Shadows of desire
Chapter 3: The Fire Within
Amara barely slept that night. Jide's voice, his intense gaze, the way he made her feel—everything about him lingered in her mind like an unshakable spell.
By morning, she told herself it was just a fleeting attraction, nothing more. But deep down, she knew better.
Her phone buzzed just as she was about to leave for work. A message.
Jide: Did you sleep well, Amara? Or did I haunt your dreams?
Her breath caught in her throat. How did he get her number? A thrill rushed through her, mixed with caution.
Amara: You seem very sure of yourself.
His reply came instantly.
Jide: I know desire when I see it. And I saw it in your eyes last night.
Heat curled in her stomach. She should ignore him. But something about Jide's words made her pulse race.
She put her phone away and tried to focus on work. But that evening, as she stepped into the lobby of her apartment building, she froze.
Jide was there. Leaning against a sleek black car, watching her with the same dark intensity that had unsettled her the night before.
"I thought about waiting longer," he said smoothly. "But patience has never been my strength."
Her heart pounded. "How do you know where I live?"
He chuckled, stepping closer. "You're a high-profile lawyer, Amara. Finding you wasn't difficult."
She should have been angry. But instead, her body betrayed her—heat pooling between her thighs at the way he looked at her, as if he already knew exactly how to unravel her.
"I don't usually do this," she murmured.
"Neither do I." His voice was a promise, deep and thick with hunger.
Before she could think, before she could stop herself, he reached out and traced his fingers along the curve of her jaw. She shivered under his touch.
"Invite me up," Jide whispered.
Her breath hitched. Every warning sign flashed in her mind. But in that moment, she didn't care.
She turned, walked toward the entrance, and without looking back, said the words that would change everything.
"Come upstairs."
Jide followed, his presence an unspoken storm behind her.
And just like that, Amara knew—she was a
bout to step into a fire she might never escape.