Beneath the silk skies

Scarlett woke the next morning with a familiar weight in her chest. It wasn't the soft comfort of the sheets or the gentle morning light filtering through her curtains that had her feeling this way. It was the lingering memory of the night before the kiss, the promises, the things unspoken between her and Elias.

She hadn't expected to feel so... conflicted. The attraction was undeniable, the chemistry undeniable, but the consequences? They were impossible to ignore.

She ran her fingers through her hair and stared at the ceiling, trying to think through her emotions, trying to rationalize what she was doing. But when it came to Elias Monroe, nothing seemed rational anymore.

What was it about him that made her lose control?

The phone on her bedside table buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Elias.

"I'll pick you up for dinner tonight. Don't make any other plans."

Her thumb hovered over the message, and she hesitated. Should she respond? Should she ignore it?

But before she could make a decision, another message followed.

"I know you're thinking about me. You can't stay away."

Scarlett exhaled sharply, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. Elias was relentless there was no denying that.

But she couldn't let him control her. She wasn't like the women who fell for his charm without question. No, Scarlett had her own life, her own goals, and she wasn't about to let him derail it.

Still, the thought of turning him down... it felt wrong.

Hours later, Scarlett stood in front of her full-length mirror, her reflection offering little comfort. She wore a sleek black dress, one that hugged her curves just enough to draw attention but didn't scream for it. Her hair was swept into a simple updo, and her makeup was understated, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

As she smoothed down the fabric of her dress, she found herself wondering just how far Elias was willing to go in this dangerous game. How far was she willing to go?

The doorbell rang, and her heart jumped in her chest. There was no turning back now.

When Scarlett opened the door, Elias stood before her, looking every bit the wealthy, untouchable man he was. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, his jawline sharp, and his eyes dark with something she couldn't quite decipher.

"Scarlett," he murmured, his voice low and commanding. "You look stunning."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, all the rational thoughts fled her mind. It wasn't the compliment that disarmed her, though. It was the way he said her name, as if it held some deeper meaning, some unspoken connection between them.

"Thank you," she managed to say, stepping aside so he could enter.

Elias didn't waste any time. He walked past her, his presence like a storm filling the room. When he turned around to face her, his gaze seemed to darken, and Scarlett felt the intensity of his attention as if it were a physical weight pressing against her.

"You're mine tonight," Elias said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Scarlett's heart beat faster, but she refused to let him see the effect he had on her. "I'm not anyone's, Elias."

He smirked, that predatory look in his eyes making her pulse race. "You're mine tonight, whether you admit it or not."

His words hung in the air, thick with a promise she couldn't quite place. There was something dangerous in his confidence, something thrilling. It was a dangerous game, and Scarlett knew she was already far too deep into it.

But it was too late now.

Scarlett's pulse quickened as Elias stepped closer, the heat between them almost palpable. She told herself to resist, to pull away from him, but the way he moved with such purpose, the way his eyes seemed to capture her every thought, it made it impossible to stay detached.

"I'm not playing your game, Elias," she said, trying to steady her breath, but her voice trembled slightly.

He chuckled softly, a sound that was both comforting and unsettling. "It's not a game, Scarlett. It's real."

The words hung in the air, charged with the promise of something deeper, something more intense than anything she'd ever felt. She wasn't sure whether to be afraid or to lean into it. But either way, Elias had a way of making her question everything she thought she knew about herself.

"I'm not like other women," Scarlett insisted, her gaze unwavering. "You can't just control me with your charm."

Elias raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curving into a smirk that made her stomach twist. "I don't need to control you, Scarlett. You're already in my orbit."

Her heart fluttered in her chest, her thoughts spinning. How could he be so sure of himself? And why, despite her best efforts, did she find herself drawn to him?

Elias stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. He gently cupped her face in his hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. "You can deny it all you want, but I know what you want."

The words were too much too intimate, too dangerous. Scarlett opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Elias's lips crashed against hers, silencing her protest with a kiss that was both commanding and tender.

It was a kiss that left no room for hesitation, no room for second thoughts. Scarlett's heart pounded in her chest as she melted into the kiss, her body reacting against her will. She could taste the urgency in his kiss, the raw hunger that mirrored her own.

For a moment, nothing existed outside of them—the world, the consequences, the warnings. It was just Elias and Scarlett, caught in the gravity of each other's presence.

When they finally pulled away, both breathless, Elias's forehead rested against hers. "You think you can resist me, but I've already won."

Scarlett struggled to regain her composure, her heart still racing. "You're impossible," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Elias's smile was predatory, his eyes glinting with something dark and intoxicating. "Maybe. But you're not as strong as you think you are, Scarlett. And that's why you're here."

"I don't need you," she said, though the words felt hollow as they left her lips.

"Then why are you still here?" Elias asked, his voice low, challenging.

Scarlett's gaze met his, and for the first time, she didn't have an answer. She didn't know why she couldn't walk away, why she couldn't stop herself from wanting him. It scared her, this pull, this magnetic force that seemed to grow stronger with every passing second.

"I'm not like the women you're used to," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Elias's eyes softened just slightly, though the intensity still burned in them. "I don't want you to be like anyone else. I want you to be you."

Scarlett swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had no idea what that meant, what he wanted from her. But one thing was certain: Elias Monroe had a hold on her, whether she was willing to admit it or not.

Elias held out his hand, his gaze steady. "Come with me, Scarlett. Let me show you what I'm offering."

For a moment, Scarlett hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. But despite everything, despite the warnings echoing in her mind, she found herself taking his hand.

The decision was made.