No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 11- Another woman

For a second, everything was still.

Then the driver's door opened.

And out stepped the woman.

Her red lips curved into a smirk as she leaned against her car, arms crossed, watching me like she had all the time in the world.

I clenched my jaw, gripping the steering wheel tightly before exhaling slowly.

Fine. If she wanted my attention-

She fucking had it.

I exhaled sharply before pushing my door open, stepping out with measured control. The night air was cool against my skin, but the way the woman was looking at me-like she was undressing me with her eyes-sent a different kind of heat crawling up my spine.

She smirked, her red lips curving as she leaned lazily against her car. "Damn. You look even better up close," she murmured, voice smooth as silk.

I crossed my arms, unamused. "That why you nearly got us both killed?"

She chuckled, tilting her head. "Please. I had control the whole time. You? Not so sure."

I scoffed, irritation flickering through me. "You always this reckless, or am I just special?"

Her smirk deepened. "You're special." She took a slow step toward me, gaze never leaving mine. "I saw you at the bar earlier. You had this... aura. Powerful. Untouchable." She licked her lips. "I like a challenge."

I raised a brow. "And that's why you dragged me into a street race?"

"Partly," she admitted, tilting her head. "The other part? I just wanted to see if you could keep up."

I let out a dry laugh. "And? Satisfied?"

She let the question hang between us before finally extending a hand. "Zara."

I glanced at her outstretched hand but didn't take it. "Aiah," I said simply.

Zara chuckled, retracting her hand. "Oh, I know who you are."

My eyes narrowed slightly. "That so?"

"Mmm." She leaned in slightly, just enough to be intrusive but not quite touching. "The infamous CEO. Ice-cold, ruthless, untouchable." Her voice dropped lower. "I wonder, though... is that all there is to you?"

I exhaled sharply, biting back a smirk. "You really think you can get under my skin that easily?"

Zara grinned. "I think I already did."

Zara didn't hesitate. With a confident smirk, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer, her touch bold and unrelenting. My body tensed, but I didn't stop her-I wanted to see just how far she was willing to go.

Her fingers trailed slowly up my arm, grazing my shoulder before settling at the back of my neck. "You're not pushing me away," she murmured, her breath warm against my skin.

I smirked. "And you're taking full advantage of that."

She chuckled. "Guilty."

Before I could respond, Zara leaned in, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. Her lips brushed against mine-soft at first, testing, teasing. But then she deepened it, her mouth moving against mine with practiced ease, like she was savoring the moment.

I let her.

For a second.

Then-

The sudden roar of an approaching engine shattered the moment, headlights slicing through the darkness as a car came to a screeching halt nearby.