Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 298 Nathaniel's POV When we got back to London, the traffic was surprisingly light for a late December afternoon. Even though it was the twenty-sixth, the city was usually packed with tourists this time of year. I drove through the familiar streets, passing historic buildings that stood shoulder to shoulder with sleek modern ones, that unique mix that just was London. The low winter sun hovered near the horizon, casting everything in a soft golden light that made even the plainest buildings look like they belonged in a movie.

Instead of taking the usual route to Annie's apartment, I headed toward my place. She only seemed to notice when we were already practically in my garage. "You're not taking me home?" she asked, glancing around, curious. "I was thinking we could spend a little more time together," I said, parking and turning off the engine. "Just us this time. No family, no Alexandra, no interruptions." I turned toward her in the passenger seat, taking in the way the golden light filtering through the windows lit up her face.

There was something about this moment-just the two of us, alone after days of social tension-that made me want to memorize every detail. "Besides," I added, leaning in closer, "I've missed having you all to myself." I pulled her in for a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened when I felt her respond. Her fingers slid into my hair, and I could feel the strain of the last few days melting away with every second our mouths stayed together. It felt like we could finally breathe again. "I think that's an excellent idea," she whispered against my lips when we finally broke apart.

"But I need a bath to relax first. That trip was way too long." I smiled, tracing the line of her jaw lightly with my fingers. "You're tense?" I asked, letting my lips trail down the curve of her neck. She shivered just a little under my touch, a soft breath slipping past her lips. "A little," she admitted, tilting her head to give me better access. "Hmm," I murmured against her skin, leaving a path of kisses from the base of her neck up to that sensitive spot just below her ear.

musical, the sound that always sent my pulse racing. "Possibly," she said, her hands toying with the collar of my shirt. "But your bathtub is some serious competition." I chuckled against her neck. "Fair point," I conceded, pressing one last soft kiss to the base of her throat before pulling back. "I'll put something together for us to eat while you're in there." "It can be really simple," she said as she got out of the car

out and grabbing our bags. We walked into the house in a comfortable silence, both of us wrapped up in anticipation. There was something deeply satisfying about having Annie here, in my space-far from nosy family members, Alexandra's snide little games, and all the work complications. Here, we could

my mind wander to what it would be like if she actually moved in someday. "I won't be long," she promised, giving me a quick kiss before disappearing into the bathroom. I heard the bathtub start to fill and made my way to the kitchen, mentally running through what I had in

board with artisanal cheeses and cured meats I liked to keep on hand for spontaneous evenings, some bread I'd picked up at a bakery on the way back from Bath, and fresh fruit that would go well with the wine I planned to open. While I arranged everything, I called a nearby restaurant and ordered dessert-a tiramisu I knew Annie loved, plus a few small chocolate treats that would pair well with the red wine I'd chosen. While I waited for the delivery, I headed back upstairs to my suite to grab my

a contract that technically could've waited, but I preferred handling them right away so nothing piled up. I replied to the urgent ones, clarified a few technical details, confirmed meetings for the first week of January. That's when I noticed a notification on my work phone-but not on my