The night air was cold, biting against my skin, but the warmth between us was more than enough to chase it away.
Pierce was still looking at me, his eyes dark and filled with something I couldn't fully decipher. Possession? Desire? Or something deeper, more complicated?
His hand remained on my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheek before slowly trailing down my arm, stopping at my fingers.
Then, he took my hand.
Firmly.
As if with that single grasp, he was sealing something invisible between us.
A promise.
"I won't let you go, Elsie," his voice was low and resolute. "So don't ever try to run."
I swallowed, but I didn't pull away. I stayed right there, my hand in his, as if it was exactly where it was meant to be.
Pierce glanced down at our intertwined hands, then gave a small smile—not one of triumph, but not one that could be mistaken for gentleness either.
He lifted my hand, tracing my fingers with his thumb. Slowly, almost hypnotically, as if memorizing every inch of me with careful precision.
"You know, Elsie..." he murmured, still playing with my fingers in his grasp. "When I hold onto something, I never let it go."
His words should have made me wary. But all I did was stand there, letting them seep into me.
Then, without warning, Pierce pulled me closer.
Suddenly, I could hear his heartbeat—strong, steady, real.
"Repeat after me," he said, his voice deep, almost commanding. "I'm not going anywhere."
I blinked, my breath hitching.
"Elsie," he whispered again, his grip tightening around my hand. "Say it."
I swallowed hard, then, barely above a whisper, I said—
"I'm not going anywhere."
And just like that, I saw something shift in his eyes.
He smiled, but this time, there was something deeper behind it.
"Good," he murmured, before lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to the back of it—a mark of possession that couldn't be denied.
And in that moment, I knew.
I had given him something.
Something more than just my hand.
Something I could never take back.
"Do you regret it?"
Pierce didn't say it with a threatening tone, but there was something in his voice that told me—my answer would determine everything.
I swallowed, trying to ignore the tension thickening the air between us. His fingers were still wrapped around mine, his thumb slowly tracing my skin with a touch that should have been soothing—but only made my breathing grow heavier.
I could lie. I could say that I regretted it, that I wanted to take everything back.
But that wouldn't be the truth.
I shook my head slowly.
Pierce's gaze locked onto mine. He didn't smile, but something in his eyes shifted—something deeper, sharper.
"Good," he murmured, almost like a satisfied sigh.
His fingers trailed upward, slowly brushing along my arm before stopping at my shoulder. The touch wasn't demanding, but I could feel the possession in it—a silent reminder that I had chosen to stay. With him.
I understood now.
This wasn't just about the promise I had spoken. It wasn't just about the words that had filled the silence.
It was about what came after.
About how there would be no turning back.
Pierce didn't let me go. His fingers were still tightly wrapped around mine, as if making sure I wouldn't take back the decision I had made.
"I want you to remember this," he said softly, yet his voice remained firm.
I looked at him, trying to understand his meaning, but before I could say anything, he pulled me closer. His breath swept across my skin—warm and steady—while my own chest rose and fell in an uneven rhythm.
"Whatever happens after this," he continued, his thumb tracing over my wrist, right above the pulse that was beating too fast, "you've already chosen, Elsie."
My heart pounded even harder.
I knew that. I had known it since I nodded, since I decided not to step back.
But hearing Pierce say it in that low, intense voice made everything feel even more real.
"I never do anything halfway," he added, his eyes studying my face carefully, "and I won't let you be an exception."
I didn't know what to say. Or maybe I did, but words felt too small compared to the gravity he had created between us.
"So," he went on, his voice dropping even lower, "you're ready to accept everything, aren't you?"
I knew this wasn't just a simple question.
It was his promise, and his warning.
And I had only one answer.
I nodded.
For a moment, silence wrapped around us. Pierce's gaze deepened, as if searching for any lingering doubt inside me.
But he found none.
And in that moment, something within him shifted—something stronger, more certain.
Then, without warning, Pierce brought my hand to his lips, pressing a brief kiss against the back of it.
As if sealing the promise I had just made.
As if claiming that from this moment on, I was his.
Pierce was still holding my hand as if it were something precious—something he would never let go of. His fingers were warm, strong, and certain, while my own breath remained unsteady.
"I hope you understand, Elsie," he said softly, yet there was an undeniable firmness in his voice. "This isn't something you can take back."
I swallowed hard.
I knew that. I had known it since I chose to stay, since I decided not to run.
Pierce wasn't someone who did things halfway. If he wanted something, he would make sure it was truly his. And now, I was something he wanted.
His other hand moved up, slowly tracing along my arm before stopping at my shoulder. His gaze bore into me, as if memorizing every inch of my existence.
"You're mine now," he whispered, his voice deeper, more demanding.
My heart pounded faster.
Not out of fear—but because of something far deeper than that.
His lips curved slightly into a small smile—not entirely soft, but not a threat either. It was the smile of someone who knew he had secured what he desired.
Then, without warning, he pulled me closer—close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body enveloping me.
"Elsie," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
I looked up, meeting his gaze.
