Chapter 2 2

Lena's POV

Sleep had been a fleeting thing, my mind replaying every word, every flicker of emotion in his stormy-blue eyes before he walked away.

Coffee brewed in the kitchen, filling the space with its familiar, comforting scent. Wrapping my hands around the warm mug, I leaned against the counter, staring at the dark liquid like it held the answers I needed.

Xavier Sinclair was an enigma. One moment, he pulled me close, his gaze dark with something raw and unspoken. The next, he pushed me away with words meant to wound.

The worst part? I let him.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. Heart hammering, I set the mug down and moved toward the entrance. For a ridiculous second, I hoped-wanted it to be him.

It wasn't.

"Lena, hey," Nathan greeted, his easy smile in place. "I figured you might need some caffeine after last night." He held up a second coffee cup, and guilt immediately coiled in my stomach.

Nathan was a good guy. Reliable, charming, the kind of man who made life simple. And yet, he didn't make my pulse race the way a single look from Xavier did.

Forcing a smile, I stepped aside. "Come in."

Nathan walked past me, setting the coffee on the counter. "You disappeared on me last night." He glanced over his shoulder, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Everything okay?"

Lying would be easy. Telling him Xavier had nothing to do with my sudden departure would save me from admitting just how much control that infuriating man had over me.

"I ran into someone," I said carefully, avoiding his gaze.

"Let me guess." He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Xavier?"

The weight of his name pressed against my chest. "It doesn't matter."

Nathan sighed, shaking his head. "It does if he keeps messing with your head."

Something bitter rose in my throat. "He's not."

"Lena." His voice softened. "I know you think there's something worth saving there, but Sinclair isn't the type to change. He's been like this for years."

A dull ache settled in my chest. Nathan wasn't wrong. Xavier was cold, guarded, and impossibly frustrating. But there were moments-brief, fleeting seconds-where I saw the man beneath the armor. And that was the man I wasn't ready to walk away from.

Nathan's phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, he muttered a curse before pushing off the counter. "I've got to head out, but promise me something?"

"What?"

"Don't let him break you." His eyes searched mine, and for a second, I saw something there-something deeper than concern.

He didn't wait for an answer. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with thoughts I didn't want to face.

Xavier's POV

The punching bag swung violently, absorbing the force of my blows. Sweat dripped down my back, muscles burning with the need for distraction. It didn't work. Lena was still in my head.

The way her green eyes had burned with frustration last night, the way her voice had trembled-not with fear, but with something closer to disappointment. I had done that. Pushed her away..Hurt her.

The gym was mostly empty this early in the morning. Just a few regulars, lost in their own workouts. Slamming my fist into the bag one last time, I exhaled sharply and stepped back.

"Still trying to fight off your demons?"

The voice came from behind me, dry and amused. Turning, I found Ethan leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He was one of the few people who knew me well enough to see through my bullshit.

"Something like that," I muttered, grabbing a towel.

Ethan snorted. "Let me guess. This has to do with Lena?"

Tension stiffened my spine. "It's complicated."

"It's not." He pushed off the wall, studying me with knowing eyes. "You want her. She wants you. The only thing in your way is your damn pride."

A bitter laugh left my lips. "It's not pride."

"Then what is it?"

Silence stretched between us.

Ethan sighed. "Look, man. You can keep pretending you don't care, keep pushing her away, but at some point, she's going to stop chasing you."

The thought sent a sharp spike of something unwelcome through my chest.

"Figure it out," he said, clapping me on the shoulder before walking off.

I stayed there for a long time, staring at the ground, heart pounding with the truth I didn't want to face.

Lena's POV

By the time I made it to work, the tension in my shoulders hadn't eased. The office was already buzzing with energy, phones ringing, conversations humming in the background.

"Morning, Lena."

Emily, my assistant, greeted me with a bright smile, holding out a stack of papers. "You've got a meeting in an hour, and Mr. Sinclair requested to see you."

The papers nearly slipped from my grip. "He what?"

"Xavier Sinclair." She raised a brow. "Said it was important."

My pulse spiked. This wasn't normal. Xavier didn't seek me out-he avoided me.

Forcing a calm nod, I took the papers and headed to my office. Minutes ticked by, my mind running in circles until a knock at the door had my heart lurching.

Xavier stepped inside, his presence consuming the space instantly. Dressed in his usual dark suit, his tie slightly loosened, he looked both controlled and reckless all at once.

"You wanted to see me?" I kept my voice steady, pretending his sudden appearance didn't set my nerves on edge.

His gaze swept over me, unreadable. "We need to talk."

I crossed my arms. "About what?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Last night."

Something hot and electric crackled in the air between us.

"What about it?"

His lips parted, but whatever he was about to say never came. Instead, he exhaled, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident.

"I don't know how to do this, Lena." His voice was quiet, almost raw.

The confession knocked the breath from my lungs.

"I don't know how to be what you need," he continued, stepping closer, his scent wrapping around me like a dangerous promise. "But I can't stay away from you."

Fingers trembled at my sides. "Then stop pushing me away."

His hand lifted, hovering inches from my cheek before he dropped it, retreating once more. "I'm trying to protect you."

Anger flared. "From what? Yourself?"

His silence was answer enough.

Tears burned the back of my throat, but I refused to let them fall. "You don't get to make that choice for me, Xavier."

He stared at me, something broken flickering behind his gaze. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there with a heart that ached for a man who refused to let himself be loved.