On their second date, they went for a long walk. It was refreshing. They grabbed some food on the way to the park and ended up having a small picnic on the grass. Ehlian debated telling Dael about his past, about prison. It was better to be honest and upfront, wasn’t it? But he couldn’t bring himself to open up. Maybe one day, if whatever was brewing between them turned into something serious.
On their third date, Dael took him to a fancy restaurant. Despite the lavish atmosphere and delicious food, the spark of these dates had started to fade. Dael hadn’t done anything wrong. He was still respectful and gave Ehlian the space he needed… still, it wasn’t enough.
Sensing Ehlian’s mood spiralling downward, Dael gently suggested they leave.
A thick fog had settled over the city, scattering the glow of the streetlamps into soft, radiant orbs. With his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, Ehlian walked quietly beside Dael, who had offered to walk him home. When they arrived at his front door, he punched the code into the display lock and opened it, revealing a path into his dark flat. Even though he longed for a physical touch and could offer little more than that, he still couldn’t quite bring himself to invite the alpha inside.
Dael must have sensed his hesitation, because he spoke softly. “Willian said you’ve been through a lot lately.”
“Yeah,” Ehlian replied. “It’s a bit complicated, but I’m nearly over it now. Not even worth mentioning.”
“Good,” Dael said, stepping closer. “I can wait.”
Ehlian’s body tensed as Dael leaned in. But instead of going for his lips, the alpha pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“See you soon?” Dael asked, his words hanging in the air between them.
“Yes,” Ehlian said, though he couldn’t decide if it was a lie or the truth.
Ehlian stepped inside his flat and slumped against the door, letting out a tired breath into the darkness of the small hallway. The lingering imprint of the kiss on his cheek felt strange and foreign, despite its softness.
Gods, Hayce had moved on so easily. Too easily. Why couldn’t Ehlian do the same? The infuriating, arrogant asshole—
Ehlian grew incredibly still.
A wave of power struck him like a sharp breeze, ruffling his nerves, sinking deep into his core, and igniting it with ease, arrogance, and a warmth that nearly seared through his chest.
He didn’t dare breathe, frozen where he stood, staring into the shadows of his flat.
“New boyfriend?” The deep, unmistakable voice cut through the darkness.
Ehlian exhaled shakily. For a brief moment, it felt like he was back in that outrageously lavish prison cell.
“Yes,” Ehlian said curtly, his voice cold.
Hayce’s measured, unhurried footsteps echoed in the quiet flat as he emerged from a corner, his silhouette dominating Ehlian’s vision. Ehlian found himself pressed tightly against the door, his heart hammering wildly in his chest.
Hayce stopped mere inches from him, his hand raising to cup Ehlian’s jaw. “Three dates?” he murmured, his deep voice a low rumble. His thumb began tracing over the imprint of Dael’s kiss, as though erasing it. “That’s all it took?”
“One date was enough to forget you,” Ehlian shot back, ignoring the tremble in his legs.
Hayce hummed softly, darkly. “He’s too soft for you.”
“That’s not your decision to make, Hayce,” Ehlian hissed, anger simmering beneath his skin. “You know nothing.”
“I know more than he does.” Hayce’s infuriating thumb continued its maddening caress, burning away Dael’s touch and claiming that small piece of Ehlian as his own.
“Stop it,” Ehlian snapped. “You don’t own me.”
The caress paused. Hayce’s voice dropped. “I know I don’t.”
It hung in the air between them like a twisted lie, like a twisted truth. The silence stretched, unbroken.
The darkness only made it worse. Unable to bear it, Ehlian flicked on the lights.
A big mistake.
Hayce’s dark, amber-flecked eyes locked onto his, glowing like embers caught in fresh flame. Gods, Ehlian had missed those eyes. He missed them looking at him.Onlyat him.
