Frozen Desire

The rain had stopped by morning, leaving the air crisp and cool. But Cassian's mind was far from clear. As the sun's first rays cast faint light across his room, he lay in bed, tangled in the sheets. His fingers traced the outline of his phone, still warm from his last interaction with Sera. He couldn't shake the feeling that had taken root in him—this undeniable pull that started to cloud his thoughts every time she crossed his mind.

She hadn't responded to his message. Part of him was proud of her restraint. The other part? Frustrated, aching for something more he wasn't willing to admit. His body ached, his mind racing with images of her—her smile, the way her lips felt under his, the soft sigh she gave when he held her close. He couldn't ignore it anymore. There was something about her. Something... different.

The phone vibrated, dragging him from his spiraling thoughts. He glanced at the screen, but it wasn't from her. It was his father's assistant, reminding him of an upcoming meeting. The timing felt off. He wasn't ready to face the world. He wasn't ready to face himself.

Sighing, Cassian ran a hand through his messy hair and got up from the bed. He threw on a shirt, his body still heavy from lack of sleep. His thoughts kept drifting to her—Sera, the woman who, in just a short time, had managed to disrupt everything he thought he knew about control. His control. The thing he held onto like his lifeline.

Meanwhile, Sera lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling.

The night had brought an odd mix of restlessness and curiosity. Her dreams had been clouded with images of Cassian—his eyes, his touch, the way he had made her feel things she wasn't ready to confront. When she'd woken up, her mind was still reeling. She had promised herself she wouldn't get wrapped up in him, that he was just another figure in the world of power and control she had to navigate. But she couldn't help herself.

Her phone chimed again, but it wasn't from Cassian.

"Focus, Sera," she muttered to herself, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. "You have a job to do. You can't get distracted by him." But her mind betrayed her. She knew, deep down, she was already in too deep.

As she pushed herself out of bed and got ready for the day, her phone buzzed once more. This time, the screen showed a message from him.

Cassian: "I need to see you again. Let's talk."

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this—this sudden push, this need for clarity. Maybe they both needed answers. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't just a moment for him.

 Sera's pulse quickened as she stared at the message. She had thought of little else all morning, trying to distract herself with work, with small tasks around her apartment, but now the moment had arrived. Cassian was reaching out. He wanted to see her again. She wasn't sure what that meant, or why he was suddenly so determined to meet. But one thing was clear: she couldn't ignore him.

She sat back on the edge of her bed, holding her phone in both hands, her fingers hovering over the screen. What should I say? Her head spun with thoughts. Part of her wanted to ignore him, to keep her distance and forget about the kiss, the confusion, the pull she felt when he was near. But then another part of her, the part that had allowed him into her thoughts far too easily, wanted to know more. She wanted to understand the depths of what had transpired between them.

After a long moment of contemplation, she finally typed a response.

Sera: "Alright. Let's talk. But no more games"

She hit send and instantly regretted it. What had she just done? Was she setting herself up for more confusion? But she couldn't deny that a part of her was relieved, excited even. Maybe this was what they both needed. To get things out in the open.

She needed to clear her head before meeting him. She stepped out into the crisp air and safety of her garden, the city bustling around her as she stood there watching everything and everyone passing by, her thoughts swirling in endless loops of possibility and uncertainty.

Cassian, on the other hand, wasn't faring much better.

After his restless night and the frustrating morning spent trying to keep his mind off Sera, he had to do something. He needed answers, or at least some direction. The weight of their encounter gnawed at him, and he knew the only way to find peace was to confront her.

His phone buzzed. Her message had come through. He read it again, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. He'd expected something more guarded, something more resistant. But there it was, an invitation, even if it was one laced with challenge. No more games. She wasn't just playing along—she was ready for this. She wanted this. And that was something he hadn't expected.

His heart rate picked up. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, but he knew one thing: he needed to see her.

He sent a quick reply.

Cassian: "I'll be there shortly."

He didn't wait for a response, just grabbed his coat, his thoughts buzzing in his head like a live wire. What did he want from this meeting? The kiss had thrown him off balance, and now it felt like everything he'd built up to protect himself had shattered. Was she really someone who could stand with him, beside him, without wanting something from him? Or was she just another distraction, another fleeting moment that would eventually slip away?

He shoved the questions aside as he made his way to his car. There was no time to overthink. He needed to get to her.

Sera, meanwhile, was trying to remain calm.

She'd been outside for some time now, the warmth of the sun wrapping her in a warm embrace, her phone started to buzz, this time with an incoming call. She glanced down and saw Cassian's name on the screen. For a moment, her fingers hovered over the answer button, unsure whether she was ready for this kind of interaction so soon. But in the end, she pressed answer.

"Cassian," she said, her voice steady, though she could feel her heart rate quickening again.

"Where are you?" His voice was clipped, authoritative, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"I'm home," she replied, trying to keep her tone calm, her nerves in check.

