: Burning Bridges
The morning after the kiss felt like an entirely different world.
Eva awoke in her room, tangled in the soft sheets, but the emptiness beside her made the night feel like a dream. The warmth of Alexander's touch still lingered on her skin, but she couldn't shake the feeling of inevitability creeping in.
Everything between them was changing too quickly, and though she knew he couldn't promise her anything, she couldn't stop herself from wanting more.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of the night before. The sound of footsteps outside her door made her freeze.
"Eva?"
Her breath hitched, and she quickly composed herself, standing up to walk to the door. She wasn't sure what she expected, but seeing Alexander standing there, his expression unreadable, took her by surprise.
His gaze swept over her, lingering on her lips for just a moment before he met her eyes. "Can we talk?"
Her heart pounded. She nodded, stepping aside to let him in.
He entered the room, and for a brief moment, they just stood there, the silence between them thick and heavy. The tension from the night before still hung in the air.
"I don't know what this is, Eva," he said finally, his voice tight. "I don't know what we're doing, but I need you to understand something."
Eva crossed her arms, her pulse quickening. "What is it?"
He turned to face her, his eyes dark and serious. "Olivia won't let this go. She'll use anything and anyone to tear us apart. If we continue this… we're not just playing with fire, we're dancing in it."
Eva swallowed. "I know the stakes."
Alexander's jaw clenched. "No, you don't. It's not just Olivia. It's the entire world I'm involved in. This life—my life—it's dangerous. You're not ready for it."
Her chest tightened. "You're wrong. I'm already in it. Whether I like it or not."
He didn't speak right away. The words hung between them, raw and unspoken. Finally, Alexander closed the gap between them, his hand lifting to touch her cheek, almost as if he couldn't resist.
"You're not like her," he said softly, his thumb grazing her skin. "You're not like Olivia. I don't want to drag you into this mess. I don't want you to lose yourself to this life."
Eva's breath caught in her throat. "Then why did you kiss me? Why are you doing this if you want to push me away?"
The pain in her voice was unmistakable.
He hesitated, his gaze softening for a moment, but then it hardened again. "Because I can't help myself. You have no idea what you do to me, Eva. You're everything I'm trying to avoid. Everything I don't deserve."
Eva felt her heart twist at his words. She reached up, grabbing his hand, bringing it to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. "I'm not afraid of you, Alexander. And I'm not afraid of your world, either."
His eyes darkened, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. He was fighting something within himself, and she could see it—the turmoil, the desire, the desperation.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said, his voice strained.
"You already have," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to stop. The words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Neither of them knew what would happen next, but there was no going back now.
His lips crashed against hers again, this kiss more desperate, more fervent than the last. He pulled her into his arms, crushing her body against his as if he couldn't breathe without her. His hands roamed over her back, his touch possessive, as though claiming her as his own.
But this time, Eva didn't hold back. She kissed him with everything she had—every emotion she couldn't express, every doubt, every fear—she poured it all into him. And he responded in kind, matching her intensity, their bodies moving together like they were the only two people in the world.
For that brief moment, there was no danger, no Olivia, no mafia. There was only them.
As they finally broke apart, breathless and dazed, Eva's mind was a swirl of emotions. She knew Alexander was right. This wasn't just a simple love story. This wasn't something that would end neatly, and they were both dancing on the edge of a cliff.
But for now, she didn't care. She couldn't stop herself from falling into him.
And neither could he.
"I'll protect you, Eva," Alexander whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "But this is no fairy tale. If you're with me, there's no turning back."
Her heart raced. "Then don't make me turn back."
The words felt like a vow, a promise that neither of them could take back.