Chapter 163
Aria's POV
My stomach dropped. I turned around, and there he was—Devon Kane, immaculate in a tailored charcoal suit, striding through the entrance. His steel-gray eyes locked onto mine immediately, and I felt a wave of heat travel from my chest to my neck. Those eyes held recognition, accusation, and something darker I didn't want to acknowledge.
"Shit," I whispered under my breath, the lie I'd told him that I was still at the office working late—now hanging between us.
Ryan stood up, smoothing his jacket. "Mr. Kane," he greeted with practiced ease. "What a surprise."
Devon approached our table, his expression unreadable, but his jaw was tight. "Winters," he acknowledged with a slight nod before turning his attention to me. "Aria. I see your... office work... has relocated."
The slight pause before and after "office work" made my skin prickle. His voice was controlled, but I could hear the edge underneath—he was angry. My fingers tightened around my water glass as I struggled to maintain composure.
"Devon," I managed, fighting to control the slight tremor in my voice. "Ryan and I were discussing some business matters."
"I'm sure you were." His eyes never left mine as he spoke, searching, assessing. He was standing close enough that I could smell his cologne, the familiar scent making my heart beat faster despite my anxiety.
"The spa here is about to begin their specialty hot stone treatments in the private pools," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "I believe you'll find them... enlightening."
It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command. I watched his lips form the words and felt my breath catch. Even angry, even as he caught me in a lie, his presence affected me physically in ways I couldn't control.
Ryan, ever the diplomat, smiled brightly. "Actually, I was just telling Aria about those. They're exceptional—I've been meaning to try them myself. Perhaps we should all partake?"
Devon's gaze flickered briefly to Ryan before returning to me. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I saw a muscle in his cheek twitch. He didn't like the suggestion of sharing this experience with Ryan.
"I didn't bring a swimsuit," I said, searching for an escape, though part of me responded to the intensity of his attention.
"The front desk has everything you need in your size," Devon countered, taking a half-step closer to me. "I made sure of it."
The implication that he knew my measurements sent a flush of warmth through me that wasn't entirely indignation. His eyes tracked the color rising in my cheeks, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Ryan must have sensed the charged atmosphere. "Aria, you should go with Devon. I actually have a call in twenty minutes with a potential client in Tokyo." He glanced at his watch. "We can continue our conversation tomorrow."
I shot Ryan a look that I hoped conveyed both my panic and sense of betrayal. He responded with an encouraging smile.
"It's a good opportunity," he said quietly. "Besides, I was actually here to discuss a potential partnership with Kane Technology. I just happened to arrive early."
The pieces clicked into place. Ryan hadn't randomly suggested this location—he had business with Devon. Which meant Devon knew exactly where to find me because he was already planning to be here.
Devon's hand came to rest lightly on the small of my back, the heat of his palm burning through the thin fabric of my dress. His fingers pressed against my spine in a touch that was both possessive and intimate.
"Shall we?" he asked, but his eyes said: You're not going anywhere.
I had no choice but to follow as he guided me through the resort. His hand never left my back, and with each step, his fingers seemed to press more firmly, a constant reminder of his control. I was intensely aware of every point where our bodies connected.
---
We entered the VIP area, where several of New York's elite were already mingling. Devon's voice was confident as he introduced me: "Everyone, this is Aria Harper, Vice President of Harper Group."
He spoke my title with a tone that declared ownership, as if the position were something he had bestowed upon me. His gaze was full of challenge, as though warning me not to contest his claim of possession over me. The warmth of his breath grazed my cheek, and I found myself struggling to maintain my composure.
Several curious glances turned our way, and I forced a confident smile while Devon's hand slid slightly lower on my back. His thumb traced a small, deliberate circle against my spine, sending an unwanted shiver through me.
Ryan appeared beside us, champagne flute in hand. "I thought you had a call?" I whispered.
"Rescheduled," he replied with a wink. "I couldn't miss this. Besides, I think we should all try those hot stone treatments Devon mentioned."
"Great idea," a woman in a red cocktail dress chimed in. "The private pools are divine."
I tensed under Devon's touch. "Actually, I should probably—"
"Probably what?" Devon cut in, leaning closer to speak directly into my ear, his voice low enough that only I could hear the dangerous edge to it. His lips nearly brushed my skin. "Turn down an experience others would kill for? Do you find our company beneath you?"
His proximity made it difficult to breathe. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, smell the subtle notes of his cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
"Not at all," I replied, fighting to keep my voice steady as I turned to face him. Our eyes locked, faces inches apart. "I simply have some work to finish."
Ryan stepped in. "Why don't you use the private pool in the back garden? It's more secluded—perfect for someone who needs to slip away afterward."
Devon's fingers pressed slightly harder against my spine, making me acutely aware of his strength. My phone vibrated in my purse, and I knew without looking that it was from him.
When I checked it moments later, the message was clear:
"Try to leave and see what happens."
I turned back to him, finding him watching me with an intensity that made my skin warm. "I only came here to discuss business with Ryan," I said, keeping my voice low. "I didn't bring swimwear."
Devon's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He stepped closer, eliminating the space between us. His hand moved to my waist, fingers splaying possessively against my hip.
"As I mentioned," he said, his voice a low rumble that I could almost feel in my chest, "the front desk has everything you need in your size. Go change, then meet me at the back garden pool." His eyes darkened. "Unless you'd prefer to explain to your father why you were meeting with Winters instead of attending the quarterly planning session?"
The threat was clear, but it was the way he delivered it—his body close to mine, his voice intimate despite the hardness of his words—that made my heart race. I was angry at his manipulation, yet I couldn't deny the effect he had on me.
I met his eyes, challenging him silently while maintaining my public smile. "I'll only be a moment."