His touch was making me unable to think. My body reacted to him strongly every time he touched me. My mind warned me to keep my distance, but my heart longed for him every time he was away. His closeness was a sweet poison to my brain. Because it loved it, even if it made it numb.

Keep it together, Em!

“I have to go. Let me go.” My voice came out as a weak whisper.

“Never. I’ll never let you go.”

Huh? He’ll keep me in his office forever?

“I have work. Let go,” I huffed.

“No work today. It’s your free day.”

“What? Why?” I turned to look up at him.

“It’s been a long day for you. Not to mention the terrible night you had. It’s your day off.” He brushed some tendrils away from my face. He was so close...

“Can you keep some distance? Move!” I wiggled, slapping his strong arm.

Amusement etched in those gray orbs. “Why? My closeness bothers you, Rosebud? It makes you all hot for me?” he teased.

My eyes widened. The arrogance!“Not at all! I don’t feel anything. Now let go!”

“Only on one condition.”

My brows narrowed. “No conditions!”

He shrugged. “Then no leaving.”

I groaned. “Fine! What’s it?”

The corner of his lips twitched as he kissed my forehead. My heart stuttered at the gesture. “Have lunch with me?” When I didn’t answer, he continued.“Let’s talk. I even ordered your favorite dish.”

At the mention of food, my stomach growled. I didn’t have breakfast this morning in a hurry.

I tried to ignore the amusement in his eyes. “Okay. But only because I’m hungry.”

Nodding, a smile spread across his face. A genuine one, which was very rare. “Only because you’re hungry.”

I stared at the cheesy garlic shrimps with extra sweet and sour sauce before me. Exactly how I liked to take it. Not a usual combo, but it used to be my favorite. Our favorite. Whenever he used to visit our home, he’d bring it for me. It was our regular thing after our chess matches.

“You remembered?” I whispered, looking up at him.

Leaning forward, he put some prawns on my plate and then poured the sauce onto it. “It’s not possible for me to forget even a single thing about you, even if I want to.”

The look in his orbs was so intense it left me breathless. I had to avert my gaze. I couldn’t let him see the moisture the old memories fetched in my eyes. Picking up a prawn covered in the sauce, I put it into my mouth. Exceptional! Just as I remembered. The sweet and savory taste blasted on my tongue.

A moan left my mouth. “It’s so good!”