Chapter 24 The Shattered Mask

• Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed after that moment. Elias’s grip on him, both physically and emotionally, had deepened, and no matter how much he tried to deny it, Noah could feel it. There was no turning back. The invisible chains that Elias had wrapped around him were tightening with each passing day, and Noah was struggling to keep his head above water.
• He had tried to ignore the feelings, tried to bury the desire that burned in his chest every time Elias was near. But every time their eyes met, every time Elias touched him, those feelings only grew stronger, more consuming.
• The sound of the elevator dinging broke Noah’s reverie. He froze, his heart jumping into his throat. He knew who it was even before the door opened.
• Elias stepped into the room, as tall and imposing as ever. His eyes, dark and unreadable, scanned the room before landing on Noah. The air between them was thick, charged with an unspoken tension that made Noah’s skin prickle. He didn’t want to face Elias, didn’t want to look into those eyes that always seemed to hold so many secrets. But he couldn’t escape the pull of his presence.
• “What do you want?” Noah asked, trying to sound more composed than he felt. His heart was still racing from their previous encounter, and every part of him wanted to run. But running wasn’t an option, not anymore.
• Elias didn’t answer right away. He walked toward Noah, each step purposeful and slow, like a predator closing in on its prey. Noah took a step back instinctively, his mind screaming for him to fight back, to break free from the suffocating atmosphere that Elias always seemed to create. But his legs felt weak, his body betraying him once again.
• “Nothing,” Elias finally said, his voice calm, almost too calm. “I just wanted to see you.”
• Noah raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the unease that was creeping up his spine. “See me?” he repeated. “For what?”
• “For this,” Elias answered, his hand reaching out toward Noah with slow, deliberate movements.
• Noah’s heart pounded in his chest as Elias’s fingers grazed his cheek. The touch was light, but it sent a surge of warmth through his body, a heat that made his knees feel weak. He wanted to pull away, to reject the feeling, but the more he tried to resist, the stronger the pull became.
• “No, Elias,” Noah said, his voice shaking slightly. “Stop. I told you, I don’t belong to you.”
• Elias didn’t listen. Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against Noah’s ear as he whispered, “You can say it as many times as you want, but it doesn’t change the truth. You belong to me, Noah. You’ve always belonged to me.”
• Noah’s breath hitched, his pulse racing faster. He didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to admit that Elias had some kind of hold over him that he couldn’t explain. But every time Elias touched him, every time their bodies were close, Noah felt the truth of those words deep in his bones.
• “No,” Noah whispered, more to himself than to Elias. “I don’t belong to you.”
• Elias’s smile was dark, predatory. “We’ll see about that.”
• Before Noah could react, Elias’s hand slid down to his waist, pulling him closer with a force that left Noah no space to breathe. The air between them crackled, thick with desire and tension. Noah wanted to fight, wanted to push Elias away, but his body betrayed him, leaning into the touch, craving more. It was like a battle he couldn’t win, a war inside him that he didn’t know how to fight.
• “Stop this,” Noah breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please.”
• Elias’s grip tightened, and he tilted Noah’s chin up, forcing their gazes to meet. His eyes were dark, almost possessive, and Noah could see the fire burning in them. “You think you can push me away, but you’re wrong,” Elias said, his voice low and commanding. “You need me, Noah. You always have.”
• Noah’s mind spun, his heart pounding in his chest. The words echoed in his mind, the weight of them heavy and suffocating. He wanted to deny it, wanted to fight back, but deep down, he knew that Elias was right. There was a part of him that needed Elias, a part of him that couldn’t escape the hold the man had on him.
• “Why are you doing this?” Noah whispered, his voice breaking. He couldn’t understand it. Why did Elias continue to torment him like this, pushing him to the edge, making him feel things he couldn’t control?
• Elias’s expression softened, just slightly, though the intensity in his eyes never wavered. “Because I’m the only one who truly understands you, Noah,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost tender. “I know what you need, even if you don’t.”
• Noah shook his head, a tear slipping down his cheek before he could stop it. “I don’t need you,” he whispered hoarsely.
• Elias’s thumb brushed away the tear, his touch gentle but possessive. “You do,” he said softly. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
• Noah’s mind was reeling, his emotions a tangled mess. He wanted to push Elias away, wanted to escape from the suffocating grip he had on his life. But every part of him—every instinct, every feeling—was telling him to stay. To give in. To accept the undeniable pull that Elias had over him.
• “I can’t do this,” Noah whispered, his voice barely audible.
• Elias’s eyes softened for a moment, a flicker of something vulnerable passing through them. But then, just as quickly, the hardness returned, the mask he wore slipping back into place.
• “You already are,” Elias replied, his voice dark, almost sad. “You’ve been doing this from the moment we met, Noah.”
• The words hit Noah like a punch to the gut. He wanted to argue, to tell Elias that he was wrong, that he could still escape, still break free. But the truth was, he wasn’t sure anymore. The more he tried to distance himself, the more Elias pulled him in. And somewhere, deep inside, he wondered if he even wanted to escape.
• Elias stepped back, his expression unreadable once more. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to accept it,” he said quietly, his gaze never leaving Noah’s.
• Noah stood there, frozen, watching as Elias turned and walked away. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, frustration, desire, confusion. But one thing was certain: he wasn’t free. Not now. Not ever.
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