The Moment We Almost Gave In

The world outside the office had faded into nothing. The steady ticking of the clock on the wall, the faint hum of distant footsteps in the hallway, the murmur of conversations beyond the closed door—all of it ceased to exist in the space between them. Nathaniel stood rigid, his breathing uneven, his knuckles white from how tightly he clenched his fists. And Elena, caught between fear and desire, could feel the pulse in her throat, hammering so loudly she swore he could hear it.

She should walk away. That was the logical thing, the safe thing. But logic had abandoned her the moment she stepped into his space, the moment he had looked at her like she was the one thing he couldn't have.

"Say it," she whispered, her voice unsteady but resolute. "Say you don't want this, and I'll walk away."

Nathaniel's throat worked as he swallowed hard, his jaw clenching. His dark eyes flickered with conflict, like a storm brewing beneath the surface. "Elena…"

It was almost a warning. Almost a plea.

She took a slow step forward. He didn't move. "You can lie to yourself, Nathaniel. But not to me."

The use of his name shattered whatever remained of his restraint. His eyes darkened, his breathing heavier, his entire body taut with tension. "You don't understand what you're asking for."

She tilted her chin up defiantly. "Then make me understand."

A beat of silence passed. A second. And then—

He moved.

It was barely a movement at all, just a slight shift, but the air between them tightened as if the room itself held its breath. His hand hovered near her waist, fingers flexing as if resisting the urge to close the distance completely. His other hand reached up, stopping just before it touched her face, his fingers twitching, aching to feel her skin.

Elena felt lightheaded, her entire body consumed by the heat of him, the gravity of what was happening. She had never felt anything so intense, so utterly consuming.

"You think this is simple?" Nathaniel's voice was strained, rough. "You think it's just desire? That we can step into this and walk away unscathed?"

Elena shook her head slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't care about the consequences."

His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something unspoken. "You should."

His fingers finally brushed against her jaw, the lightest touch, but it sent a violent shiver through her entire body. A single stroke of his thumb against her skin, and she felt like she might come undone right there in front of him.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured, his breath fanning against her lips.

Elena couldn't. Wouldn't.

And then—

A knock at the door.

The sound shattered the moment like glass hitting the floor. Nathaniel's body tensed instantly, his hands dropping away from her as if burned. Elena staggered back a step, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.

Another knock. "Professor Pierce?"

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before turning toward the door. "One moment," he called his voice perfectly composed despite the chaos still raging in his eyes.

Elena took a step back, willing herself to breathe, to process what had just almost happened. But as Nathaniel reached for the door, he looked at her one last time, and in his gaze, she saw it.

The moment was gone, but the tension lingered like an electric charge in the air, impossible to dispel. As Nathaniel reached for the door, Elena forced herself to step back, to put some semblance of space between them before whoever stood on the other side could witness just how close she had come to unraveling in front of him.

When the door swung open, Dr. Lillian Carter stood there, a thin, knowing smile curving her lips. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she said smoothly, her gaze flicking briefly to Elena before settling on Nathaniel with unmistakable interest.

Nathaniel's expression was unreadable, his features carefully schooled into professionalism. "What can I do for you, Dr. Carter?"

Lillian's smile didn't waver. "I had some concerns about the upcoming departmental review. I was hoping we could discuss them."

Elena's pulse pounded, but she kept her expression neutral. She could feel Lillian's eyes on her, could sense the unspoken assessment happening in real time. Did she suspect something?

Nathaniel didn't glance at Elena. "Of course," he said. "We can talk now if you'd like."

Lillian's smile deepened. "Perfect."

Elena took that as her cue. She stepped past them, her shoulder brushing against Nathaniel's as she did, the briefest contact sending another jolt through her veins. He didn't move, didn't acknowledge it—but she knew he felt it.

As she exited the office, Lillian's voice followed her. "Oh, Elena?"

She turned, keeping her posture steady, her face carefully composed. "Yes?"

Lillian tilted her head slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes. "It's good to be passionate about your studies, but don't let late-night consultations distract you too much. You wouldn't want to lose focus."

The words were innocent enough, but the implication was razor-sharp.

Elena met her gaze head-on. "I can handle my focus just fine, Dr. Carter."

Lillian hummed, as if entertained by the answer. "I'm sure you can."

Nathaniel's silence was deafening.

Elena turned and walked away, her heart slamming against her ribs. Every step felt heavier, her body still thrumming with the ghost of what almost happened.

She barely made it down the hall before Sophie appeared, arms crossed, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Okay," she said, falling into step beside her. "What the hell just happened?"

Elena exhaled shakily. "Nothing."

Sophie scoffed. "Liar. Your face is screaming something. Spill."

Elena hesitated, her thoughts still tangled, her emotions raw. "We almost… It almost happened."

Sophie's eyes widened. "You and Professor Pierce?"

Elena nodded, her throat dry.

"Define 'almost.'"

Elena swallowed hard. "Close enough to feel everything. Close enough that if that knock hadn't come…"

Sophie let out a slow, dramatic exhale. "Damn."

Elena ran a hand through her hair, frustrated, restless. "It's not just me, Sophie. He's trying to fight it, but I know he feels it too. And now, Lillian Carter is watching."

Sophie frowned. "That woman gives me bad vibes."

Elena nodded. "She's not just watching. She's testing."

Sophie smirked. "Then you better be ready to pass."

Elena wasn't sure what passing even meant anymore.

All she knew was that they were too far gone to pretend nothing had changed.

And that terrified her more than anything.