Chapter 9: Unwanted Desires
1112 Words
The room felt suffocating. No matter how many times Amelia paced back and forth, the heat from Ethan’s touch still clung to her skin. Her pulse was erratic, her breaths uneven.
She was furious. Not just at him—but at herself.
How had she let him get that close?
"I could make you forget about him, you know."
His voice whispered through her mind, haunting her like a dark promise.
Her reflection in the mirror mocked her—flushed cheeks, parted lips, and wide, bewildered eyes. She looked… shaken. Not by sadness. Not by pain.
By him.
She gritted her teeth, shaking her head. No. Ethan was playing games—dangerous, wicked games that she refused to be a pawn in.
But still…
Her body had betrayed her.
The warmth of his breath at her ear, the way his fingers had brushed against her skin… It had ignited something. Something she wanted to snuff out before it had a chance to take root.
Her fingers curled around the edges of the vanity, gripping it tightly as she stared at herself.
"You are not his. You are not his."
Saying it aloud did nothing to erase the ache inside her.
Then, suddenly, her phone buzzed.
She jumped, her heart hammering against her ribs as she fumbled for it.
A message. From an unknown number.
Her breath caught in her throat as she clicked it open.
"Amelia… I’m sorry."
The world tilted.
Her grip on the phone tightened. Her stomach twisted painfully.
Elias.
It had to be him.
She reread the words over and over, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely think.
After months of silence—no calls, no messages, nothing—he suddenly decided to reach out?
Her fingers trembled as she typed a response.
"Where are you?"
She hesitated before pressing send.
Seconds passed. Then minutes. The screen remained blank.
The knot in her stomach tightened.
She felt dizzy—torn between relief, anger, and a deep, gnawing fear.
Where had he been all this time? Why hadn’t he reached out sooner? And why now, when she was already drowning in another man’s presence?
Another buzz. Another message.
"Please. I need to explain. Meet me."
Her pulse skipped.
Elias wanted to see her.
For months, she had prayed for this moment. She had told herself, over and over, that if he ever came back, she would run straight into his arms.
So why was her first instinct to hesitate?
She should have felt relief. Excitement.
But instead, the only thing she felt was… guilt.
Not for Elias.
For Ethan.
Her stomach twisted as her mind conjured images of him—his piercing silver eyes, his hands gripping her waist, the way he had looked at her like she was already his.
No.
No, no, no.
She shouldn’t be thinking about Ethan right now.
Shoving her phone into her pocket, she took a deep breath, steadying herself.
Then, suddenly—
A knock.
Sharp. Firm.
Her breath hitched.
She knew who it was before he even spoke.
Ethan.
"Are you going to let me in, or should I break the door down?" His voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing herself to stand tall.
"Go away, Ethan."
The doorknob turned.
She sucked in a breath. Had she locked it?
A click.
The door swung open.
Her pulse skyrocketed. "You—"
Ethan stepped inside, uninvited, as if the space belonged to him. His tailored black shirt clung to his frame, the top two buttons undone, exposing a hint of skin. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms.
He looked like a storm trapped in a man’s body—dangerous, consuming.
His silver eyes zeroed in on her, scanning every inch of her face like he could read every single thought racing through her mind.
"You shouldn’t barge in here like this," she snapped.
Ethan’s lips quirked up in a slow, unapologetic smirk. "Shouldn’t I?"
Her jaw tightened. "You don’t own me."
He took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. "Then why do you always react like you do?"
Her breath hitched.
She hated how he could see through her. How he could read her like a book she didn’t want to be opened.
"Why are you here?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
His smirk faded. His gaze darkened.
"If Elias comes back, you won’t go to him."
A sharp coldness spread through her chest.
"What?" she whispered.
"You heard me." His voice was quiet, but firm. "If he returns, you stay with me."
Her stomach dropped.
"You’re insane," she breathed.
Ethan tilted his head slightly, watching her like a predator cornering his prey. "Am I?"
Her fists clenched. "Why do you even care?"
A dangerous silence stretched between them. Then, finally, Ethan moved.
One step.
Then another.
Until he was so close she could feel his warmth pressing against her skin.
Her breath shuddered.
His fingers brushed against her cheek, light as a feather.
"You already know the answer," he murmured.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She should push him away. She should scream at him.
But she didn’t.
Because deep down, she knew the truth.
Ethan Carter had always been dangerous. Not just because of his power. Not just because of his dominance.
But because, somewhere along the way, he had become the one she couldn’t stop thinking about.
His thumb traced her jaw, tilting her chin up slightly.
Her lips parted.
For a fraction of a second, she thought he might kiss her.
For a fraction of a second, she wanted him to.
Then—
She snapped out of it, jerking away from his touch.
"This conversation is over," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "Get out."
Ethan’s gaze lingered on her for a long, excruciating moment.
Then, with maddening calmness, he stepped back and turned toward the door.
Just before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder, his smirk returning.
"You can lie to yourself all you want, Amelia." His voice was a low promise. "But we both know you’re already mine."
The door clicked shut.
And just like that, he was gone.
Amelia exhaled a shaky breath, pressing a trembling hand to her chest.
Her heart was beating too fast.
Her mind was spinning.
Her phone buzzed again.
She looked down.
Elias’s message.
"Please. I need to explain. Meet me."
Her stomach twisted.
Elias was back.
She should feel happy. She should feel relieved.
Instead…
All she could think about was the man who had just walked out of her room.
To Be Continued….
- Writer
