Beneath the silk skies

The following days blurred by in a whirlwind of meetings, phone calls, and the occasional glance exchanged with Elias across crowded rooms. Scarlett tried to convince herself that what had happened between them was just a momentary lapse in judgment, a fleeting temptation that didn't need to mean anything more.

But every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel the heat of his lips on hers, the way his touch had ignited something deep within her.

She couldn't stop thinking about him.

Scarlett paced the length of her apartment, her phone in her hand as she stared at the message from Elias that had popped up earlier. "Dinner tonight? Just us."

Her first instinct was to ignore it, to keep her distance. But then, as if guided by some invisible force, her fingers hovered over the screen.

Why not? she thought. It's just dinner.

But it wasn't just dinner. Not with Elias Westbrook .

The man was an enigma charming and ruthless, kind and calculating. She knew that getting too close to him would blur the lines she'd always kept so clearly defined. Yet, there was a part of her that craved it the danger, the thrill, the excitement.

In a moment of weakness, Scarlett hit send, agreeing to meet him. She didn't want to admit it, but she was already lost.

As she arrived at the upscale restaurant Elias had chosen, she was greeted by the familiar weight of expectation. The staff led her to a private booth, dimly lit, with a view of the city's skyline. Elias was already seated, his tall frame impossibly composed as he studied the menu with an air of effortless sophistication.

When he looked up and saw her approach, his lips curled into a smile that made her heart skip. "Scarlett," he greeted, his voice low and smooth. "I'm glad you could make it."

She sat across from him, the tension between them palpable. "I didn't think you were the type to dine alone."

Elias chuckled, setting the menu down. "I rarely do, but there's something about tonight that feels... different." He leaned in slightly, his eyes darkening. "Something about you."

Scarlett's breath caught in her throat. "I'm just a girl in a dress."

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied her with a look that sent a shiver down her spine, as if he could see straight through her.

"You're not just anything," Elias said softly. "You're everything I didn't know I needed."

Her pulse quickened, her mind racing with a mixture of disbelief and desire. "Elias..."

But he cut her off, his hand reaching across the table and gently taking hers. The warmth of his touch seemed to burn through her skin, sending a jolt of electricity straight to her core.

"I've been patient, Scarlett," Elias murmured, his thumb lightly caressing her palm. "But I don't want to wait anymore."

She could feel the weight of his words, the unspoken promise in his voice. She wanted to pull away, wanted to stop before things went any further, but the pull between them was irresistible.

"You don't have to wait," she whispered, her voice shaky but resolute.

The air between them seemed to crackle with tension as Elias leaned forward, his face inches from hers. Scarlett's heart raced, her breath shallow as she fought the urge to close the distance.

Then, without another word, Elias closed the gap, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both fierce and tender. Scarlett's world tilted, spinning wildly as the kiss deepened, her body responding to his touch in a way she couldn't control.

The moment stretched on, neither of them willing to break apart, until the sound of someone clearing their throat finally broke the spell.

Scarlett pulled away reluctantly, her lips still tingling from the intensity of the kiss. She looked around, her face flushed, to find the waiter standing at the edge of their booth, holding a bottle of wine.

"Apologies," the waiter said, his voice professional, though a slight smile played at the corners of his lips.

Elias, however, seemed unfazed. "It's fine," he replied, his gaze never leaving Scarlett. "We're fine."

When the waiter left them alone again, Scarlett could feel the heat in her cheeks. "You're bold," she said, her voice quieter now.

"I'm exactly what you need," Elias said, his eyes intense as they locked onto hers. "And I'm not letting you slip away."

Scarlett's mind screamed for her to run, to pull back before it was too late. But her heart, her body, was telling her something different. She wanted him, despite the risks.

And in that moment, Scarlett realized that she was already too far gone.