🔥 Chapter 8. Burning with the heat of love
1669 Words
Their kisses stretched endlessly—slow at first, then deeper, hotter, until Ella’s breath broke into tiny trembling gasps against his mouth. Michael’s hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer with a hunger that shook him, every part of him screaming to keep her pressed against him.
“Ella…” he whispered into her lips, voice rough. “God, I want you.”
Her heart melted, but fear fluttered in her eyes. She pulled back slightly, cheeks flushed, breathless.
“I’m… not ready,” she whispered, her voice so soft it trembled.
Michael froze. His chest rose and fell rapidly, but he nodded. He cupped her face gently, thumb brushing her cheek.
“Okay,” he breathed out. “I’ll wait. I’ll take you home.”
But even on the short walk to her apartment door, he was losing control. Every few steps he pulled her into him, kissing her again—against the elevator wall, in the quiet hallway, just outside her door—deep, hungry kisses that stole her breath and his sanity.
When they reached her apartment, he pressed her gently against the door, forehead touching hers, breathing her in.
“I don’t want to leave,” he murmured, voice shaking with the effort to control himself.
She laughed softly, shyly, eyes lowered. “Then don’t.”
He groaned, kissed her again—slow, devastating, full of everything he felt but couldn’t say. His hands lingered on her waist, his mouth brushing hers even as he whispered goodbye.
“Sleep,” he finally whispered. “If I stay… I won’t stop.”
He stepped back, barely.
She slipped inside her flat, closing the door with shaking hands.
He stood outside for a full minute, breathing hard, fingers pressed to the door as if he could still feel her through it.
----
The days after that night didn’t feel real.
They felt stolen. Forbidden. Addictive.
Every morning, Ella walked into the office pretending nothing had changed… while everything between them burned under the surface.
Michael couldn’t keep his distance anymore.
He found excuses—endless excuses—to be near her.
A missing signature.
A question he already knew the answer to.
A “quick update” that required her stepping into his office.
And the moment the door clicked shut—
He would pull her toward him, one hand sliding to her waist, the other on the back of her neck, kissing her like a starving man catching oxygen.
“Just one,” he’d whisper against her lips.
But it was never just one.
Never.
Sometimes Mia or Lila walked by, forcing them apart—Ella blushing wildly, Michael clearing his throat and turning away like nothing happened.
But the moment the hallway emptied, he grabbed her wrist and whispered:
“Come here… just for a second.”
And she always melted.
---
It happened on a Tuesday afternoon.
Ella slipped into Michael’s office with a stack of documents, pretending to look professional even though her stomach was flipping with anticipation. The moment the door clicked shut, Michael locked it without even thinking, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her toward him.
“Missed you,” he whispered, already kissing her cheek, then her jaw, then her lips.
“Michael—wait—the blinds…” she whispered, half-laughing, half-breathless.
He didn’t wait.
He kissed her fully, deeply, the kind of kiss that made her back arch and her hands cling to his shoulders.
That’s when the door handle turned.
Both froze.
The door opened halfway—and Mia popped in.
Her eyes widened… then a slow, wicked smirk spread across her face. She closed the door and went to her desk immediately.
Ella jumped away from Michael so fast she nearly tripped. Her face turned cherry red.
She went directly to Mia. When she came to her, Mia said:
“Well, well, WELL,” she whispered dramatically "I knew something was sizzling here, but THIS? This is a whole-ass barbecue.”
“Mia—it’s not—it’s just—this is—”
“Sweetheart, save your breath,” Mia interrupted, holding up a playful hand. “I’m not blind. And I’m not stupid.”
“But THIS? The tension between you two could power the entire building. And know this, I am very happy for you"
Then Mia looked at Ella's frozen face and giggled to her to make her relieved "The whole office knows he has Favorite Employee Syndrome.”
Ella covered her face with her hands. “Miaaa, stop…”
Mia lowered her voice, and whispered conspiratorially:
“You guys are adorable. And hot. Continue. Pretend I didn’t see anything". Then she laughed to Ella saying,
“USE THE LOCK PROPERLY NEXT TIME!”
Ella was very shy. But Mia was interested about their relationship. She asked some questions, Ella answered. Thay talked a lot whispering to each other. Ella felt good talking about Michael with a friend.
