Mara wasn't sure if it was the long hours or Evan's words lingering in her mind, but by the time evening settled over the studio, she felt restless. The weight of Ryder's presence seemed to press on her even in his absence. She knew she'd be seeing him again soon, and for some reason, the thought set her on edge.
As she wrapped up her work and slipped into her coat, she almost jumped when she saw him, standing right in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway. Ryder's gaze was fixed on her, intense, unwavering. He didn't say a word, and yet, his very presence seemed to fill the room.
"Working late again?" he asked, his voice low and unreadable.
"Yes," Mara replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I needed to finish up a few things."
He nodded, stepping inside her office and closing the door behind him. It was a small move, yet it shifted the entire atmosphere, the air thickening between them.
She swallowed, trying to ignore the sharp jolt in her chest as he moved closer, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Evan seems to be a constant presence here," he said, his tone light but his eyes betraying something darker.
Mara tensed. "Evan's been helping me. He's been… supportive."
Ryder's jaw tightened. "I see."
The silence stretched, heavy and charged. She could feel the tension radiating off him, but she wasn't going to back down. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Ryder's gaze softened, but his intensity remained. "Maybe I do."
Without warning, he closed the distance between them, his hand reaching up to gently cup her face. Mara's breath hitched, her pulse racing as his fingers brushed against her skin, igniting a spark that she couldn't ignore.
"Ryder, what are you"
Her words were cut off as his lips captured hers, the kiss fierce and demanding, a collision of emotions that had been building between them for far too long. She could feel the heat of his desire, the frustration, the jealousy that he'd kept hidden, now pouring out in that single, unguarded moment.
Mara's mind spun, her instincts telling her to pull away, but instead, she found herself leaning into him, her own passion rising to meet his. She matched his intensity, her fingers curling into the front of his jacket as she kissed him back, surrendering to the fire that blazed between them.
But as quickly as the moment had overtaken her, a surge of anger rushed through her. What was she doing? This was Ryder the man who had pushed her, pressured her, kept her constantly on edge.
Abruptly, she broke the kiss, her hand coming up and delivering a sharp slap across his face, the sound echoing in the stillness of the room.
Ryder's head turned slightly from the impact, but he didn't flinch. His expression was unreadable as he slowly straightened, the faint red mark on his cheek a silent testament to her reaction.
Mara's chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes blazing with a mixture of shock and anger. "How dare you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
For a long, silent moment, Ryder just looked at her, his gaze intense, unwavering. Then, a slow smirk curved his lips, and he took a step back, giving her space.
"Maybe I deserved that," he said, his voice rough. "But you can't deny what just happened, Mara. No matter how much you want to."
Mara's hands balled into fists, her heart pounding as she fought to steady her breath. She didn't want to admit it to him or herself but he was right. The kiss had been electric, a moment that had pulled her to the edge and forced her to confront something she'd been avoiding for too long.
She glared at him, her resolve hardening. "That can't happen again, Ryder."
His smirk faded, replaced by a serious look that sent a shiver down her spine. "That's up to you."
Without another word, he turned and left, leaving Mara standing alone, her heart racing and her mind reeling. The boundaries between them had shifted, and there was no going back now.