Deep Consuming Addiction

Chapter 107

✨ This Time, I Meant It✨

Elena Vale

Her thumb hovered over his name for only a second.

Not out of fear.

Not out of doubt.

Out of awareness.

Because this call—

Was different.

Elena lifted the phone to her ear as it rang.

Once.

Twice.

Her heart missed a beat.

Not frantic like before.

Not desperate.

Grounded.

Then—

The line clicked.

“Yeah.”

Her breath caught slightly at the sound of his voice.

Deep.

Familiar.

But controlled.

Not cold.

Not warm.

Waiting.

“Elena?”

She closed her eyes briefly.

Just hearing him say her name—

Almost broke her composure.

“Ari…”

Her voice was softer than she intended.

A pause.

“I stepped off the case,” she said.

Silence.

Then—

“You did what?”

She exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

“I removed myself from Darven. This morning. I told my supervisor everything relevant to my position and the conflict.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

“You stepped off the case?” he repeated.

“Yes.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone.

“I couldn’t justify staying on it,” she continued. “Not with you. Not with everything connected. It wasn’t clean. And I don’t do things halfway.”

The words sat between them.

And for a second—

She wondered if she had said too much.

Or not enough.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

That question—

It hit differently this time.

“Because I needed to make the decision without leaning on you,” she answered honestly. “If I told you before, I would’ve been doing it for you… instead of because it was the right thing to do.”

Silence again.

But not the same kind.

This one—

Felt like he was listening.

Really listening.

“You made that decision on your own?” he asked.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

No wavering.

A breath left him on the other end.

She heard it.

Felt it.

And something inside her loosened.

“I meant what I said,” she added, quieter now. “About choosing you.”

Another pause.

“You’re serious,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

Her voice didn’t shake.

“I’m not halfway anymore, Ari,” she continued. “I can’t be. Not with you. Not if I expect this to work.”

Her heart beat harder now—

But not from fear.

From truth.

“I don’t have everything figured out,” she admitted. “I’m not going to pretend I do. But I know I don’t want a life where I keep pushing you away because I’m scared.”

Silence.

Then—

A quieter shift in his voice.

“Alright.”

That one word—

Carried more than it should have.

It wasn’t dismissal.

It wasn’t distance.

It was… consideration.

Elena swallowed softly.

“I needed you to hear it from me,” she said. “Not from anyone else. Not from assumptions. From me.”

A pause.

Then—

“Where are you?” he asked.

Her breath caught.

Because that question—

That meant something.

“At the office,” she answered.

A beat.

“I can leave,” she added.

Silence again.

But lighter now.

Like something had shifted.

“Stay there,” he said.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

“Why?”

Another pause.

“I’ll come to you.”

Her chest tightened.

Not painfully.

Just… full.

“Ari—”

“Stay there,” he repeated, softer this time.

And something in his voice—

Wasn’t distant anymore.

It wasn’t closed.

It wasn’t tired.

It was… returning.

Slowly.

The line stayed quiet for a second longer.

Neither of them rushing to hang up.

Neither of them needing to fill the space.

Because for the first time—

The silence between them didn’t feel like distance.

It felt like something rebuilding.

“I’ll be here,” she said.

A pause.

“Yeah,” he replied.

And then—

The call ended.

Elena lowered the phone slowly.

Her hand still wrapped around it.

Her reflection stared back at her faintly through the dark screen.

Same woman.

Same life.

Same responsibilities.

But something inside her—

Had changed.

Not perfectly.

Not completely.

But enough.

She had chosen.

Not out of fear.

Not out of losing him.

But because she finally understood—

Loving him meant standing beside him.

Not holding him at a distance.

Elena exhaled slowly, placing her phone down on the desk.

Her fingers moved to the files in front of her.

Closing them.

Stacking them.

One chapter—

Handled.

Another—

Just beginning.

And this time—

She wasn’t afraid to step into it.

The office didn’t feel the same after the call.

Not quieter.

Not louder.

Just… charged.

Elena sat at her desk, hands resting on the files she had already closed, her mind no longer on the case.

For the first time in days—

She wasn’t thinking about what could go wrong.

She was waiting.

Not anxiously.

Not desperately.

But with awareness.

Because he said he was coming.

And Ari—

Didn’t say things he didn’t mean.

Her eyes flicked once to the clock.

Then back to the door.

Five minutes.

Ten.

She didn’t fidget.

Didn’t pace.

Didn’t reach for her phone.

She just sat there.

Breathing evenly.

Letting the moment come.

A knock sounded against her door and her heart missed a beat.

Not rushed.

Not hesitant.

Steady.

Her chest tightened anyway.

“Come in,” she said.

The door opened.

And there he was.

Ari.

He stepped inside like he belonged there.

Like the space adjusted around him without effort.

