Chapter 2 –
The Walls Between Us
The rain had stopped, but the city streets were still wet and shiny, reflecting every light like fire. Elena Hart stayed by the window in Sebastian Crowe's penthouse. She didn't know why. Maybe it was safer here. Maybe she didn't want to leave. Her pulse was still hammering, fast, uneven, since the call in the lobby.
She hadn't moved. Just stood there, hands pressed to her sides, trembling slightly, trying to keep herself together.
"You're quiet," Sebastian said from across the room. Low voice. Smooth. Dangerous. He was leaning against the edge of his massive desk, arms crossed, watching her. Waiting. Judging.
"I'm thinking," she said, flat.
"You're scared," he said.
She spun to glare at him. "I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
He started walking toward her. Slow. Measured. Every step made her heart jump. She wanted to run. Disappear. Hate him. But her body betrayed her. Every nerve screamed she wanted him. Dangerous, impossible, and she wanted him anyway.
He stopped a foot away. Too close. The air between them felt tight, like it could spark.
"I need to know," he whispered, low. "Why you're hiding."
Elena's hands clenched into fists. She wanted to tell him. Needed to. But she couldn't. Not yet. Not until she could trust him at least a little.
"I'm not hiding anything," she said, sharper than she meant.
He quirked his lips, half-smirk, half-sneer. "You are. You know it. Don't lie to me, Elena."
Her body shivered. Fear? Desire? She didn't know.
He stepped closer. His hand lifted slightly, hovering near her face. Not touching. Not yet. Just testing. And when his fingers brushed a loose strand of her hair, she gasped.
Her stomach twisted. Heart slammed. She wanted to melt into him, close her eyes, let everything happen. But fear held her back. She pulled a fraction away.
He didn't retreat. Just tilted his head, gaze fixed on hers. Time stretched. Tension wound tighter. She could feel it all — chest, arms, fingers, every nerve alive.
"Why did you pull back?" he asked softly.
"Because I don't trust anyone," she whispered.
He didn't answer. Just stared. Naked stare. Exposing. Alive.
Then he moved closer. His thumb brushed her jaw. Light. Gentle. But it hit her like fire.
Her knees nearly buckled. She wanted to collapse into him. Forget. Feel warmth. She couldn't. She'd survived this long by hiding, by staying careful.
"You don't have to hide from me," he said, voice almost soft. Dangerous, too.
"I do," she said, trying to steady her trembling voice.
"And you will," he said, leaning just slightly closer, shoulder brushing hers. "Until you trust me. Or until someone makes you."
Elena flinched. Too close. Too real. She hated how much she wanted him — the nearness, the heat, the danger. Wanted him to see her fragile and still not leave.
Her breath caught when he tilted his head, eyes lingering on her lips. Just a glance. Just a fraction closer. Enough to make her body betray her mind.
Then — a loud crash somewhere in the building. Glass. Security alarms. Footsteps. Voices shouting.
Sebastian snapped his head to the sound. In an instant, his hand was at her waist, steadying her. His body pressed against hers. She hadn't moved away. Couldn't.
"They're close," he said, low. "Too close."
Her stomach twisted. Fear and adrenaline mixed with heat. She wanted to protest, tell him to let go. But instinct said he was the only thing standing between her and the danger coming.
He took her hand lightly, guiding her toward the inner office. Shadows, corners — safer. Her heart hammered with every step, every brush of his hand.
"You can't hide forever," he said. "And I don't want you to."
"Don't… want me?" she whispered. Stupid. Desperate.
"Yes," he said. Simple. Honest. Dangerous.
Her body betrayed her. Leaning toward him without realizing it. Chest tight. Thoughts screaming. Everything wrong, yet impossible to resist.
He lifted his hand again, hovering over hers. She didn't move. Couldn't.
And then — everything broke.
His lips brushed hers. Just a touch. A whisper of heat. Her knees nearly buckled. Hands shot to his chest instinctively. He held her just enough to keep her grounded.
A second. Barely. But burning through her like wildfire. She wanted to melt, fall, surrender… everything.
Then a loud crash echoed again. Security alarms, running footsteps, shouting voices.
Sebastian pulled back instantly. Gaze sharp, dangerous. The moment dissolved into adrenaline and fear.
Elena's chest heaved. "What…"
"They know," he said, voice flat, deadly.
Her stomach turned. "Who?"
"The people you ran from. They're here. Too close. And they won't stop until they find you."
Fear hit her full force. She wanted to scream, run, cling to him. But she couldn't. Not fully. Not yet.
He moved, gathering her to the shadows of the inner office. Protective. Dangerous. Every step reminded her of the tension simmering between them.
"You don't get to run anymore," he said sharply. "Not from them. Not from me. Not from what's coming."
Her heart hammered. She wanted to argue, deny, push him away. But every instinct, every nerve screamed: I want him. I need him. Maybe she didn't care what happened next.
Outside, the city rumbled with thunder. Inside, the air between them sparked hotter than any storm.
Neither moved.
Because in that instant, both knew: nothing would ever be the same again.