Page 11 of Burning Love

The space between them was filled with electricity. There was something about the way Alex was standing there—so open and present—that made Sophia want to share every thought she’d been hiding, every feeling she didn’t quite understand.

But she couldn’t. She felt herself pulling into herself, afraid to expose too much, even as she longed for the kind of easy friendship Alex might be able to offer. Sophia had always kept people at arm’s length, never quite letting them in. She had done the same at dance school. But with Alex, she felt the undeniable need to be close, to be seen and understood without having to explain.

“Why did you bring me here? Why did you take me in so easily?” Sophia asked finally, her voice trembling.

Alex’s expression softened slightly. “Did you expect me to leave you? I guess I thought you looked like you needed a chance,” she said, as though she understood something about Sophia that Sophia perhaps didn’t even understand herself. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. You seem to be doing pretty well. I’ll keep my distance. It’s probably better that way. For your sake, I mean. You don’t want the others thinking I’m giving you special treatment or anything.”

Sophia gulped, the tightness in her throat making it impossible to utter a single syllable. There was something so raw in Alex’s gaze, so steady and sure, that it left Sophia feeling exposed and vulnerable. And yet, she didn’t want to look away. She wanted special treatment. She wanted it all. She wanted to let Alex in, to tell her everything

But she didn’t know how.

5

ALEX

Fog clung stubbornly to the air as Alex struggled to pry her eyes open. The previous night’s restless sleep pressed heavily on her. She blinked groggily, her vision blurry, and leaned against the gate.

God, this thing needs fixing. It’s shoddy as hell.

Suddenly, the faint crunch of footsteps broke through her haze. Alex’s head jerked up, her tired eyes snapping toward the approaching figure. It was Sophie.

Alex snapped into focus in an instant. The way Sophia moved was so different from everyone else. She was nothing like the soldiers she was so accustomed to. The fact that she’d been a dancer was evident from her gait and quiet grace. To look at the woman, nobody would believe the world had completely fallen apart around her. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. Alex could see that Sophia was constantly observing what was going on at the compound but never judging.

That morning, she was carrying a huge sack of grain, her hair falling loosely over her shoulder, some strands escaping the messy bun she usually wore it in. As she neared, Alex caught sight of a small cut on her arm, blood staining the fabric of her sleeve.

Without thinking, Alex started moving toward her. Her boots thumped heavily on the ground, matching the frantic beat of her heart.

“Hey there! You need some help?” Alex asked, her voice clipped. “Looks like you’ve hurt yourself.”

A quick smile broke over Sophia’s face. “I’m alright,” she said, though there was a slight wince as she adjusted the load in her arms. Alex wasn’t fooled.

She gently pulled Sophia’s arm down, inspecting the cut. It was small, but it still made Alex wince at the sight of it. She could feel the warmth of Sophia’s skin beneath her fingertips. The sensation made her pulse flutter slightly.

“Are you sure you’re not in any pain?” Alex asked.

“I guess a little,” Sophia replied, her gaze fixed on Alex’s hand. Neither of them moved for a few seconds. The moment felt suspended in time, like something was pulling them toward each other. “It was a bread knife. Ellen said I should be more careful.”

Sophia tried to pull her arm back, but Alex’s grip tightened, her fingers brushing over the cut once more. It was a small, almost intimate gesture, but at that moment, Alex couldn’t let go. “I’ll clean it up for you. Come on. I’ve got a first aid kit in my quarters. Pay Ellen no mind. She’s such a grump.”

Sophia, looking slightly surprised, followed her.

In her quarters, Alex set the first aid box down next to her bed, her fingers brushing against the edge of Sophia’s thigh in the process. It was so brief—almost imperceptible—but the contact had an effect on Alex. She felt breathless. The warmth of the touch lingered on her fingertips, and she was suddenly aware of every nerve in her body, every inch of her skin.

Sophia’s eyes flickered down to where their hands had brushed, and then back up to meet Alex’s gaze. “Thank you for this,” she said, her voice shaking, like she was acknowledging something unspoken between them.

The air felt heavy, the stillness between them thick with something unsaid. Alex could hear the occasional sound of footsteps from the guards outside. But in that moment, life on the compound seemed distant. It was just the two of them, standing close, with a quiet tension that neither of them seemed willing to break.

“I can help you carry that bag to the kitchen if you want,” Alex mumbled as she cleaned the cut and gently placed a Band-Aid over the top of it. She shifted her weight, trying to ease the tightness in her chest, but it wouldn’t go away. Her mind was swirling, conflicted, torn between the need to stay professional and the pull of something… more.

Sophia didn’t answer immediately; she just gave a small, knowing smile. “I think I’ve got it,” she said, maintaining eye contact with Alex.

Alex felt her skin tingling. Heat coiled low in her abdomen, her chest tightening under Sophia’s gaze. She shifted on her feet uneasily, her fingers flexing at her sides, aching with the restraint it took not to reach out and touch Sophia.

“Okay,” she murmured, forcing herself to step back. Her legs felt like lead, every fiber of her body protesting the retreat.

Sophia’s gaze never wavered, dark and knowing, as if she could see every crack in Alex’s resolve. When the younger woman turned and started walking away, her hips swayed with a natural rhythm that seemed designed to tease Alex.

The faintest trace of Sophia’s scent lingered in the air after she’d gone, and Alex swore she could still feel the essence of her in the room—a warmth that wasn’t usually present in this cold, dingy space. As she stood rooted to the floorboards, she felt her jaw tighten with both frustration and desire. Her limbs were heavy as she let out a deep sigh.

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