Page 8 of His To Unravel (His & Hers Duet #1)

SEVEN

nathaniel

As the final words of Professor Jones’s lecture fade and students begin gathering their belongings, I remain seated, my attention fixed on Olivia.

Her awareness of me is palpable, a quiet, simmering current that hasn’t let up in the past hour.

She’d been on edge, glancing at me like she couldn’t help herself, and I could see the ripple of her reactions as clearly as if I were inside her head.

Which, of course, is exactly where I intend to be.

Choosing to sit beside her wasn’t just about access—it sent a message.

One that every student in that room picked up on immediately.

Her proximity to me? It said something about her place in my life.

I wanted them to recognize her, to feel that ripple of curiosity and question what had shifted between us.

But more than that, it was about building familiarity—turning presence into habit, and habit into thought.

I got a surprising thrill from the simple pleasure of watching her grow flustered, trying to remain composed, pretending she could ignore the pull between us .

My mind twists in unexpected directions as I observe her, enthralled by the way she tries to hide her emotions yet wears them so visibly. The attraction toward her grows stronger with each passing moment, a genuine urge to be close surfacing from somewhere far beyond mere strategy.

She picks up her bag and glances back at me, a flash of uncertainty in her eyes. I silently rise and fall into step beside her and Carolyn, as they make their way into the bustling hall.

Carolyn immediately brightens, her eyes gleaming as she throws Olivia a quick look before sidling up to me.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Carolyn says, grinning. “How nice of you to accompany us, Nathaniel.”

I offer a polite smile, catching the way Olivia glances at me from the corner of her eye. “I’m Olivia’s partner for the project,” I reply simply. “Thought I’d stick around, and I’d love to hear your take on the lecture, Olivia.” I shift my gaze back to her, letting the invitation settle.

“Oh, uh…” Olivia blinks, seemingly surprised I’d asked. “I thought his take on market entry was insightful, especially his point about balancing aggressive entry with cultural sensitivity—most people overlook entirely.” A slight flush creeps across her cheeks.

“Good insight,” I reply, unable to hide the pride in my tone. I let my gaze linger, reveling in the effect it has on her.

Carolyn clears her throat. “Nathaniel, what’s your take on the assignment?”

“Straightforward,” I respond brusquely, returning my focus to Olivia. “Olivia, did you manage to get everything down?”

Olivia glances up, stifling a smile, and nods. “More or less. Though I was a little distracted.”

“Glad to hear it,” I say low enough for only her to hear. The faint smile that played at her lips sends a surge of satisfaction through me. She softens under my gaze, her guard inching down even as she tries to maintain her composure.

Carolyn glances between us, her expression shifting to amusement. She starts to speak again but thinks better of it, her gaze settling on Olivia instead.

When we reach Olivia’s next class, I pause outside the door and she turns to me. The rest of the hall fades into the background around us, and for a moment, it feels like she and I are the only two here.

“Thank you for the company, Olivia,” I say softly before I lean in and press a tender kiss to her forehead.

Her breath catches and when I pull away, her eyes are wide. The surprise quickly softens to something more curious, an unspoken question in her eyes.

“I’ll see you later,” I promise, holding her gaze.

The dazed look on her face stays with me as I turn and walk away, feeling an increasingly familiar sense of gratification and a growing awareness that she’s become more than just a move on my carefully orchestrated board.

She has, somehow, become someone I want beside me—not just to watch, but to unravel completely.

Olivia settles into the chair across from me, shifting slightly under my gaze.

The quiet between us is companionable, her steadfast presence grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected to crave so deeply. Her focus, her poise—they calm something in me even as they stoke this slow, deliberate burn beneath my skin.

After a brief exchange about the project, her shoulders relax, and I can feel the moment unfolding. It’s a fragile balance she holds between her ambitions and something she keeps tucked away, a personal desire she seems uncertain of .

I lean in slightly, letting my voice drop into something casual yet inviting.

“You always seem to have such singular focus. Do you ever allow yourself to think about what you want, outside of everything else?”

She fidgets with her pen, glancing away. “I’m…not sure. There are things I thought I wanted, but lately, it’s all felt…blurry—like I can’t quite separate what I want from what’s expected of me.”

There it is—the vulnerability I’ve been waiting for. The crack in her resolve revealing a need to be understood.

