Aria didn't sleep that night.
She lay awake in the dark, the skyline of Chicago stretching out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Theo's penthouse. The faint glow of the city lights danced across the sleek black sheets, casting long shadows across the ceiling.
Her heart was still pounding.
Theo's words echoed in her head.
"I think you make me dangerous."
Dangerous.
Her fingers curled into the soft fabric of the sheets as she stared toward the window. Somewhere in the other room, Theo was asleep or pretending to be. After Richard had left, Theo had said nothing else. He'd walked toward the window, his back to her, his posture hard and controlled.
Aria had stood there for several long seconds, waiting hoping for him to say something.
But he hadn't.
So she'd turned and walked away.
Her chest tightened painfully as she sat up, brushing her hair back from her face. The sharp cut of the night's events settled in her chest like broken glass. Richard's words lingered cold and precise.
"The only mistake is allowing a weakness to sit at your side."
Her throat tightened.
Was that what she was, a weakness?
Her eyes drifted toward the closed door that separated her room from the rest of the penthouse. Beyond it, Theo was somewhere in the dark, quiet and controlled as always.
But not untouched.
Richard's visit had cut deeper than Theo would ever admit.
She could feel it in the tension beneath his grip, the sharpness of his gaze, the heat in his voice when he'd said
"I should let you go."
Aria's breath hitched. Her hand curled over her chest.
But he hadn't let her go.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
The soft hum of the city beneath the windows pulsed through the quiet. Her heart hammered painfully beneath her ribs. Her skin burned beneath the thin silk of her nightgown.
She needed air.
Throwing off the covers, Aria padded toward the door. Her bare feet were silent against the cold wood floor as she slipped into the hallway.
The penthouse was dark except for the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the tall windows. The shadows stretched across the marble floors, wrapping around the sleek leather furniture and glass walls.
Her eyes found him instantly.
Theo stood at the window, his back to her. He was still dressed in his black slacks and white dress shirt, the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. His hands were braced against the glass, his shoulders tense beneath the soft glow of the skyline.
Aria's chest tightened.
She crossed the room slowly. Her heart hammered painfully with each step.
Theo's eyes flicked toward her reflection in the glass as she approached. He didn't move but his gaze darkened beneath the low lights.
"You should be asleep," Theo said quietly.
Aria's hand curled into a fist at her side. "So should you."
Theo's mouth curved faintly but the smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze remained fixed on the city below.
"Couldn't sleep?" Aria asked softly.
Theo's jaw flexed. His fingers pressed harder into the glass. "Old habit."
Aria's chest tightened. "Because of him?"
Theo's gaze sharpened.
She took another step toward him. The hem of her silk nightgown brushed against her thighs.
"You're angry," she said quietly.
Theo's eyes flashed beneath the dark glow of the skyline. "I'm not angry."
"You're tense."
Theo's gaze darkened. "It's nothing I'm not used to."
Her brow furrowed. "That's not the same thing."
Theo's mouth curved slightly cold and hard. "It's the only thing that matters."
Aria's pulse hammered painfully.
He was closing himself off. Retreating into that cold, dangerous place where no one could reach him.
Her hand lifted toward his arm. Her fingertips brushed against the fabric of his sleeve.
Theo's breath hitched.
Slowly, his gaze slid toward hers.
"What are you doing?" Theo's voice was low.
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "Trying to figure you out."
Theo's mouth tilted. "Good luck with that."
Her gaze sharpened. "You're not as hard to read as you think."
Theo's eyes flashed. His hand slipped from the glass and curled around her wrist.
Aria's breath hitched.
Theo's grip was steady, not hard, but controlled. His thumb brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Is that so?" Theo's voice was low, dangerous.
Aria's breath caught painfully. Her heart hammered beneath the thin silk of her nightgown.
Her gaze lifted toward his.
"Yes," she whispered.
Theo's mouth curved faintly. His gaze dropped toward her mouth.
His hand slid higher, his fingers brushing the delicate curve of her wrist. His breath stirred against her skin.
"You think you understand me?" Theo's voice was a quiet hum of danger beneath the low lights.
Her pulse spiked.
