CHAPTER 10

Nicholas watches her closely, his gaze unwavering, his lips curling into a smile that’s equal parts wicked and knowing. The flickering candlelight casts shadows over his features, making him look even more dangerous than usual. It’s almost as if he’s savoring the tension that hangs between them.

Chloe, on the other hand, tries to steady her breath. The sensation of his eyes on her feels too intimate, too intense. She resists the urge to squirm, lifting her glass of water to her lips to hide the unease building in her chest.

“You’re so quiet tonight,” Nicholas observes, his voice smooth, teasing.

“I’m just thinking,” she replies, her tone sharp, trying to keep her composure. She doesn’t want him to see how his presence unnerves her, how every part of her wants to flee.

“Thinking about what?” he presses, his lips twitching, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

She shrugs, trying to play it off. “Does it matter?”

His gaze darkens slightly, the smirk slipping just a fraction. “Of course it matters. I want to know what goes on in that mind of yours.”

Her stomach knots at his words. It feels like he’s digging deeper than she’s willing to let him, and yet, she can’t seem to pull away.

“I don’t think you’d like what you find,” she replies, her voice low, a slight edge to it.

Nicholas leans in, his eyes glinting with challenge. “Try me.”

She feels a flicker of defiance rise within her, but she pushes it down, forcing her body to remain still. She knows better than to poke the beast. Instead, she forces a tight smile and glances around the restaurant, trying to distract herself.

The waiter returns then, setting their meals before them. Chloe’s stomach growls, betraying her. The scent of the food is tempting, and despite her unease, she can’t help but feel grateful for the distraction.

“I hope this is to your liking,” the waiter says, his voice warm.

Chloe takes a bite, but her mind is still on Nicholas. She doesn’t dare look at him directly, knowing that any glance would send her heart into overdrive. The silence stretches between them again, the kind of silence that speaks volumes.

Nicholas finally breaks it, his voice low, almost pensive. “You didn’t answer my question earlier.”

Chloe freezes, the fork halfway to her mouth. “What question?”

“Did you miss me?” he asks, the words lingering in the air.

Her heart skips a beat.

She forces herself to keep her expression neutral. “No.”

He chuckles, a sound that’s rich and knowing, like he’s already won the game they’re playing. “You’re lying.”

She bites her lip, refusing to acknowledge the fluttering in her chest. “Maybe I’m just tired of you,” she snaps, hoping her words will have the intended sting.

Nicholas doesn’t flinch. Instead, he sits back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “I’m not going anywhere, Chloe. You’re stuck with me.” He smiles again, that slow, maddening grin. “And sooner or later, you’ll realize you can’t live without me.”

Her breath catches. The intensity of his words—of his presence—leaves her speechless for a moment. How does he make everything sound like a promise, a threat, and an invitation all at once?

The seconds tick by in heavy silence, the weight of his statement settling between them.

Chloe forces herself to look away, focusing on her food. “I don’t need anyone,” she says quietly, but even as the words leave her mouth, she wonders if she’s trying to convince herself more than him.

Nicholas leans forward again, his voice softer this time, more intimate. “We all need something, Chloe. Don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise.”

She feels the truth of his words slice through her, but she refuses to let him see how much they affect her. Instead, she pushes her plate away, standing up abruptly.

“I think I’ve had enough for tonight,” she says, her voice cool, though her heart is racing.

Nicholas doesn’t move at first, just watches her, those piercing eyes studying her every move. Then, with a soft chuckle, he stands too.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he says, a low promise in his tone.

Chloe’s breath hitches. “What does that mean?” she asks, her voice shaky despite her best efforts to sound composed.

Nicholas steps closer, his proximity sending a rush of heat through her. “It means you can’t escape me, Chloe. Not now. Not ever.”

And with that, he takes her hand gently, his fingers closing around hers with the same possessive grip he’s had all night.

She doesn’t pull away. Not yet.

Chloe stands frozen, his touch warm against her skin, as if every fiber in her body is both resisting and yearning to give in. She wants to pull away, to retreat into the safety of the distance she had carefully built around herself, but his presence, his grip on her hand, has a weight she can’t shake.

“You really think you can just waltz into my life and control everything, don’t you?” Chloe says, her voice quieter than she intends.

Nicholas tilts his head slightly, that slow, knowing smile curling at his lips again. It’s maddening, how he can remain so calm, so in control, while everything inside her is spiraling.

“I’m not playing games, Chloe,” he says, his voice steady and serious. “I’m serious about you.”

Her breath hitches. The words settle like stones in her chest, both comforting and terrifying. For a split second, she wonders if this is just another one of his power plays, another way to manipulate her. But deep down, a part of her knows he isn’t lying.

“I think,” he continues, his voice low and unwavering, “you’re more than capable of handling everything I throw your way. But you’ve been running from this for too long. Running from me. I won’t let that happen anymore.”

Chloe swallows, trying to shake off the wave of emotions crashing over her. She opens her mouth to speak but finds herself at a loss for words. What can she say? How can she fight this when everything inside her is already tangled in his web?

“You’re not in control here, Nicholas,” she says, her voice shaky, but defiant.

