as she read the message that had appeared.
It is done.
Her eyes immediately darted to James, who lay beside her with his eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face. The relief that washed over Victoria was palpable, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Ever since James had mentioned his plans to start his own business and leave Sharp Innovations, a peculiar anxiety had taken root in her chest. The thought of him walking away from her company, from their daily interactions, from the safety of having him close, had created an uncomfortable tension she'd struggled to identify. Now, with that simple text message, she felt the weight of that concern lifting.
Victoria slipped the phone back into her purse and nestled closer to James, her arm draping across his chest possessively. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, could smell the lingering scent of rain in his hair mixed with his familiar cologne.
"We should head back," James murmured, his voice still thick with the remnants of their passion. His eyes opened slowly, focusing on her face with an expression of tender contentment.
Victoria nodded reluctantly, knowing he was right despite her desire to remain in this perfect moment forever. They began the careful process of adjusting their clothing and making themselves presentable, though the evidence of their encounter lingered in their disheveled hair and the lingering flush on their skin.
James moved to the driver's seat while Victoria settled beside him in the passenger seat. The engine came to life with a quiet purr, and soon they were navigating the winding road back toward the city. The rain had softened to a gentle drizzle, the windshield wipers moving in a hypnotic rhythm.
Victoria found herself staring at James in a daze, her mind replaying the events of the evening. Everything felt surreal, as if she had stepped into someone else's life. The passionate woman who had dragged James into the backseat seemed like a stranger to her usual composed self. To be honest James had a proven record of making her lose all sense of control.
"You're staring," James observed, glancing at her with a slight smile. "Everything okay?"
Victoria continued looking at him, taking in his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. "You're very handsome," she said, her voice carrying a note of appreciation. "I like looking at you."
Without warning, she reached over and took his free hand, placing it on the inside of her thigh. James's breath caught slightly at the unexpected contact, his fingers automatically beginning to rub gentle circles against her skin before he caught himself and moved his hand back to the steering wheel.
Victoria sighed in disappointment and immediately brought his hand back to her thigh, her fingers intertwining with his to keep it in place.
"You should always do that," Victoria declared, her voice carrying a playful authority. "When we're in the car together, I want you to notice everything about me."
She decided to reciprocate, placing her own hand on his thigh and beginning to rub in slow, circular motions. The muscle beneath her palm was firm and warm, and she enjoyed the way James's breathing seemed to deepen slightly at her touch.
Growing comfortable, Victoria began to move her hand higher, her fingers dancing along the inner seam of his suit pants. She watched his face for a reaction, noting the slight tension that appeared around his eyes.
"Behave," James said quietly, his voice strained as he focused on the road ahead. He caught her wandering hand, stilling its movement.
However, Victoria had never been one to follow orders when her interest was piqued. She was stubborn by nature, and something about James's restraint only made her more determined to test his boundaries. She repositioned her hand, this time placing it dangerously close to his crotch, her fingers tracing light patterns against the fabric.
James shuddered visibly, a shaky breath escaping his lips. The sound sent a thrill through Victoria, evidence of her effect on him despite his attempts at control.
Without warning, James carefully maneuvered the car to the side of the road and parked. Victoria expected to see that familiar look of exasperation mixed with quiet fury that usually appeared when she pushed too far. Instead, when he turned to face her fully, his expression was completely blank.
He said nothing about her hand's position, made no move to remove it from where it rested near his most intimate area. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension.
Victoria blinked up at him with practiced innocence, trying to read his mood. This expressionless version of James was foreign to her, unsettling in its complete lack of reaction.
"If you want to touch it so badly then go ahead," James said finally, his voice flat and emotionless. "This time I won't stop you."
Victoria's heart nearly stopped. The permission she had been seeking, the invitation she had been hoping for, was suddenly there. Her pulse hammered against her throat, and she felt her breath catch in her chest.
She swallowed hard, her tongue darting out to wet her suddenly dry lips. "You mean it? Are you sure?"
The question came out as a whisper, her voice betraying both excitement and uncertainty. She needed to test his resolve, to understand his motive behind this unexpected offer.
Her gaze dropped to his lap, studying the outline beneath the denim fabric. The reality of what he was offering made her mouth go dry. When she looked back up at his face, James was watching her intently, his expression still maddeningly blank.
The invitation was tempting, incredibly so. It was everything she had been wanting, the permission she had been seeking through her teasing touches. However, something about James's complete lack of expression felt wrong, like a test she wasn't sure she wanted to take.
The longer she looked at his emotionless face, the more she realized she might have truly offended him this time. This wasn't his usual playful resistance or gentle scolding. This felt like something else entirely, something that made her stomach twist with unease.
Victoria withdrew her hand and folded her arms across her chest. "Now that I think about it, I don't feel like it anymore."