Chapter 3 The Unwanted Connection

• Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Ever since Elias had walked into the bar last night, he had been unable to focus. The words Elias had said, that soft yet biting smile, were all he could think about. And worse, the damn pull he felt toward him—something deep, dark, and magnetic.
• It had been a restless night. His bed had felt colder than usual, empty. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a night free from the weight of Elias’s presence. The man had invaded his thoughts, his body. And no matter how hard Noah tried to push him away, it didn’t work.
• He found himself distracted as he worked, the rhythmic sound of glass clinking against the bar a faint background to his inner turmoil. He tried to immerse himself in the noise of the club, the chatter, the hum of music that usually served as a comfort. But tonight, it was different. It grated on his nerves. Every sound seemed to amplify, as if the universe was forcing him to confront the feelings he was trying so hard to ignore.
• Elias’s face kept flashing in his mind, his penetrating gaze, his self-assured smirk, and worst of all, that kiss. Noah squeezed his eyes shut, trying to erase the memory. But it was too late. He could still feel the heat of it, the way Elias had taken control without asking, the way his lips had commanded Noah’s to respond, no matter how much he wanted to fight it.
• The sound of the door opening shattered his thoughts, and he knew—without even needing to turn around—who it was.
• The familiar air of cold, calculated power swept through the room, even before Elias entered. The room shifted, people unconsciously giving way as Elias made his way through the crowd. Noah clenched his jaw, refusing to acknowledge the wave of discomfort that rolled through him. It wasn’t about Elias. It wasn’t about the way he dominated the space, the way his very presence seemed to drown out everyone else.
• But it was. It was all about Elias.
• “You really have no shame, do you?” Noah muttered under his breath, keeping his back turned as he wiped down a glass. His voice was cool, laced with something he couldn’t quite identify.
• Elias’s laughter, low and almost mocking, reached Noah’s ears. “Shame is for people who have something to lose.” His voice was smooth, a little too confident, a little too at ease. “And I don’t.”
• Noah gritted his teeth but refused to look up, trying to bury the fact that he could hear the arrogance in Elias’s voice, feel the weight of it in his chest. His fingers tightened around the cloth he was holding, but he didn’t turn to face him just yet. If he did, he knew he would be lost.
• “Why are you here?” Noah asked, his voice controlled but tinged with a challenge.
• Elias didn’t respond immediately. Noah could feel him standing there, could sense the intensity of his gaze as it locked on him, and he refused to let himself feel self-conscious about it. He kept his head down, pretending to be immersed in his work, even though the intensity of Elias’s presence made it nearly impossible.
• “I’m here for a drink,” Elias said simply, his voice far too casual.
• Noah’s eyes flickered to the side, still refusing to make eye contact. “You could’ve gone anywhere else. Why here?”
• Elias’s laugh was soft, almost smug. “Because you’re here.”
• Noah’s heart skipped a beat, but he masked it well. “I’m just doing my job.”
• Elias stepped closer, his cologne—a dark, rich scent—surrounding Noah, creating a personal space that was impossible to ignore. Noah’s breath hitched involuntarily, and he cursed himself for it. Why the hell did this man have such an effect on him?
• “Noah,” Elias said, his tone far too intimate, far too knowing. “We both know it’s not just about your job.”
• Noah froze for a moment, his hand pausing in mid-air as he set a glass back down. His mind raced, trying to push away the unease that crawled up his spine. He could feel Elias’s presence looming over him, his proximity electric.
• “I’m not your type,” Noah said, trying to sound confident, but his voice cracked slightly, betraying him. He turned back to the bar and took a deep breath.
• Elias didn’t immediately respond, and for a moment, Noah thought maybe he had said something that had made Elias back off. But then, he felt it. The subtle shift in the air—the way Elias’s presence intensified as he leaned in, closing the distance between them.
• “Noah,” Elias said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, so quiet it was almost dangerous. “We both know that’s not true.”
• Noah felt his heart hammer in his chest, the words hanging between them like a challenge. The raw confidence in Elias’s voice made Noah’s skin prickle. He refused to acknowledge the way his body responded to Elias’s closeness. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t let himself fall into this, into the web Elias was weaving so effortlessly around him.
• He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that was clouding his judgment. “Don’t do this,” Noah said, quieter this time, his words a plea he hadn’t meant to say out loud. He turned his back to Elias, desperately trying to steady himself. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to be caught up in whatever game Elias was playing.
• Elias’s chuckle was low, almost predatory. “Don’t do what, Noah? Deny it? You can’t.”
• Noah could feel Elias’s eyes on him, boring into his back as he remained silent. The pull—the attraction—was undeniable. It was like gravity, pulling him closer with every word, every move Elias made. It scared him. And yet, it excited him.
• “You’re avoiding me,” Elias said after a beat, his voice no longer playful but serious, filled with an unspoken promise. “But you can’t hide forever.”
• Noah’s body tensed, the words sinking in, settling deep in his chest. He turned, and Elias was right there, just a few inches away. He could feel the heat radiating off him, the steady beat of his pulse, the raw energy that seemed to vibrate between them.
• “You’ll come back to me,” Elias said, almost a whisper. It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t a plea. It was a statement. A promise.
• Noah’s throat went dry. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want Elias in his life, didn’t want to fall into this dangerous spiral of lust, of emotional chaos. But it was too late. The connection was already there, burning hot and dangerous, and there was no way to extinguish it.
• Before Noah could gather his thoughts, Elias straightened up, pulling away and walking toward the door. His casual indifference made Noah’s chest tighten with something he couldn’t name.
• “I’ll be back tomorrow night,” Elias called over his shoulder as he exited the club, his voice lingering in the air.
• Noah was left standing there, feeling the weight of Elias’s words like an anchor pulling him down. He closed his eyes, trying to center himself, but it was no use. He was already in too deep.
• He could feel the pull—the pull of Elias’s dark world, of his dominance, of his power. And somehow, Noah knew, he wasn’t going to be able to resist for much longer.