Drunk and Daring I Kissed a Tycoon novel Chapter 292

Vespera wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't.

At this point in the conversation, backing out would've just made her look overly dramatic or like a total coward. So, instead, she stood up and went to the bathroom.

Standing under the shower, she tried to think things through rationally, and then it hit her.

Wasn't this supposed to be a short-term, no-strings deal? How did she suddenly get talked into buying the whole mansion?

Dominic was definitely the king of smooth-talking manipulation.

She stepped out of the shower after just 30 minutes, and her decision was made.

Sure, his proposal was tempting, but there was no such thing as a free lunch. Especially not when the guy handing it is painfully good-looking.

She couldn't let a bit of craving override her better judgment. She opened the door, ready to lay it all out.

"I—"

The chair by the window was empty.

He was gone.

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Good. That was good. Whatever the reason, his leaving was the best possible outcome.

She relaxed and dropped onto the bed, letting herself sprawl for a moment. She'd rest for a bit, wait until he was sound asleep, and then sneak back down to her place.

Crisis averted—if she could just play dumb and coast until morning, she'd be fine.

As she lay there, sleep started to creep in. Her eyelids grew heavy. One blink then another… until she drifted off completely.

She was deep in that sweet, hazy kind of sleep when suddenly, a voice cut through the quiet. "Vera, you fell asleep already?"

"Hmm? Wha—?"

Her eyes snapped open.

She shot up like she'd been electrocuted, heart pounding wildly, her head thudding in sync with each beat like a bass drum in her skull.

Dominic sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in close, his warm breath fanning across her face.

Dominic had always been a man of restraint. The more beautiful something was, the more control he exercised.

He made sure everything was mutual, that she gave herself over willingly. No matter how badly he wanted to lose control, he kept himself in check.

"Still can't decide?" he whispered.

His other hand slid up, the fingertip brushing lightly across her lips.

His gaze darkened like storm-tossed black tides, ready to pull her under. And then, he leaned in closer, so close she could barely breathe.

"Should I decide for you? But if I do, you can't take it back," he said softly.

The quiet night wrapped around them, and his voice—low, coaxing—stirred every corner of her imagination, pulling desire right to the surface.

Vespera's chest rose and fell with each shallow breath. She told herself, over and over, "Lust is an illusion. You're not into him. You're not catching feelings. You're still rational—rational, my ass."

"Yes."

The second the word left her lips, his mouth was on hers.