His presence filled the room instantly.

Elena stood.

Slowly.

For a second—

Neither of them spoke.

Because seeing each other—

After everything—

Was different than hearing each other.

More real.

More undeniable.

Ari closed the door behind him.

His gaze never leaving her.

She looked the same.

But not.

There was something in her posture.

In the way she held herself.

Less guarded.

More certain.

He saw it immediately.

“You came,” she said softly.

Ari’s jaw shifted slightly.

“I said I would.”

A beat passed.

Elena took a small step forward.

Then stopped.

“I meant what I said,” she added.

“I know,” he replied.

And that—

That was new.

No challenge.

No doubt.

Just acknowledgment.

Elena’s chest loosened slightly.

“I didn’t do it to prove anything to you,” she continued. “I did it because it needed to be done.”

Ari nodded once.

“That matters,” he said.

Silence settled again.

But it wasn’t heavy this time.

It was… careful.

Measured.

Like both of them were stepping into something fragile—

But worth it.

Ari took a step closer.

Closing some of the distance.

“Elena…”

Her breath caught slightly.

“I meant what I said too,” he continued. “About not doing this halfway.”

She nodded.

“I know.”

“And I’m not walking back into something that puts me in the same position again.”

Her chest tightened—

But she didn’t flinch.

“You won’t be,” she said.

Ari held her gaze.

Searching.

“How do you know that?” he asked.

Because he needed to hear her say it.

Not to challenge her.

But to believe her.

Elena inhaled slowly.

“Because I understand now what I was doing,” she said. “I was trying to control everything—including how I felt about you. And when I couldn’t… I pulled back instead of letting you in.”

Ari didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t move.

“I won’t do that again,” she added.

A pause.

“I can’t promise I won’t get overwhelmed,” she admitted. “But I can promise I won’t shut you out when I do.”

That—

That mattered.

Ari’s shoulders eased slightly.

“That’s different,” he said.

“It is,” she agreed.

Another step.

This time—

They were close enough to feel it again.

That pull.

That familiarity.

But neither of them rushed it.

Ari’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips—

Then back to her eyes.

“You stepped away from something that mattered to you,” he said.

“Yes.”

“For me.”

Elena shook her head gently.

“No.”

Ari’s brows pulled together slightly.

“For us,” she corrected.

Silence.

Because that—

That was the shift.

Not him.

Not her.

Them.

Ari studied her for a long moment.

Then—

His hand lifted.

Slow.

Deliberate.

He touched her.

Fingers brushing lightly along her jaw.

And the second he did—

Everything in her softened.

Not weak.

Just… open.

“You feel different,” he murmured.

“I am,” she replied.

A pause.

“Are you staying?” he asked.

The question again.

But this time—

It didn’t feel like pressure.

It felt like confirmation.

Elena didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

No pause.

No doubt.

Just truth.

Ari held her gaze.

Long enough to see if anything in her would waver.

It didn’t.

And that—

That was all he needed.

His hand moved from her jaw to the back of her neck.

Pulling her closer.

Not forcefully.

Just enough.

“Elena…”

Her breath caught again.

And then—

He kissed her.

Not rushed.

Not desperate.

But deep.

Intentional.

Like something that had been held back—

Was finally allowed to happen again.

Her hands moved to him instantly.

Gripping his shirt.

Holding him there.

And this time—

Neither of them pulled away first.

Because this wasn’t about making up.

This was about starting again—

The right way.

Together.

He kissed her like he had made a decision he couldn’t take back.

Slow at first—his mouth finding hers, testing, grounding himself—but the control didn’t last.

His lips pressed deeper, firmer, and when she parted for him, something in him gave. Her breath caught as his tongue brushed along the seam of her lips, then slipped inside, drawing a soft, involuntary response from her.

Elena leaned into him without thinking.

Her hand tightened against his chest, the other finding his shoulder as she answered him—tentative for a second, then sure. Her warmth, her softness, the way she gave back instead of pulling away—it unraveled him.

His body felt lighter, like the weight he carried had slipped just enough to let something real take over. Reason blurred. Control thinned.

His hand came up to her jaw, steady but not restraining, just holding her there as his mouth moved over hers again—deeper now, slower, deliberate in a way that said he was feeling every second of it.

Elena melted into him.

Not just physically—everything about her softened. The tension she carried, the questions, the hesitation—it all slipped just enough for her to meet him fully in that moment.

Ari placed extra kisses to her lips when he pulled back.

Once.

Twice.

“We’re about to start another scandal,” Elena murmured when their lips parted, her eyes still closed, her voice soft but edged with something dangerously amused.

Ari didn’t move right away.

He stayed close—too close—his forehead hovering near hers, his breath still uneven, like he hadn’t fully come back to himself yet.

