Page 12 of Ardent Desires

Ellie

For days now, I’ve been trying to ignore it—the charged energy between me and Alexander. At first, I thought it was just me, getting too caught up in my own ridiculous fantasies. I mean, who wouldn’t have a crush on a guy like him? He’s smart, powerful, and, let’s be honest, insanely hot. But lately... it’s been more than that.

The way we’ve been working together, how close we’ve gotten—there’s something there. And it’s not just my stupid crush or thosenastysex dreams I’ve been having about him. God, the dreams. I wake up sweating, my body on fire, and then I have to see him the next day and pretend everything’s normal.

But tonight was different. Tonight, he opened up to me, told me somethingpersonal. Something about his father. He’s never done that before. And the way he looked at me, like he was seeing me for the first time, it was...a lot.

I groan, rushing back to my desk after grabbing my umbrella from the break room. My thoughts are all over the place, and I’m trying to get a grip. By the time I get back, the office is deadquiet. Alexander and Lena must’ve left while I was gone. I check my phone—2% battery. Of course.

I smooth down my dress and grab my coat, mentally preparing for the storm waiting outside. It’s pouring. Like,bucketspouring. But it’s late, and I need to get home.

I say goodnight to the janitor as I make my way to the lobby, pulling my coat tighter around me. The second I step outside, the rain slams into me, and within seconds, I’m soaked. Perfect. I pull out my phone, trying to get an Uber, but there’s no signal. Figures.

I stand under the awning, staring at the rain coming down harder and harder. No choice but to walk and try to flag down a taxi. I can’t just stand here all night.

My heels sink into the wet sidewalk as I step into the downpour, trying to wave down a cab. Nothing. I keep walking, the rain seeping through my coat, drenching me to the bone. I’m about to give up when a car pulls up beside me, headlights cutting through the rain.

I step back, ready to wave them off. “No thanks, I’m fine,” I start to say, but the window rolls down, and I freeze.

Alexander. Of course, it’s him. His blue eyes meet mine through the rain, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.

“Ellie, get in the car,” he says, his voice calm but commanding.

I shake my head, hugging my coat tighter around me. “I’m okay. I can—”

Before I can finish, he’s out of the car, stepping into the pouring rain without a second thought. He’ssoakedin seconds, but he doesn’t seem to care. He’s towering over me, raindrops streaming down his face, his suit clinging to him.

“Get in the car,” he says again, firmer this time.

I stand there like an idiot, staring up at him. The man is being rained on, for God’s sake, and here I am trying to argue. My heels are soaked through, my hair’s plastered to my face, and I’mfreezing. It would be easier to just let him drive me to the subway station, right?

Without another word, he puts a hand on my back and gently guides me to the car, opening the passenger door. I slide into the seat, wincing as I feel the water from my clothes seeping into the expensive leather.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter, looking down at the puddle I’m leaving on his pristine seat. “I’m getting your car all wet.”

“It’s fine,” he says, climbing into the driver’s seat and turning on the engine. He glances at me, then reaches over and flips on the seat warmers. “Why were you out in the rain?”

I pull my dead phone from my pocket, showing it to him. “Tried to get an Uber. No signal.”

He nods, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, though my teeth are literally chattering at this point.

He turns in his seat, facing me fully. “Give me your hands.”

“What?”

He doesn’t wait for an answer. He reaches over, takes my hands in his much larger ones, and cups them. His skin is warm—almosttoowarm—and the heat spreads through my fingers immediately.

“Jesus, you’re freezing,” he mutters, his grip tightening slightly. His hands practically swallow mine, and for a second, I forget how cold I am. All I can focus on is how close he is, how his warmth is spreading from my hands to my chest, to my stomach, to places Ishouldn’tbe thinking about right now.

I glance up at him, and suddenly, I’m aware of everything. The way his wet hair is slicked back, the sharp line of his jaw, the way his blue eyes are staring right into mine. And just like that, my whole body is buzzing with this...awareness.

I try to swallow, but my throat’s dry. “Thanks,” I manage to whisper, my voice barely audible.

He holds my hands a little longer, his gaze flicking down to where our skin touches, then back to my face. The rain is still pouring down outside, but inside the car, it’s like time has slowed. The only sound is the hum of the engine and the soft patter of raindrops on the roof.

I should pull my hands away. I should thank him and tell him I’ll be fine, that he doesn’t need to worry. But I can’t move. I can’t even think straight. Not with him this close, not with his hands wrapped around mine, not with that heat blooming in my stomach and spreading through my veins like wildfire.

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