Chapter 10 The Edge Of Obsession

• Noah hadn’t expected the storm to come so soon. The bar, which had always felt like his safe haven, was now a place where he felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of his own thoughts and Elias’s presence. Every corner of the room seemed to carry the ghost of Elias, and Noah couldn’t escape it. He could still feel the heat of Elias’s breath on his neck, the memory of the possessive kiss still lingering on his skin like a burn he couldn’t soothe.
• The days were a blur, each one bleeding into the next. He went through the motions—opening the bar, serving drinks, pretending like everything was normal. But every time his eyes flickered toward the door, he found himself holding his breath, waiting for Elias to walk in.
• And tonight, Elias was there.
• It was inevitable. Like the rising tide, the pull of Elias’s presence was unavoidable. Noah had tried to ignore it, tried to keep his distance, but it felt impossible. Elias was like a shadow, always lurking, always watching, waiting for the moment when Noah would finally give in. And Noah could feel it coming. He was getting closer to the edge, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
• When Elias walked in, the room seemed to shift, the air thickening with the weight of his presence. His eyes immediately locked onto Noah, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to disappear. It was just the two of them, a silent understanding between them, and Noah felt the familiar thrill and terror in his chest.
• Elias didn’t approach him immediately. He stood by the door, watching, his dark eyes never leaving Noah’s. It was like a game to him, a challenge, and Noah was already caught in the trap.
• Noah forced himself to look away, to focus on his work, but it was impossible to ignore Elias’s gaze. It burned through him, tugging at his every nerve, making his heart race with an unexplainable urgency. He couldn’t help it. Every time Elias was near, Noah felt himself slipping further into the darkness.
• As if on cue, Elias moved toward the bar, his steps slow, deliberate. There was no rush. He knew Noah couldn’t escape him. The man was a predator, and Noah was the prey. Elias’s eyes were dark, filled with a hunger that made Noah’s stomach twist. It wasn’t just desire; it was something more primal, something that made Noah feel both terrified and addicted.
• Noah tried to speak, to say something—anything—to break the silence, but the words caught in his throat. Elias was standing too close now, his presence too overwhelming. He could feel the heat radiating off the man, the tension thick in the air. It was suffocating.
• “You’re still running,” Elias said, his voice low and dangerous. There was an edge to his tone, something sharp, as if he was waiting for Noah to crack. “Still pretending like you can resist me.”
• Noah swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly. He hated how much Elias affected him, hated how powerless he felt. But despite the turmoil in his chest, he couldn’t bring himself to push Elias away. There was something magnetic about him, something that made Noah’s body respond before his mind could catch up.
• “I’m not running,” Noah said, but his voice lacked conviction. He knew it was a lie, just like the others. He was running. Running from the truth, from what was happening between them. But he couldn’t admit it. Not yet.
• Elias’s lips curled into a knowing smile, and he leaned closer, his breath warm against Noah’s ear. “You can keep pretending, but we both know the truth.”
• Noah’s heart raced as Elias’s fingers brushed against his neck, sending a jolt of electricity through his body. It wasn’t just the touch—it was the way Elias made him feel like he was unraveling, like he was losing control, piece by piece. It was terrifying, but it was also exhilarating in a way Noah couldn’t explain.
• “You think you can keep avoiding me?” Elias’s voice was a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade. “You think you can ignore this… us? You’re not strong enough to fight it, Noah.”
• Noah’s breath hitched, and he could feel his pulse in his throat. He wanted to push Elias away, wanted to tell him to leave, but there was a part of him—a dark, twisted part—that didn’t want him to. He couldn’t deny it anymore. Elias had a hold on him, a hold that was growing stronger with every passing moment.
• Elias’s hand slid to Noah’s jaw, tilting his face up so their eyes met. The intensity in Elias’s gaze was enough to make Noah feel exposed, laid bare for the world to see. He wanted to look away, to break the connection, but he couldn’t. He was frozen, caught in the trap Elias had set for him.
• “I told you,” Elias said, his voice filled with a dark satisfaction, “You’re mine. And you always will be.”
• Noah’s heart skipped a beat. The words stung, but there was a twisted part of him that wanted to believe them. He was already lost, already tangled in Elias’s web. There was no way out.
• For a moment, the bar seemed to fade away, the noise, the people—everything disappeared. It was just him and Elias, standing in the thick silence, the weight of their shared history pressing down on Noah’s chest like a vice.
• Elias didn’t wait for Noah to respond. He leaned in, his lips brushing against Noah’s in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was urgent, forceful, a claim, a demand. And Noah’s body responded, betraying him in ways he couldn’t stop. His hands gripped Elias’s shirt, pulling him closer, as if he could erase the distance between them, as if he could drown in the feeling of Elias’s touch.
• The kiss deepened, and Noah’s mind went blank. There was no room for thoughts, no space for resistance. It was just the two of them, locked together in a moment that felt like both a punishment and a reward. A part of Noah wanted to scream, to break free, but another part of him wanted to let go, to let Elias have control, to surrender to the overwhelming need that burned in his chest.
• When they finally pulled away, both were breathless, their lips swollen, their bodies trembling from the intensity of the kiss. Elias’s eyes were filled with dark satisfaction, as if he had just conquered something that had always been his.
• “You can fight this all you want,” Elias murmured, his voice hushed but filled with promise. “But you won’t win, Noah. Not this time.”
• Noah could only stand there, his mind reeling, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come. He was caught in Elias’s orbit, and there was no escape. Not now, not ever.
• Elias gave him one last, lingering look before he turned and walked away, leaving Noah standing there, breathless, lost in
• the aftermath of everything that had just happened.