The tension in the room was suffocating.
Eleanor stood inches away from Alexander, her chest rising and falling with frustration, her mind still reeling from the gunshot, the chase, and the deadly warning that had just been delivered. Someone was targeting Alexander. And by extension, her.
But in this moment, none of that mattered.
Right now, all she could focus on was him.
His piercing blue eyes burned into her, filled with unspoken emotions—anger, fear, protectiveness… and something else. Something dark, intense, and undeniably magnetic.
"Eleanor," he said, his voice rough. "You have no idea what kind of danger you're in."
She swallowed, refusing to back down. "Then tell me."
Alexander exhaled sharply, his hand moving to her wrist again, but this time, his grip was different—not controlling, but grounding. His thumb brushed against the inside of her wrist, where her pulse thundered beneath his touch.
"You think I don't want to?" he muttered, voice low. "You think I don't want to tell you everything? Protect you from everything?"
Eleanor's breath caught in her throat.
She had seen him like this before—always in control, always composed. But now? He was unraveling.
And it was because of her.
"Then stop pushing me away," she whispered.
Alexander's jaw tensed. His fingers slid from her wrist, trailing up her arm in a slow, deliberate touch that sent a shiver through her.
"You don't understand, Eleanor." His voice was lower now, almost desperate. "The more you know, the more dangerous this becomes. And if something happens to you—"
He stopped. His throat bobbed as if forcing the words back.
Eleanor felt a sharp ache in her chest. This wasn't just about protecting secrets. This was about her. About what she had come to mean to him.
She stepped closer, barely a breath away. "I'm already in danger," she said softly. "But the only thing that scares me is losing you."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The weight of her words hung between them, thick and suffocating.
Then, something inside Alexander snapped.
He reached for her, his hands sliding around her waist as he pulled her against him. The warmth of his body, the sharp inhale he took as their bodies pressed together—it was intoxicating.
Eleanor barely had time to react before his lips crashed against hers.
It wasn't a soft, hesitant kiss. It was fire. Burning. Consuming. Desperate.
She melted into him, her hands tangling in his hair as he kissed her like a man who had been holding back for far too long. Like a man who had finally given in.
His grip on her tightened, one hand sliding to the small of her back, pulling her closer, deeper. She gasped as his lips moved down to her jaw, then her neck, pressing slow, dangerous kisses that sent heat pooling through her veins.
"Alexander," she whispered, fingers tightening against his shoulders.
He groaned at the sound of his name on her lips, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her neck.
"You drive me insane," he muttered, his breath hot against her skin. "You walk into my world and turn everything upside down."
Eleanor pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. His eyes were darker now, filled with something raw, something unrestrained.
"Then stop fighting it," she whispered.
A muscle in his jaw flexed, his hand cupping her face. He studied her for a moment, as if memorizing every detail, as if making a choice.
And then, just as suddenly as he had pulled her in—he stepped back.
His breathing was ragged, his fists clenched as if forcing himself to stop.
Eleanor's heart hammered against her ribs. "Alexander—"
"I can't." His voice was hoarse. "Not like this. Not when I know you're in danger."
Frustration swelled inside her. "So what, you're just going to keep running from this? From me?"
He turned away, dragging a hand through his hair. "I'm trying to keep you alive."
"And what if I don't want to be protected?" she shot back. "What if I want you more than I want to be safe?"
Alexander froze.
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions.
Then, slowly, he turned back to her.
His voice was soft, almost broken. "Eleanor…"
She stepped forward again, her fingers brushing against his. "We'll figure this out together. But stop pretending you don't want this."
His hand finally closed around hers.
And this time, he didn't let go.
---
Next Chapter: Shadows and Secrets
With emotions running high, Eleanor and Alexander's relationship takes a dangerous turn. But as new enemies emerge and old betrayals resurface, will their passion become their greatest weakness?