Chapter 26 The Weight Of Desperation

• The days dragged on, each one blending into the next like a fog that Noah couldn’t escape. Every time he thought he could breathe, every time he convinced himself that he could escape Elias’s influence, it was as if the man had a way of drawing him back in, his presence like a magnetic force he couldn’t resist. Noah had always prided himself on his independence, on his ability to stand on his own two feet, but now? Now, he felt like a puppet, tethered by invisible strings that Elias controlled with ease.
• It wasn’t just the power that Elias wielded over him—though that alone was terrifying—it was the way Elias seemed to understand him in ways no one else ever had. There were times when Noah would be alone, his thoughts a whirlwind of anger and confusion, and in those moments, he could almost feel Elias’s presence hovering over him, like a shadow he couldn’t outrun.
• Noah was pacing the length of his apartment now, his mind racing. The image of Elias’s dark eyes, the intensity in his voice, everything about him was etched into Noah’s mind, haunting him. He had to admit, even to himself, that he was drawn to Elias, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. He wanted to hate the man, to push him away, but each time they collided, that desire grew stronger.
• There was something wrong with him, something twisted that he couldn’t quite name. His emotions were a jumbled mess, conflicting desires tearing him apart. He hated the control Elias had over him, but at the same time, he couldn’t deny that he craved it. It was suffocating, and yet he didn’t know how to live without it.
• The doorbell rang, pulling Noah from his spiraling thoughts. His heart skipped a beat. He didn’t need to answer the door to know who it was. Elias was always there, always waiting for the right moment to push his way into Noah’s life once more.
• Noah’s hands were shaking as he reached for the door handle, his mind a swirl of emotions. When he opened the door, Elias stood there, tall and imposing, his gaze locking onto Noah’s with a predatory intensity. There was something different about him today, a calmness that Noah couldn’t quite place.
• “Elias,” Noah said, his voice stiff. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he wasn’t prepared for what came next.
• Elias stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his presence filling the space like it always did. He didn’t speak right away, just stood there, watching Noah with that unreadable expression. Noah tried to keep his distance, but it was impossible. Every time Elias was near, it felt like the walls around him closed in, trapping him.
• “You’re angry with me,” Elias finally said, his voice low, almost contemplative.
• Noah clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m not angry with you,” he replied, though his words felt hollow even to him. “I’m angry with myself. For letting you get under my skin.”
• Elias didn’t flinch. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Noah’s. “You’re angry because you don’t want to feel what you’re feeling,” he said softly. “You don’t want to admit that, deep down, you crave the very thing you’re trying to run from.”
• Noah’s breath caught in his throat. He didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want Elias to see the cracks forming in his walls, but he knew it was too late. Elias had already seen them. He had already seen Noah for what he was—vulnerable, broken, and desperate.
• “I’m not like you,” Noah whispered, though the words sounded weaker with each passing second. “I don’t need someone to control me.”
• Elias’s lips curved into a smile, but it wasn’t the kind of smile that brought comfort. It was knowing, dark, as if he already had Noah figured out. “You think you don’t need me,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “But I know you better than you know yourself.”
• Noah opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t come. Elias was right. Every time he tried to pull away, he only found himself pulled back in, caught in the same twisted game.
• “You don’t understand,” Noah said, his voice breaking. “I don’t want this. I don’t want you controlling me.”
• Elias stepped even closer now, until they were inches apart. “You don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You never did.”
• The words hit Noah like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. There was no escape. He was already too far gone. The feeling of Elias’s presence, the weight of his words, was too much for Noah to fight off. He wanted to run, wanted to scream, but instead, he stood there, frozen, as Elias’s hand reached up to gently touch his cheek.
• The touch was light, almost tender, but it held a power Noah couldn’t deny. His heart raced, his body reacting to Elias’s proximity, even though every fiber of his being screamed for him to pull away. But he couldn’t.
• “I never wanted to control you,” Elias said quietly, his thumb brushing over Noah’s skin. “But you don’t leave me a choice. You keep pushing me, Noah. And when you do that, you only make it harder for both of us.”
• Noah’s chest tightened, his breathing shallow. It wasn’t just the physical proximity that was suffocating him—it was the way Elias’s words seemed to crawl under his skin, the way they dug into his soul.
• “I’m not your puppet,” Noah said, his voice hoarse, his eyes closing to block out the way Elias’s touch made his heart ache.
• “No, you’re not,” Elias agreed, his hand sliding down Noah’s jaw. “But you’re mine. Whether you want to admit it or not, we’re bound together. And that’s something neither of us can change.”
• Noah opened his eyes, meeting Elias’s gaze. There was a challenge in Elias’s eyes, a dark certainty that sent a shiver down Noah’s spine. It was impossible to ignore. The pull was undeniable, and though he hated it, he couldn’t stop it.
• “I don’t want this,” Noah whispered again, but the words felt weak, futile against the reality that was beginning to settle in.
• Elias leaned in, his lips brushing against Noah’s ear. “I know,” he whispered, his voice like a promise. “But you’ll want it. Eventually.”
• Noah’s heart was pounding in his chest, his thoughts a mess of contradictions. He hated Elias for the control he had, for the way he made Noah feel so helpless. But deep down, in the deepest, darkest part of his soul, Noah knew the truth. He had already given in. And there was no going back.
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