Chapter 13: Proving the Truth
The moments after they stepped out of the bathroom were thick with uncertainty. Kian stood there, breathing deeply, as clarity slowly seeped into his mind. His body, no longer clouded by anything, was filled with something new—something powerful. He felt alive in a way he hadn't before. The connection with Seraphine—it was undeniable.
Seraphine stood across from him, her gaze unreadable, though he could see the way her eyes flickered with a mixture of caution and curiosity. There was something between them, something that both terrified and exhilarated him. They hadn't known each other for long, but it felt as though everything had changed the moment they'd locked eyes.
Kian took a step toward her, unable to keep the distance any longer. There was something inside him that screamed he couldn't walk away from this—couldn't let this moment pass without addressing the overwhelming feelings swirling inside him.
"I know what you're thinking," he began, his voice low, sincere. "I know how it looks, and I know how it seems, but I can't deny it anymore."
Seraphine tilted her head slightly, studying him. "What are you trying to say, Kian?"
His heart raced in his chest, but there was no hesitation in his words. "I'm not confused. What happened tonight—it wasn't a mistake, and it wasn't just a rush of emotions. I feel something for you. I don't know what it is exactly, but I know it's real. And I can't walk away from that."
Seraphine's breath caught, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed his words. "But we don't even know each other," she whispered, a soft frown crossing her face. "It's too soon. You can't possibly…"
Kian closed the distance between them, not allowing her to finish. His hands reached out, his fingers brushing lightly over her cheek, almost as if he needed the touch to ground himself. "I don't care about how soon it is," he said, his voice steady, but intense. "What I feel for you is real. From the moment I saw you, I knew something had changed. And I'm not running from it."
Seraphine swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his, searching his expression, as if trying to find any hint of uncertainty. "How can you be sure? You barely know me."
Kian took a deep breath, then whispered, "I know, because I've never felt anything like this before. It's not a game to me, Seraphine. And I'm not just swept up in the moment. What we have—what's happening between us—it's real."
He reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. His voice softened as he continued, "I'm not looking for something fleeting, something temporary. I want this. I want you."
There was a long silence between them. Seraphine's gaze flickered away for just a moment, and Kian could see the conflict in her eyes. He wanted to reassure her, wanted to make her believe him, but words didn't seem enough anymore. He had to show her.
Without thinking, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepening as the urgency of his feelings overcame him. This wasn't just a fleeting kiss. It wasn't a kiss born from the need to prove something or from any external pressure. It was a kiss filled with sincerity, with the weight of everything he had just told her.
When they finally pulled away, their faces were close, breaths shallow. Kian rested his forehead against hers, his hand still gently holding hers.
"I will prove it," he whispered, his voice low and filled with determination. "I'm not saying this just because I'm caught up in something. I'll show you, Seraphine. I'll prove that this isn't a fluke, that what I feel for you is real, and that I'm not going anywhere."
Seraphine's lips parted, a soft sigh escaping her as she looked up at him, still processing everything. Her gaze softened, and for a moment, it was as if she was allowing herself to believe him.
"Prove it," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper, but the weight of the challenge was clear. "Show me that you're not just saying this."
Kian smiled softly, a small, almost hesitant smile, as if he had just stepped into something unknown, but he was ready for it. "I will. I promise you, I will."
And before she could say anything else, he kissed her again—this time with the conviction that he wasn't just speaking words. He was making a promise, a promise that he would show her, in every way possible, that what he felt for her was real.