"I think you're hiding," Aria whispered.
Theo's gaze sharpened. "From what?"
"From me."
His eyes darkened dangerously.
"Careful, Aria," Theo murmured.
Her pulse hammered. "Or what?"
Theo's hand slid along her jawline. His fingers brushed the curve of her neck.
"You might not like what you find," he said softly.
Aria's breath hitched. Her hands curled into the sharp lines of his jacket.
"Then stop me," she whispered.
Theo's eyes burned. His hand slid to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair.
"Don't tempt me," Theo murmured.
Aria's pulse spiked. Her chest rose and fell beneath the sharp edge of her nightgown. Her lips parted beneath his gaze.
Theo's mouth hovered just above hers. His breath brushed against her lips, dangerous, measured, controlled.
Aria's hands tightened in his jacket. "What are you so afraid of?"
Theo's gaze darkened. His hand at her neck tightened slightly.
"I'm not afraid."
"Then prove it."
Theo's breath hitched.
For a single, charged second, Aria thought he was going to kiss her.
But then Theo's gaze sharpened hard and cutting beneath the glow of the city lights.
Slowly, his hand slid from her neck.
His mouth curved faintly. "Goodnight, Aria."
Aria's breath faltered.
Theo's eyes remained sharp beneath the low lights. His gaze lingered for a moment longer before he stepped back.
The heat of his body disappeared instantly.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully beneath her ribs as Theo crossed the room, disappearing down the dark hallway.
Her breath came in shallow bursts. Her hands were still curled into fists at her sides, her skin burning where his hand had lingered.
Her gaze flicked toward the skyline.
Theo was hiding something.
And for the first time, Aria realized it wasn't just about the deal.
It was about her.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
Aria stood frozen long after Theo disappeared down the hallway.
Her pulse was still racing, the imprint of his hand lingering at the back of her neck like a brand. Her skin burned beneath the thin silk of her nightgown, and the heat in her chest pulsed dangerously between anticipation and frustration.
She pressed her hand over her heart, trying to calm the frantic beating.
Theo Kingston was unraveling her piece by piece.
And worse, she was starting to let him.
Her gaze flicked toward the hallway where Theo had disappeared. The low hum of the city beneath the windows pulsed through the silence, a quiet reminder that the world outside was still turning even as hers tilted dangerously toward him.
This was supposed to be a business deal. A contract.
But Theo was breaking the rules.
And Aria was starting to realize so was she.
Her bare feet pressed against the cool marble floor as she stepped toward the hallway. The logical part of her mind screamed for her to walk away to go back to bed and put space between them before this turned into something she couldn't control.
But her body had already made the decision for her.
Her hand brushed against the dark wood of Theo's bedroom door. Her breath hitched.
Slowly, her fingers curled around the handle.
"Aria."
Her head snapped toward the sound of his voice.
Theo stood at the end of the hall, his tall figure framed by the dim light spilling from the room behind him. His white dress shirt hung open at the collar, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. The sharp lines of his face were carved in shadow and light, his eyes dark beneath the low glow of the city behind him.
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "I wasn't…" She hesitated, her fingers slipping from the door handle. "I was just"
"Lying?" Theo's mouth curved slightly, but there was no humor in his expression.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully beneath her ribs. "I wasn't going to come in."
Theo's gaze darkened. "Of course you weren't."
Her jaw tightened. "You think this is funny?"
Theo's eyes sharpened. "No."
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as Theo's gaze burned into hers. His hand lifted, brushing against the open doorframe as he leaned slightly toward her.
"You're standing outside my bedroom at two in the morning in a silk nightgown," Theo said quietly. "If you expect me to believe that's innocent…"
His eyes flicked toward the thin strap of her gown, the bare curve of her shoulder beneath the dim light.
Aria's chest tightened dangerously. "Maybe I wasn't thinking."
Theo's mouth tilted. "Or maybe you were."
Her breath hitched.
Theo's gaze sharpened. He took a single step forward, closing the space between them. His hand lifted toward her jaw, his fingers brushing the delicate line of her neck.
Aria's pulse spiked violently.
