Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Her Resolve Chapter 145: Her Resolve ************** CHAPTER 145 The drive to the office was uneventful, but the tension was back the moment I stepped inside.

The atmosphere felt heavier than usual, employees moving with a hurried determination that spoke of looming deadlines and heightened stakes.

As I entered Snow’s office to drop off some files, I found him seated at his desk, his fingers steepled as he stared at the screen.

“Morning,” I greeted, setting the files down.

He glanced up briefly.

“Morning.” His tone was curt, and distracted, and I decided not to press.

As I turned to leave, he spoke again.

“Zara.” “Yes?” “Make sure everything’s in place before I leave for the trip.

I want no loose ends.” I nodded, sensing the weight behind his words.

“Of course.” But was that all he was going to tell me?

Something about the way Snow’s tone dipped when he spoke unsettled me.

He wasn’t cold, exactly, but he was holding something back.

It wasn’t hard to notice when you’d spent enough time with someone to read between the lines.

And I’d spend more than enough time with him and Ivan.

“Snow,” I started, turning back to face him.

He was still seated, his eyes fixed on me in a way that made my pulse skip.

“You didn’t mention this trip to me.

Why?” He leaned back slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line before he responded.

“I didn’t think it was necessary.” “Not necessary?” I repeated, my brow arching in disbelief.

“I’m your personal assistant, or have you forgotten?

My entire role revolves around managing your schedule.” Something flickered in his gaze, an emotion I couldn’t place, and he exhaled sharply.

“You’ve been busy.” “With work,” I said pointedly.

“With Zade,” he corrected in a low voice, but his words carried a weight that hung between us.

I froze, caught off guard by the accusation, and stared at him.

“Excuse me?” He stood, pushing back his chair, and began to move toward me.

There was an intensity in his stride, a simmering heat in his eyes that made my stomach flip.

“You heard me,” he said, stopping a mere foot away from me.

His presence was overwhelming, the sharp scent of his cologne mingling with the tension in the air.

“You’ve been preoccupied.

Maybe I thought you wouldn’t notice I was leaving.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped, my voice rising slightly.

My irritation was quickly replaced by something else-a fluttering unease that I couldn’t quite name.

His expression softened, and the corners of his lips tugged into a faint, knowing smirk.

“Are you upset, Zara?” “Upset?

You’re being ridiculous,” I shot back, though the warmth creeping into my cheeks betrayed me.

Snow’s eyes glinted, and he tilted his head as if studying me, the corners of his mouth curling further.

“Are you jealous?” The question hit me like a physical blow, and I instinctively stepped back.

“Don’t be absurd.

I could never be jealous of Jenna.

I’m your wife, remember?” His gaze held mine and I didn’t bother waiting for his answer before continuing.

“And I won’t be jealous.” But his gaze followed mine.

He wasn’t backing down.

He closed the gap between us again deliberately and fluidly.  His hand rose, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face, his fingers grazing my cheek with a softness that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You are,” he murmured, his voice low and almost teasing.

“Aren’t you?” I opened my mouth to retort, but the words tangled on my tongue.

His eyes locked onto mine, and the storm of emotions in their depths was impossible to ignore.

“Snow€¦” I began, whispering, but the moment I spoke his name, he leaned closer.

His hand lingered at the side of my face, his thumb lightly grazing my cheekbone and bottom lips.  The air between us thickened and the electric pull that neither of us seemed able to resist, intensified.

His lips brushed mine softly at first as they narrowed in that instant, while everything else fell away.

Then the kiss deepened.

His hand slid to the back of my neck, his fingers threading through my hair as he pulled me closer.

The sensation was overwhelming-warm, consuming, and utterly intoxicating.

I felt his other arm wrap around my waist, steadying me as the heat of his touch seeped through the thin fabric of my blouse.  My hands instinctively gripped his shoulders, anchoring myself as my knees threatened to buckle.

His lips moved against mine confidently, yet there was a raw edge to it-a desperation that mirrored the chaos spiralling inside me.

For a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in it, in him.

But then reality crept in.

“Wait,” I murmured against his lips, pulling back just enough to break the contact.

My breathing was unsteady, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

Snow’s eyes fluttered open, the storm in them now accompanied by something softer, almost tender.

His hand stayed at the back of my neck, his thumb brushing my skin.

“Zara.” I stepped back, needing space to think and to breathe.

“I-I need to get back to work,” I stammered, avoiding his gaze as I turned and made a beeline for the door.

“Zara,” he called after me, but I didn’t stop.

As I stepped into the hallway, my fingers pressed against my lips, still tingling from the kiss.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened and the emotions now swirling within me.

What had we just done?

And more importantly, what did it mean?  I didn’t want to give in to him anytime his lips and hormones raged.  I wanted it to mean something-us to mean something, and heaven bless me if it didn’t, but I wouldn’t give myself to him again until I understood what was going on and where his feelings lay.  “Why did you run away?” Astrid’s nagging voice filled my head and thoughts.  “I didn’t run.” “Yes, you did.

Things were getting nice and hot in there before you€¦”I halted, already exhausted from whatever complaint Astrid had.  “I wouldn’t give myself to him again…

Until Snow Zephyr earns and claims me.”