Chapter 12: An Unraveling Desire
The room was quiet now, save for the soft patter of the rain against the windows. The flickering lights from the candles cast long, dancing shadows against the walls of the intimate space, a sharp contrast to the grandeur of the mansion outside. The air between them seemed thick with something unspoken, something neither of them could name.
Seraphine stood just a few steps away from Kian, her gaze trained on the view outside, her mind distant. She had led him here, to this place she never let anyone see. The secrets of the Vasiliev family were often spoken in hushed tones, but this room—this was her sanctuary. And yet, now, she wasn't sure what to make of the man before her.
Kian was silent behind her, his posture stiff, his eyes slightly unfocused as the effects of the drug still clouded his judgment. The room seemed to spin slowly around him, but all he could think about was her—the way she moved, the way her presence lingered even when she wasn't speaking. He didn't know who she was. He didn't care to know. All that mattered now was how he felt in her presence, how she seemed to captivate him without even trying.
For the first time in his life, Kian felt a connection with someone that went beyond mere proximity. He couldn't explain it, nor did he want to. His thoughts were fuzzy, clouded by something he couldn't shake—a need to get closer to her, to understand why his heart was pounding in a way he had never felt before.
He moved toward her, unsure of what to do, but driven by an inexplicable force. The moment he reached her, he froze for just a moment, his hand hovering by her shoulder, his breath shallow. He had never touched a woman before—not even held hands. This was something entirely unfamiliar to him.
"Why am I... why am I here?" he whispered, his voice sounding distant to his own ears. He didn't wait for an answer before he reached for her, his hand finally brushing her arm. The touch was tentative, but it sent a shock through him that was as electrifying as it was terrifying.
Seraphine stiffened at his touch, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she let out a quiet breath, her eyes still locked on the view outside. She hadn't expected him to follow her this far. She hadn't expected this at all. But as his hand lingered on her skin, something inside her stirred. She didn't know him, didn't know who he was, and yet... there was something about him that called to her in a way she couldn't ignore.
Kian took another step closer, drawn in by the invisible thread between them. His heart thudded louder, filling his ears, and before he could stop himself, he pressed forward. His lips found hers with an urgency he couldn't control. There was no grace, no technique. It was raw, desperate—a collision of two souls caught in the whirlwind of an undeniable attraction neither of them had seen coming.
Seraphine's lips were cold at first, stiff under his, but then they softened. She didn't push him away. She didn't pull back. Instead, her body seemed to respond to him in ways she couldn't explain. Her breath quickened as Kian's hands found her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, and though his movements were clumsy—unpracticed, as though he had never kissed anyone before—there was a primal intensity to it that left Seraphine breathless.
He didn't know what he was doing, didn't understand why his body was reacting this way. The drug clouded his mind, but his instincts were louder, more powerful. He needed to kiss her, needed to feel the heat of her skin against his. It wasn't about desire—it was about something much more overwhelming.
His lips left hers, only to trail down her neck. His breath was warm against her skin, his movements frantic, as though the kiss hadn't been enough. She gasped as he nipped lightly at her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin. He didn't realize how much he had taken from her until she shivered under his touch.
"Who... who are you?" she managed to breathe, her voice barely above a whisper. The question hung between them, unanswered.
But Kian was lost. Lost in the sensation, lost in the way she felt against him, in the way her body responded to his touch. His hands gripped her tighter, pulling her even closer, as though he couldn't bear the space between them. His lips found hers again, this time with more force, more need. He kissed her like he was drowning and she was his only lifeline.
Seraphine's heart raced, but there was a part of her that didn't want to fight this, didn't want to push him away. Her mind screamed for logic, for control, but her body betrayed her. She let herself be swept up in the kiss, in the sensations that were taking over her. It was as if she had no choice but to surrender, to let the moment consume her.
When they finally pulled away from each other, gasping for air, Kian's hands still rested on her body, his fingers trembling. He blinked at her, his eyes glazed, as though he was just now returning to the present, though his thoughts were still hazy from the drug. He couldn't understand the way he felt. He didn't even know who she was, but his mind was obsessed with the need for more.
"Why... why do I feel like this?" he murmured, his voice raw, confusion lacing his words.
Seraphine's chest rose and fell with each breath, her mind reeling. She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. There was something in the way he asked the question—something in the way he seemed so lost, so out of control—that unsettled her.
"I don't know," she replied quietly, her voice distant as she took a step back. She could feel the weight of the moment settle over her. "I don't know who you are."
Kian's head swam with the words she had spoken, but the fog in his mind didn't lift. He didn't care. He needed her again, needed to feel that connection that had been sparked between them. The drug pushed him to the edge, and he didn't know how to stop.
His hand reached out for her again, but this time, she took a step back, shaking her head slightly. "You don't even know who I am," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "And neither do I."
But Kian didn't understand. His gaze locked onto hers, searching for something he couldn't find, and then—without another word—he stepped forward again, his mouth seeking hers once more.