Page 5 of His Dark Pull

“Hey, Tyler. What’s up?”

“Just checking on you. How’re you doing?”

“I’m okay— just tired.”

There’s a long pause.

“You sound a little off,”he says.

My throat tightens. “I’m fine, just tired,”I lie, the words scraping against myrawconscience.

“Okay, sure.”There’s a pause. “Ava, do you want to meet tomorrow? Maybe we can ordersomeItalian food and watch a movie at my place?”

My chest tightens, a vise squeezing the air from my lungs. Tyler’s invitation feels like a lifeline.Normalcy. Stability.Is that all I want now? But I can’t refuse.Not yet.Maybe ifI pretend hard enough, I can convince myselfthat thisis enough.

“Yes, I would love to,”I say, hoping the genuine note of longing in my voice drowns out the echoes of Alexander’s whispers.

“Great, I’m glad. I’ll pick you up around seven, okay?”

“Sure.”

As I hang up, a sharp knock startles me. My heart hammers against my ribs as I approach the door, peeking through the peephole. My breath hitches in my throat. Alexander stands on the other side, his hair damp from the rain.

I notice a tailored suit peeking from beneath his deep blue coat, the tie casually loosened. The shadows under his eyes hint at sleepless nights, just like mine.

Hesitation wars with desire.

Get away from him, Ava. This is a mistake.But his presence is a riptide.No, it’s a drug, and I’m addicted.Before I can stop myself, I open the door and he steps inside, his eyes capturing mine, holding me captive in their icy depths.

I clench my fists and swallow the lump in my throat.

Don’t give in.

“I-I think–” I stammer.

“Ava, I need you,”he says, his voice a deep, animalistic growl.

And then, before I can even think, he steps forward and pushes me back against the brown wall of my apartment, kissing me. His demanding lips taste like whiskey, his touch igniting a fire within me that I had tried so hard to extinguish. In that moment, the world outside ceases to exist. It’s just him and me and the undeniable connection that binds us together.

But the moment is shattered as his phone rings, a jarring intrusion into our stolen intimacy. He pulls away, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he answers the call.

“Hello?”he says curtly. What happened?”He pauses as he listens to the voice on the other end.“Well, fuck Anton Volkov! Alright— I’ll be right there.”

“What’s going on?”I ask concerned.

“I have to go. It’s an emergency,”hereplies,hisvoice devoid of emotion, but there’s a tightness aroundhiseyes.Hepresses a quick kiss tomy lips, a fleeting gesture that leaves me feeling empty and confused, before turning and walking out the door.My hands clench into tight fists at my sides, my nails digging into the flesh of my palms.Who does he think he is?

I dress, grabbing my keys and purse, needing to escape the confines of my apartment to clear my head from the whirlwind of emotions that threaten to drown me.Why can’t I say no to him? I’m so stupid.

The rain-soaked streets are empty as I wander aimlessly. Thoughts of Alexander and Tyler, of love and betrayal, swirl in my mind.

As I walk throughthe city ofPort Haven, the rain drizzles down, painting the streets with shimmering reflections of the city’s lights. Tall apartment buildings loom overhead, their windows blurred by the rain, and the occasional townhouse peeks out from between them, offering a glimpse of cozy domesticity amidst the urban sprawl.

Why does Alexander always have to play games? Can’t he just be honest for once?

The streets are alive with therhythm of the city, people hurrying past under umbrellas or huddled beneath awnings, seeking shelter from the rain. Car horns echo in the distance, blending with the sound of the rain.

I can’t believe I let myself fall for his tricks again.

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