The sun was already high by the time Selena stepped out of Nolan's apartment. She paused at the curb, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders, as if the fabric could shield her from the weight of what had just happened.
Her body still hummed with the memory of his touch, her lips tingling from his kisses. Every step down the street felt unreal, like she was floating somewhere between desire and doubt.
What did I just do?
The night had been unforgettable, passionate, full of fire and tenderness. But as daylight spilled across the city, clarity returned with cruel precision. She had met Nolan only days ago. And yet, she had given him pieces of herself that she had guarded for years.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out hesitantly, her heart racing when his name flashed on the screen.
> Nolan: You left without saying goodbye. Come back. Or at least let me see you tonight.
Selena stopped walking, staring at the message. Her lips curved unconsciously, warmth spreading through her chest. But alongside the warmth was fear.
Too fast. Too much.
She locked the screen and shoved the phone back into her pocket, ignoring the pang in her heart.
By the time she reached her office building, she had forced her features into a mask of composure. The receptionist greeted her with a cheerful smile, but Selena only nodded and walked briskly toward the elevator.
As the doors closed, a voice called out behind her.
"Selena Hart?"
She froze. The voice was familiar—too familiar. Slowly, she turned.
Standing in the lobby was Daniel Mercer. Her ex. The man who had once promised her forever, only to shatter her trust.
"Daniel," she whispered, her throat tightening.
He gave her a smile that hadn't changed since the day he walked away. "Long time no see."
Selena's heart clenched, memories rushing back unbidden—nights of promises, days of lies, the moment she realized she had been nothing more than convenience to him.
"I didn't expect to see you here," she said coldly.
"Business meeting upstairs," he replied casually, slipping his hands into his pockets. His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You look good, Selena."
She stiffened, refusing to let the words affect her. "Goodbye, Daniel."
The elevator doors closed before he could reply, and she exhaled shakily, pressing her back against the cool metal. Not now. Not when I've just started to feel something real again.
Her phone buzzed again at lunchtime.
> Nolan: I can't stop thinking about last night. About you. Say something, Selena.
She bit her lip, staring at the words. Her heart screamed to reply, to run back into his arms. But Daniel's sudden reappearance had cracked the fragile glass of her newfound happiness.
Could she really trust her heart again? Or was she just falling into another mistake?
The answer came sooner than she expected.
That evening, as she wrapped up work, the sound of laughter reached her office door. She glanced up—and froze.
Nolan stood there, leaning casually against the doorway, his eyes locked on her.
Her breath caught. "Nolan. What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you," he said simply, stepping inside. "You've been avoiding me all day."
Selena's hands tightened around the edge of her desk. "I wasn't avoiding you. I was… busy."
He raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Busy ignoring my messages?"
Her cheeks warmed, guilt mixing with frustration. "I just needed space to think."
Nolan crossed the room, every step deliberate, his gaze never leaving hers. When he reached her desk, he leaned down, bracing his hands on the surface, his face inches from hers.
"Then tell me what you're thinking," he demanded softly, his voice low, intimate, and unyielding.
Her breath quickened. "I'm thinking this is too fast. That I don't even really know you."
His expression softened, but his eyes burned with determination. "Then get to know me. Ask me anything. But don't run, Selena. Don't push me away because you're scared."
Her resolve trembled under the weight of his gaze. The memory of Daniel's smile flashed through her mind, but Nolan's closeness, his sincerity, drowned it out.
She swallowed hard. "And if I fall too hard again? If I end up shattered?"
Nolan's hand reached for hers, his grip firm, steady. "Then I'll be the one to put you back together. I'm not him, Selena. I'm not going to walk away."
The truth in his voice, the unwavering certainty, melted her defenses. Before she could think, she was in his arms, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that silenced her fears.
It wasn't just desire this time. It was promise.
Some cracks don't mean the glass will break. Sometimes, they're reminders of how much stronger it can become when held together with care.
Dear readers, Chapter 11 brings the first shadow into Selena and Nolan's whirlwind romance. Old wounds resurface when Daniel appears, but Nolan refuses to let fear push her away.
NisotWrites
But love built on secrets can't stay perfect forever. Nolan is hiding something, and Selena is about to find out that passion alone may not be enough.