A thread of intimacy between us was undeniable and shook me to my core. It had been a long time since we’d been alone together. Now that we were, the emotions surged inside me like an unexpected tornado, sudden, powerful, and oh so confusing.
“Are you going to answer my question, or are you just going to stand there and stare at me?”
I realized I was acting incredibly rude, but it was the only way to stay guarded. If I slipped, he might think he had the upper hand.
“I was hoping you’d reconsider my offer.”
I rolled my eyes and then asked, “Why would I do that?”
“Because it’s the smart thing to do.”
“Are you implying that I’m unintelligent, Thal?” I asked, raising a brow.
“I’d never do that. Quite the opposite, in fact. You’re wildly intelligent, Daphne. That’s how I know you wouldn’t dismiss this opportunity without giving it the deep consideration it deserves.”
“You make a lot of assumptions.”
“I see you clearly,” he said, his eyes lingering on mine, probing, as if trying to read every unspoken thought.
“Yeah, you said that before too.”
I struggled to look away, desperate to hide the storm of emotion raging inside me. Yet, his unwavering gaze kept me captivated, an irresistible hold that made resisting impossible. Inside, I felt my defenses weaken as the intensity of his eyes sent a fiery wave of desire through my veins, causing my knees to buckle.
Taking a deep, steady breath, I broke free from his stare and moved toward the window, yearning to escape the magnetic pull.
The faint sound of his footsteps on the floor betrayed that he had followed, but the lingering heat radiating from his body told me he was too close.
I dared not turn around, knowing he was inches away, lips tempting me. The memory of his earlier kiss still lingered in my mind, making it impossible to resist the urge to feel him again.
“Can’t we at least talk about it, Daphne?” His breath ghosted against my ear, sending a shiver of longing through me.
I trembled, craving more.
“No!” I pushed past him, seeking space between our bodies, the kind that let breath escape and thoughts to settle, space to understand what the right choice truly was.
The defiance in his eyes drew me in, made me want to understand him better, even as his relentless grip frayed my nerves.
“Why not?” he pressed, his voice a low murmur that somehow made my skin tingle.
His persistence was a maddening contrast to his calm exterior, and yet, it stirred something deeper within me, an uneasy fascination.
I wanted to push him away, but part of me longed to stay, to feel the heat of his gaze and the weight of his words.
“Why can’t you leave me alone, Thal?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and something more molten.
“Why should I?” he countered, a slow smile curling at his lips, challenging me to slip further into the web he spun.
“You want to know why I won’t consider your offer, Thal? If I tell you, will you leave me alone, once and for all?”
Every part of me, every bone and fiber, rebelled at my words. The last thing I truly desired was for Thal to walk away. Still, I clenched my jaw tight, determined he wouldn’t see that flicker of vulnerability.
“Perhaps…” He shrugged with unhurried ease, as if the tension between us was nothing more than a game.
I groaned, shaking my head as a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside, each vying for control, desire, defiance, and confusion, all blending into a tangled dance I couldn’t escape.
“Fine. I don’t trust you, to be blunt.”
“Okay, that’s something I can work with.”
