His Holiday Obsession

something much darker.Elara didn’t take the bandana.Instead she lifted her chin, forced her voice steady.“If you don’t leave right now, I’m going to scream until someone hears me.”Ronan’s mouth curved. Not quite a smile. More like he respected the attempt.“No one’s coming,” he said. “Storm’s too loud. Streets are empty. It’s just you and me tonight.”He took another half-step.Elara’s back scraped brick.He stopped again. Close enough now that she could smell leather, motor oil, and something darker — like smoke and pine and danger.His eyes locked on hers.“I’ve waited a long time for this Christmas,” he said quietly. “For you to finally see me.”Her pulse roared in her ears.He lifted a gloved hand slowly — not to grab her, but to brush a snowflake from her cheek.The touch was light. Almost careful.But it burned anyway.Elara flinched.He froze. Hand still hovering near her face.Then, very softly:“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Elara.”A beat of silence.His voice dropped lower.“Not yet.”Behind him, the wind howled louder. Snow swirled thicker.And somewhere in the distance, a church bell began to ring — slow, mournful, counting down to midnight.Christmas had officially arrived.And Elara was no longer alone. → End of Chapter 1