And in that moment, I realized something.
I could never go back.
Not because I wasn't able to—but because I didn't want to.
Pierce's smile deepened just slightly before he leaned in, letting his lips brush the top of my head in a brief touch.
A mark of possession.
A silent promise.
I knew that from this moment on, I had become his completely.
Pierce didn't say anything else, but his grip on my hand tightened. His thumb traced over my skin, as if he needed to confirm that I was truly here—with him.
I should have been afraid. I should have felt trapped by the way he held me so firmly, so possessively. But instead, I felt the opposite.
Warm. Safe.
His.
"I want you to remember this, Elsie," his voice was low, husky. "Your hand in mine. This isn't just a simple touch."
I swallowed hard.
I knew.
I could feel something deeper behind his grip—something that wasn't just possession, but a promise.
Pierce lowered his head, his eyes locking onto mine. "You're not going anywhere, are you?"
My heart pounded.
He wanted an answer.
He wanted certainty.
And I… I couldn't lie.
I shook my head slightly. "No."
Something shifted in his gaze. His eyes darkened, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in them.
"Good."
Just one word, but it carried so much meaning.
Then, before I could say anything else, he pulled me closer, erasing every bit of distance between us.
"I never let go of what's mine, Elsie," he whispered right against my ear.
My heart raced.
Because I knew—
This wasn't just a simple hand in hand.
This was a promise.
A promise I could never escape.
Pierce still held my hand, his thumb brushing over the back of it in slow, deliberate strokes—too slow. As if he wanted every touch to be etched into my mind, into my skin.
I knew what he was doing.
He wasn't just touching me. He was imprinting something—
A warning, a certainty.
That I belonged to him.
I lifted my gaze, meeting his. His eyes were dark, filled with an intensity I couldn't quite decipher. But I could feel it.
"Elsie," his voice was low, slightly hoarse.
I blinked, my breath unsteady.
"Don't forget this," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I will never let you go."
At that moment, something tightened in my chest—not fear, not resistance. But something deeper.
An attraction I couldn't suppress.
Pierce traced his fingers along mine before finally lacing them together, his grip tightening.
"You know what this means, don't you?"
I didn't answer.
But I knew.
This wasn't just a simple touch. It was something more.
A promise.
A promise I could never escape.
Pierce didn't loosen his grip. If anything, it tightened—
as if he needed to make sure I was truly here, with him, under his control.
I could feel the warmth of his skin against mine, the steady pulse beneath his touch—
as if his very existence was an unshakable certainty.
"I'm not playing games, Elsie."
His voice was deep, almost a quiet threat wrapped in calmness.
I lifted my gaze, meeting his.
There was something in his eyes that made it hard to breathe—
something more than just desire.
Something that would never let me go.
"I know." My voice was barely a whisper, but Pierce heard it.
A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips—
not soft, not entirely satisfied either.
It was the smile of someone who knew they had just locked something precious in their grasp.
His hand moved, his thumb tracing along my fingers before stopping at my wrist.
"You understand what this means, don't you?"
I swallowed.
This was more than just a simple touch.
This was a promise.
A claim.
I didn't answer. But I didn't pull away either.
And to Pierce, that was enough.
Because in his eyes, I had already chosen—without needing to say a single word.
Pierce still held my hand, his thumb gliding over my wrist in slow, deliberate strokes. His touch wasn't rough, but there was something about the way he touched me that made my heart race faster than it should.
"You won't take this back, Elsie."
His voice was low, barely a whisper, yet I could feel the force behind his words.
This wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
A certainty that left no room for doubt.
I looked at him, searching for something in his eyes—anything that could anchor me in this storm.
But all I found was intensity.
Something dark.
Something demanding.
And I didn't look away.
Pierce pulled my hand closer, pressing it against his chest.
I could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm—calm, unwavering, as if nothing in this world could shake him.
"Do you feel it?" he whispered.
I nodded, unconsciously.
"This is what you'll have."
I didn't know if he meant his heartbeat, himself, or something far deeper than that.
But I knew one thing.
From the moment he held my hand, from this unspoken promise—
I had chosen to fall even deeper.
And Pierce would never let me go.
Pierce still held my hand, his thumb continuously tracing slow, deliberate circles over my wrist. His touch wasn't rough, but there was something in the way he touched me that made my heart beat faster than it should.
"You won't take this back, Elsie."
His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet I could feel the strength behind his words.
This wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
A certainty that left no room for doubt.
I looked at him, searching his eyes for something—anything to ground me in this storm.
But all I found was intensity.
Something dark.
Something demanding.
And I didn't look away.
Pierce pulled my hand closer, pressing it against his chest.
I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my palm—calm, unwavering, as if nothing in this world could shake him.
"Do you feel it?" he whispered.
I nodded, unconsciously.
"This is what you will have."
I didn't know if he was talking about his heartbeat, himself, or something even deeper than that.
But I knew one thing.
From the moment he held my hand, from this unspoken promise—
I had chosen to fall even deeper.
And Pierce would never let me go.
