Reese slammed her car door shut, the sound echoing in the quiet, upscale neighborhood. She strode up the cobblestone driveway of the Melrose listing, her heels clicking with a determined rhythm that matched her irritation. She was frustrated, her thoughts swirling with anger directed squarely at Christian. Here he was again, stepping into her territory, arranging appointments on his terms without so much as a courtesy call. Control freak, she thought bitterly, her grip tightening on her purse.

She reached the front door, its polished wood gleaming in the late afternoon sun, and pressed the doorbell. As she waited, she nervously smoothed her hair and adjusted her dress, her fingers trembling slightly. From inside, she could hear the faint, melodic chime of the doorbell followed by a burst of laughter—Christian's laughter. It was deep and resonant, a sound that usually made her smile but now only fueled her irritation.

The door swung open, revealing Christian leaning casually against the door frame, his dark eyes dancing with amusement. He wore a confident smile, his presence exuding an effortless charm that both irritated and intrigued her.

"Ms. Sutherlin," he greeted her, his tone mocking and yet undeniably charismatic. "Perfect timing."

Reese met his gaze with a frosty stare, refusing to be swayed by his playful demeanor. She forced herself to remain calm, even as her frustration simmered beneath the surface. She glanced past him to the tall, elegant woman standing beside him. The woman had a regal air about her, with sharp features and a commanding presence that suggested she was used to getting what she wanted.

"Hi, Reese Sutherlin," Reese said, stepping forward and extending her hand with a professional smile. "You must be Mrs. Lincoln."

Elena's lips curved into a polite but cool smile as she shook Reese's hand. Her grip was firm, and her eyes quickly assessed Reese, moving from her shoes to her carefully styled hair. "Elena is fine, dear," she replied, her voice smooth like silk. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Reese shot a sideways glance at Christian, who watched the exchange with that insufferable grin still plastered on his face. "Well, can't really say no to Mr. Grey," she said lightly, trying to keep her tone neutral, though the sarcasm was hard to mask.

Elena's smile tightened, a flicker of something—perhaps disapproval—flashing in her eyes. "Indeed, you can't," she agreed, her voice carrying a subtle edge.

Reese cleared her throat, eager to move past the awkwardness. "So," she began, mustering a bright tone, "shall I take you on a tour of this grand mansion?" She placed her purse on the elegant foyer table, its sleek surface reflecting the light from a crystal chandelier overhead.

"No," Elena replied sharply, her eyes flicking briefly to Christian. "Mr. Grey has already taken care of that."

Reese blinked, caught off guard. "But I thought—"

"I'm here to discuss the auction," Elena interjected, her voice suddenly more upbeat. "Christian mentioned the masquerade event you're planning, and I—"

"Actually," Reese interrupted, her voice wavering slightly, "the masquerade event was all Mr. Grey's idea. I'm just along for the ride." She averted her gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck. She hadn't meant to undermine Christian in front of a client, but she couldn't help herself.

Elena's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, Reese wondered if she had gone too far. "Well," Elena said, her tone cool, "I hadn't heard that version." She turned her head slowly toward Christian, her expression expectant.

Christian didn't miss a beat. "It was a collaborative effort," he said smoothly, his voice as calm as ever. "Ms. Sutherlin had the idea of a twilight event, and I merely added the elements of mystery and seduction." His gaze flicked to Reese, his eyes twinkling with amusement and a hint of challenge.

Reese felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. The way he said "seduction" made her heart race, though she tried to maintain her composure.

"I see," Elena murmured, her gaze lingering on Christian with a look that was both curious and speculative. There was a tension in the air, a silent communication between them that made Reese uneasy.

Determined to break the awkward silence, Reese spoke up. "So, what kind of items were you interested in auctioning off?" she asked, her voice bright and professional. "I have several clients interested in offering everything from a three-night stay at their summer beach houses to a day on their private yachts."

Elena finally tore her gaze away from Christian, blinking as if coming out of a daze. "I was considering auctioning an all-expenses-paid two-week vacation off the coast of Crete," she said softly, her words almost a whisper.

"Crete?" Reese repeated, her eyebrows arching in surprise.

"Greece," Christian interjected smoothly, his voice firm.

Reese nodded, recovering quickly. "That sounds fantastic," she said warmly. "I've been having trouble procuring enough high-value items, so I really appreciate the trip giveaway." She offered a polite smile, though her mind was still racing with thoughts about the peculiar dynamics at play.

"Well, Christian said you would be most appreciative," Elena said, her eyes flicking back to Christian with a sly smile.

Reese glanced at Christian, catching the subtle amusement in his eyes. "Well, Mr. Grey—"

"Christian," Elena interrupted, her tone clipped. "It was nice seeing you again. Thanks for making the time. It's always a pleasure." She smiled, her eyes lingering on him for a moment too long. "Raina, it was nice meeting you."

Reese forced a gracious smile, though her irritation was starting to show. "It's Reese."