“It’s not unusual to feel that way. Especially when you’re as driven as you are,” I say, letting a slight smile soften my words. “Most people would be afraid to admit that uncertainty…but you’re brave enough to own it.”

She lowers her eyes, a faint curve touching her lips. “Brave might be stretching it. I think I’m just…tired of trying so hard.”

I lean closer, our knees nearly brushing, my voice low. “You deserve a life that’s more than that. Don’t you think?”

She pauses, contemplating it, something raw in her expression. “Maybe. I mean, I want to make something of myself, not just for my family. But sometimes, I feel like that’s the only thing defining me.”

My gaze never wavers as I watch her unguarded expression. “And yet, there’s more to you. Maybe making something of yourself looks different than what you’ve been made to believe.”

A blush rises to her cheeks as she toys with the edge of her notebook. “I don’t know if I’m bold enough to go completely off course. I’ve…never been that kind of person.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right…motivation.” I let the words settle between us, giving her time to feel the weight of them.

She bites her lip, visibly affected, and I can almost hear her heart race. “And…what do you think that motivation looks like?”

I let a slow smile spread across my face, the answer deep and unyielding in my gaze. “Maybe it’s someone who sees beyond the expectations. Who knows you’re capable of far more than anyone else realizes.”

Her gaze lifts to meet mine, her voice growing softer, more vulnerable. “That’s…really flattering, Nathaniel. But it’s hard to believe anyone could really…see me like that.”

I reach forward to pass her a reference book, our fingers brushing, and I drink in the way her breath catches. “Maybe you’re not as unreadable as you think. I’d wager there are parts of you that even you haven’t discovered yet. You just haven’t had the right…partner.”

Her fingers tremble slightly as she takes the reference book, her cheeks warming, eyes downcast. “I…suppose it would help to have someone who…understands me.”

“Exactly.” My expression is gentle, but beneath it lies a carefully placed intention.

I’m drawing her closer with each word, embedding myself into her uncertainties, her dreams, presenting myself as the kindred spirit she’s never had.

“Someone who wants to see every side of you—even the parts you keep hidden.”

“I definitely don’t have anyone like that in my life…” There’s a tremor in her voice.

I say nothing for a moment as I shift closer, letting the silence amplify between us before whispering, “Well, I’d like to know all of you, Olivia. If you ever feel like sharing your burdens with someone, I’ll be there.”

Her gaze is steady yet I see a fragile hope ignite in her eyes—one that I plan to protect and possess.

Her voice is barely above a whisper as she says, “That…means a lot to me. Thank you.”

The tension between us builds, grounding us in an unspoken promise. I let my gaze linger, conveying what words won’t—the certainty that whatever weight she carries, she’s not alone in bearing it.

The penthouse is quiet. It’s a silence that envelops me. I run my hand along the cool marble of the bathroom sink, thinking back over the day’s events, the smallest exchanges, the way Olivia looked at me, tentative yet intrigued, her guard lowering by degrees.

That single glance, the hint of something softer and less restrained in her eyes—I can feel the pulse of satisfaction from it even now. She’s yielding, bit by bit, her hesitance becoming mine to dismantle.

She’s almost there— almost —but there’s still a sliver of caution in her gaze. Instinctive self-preservation keeping a piece of herself locked away, untouched. Untouchable.

The thought strangles something low in my chest, a discomfort I rarely allow myself to indulge. She’s still… resisting. That fortress is mine to demolish.

As I rinse my face and stare at my reflection in the mirror, I see the steel of resolve in my own blue eyes.

I can’t afford even the smallest misstep.

If she senses anything too intense, too revealing, she might retreat—and the idea of her pulling away, of slipping from my reach before she’s wholly mine, is… unacceptable .

She’s starting to regard me as more than her partner in a shared project. A confidant perhaps, someone safe. But that’s not enough—I need her to see more, to feel more.

The familiarity I’ve cultivated, the ease between us—the shared silence, the quiet understanding, the way her breath catches when our hands brush—those will be the threads I’ll pull tighter. Until we’re so intertwined she can’t remember a version of herself that doesn’t include me.

It will require finesse—a gentler touch that resonates beneath her conscious thoughts, weaving into her doubts and dreams alike .

A ripple of tension, barely there, pulses under my skin. I can’t lose her—not to anyone or anything, least of all to her own fears.

If that means drawing her closer than she’s ready for, leading her past the point of retreat…

My reflection in the mirror is steady, unyielding.

Then so be it.