Chapter Ten

Scarlett awoke to the soft light filtering through the large windows, her body still warm from the night before. The memories of the passion she and Elias had shared flooded her mind, leaving her feeling both satisfied and... unsettled.

She turned her head to the side, finding him still asleep beside her, his strong features relaxed in slumber. The sight of him his jaw sharp, his dark hair mussed should have brought her comfort, but instead, it made her feel a sense of unease that she couldn't shake.

She hadn't planned for this. She hadn't expected to fall into his arms the way she had. It had been electric, all-consuming, and for a fleeting moment, she'd felt like she was the only one who mattered to him. But now, as the morning light spilled across the room, a cold reality began to set in.

What did this mean?

The echoes of her conversation with Tessa about not losing herself in Elias, about protecting her heart seemed distant now. Scarlett felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn't ever allowed herself to be before.

As she lay there, watching Elias sleep, her mind raced. What was he thinking? Was this just another conquest for him? Or was there something more? She couldn't ignore the powerful connection they shared, the way he made her feel alive, but she couldn't help but wonder if that was all it was to him another fleeting moment.

After a few moments, Elias stirred beside her, his hand reaching for hers. His touch was gentle, as if he knew she needed the reassurance. When his eyes fluttered open and met hers, there was no hesitation in his gaze. There was no shame, no regret. Only quiet confidence.

"Good morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep but still filled with warmth. He pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

She closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts. "I'm fine," she replied softly, though she wasn't sure it was the truth.

Elias studied her for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You're lying."

Scarlett's lips curved up at the corners despite herself. "I'm not lying. I'm just... not sure what to make of this."

"This?" Elias repeated, as though the word itself didn't carry the same weight for him. "You mean us?"

Scarlett swallowed, her fingers tightening in his hand. She wasn't sure what she was expecting an explanation, an apology, or perhaps some hint of vulnerability from him. Instead, all she got was his unwavering certainty.

"Yes," she admitted. "I just... I didn't expect things to happen the way they did."

Elias's expression softened. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his touch tender yet deliberate. "You don't have to make sense of everything, Scarlett. Sometimes, the heart just knows what it wants."

Her breath caught in her throat at his words. She had heard the same sentiment before, but coming from Elias, it felt different more profound.

"I'm not like other men," Elias continued, his voice steady, almost solemn. "I don't do things halfway. When I want something, I go after it. And when I want someone..." He paused, his thumb brushing her bottom lip, "...I take them. But you're not just anyone, Scarlett. You never were."

His words, though flattering, left her with an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. She wasn't sure if she should be thrilled or terrified.

"I'm not asking you for anything," Elias added. "I'm not here to control you. I just... want to be with you. In whatever way you can handle."

Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. The weight of his sincerity was undeniable, but it also stirred a sense of vulnerability she wasn't sure she was ready for.

She shifted in bed, sitting up as she pulled the sheets around her. "I... I need to think. I need to figure out what this means."

Elias didn't protest. Instead, he leaned back against the pillows, his eyes fixed on her as if he was giving her the space she needed. But Scarlett could still see the intensity in his gaze, the quiet hunger.

"I'm not going anywhere," Elias said quietly. "Whenever you're ready, Scarlett, I'll be here. But know this you're already in my thoughts. And that's not going to change."

Scarlett looked down at her hands, her mind swirling with his words. How could she be so certain that Elias was different? That he wanted more than just an affair? His lifestyle his past everything about him screamed unattainable, unreachable. She was just one woman in a world full of possibilities for him.

But despite her doubts, there was one thing she couldn't deny: She wanted him. Just as much as he wanted her.

"I'm not sure I can be what you need," Scarlett whispered, almost to herself.

Elias's hand reached out, cupping her chin gently, lifting her face so their eyes met. "Scarlett," he said softly, "I'm not asking you to be anything other than yourself. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be here. With me."

The sincerity in his voice was so raw, so powerful, that Scarlett's heart fluttered in her chest. Maybe this wasn't as simple as she thought. Maybe, just maybe, she had more to give than she realized.