TIED TO MY BILLIONAIRE CEO

JANICE. The air in the car was suffocating. I could feel Ryder's fury, a living, breathing thing coiling around him like a storm barely contained. The space between us felt too tight, like the energy simmering in his body might explode at any second. I hardly dared to breathe.I kept my eyes forward, my hands folded neatly in my lap, my posture poised—but inside, I was rattled. Because tonight, a lot had changed. Luis DeMarto had just signed his own death warrant.I'd hardly ever seen Ryder lose deals before, but nothing like this. Never a deal that had taken so many months and compromises to carefully construct, only for it to collapse at the final moment because of a greedy backstabber. Luis had played a dangerous game. And if there was one thing I knew about Ryder Ambrose—it was that he hated losing.The car came to stop in the parking garage of the hotel.Ryder was out before the engine was even killed.I paused for a half second before following him, my heels tapping against the icy marble floor as we moved in tense silence.The doors on the elevator slid open.Ryder went in first, and I followed, my heart racing as the metal doors closed. The tension in the trapped area heightened. I glanced up at him out of the corner of my eye.He stood there, body motionless, his shoulders tight, his jaw locked down so hard I was surprised it didn't break. His hands were tucked in his pockets, but I caught the spasms running through them, like he was barely keeping himself together. He had to be holding himself back from losing his shit.I swallowed.The elevator dinged on their private floor, and I exhaled slowly before stepping out.I walked ahead to my suite.One step.Two. Three— "Janice." I stopped. My breath caught, but I kept my face composed as I turned around. "Yes, sir?" I murmured. Ryder stood there, eyes charged, dark and unreadable. But there was something else in them. Something simmering beneath the fury, something almost…fiery. Then, in a low, quiet voice…"Drink with me tonight." I blinked.For a second, I thought I'd misheard him. My lips parted slightly. "Sir, I—" His voice cut through the air. "Please." I froze. That word. That single word did something to me. I had never—never—heard Ryder Ambrose say please before. It didn't exist in his vocabulary. He didn't ask—he commanded. He expected things to go his way.And yet— He had just pleaded with me. I swallowed hard, my resolve wavering. I should say no. I should go to my room, get a full night's rest, and pretend this never happened. But… "I can spare a good night's rest," I whispered. Something in his eyes flickered. "Then come," he said simply. He turned, swiped his key card, and pushed open the door to his suite. I inhaled slowly, then stepped inside. The door clicked shut softly behind us. The suite was as luxurious as I expected—sleek, masculine, and expensive.Dark wood paneling. Dim ambient lighting. Plush gray couches. A floor-to-ceiling window running the length of the far side of the room, with a stunning view of the Prague skyline, the city lights shining like scattered stars.It was intimate. And that made this worse.I tried to maintain my cool, but my nerves were humming.This was dangerous territory. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be having a drink with him. This could quickly turn personal. Meanwhile, Ryder had already walked to the bar, pulling out a bottle of deep red wine and two glasses. The sound filled the space as he poured the liquid into each glass. Then he strode towards me, his steps measured and gave me a glass which I took, my eyes flickering over him.Somewhere along the line, he had removed his suit. His forearms were exposed, the sleeves of his sharp white shirt rolled up, showing tanned skin and the taut muscle beneath. The top three buttons were open, revealing a glimpse of his chiseled chest.God.The man was a walking female sex dream.Ryder sat down with an easy confidence and took a sip. I followed suit, settling into the plush chair across from him. For a while, neither of us spoke. We just drank, glass after glass as soft music played from somewhere and my muscles and anxiety relaxed. I'd even become tipsy. Then our eyes met. The air shifted. It was charged and thick and my breath hitched.Ryder's gaze was languid, rolling over me like a touch. Then, in a deep, sinful voice, he said, "You are a temptation." I froze, my grip on the glass tightening. Ryder leaned back slightly, his hand casually twirling his wine glass. "A forbidden delicacy," he murmured. "Dangling right in front of me, yet so out of reach." I swallowed. Heat coiled in my belly. My mind screamed at me to leave. "I should go," I whispered. I stood up, moving past him but his hand caught my wrist. Heat shot through me, white-hot and searing. I gasped softly, my pulse hammering. Ryder rose to his feet, his presence dominating. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, "I want you, Janice." A shiver ran down my spine. His fingers circled just slightly around my wrist. "I have wanted you for years." My breath shuddered. Heat pooled between my legs, my nipples tightening beneath my dress. Ryder's voice dropped, huskier, rougher. "Do you want me?" His lips were inches away from my ear. Tempting and dangerous."If you don't," he murmured, "I'll let you go. And we'll act like this never happened." My mind spun.This was uncharted territory. I'd worked for Ryder Ambrose for three years, keeping things strictly professional. But this… this was dangerous. But I wanted him. Badly. I'd always wanted him. I'd just never let myself do more than think about it.Seconds stretched. The tension was unbearable. Then Ryder exhaled sharply, jaw tight and he let go of my wrist. The loss of his touch was immediate, jarring. He took a step back but I turned quickly, grabbing his hand before he could retreat. Ryder froze. Our eyes locked. I licked my lips, heartbeat thundering. Then I whispered, "Yes."His pupils dilated, and his entire body stilled. Then, in a voice thick with desire, he said, "Say my name."My lips parted and his blue eyes fastened on them, dark and hungry. I breathed out with a tremble, "Ryder."His jaw clenched and his fingers flexed. And then— "Fuck." His curse was guttural and rough.Ryder grabbed my chin, tilting my face up and then his lips crashed onto mine.