"Mmm, that feels so good." I let out a moan, closing my eyes and leaning back against the dark leather of Conrad's car. His low chuckle vibrated through the vehicle as he drove us out the front gate of the estate.

"You sound like you're having an orgasm," Conrad said with a cocky smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief as we lined up behind a row of cars exiting the premises.

I rolled my eyes, massaging the bottom of my bare feet, giving special attention to my aching toes. "Even if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business," I shot back, sticking my tongue out at him playfully.

He glanced over, one eyebrow raised. "Oh, I think it would be entirely my business if you were having an orgasm in my car."

"Dream on, Conrad. You're not that lucky," I retorted, trying to suppress a smile.

"Hey, I don't need luck. I've got charm, remember?" He wiggled his eyebrows, making me laugh despite myself.

We had danced for nearly an hour, lost in each other's rhythm, until Skye summoned me to introduce me to her friend circle. As much as I wanted to keep dancing the night away with Conrad, I was grateful to Skye for ensuring I got the exposure I needed to grow my business. I had managed to secure at least seven new clients who promised to contact me as soon as possible. One of Skye's friends even invited me to join her at a runway event she was organizing, offering to set up a special showcase just for me. I was over the moon.

Still, I couldn't help but be distracted while speaking to the women, my mind drifting back to Conrad and how his strong arms had held me as we twirled. The way his touch sent shivers down my spine, making my heart race, was hard to ignore.

"You were quite the social butterfly tonight," Conrad remarked, his tone light but with a hint of admiration. "Making all those connections and still managing to save a few dances for me."

"I'm a woman of many talents," I said, flashing him a grin. I moved my heels around on the floor of the car, trying to make space to stretch my feet.

"Here, let me help." He reached over to the passenger side, bending to reach for my heels. I put my hand on my chest and gasped dramatically.

"Mr. Maxwell, are you trying to suck up for abandoning me today?"

"Maybe I am." He grunted in a growl-like manner while placing my heels in the backseat of his car. Then he rested his arm on the back of my headrest and stared into my eyes like he was trying to read me. "Or maybe I'm trying to do this." He briefly glanced at the now empty road behind us as the car sped through the dark, forested path I had arrived from earlier in the evening.

"Do what?" I asked, confused. He leaned in closer, his eyes still on the road with his other hand on the steering wheel. I could smell his cologne and feel the heat of his body as he inched the side of his face closer to me.

"This." He removed his arm from behind my seat and briefly glanced at me. By this point, I was completely turned towards him in my seat. In one swift motion, he grabbed my nose, pinched it, and then let go, pulling it a little.

"Ow." I winced from the stinging, rubbing my poor nose to soothe the sting. "You bastard!" My hands flew in the air, hitting him on his arm as he raised it to defend himself, laughing. I tried to reach for his nose as much as I could with the seat belt restraining me, but he kept dodging expertly, and I kept missing. I pouted in defeat and sulked back in my seat, staring out the window, feigning my anger with a small smile on my face from our interaction. I could sense him stealing glances at me intermittently as he drove.

"Hey Thea," he called out in the sweetest voice. I turned my head towards him, waiting for his apology to come.

"Gotcha again!" he said, pulling my nose once again as I sat there in utter shock and disbelief.

"I hate you!" I bluffed rolling my eyes. Conrad's laughter filled the car, his chest shaking and his face turning red.

"No you don't." He said looking at me.

I didn't, but I wanted to.

"Whatever floats your boat," I shrugged, placing a hand on my grumbling stomach. I hadn't had anything to eat at the party, and the hunger was gnawing at me. I leaned back against the cool leather seat of the car, hoping the sensation might somehow distract me from the emptiness in my stomach.

I stared out the window as the dense forest gradually gave way to the familiar roads of New Lestead, a place I knew like the back of my hand. Despite the late hour, around two in the morning, the city buzzed with life. Cars and taxis navigated the streets, while bars closed and inebriated people wobbled onto the road, oblivious to the world around them.

Despite the hectic party and the long drive, Conrad looked as alive as the day he was born. The sleeves of his navy blue shirt were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscular arms and large hands. His hands were powerful, making mine seem as small as strawberries in comparison. With each turn of the wheel, his muscles flexed and strained against the tight fabric, his movements fluid and controlled.

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of awe and frustration. He was doing the bare minimum, and yet here I was, a hot mess in the passenger seat of his car. The contrast between us was almost laughable. I fidgeted with my dress, trying to compose myself as he laid his palm flat against the wheel. If I were the wheel, I'd be drenched by now, and I found myself oddly jealous of its ignorance. The wheel didn't know what it was missing.

My ovaries were lighting up like neon lights.

Or maybe it was the alcohol.

Contrary to the camel hump that was forming on my back, Conrad sat straight as a ruler, his eyes cautiously observing every turn he made. He drove with the precision of someone taking a driving test, his focus unwavering.

