The afternoon sun hung low over the Parisian skyline as Ivy and Lucien entered the high-end co-working space with a view of the Seine. The place buzzed with energy, a mix of ambitious entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals who moved with purpose. Ivy was riding high from the morning’s negotiations, their project gaining momentum with each successful meeting. Still, beneath her poised exterior, the simmering tension between her and Lucien was impossible to ignore.

Since their kiss on the rooftop, everything felt different. The stolen glances, the subtle touches that lingered a moment too long—they were on a precipice, balancing their professional partnership with a personal connection that was growing too strong to deny. But today was about business, and Ivy was determined to keep it that way.

Lucien led them to a private conference room, where their next potential partners were already seated. He greeted everyone with his usual effortless charm, introducing Ivy as the strategic genius behind their recent successes. Ivy took her place beside him, her confidence unwavering as she launched into their pitch.

The meeting was intense, with questions volleying back and forth as they discussed the details of the partnership. Ivy was in her element, handling every query with precision and authority. Lucien watched her, his admiration clear as he chimed in to back her up. They worked together seamlessly, their synergy leaving the clients visibly impressed.

As the meeting wrapped up, the partners expressed excitement about moving forward. Ivy felt a wave of satisfaction; they were one step closer to their goal. As they left the room, Lucien turned to her, his gaze lingering with a mix of pride and something deeper.

“You were incredible in there,” Lucien said softly, his voice carrying the weight of his admiration. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Ivy smiled, her pulse quickening under his gaze. “Thank you. We make a good team.”

Lucien stepped closer, the air between them thickening with an unspoken tension. “Tonight,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate, “let’s celebrate. Just the two of us.”

Ivy hesitated, her professional instincts warning her to keep the lines clear, but the promise in Lucien’s eyes was too enticing to resist. His gaze was magnetic, drawing her in with a silent invitation that made her heart race. The rational part of her mind was quickly drowned out by the memory of his lips on hers, the thrill of his touch still fresh in her thoughts.

“Okay,” Ivy agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Tonight.”

Lucien’s smile was slow, a mix of relief and anticipation. “I’ll take care of everything. Meet me in the lobby at eight.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ivy tried to focus on the mountain of tasks still ahead, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Lucien. The way he looked at her, like she was the only person in the room. The way his voice softened when he spoke to her. The promise of tonight hung over her like a thrilling secret, one she was both eager and nervous to unwrap.

At exactly eight o’clock, Ivy stepped out of the elevator and into the hotel lobby, her heart fluttering in her chest. She spotted Lucien immediately. He stood by the entrance, dressed in a sharp black suit that fit him like a glove. His eyes found hers, darkening with something unmistakable as they swept over her form-fitting dress. The thin straps and the way the fabric clung to her curves made Ivy feel both powerful and vulnerable under his intense gaze.

“You look breathtaking,” Lucien said, his voice thick with appreciation.

Ivy felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “Thank you. You clean up well yourself.”

He offered his arm, and she took it, feeling the solid warmth of him against her side. They walked outside to where a sleek black car waited, and Lucien helped her inside with a gentle hand on the small of her back, his touch sending a thrill through her. As the car moved through the city streets, Ivy found herself acutely aware of every inch of space between them. She could feel the heat radiating from Lucien’s body, and every subtle shift he made only heightened her anticipation.

They arrived at an exclusive rooftop restaurant, the kind that whispered luxury with every detail. The maître d’ greeted Lucien with a nod and led them to a private terrace overlooking the glittering city below. Ivy couldn’t help but be captivated by the view—the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance, the lights reflecting off the Seine like a million tiny stars. But even the beauty of Paris couldn’t compete with the magnetic pull of the man sitting across from her.

Lucien ordered a bottle of champagne, his eyes never leaving Ivy’s as he raised his glass. “To us,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of a promise.

“To us,” Ivy echoed, clinking her glass against his. The champagne was crisp, its bubbles dancing on her tongue, but it was the way Lucien watched her that made her feel light-headed. His gaze was intense, focused, as if he was trying to memorize every detail of her face.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, transitioning from work to more personal topics. Lucien shared stories of his early business ventures, the risks he had taken, the mistakes he had learned from. Ivy found herself opening up too, talking about her ambitions, her fears, and the challenges she had faced to get to where she was. There was a vulnerability inthat went beyond the superficial. It was as if they were peeling back the layers of their carefully crafted exteriors, revealing the raw, real parts of themselves they rarely showed to others.

