Chapter 12: The Unspoken Boundary
Kian's mind was a swirling storm of thoughts and sensations. The drug had left him foggy, his senses dull and distant, but there was something else. Something electric. His body, though heavy and sluggish from the drug, was aware of her—Seraphine. She was close, too close, but it was a closeness he couldn't pull himself away from.
He could barely keep his thoughts in order, but the moment she looked at him, her gaze filled with an intensity that both confused and captivated him, he knew he was lost. There was no escape from this magnetic pull between them.
Her hand brushed against his arm, gentle, yet deliberate. The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through his veins, and he could feel himself leaning toward her, wanting her. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come, his mouth dry and his body betraying him.
She caught his gaze again, her eyes unwavering. Without a word, she pulled him with surprising strength toward a nearby door. They passed through a dimly lit corridor, Kian barely able to keep up with her. The room she led him into was cool, the air thick with a sense of urgency. She locked the door behind them, ensuring no one would interrupt.
"Sit down," Seraphine ordered, her voice calm, but with an edge that made it clear she wasn't asking.
Kian obeyed, though his legs felt weak beneath him. His vision was blurry, his body disoriented. But even through the haze, he could see her—her beauty, her strength, the way her presence seemed to command the space around them.
She moved toward him, her fingers deftly undoing the buttons of his shirt, her touch sending shivers down his spine. Kian tried to focus, tried to speak, but his words were lost in the fog of the drug. He reached out for her, his hands trembling.
"I... I don't know what's happening to me," he whispered, his voice thick with confusion and desire.
Seraphine didn't answer, but her eyes softened, and for a moment, Kian saw something vulnerable in her gaze. Then, she was closer, her lips brushing against his neck, the heat of her breath searing his skin. He closed his eyes, unable to stop the pull toward her.
Without hesitation, Seraphine kissed him, her lips claiming his with a hunger that matched his own. The kiss was fiery, desperate, both of them giving in to the overwhelming need that had been building between them. Their bodies pressed together, skin on skin, and Kian could feel her heart beating in time with his.
But even in the heat of the moment, something held her back. She pulled away, her breath ragged, and looked at him with a mixture of longing and restraint.
"I'm still underage," she whispered, her voice shaky but firm. "This... this can't happen like this."
Kian's mind was a mess, his thoughts clouded by the drug, but he understood her words. He nodded, though he wanted more, wanted everything with her.
"I don't care," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper, but his desire for her undeniable. He reached for her again, his hands trailing down her body, feeling the soft curve of her waist, the delicate warmth of her skin.
Seraphine stopped him with a firm grip, her hands on his chest pushing him back slightly. "You don't understand," she said, her voice low, almost pained. "It's not that I don't want you, Kian. It's that I can't cross that line. Not yet."
He stared at her, his body aching with want, his mind too foggy to fully grasp the weight of her words. "But I... I need you," he whispered, his voice desperate.
She took a step back, her breath shaky, and Kian could see the conflict in her eyes. She was struggling, battling something deep within herself.
"You don't even know what you're asking," Seraphine said, her voice breaking slightly. "You're not thinking clearly. And neither am I, not right now. But I won't let you make a mistake you'll regret."
Kian's head swam, and he fought to keep his thoughts straight. The pills she had given him earlier had begun to work, but they hadn't fully cleared the fog. His body still burned with desire for her, but his mind couldn't grasp the full reality of what was happening.
Seraphine's hand moved to his cheek, her fingers soft and warm against his skin. "You don't need this, Kian. Not like this."
Kian's heart raced, the drug-fueled haze still clouding his thoughts. But he knew, deep down, that what she was saying was true. This wasn't the right moment, even if every part of him screamed for more. He didn't want to hurt her, didn't want to do anything that would cause her pain.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Seraphine smiled softly, though there was a sadness in her eyes. "It's okay," she replied. "But we need to stop before we both lose control."
Kian nodded, his body still aching with want, but his mind slowly starting to clear. Seraphine stepped away, turning toward the sink. She grabbed a towel and dampened it with cool water, then turned back to him.
"Here," she said, gently pressing the cloth to his forehead. "This will help. Just breathe. Let the drug wear off. We'll talk about this later, when you're ready."
Kian closed his eyes, leaning into her touch, the coolness of the cloth soothing his fevered skin. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for certain—whatever was between them, it was real. It was undeniable.
But for now, they would have to wait. Both of them, caught in the tension of what was, and what could never be... not yet.