Absolutely! Let's ramp up the tension between Sea and Bright, with Bright noticing her jealousy and enjoying it. We'll then move into Sea's struggle as she tries to suppress her feelings, but after a night of drinking, her emotions and desires take over, and she finally confronts what's been building inside her.
---
The days following Kolly's sudden reappearance were tense. Sea couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that Kolly had so effortlessly provoked. Bright's ex had a hold over him—something Sea would never have. It gnawed at her every time she saw them in the same room. Kolly's presence made it clear that Bright had a history, a past full of women who'd come before her. And though Sea told herself over and over that it didn't matter, that she wasn't here to fall in love with him, every time she saw Kolly smile at him, the jealousy twisted inside her chest.
Bright, on the other hand, seemed to notice all of this. He was never one to miss a detail, and over the past few days, he'd become more observant, more... playful. It was like he could sense her discomfort, her insecurity—and, for some reason, it seemed to amuse him.
As Sea sat in the dining room one evening, her hands wrapped tightly around her glass, she tried to ignore Bright, who was seated across from her, his usual calm presence somehow making her even more tense. He hadn't said much all night, but his eyes... his eyes never left her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Bright broke it, his voice casual but loaded with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place.
"You know, Sea," he said, his tone as smooth as ever, "you're still avoiding me."
She stiffened at the mention of it, her fingers gripping the edge of her glass as she stared at him, trying not to let the annoyance in her voice show. "I'm not avoiding you," she replied, her voice slightly sharper than she intended. "I'm just not interested in whatever game you're playing."
Bright chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, watching her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Funny, because I think you're more interested in me than you're willing to admit." He studied her, like a predator sizing up its prey. "And I'm starting to enjoy the way you try to hide it."
Sea's face flushed, and she quickly looked away, her heart rate quickening. She hated the way he made her feel—exposed, vulnerable. "You don't know anything about me," she muttered, taking another sip from her glass, though she knew she wasn't fooling anyone.
"Maybe not," Bright replied. "But I know that whenever Kolly's around, you can't seem to look at me without a hint of jealousy in your eyes."
Sea's chest tightened, her breath catching. It was like he'd read her mind, like he could sense everything she was feeling. She set her glass down too quickly, the clink of it on the table startling in the otherwise quiet room.
"I don't care about Kolly," she said, her voice rising a little more than she intended. "You can do whatever you want with her. She's your problem, not mine."
"Is that so?" Bright's lips curled into a slow, teasing smile. "Because it looks to me like she's getting under your skin. The thought of her being close to me, touching me... It's making you uneasy." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping lower, more intimate. "I think it's cute, actually. You're pretending not to care, but I can see it. You care a lot."
Sea's heart hammered in her chest, the heat rising in her cheeks. She hated this—hated how he could make her feel so... exposed. But more than that, she hated how much she wanted to *give in* to the tension, to the desire that was creeping up on her.
Before she could think of a reply, Bright leaned back in his chair again, the smile still playing on his lips. "Don't worry, Sea. I won't make you admit it. Not yet, anyway." His voice was smooth, almost gentle, and it only made her blood boil more. "But I know the truth."
Sea's hands gripped the edge of the table, her nails biting into the wood as she fought to keep her composure. "You don't know anything."
Bright said nothing more after that, but his eyes didn't leave her face. She couldn't look at him anymore. Instead, she got up from the table and stormed out of the room, her mind whirling. The audacity, the confidence—he was doing this on purpose. He was getting inside her head, and he was enjoying every second of it.
---
That night, Sea couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, her thoughts consumed with Bright's teasing, the way he'd watched her, the way he'd spoken to her. She couldn't escape him, couldn't escape the simmering feelings that had been building inside her since the moment she met him.
She had to get out of her head. She needed something—anything—to take the edge off.
She made her way downstairs, the house dark and silent except for the soft sound of her footsteps. The kitchen was empty, so she helped herself to the bottle of whiskey that had been left on the counter from the last time she'd seen Bright. Without thinking, she poured herself a generous glass, the liquid dark and inviting.
One drink. That's all she needed.
But as the alcohol slid down her throat, the burning sensation eased something inside her. It took the edge off the storm in her mind, the constant swirl of thoughts about Bright, Kolly, and everything that had been happening. She poured another glass, then another, until the world began to blur at the edges.
By the time she finished the bottle, she was more than a little drunk. Her head was spinning, but a different kind of tension had replaced the frustration. A pulsing, aching desire that made her heart race and her thoughts scatter. She wanted something. She needed something. And the only person who seemed to occupy her mind, who seemed to be able to make her feel anything, was Bright.
Without thinking, she stumbled out of the kitchen, her body swaying slightly as she moved down the hall toward his study.
She didn't knock. She just opened the door and walked in.
Bright was sitting behind his desk, his dark eyes flicking up at the sound of the door opening. His gaze immediately hardened, but it wasn't in surprise—no, it was something else. Something... knowing.
"Sea," he said softly, his voice low and calm, but there was an edge to it. He could tell she was drunk. "What are you doing here?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she walked toward him, her body moving on its own accord, drawn to him like a magnet.
Bright didn't move, his eyes following her every step. "You're drunk," he said, though his voice was less of a warning and more of a quiet observation.
"I don't care," she slurred, her words thick with alcohol. "I want you. Now."
Bright stood up slowly, the tension between them palpable. He didn't touch her at first—he just watched, his gaze intense and calculating. "You've been avoiding me, and now you come to me like this?" He took a step closer, his voice low and steady. "What's changed?"
Sea didn't have the words. She didn't need them. She pulled him toward her, her lips crashing against his in a kiss that was anything but gentle. The alcohol had stripped away her defenses, leaving only raw, untamed desire.
And Bright... he didn't pull away. Instead, he kissed her back, his hands sliding around her waist, his grip firm but controlled. He was patient, as always—waiting for her to make the first move.
But Sea was done waiting. She didn't care anymore. Not about the consequences. Not about her pride. She wanted him, and for the first time, she wasn't going to run away from it.
--