Chapter 25 Twenty Five
Izzy stood frozen long after Dominic walked away. Her body still trembled, every nerve alive with the echo of his touch. The night air was warm, soft with the scent of salt and suncream, but inside, she felt cold and dizzy. Around her, the music from the poolside carried faintly... laughter, splashing, clinking glasses... the sound of people enjoying a night she could no longer feel part of.
Her lips still tingled where he had kissed her.
Her nipples are still hard from his mouth.
Her breath came in short, shaky bursts.
Her heart wouldn’t slow down no matter how hard she tried.
She pressed her hand to her chest, angry at herself for how easily he could still do this to her.
Why does he always have this effect on me? she thought bitterly.
Why can’t I stay away from him?
Dominic Steele...her boss.
her mistake, her weakness. Every time she thought she’d escaped, he found a way to pull her back in. And every time, she hated that she let him.
She quickly adjusted the light blue wrap around her waist, trying to pull herself together, and ran her fingers through her hair. She took a deep breath and forced herself to move, to walk back toward the pool area as if nothing had happened.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, but before she could look at it, she saw Adrian heading her way.
“There you are,” he said, his easy smile lighting up his face. “I’ve been looking all over. Thought you ditched us.”
Izzy managed a small smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice how unsteady she felt. “Sorry, I just needed a minute.”
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes narrowing with concern. “You look a little flushed.”
She gave a nervous laugh. “Probably too much sun and chlorine. I’ll survive.”
He grinned. “Come on, everyone’s at the fire pit. They’ve got snacks, and I heard someone brought a guitar.”
Together, they walked toward the poolside fire where a group of coworkers sat laughing and talking. The glow of the flames painted the night in warm golds and oranges. The tension inside her slowly began to fade as she listened to Adrian talk.
He was easy company... lighthearted, kind, and funny in a way that didn’t demand anything from her. He told stories about his awkward work trips, about getting lost in a client’s building, about accidentally sending the wrong file to the CEO. Izzy laughed... a real laugh... for the first time all evening.
For a little while, she forgot the storm she’d left behind. She forgot the sound of Dominic’s low, rough voice whispering that he missed her.
But every now and then, her eyes drifted across the pool... just for a heartbeat... to where Dominic stood. He was speaking to someone from another company, calm and composed as ever, a drink in his hand. The golden light of the fire danced along his jaw, catching in his eyes.
And when his gaze suddenly lifted to hers, the world seemed to still.
Their eyes locked.
No smile. No words.
Just heat. Pure, impossible heat that made her forget to breathe.
Her stomach twisted painfully, her pulse roaring in her ears.
Adrian noticed her silence and followed her gaze briefly. His smile faltered for just a second before he looked back at her. “You look like you’re deep in thought,” he said lightly, pretending not to notice.
Izzy blinked and looked away, forcing a small smile. “Maybe just tired.”
“Then you should head up soon,” he said gently. “Big day tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Yeah. You’re right.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Don’t overthink everything tonight, okay? You were amazing today. You’re one of the best people Steele Enterprises has.”
Something in his tone... warm, sincere.. eased her chest a little. “Thanks, Adrian. That means a lot.”
“Anytime,” he said with a grin.
They talked a little longer before she excused herself. The night air brushed softly against her skin as she walked through the resort’s quiet halls. The sounds of laughter and music faded behind her, replaced by the soft rhythm of her heels on the tiled floor.
By the time she reached her room, her hands were still trembling faintly. She leaned against the door after closing it, pressing her palms to the cool wood, her breath coming unevenly.
She didn’t know what scared her more...how much she still wanted Dominic, or how much power he still had over her even after everything.
He was supposed to be her past. A mistake she’d buried.
But he kept showing up in her present like a shadow she couldn’t outrun.
She changed into a loose shirt and shorts, crawled into bed, and stared up at the ceiling. The silence in the room was heavy, filled with everything she couldn’t say out loud.
His voice still echoed in her head...low, rough, dangerous.
I missed you.
Her chest tightened.
When her phone buzzed on the nightstand, she didn’t have to look to know who it was.
Still, she picked it up, heart pounding.
Dominic.
One message.
Short. Sharp.
Dangerous.
Meet me. East gate. Ten minutes.
Izzy froze. Her breath hitched as she stared at the glowing screen.
Her mind told her not to go. That this was a mistake. That she’d regret it the moment she saw him again.
But her heart...her traitorous, aching heart... was already making the choice for her.
Because no matter how much she tried to hate him, Dominic Steele was the one man she could never resist.