Pierce didn't let go of my hand. If anything, his grip tightened—
as if he needed to make sure I was truly here, with him, for him.
"I want you to understand something, Elsie."
His voice was just as low as before, but this time, there was something different in it.
Deeper.
More serious.
I swallowed but held his gaze.
"I won't let you go," he continued, his thumb still brushing over the back of my hand in small, almost soothing strokes. "Not now. Not later. Not ever."
My heart pounded faster.
Not out of fear.
But because of something greater than that.
Something that had been hidden deep inside me, waiting to be set free.
Pierce pulled my hand closer to his chest, letting me feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—so different from my own, which was erratic and unsteady.
"You chose me, Elsie."
I knew.
I had known from the beginning.
And now, I could no longer deny that choice.
His fingers moved, tracing up to my face, skimming along my jaw before stopping at my chin. He held me there, making sure I couldn't look away.
"Say it," he urged.
I swallowed hard.
"Say that you chose me."
I should have hesitated. I should have thought twice.
But there was no doubt left when I looked into his eyes—eyes filled with certainty, filled with something deeper than mere desire.
I took a breath, then spoke softly—almost a whisper, but enough for him to hear:
"I choose you."
And in that moment, something in Pierce's gaze shifted.
Darker.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
But I didn't take my words back.
Because now, I was already in his grasp.
Pierce smiled—a small smile, not entirely gentle, but not cruel either. It was the smile of someone who knew they had just claimed what they wanted.
His fingers still rested against my face, his touch soft yet leaving no room for retreat. I could feel the heat of his body, the steadiness of his breath, and the unwavering intensity of his gaze locked onto me.
"Say it again," he whispered, his voice deep and certain.
I swallowed, but I didn't look away.
"I choose you."
The moment those words left my lips, his grip on my chin tightened briefly before his hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. The space between us dwindled, and I could feel the steady pulse of his heartbeat—so calm, so controlled—while mine remained chaotic.
"Say it once more, Elsie."
His tone was lower now, deeper. Not just a request. A command.
And I obeyed.
"I choose you, Pierce."
In an instant, something shifted in his gaze.
Something darker.
More dangerous.
But also more certain.
"There's no turning back."
I knew. I had known from the moment I let him into my life.
I knew when I allowed myself to drown in his touch, in his grasp, in the way he said my name as if I were the only thing he ever wanted.
And worse… I didn't want to turn back.
Pierce leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over my skin.
"You're mine now, Elsie," he whispered.
And I didn't resist.
Because from the beginning, I had already given myself to him.
Pierce wasn't in a hurry. His fingers remained resting on the back of my neck, his thumb occasionally brushing my skin in slow, almost soothing movements—if only I didn't know better.
I could feel the rhythm of his breath, steady and deep, in contrast to my own, which was still ragged. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if he were savoring the tension that hung between us.
"How does it feel?" he asked, his voice low and a little hoarse.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Because how could I explain something that I didn't fully understand myself?
Pierce gave a small smile, as if he knew what was in my mind better than I did myself. He tilted his head, studying my face, before his fingers slid down, moving from the back of my neck to my shoulder, then stopping at my arm.
"Your pulse is still racing," he murmured, his hand moving slowly, almost like a breeze. "Is that because of me?"
I remained silent.
Pierce leaned in, and this time, I couldn't ignore the heat of his body enveloping mine.
"Answer me, Elsie."
His tone was soft, but I knew better than to ignore his command.
I took a deep breath, but before I could say anything, he continued.
"You're mine now," he whispered, his fingers returning to my jaw, lifting my face so I would look into his eyes.
And I looked at him.
I looked at him and saw something there—something deep, demanding, something I couldn't release.
I knew this wasn't just words.
This was a promise.
A promise I had knowingly given.
And when Pierce finally smiled, a small smile filled with victory and ownership, I knew one thing for sure.
There was no turning back.
Pierce continued to gaze at me, his sharp eyes locking with mine as if ensuring I fully understood what had just transpired between us. His fingers remained on my jaw, his thumb gently stroking my skin, leaving a trail of heat that wouldn't easily fade.
"You know what this means, don't you?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, but I could hear the firmness behind it.
I didn't answer. I couldn't.
Because I knew. I knew that this wasn't just about the brief moment that had just occurred. It was more than that. It was the boundary I had crossed, the promise I had silently made, and the surrender I had agreed to without a word.
Pierce exhaled slowly, then smiled faintly—a smile that made my heart race. He didn't release his hold, instead tightening his grip on my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.
"Look at me, Elsie."
I lifted my face, and that's when I saw it—the gleam of possession in his eyes, something deeper than mere desire.
I was his now.
And there was no room left for doubt.
Pierce leaned in, his lips almost brushing my ear as he spoke again.
"You're not going anywhere."
It wasn't a question. It was a decision.
And I let it happen.
I let myself fall deeper, letting his breath merge with mine, letting his touch burn every inch of my skin.
Because I knew—the promise wasn't only in his hands.
It was in my heart too.