Chapter 33 Thirty Three
Izzy barely slept that night.
Even after sending the message... Let’s do this.
she’d stared at her phone for a long time,
waiting for his reply.
But nothing came.
By morning, she told herself it didn’t matter. It was just sex and she needed a sex life. For now, she wasn't going to think about anything.
She had work to focus on.
She got dressed early, choosing a soft cream blouse and a pencil skirt. Nothing too bold, but still neat and put-together. Her makeup was light, just enough to hide how tired she looked.
When she arrived at the office, the usual morning chatter filled the air. Her colleague greeted her with a smile, asking about the weekend, about the retreat.
Izzy smiled back, pretending everything was normal.
But inside, she was restless.
She hadn’t seen Dominic.
His office door stayed closed most of the morning, and he had mentioned he’d be out for a meeting downtown.
Good, she thought. Maybe distance would help her breathe.
Still, every time her phone buzzed with a new email or notification, her heart jumped a little hoping it was him.
It never was.
By noon, Dominic was finally back. She heard his voice in the hallway before she saw him. Calm, low, commanding... talking with two department heads about an upcoming client proposal.
When he walked past her desk, she didn’t look up right away. But she felt it.… that familiar shift in the air, that heavy presence that always made her pulse skip.
He stopped for half a second near her desk, to glance at her screen, maybe just to read.
Or his little way of saying hi. She had no idea..
Damn, he smelled so nice… she would give anything to be wrapped around his right now.
“Miss Hart,” he said softly.
She looked up. “Mr. Steele.” her voice shaking
Their eyes met... just for a moment... and then he was gone, disappearing into his office.
Izzy’s fingers froze on the keyboard. She let out a slow breath and tried to refocus.
He hadn’t replied to her text, but that look told her he’d seen it.
The rest of the day went by in a blur. Meetings, reports, phone calls... normal work routine.
But every time she passed by Dominic’s office, she could sense his gaze on her, even if she didn’t look directly at him.
By 6 p.m., most of the staff had left. A few stopped by her desk to say goodnight.
“Working late again?” one of the designers teased.
“Yeah,” she said with a small smile. “Trying to finish this report before tomorrow.” which was partly true and partly a lie. She was waiting for him.
By 8 p.m., the office was completely quiet.
The lights were dimmed, the hallways empty. Izzy stretched in her chair and rubbed her eyes. She was the only one left.
Her phone buzzed on the desk.
A new message.
Dominic Steele: Come to my office.
Her heart skipped.
She stared at the screen for a few seconds, her breath caught between nerves and something else... anticipation.
Finally, she stood, straightened her skirt, and walked down the hall.
Dominic’s office light was still on when she reached the door. She knocked lightly.
“Come in,” his deep voice called.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
He was standing near his desk, jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled up, looking tired but still impossibly composed.
The city lights from the window reflected against the glass, casting soft shadows across the room.
“You wanted to see me,” Izzy said quietly, closing the door behind her.
He looked up at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, in a low voice, he said, “Lock the door.”
Her stomach fluttered.
She hesitated for a heartbeat... then turned and locked it.
When she faced him again, he was already watching her closely.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone softer than she expected. “I couldn’t reply to your message last night. I wanted but I had to jump on a work call. Today's Meetings ran late. I didn’t want to text something half-thought.”
Izzy nodded. “It’s fine.”
He studied her face. “But I need to be sure. You said you’re okay with this. With what we talked about.”
She met his eyes. “I am.”
For a few seconds, neither of them moved. The silence between them was heavy, like it carried all the words they hadn’t said.
Then his voice dropped lower. “I’ve missed you.”
Something in her chest pulled tight.
Before she could say anything, he moved... slowly crossing the space between them until he stood just inches away.
His hand brushed against her arm, sending a shiver up her spine.
“I tried to stay away,” he said quietly. “But I can’t. Without you... I might go nuts.”
“Dominic…” she started, but her voice came out weak.
He didn’t wait. He reached up, cupped her face gently, and kissed her.
It wasn’t the cold, restrained Dominic she’d seen lately.
This kiss was desperate... deep, hungry, filled with everything he’d been holding back.
Izzy froze for a moment, then melted into it. Her hands gripped his shirt as his fingers slid into her hair.
The world outside... the office, the noise, the rules... all disappeared.
When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathing hard.
He rested his forehead against hers. “If we do this, Izzy,” he murmured, “it stays between us. No one can know.”
She nodded slowly, her pulse still racing. “I understand.”
He looked into her eyes... searching, maybe for hesitation, maybe for a sign to stop. But she didn’t move.
And then, quietly, she whispered, “I missed you too.”
That was all it took.
Dominic leaned in again, kissing her with even more urgency, one hand sliding around her waist as if he’d finally stopped fighting himself.
The office was silent except for their breathing, the faint hum of the city lights below, and the sound of two people crossing a line they both knew they couldn’t uncross.