It was a rainy Wednesday evening. The soft patter of rain against the windows made the apartment feel cozy, almost intimate. I was sitting on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, sketching quietly. The apartment was silent… except for Ethan moving around in the kitchen.
I glanced up as he came toward me, carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. "Here," he said, handing one to me. His hand brushed mine slightly. Just a fleeting touch—but my heart jumped anyway.
"Thanks," I murmured, focusing on the warm liquid in my hands, pretending nothing had happened.
He sat down beside me, a little too close. I could feel the heat from his body, the faint scent of his cologne. "You've been quiet today," he observed.
"Just… tired," I whispered, eyes on my sketchpad. But he wasn't fooled.
"Hmm," he said, leaning slightly closer, his shoulder brushing against mine. My breath caught. That small contact was enough to make my pulse race.
I shifted away subtly, but he moved in, almost unconsciously, until our legs brushed. My stomach twisted. Too close. Too fast. Too… real.
"Lara…" he began softly, his voice low, serious. "Are you… okay with this?"
I froze. "W-What do you mean?"
"This… closeness," he said, eyes locking onto mine. "The contract is supposed to be clear, but… I can feel something shifting. Can you feel it too?"
My heart pounded. "E-Ethan… it's… complicated," I admitted.
He exhaled, leaning back slightly, giving me just enough space. "I know. I feel it too. And I don't want to… push boundaries. But… it's hard not to notice you."
My cheeks burned. My hands trembled slightly as I held my mug. "I… I don't know what I feel anymore," I whispered. "I'm trying to keep it… professional. But you make it so hard."
He nodded, a soft, almost pained expression crossing his face. "Same here, Lara. Same here. This contract… it's supposed to be simple. But it's not. Not with you."
The room fell silent again, except for the rain. My heart raced, caught between desire and restraint. Contract marriage. One year. Rules. Boundaries.
And yet, in that private moment, sitting this close, feeling the warmth of his body, hearing the sincerity in his voice… everything felt dangerously real.
I looked down, trying to calm myself. But my thoughts betrayed me, replaying the accidental touches, the warmth of his presence, the intensity of his gaze.
Ethan noticed, his eyes softening. "We'll figure this out," he said quietly. "One day at a time."
I nodded, unsure if I could resist… or even wanted to.
Because one thing was certain: pretending was already getting impossible.