"Fine, meet me downstairs" he responded, and the line went dead.

She could feel the anticipation building in her chest. She had no idea what would happen next. They were about to confront everything that had been left unsaid between them. But the thought of seeing him again... of having him near her again... made her stomach twist with both excitement and fear.

She grabbed her cardigan and pulled it on before making her way out of her flatlet, making her way down the stairs she reached the bottom of the stairs, looking up she spotted the sleek black car pulling up. Her breath caught in her throat. There he was. Cassian. Stepping out of the car, his dark eyes scanning the street for her, his jaw set in a firm, unreadable expression. He looked like a man on a mission, but what was his mission?

Cassian's eyes locked onto Sera as soon as he spotted her.

She was standing there, looking every bit as captivating as she had when he first saw her. But now, there was something different about her. She wasn't the same unsure woman he had kissed. She was standing tall, confident, almost defiant.

She was waiting for him. And that realization made his pulse spike.

As he walked towards her, his gaze never leaving hers, he couldn't stop the smirk that tugged at his lips. There was so much more to her than he'd initially thought. And for some reason, he wanted to know it all.

"Well, here we are," he said, his voice low, purposeful. "I suppose this is the part where we talk."

Sera gave a small nod, a breath catching in her throat as she braced herself for whatever was about to come.

Sera and Cassian stood facing each other in the warm light of the sun, the soft hum of the city around them blending with the quiet tension between them.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, just observing one another as though waiting for the other to make the first move. Sera's heart was racing in her chest, and her palms felt suddenly clammy. She didn't know what exactly she wanted from this encounter, but she was certain she couldn't back out now.

"So," she began, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty, "I guess this is where we try to figure this out, huh?"

Cassian raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smirk. He couldn't deny the strange pull he felt every time he saw her. But now, standing in front of her, he couldn't help but feel like this was the beginning of something far more complicated than either of them had expected.

"Figure what out?" he asked, his tone casual, but the depth of his gaze was anything but. "You seem to have it all figured out, Sera. I think it's me who's confused."

Sera swallowed, her breath hitching slightly as his intense gaze pierced through her. "You're right," she replied, finally finding her voice again, though it felt more vulnerable now than it ever had before. "I don't really understand this... this thing between us. You're always so... distant one moment and then... closer than I expect the next."

Cassian leaned slightly against the wall next to her, his expression thoughtful as he regarded her. "I've never been good at dealing with things like this," he admitted. "But I know one thing—when I kissed you, I felt something. Something that doesn't make sense, and I hate when things don't make sense."

Sera's heart fluttered at his words. The honesty in his voice caught her off guard. She didn't know what to say to that. Was this the same man who had been cold and calculating only days ago? The man who seemed to keep the world at arm's length?

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," she said, trying to steady herself, her voice now quieter. "I'm not asking for anything more than what you can give. But I think... we need to figure out if this is just... what, a mistake? A fleeting moment?"

Cassian stepped closer to her - close enough that he could see her heart beating, his gaze never leaving hers. The intensity between them was unmistakable, and his voice dropped an octave, low and gravelly. "Maybe it's not a mistake. Maybe we both need to understand what it is first before we decide if it's worth it."

Sera's breath caught in her throat as he closed the distance between them. She could feel the heat of his body radiating toward her, his scent—something dark and tantalizing—surrounding her. And when he was this close, she couldn't ignore the pull. The attraction. The undeniable chemistry that neither of them seemed able to escape.

She wasn't sure if she was ready for the answer, but she couldn't deny it anymore. "I'm not sure either, Cassian," she whispered, taking a step back, her thoughts racing. "But I think we need to keep it real. No more pretending."

Cassian gave a soft chuckle, his eyes gleaming with something almost predatory, yet playful. "Pretending? I'm not sure either of us know how to pretend anymore."

For a heartbeat, they just stood there, the tension thick between them. Then Cassian straightened, his hands sliding into his pockets as he gave her a slight nod.

"Well, I think I've kept you long enough. But I'm not walking away this time, Sera. I'll figure this out... with you. If you'll have me."

Sera's pulse quickened at his words. He didn't give her time to respond before he walked toward the driver's side of the car, but as he opened the door, he glanced over his shoulder one last time.

"You should know something, though," he added, his voice almost teasing, yet laced with sincerity. "I'm not used to sharing what I want. And right now, all I want is you."

Before Sera could gather her thoughts to respond, he was already getting into the car. And just like that, the moment between them seemed to evaporate.

Sera stood there for a moment, her chest tight, her mind in overdrive.

She didn't know if she should feel relief or anxiety. All she knew was that she couldn't stop thinking about him. Not anymore. The way he looked at her, the way he made her feel. It was too much, too fast. But perhaps that was what made it so irresistible.

She turned on her heel, heading toward her flatlet once more. This time, though, her mind wasn't consumed by doubts. She knew, deep down, that whatever was happening between them—it wasn't over yet.