Nicholas doesn’t flinch. He steps even closer, the space between them almost non-existent now, the air thick with the tension she can’t escape. His fingers graze her arm gently, and for a moment, she feels like she can’t breathe.

“Maybe not yet,” he murmurs. “But you will be.”

Chloe shakes her head, still trying to hold on to the remnants of her resistance, even though she knows she’s losing the battle. She tries to back away, but Nicholas is already leading her to the door, his hand gently but firmly guiding her.

The dinner ends with an almost suffocating quiet. She’s too overwhelmed to eat much, her thoughts swirling around his words, around the implications of everything that’s unfolding. They barely speak during the drive back to her apartment, the silence between them heavier than any conversation could be.

When they arrive, Nicholas doesn’t immediately let her go. Instead, he watches her carefully, his gaze lingering on her with a depth that makes her heart beat faster.

“Think about what I said,” he says, his voice quieter now, almost gentle. “I’ll give you time, but not forever.”

Chloe nods, her throat tight as she struggles to find something—anything—she can say. But words fail her. She simply steps out of the car and heads for the door, knowing full well that Nicholas is watching her every move.

As she enters her apartment, she closes the door behind her with a soft click, her heart still racing from the tension of the evening. She slides the deadbolt into place, the familiar sound grounding her, but it doesn’t calm the storm inside. Her thoughts are still tangled in his words—I’m serious about you.

She takes a deep breath, pushing the weight of the night aside, and heads for the bathroom. The warm, steamy air greets her, the quiet hum of the water filling the silence. Chloe stands in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection for a moment, trying to make sense of everything. She’s not sure what she expected, but it certainly wasn’t this—him—and yet, everything about him felt inevitable, as if it was always meant to be this way.

With a shake of her head, she pushes her thoughts away. The mirror fogs up as she runs a hand through her wet hair, gathering it into a messy bun. She turns on the tap, waiting for the water to heat up before stepping into the shower.

The hot water pours over her, a welcome relief against the chill in the air. She lets the heat soak into her muscles, her mind slowly winding down as the tension of the day begins to ebb away. She takes her time, washing away the remnants of the evening—the tension, the unease, the lingering heat of Nicholas’s gaze. But no matter how much she scrubs, she can’t seem to wash him off.

When she finishes, she wraps herself in a towel and steps out of the shower, the steam still clinging to the bathroom mirror. She takes a moment to dry off and slip into something comfortable—a soft oversized shirt and leggings—and then moves to the kitchen to make herself a late-night cup of tea. She sips it slowly, letting the warmth fill her, but it doesn’t quite reach the cold place inside her.

Her thoughts drift again to Nicholas. She hadn’t been expecting him tonight. She wasn’t ready for it. But she had felt it in the air—his presence, his insistence, the way he said he wasn’t playing games. The way he made her feel like she had no choice but to listen. But she’s not going to let him control her. She won’t let herself fall into his world.

With a sigh, Chloe finishes her tea and heads back to her bedroom, shutting off the light in the living room as she goes. She slides under the covers, hoping the darkness will give her the peace she desperately craves. But even in the quiet of her own apartment, her thoughts race, and sleep seems impossible to catch.

Nicholas’s words echo in her mind, a constant reminder of the storm she’s trying to avoid but knows is coming. Her breath catches as she realizes there’s no escaping it.

Nicholas’s POV:

I sit in my car, parked a few blocks away, hidden in the shadows. The night is quiet, the only sounds the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. My eyes are fixed on Chloe’s apartment, watching the soft glow of the light behind her curtains as she moves about inside.

I hadn’t expected her to make it easy. No, I’d been prepared for resistance, for her to fight me, to retreat into her walls. But I knew—I always know—that sooner or later, those walls would start to crumble. And when they did, she wouldn’t be able to hide behind them anymore.

I lean back in my seat, my grip steady on the steering wheel, but my focus remains on the light in her room. I can’t look away, even as I tell myself I should. My mind churns with thoughts of her—the way she stands strong, the fire in her eyes, and the way she tries to push me away. But no matter how hard she tries, I know she can’t outrun this pull between us. It’s inevitable.

She deserves space, though. I’m not going to push too hard tonight. I’ve given her the room to think, to process. But she needs to understand—I’m not going anywhere. She might resist, she might try to make me leave, but I’m not going to let her. Not when I know exactly what she needs. What we both need.

The minutes stretch into hours as I watch her window. I don’t even notice the time passing; I just watch her, knowing she’s in there, unaware of the constant pull I feel toward her.

And then, finally, the light flickers off.

My jaw tightens as I watch the room fall into darkness. I wait a beat longer, just to be sure. There’s no movement behind the curtains. She’s gone to bed, or at least, she’s settled in for the night.

I don’t leave immediately. I let myself breathe for a moment, letting the stillness of the night wrap around me. But I know that I’ll be back. I won’t let her stay hidden from me for long.

I start the car with a low hum, my hands steady as the engine roars to life. Slowly, I drive away from her apartment, the quiet hum of the tires on the road the only sound in the otherwise silent night.

But even as I pull farther away, I know this isn’t the end. I won’t let it be. The next time, she won’t be able to turn me away so easily.

Chloe’s walls might be strong, but I’m stronger. And sooner or later, she’ll realize that.