"Yes, of course," Elena replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, her smile tight as she brushed past Reese, moving close enough to Christian to whisper something in his ear before heading to the door.

As soon as the door closed behind Elena, Reese turned to Christian, her patience snapping. "Okay, am I missing something?" she demanded, her voice rising with frustration. "I thought you called me here to show a house, not to discuss auction items. That could have been handled in an email!"

Christian followed her into the kitchen, his expression calm, almost bemused. "Elena is an old friend," he explained. "She got into town this morning, and when I told her about the event to help market the sale for the house, she was interested. She insisted on meeting you."

Reese rolled her eyes, her frustration bubbling over. "What is she, an old friend or an old lover?" she asked, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. "Because the way she was looking at you was not just friendly."

Christian's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. "At one time, she was more than a friend," he admitted, his voice steady.

Reese's eyebrows shot up, her interest piqued despite herself. "So, a lover?"

He hesitated, then replied, "A teacher."

Reese blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected answer. "A teacher?" she repeated, incredulous. "And what exactly did she teach you?"

Christian's gaze held hers, his expression unyielding. "She taught me many things," he said quietly, his tone suddenly serious. "But that's a story for another time."

Reese felt a mixture of curiosity and frustration. She wanted to press him for more details, but the intensity in his eyes gave her pause. There was something in his gaze, a challenge, perhaps, or a warning. Whatever it was, it made her heart beat a little faster.

"Well," she said finally, trying to regain her composure, "it seems like you've got everything under control here, as usual." She turned to leave, her hand reaching for her purse.

Christian moved closer, his expression softening. "Reese," he said quietly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I'm not trying to undermine you. I thought having Elena on board would help. She has connections, influence. She could be a valuable asset."

Reese paused, her back still turned to him. She wanted to stay angry, to hold on to her frustration, but there was a sincerity in his voice that made her hesitate. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes searching his.

"Maybe," she said softly, her tone more measured now. "But next time, let me in on the plan before you make decisions. This is my last week and I can't just drop everything for you in a moment's notice."

Christian nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Fair enough," he said. "I'll take that into consideration."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them palpable. Reese could feel the weight of his gaze, the intensity of his presence. She knew she should leave, that she needed to put some distance between them, but something kept her rooted to the spot.

"Why do you do it?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you always have to be in control?"

Christian's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and something deeper. "Because I can," he replied simply, his tone light but with an edge of seriousness.

Reese shook her head, a reluctant smile breaking through her frustration. "You're impossible," she muttered, but there was a hint of a laugh in her voice.

Christian took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "And yet, here you are," he said softly, his voice almost a caress.

Reese felt a flutter in her chest, a mix of irritation and something else—something she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.

"Yes," she said, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart. "Here I am."

"Because you're interested," he said firmly.

"The only thing I'm interested in Christian, is selling this house by the end of the week."

"Is that all?" he questioned with a sly grin.

"Yes," she said softly.

"I think it's much more than that," he paused, ""Yesterday, at your apartment I caught a glimpse of your open laptop on the kitchen counter. I don't suppose you were researching those images for work now, were you?" his brow raised.

"Actually," she cleared her throat, "you are work for me. I was just trying to explore and learn a little bit about your world so that I can understand you—so I can figure out how to embrace marketing this "bonus feature" of yours."

"And tell me Ms. Sutherlin," he said grabbing her arm and pulling her into him, "what did you learn?"

For that brief moment as they stared at each other, they seemed to share one breath. Reese's heart rate instantly spiked, it was something about being this close to him that gave her an adrenaline rush. His aura was intense. A smile swept across his face as he studied her face. He could feel her melting in his embrace.

"Christian," she said pulling away from him, "I have to go."

Reese hesitantly squeezed by Christian as if she wanted to be stopped. He grabbed her arm once again pulling her to him once more but this time his lips brushed against hers. Not innocently, like a tease. It was passionate and demanding. His tongue parted her lips deeply and she welcomed the intrusion. His hand rested below her ears and his thumbs caressed her cheeks; She sank into his embrace, yielding to his tongue and she massaged it with hers.

Reese was completely unprepared for his roaming hands to lift her up and put her on the kitchen island. She was lost in the moment. His breath quickened and so did hers as he began nuzzling her neck and trailing kisses on her collarbone. She tried pushing him away but all she could let out were soft moans as her body became limp. His fingers tiptoed up her leg to her inner thighs beneath her form-fitted dress and he gently slipped his fingers under her panties between her folds.

"Christian, please," she moaned, "I have to go."

"Stay," he whispered in between kisses, thrusting his fingers gently inside of her.

Naomi calling….

Reese's phone vibrated loudly in her purse, prompting her to snap back to reality. Christian slowed his thrust down before pulling his glistening fingers out of her gushing pussy.

"My apologies Ms. Sutherlin. I don't know what came over me," his voice was soft, but his lips curled into a sly grin, "thank you again for taking this meeting on such short notice."