Chapter : Easy To Fall

The space between them felt suffocating. Nathaniel's scent—rich, intoxicating, and undeniably dominant—wrapped around Rain, making it impossible to focus on anything but him.

Rain's hands clenched at his sides, his breath unsteady. He needed to regain control. To push Nathaniel away before he drowned in this consuming heat.

But Nathaniel wasn't letting him go.

"Tell me, cuore mio," Nathaniel murmured, his voice smooth, teasing. "What exactly are you afraid of?"

Rain's jaw tightened. "I'm not afraid."

Nathaniel hummed, his fingers brushing over the nape of Rain's neck, sending a shiver down his spine. "No?"

Before Rain could react, Nathaniel's grip shifted, firm yet gentle, guiding him closer—until their bodies nearly touched. Heat flared between them, sharp and inescapable.

Rain stiffened. His pulse thundered in his ears.

Nathaniel leaned in, his lips a breath away from Rain's ear. "Then why are you shaking?"

Damn him.

Damn the way he could read Rain so easily.

"I—" Rain sucked in a breath, his heart hammering against his ribs. He was shaking.

Not out of fear.

But because Nathaniel's touch—his presence, his everything—was unraveling him faster than he could stop it.

And Nathaniel knew it.

The Alpha's smirk was slow, predatory. He was enjoying this—enjoying watching Rain fall apart.

Bastard.

"I should kill you," Rain hissed, his voice unsteady.

Nathaniel chuckled. "Should you?"

His fingers trailed lower, pressing lightly against Rain's lower back. "You could try, tesoro," he whispered, his lips ghosting over Rain's jaw. "But we both know how that would end."

A shudder ripped through Rain's body. He hated how easily Nathaniel toyed with him. How his touch sent sharp jolts of heat straight through him.

His body was betraying him.

The bond was betraying him.

And the worst part?

Nathaniel was enjoying every second of it.

"Still pretending you don't want this?" Nathaniel's voice was softer now, dangerously close to a purr.

Rain sucked in a breath. "I don't."

Nathaniel chuckled, his hand sliding up to Rain's throat—not in a chokehold, but a possessive caress. His thumb brushed over Rain's racing pulse.

"Liar," he murmured.

Rain's breath hitched.

Nathaniel pressed closer, their lips just a whisper apart. The air between them was thick, heavy with unspoken tension.

It would be so easy.

So easy to close the distance.

So easy to fall.

But Rain wasn't ready for that.

Not yet.

With a sharp inhale, he forced himself to move—wrenching free from Nathaniel's grip, putting much-needed space between them.

His chest heaved, his body still thrumming with unwanted heat.

Nathaniel watched him, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. He looked… pleased.

As if he had won.

Bastard.

"You can run, cuore mio," Nathaniel murmured, voice low, dark. "But the bond won't let you hide."

Rain swallowed hard, refusing to let those words sink in.

But deep down, he knew—

Nathaniel was right.

And that terrified him more than anything.

Rain stormed down the dimly lit corridor, his pulse pounding in his ears. His body was still thrumming, his skin too hot, too aware.

Damn Nathaniel.

Damn the way he could unravel him with just a touch.

Rain clenched his fists, willing the heat in his veins to dissipate. He needed distance. Needed to think. Needed to breathe.

But he didn't get far.

A strong hand shot out, gripping his wrist, halting him mid-step.

Nathaniel.

His presence loomed behind Rain, suffocating, dominant—his body radiating a familiar, intoxicating warmth that sent shivers down Rain's spine.

"Running again?" Nathaniel's voice was smooth, edged with dark amusement. "How predictable."

Rain grit his teeth, yanking his arm, but Nathaniel didn't budge.

"Let. Me. Go."

Nathaniel didn't comply. Instead, he stepped closer—his chest nearly brushing against Rain's back.

"Why do you fight so hard, cuore mio?" Nathaniel murmured, his breath warm against the side of Rain's neck. "You know you can't escape this."

The weight of those words sent a sharp pang through Rain's chest.

The bond.

It was a noose tightening around his throat, pulling him closer to the very man he wanted to destroy.

He swallowed hard. "I will break this bond."

Nathaniel chuckled, the sound low, knowing. "You can try."

The confidence in his voice made Rain's blood boil.

With a sharp twist, Rain spun around, shoving Nathaniel back. His breath was ragged, his body still traitorously responding to the Alpha's proximity.

Nathaniel let him go—but only barely.

His golden eyes gleamed in the dim light, dark with something unreadable.

Something dangerous.

"You keep saying you hate me," Nathaniel murmured, taking a slow step forward.

Rain instinctively stepped back.

Nathaniel smirked.

Another step.

Rain moved again—only to find his back hitting the cold stone wall.

Trapped.

Nathaniel's hands came up, palms pressing against the wall on either side of Rain's head, caging him in.

Rain sucked in a breath, his heart hammering.

Too close.

Nathaniel leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Tell me again, cuore mio."

His lips were inches away. His scent wrapped around Rain, drugging him.

"Tell me you don't want this."

Rain's chest rose and fell rapidly. His fingers twitched at his sides.

He should shove Nathaniel away.

Should say something sharp, something cutting—

But the words refused to come.

Because part of him knew—

Nathaniel would see through the lie.

And that itself sent chills through Rain's spine.