DARK CHEMISTRY
The night air was quiet except for Lizzie's soft, uneven breaths as she finally drifted off to sleep on the balcony, curled against Daniel's chest. Her tears had subsided, leaving only the exhaustion of a body and heart that had endured too much in too little time.
Daniel watched her for a moment, his gaze softening, almost tender, as he traced a finger along her jawline, brushing back a loose strand of hair. Then, carefully, quietly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, simple wedding ring.
With utmost care, he slipped it onto her finger. She didn't stir. She didn't even feel it—her sleep was deep, heavy with relief and lingering fear. Daniel's lips pressed briefly to her temple as he murmured,
"Mine… always."
He lifted her gently, holding her against him as he walked silently back to her dorm. The hallways were empty, the world outside still in quiet slumber.
Once inside, he lowered her onto the bed with painstaking care, adjusting the blankets so she was warm and comfortable. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek for just a moment.
Then, leaning down, he pressed a soft, deliberate kiss on her lips, lingering just long enough to let her subconscious feel his possession and love.
As he pulled away, he whispered softly, almost a breath,
"Sleep well, little one. I'm always here."
With that, he slipped quietly from the room, leaving Lizzie safe, unconscious, and unaware of the new bond that now rested on her finger—a symbol of the dark, possessive love Daniel had claimed for her.
The dorm room was silent again, except for the soft rise and fall of Lizzie's breathing—and the faint glint of the ring on her finger, unseen but binding.
Morning light filtered softly through Lizzie's curtains, brushing against her face and rousing her from sleep. She stirred, stretching her arms and letting out a quiet yawn, still hazy from the exhaustion of the previous night.
As her fingers brushed against the blanket, something metallic caught her attention. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, almost fearfully, she looked down—and there it was: a ring gleaming on her finger.
Her eyes widened. She touched it again, disbelief and panic mixing with a strange, thrilling warmth.
"Daniel…" she whispered, voice barely audible, her breath catching.
Memories of the previous night—the balcony, his possessive hold, the soft kiss on her lips—rushed back in. Her chest tightened, and she felt both terrified and safe at the same time.
Her phone buzzed. A text message.
It was from the tough guy.
"Where are you? Don't ignore me."
Lizzie's hands shook. She felt trapped between two worlds: the man who had claimed her heart and soul, the man who was dangerous in a different way, and now the tangible symbol of Daniel's ownership glinting on her finger.
She wanted to call Daniel, to tell him everything—but his phone was silent. And she couldn't shake the thought that he had purposefully left her to face the morning alone, to let her realize what the ring meant.
Her breath hitched. "I… I'm his…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm really his…"
Her heart ached, torn between the possessive love she craved and the cruel, suffocating tension of the tough guy's looming presence.
The tough guy's texts kept coming, more insistent. But Lizzie's gaze kept returning to the ring, her fingers tracing its curve, feeling the weight of it, feeling Daniel's claim on her even from miles away.
Her lips trembled. She was scared. She was trapped. But deep down… she knew one thing: she belonged to Daniel now, whether the world approved or not.
Lizzie sat stiffly at her lab desk, pretending to take notes… but her eyes kept drifting back to the ring.
Every few seconds.
Every time her heart skipped a beat.
The silver band glinted under the fluorescent lights, each sparkle a reminder of last night—his warmth, his kiss, his claim.
She swallowed hard, cheeks warm.
Just then, she sensed him.
Daniel walked down the aisle between lab tables, clipboard in hand, expression calm… but his eyes flicked instantly to her hand.
To the ring.
To his ring.
Lizzie panicked.
She jerked her gaze down to her notebook, pretending to work.
In her rush—
Her elbow clipped the edge of a large glass bottle.
Caesium.
A LOT of it.
The bottle wobbled.
Tipped—
CLATTER—
A collective gasp from the class.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Even before the sparks could start—
Daniel's voice boomed, sharp and commanding:
"EVERYONE OUT. NOW!"
Chairs scraped. Students scattered. Panic rose.
Lizzie froze, trembling, her hands over her mouth.
The bottle rolled, ready to spill.
Just one drop reacting with air would cause—
But she didn't get to finish her thought.
Because Daniel was already there.
He grabbed her waist, lifting her effortlessly off her feet.
Lizzie let out a tiny squeak as he pulled her into his chest.
"Hold on," he murmured—not panicked, not frantic—just intensely focused.
And then—
He jumped.
Straight through the open window.
The world blurred around them as he held her tight, twisting mid-air so she landed on top of him instead of the ground.
BOOM—
A muffled explosion shook the building behind them. A cloud of white smoke puffed out the window they'd escaped through.
Lizzie clutched his shirt, her heart racing.
Daniel lay beneath her, chest rising and falling, eyes blazing with adrenaline and something darker… something possessive.
His arms still wrapped firmly around her as he whispered, breath warm on her ear,
"I said I'd protect you.
Even from the things you don't see coming."
Lizzie's cheeks burned red.
Her hand—still shaking—rested against his chest.
The ring glinted between them.
And Daniel's eyes dropped to it again—
softening, darkening—
like he was remembering the moment he put it there.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice low.
She shook her head shyly, too stunned to speak.
Daniel exhaled in relief… and tightened his hold ever so slightly as if he didn't want to let her go.