"You're playing with fire," Theo murmured. His thumb brushed along her throat, tracing the rapid beat of her pulse beneath her skin.
Her breath hitched. "And you're letting me."
Theo's eyes flashed dangerously. His grip at her jaw tightened slightly.
"Don't mistake my patience for restraint," Theo said softly.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts. "Then stop me."
Theo's mouth curved faintly. His thumb slid along the edge of her jawline.
"I'm not the one in danger," Theo whispered.
Her chest tightened painfully. Her hands lifted, curling into the sharp lines of his dress shirt.
"Then why do you look like you're about to break?" she whispered.
Theo's breath hitched. His hand slid from her jaw, brushing down the curve of her neck and settling at her shoulder. His fingers brushed beneath the thin strap of her nightgown.
His gaze, dark and burning, dropped toward her mouth.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully.
Theo's hand slid along her bare shoulder, his thumb tracing the delicate line of her collarbone.
"If I cross this line," Theo said quietly, his breath brushing against her mouth, "there's no turning back."
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Aria's fingers curled into his shirt. "Then don't."
Theo's gaze sharpened. His hand at her shoulder tightened slightly. His breath brushed against her lips.
"Aria," Theo murmured. His mouth hovered just above hers, dangerously close. "Be sure."
Her breath hitched.
Her hands slid up his chest, curling into the fabric of his shirt.
"I am."
Theo's eyes burned beneath the low lights.
A single charged second passed.
Then Theo's mouth crushed against hers.
Aria's breath disappeared instantly. Her hands curled into the sharp lines of his jacket as Theo's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. His mouth was hard and demanding against hers, his hand sliding beneath her jaw as he deepened the kiss with quiet possession.
Aria's pulse spiked dangerously. Her body melted into his as Theo's grip tightened, his hand sliding along the bare curve of her back.
Theo's mouth parted against hers, his breath sharp and uneven as his thumb brushed against her jawline.
Aria's head tilted back, her breath breaking between them. Theo's mouth trailed along the delicate line of her throat, his breath stirring against her skin as his hand tightened at her waist.
Her heart hammered painfully beneath her ribs.
Theo's mouth hovered just above her ear. His breath stirred against her skin.
"I told you," Theo murmured. "Dangerous."
Aria's breath hitched. Her hands curled into his shirt.
"You think I'm scared?"
Theo's mouth curved faintly against her neck. His hand slid down her back, his fingers brushing beneath the thin fabric of her nightgown.
"No," Theo murmured. "I think you like it."
Her pulse spiked violently.
Theo's gaze darkened. His hand tightened at her hip.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts. "You're crossing the line."
Theo's mouth curved. "I warned you."
Her eyes flashed beneath the low lights. "And now?"
Theo's gaze burned into hers. His hand slid higher beneath the silk of her gown, his thumb brushing the bare skin beneath her ribcage.
"Now," Theo murmured, his mouth brushing against hers, "we see how far you're willing to fall."
Aria's breath disappeared. Her chest pressed into his as Theo's mouth crashed against hers again deeper this time, more dangerous.
Her back hit the wall as Theo's hand slid beneath her thigh, lifting her leg against his hip. His mouth parted against hers, his breath sharp and uneven as his hand slid higher beneath her nightgown.
Her pulse hammered dangerously.
Aria's hand curled into his hair, pulling him closer. Her breath broke beneath the weight of his mouth, the sharp edge of his body pressing into hers.
Theo's mouth tore from hers with a sharp breath. His forehead pressed against hers, his chest rising and falling beneath the sharp lines of his shirt.
His gaze dark and burning locked onto hers beneath the low lights.
"This is a mistake," Theo said softly.
Aria's breath hitched. "Then stop."
Theo's eyes darkened. His mouth brushed along her jawline.
"Careful," Theo murmured. His hand at her waist tightened. "You're starting to sound like you want this."
Aria's breath hitched. Her head tilted back against the wall, her hands curled into his jacket.
Theo's mouth hovered just above hers.
"Do you?"
Her breath broke beneath the weight of his gaze.
"Yes."
Theo's eyes flashed dangerously.
"That's what I thought."