“I’m glad you made it in time,” I mumble impassively.

He just arrived from a business trip in New York.

Derik chuckles, pulling me closer to his side.

I shiver, feeling pathetic for still getting chills from him like the first time we touched. We’ve been intimate for quite some time now, but instead of fading, my emotions and responses have only grown stronger.

“You look beautiful in that dress, hmm?” he murmurs, lowering his head so that his lips graze the tip of my ear. His voice is gentle and almost sounds like a moan, giving me goosebumps.

“T-thanks.”

I look away with my cheeks burning. I’m wearing a beige, lacey, long-sleeved, body-hugging, mermaid-cut, turtle-neck dress. The front is considerably conservative, fully covering my chest. But from behind, my back is heavily exposed with the large, inverted triangle cut, making my bare skin easily accessible to his touch.

It’s a dress he picked out for me.

Blinking frantically, I shoot Derik a warning glare when I feel his fingers tracing the arch of my back, sending tingles throughout my body. I purse my lips against the excitement flooding through me.

Oh, how I missed his touch.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Quickly, Derik takes a glass of champagne from the waiter passing by. He grabs a spoon from the high table and taps it a few times against the goblet, gathering the attention of the crowd. As if on cue, the loud music stops, and the invited media personnel aim their cameras in our direction.

Derik squeezes my waist reassuringly, my grip on my glass tightening when cameras start flashing one after another. Taking his usual stern expression, he sweeps the crowd with a serious glance.

“I’d like to make a toast to Natalie for the success of this project. She’s consistently displayed exemplary competency and professionalism, always exceeding requirements and expectations. She’s proven extraordinary leadership

abilities, commitment, reliability, and foresight. It is my honor to announce that, from this day forward, Natalie Quinn, heir of Benedict Quinn, will be leading Quinn Industries.”

Wide-eyed, I glance at Derik in surprise. I hadn’t been expecting him to step down so soon! Besides, I don’t think I have enough experience to handle the company. Not yet!

“Does that mean Ms. Quinn will be sitting as the CEO?”

“Did the senior members of the company agree to this?”

“Does this mean you are relinquishing your control over Quinn Industries,Mr. Lewis?”

Through the bombing of questions, I feel Derik’s hand holding mine, and he slowly leads it closer to his mouth. Agape, his lips brush the back of my hand, searing a sense of security and prickling warmth throughout my being. My senses are in overdrive as the noise of the commotion coming from the reporters and the flashing lights are drowned out by the loud beating of my heart. I open my mouth to say something, but the words are left hanging at the tip of my tongue when he pulls me in and plants a kiss on my forehead.

I swallow, then close my eyes, unable to comprehend what is going on or what he’s thinking. All I know is that I feel safe with him.

“You trust me, right?” he asks, tilting my chin so that our eyes lock.

I open my eyes and meet his gaze. There’s an intense eagerness in his gray orbs, as if he will break if I don’t say yes. His expression is one of pleading, but the smile on his lips emits confidence.

I hum in affirmation.

It is not forced.

Because I do.

I really do trust him.

With my mind, body, and soul.

“Where Quinn goes, Lewis follows,” Derik affirms meaningfully before raising his glass. “To Natalie!” he exclaims with pride.

“To Natalie!”

Scanning the crowd, I watch the senior members of the board as they clap their hands and smile. Kelsi, standing next to her father, follows suit until the hall is filled with loud applause. Influential people come one after another to congratulate me. And all throughout, Derik’s hand is glued around my waist, as if he’s scared someone might take me away. On the other hand, it serves as a deterrent to the men who express their admiration and lecherous thoughts with their stares. It takes an hour and a half before Derik can excuse us and leads me out to the garden courtyard of the hotel.

He looks extremely pissed.

“What’s wrong?” I ask curiously.

We are at a dimly lit pavilion away from the crowded ballroom. The scent of the flowers on the evening breeze is refreshing, calming my nerves. The event unfolded like a storm and, as much as I tried to keep my composure, I still felt flustered at the announcement.

“Nothing.” His voice is low and breathy.

I watch him lean his back against the railing, his features softened under the dull illumination of the fairy lights. The moonlight shines on his handsome face, making him look like a god that descended from the heavens.

He is breathtaking.

Crossing my arms on my chest, I study the frown on his face.

I smirk playfully.

“I was wrong about you,” I mutter softly, inching closer to him. I press my body against his. With the help of my high heels, I look up and open my mouth enough to graze his jawline. Then, I breathe heavily against his neck.

He grunts as he wraps a hand around my waist, the other squeezing my butt.

“About what?” he asks huskily.

“I take back what I said. You are quite romantic.”

“Hmmm?”

I tug the bowtie on his collar, pulling his face closer to my reach. Sluggishly, I trace his lips with a finger and then nibble his chin. Feeling his muscles tense, I bite his lower lip teasingly as he slips his hand beneath the edge of the triangular cut in the back of my dress.

“Where Quin goes, Lewis follows, hmm?” I breathe against his mouth, mimicking him.

“What about it?”

With a swift move, he twirls me around and pushes me a few steps to the side so that my back rests against a large, round column. His free hand slips under the slit of my dress, his fingers wandering up and down the length of my thigh.

Challenged, I squint my eyes and raise and crook my leg to pull him closer. I wrap a hand around his neck and sear his mouth with a provocative kiss. I squirm against his body, deliberately rubbing my belly against the bulge in his pants.

When he groans in anticipation, I push him a little.