Chapter 15: Bound To Break

Nathan

The meeting ended ten minutes ago. Everyone had left except Kaima; she lingered around, arranging documents that didn’t need organizing.

I stayed seated casually, my laptop open in front of me, typing out an email just to keep myself distracted — and my eyes off her — but it wasn’t working.

Still, I refused to say a word. She was the one who asked for professionalism, so I was only giving her what she wanted, even though it was eating me alive.

“Nathan…” she called softly, almost hesitantly, as if afraid of my name.

I didn’t look up. “Yes, Kaima?” I replied, eyes still locked on my screen.

Her sigh wasn’t loud, but I heard it. Zade growled inside of me, instantly irritated by my tone — by the distance I was forcing between us. ‘You’re hurting her. Stop acting like you don’t care, damn it, Nathan.’

I clenched my jaw. “She asked for this,” I muttered low enough for only me to hear.

“What?” she asked, walking toward me.

“Nothing,” I said, turning my attention from the laptop to the document in front of me. “Did you need anything else related to the meeting?”

She paused, as if rehearsing whatever she wanted to say. “I… I wanted to apologize for what I said at the restaurant the other day. You’ve been so kind to me. I never should have said that.”

I paused, my hands still on the keyboard, but I didn’t raise my head. I couldn’t — if I did, every atom of restraint I had would be lost.

“Water under the bridge. Let’s move on.”

I heard her footsteps coming closer and closer until her scent clogged my nose. I wasn’t concentrating before, but her standing this close was doing too many crazy things to me.

Still, she whispered, “I was—”

I cut her off quickly. “You should take a look at this.” I turned my laptop slightly toward her, forcing myself to be professional. “These figures from the East Wing project just came in today.”

She leaned in to see the screen, her shoulder slightly brushing against mine as she moved her hair to the back of her ear.

That single touch burned through me.

Every nerve in my body was on fire. Zade clawed to the surface, frustrated. ‘You can’t ignore her forever, you know that, right?’ he snarled. But I didn’t answer though I knew he was right.

I tried to focus on the spreadsheet on the screen, but looking at the numbers now made no damn sense.

“See the shift in value?” I pointed at the screen, unsure of what I was even saying.

She nodded, her attention undivided. “Yes, I did.”

Her hair brushed against my cheek when she turned, and that was all it took. Every ounce of control I had was gone. I couldn’t hold back — not anymore.

Before I could stop myself, I turned toward her — too fast, too desperate. My gaze dropped to her full lips, and for a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

“Kaima…” I said her name already breathless.

What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not supposed to be defying the moon goddess but why can't I stop myself from wanting to kiss her.

‘Damn you, Nathan. Kiss her already before you create another interruption!’ Zade growled, pushing my lips closer.

Without any further hesitation, I pressed my lips on hers.

She stiffened for a moment before her lips moved in perfect harmony with mine. The kiss wasn’t gentle — it was pure perfection. My hand found her jaw, tilting her face up as her breath caught in her throat.

I’d expected her to pull away, but she didn’t.

For a moment, it felt like time stopped. It felt like it was only the two of us in this moment, nothing else — and I never wanted it to stop. I wanted her more badly than I’d ever wanted anyone in my entire life.

Her scent flooded my senses. Zade howled inside me — satisfaction at last.

When I pulled away, we were both left breathless. I stayed there, my forehead pressed against hers.

“This is wrong,” she whispered, breathless.

“I know,” I breathed, brushing my thumb across her lower lip. “Kaima… tell me to stop. Please.”

She didn’t.

Her silence was all the permission I needed.

Before I could even think, I kissed her deeper again. Her lips were so soft, sweeter than what I had imagined, my hands moved to her back, pulling her close until there was no distance between us.

She gasped softly in my mouth, and I devoured her lips even more. In that moment, I didn’t care if she wasn’t my mate — Goddess, please forgive me — because this felt so damn right.

Her hands were still gripping my shirt when I felt her tense. It happened so fast one moment our hearts had the same rhythm, the next she was frozen in my arms, like reality had just come crashing down on her.

Then she pulled back.

“Kaima—” I started, but she was already stepping back, eyes wide and unreadable. Her fingers brushed her lips like she couldn’t believe what just happened like she was trying to erase it, to undo what had transpired.

“I can’t,” she whispered, voice trembling, eyes wild.

Before I could move, before I could say anything else, she turned and walked out of the boardroom. The sound of her heels echoed against the marble floor, fading with every step she took away from me.

“Kaima,” I called again, but she didn’t look back. Not once.

The door closed behind her, leaving me standing there heart pounding, lips still burning from the memory of her kiss.

Zade growled loudly inside me, furious and restless. ‘You let her walk away, he snarled.’

I ran a hand down my face, every muscle tight with something I couldn’t name. I wanted to go after her, to explain, to tell her I hadn’t meant for it to happen and at the same time, I wanted to drag her back and kiss her all over again until she forgot every reason why she shouldn’t.

Instead, I just stood there, staring at the door she disappeared through, feeling like the world had just shifted beneath my feet.

I shut my eyes tightly, my heart still pounding fast. “Goddess forgive me for defying you,” I slowly opened my eyes, my gaze dazed. “But...

I'm sorry because I don't even regret it.”

Please help me, or I'm afraid I will do it again.