Page 12

12

Fiona

Stellan’s presence fills the space, and for some reason, my nerves feel like they’re spiraling out of control. I’m not sure what to do or say next, but everything about him, the way he looks at me, the way he moves—it's too much, and I can’t stop myself from thinking about how much I want him.

It’s insane. I’m supposed to be keeping it together. This is a fake relationship, after all, right? But as he steps closer, my body betrays me. My heart flutters in a way it shouldn’t, and I can feel the heat of him all around me.

He looks around the apartment, his gaze scanning the room before he glances back at me. I can’t read his expression, but I know something’s shifted. The tension is palpable, and I wonder if he can feel it too.

“Hey,” he whispers. “I had to see you.”

He steps a little closer, and I instinctively take a small step back. I hate myself for doing it, but I can’t help it. Every inch of me is screaming to run in the other direction, to shut this whole thing down, but another part of me—one I can’t control—is begging for more.

Stellan notices, of course. He’s too perceptive, and I feel the weight of his gaze settle on me as he steps into my space, his presence overwhelming. “You’re nervous,” he says, his voice soft, almost teasing.

“Am I?” I manage to say, trying to play it cool, but I can’t hide the tremor in my voice.

He doesn’t answer right away, but there’s a slight smirk on his face, and it’s like he knows exactly what’s going on inside me. “Yeah,” he says finally. “I think you’re a little scared of what’s happening between us.”

I open my mouth to say something—anything—to push back, but no words come out. How does he always manage to know exactly what I’m thinking? I don’t know if I want him to stop reading me so easily, or if I want him to keep doing it.

He takes a step closer, closing the small distance I put between us. His hand slides gently to my back, pulling me into his orbit, and I feel the heat of him rush through me, all over again. The air between us is thick, charged, and I can’t breathe.

“Fiona,” he says, his voice so low it sends shivers down my spine. “I get that you’re scared. Hell, I am too. But I can’t keep pretending this is just for the cameras. What’s happening between us? It’s real. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words hang in the air, and for a moment, everything goes still. The only sound is our breathing, ragged and slow, as if we’re both holding back. My body feels like it’s vibrating, like I’m one second away from losing control.

I don’t want to be scared anymore. I want him. I’ve wanted him from the first moment I saw him, and now that he’s here, so close, I can’t deny it.

“Stellan,” I whisper, my voice barely a breath.

He takes a step forward, his lips grazing mine in the gentlest touch. I inhale sharply, feeling the heat of him seeping into my skin, igniting something in me. He pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes searching mine, and I can feel the weight of his gaze. I know what he wants. I want it too.

Before I can stop myself, I close the gap between us, my lips crashing against his. It’s sudden, overwhelming, and it feels like I’ve been holding my breath for too long. His lips are soft but demanding, coaxing mine open, and I let him in.

The kiss deepens almost instantly, and I feel his hands on my body, pulling me closer, as if he can’t get enough of me. The feeling is mutual. My hands find their way to his neck, tugging him even closer, trying to bring him into me like I’m afraid he might slip away.

I feel his breath, warm and ragged against my skin, as his hands slide down my back, pressing me against him. His body is hard, defined, and it only makes me want him more. My heart is pounding in my chest, but I don’t care. Nothing matters but the way his lips are moving against mine, the way his hands are exploring me, the way we’re both desperate for something we’re too scared to name.

“Fiona,” he mutters against my lips, his voice thick with desire. “God, you don’t know what you do to me.”

I gasp as he kisses me harder, his hands sliding up my sides, fingertips grazing the bare skin just beneath my shirt. I can’t think straight. All I can do is feel—his mouth, his hands, the way his body fits against mine.

I don’t know how long we stand there, tangled in each other, but it feels like a lifetime. His hands are everywhere, sliding beneath my shirt, his fingers brushing over my skin, and it’s like my body is on fire.

“Stellan,” I say breathlessly, pulling away just enough to look at him. “We shouldn’t...”

He doesn’t let me finish. He kisses me again, silencing my protests with his lips, his mouth desperate and insistent. His hands travel down to my waist, gripping me like he’s afraid I might pull away again. I don’t want to pull away. I don’t want this to stop.

But then, just as quickly as it started, the kiss breaks, and we’re both gasping for air. I can see the heat in his eyes, the desire still burning between us, and I know we’re both on the edge of something we’re not sure we’re ready for.

“Fiona,” he whispers, his forehead resting against mine, his voice strained. “I don’t know how to make this clear, but I’m not playing around with you. I’m in this. For real.”

I look at him, trying to steady my breath, and for the first time, I see the truth in his eyes. He’s not faking this. He really means it. And suddenly, everything is different. The weight of what’s between us feels real now, not just for the cameras or the media.

I don’t know what happens next. But for now, I know this much—I want him, and I can’t keep pretending that I don’t.