Chapter 13 -HUNTER'S POV Self - control . Discipline . Restraint . The three things I built my life on . The things that kept me grounded , kept me sharp , kept me from ever making a mistake . And yet , lately , every time Celine was near , all three seemed to disappear . At first , it was nothing . A glance . A fleeting thought . A moment so brief I could ignore it . But then it became more . It became constant . It became dangerous . I found myself watching her too often . Like when she moved through my office , careful and precise , dark hair falling forward as she bent down to pick something up Or the way she bit her lip when she concentrated , completely unaware that I was watching . Or how , when she was with Caesar , she softened in a way that made my chest ache in a place I didn't know could feel anything at all . I told myself it was just passing thoughts . Nothing real . Nothing that mattered . But my pulse begged to differ . And I hated it . Tonight was no different . I sat in the lounge , a glass of whiskey in my hand , pretending to be interested in anything other than the woman moving around my kitchen . She was wiping down the counters , tucking things back into their place , completely lost in her own world . She didn't know I was watching . She didn't know she had my full attention . I should have looked away . Gone back to my drink . But I didn't Because the longer I watched her , the harder it was to ignore the thought pressing against the edges of my mind- ** Celine Brown was beautiful . ** I exhaled sharply , tossing back the rest of my whiskey , setting the glass down harder than I should have , Enough . I needed water . That was all . Just water . But the second I stepped into the kitchen , she turned , and our eyes met . And just like that , the air shifted . 1/3 9:08 pm G G G Chapter 13 It was subtle , but it was there . She quickly looked away , pretending to be focused on anything but me . I should have walked past her . I should have ignored this ridiculous pull . But I didn't . I watched as her fingers brushed the rim of a glass , reaching up to place it back on the shelf . Instinct took over . I stepped closer at the exact moment she stretched her arm out , reaching for the same glass . ** Our fingers collided . ** A jolt . A spark . A slow , sinking realization . Celine froze . So did I. The air thickened , heavy and charged , the kind of silence that meant something even if neither of us were saying a word . Her skin was warm against mine , but the effect ? ** Anything but soft . ** Neither of us moved . Neither of us breathed . Her lips parted , like she wanted to say something . But nothing came out . And then- A voice shattered everything . " Why are you two staring at each other like that ? " I yanked my hand back , turning sharply to see Caroline standing in the doorway , arms crossed , an eyebrow raised . Celine stepped away instantly , clearing her throat , face unreadable . But me ? My mask was already back in place . Because whatever that was ? It couldn't happen again . -CELINE'S POV- I was losing my mind . That was the only explanation for the way my heart was racing right now . 38 I clutched the edge of the counter , trying to steady my breath , but it was impossible when Hunter was still standing so close , his presence overwhelming . It wasn't the first time I had felt this tension between us . 2/3 9:08 pm G GGG Chapter 13 38 I'd be lying if I said I hadn't noticed the way his gaze lingered on me sometimes , or how my body reacted whenever he was near . But tonight ... tonight had been different . That moment - when our hands touched - it was as if something raw and undeniable had sparked between us . And the worst part ? I hadn't wanted to pull away . I swallowed hard , my mind replaying the sensation of his fingers brushing against mine , the sharp inhale he took , the way his body tensed . Had he felt it too ? God , what was I thinking ? This was my boss . The man who held my job - my livelihood - in his hands . I shook my head , forcing myself to move , to busy my hands with cleaning , but I could still feel his eyes on me . I made the mistake of glancing up . Hunter was watching me, his expression unreadable , but there was something in his eyes - something intense , something unfamiliar . I looked away quickly , pretending to be focused on wiping the counter , but my pulse was still erratic . Caroline's voice still echoed in my head . " Why are you two staring at each other like that ? " It had been a harmless question , but it rattled me . Because I didn't know the answer . And I was terrified of what it might be . 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!