An hour after that Michael messaged her. She flew to him like a bird to her master. He pulled her and closed the door properly, then hugged her very tightly.
Ella groaned.
Michael burst out laughing, pulled her close again, and whispered against her ear:
“We’re doomed.”
But she was smiling too.
---
After work, he insisted on driving her home.
He waited for her at the door, hands in pockets, eyes softening the moment she appeared.
One night he brought flowers—dark red peonies tied with a silk ribbon.
Another night, a tiny velvet box with earrings shaped like stars.
“My star,” he said quietly, brushing her cheek.
Ella cooked for him sometimes—simple meals, but made with care.
He tasted one bite and nearly groaned.
“Marry me,” he joked.
She shoved him playfully, face burning.
But he kept stealing bites straight from her hands… or from her lips.
They spent hours together—walking, talking, laughing.
Sometimes at late night, especially when it rains they sat in his car outside the building, headlights off, music low, his hand wrapped around hers, their foreheads touching as if the world outside didn’t exist.
---
A soft knock on Ella’s door in the early morning.
She opened it, still half-asleep—and there he was.
Michael.
In a black coat, hair slightly messy, holding two coffees and smiling at her like she was the sunrise itself.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said quietly.
Her heart melted instantly.
On the drive to work, they talked a lot. He held her hand the entire way, thumb brushing her knuckles softly, music playing low.
But once they arrived at the parking lot, everything changed.
They were strangers again.
Or at least pretending to be.
He walked ahead like a manager.
She walked behind like an employee.
---
Ella was taking files to her desk when she saw her again.
Alina.
Tall, polished, and moving across the office like she was on a runway.
And straight toward Michael’s office.
Again.
Ella froze, stomach tightening.
Every day. Every morning.
Alina reached his door, knocked lightly, then slipped inside without waiting.
Ella pretended not to look—but she did.
She always did.
She walked to her desk calmly, placed her files down quietly… but her jaw was clenched, her chest tight.
Mia whispered behind her, “And here comes Miss I-Want-The-Boss.”
Ella elbowed her gently, trying not to smirk.
“She’s annoying,” Mia continued. “If she bends any closer to him, she’ll fall into his lap.”
Ella bit her lip, looking away. “I don’t care.”
“Liar number one,” Mia whispered.
Inside the office, Michael listened politely to whatever Alina was saying—something about schedules and teamwork—but his eyes kept shifting to the glass, searching for one face.
Ella’s.
He saw jealousy in her eyes, even if she thought she hid it well.
He stood abruptly.
“Alina,” he said politely but firmly, “I have a meeting. We’ll talk later.”
Her smile faltered. “Oh… okay.”
He opened the door for her, waiting until she stepped out.
As she left the office, Alina walked past Ella with a smile too sweet to be innocent.
Ella returned the smile politely—calm, unbothered.
A moment later, Michael’s voice came through the hallway.
“Ella. My office, please.”
Her stomach jumped.
Mia whispered dramatically, “Go get your man.”
Ella shot her a look and entered quickly, closing the door behind her.
Michael leaned against his desk, arms crossed, eyes locked onto her like she was the only person in the entire building.
“Jealous?” he asked softly, teasingly.
“No,” she lied instantly.
He raised a brow. “Really?”
“Michael…”
She looked away, embarrassed.
“You can talk to whoever you want. It’s none of my business.”
He pushed off the desk and came closer—close enough that she felt his warmth.
“Oh, but it is your business,” he whispered.
She swallowed.
“Michael… not here. Someone will hear—”
“Let them,” he said, brushing his fingers along her arm. “I want to tell everyone. I want to shout it. I want the whole building to know I lo—”
“Stop,” she cut him off quickly, eyes panicked. “Please. Don’t say it here.”
He sighed, stepping closer until his forehead touched hers.
“You’re the only woman I see,” he whispered. “The only one I want.
He kissed her forehead softly—just once.
Just enough to break her.
She whispered, “I don’t want any trouble for you. People talk. Your position… your job…”
He cupped her face.
“I’ll handle everything. I just need you.”
Her breath caught.
He brushed his thumb across her lip and whispered:
“You’re mine, Ella. And I’m yours.”
Her heart trembled.
---
- Writer
