The Billionaire That Found Me

Chapter 3 – The Night They Shouldn’t Want

The gala had quieted near midnight, the music softening into a distant hum. Most guests had drifted toward the exit, leaving pockets of laughter and scattered champagne flutes behind. Ava Hart found herself lingering in a shadowed corner, a gentle panic fluttering in her chest. She shouldn’t still be here. She shouldn’t be thinking about him. And yet… Ethan Blackwell was there, leaning against a marble pillar, watching her like a predator with impossible restraint.

She swallowed hard. The last hour had been a haze of laughter, stolen glances, and whispered confessions. Every word he had said, every look he had given her, had left a mark she couldn’t ignore. Her pulse raced as she tried to focus on anything but him—the way his hand had brushed hers, the warmth of his smile, the intensity of his gaze that seemed to pierce through her very thoughts.

“You’re still here,” he said softly, stepping closer. His voice carried that quiet authority that made her want to comply without question. “I was hoping I’d find you.”

“I… I wasn’t sure where to go,” she admitted, fumbling slightly with her hands. “I… I needed a moment.”

He tilted his head, the corners of his mouth tugging into that maddening smirk. “I can give you more than a moment.”

Ava’s breath hitched. “I—” she began, but words failed her.

“Shh,” he whispered, stepping closer, closing the small space between them. The heat radiating from his body made her shiver despite herself. “Tonight… it’s just us. No world, no rules, no expectations.”

Her heart hammered, torn between fear and desire. Every rational thought screamed at her to step back, to remember she was just a girl trying to survive in a world that didn’t care about her. But her body, her instincts, her very heartbeat betrayed her. She wanted him. Wanted him closer, wanted to feel what they had already begun to ignite.

Ethan reached for her hand, brushing his fingers lightly across hers. The contact sent a shiver up her spine, and she caught her breath. “Ava…” His voice was low, almost a growl. “Do you feel it? This… connection?”

“Yes,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—”

Before she could finish, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both urgent and gentle. It wasn’t a rushed, careless peck—it was a declaration, a promise, a shockwave that made her knees weak. Her fingers clutched at his suit jacket, holding on as if he might vanish if she let go.

The world fell away. The gala, the guests, the chandeliers—all of it disappeared until there was only the heat between them, the rapid beat of their hearts, and the electric pull that neither could deny.

When he finally pulled back just enough to look at her, his dark eyes were blazing with need and something softer, something terrifying in its intensity. “You’re mine tonight,” he murmured. “And I don’t want to hear no.”

Ava’s pulse thudded painfully. “I… I shouldn’t,” she whispered, the rational part of her mind screaming warnings. But it was drowned out by the ache of want that had been building since the moment he first took her hand.

“Shouldn’t?” His lips brushed her ear as he spoke, his voice a low promise that made her shiver uncontrollably. “Ava, you’ve been pretending for too long. Tonight… you can let go. Just this once.”

Her knees almost gave way. She wanted to resist, to step back, but the heat in his eyes, the brush of his fingers, the slow, deliberate way he closed the distance—it was impossible. She wanted this. More than she wanted anything.

He guided her gently, yet insistently, away from the remaining guests toward the quietest corner of the room, a small alcove that overlooked the city skyline. The city lights twinkled below, oblivious to the storm raging inside her.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” he said softly, cupping her face in his hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him. Every cell in her body screamed yes, screamed surrender, screamed for the warmth and protection he radiated. And yet… she hesitated.

“You’re… different from anyone I’ve ever met,” she whispered. “I—I’m not used to this… to someone seeing me… like this.”

Ethan smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You deserve to be seen, Ava. Truly seen. And tonight… I’ll make sure of it.”

And with that, he kissed her again. Slow, deep, consuming. Her world tilted, teetering on the edge of reason and desire. She clung to him, lost in the sensation, the electric friction of lips and fingers, the intoxicating heat of shared breaths.

Time seemed to stop. The distant music, the glittering chandeliers, the gala—none of it existed anymore. There was only the two of them, pressed together, lost in the storm they had ignited.

When they finally parted for air, Ava’s cheeks were flushed, her breath ragged. “Ethan…” she whispered, unsure if it was a plea or a warning.

“Tonight… is ours,” he murmured. “No regrets. Just us.”

Her heartbeat matched his as they stood close, foreheads touching, the weight of the night pressing down on them. She knew that one night could mean nothing—or it could change everything. And as she looked into his dark, unwavering eyes, she realized she didn’t want it to end.

Ethan’s hands traced the curve of her back, steadying her, grounding her, igniting something she didn’t know she’d been missing. “You’re perfect,” he murmured against her hair. “And I’m not letting you go tonight.”

Ava’s lips trembled. “I… I don’t know if I should…”

“Don’t think,” he whispered. “Just feel.”

And she did. Every thought, every fear, every hesitation fell away. All that existed was the heat of his body, the pressure of his hands, the overwhelming pull that had started the moment they touched in Chapter 1.

For hours, they drifted in a haze of whispered words, lingering touches, and shared confessions. Laughter mixed with longing, teasing with honesty, until the world outside the alcove ceased to exist. And when the first hints of dawn began to stain the skyline with pale gold, Ava knew something undeniable had happened: her life had irrevocably changed.

She didn’t know what the future held—how their lives would collide with danger, secrets, and consequences. She only knew that tonight, she had surrendered. And Ethan had claimed a part of her she hadn’t known she was willing to give.

The gala, the city, the glittering chaos of the world—it didn’t matter anymore. Not tonight.

All that mattered was the man before her, and the fire they had ignited.