Chapter 5 5

Lena's POV

Rain drizzled over the city, blurring the streetlights into golden halos. The cold mist clung to my skin, but I barely felt it. Xavier stood in front of me, his expression raw in a way I had never seen before. The weight of his past pressed between us, heavy yet unspoken.

Wind swept through the riverside, sending a chill down my spine. I should have been shivering, but my body felt warm despite the cold. Xavier's confession from earlier still echoed in my head, looping like a haunting melody.

"You don't have to do this alone," I whispered, my voice barely carrying over the soft patter of rain.

Xavier's jaw clenched, his gaze flickering down before meeting mine again. "I don't know how to let you in."

Fingers curled into my palms, nails digging into my skin. The ache in his voice cut deeper than I expected.

"You don't have to have all the answers right now," I said, taking a step closer. "You just have to stop running."

A humorless chuckle escaped him, dark and bitter. "I've spent years running, Lena. It's the only thing I know."

Something inside me ached for him, for the boy he must have been before life hardened him into this man who wore his pain like armor.

"Then let's start with walking," I murmured.

Xavier's lips parted slightly, as if caught off guard by my words. Silence stretched between us, thick with something unspoken. Then, slowly, he nodded.

It wasn't a grand declaration or a promise of change. But it was something.

Xavier's POV

The rain soaked through my clothes, but I barely noticed. Lena stood before me, unwavering, waiting for me to make a choice.

For years, I had told myself that distance was safer. That keeping people at arm's length meant never feeling the sting of loss again. But looking at her now, I realized something terrifying- pushing her away hadn't lessened the fear. It had only made me feel more alone.

Fingers twitched at my sides. The instinct to pull back warred with the urge to reach for her.

Lena was patience and fire, softness and steel. I had spent so long convincing myself I didn't deserve that, but right now, standing in the rain with her, I wondered if I had been wrong all along.

"Come with me," I said, my voice lower than I intended.

Her brows lifted slightly. "Where?"

"Somewhere warm." The words came out rougher than I meant, but she didn't seem to mind.

Lena hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Okay."

The tension in my chest loosened, just a little. I reached for her hand, fingers brushing against hers, testing the contact. When she didn't pull away, I laced our fingers together. It felt foreign. Unfamiliar. But not unwelcome. Without another word, we left the river behind.

Lena's POV

Xavier's hand was warm against mine, a stark contrast to the cold night air. He didn't say much as we walked, but his grip remained firm, as if letting go wasn't an option.

Minutes later, we arrived at his penthouse. I had been here before, but tonight, everything felt different.

The moment the door shut behind us, a strange tension settled between us. The space around us seemed smaller, charged.

Xavier shrugged off his damp jacket, running a hand through his rain-slicked hair. "Do you want something to drink?"

Shaking my head, I stepped further inside, watching him. "Talk to me, Xavier."

He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Tell me what you're thinking."

A muscle in his jaw ticked. "I'm thinking that having you here feels... different."

My heart pounded. "Good different?"

His gaze held mine, unreadable. "Terrifying different."

The honesty in his voice made my breath hitch. "Why?"

Xavier stepped closer, his presence swallowing the space between us. "Because I want this. You. More than I should."

The air between us crackled. I swallowed hard, heart racing. "Then stop fighting it."

Fingers brushed against my cheek, hesitant yet deliberate. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.

"Lena..." My name was a whisper, almost reverent.

Heat coiled low in my stomach. My hands pressed against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.

No more running. No more walls.

I closed the distance, pressing my lips against his.

Xavier inhaled sharply but didn't pull away. His hands settled on my waist, fingers gripping me like I was something fragile yet necessary. The kiss deepened, slow and intoxicating, a quiet surrender.

A shudder ran through him when I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. The barriers he had built were still there, but for the first time, I felt them beginning to crack.

Xavier pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against mine. "You make me forget how to breathe."

A soft smile tugged at my lips. "Then I guess it's my job to remind you."

His eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering behind them. "Stay tonight."

The words sent a rush through me.

I nodded. "Okay."

Xavier exhaled, as if he had been holding his breath waiting for my answer. No more running. Not tonight.