“Another?” he asked quietly, a faint pull of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “You say that like we planned the first one.”

Her lips curved, slow and helpless. “We didn’t exactly prevent it either.”

That got a low breath of something like a laugh out of him.

Finally, she opened her eyes.

Big mistake.

Because he was still looking at her like that.

Focused. Intent. Like the kiss hadn’t ended—just paused.

Her smile faltered for half a second.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, trying—and failing—to sound composed.

“Like what?” he asked, completely unbothered.

“Like you’re about to ruin my entire life again.”

Ari huffed a quiet laugh this time, real and unfiltered, his hand slipping lightly to her waist—not pulling her in, just resting there like he already knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

“You’re the one who kissed me back,” he pointed out.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. “You started it.”

“I finished it,” he corrected smoothly.

Elena let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, shaking her head as she stepped back just enough to breathe—but not enough to break whatever this was.

“This is exactly what I mean,” she said, gesturing vaguely between them. “No control. No strategy. Just—this.”

Ari tilted his head slightly, studying her.

“And that bothers you?” he asked.

She opened her mouth—

Paused.

Then sighed, the fight draining out of her just as quickly as it came.

“…no,” she admitted.

That smile came back, softer now. Warmer.

More honest.

Ari’s gaze shifted just slightly at that. Something quieter settling in.

“Good,” he said simply.

Elena rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now, really smiling, the tension in her shoulders gone, replaced with something lighter.

“This is how it starts,” she muttered. “One kiss, then headlines, then my entire career collapses—”

“Dramatic,” Ari cut in calmly.

She shot him a look. “You are literally the headline.”

“And you’re still here,” he replied.

That stopped her.

Just for a second.

Then she stepped back into him again—like it wasn’t even a decision anymore.

“Yeah,” she said softly, a hint of a smile still playing on her lips. “I am.”

Ari looked at her like that was the only answer that mattered.

“Then we’ll survive the scandal,” he said.

Elena laughed under her breath, shaking her head as she leaned into him again.

“Confident.”

“Always.”

“Delusional,” she corrected lightly.

His hand tightened just slightly at her waist.

“Still here,” he reminded her.

And this time—

She didn’t argue.

Elena laughed, soft and breathless, pressing her forehead to his. “Call it what you want. I’m just saying… the tabloids are going to have a field day if they see us like this.”

He raised an eyebrow, mock-serious. “Oh, please. They’d probably faint from shock. 'Elite billionaire and rogue agent caught… kissing in her office!’ Front page news, baby.”

“Maybe we can add fireworks. Or a chandelier falling.”

Ari chuckled, playful eyes gleaming. “Perfect.

And I’ll add a slow-motion hair flip. You know, for cinematic effect.”

She swatted his chest, laughing. “You are ridiculous.”

“I prefer delightfully ridiculous, thank you very much.” He leaned in, capturing her lips again briefly, then pulled back just enough to grin.

“But, honestly… I don’t care about scandals. Not with you.”

Elena’s smile softened, her teasing giving way to something warm. “Good. Because I’m planning on making a lot more headlines… just not the kind that would get us arrested.”

He leaned back, pretending to look concerned. “Arrested? Me? Never. But… you? You’re dangerous.”

She laughed, tipping her head back, eyes sparkling. “Dangerous together, Ari. Don’t forget that.”

“And they said love wasn’t thrilling,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. “Pfft. Boring people, obviously.”

Her laugh was low, happy, contagious.

“Exactly. Who wants boring when we’re… us?”

Ari shook his head, smiling like he couldn’t believe his luck. “Nobody. Absolutely nobody.”

And in that little bubble of teasing, laughter, and soft touches, the world outside—the tabloids, the chaos, the pressure—didn’t exist for just a moment.

Ari lifted her chin and pressed his lips her.

Author’s Note 🤍

Well 😊 we’re happy.

Early update because it’s my birthday 🎈 and I’ve worked really hard on this one—I wanted nothing but love today, so here they are… back in their element, where everything just flows the way it’s supposed to.

I really want to hear from you as always—what do you think now? Has anything changed for you when it comes to them? And what did you think about Ari going to his father? I wanted to show the kind of grounding Ari has, where that certainty in him comes from. There’s so much more to his foundation, especially when it comes to his parents and the kind of love he grew up around.

I actually wanted to include more about his father and the way his relationship with Ari's mother was built—something strong, something intentional—but whew… the word count started fighting me child😭

If you want a deeper look into that side of him, don’t forget to check out Make My Heart Believe a Lie—you’ll see a lot more of what shaped Ari into the man he is now.

Anyway… wish me well as I go make my husband nervous all day today 😌😂

And if there’s no update tomorrow… just blame my birthday 🥂

And thank you always for reading and reacting XOXO.

Love always,

Lady_B 🖤