Chapter 17: Almost
230 Words
His hand slid from her arm to her waist.
Slow.
Intentional.
Pulling her just a little closer.
Amara’s breath hitched as the space between them disappeared completely. She could feel the warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the quiet intensity in the way he held her.
“Alexander…”
His name left her lips softly, almost like a warning.
Or maybe a surrender.
His gaze dropped to her lips again, and this time he didn’t look away.
The air between them felt charged, thick with everything they weren’t saying.
“This shouldn’t happen,” she whispered.
“Then stop me,” he replied.
Her fingers curled into his shirt instead.
That one small action said everything.
His hand tightened slightly at her waist, holding her in place, giving her one last second to step away.
She didn’t.
Her eyes fluttered, her breath uneven as he leaned in slowly.
Closer.
Closer.
Just inches away now.
Her heart pounded so loudly it drowned out everything else.
And then—
A phone rang.
Sharp. Sudden.
Breaking the moment completely.
They both froze.
Reality crashed back in.
Amara stepped away quickly, her chest rising and falling too fast.
“This can’t happen,” she said, but her voice lacked strength.
Because deep down—
She knew the truth.
If that phone hadn’t rung…
She wouldn’t have stopped him.
- Writer
