The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 151

151 A Calculated Squeeze

Hazel’s POVO

I watched Vera walk away, her confident stride betraying her satisfaction with whatever scheme she’d cooked up with Cora. The car door closed with a soft thud, sealing my fate in this carefully orchestrated setup.

Sebastian’s presence beside me was overwhelming. I tried pressing myself against the door to create distance, but the luxury sedan suddenly felt like the smallest space in

the world.

“Comfortable?” Sebastian asked again, his deep voice resonating in the confined space.

“I’m fine,” I lied, hyper-aware of every inch where our bodies might touch.

The car pulled away from the curb. Cora sat quietly by the window, a little too quietly for her usual chatty self. I glanced at her from the corner of my eye and caught the ghost of a smile on her lips. She was planning something.

“How’s the new collection coming along?” Sebastian asked, making casual conversation as if we weren’t practically pressed together in the back seat.

“It’s good. We’re finalizing the details for-”

My words cut off as Cora suddenly slumped in her seat, her body weight shifting toward me. The movement pushed me directly against Sebastian’s solid frame.

“Sorry,” Cora mumbled unconvincingly. “I’m so tired.”

I shot her a look that said I wasn’t buying it, but she had closed her eyes, feigning

exhaustion. The little schemer.

“Are you okay?” I asked, trying to readjust my position without success.

“Mmm, just need to rest my eyes,” she murmured, sliding down further and forcing me closer to Sebastian.

His arm moved behind me, resting along the top of the seat. Not quite touching me, but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.

“Your sister seems suspiciously tired,” I whispered to Sebastian.

“She’s always been a terrible actress,” he replied, his breath warm against my ear.

The car hit a small bump, jolting me against his side. His hand instinctively steadied me, palm firm against my shoulder. The touch sent electricity through my body.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to create space again.

“Don’t apologize,” Sebastian said, his voice low. He didn’t move his hand away.

I sat rigid, afraid to breathe too deeply. The last time I’d been this close to him in a car, I’d been drunk, my senses dulled by alcohol. Now, completely sober, every nerve ending was painfully alert.

James made a sharp turn, and momentum pushed me further into Sebastian’s side. The solid wall of his chest was warm against my shoulder. His cologne enveloped me – sandalwood and something uniquely him.

“James,” Sebastian called to the driver, “perhaps a smoother route?”

“Yes, sir. Apologies,” James replied, eyes fixed firmly on the road.

Cora shifted again, letting out an exaggerated sigh and slumping further. The movement pushed me completely against Sebastian, my thigh pressed firmly against his. I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly we fit together, like puzzle pieces clicking into place.

My mind wandered treacherously. What would happen if I leaned into him

intentionally? If I rested my head against his shoulder? If his arm moved from the seat to wrap around me?

Heat crept up my neck as I imagined his fingers trailing down my arm, his lips brushing against my temple. I’d been fighting this attraction for weeks, but in the intimate darkness of the car, my willpower was crumbling.

“Are you warm?” Sebastian asked, his voice cutting through my inappropriate thoughts. “Your cheeks are flushed.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, mortified that my body was betraying me so obviously.

The car slowed for a red light. In the pause, Sebastian shifted slightly, creating a millimeter more space between us. I wasn’t sure if I was grateful or disappointed.

Cora “unconsciously” moved again, her head now resting against the window, her body

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angled to take up more space than necessary. I was now completely pressed against Sebastian from shoulder to knee. My dress had ridden up slightly, and I could feel the rough texture of his suit pants against my bare skin.

“She’s doing this on purpose,” I whispered, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach.

Sebastian’s chest vibrated with a silent chuckle. “Obviously.”

His casual acknowledgment of his sister’s matchmaking surprised me. Was he complicit in this scheme? Did he want this closeness as much as I secretly did?

The car accelerated smoothly as the light changed. I should have been planning my escape from this situation, but instead, I found myself relaxing incrementally into Sebastian’s warmth.

My mind flashed back to when I’d been drunk in his car. How gentle he’d been, how his hands had supported me without taking advantage. Now I wondered what might have happened if I’d been sober that night. If I had leaned in instead of passing out.

The rhythm of his breathing matched mine, steady and deep. I imagined how easy it would be to turn my face toward his, to close the small distance between us. Would his lips be soft or firm? Would he taste like the mint I sometimes caught on his breath during close conversations?

His hand moved from the seat to absently adjust his cufflink, brushing against my bare shoulder in the process. Goosebumps erupted across my skin.

“Cold?” he asked, noticing my reaction.

“No,” I answered honestly.

Our eyes met in the dim light of the passing streetlamps. Something unspoken passed between us, a current of tension that had been building since that first day in his office. I watched his pupils dilate slightly, his gaze dropping briefly to my lips.

Time seemed to slow. The hum of the engine faded into background noise. All I could focus on was the intensity in Sebastian’s eyes, the slight part of his lips, the way his body seemed to curve toward mine despite his rigid control.

Just as I thought he might close the distance between us, his expression shifted. His jaw tightened, and he looked away from me toward his sister.

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