"Do you have any weapons stashed in the car?" I asked, half-joking but genuinely curious if his careful driving was a sign of nerves about the cops. After all, he hailed from a notorious crime family.

Conrad looked at me with a raised eyebrow. His expression was that of surprise and amusement before it softened and then morphed into a sly smirk.

"Maybe." He shrugged biting his bottom lip trying to hold in his laughter.

"Is that why you're driving like a sloth?" I teased, remembering the impressive lineup of sports cars at his estate. He had been flying when we first took off.

He laughed, his head thrown back, making another perfect turn. "Nope, just searching for something."

"What?" I asked, leaning forward, gripping my seatbelt like it was a lifeline. I was so focused on him that I barely noticed the scenery whipping by.

"This." He pointed ahead, and I realized we were pulling into a McDonald's drive-thru. My stomach rumbled audibly, like it had a mind of its own. A grin spread across my face as he approached the speaker.

"I hope you're hungry," he said, his smile contagious.

"Yes! Very," I admitted, practically bouncing in my seat. "I could take down a Big Mac and still be ready for dessert!"

"Well, I already know what I want for desert."

Conrad stared me down, his smirk growing wider as his gaze slowly drifted from my lips to the neckline of my shirt. He lingered there just long enough for my heart to race before his eyes returned to mine, an intensity that suggested he wasn't just fooling around.

I blinked. Once. Twice. And then it felt like something had fallen into my eye. I swear, if I blinked any faster, I might have lifted off the ground like a rocket.

Hi there! What would you like to order?" A cheerful voice broke through the speaker, cutting our moment short.

"Big Mac, you said?" he asked, pressing his lips together, trying—and failing—to stifle a laugh. As he was ordering, I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, and I raised my hands defensively to rub them, as if that would somehow erase the embarrassment.

"What about drinks, sir?"

"Thirsty?" he asked with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and slapped his arm at the sexual innuendo. My heart raced even faster when my hand came into contact with his hard muscles. I resisted the urge to touch it again and instead looked out the window at the dark night sky.

Control yourself Thea. I told myself, as if it would help with anything. I was ready to jump him like a wolf in heat.

Conrad drove to the next window, chuckling the entire way, and collected our food. He passed the paper bags to me, and I placed them in my lap. Unable to resist the mouth-watering smell of French fries, I opened the bag and grabbed a few.

"Greedy now, are we?" he teased, driving around the block to find a place to park. I shoved a fry into my mouth, watching his arms flex as he turned the wheel. I was surprised his shirt hadn't ripped by now. "Give me one." Conrad opened his mouth wide, and I nearly choked on my French fry. Was he serious right now? I gulped, searching his face for any signs of a joke.

"Thea."

"Huh?" I snapped out of my daze and saw him opening his mouth wide again.

"The French fry?" I took out a couple, hesitating before hovering my hand near his lips. He leaned forward and took them, his lips brushing against my fingers as he did. A small squeal escaped my lips and I cursed my body for the betrayal.

You alright?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Peachy," I replied, opening the bag as he found a place to park.

Over the next half hour, we talked about the boutique and Leah. He shared stories about Zeus and a bit about his parents. The conversation flowed easily, punctuated with laughter and moments of shared silence.

But there was an unspoken tension in the air, something lurking beneath the surface. Conrad, with his chiseled jaw and piercing eyes, was more than just the charming man he appeared to be. He was the heir to one of the most powerful mafia families in the city.

I had always heard whispers about his family, the Maxwell dynasty, known for their iron grip on the city's underworld. Yet, sitting here with him, it was hard to reconcile those dark tales with the man beside me, who gently teased me about stealing fries and spoke with such affection about his dog.

As he leaned back in his seat, a shadow crossed his face. "You know, Thea, there's a lot about me you don't know."

I paused, a fry halfway to my mouth. "Like what?"

"My family... we're not exactly law-abiding citizens." His voice was low, almost a whisper, as if sharing a forbidden secret. "I'm sure you know that part, right?"

I nodded, gulping the fry down. Valerie and Elise's words played like a looped recorder in my head. They were right. But, why was he telling me this now? Where was he going with this? Did he regret ever being so close to me?

His blue eyes met mine, and I lost all train of thought as he leaned closer. His hand reached up to the corner of my mouth, wiping a little sauce away before pressing his thumb to his lips and licking it away.

Fuck. Me. My downstairs department melted into a puddle at this point, and all rationality had flown out the window.

"I like you, Thea. I really do." He brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear and held his warm hand against my cheek. I leaned my face against it, looking at him, trying to convey the message that I liked him too through my eyes.

"But, being with you will put a target on your back." His face hardened, and he rubbed his thumb against my cheek. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you." He searched my eyes for any signs of rejection.

And I knew he found none.

END OF CHAPTER FOURTEEN: DRIVING INTO DESIRE
2165 words

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