CHAPTER 13 — "THE KISS WE COULDN'T AVOID"
Elias barely slept that night.
He lay awake staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment outside the library—
the way Lena's breath had mingled with his,
the way she whispered *"Then do it,"*
the way he almost gave in.
His body still felt the echo of her warmth.
His mind repeated one torturous truth:
*If anyone had walked around that corner two seconds earlier… everything could have collapsed.*
He told himself he had stopped in time.
He told himself he had done the right thing.
But stopping had hurt more than giving in.
---
## **Lena: Growing Bolder**
Lena didn't sleep much either.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the electric closeness of Elias's mouth near hers, the trembling restraint in his hands, the unspoken promises in his breath.
She knew now—without doubt—that he wanted her.
Not in a passing way.
Not in a cautious way.
In a way he couldn't control.
And that knowledge made her braver.
More certain.
More hungry for honesty.
She had lived her whole life apologizing for wanting too much.
But not anymore.
She refused to be passive with him.
Not when they both knew the truth.
---
## **Jealousy Sparks the First Real Fight**
Two days later, Lena went to the café near campus to study.
Elias had recommended the place to her months ago.
Quiet. Warm. Good light.
She wasn't expecting him to be there.
She certainly wasn't expecting him to be sitting with another woman.
She froze in the doorway.
The woman was laughing.
Elias was talking politely, not warmly—but still.
Someone else was laughing with him.
Someone else was leaning slightly toward him.
Lena's body went cold-hot all at once.
She tried to walk out quietly, but Elias saw her.
"Lena?"
His voice—soft, familiar—made the woman turn to look.
Lena forced a neutral smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You're not interrupting," Elias said quickly. Too quickly.
The woman raised a brow. "A student of yours?"
"Yes," he said. Avoiding Lena's eyes.
Something inside Lena stung.
"You don't have to explain," Lena said stiffly.
"I was just leaving."
She turned and walked out without waiting.
Elias stood up immediately.
"Excuse me," Lena heard him say to the woman.
She walked faster.
Her pulse loud in her ears.
He caught up to her outside.
"Lena. Wait."
She didn't.
He gently grabbed her wrist—not hard, just enough to stop her.
That small touch unraveled her anger into something more raw.
She turned sharply.
"What?" she snapped.
Elias looked startled.
He wasn't used to her sharp edges.
"Are you upset?" he asked cautiously.
"No," she lied.
"Lena…"
"I don't care who you talk to."
"That wasn't—"
"And I don't need updates about your personal life," she said, louder than she meant to.
He flinched.
She immediately felt guilty but couldn't stop the flood.
"Do you know how it feels," she whispered, voice cracking, "to want someone you can't touch… and then see them smiling with someone else?"
His face softened into something pained.
The anger in her voice broke into something fragile and exposed.
"I know we're nothing official. I know you're trying to be careful. I know you're protecting me. But Elias—"
Her voice trembled.
"It still hurts."
Elias exhaled sharply—as if her words pierced straight through him.
He stepped closer.
"Lena," he said quietly, "she's a colleague. A favor. Nothing more. Nothing even remotely close to what you think."
"Then why didn't you say that?" she demanded.
"Because you walked out before I could."
She opened her mouth to argue, but he continued:
"And even if she were interested—"
His voice dropped to a low, fierce softness.
"I wouldn't want her."
Her breath caught.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"I wouldn't want anyone else."
The jealousy dissolved instantly—replaced by heat and heartbreak and longing.
"Elias…"
He cupped her cheek very gently—his thumb brushing away a tear she didn't realize had fallen.
"I hate that I hurt you," he whispered.
"You didn't—"
"I did. I saw it in your eyes."
She swallowed, unable to lie anymore.
"I don't want you with anyone else."
His jaw tightened, eyes darkening—not with anger, but with a sudden, overwhelming desire.
He whispered:
"You don't have to."
---
## **The Boundary Finally Shatters**
For a moment, they just breathed—
close, trembling, wanting.
Then Elias whispered something that changed everything:
"I tried so hard to hold back…"
His forehead rested against hers again.
Their breaths synced.
Her hands slid up his chest—slow, trembling, asking permission.
He let out a low sound—half restraint, half surrender.
"Elias…" she whispered. "Let me in."
His breathing faltered.
"Lena… if I kiss you—"
"I want you to."
"I won't be able to pretend after."
"Good."
His composure snapped.
Completely.
He grabbed her face gently but firmly, pulling her in—
not rushed,
not desperate,
but with weeks of longing breaking all at once.
Their lips met.
Soft at first.
Testing.
Terrified.
Then deeper.
Warmer.
Everything they'd held back spilling into the space between them.
She felt his restraint melt under her touch.
He kissed her like he had been starving for her.
Slow.
Then not slow.
Careful.
Then not careful at all.
Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer.
His hand slid to the back of her neck, guiding her into him.
He murmured her name against her lips like a confession.
"Lena…"
She whispered his back.
"Elias…"
The kiss felt like relief.
Like fire.
Like gravity finally winning.
When they finally broke apart—breathing hard, foreheads pressed together—he whispered:
"We crossed the line."
She smiled softly.
"No," she said.
"We just stopped lying."
He let out a shaky laugh and pulled her into his chest.
And in that moment—
in his arms,
breathing the same air,
hearts racing with truth—
nothing felt forbidden anymore.
Nothing felt wrong.
Everything felt inevitable.