Chapter 9:The Unexpected Connection
1134 Words
Melissa stood at the hospital rooftop's edge. She had come here to clear her brain, to attempt to grasp why the tension between her and Alex would not leave her. Every meeting left her reeling, trapped between the want to battle him and the clear draw she felt toward him.
Alex had been nothing but chilly, far away, and domineering from the time he entered her life. Still, there were times, brief ones, when she noticed something in him that caused her heart to ache.
"Why does it feel like I want him, even though I despise everything about him?" she said, shaking her head in annoyance. The idea ate away at her constantly, never quite leaving her.
Leaning against the railing, she gazed down at the city. Though it did nothing to relieve her mind, the wind picked up and tugged at her hair. She remembered the way he would repeatedly shut her down, his arrogance, and his piercing stare. But there was also something more in him, something buried under the trappings of power and resentment.
She spun around quickly to find Alex at the doorway, staring at her with his unreadable eyes just as the awareness struck her.
"You think too much," he remarked, smirking and speaking softly.
Melissa tensed. Alex, I'm not the one unable to control my thoughts.
His face grew somber as the tension between them grew. Melissa, you're mistaken about me. You always have been.
As Alex and Melissa had a rough supper, the evening dragged on and tension simmered. Every word they spoke seems to deepen the gap between them. The attraction was obvious, but neither was ready to admit it.
You believe you can govern me, don't you? Melissa snapped, her annoyance too great to contain. Her voice quivered with a combination of rage and something else, something she denied.
Alex's stare became steely and his jaw clenched. Every syllable of his speech cut as he moved closer to her. Melissa, you have no idea who you're dealing with. Keep pushing and I will destroy you.
Her chair scraped on the floor when she stood up suddenly. "I'm not afraid of you," she shot back, her voice wavering somewhat.
Alex stretched out and caught her arm before she could go. Now, the fire between them was palpable, raw and strong. Drawing her closer, he caught her lips in a fervent kiss. Rough and frantic, the kiss was a conflict of will neither side was prepared to acknowledge.
But Alex withdrew as fast as it began, his expression one of wrath and remorse.
What just now took place? Melissa considered, her heart racing in her chest. Her breath hitched and for a time neither of them spoke.
Barely a whisper, Alex's voice broke through the tension. That was wrong of me.
Her thoughts racing, Melissa found the kiss still on her mind. The fire that had started between them made her unable to forget Alex's lips on hers. She had spent so much time hating him, but now? Now, she was doubting everything.
She found herself considering him when she shouldn't have. His posture, speech, and kiss all struck her as unique. How could she combine the Alex she despised with the one she had kissed?
Staring out her office window, the city lights throwing long shadows on the floor, she asked, "Why can't I stop thinking about him?" She attempted to concentrate, but all she could see was his face, his intensity, the way he made her feel.
She was caught between two aspects of him: the callous CEO and the man who had kissed her as if she were all he desired. She no longer knew what she was feeling; all she knew was that it was hazardous and frightening.
Am I truly beginning to care about him? Melissa wondered, her heart a jumbled mass of feelings she couldn't sort out.
Her hand gripped the desk tighter as she shut her eyes. "No," she said softly. I cannot. I cannot. I will not.
But deep down, she understood this was just the start.
Every day spent in the same location seemed like a fight they couldn't flee. Though Melissa fought back, Alex pushed her at every turn, testing her limits. Even when it required remaining mute and keeping control in subtle ways, she had picked up how to resist. Though too much, his control over her was not one she was prepared to give up.
As he leaned over the desk, his posture as usual stiff, Melissa's eyes met his. "You know, you really should learn to speak when spoken to," he observed, his tone purposely sarcastic.
She lifted an eyebrow and stood her ground. Her tone was harsh as she said, "I'm not one of your underlings, Alex." I will not simply bend to your will.
His presence was too much; he grinned and leaned in closer. "You'd be smart to keep in mind, Melissa, that I can make you bend," he said in a low, threatening tone.
Her pulse raced at the force of his gaze as she said, "Not everything is a game to me."
Closing the gap between them, Alex's eyes darkened. "We'll see about that," he grumbled, his words like a whisper but their significance hanging in the air like a great weight.
The fight was turning more than only verbal. The unspoken tension between them became thicker, the attraction clear, but neither was ready to admit it. Melissa remained resolute; deep down, she couldn't deny the increasing draw she experienced, so she refused to let him triumph.
The unsaid link between them developed, clear in its intensity. One minute they were at odds; the next they were on the verge of something they both sought to avoid. Melissa was inexplicably attracted to him. Alex had a certain appeal despite the hostility and power games. She despised how badly she wanted him; with each meeting the annoyance grew.
After yet another intense fight, their conversation changed unexpectedly one night. Standing just inches apart, the air between them swelled with an energy neither was ready to bear. Alex's hands twitched, and for a brief moment, Melissa questioned whether he would touch her. She had no idea why the idea caused her stomach to turn with both anxiety and thrill.
"Don't," she said softly, her body betraying her. She remained still. She didn't wish to.
For a brief moment, Alex's gaze softened, revealing a transient softness. But just as fast, it was gone replaced by that well-known chill. He stepped back, the space between them increasing, but his eyes showed great desire.
Heart pounding, Melissa turned away. What is going on with me? she speculated. Why can't I get rid of this sensation?
She almost missed saying, "I shouldn't want you."
- Writer