As the night wore on, the city lights danced around them, casting a soft glow that made everything feel just a little more magical. Lucien reached across the table, his fingers brushing against Ivy’s. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a ripple of heat through her, the contact searing in its simplicity.

“You make everything seem possible, Ivy,” Lucien said quietly, his thumb tracing slow circles on the back of her hand. “With you, I feel like I can breathe. Like I’m not just fighting for the next deal or the next win, but for something that actually matters.”

Ivy’s heart raced at his words, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and the intensity in his eyes nearly took her breath away. It was a mix of admiration, desire, and something deeper that she couldn’t quite name but was starting to feel herself. Ivy squeezed his hand, her fingers lacing with his.

“Lucien, I—” Ivy started, her voice faltering as she searched for the right words. But Lucien didn’t give her the chance to finish. He stood, pulling her up gently from her chair, and suddenly they were standing face to face, close enough that Ivy could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin.

Lucien’s hands settled on her waist, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. Ivy’s pulse quickened, her body responding instinctively to his touch. His fingers traced the curve of her hip, sliding up her back, sending shivers down her spine. She could feel the steady beat of his heart against her chest, the rhythm matching her own.

“Ivy,” Lucien whispered, his voice low and thick with emotion. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear, his breath hot against her skin. “I’ve wanted this… wanted you… from the moment we met.”

Ivy’s breath hitched, her head tilting slightly as Lucien’s lips grazed the sensitive spot just below her ear. It was a gentle touch, a barely-there brush of his lips, but it sent a jolt of electricity straight through her. She turned her head, her mouth finding his in a kiss that was slow, exploratory, and yet charged with an urgency that spoke of everything they had been holding back.

Lucien’s grip tightened on her waist, pulling her even closer as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against hers with a hunger that mirrored her own. Ivy’s hands slid up his chest, feeling the firm muscles beneath the fabric of his suit, her fingers curling into the lapels as if to anchor herself in the moment. The kiss was a dance of longing and restraint, a silent conversation between their bodies that spoke of desires too long suppressed.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless and flushed, Lucien rested his forehead against hers, his eyes dark and filled with an intensity that made Ivy’s knees feel weak.

“Ivy,” he murmured, his thumb brushing her cheek as if memorizing the feel of her skin. “I don’t want to rush this. I want to savor every moment with you.”

Ivy’s heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice, her own emotions swirling in a mix of anticipation and the thrilling uncertainty of what lay ahead. “I want that too, Lucien,” she whispered, her hand cupping his face. “I want all of it.”

Lucien’s smile was slow and utterly disarming. He kissed her again, softer this time, as if sealing a promise between them. When he pulled back, he laced his fingers with hers and led her to the private elevator at the back of the terrace, his hand never leaving hers.

The ride up to Lucien’s suite was silent, the air between them charged with an electric tension that neither spoke of but both felt acutely. When the doors opened, Lucien guided Ivy inside, his movements unhurried yet purposeful. He didn’t rush; instead, he took his time, savoring the moment as if every step forward was a deliberate choice.

Lucien’s suite was luxurious, all sleek lines and understated elegance, but Ivy barely registered the surroundings. All she could focus on was the way Lucien looked at her, his gaze unwavering as he reached for her once more. His touch was gentle, his hands gliding up her arms before resting on her shoulders , his eyes locking onto hers  with a depth that sent thrills through Ivy. For a moment they just stood there.the world narrowing down to just the two of them, suspended in the stillness of the room.

Lucien leaned in his lips brushing against hers with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the tension thrumming  between them. It was a slow, lingering kiss that sent heat coursing through Ivy veins, her body arching  into his touch. Lucien hands slid down her back, pulling her flush against him, and Ivy could feel the solid strength of him, every inch of his body a perfect a perfect fit against hers.

As the kids deepened, Lucien hands roamed her curves with a reverence  that made Ivy breath hitch. His touch was firmed yet gentle, exploring her as if commiting every detail to memory . She melted into him, her hands running up his chest, fingers slipping under his suit jacket
To feel the warmth of his skin. Lucien groaned softly against her mouth, the sound low and rough, sending a wave of desire though Ivy.

Lucien jacket hit the floor, quickly flowed by Ivy's dress, pooling at her feet. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes dark and filled with admiration. "You're perfect," he whispered his voice filled with emotion. " Every part of you."

Ivy blushed under his gaze, but the intensity in his eyes made her feel bold, desired in a way she never felt before . She reached up, tangling her fingers in his hair, pulling him back down into a kiss that was more hungrier and more demanding. Lucien responded in kind, his hands sliding down her sides,  gripping her hips as if anchoring  himself to her.

