Ava stood frozen in place, her lips still tingling from the kiss, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. The moment had felt like an electric shock, a sudden surge of something uncontainable, too strong to ignore. Ethan's hands, which had been gently cupping her face, slowly slid away as he stepped back, his own breath ragged.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving them in a suspended moment where the only thing that mattered was the space between them.
Ethan's voice broke the silence, low and unsure. "Ava…"
Ava shook her head slightly, her mind racing to catch up with her emotions. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face, the lingering connection that was both thrilling and terrifying. What had just happened?
She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. "I... I didn't expect that," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his eyes conflicted. "Neither did I," he admitted, his tone raw. "But I couldn't… I couldn't stop myself."
Ava stepped back slightly, trying to create some distance. This was happening too fast. She wasn't sure what to do, what to say. She had been cautious—hadn't she? She had told herself to stay focused, to not get involved. And now, here she was, standing in his living room, her pulse still racing after one impulsive kiss that had shaken every thought from her mind.
"I think we should talk," Ava said softly, trying to find her voice. "But I need a moment to think."
Ethan's expression softened, his brow furrowed in concern. "I didn't mean to—"
No," Ava interrupted, raising her hand slightly to stop him. "It's not that. It's just…" She sighed, struggling to explain the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "We both know this is complicated. And I need to know if you're really… if you're sure about this. About me. About us."
Ethan looked like he was going to say something, but stopped. His eyes darkened slightly, and for a moment, he seemed distant—lost in thought. Finally, he nodded slowly. "I get it. I don't want to rush you, Ava. And I don't want to complicate things, but I can't pretend there isn't something between us. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the gala."
Ava felt a flicker of something warm inside her chest, but the doubt quickly followed. This isn't just about attraction, she told herself. There's a bigger picture here. We both have lives outside this... this moment.
"I'm not sure what to say," she confessed. "I'm not used to this. I don't want to lose myself in something that's just… fleeting."
Ethan stepped closer, his expression more serious now. "I'm not asking you to lose yourself, Ava. I'm not asking you to rush. I just want a chance to see where this could go." His voice softened. "And I don't want to walk away from something that feels this real."
The vulnerability in his eyes was unexpected, and it disarmed her. She had thought of him as someone whose life was all about control, about power, but now she saw a different side of him. He was opening up to her, in a way that felt both risky and genuine.
Ava glanced down at the floor for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She had always been careful, cautious—too cautious sometimes. Her past had taught her to be guarded, to protect her heart. But standing here with Ethan, she could feel the weight of that hesitation. What was she afraid of? Rejection? Pain? She had been through both before, and yet, the fear still lingered.
She met his gaze again, her voice steady but unsure. "I need time. I need to figure out what this really means. Not just for me, but for us."
Ethan nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere, Ava. I'll wait. But I want you to know that I'm serious. About this. About you."
Her chest tightened at his words, but the uncertainty still clung to her. "This isn't going to be easy, you know," she said, her voice almost apologetic. "There are things about my life, about my past, that I haven't shared. Things that make this…" She trailed off, not quite able to finish the sentence.
Ethan stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. "I don't need to know everything right away. But I'm here, Ava. And when you're ready to talk, I'll listen."
Ava swallowed hard, feeling the knot in her throat tighten. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that she could open up to him, that she could trust him with the parts of herself that she had buried for so long. But the fear of getting hurt again, of letting her walls down, loomed large.
Instead of saying anything more, she stepped back, a little more distance between them than before. "I think I should go," she said softly. "I need some space to think. But thank you for dinner. And… for being patient."
Ethan didn't argue. He simply nodded, though the sadness in his eyes was evident. "I understand. I'll walk you out."
They walked to the door in silence, and when Ethan opened it, he stopped just short of the threshold. He turned to her, his gaze intense yet gentle.
"I'll be here, whenever you're ready," he said quietly.
Ava nodded, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She didn't want to leave, but she knew she had to. She needed clarity, and she wasn't going to find it here, tangled up in him, no matter how much she wanted to.
As she stepped out into the cool night air, she breathed in deeply, her mind swirling with thoughts of Ethan and what had just happened. The kiss. The connection. The possibilities.
But she wasn't sure what came next.