Chapter 5 The Spiral Begins

• The following night, Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change. Elias’s words still echoed in his mind, and the sting of them hadn’t faded. He had tried to distract himself by keeping busy, immersing himself in his work at the bar, but it was no use. Every moment that passed seemed to increase the pressure, the anticipation building like a storm on the horizon.
• Noah hadn’t expected Elias to come back so soon, but there he was, just as he had promised, walking into the club with that same air of indifference, his presence swallowing up the space. The crowd parted for him, as if they could sense the power emanating from him. Noah hated how natural it felt. It was like Elias had always belonged in the center of the room, drawing attention without even trying.
• He tried to ignore him, tried to focus on the drinks he was mixing and the customers he was serving. But his mind kept wandering back to Elias. The man’s words, his touch, the way he had made Noah feel like a puppet on a string, even though Noah was sure he never wanted to be controlled.
• But here he was, still thinking about Elias, still feeling the pull.
• “You’re not very good at pretending, are you?” came Elias’s voice, low and smooth, as he appeared next to Noah at the bar. The man was just as close as the night before, and the distance between them seemed to shrink with every word. Elias didn’t even need to touch him to make Noah feel it. His presence was enough.
• Noah gritted his teeth and turned to face him, forcing himself to meet Elias’s gaze. The man was smirking, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on Noah. “I don’t know what you mean,” Noah said, his voice as steady as he could manage, though he knew Elias could see through it.
• Elias leaned in, his face just inches from Noah’s, and for a moment, Noah was lost in the heat of him. The air between them was thick, charged, and Noah could feel the electricity of it crawling across his skin.
• “Oh, I think you do,” Elias said softly, his voice like velvet, wrapping around Noah’s mind. “You’ve been thinking about me. About us.” The last part was said with such quiet certainty that Noah’s heart stuttered in his chest.
• He opened his mouth to deny it, but the words got stuck in his throat. Instead, he found himself taking a step back, only to bump into the edge of the counter. He tried to steady himself, but his pulse was racing, and he hated the way Elias was making him feel.
• “I’m not playing games with you,” Noah said, his voice trembling slightly. He forced himself to look away, afraid of what might be in Elias’s eyes. The raw, possessive hunger that seemed to be a constant feature in them lately.
• Elias’s smirk only deepened, and he leaned back slightly, taking a moment to drink in the sight of Noah. “You don’t have to play games, Noah. You’re already in this. And you’re not getting out that easily.”
• Noah opened his mouth, ready to retort, but Elias wasn’t done. His hand shot out and grabbed Noah’s wrist, his fingers tightening just enough to make Noah’s breath catch. The firm, almost bruising pressure sent a jolt of heat through him, and he couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran down his spine.
• “Let go of me,” Noah said, his voice more strained than he intended. He tried to pull his arm back, but Elias didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled Noah closer, so close that their faces were nearly touching.
• “You want me to let go, but you don’t. Not really,” Elias whispered, his breath warm against Noah’s skin. The words, soft and commanding, had a weight to them that made Noah’s chest tighten. “You’ve wanted this for so long, and you’re just too scared to admit it.”
• Noah’s heart pounded in his chest, the mix of anger and something darker swirling inside him. He didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to feel the pull that Elias had on him. But the truth was undeniable. His body reacted to Elias’s proximity like it had a mind of its own.
• “I’m not yours,” Noah spat, trying to pull away again. This time, he managed to break free, stepping back quickly, his heart racing. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to feel this… attraction.
• Elias didn’t move, his smirk only widening as he regarded Noah with an expression that bordered on amusement. “You will be, Noah. You’ll see.”
• Noah clenched his fists, his whole body on edge. He wanted to yell, wanted to tell Elias to stay the hell away from him. But as he looked at Elias, there was a part of him that knew it wouldn’t matter. Elias wouldn’t stay away.
• He had made that clear.
• The night passed in a blur, and Noah did his best to keep his distance from Elias, but it was hard. Every time their eyes met across the bar, he felt a pull, a desire to go to him, to give in. But he couldn’t. Not yet.
• When the club finally began to empty out, Noah was exhausted, physically and emotionally. He had hoped Elias would leave with the rest of the crowd, but no such luck. Instead, Elias lingered, watching him with those unnervingly perceptive eyes.
• “Leaving already?” Elias’s voice was low, smooth, and insistent. Noah tensed, glancing up at him.
• “I’m closing up,” Noah replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.
• “Do you think I came here just for a drink?” Elias asked, his voice shifting into something darker, something more dangerous. He took a step closer to Noah, the distance between them almost nonexistent now.
• “No,” Noah said, his pulse quickening. “But I’m not interested.”
• Elias’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “We both know that’s a lie, Noah. You may not admit it, but I see it in your eyes. In the way your heart races when you’re near me. You want this.”
• Noah’s chest tightened. He couldn’t breathe. He could feel Elias’s eyes on him, drilling into him. He wanted to push him away, wanted to scream at him to leave, but the truth was far more complicated. Elias had already claimed so much of him, so much of his mind, his body, his heart.
• “I’m not your toy,” Noah said, but this time the words felt hollow. He was lying, and Elias knew it.
• Elias leaned in, his breath hot against Noah’s ear. “Not yet. But you will be.”
• Noah’s heart thundered in his chest, and for the first time,
• he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up this fight.