He guided her back to the bed, their movement a tangle of limbs and soft laughter, punctuated by heated kisses that left them both breathless . They fell onto the bed in a tangle if sheets, Ivy beneath  him, Lucien hovering over her with a look if raw need that made her heart race. His mouth moved to her neck, pressing hot , open- mouthed kisses along her skin, his breath warm and ragged against her pulse.

Ivy hands roamed his back, nails digging slightly into his shoulders as Lucien kisses trailed lower, each touch setting her nerves  alight. She arched into him, the feel of his weight, his warmth, grounding her in the moment. It was  a headed mixed of passion and intimacy, each touch, each kiss, fanning the flames of desire  that has been smoldering between them for far to long.

Lucien hands were everywhere-
Skimming her sides, tracing the lines of her thighs,  exploring every inch of her with a reverence that made Ivy breath hitch. He pulled back for just a moment, his eyes meeting hers with questions, a silent plea for permission to continue. Ivy nodded her heart thudding in her chest as she pulled him back down, her lips finding his in a kiss that left room for no doubt.

Lucien lips trailed down Ivy stomach, each kiss sending shivers through her. He paused, breath warm against her skin, teasing the edge of anticipation. Ivy's heart race, her breath hitching as his gaze met hers. The room felt charged, every touch electric . Lucien slow deliberate moves kept Ivy on edge, drawing out the moment , their connection deepening with every deliberate second.

Lucien’s hands moved gently along her sides, fingers tracing patterns that made Ivy’s skin tingle. His touch was soft, deliberate, a promise of what was to come. Ivy's breath quickened, her body arching slightly as she surrendered to the rising tension between them. Lucien’s lips followed his hands, exploring her with a mix of tenderness and intent. Their breaths synchronized, a silent rhythm building between them, pulling them closer as they lost themselves in the moment.

Lucien moved with slow, deliberate care, watching Ivy’s face for any sign of discomfort. When she winced, he paused, concern clouding his eyes. Ivy gripped his hand, her nails digging into his skin as she adjusted, the initial sharpness of pain slowly ebbing away. She nodded softly, her breath shaky, signaling him to continue. Lucien leaned down, brushing gentle kisses across her lips, his movements cautious, ensuring she was with him every step of the way.

Gradually, Ivy’s tension gave way to pleasure. Her breaths grew heavier, the rhythm of their bodies syncing as Lucien's touches grew bolder, more assured. The initial sting was replaced by a warm, spreading heat, and Ivy’s soft gasps turned into quiet, breathy moans. She clung to him, her hands exploring his back, encouraging him as they moved together, finding a perfect, unspoken harmony.

Each moment stretched out, rich with the intimacy that blossomed between them. Lucien’s gaze never left hers, his touch a constant reassurance, as they lost themselves in the connection they were building. The outside world faded away leaving only the quiet rhythm of their breaths and the electric pull between them. Lucien’s hands roamed her body, exploring with a tenderness that made Ivy’s heart swell. She arched against him, her body meeting his with growing confidence, every movement a silent declaration of trust and desire.

As the pleasure built, Ivy’s senses heightened, every touch sending sparks through her. Lucien’s name escaped her lips in soft, breathless murmurs, each one urging him closer, drawing them both toward the inevitable peak. The room was filled with the sounds of their shared. Lucien moved with Ivy, their bodies swaying in a rhythm that felt natural, each touch deepening the connection between them. As the pleasure built, Ivy’s soft cries filled the room, her hands gripping Lucien’s back, urging him closer. Every movement was deliberate, each shared breath a testament to the intimacy that blossomed between them. Lucien’s focus never wavered, his gaze locked on hers, reassuring and filled with unspoken promises.

The tension between them rose like a tide, a slow and steady build that carried them higher. Ivy’s heartbeat quickened, her breaths mingling with Lucien’s as the world around them faded away. She arched against him, her body moving instinctively, every touch sending a cascade of warmth through her. Lucien matched her pace, his hands exploring her body with a mix of tenderness and urgency, guiding them both toward the peak.

Finally, they reached it together, a shared release that left them both breathless and trembling. Ivy cried out, her voice echoing softly in the room, Lucien’s name spilling from her lips as she clung to him. He held her close, their bodies still joined as they rode out the last waves of pleasure, the intensity slowly giving way to a quiet, contented calm.

With Ivy tucked securely his arms, Lucien closed his eyes, his own mind settling into  the quiet stillness of the night they lay together, rapped in the soft glow of moonlight, the room filled with the quiet hum of their shared breaths. As they fell asleep the bond between them stronger.