James stared at Victoria, her words hanging in the air between them like a proposition he wasn't quite ready to accept. The vulnerability in her voice, the way she'd positioned herself so close to him, the hunger evident in her eyes, it all combined to create a moment that felt suspended in time.
For a heartbeat, Victoria thought she'd finally broken through his defenses. James began to lean in closer, his face moving toward hers with deliberate slowness. The distance between them narrowed to mere inches, and Victoria could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, could catch the faint scent of his cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
Victoria's eyes fluttered closed in anticipation, her lips parting slightly as she waited for the contact she had been craving. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she prepared to finally feel James respond to her, to experience what it would be like when he actually kissed her back instead of remaining passive under her touch.
However, the kiss never came.
The silence stretched on, and Victoria became increasingly aware that nothing was happening. No soft pressure of lips against hers, no gentle intake of breath that would signal James giving in to the moment. Just... nothing.
Confusion creeping into her features, Victoria slowly opened her eyes to find James still positioned close to her face, but instead of the passion she'd expected to see, his expression was one of incredulous amusement. He was staring at her with raised eyebrows and the hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"No," James said simply, his voice carrying a tone of finality that made Victoria's stomach drop.
The single word hit her like a slap. Victoria's face immediately flushed crimson with embarrassment, the heat spreading from her cheeks down her neck as the full weight of her miscalculation settled over her. She'd been so certain, so confident that her honesty and vulnerability had finally earned her what she wanted. Instead, she'd been left waiting with her eyes closed like some lovesick teenager.
Her embarrassment quickly transformed into something sharper and more familiar, anger. Victoria's jaw clenched as she gritted her teeth, her blue eyes flashing with indignation. The predatory confidence that had carried her through countless business negotiations now felt like a liability, a reminder of how thoroughly James had just outmaneuvered her.
James's smile widened as he watched the emotions play across her face. "I have deep feelings for you too but that's what you get for playing with my feelings," he said, his tone carrying a satisfaction that made Victoria's anger spike even higher.
The casual dismissal, the obvious pleasure he was taking in her discomfort, was more than Victoria could tolerate. Without conscious thought, she launched herself at him, her hands connecting with his chest and shoulders in a series of indignant smacks.
"You—" smack "—impossible—" smack "—infuriating—" smack "—man!"
James laughed at her outburst, though his amusement was punctuated by groans as her hits found their mark. "And she gets abusive too," he added with mock seriousness, catching her wrists to prevent further assault while still chuckling at her reaction.
"James!" Victoria shouted his name with such vehemence that it echoed through the apartment. Her frustration was palpable, radiating from her in waves as she struggled against his grip on her wrists. "Stop playing games with me!"
The laughter gradually faded from James's expression as he registered the genuine distress beneath her anger. Still holding her wrists gently but firmly, he looked at her with something approaching mirth.
"Victoria," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "it's been just a week since you began courting me, and now you want me to kiss you?" He shook his head with what looked like genuine bewilderment. "Besides, I'm not quite sure of your intentions. There are steps to take. You can't just skip over the entire process."
Victoria's anger flickered with confusion. "Steps?" she demanded, her breathing still elevated from her outburst. "What steps?"
James released her wrists and leaned back slightly, putting some distance between them while maintaining eye contact. "Getting to know one another better, for starters."
Victoria groaned in exasperation, throwing her hands up in a gesture of complete frustration. "I know everything about you!" Her voice carried a desperate edge as she launched into her proof. "You like to keep things clean and organized. You're naturally humble. You're honest, you say what you mean but you're polite in every delivery."
Her words came faster now, fueled by frustration and determination. "Your favorite color is black. Favorite sport is the lawn tennis. You love classical music. You're the first-born son in a family of two with a younger sister. Your parents are florists." Victoria's eyes blazed with intensity as she continued her recitation. "I could mention your academic achievements and favorite foods too if you want me to."
James stared at her, stunned into silence. The comprehensive nature of her knowledge about him was both impressive and slightly unnerving. She really does know me, he admitted to himself, shaking his head in amazement at the thoroughness of her observation or attention.
"But I don't know anything about you," James said quietly, his voice carrying a note of realization.
Victoria looked at him again, her body still burning feverishly with want. The feeling hadn't died down despite his rejection, if anything, his continued resistance only made her desire more intense. The man was proving impossibly hard to give in, and that only made her want him more desperately.
Without breaking eye contact, Victoria closed the distance between them once again. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension as she moved with predatory grace, every movement calculated and seductive. Her breathing had grown shallow, her lips slightly parted as she positioned herself with deliberate intimacy.
Victoria sat sideways, sleekly placing her leg across his thigh in one fluid motion. The contact sent electricity shooting through both of them, her bare skin against the fabric of his pants, the weight of her positioning herself so intimately against him. Her hand came to rest on his chest, palm flat against the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, which she could feel accelerating under her touch.
The position was impossibly intimate, impossibly provocative. Victoria's body was angled toward him, her face mere inches from his, her leg draped possessively across his lap while her hand burned against his chest.
"What do you want to know?" Victoria asked, her voice husky with barely contained desire. The heat from her body pressed against him was intoxicating, her proximity making it difficult to think clearly.
James met her gaze steadily, his control evident even as she could feel his heartbeat quickening under her palm. "Everything."
Victoria's eyes flashed with determination mixed with desperation. If sharing herself completely was what it took, then she would lay herself bare before him. Her voice took on an urgent quality as she began to reveal pieces of herself she'd never shared with anyone else.
"I'm terrified of cockroaches, especially when they fly," she said, her confession spilling out in a rush. "I have a weakness for romantic comedy movies. I like collecting vintage teacups even though I rarely drink tea." Her breathing grew more shallow as she continued, her body pressing closer to his with each revelation. "My parents are a retired engineer and teacher. My favorite color is royal purple. Food? Well, I eat anything as long as it's edible."
Victoria's hand on his chest curled slightly, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring herself to him. The tension in the room was suffocating, electric, dangerous. She was completely unbridled now, ready to throw caution entirely to the wind if James rejected her once more.
"What more do you want to know?" Victoria demanded, her voice rough with want and growing desperation. She was prepared to give him everything, to strip away every last defense if that's what it would take to finally break through his maddening control.
As an afterthought, fueled by her growing recklessness and the heat coursing through her veins, Victoria leaned even closer, her lips nearly brushing his ear. "If you want to know my bra size, I can tell you that too."
James, although visibly shocked by her boldness, maintained his composure with infuriating calm. His eyes held hers steadily, and when he spoke, his voice was cool and measured despite the fire she could see burning in their depths.
"No need."