Page 15 of Ardent Desires

“You know,” he says after a while, his voice soft, “you’re the first person I’ve brought here in years.”

I look up, surprised. “Really?”

He nods, his blue eyes steady on mine. “Yeah. I don’t usually... share this kind of thing.”

I don’t know what to say to that. There’s something intimate about what he just said, something that makes my heart beat a little faster. This feels like more than just a late-night hot chocolate. It feels like he’s letting me in, piece by piece.

“You’re different, Ellie,” he says quietly, his gaze holding mine.

My breath catches in my throat.Different? What the hell does that even mean?

Before I can ask, he glances down at his watch and sighs. “It’s late. I should get you home.”

I nod, suddenly feeling flustered. “Yeah. Right.”

We finish our drinks in silence, but the air between us feels heavier now, charged with something unspoken. Something I’m not ready to admit to myself.

As we leave the diner, running back to the car in the rain, I can’t shake the feeling that this moment—this night—is going to change everything.

We get back in the car, both of us dripping wet. I shiver as I settle into the passenger seat, the leather cool against my skin. I reach for my phone to check the time, but then I remember it’s dead. Great.

Alexander notices. Of course he does.

“Give it to me,” he says, holding out his hand. “I’ve got a charging system.”

I hesitate but hand it over, feeling a little embarrassed. When he plugs it in, nothing happens.

He glances at me, then back at the charger. “It only works with the latest iPhones. What do you have? An iPhone 8?”

I nod, almost cringing. “Yeah. I got it when I moved here.”

He just shakes his head, brushing it off like it’s no big deal. “Do you know the directions? I’ll drive you home.”

I nod again, and he flips his wet hair off his forehead, then turns on the seat warmers. The heat slowly seeps into the seat, and I settle in, but his scent—it invades the car, filling the space between us. It’s warm, spicy, a little intoxicating. And for a second, all I can think about is what it would be like to bury my face in his neck and inhale him, to feel that heat pressed against me.

I blink, forcing myself to look out the window.Stop thinking about him like that, Ellie. Just stop.

We drive in silence, the only sounds are the hum of the engine and the rain hammering against the windshield. The whole car feels charged, like something’s about to happen, but neither of us says a word.

When we finally get to my neighborhood, the rain hasn’t let up. The streetlights make the water shimmer across the road, and I feel the weight of everything that’s happened tonight settling on me.

“Are you okay?” Alexander’s voice cuts through my thoughts, low and concerned.

I nod, offering him a small smile. “Yeah. Thanks for tonight. For the hot chocolate and the ride.”

He’s quiet for a moment, just watching me. “Okay,” he says softly.

And then, his hand moves, reaching toward my face. I freeze, my breath catching, but right before his fingers touch my skin, he stops, flexing his hand like he’s rethinking the whole thing. His jaw tightens, and I can see the hesitation in his eyes.

“Goodnight, Ellie,” he says, his voice rougher than before.

“Goodnight, Alexander,” I whisper, feeling the heat crawl up my cheeks despite the cold rain outside. I open the car door and step out, immediately drenched again. I rush toward the building, my heels slipping a little on the wet pavement.

As I fumble with the gate, I hear him call my name again.

“Ellie!”

I turn, and there he is, once again standing in the rain like it doesn’t even bother him. His suit is soaked through, his hair sticking to his forehead, and he’s holding my phone.

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