It had been a long time since Eleanor had taken a moment to appreciate nature, and for a while, she was entirely captivated by the view.

lan carried her suitcase into the master bedroom, leaving his own at the door of the guest room.

She noticed but didn't say a word, simply pushing the door open and stepping into the master bedroom.

She needed a moment to process everything. Though, in truth, there wasn't much to process. The conference was over, he had booked the villa, and everything felt like a natural progression. She hadn't rejected him, which served as a silent invitation in itself.

Everything just felt right.

Opening her suitcase, she grabbed her makeup remover and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

Through the door, she could hear lan's muffled voice on the phone. Listening closely, she realized he was talking to Evelyn. She couldn't help but think the little girl had probably assumed they'd be flying home tonight.

Hearing lan patiently coaxing their daughter, Eleanor paused while applying her face cream, fighting the urge to smile.

She slipped into a comfortable dress and headed downstairs just as lan was ending the call. He turned to look at her, his eyes warm and amused. "Evelyn called. I told her we'll be staying an extra two days."

Seeing that he had successfully handled their daughter, she nodded. "Okay."

The warmth in his eyes deepened. He clearly understood her implicit agreement. Glancing at his watch, he said, "I'll have dinner brought in now."

They were served an exquisite, multi-course meal, the table beautifully arranged. The soft light filtering through the paper lanterns cast a gentle, intimate glow over them.

"Are you tired?" he asked softly.

"I'm alright."

"Quite a few people from your field couldn't stop praising you to me today," he said with a proud smile.

She paused, looking down as she took a sip of her soup. "Is that so?"

After the staff cleared the table, they moved to the tea room on the second floor. Ian personally brewed her a cup of warm, fragrant evening tea. She held the cup in both hands, taking a sip, the warmth spreading all the way down to her stomach.

His phone buzzed with a work call. He stepped over to the floor-to-ceiling windows

to answer it, mostly listening and offering short, authoritative responses.

The night deepened, casting the moonlit maple forest in shades of ink and shadow. A small stream

flowed right outside the villa, then et

sound of the running water bringing

a kaw, primal sense of peace to the room.

sŵnovels

"Want to go for a walk outside?" he offered, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

She shook her head. "It's getting chilly. Let's just sit here for a bit."

He nodded, moving to make sure the windows were securely latched.

Eleanor stood up and walked over to the glass, standing quietly by his side.

lan stared at their silhouettes

reflected în the dark glass. His

breathing grew slightly heavier his Adam's apple bobbing as he turned his head to look at the woman beside him. "Ellie."

"Mm-hmm," she answered softly.

"Tonight—"

Her heart began to race.

"It gets cold at night. Make sure you use a blanket," he murmured softly.

She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "...Yeah, I will."

Before she knew it, the clock crept past nine. She turned, fully intending to head

toward the master bedroom.

But in the next second, he caught her wrist.

Before she could even process the movement, his tall frame closed the distance, an overwhelming, magnetic pressure entirely consuming her

space Sheet

her mouth to speak, but his lips crashed down onto hers, swallowing her words. She could barely hear his hoarse, desperate plea against her mouth: "Don't go-"

He pulled her tight against his chest, the kiss frantic and demanding.

It was a kiss loaded with raw, desperate heat-an explosive release after years of agonizing restraint.