Episode 9: Unraveling Control
527 Words
Lena’s head was spinning. She barely remembered how she got back to her apartment after that kiss. Dominic’s kiss. The memory of it was still fresh on her lips, hot and demanding, and it had ignited something inside her—something she wasn’t ready to face.
She stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection as if she could somehow find the strength to ignore the way her body reacted to him.
What have I done?
Her phone buzzed, snapping her from her thoughts.
Dominic: Meet me in my office at 9 a.m. Don’t be late.
Her stomach flipped. There was no escaping him now. She couldn’t pretend the kiss hadn’t happened, that everything between them was still just professional.
By the time she walked into the office, her mind was a mess, and her heart was pounding in her chest. Dominic was already there, standing by the window with his back to her.
"You’re early," he said, his voice calm, but his posture was taut with something else.
"Sorry," Lena murmured, trying to keep her voice steady. She couldn’t let him see how rattled she was.
He turned around, those piercing gray eyes locking onto hers. "You’ve been avoiding me since last night. I thought we settled this."
Lena took a deep breath, determined not to let him get under her skin. "We didn’t settle anything, Dominic. You kissed me. That changes things."
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. "I think you’re overthinking it."
Her eyes narrowed. "Overthinking? How am I supposed to react to that?"
Dominic’s expression shifted, growing serious. He stepped closer to her, his gaze never leaving hers. "You’re not supposed to react. You’re supposed to accept it. This thing between us isn’t going away, Lena."
She swallowed hard. "I’m not sure I want it to."
His lips twitched, like he was holding back a grin. "Good."
Her pulse quickened at his words, but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he affected her.
"Why are you doing this, Dominic?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why me?"
He took another step closer, his breath warm against her skin. "Because you’re exactly what I need, Lena."
The words struck her like a blow to the chest. She didn’t know if he was talking about work, about their connection, or something else entirely.
Before she could respond, he cupped her chin gently, lifting her gaze to meet his. "And I think you know that."
Lena opened her mouth to protest, but the words never came. His lips were on hers again—softer this time, yet no less intense.
Her hands instinctively found their way to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palms. She had no control. She had never had control with him.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Dominic looked at her with a dark intensity. "You’re mine now, Lena. And you’re going to have to learn how to accept it."
Lena’s heart raced in her chest. She was already losing control.
And deep down, a part of her didn’t want it back.
- Writer
