Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 408

James’s lips were cool and fresh, carrying that unmistakable, clean scent that was all his own. He kissed her so fiercely it stole every bit of air from her lungs.

Emmy barely had time to react before her back hit the glass behind her.

She let out a soft gasp.

He pinned her in place, one hand braced against the glass. The kiss started gentle, but in seconds turned urgent and hungry, his lips parting hers, deepening until it felt like he was trying to claim every piece of her.

But even while he kissed her, his eyes stayed cold and sharp, flicking past her to the rain-soaked courtyard, where Dean stood frozen in shock.

Emmy’s mind spun. She tried to push James away on instinct.

Instead of letting go, he just pulled her closer, holding her so tight it was like he wanted to fuse her to him. His kiss grew rougher, almost desperate.

And suddenly, she understood. He was doing this on purpose. He wanted Dean to see.

Her hand, which had been pushing him away, dropped to his waist instead. She tipped her head back and kissed him back, silently playing along.

Above them, a dim wall lamp glowed, outlining their tangled bodies in soft gold. The air between them felt charged, the heat of their bodies swirling in the cold, damp room, so intense it seemed like the glass behind her might crack.

Out in the rain, Dean’s eyes burned with something wild. He watched them, his face twisting. He tried to stand, but he’d been kneeling too long—his legs were numb, his whole body shivering from the cold.

He pressed his hands to the ground, slipping twice before finally staggering to his feet. But as soon as he tried to walk, everything went dark.

With a heavy thud and the sharp crash of a flowerpot, Dean collapsed to the ground.

Even through the rain, the sound was loud enough to make Emmy’s heart leap. She shoved James away and spun around.

The butler was already rushing out with a couple of security guards.

“Quick, get Mr. Sparrow to the hospital! He’s passed out!” the butler’s anxious shout rang through the rain.

James’s arm was still locked around her waist. His low voice brushed against her ear.

“Are you worried about him?”

Emmy frowned, her voice icy. “If I was worried, I wouldn’t have let him kneel out there in the rain.”

“Still mad at me?” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

Her lashes fluttered, but she didn’t open her eyes. “Why would I be mad?”

James rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips brushing against her cheek.

“I shouldn’t have said those things earlier,” he said softly, his voice going quiet. “But I really can’t stand him.”

It wasn’t just because Dean was her ex. Over the past few months, Dean had pulled off one uncanny move after another in the business world. It was like he had a sixth sense—always knowing which projects would blow up, always ahead of the curve. Sparrow Group had snatched several big wins from Nelson Corporation. If “Letter from the Other Side” hadn’t become a hit and sent Nelson’s stock through the roof, Sparrow Group would already be in the lead.

James respected strength, but not when it came from the man his girlfriend used to love. Any admiration soured into pure resentment.

Emmy rolled over to face him, her eyes wide and clear in the darkness.

“I can’t stand him either.”

“That’s why you don’t have to prove it to anyone—not even to him—that I’m over him.”