Frozen Desire

The room felt different now. The air between them was thick, charged with something neither of them could ignore.

Seraphina stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as if she could contain the storm raging inside her. Her lips were still swollen, her skin still humming from Cassian's touch. She had never felt this alive, this undone.

Cassian, on the other hand, leaned against the doorframe, his shirt slightly rumpled, his sharp blue eyes locked onto her. He looked composed—at least on the surface—but Seraphina wasn't blind to the tension in his posture, the way his fingers flexed as if resisting the urge to reach for her again.

"You're quiet," he finally said, his voice smoother than it should be after what had just happened between them.

Seraphina exhaled, forcing a small smile. "I guess I'm still trying to process."

Cassian tilted his head slightly, watching her. "Regrets?"

Her hazel eyes met his, steady and unflinching. "No."

Something flickered in his gaze, something dark and unreadable. "Good," he murmured, stepping forward, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him. "Because I don't either."

She swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. "But this… whatever this is—it's complicated."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Complicated makes things more interesting."

Seraphina let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "You would say that."

He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face, the tenderness in the gesture at odds with the sharp edges of the man before her. "I'll see you later, Seraphina."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving her standing there, her heart hammering in her chest.

She wasn't sure what she had just gotten herself into—but one thing was certain.

Cassian Vale was going to be the most dangerous thing to ever happen to her.

Seraphina took a deep breath, trying to steady the erratic beat of her heart. The scent of Cassian still lingered in the air—a mix of expensive cologne and something undeniably him. It was intoxicating, and she hated how much it was affecting her.

Shaking her head, she stared at her reflection in the window. Her reflection looked… different. There was a glow to her cheeks, a slight tremor in her lips. She ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to smooth the evidence of him from her skin.

She needed to focus.

With a frustrated sigh, she forced herself into motion. She slipped into a fitted black blouse, tucking it neatly into her high-waisted skirt. Her hands trembled slightly as she fastened the delicate buttons, remembering the way Cassian had unfastened them only moments ago, the heat of his hands searing against her bare skin.

No. Stop thinking about it.

By the time she gathered her bag and stepped out onto the bustling street below, the evening air had cooled her flushed skin, but the fire inside her remained.

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Cassian leaned back in his car, his jaw tight.

He drummed his fingers against the leather interior, his thoughts tangled in a way that irritated him.

Seraphina.

He had gone there on impulse, wanting to see her before the day ended, but now? Now he was paying the price. His body still ached with the memory of her—the softness of her skin, the way she had melted under his touch.

His father's words echoed in his mind. You're allowing yourself to be distracted.

Maybe he was.

But for the first time in his life, Cassian didn't want to push something away.

He wanted more.

With a sigh, he pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over her number. He could send her a message, something simple, something that would pull her back into his world before she could run too far.

Instead, he shoved the phone back into his pocket and started the car making his way back home.

It was time to remind himself who he was.

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The city lights shimmered like a thousand fallen stars against the dark waters of the lake. Seraphina walked aimlessly through the quiet streets, her thoughts a tangled mess of heat and longing. The cool evening air should have settled her, but the memory of Cassian's touch still burned on her skin.

She wrapped her arms around herself as she reached the small park near her apartment. A familiar food truck sat parked by the water's edge, golden light spilling onto the pavement. The scent of grilled cheese and warm soup drifted toward her, grounding her in the present.

"One tomato soup and a classic grilled cheese, please," she murmured to the vendor, digging into her purse for cash.

As she waited, she wandered closer to the lake, staring at the way the city reflected in its rippling surface. The world felt strangely quiet, as if the universe itself was waiting—watching—to see what she would do next.

She could still feel his lips on hers. The weight of his body pressing her against the wall. The way he had held her like he was fighting himself.

She let out a breath.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Cassian Vale was untouchable. Powerful. Cold.

And yet, tonight, he hadn't been.

Not with her.

"Order up!" the vendor called.

Snapping back to reality, she grabbed the warm container and paper-wrapped sandwich before settling onto a bench by the water. She took a slow sip of soup, letting the heat chase away the chill in her bones, but nothing could quiet the storm inside her.

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Cassian leaned back against the leather seat of his car, gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity.

The city blurred past him in streaks of neon and headlights, but his mind was nowhere near the road. It was still inside her apartment. Still trapped in the scent of her skin, the way she had clung to him, the way her breath had hitched when he touched her.

What the hell was wrong with him?

He had gone there to see her, to satisfy the maddening need to be near her—but he had lost control.

That was unacceptable.

He exhaled sharply, shifting in his seat as the car pulled up to his penthouse. He waited for a while before he stepped out. He was hesitant. His jaw tightened.

He could still feel her.

Damn it.

For the first time in years, something—someone—was breaking through the walls he had spent a lifetime building. And it terrified him.

A sharp buzz from his phone drew his attention.

He glanced down.

No message from her.

Good. That was good.

So why did it feel like the wrong answer?

Without another thought, he shoved his phone into his pocket and stepped out of the car. His father would be home, waiting. Ready to dissect his every move.

Cassian straightened his tie and forced himself to step forward.

He had let himself slip tonight.

It wouldn't happen again.

Would it?

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Seraphina took another slow bite of her grilled cheese, her gaze fixed on the rippling lake. The food was warm, comforting—but it did little to ease the turmoil swirling inside her. She let out a breath, watching as it curled into the crisp night air.

She should go home.

She should forget about him.

But how could she, when every part of her still felt him?

