Chapter 9: Almost Yours
565 Words
The air felt different after that.
His words still lingered in my mind.
“I don’t like sharing.”
I didn’t know what scared me more…
The way he said it—
Or the way it made my heart react.
I tried to avoid him that day.
It felt safer that way.
Easier.
But avoiding someone like him…
Was impossible.
Evening came quietly.
The mansion was dim again, lights low, shadows stretching across the walls.
I stepped out onto the balcony, needing air.
Needing space.
The cool wind brushed against my skin, calming my thoughts…
Until—
“You’re avoiding me.”
My body froze.
Slowly…
I turned.
He stood by the doorway.
Watching me.
Calm.
But his eyes…
His eyes were sharp.
Observing everything.
“I’m not,” I replied.
A lie.
He stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
Slowly closing the distance between us.
“You are,” he said quietly.
My breath caught.
I turned back toward the view, gripping the railing lightly.
“Maybe I just need space.”
Silence.
Then—
“From me?”
His voice was closer now.
Too close.
“Yes,” I whispered.
A pause.
Then I felt it—
His presence right behind me.
Warm.
Overwhelming.
“Why?” he asked softly.
My heart started racing again.
“Because I don’t understand you,” I admitted.
“One moment you’re cold…”
“The next…”
I stopped.
I didn’t know how to finish that sentence.
“The next?” he pressed.
I turned suddenly—
And froze.
He was right there.
So close our faces were only inches apart.
My breath caught instantly.
“The next… you’re different,” I said softly.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips…
Then back to my eyes.
The air between us shifted.
Thick.
Heavy.
“And that bothers you?” he asked.
I nodded slightly.
“It confuses me,” I whispered.
His hand lifted slowly…
Stopping just inches from my face.
Like he was giving me time to pull away.
But I didn’t.
His fingers brushed lightly against my cheek.
Warm.
Careful.
My heart skipped.
“You think too much,” he murmured.
“And you don’t think enough,” I replied softly.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Maybe.”
Silence fell again.
But this time…
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
His hand remained on my face.
My breath slowed…
But my heart didn’t.
“You should be afraid of me,” he said quietly.
“I am,” I whispered.
“Then why are you still here?”
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know.
His thumb brushed lightly across my cheek.
Then—
He leaned closer.
Slowly.
My breath stopped.
My eyes fluttered slightly…
The distance between us disappeared.
Just a little more…
And—
I turned my head.
His lips brushed past my cheek instead.
A soft, almost invisible touch.
Silence.
Heavy.
He didn’t move for a second.
Then slowly…
He pulled back.
His eyes darker than before.
“Why?” he asked quietly.
My heart was racing uncontrollably.
“Because this is wrong,” I whispered.
Silence.
He studied me for a long moment.
Then—
“Not yet,” he said softly.
And just like that…
He turned and walked away.
Leaving me standing there…
Breathless.
Confused.
And slowly realizing—
I was already too close to something I couldn’t control.
- Writer
