Chapter 10
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Jay stood on the balcony.
The cool air brushed her face.
But it didn't calm her.
Nothing did these days.
Her thoughts…
Always went back to him.
His words.
His eyes.
That confusing side of him.
She hated it.
Hated how he stayed in her mind.
Footsteps.
Behind her.
She stiffened instantly.
She didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
She knew.
Keifer
"You're here alone again."
His voice was low.
Close.
Too close.
"I like the silence."
Jay replied softly.
A pause.
"You're not silent."
Her brows frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Your thoughts are loud."
Her breath hitched.
She turned slowly.
He was right there.
Closer than usual.
Her heart started racing.
"Why do you always say things like that…"
She whispered.
"Because I notice."
Silence.
Heavy.
Jay tried to look away.
But couldn't.
His gaze held hers.
Strong.
Unmoving.
"Stop looking at me like that…"
"Like what?"
"Like you can see everything."
A step.
He moved closer.
Now there was barely any space between them.
"I can."
Her breath caught.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"Then… what do you see?"
A pause.
A dangerous one.
"Fear."
Her heart dropped.
"And something else."
She swallowed.
"What…?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
His hand lifted.
Slowly.
Gently.
He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
Jay froze.
Completely.
That small touch…
Felt louder than anything.
Her breath turned uneven.
"You shouldn't be near me…"
She whispered.
But she didn't move away.
"I know."
Then—
Before she could think…
He leaned in.
Close to her neck.
So close… she could feel his breath.
Warm.
Her body went still.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Keifer…"
Her voice barely came out.
But he didn't stop.
His lips brushed lightly against her neck.
Not rushed.
Not rough.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Jay gasped softly.
Her fingers instinctively clutched his shirt.
Her body reacting before her mind could.
Another soft touch.
And another shiver.
Stronger this time.
"What are you doing…"
She whispered.
But her voice…
Wasn't firm anymore.
It trembled.
Because she didn't understand this feeling.
This warmth.
This pull.
"I'm proving something."
He murmured against her skin.
Her heart pounded wildly.
"What…?"
"That you don't hate me as much as you say."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's not true—"
He pulled back.
Just enough to look at her.
Close.
Too close.
"Then why didn't you push me away?"
Silence.
Jay froze.
Because she didn't have an answer.
Her hands were still on him.
Her breath still uneven.
Her heart still racing.
"I…"
Nothing came out.
Keifer watched her.
Carefully.
Like he was learning her.
Piece by piece.
Jay slowly stepped back.
Breaking the moment.
Breaking the air between them.
"This… this is wrong…"
Her voice shook.
Confused.
Overwhelmed.
Keifer didn't move forward this time.
Didn't stop her.
But his eyes…
Stayed on her.
"It's already happening."
Her breath hitched again.
"No…"
She whispered.
But even she didn't sound convinced.
Because her body…
Her heart…
Had already betrayed her.
And for the first time—
Jay wasn't just scared of him.
She was scared of herself.
End of Chapter 10