The way his hands had roamed over her skin, igniting something deep within her. The way he had looked at her, like she was the only thing in the world that mattered in that moment.

No.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. Cassian Vale was dangerous—not just because of who he was, but because of how easily he made her forget herself.

Finishing her food, she tossed the wrapper into the bin nearby and made her way home, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by emotions she wasn't ready to face.

By the time she reached her apartment, she was exhausted. Not from the day—but from him. From the way he had consumed her so effortlessly.

As she unlocked the door and stepped inside, she half-expected to still feel his presence lingering in the air. But the apartment was empty, quiet.

She wasn't sure if that was a relief or a disappointment.

With a sigh, she slipped off her coat and made her way to the bathroom, turning on the shower. Steam filled the small space, curling around her as she undressed and stepped beneath the hot stream.

She closed her eyes, letting the water cascade over her skin, washing away the night.

But it couldn't wash away him.

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Cassian stepped out of the elevator, his shoulders tense. He had barely made it through the front door when he heard the low, familiar voice of his father.

"You're late."

Cassian clenched his jaw, turning to see Victor Vale standing near the bar, pouring himself a drink.

He should have expected this.

Victor turned, scrutinizing him with sharp eyes. "Where were you?"

Cassian shrugged off his jacket, forcing his expression into something unreadable. "Handling business."

Victor's gaze darkened. "I hope you're not allowing that distraction to interfere with your responsibilities."

Cassian exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward the bar, pouring himself a drink. "I don't get distracted."

Victor's lips curled into something almost amused. He took a slow sip of his whiskey, eyes locked onto his son. "Then what's that I smell on you?"

Cassian stiffened.

It was faint, but it was there. The lingering scent of Seraphina's perfume clung to his clothes, betraying him.

Victor set his glass down with a quiet clink. "I don't need to remind you what's at stake, do I?"

Cassian met his father's gaze, cold and unwavering. "No."

Victor studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Good."

Without another word, he turned and disappeared into his study, the door clicking shut behind him.

Cassian exhaled, pressing a hand to his temple.

His father could see it.

Hell, he could see it.

Seraphina De Luca was becoming a problem.

And yet, as he made his way to his room, he knew—despite everything—he wasn't ready to let her go.

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Wrapped in a towel, Seraphina stepped into her bedroom, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders. She reached for her phone, half expecting a message from Cassian.

Nothing.

She swallowed down the odd sense of disappointment and set the phone on her nightstand.

Maybe it was better this way.

Maybe she could pretend tonight never happened.

Maybe she could pretend she wasn't waiting for him to break the silence.

But deep down, she knew—he would.

And when he did, she wasn't sure if she'd have the strength to walk away.

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Cassian sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, phone in hand. He stared at the screen, the message thread between him and Seraphina empty since earlier. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, tension coiling in his chest.

He wasn't the type to second-guess himself. He acted, took what he wanted, and moved on.

But this—she—was different.

His father's warning rang in his head. A distraction. A weakness.

Maybe.

But despite everything, despite the logic that told him to leave it alone, to push her away before it went too far, the need to reach out was stronger.

Fuck it.

His fingers moved over the screen before he could stop himself.

Cassian: Are you still awake?

He hit send and leaned back against the headboard, exhaling sharply.

A minute passed.

Then another.

He clenched his jaw, wondering if she would ignore him. Maybe she had already made up her mind. Maybe she regretted everything.

But then—

His phone vibrated in his hand.

He looked down.

Seraphina: Couldn't sleep.

His lips curved slightly.

Neither could he.

Cassian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling as he stared out over the city skyline. His mind was restless, unable to shake the feeling of her—of what had happened between them.

His grip on the device tightened. He could picture her now, lying awake, just as consumed as he was.

Cassian: Where are you?

A pause. Then—

Seraphina: I just got back from a walk. Needed air.

The typing bubbles appeared instantly.

Cassian: Did you eat?

She blinked, not expecting the question. Of all the things he could have said…

Seraphina: I grabbed something while I was out.

Another pause. The bubbles appeared, disappeared, then came back.

Cassian: Good.

She exhaled, gripping the towel tighter around herself. He wasn't asking the questions she had expected—no smug remarks, no teasing. Just… concern?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Seraphina: Why are you checking in on me?

The response came quickly.

Cassian: Because I want to.

She swallowed, her heart skipping a beat.

It was dangerous—this pull between them. And yet, she found herself unable to resist.

Seraphina: You don't have to.

She didn't know why she sent it. Maybe because admitting that she wanted him to care felt too vulnerable. Too dangerous.

The typing bubbles appeared again, lingering longer this time.

Cassian: I know.

A pause.

Cassian: But I want to.

Her breath hitched. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the message, her heart pounding far harder than it should have been.

She typed, then deleted. Typed again. Deleted.

Why did it feel like every interaction with him pulled her deeper into something she wasn't sure she could handle?

Seraphina: You confuse me, Cassian.

The response came almost immediately.

Cassian: Good. Because you confuse the hell out of me.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

Seraphina: That's not funny.

Cassian: It's not meant to be.

Her smile faded. He wasn't joking.

Before she could respond, another message came through.

Cassian: Get some rest, Seraphina.

She stared at the screen, fingers tightening around the phone.

Seraphina: You too.

She wasn't sure if he would reply. But he did.

Cassian: Try not to dream about me too much.

A flush crept up her neck.

Seraphina: Arrogant.

Cassian: Honest.

She sighed, tossing her phone onto the bed and falling back against the pillows.

Cassian Vale was going to be the death of her.