Tangled in Temptation

Eva stepped out of the elevator, the soft chime of the doors closing behind her echoing through the stillness of her penthouse. The space was an elegant, serene masterpiece—sleek lines, modern art, and soft lighting. But the luxury didn’t bring her peace tonight. No, her mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of him.

She took a moment to breathe it all in—the expanse of the city spread out before her, the golden light casting long shadows on the polished marble floors. The view from her floor-to-ceiling windows was breathtaking, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were still tangled in memories of him.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked into the spacious, high-ceilinged living room, the sound far too sharp, too loud. Eva’s fingers grazed the edge of the counter as she dropped her briefcase with a casual thud, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of his presence. There was none.

She could almost still feel him, though—his warmth lingering in the air, the weight of his body on the bed, his hands, his breath. She swallowed, pushing the thought away. Focus.

Where is he?

"Marie," she called, her voice cool, controlled, yet with an edge of something almost—hungry.

Marie looked up from where she was straightening up near the hallway, her eyes flickering with that quiet knowing smile she always wore. She was the type who saw everything, but never said a word. "He left early this morning, Ms. Sinclair," she replied with impeccable politeness.

Eva blinked, half-expecting some answer that would make her feel better, but it didn’t come. Of course, he did. The boy was a runner. She had known from the moment they met that he wouldn’t stay. He wasn’t built for this—this world—but she hadn’t expected him to leave so fast.

She forced a laugh, but it was brittle. “He’s not the type to linger in a place like this,” she said to herself, the words more an observation than a judgment.

Marie nodded, moving on with her task. But Eva’s mind was already elsewhere. Her gaze drifted toward the hallway that led to her bedroom.

Damn him.

Her heels clicked again as she walked down the corridor, the sound a rhythmic echo that matched the hammering of her pulse. There was something raw, something unpredictable about Finn, something that made her—something dangerous in that innocence, that inexperience.

Eva's lips curled into a smile, a slow, self-satisfied smile. She had wanted him to stay, but she hadn’t expected him to. The thrill of the chase was everything. Wasn’t it?

She pushed open the bedroom door, and her gaze swept over the space. Everything was pristine, in its place. The bed was made, the sheets smooth, the pillows fluffed just so. No sign of him—no hint that he'd been there at all.

Her hand hovered over the edge of the bed, her fingers grazing the crisp sheets where he had been. Gone.

A tightness in her chest surprised her, but she quickly pushed it down, swallowing the feeling like a bitter pill. It was nothing. Just the remnants of a night—an indulgence, nothing more.

Her voice was a whisper in the stillness, more to herself than anything. “No goodbye. Just… gone.”

She laughed softly. Too softly.

But I don’t mind that.

She kicked off her heels with a swift motion, her body moving toward the window, drawn by the city lights below. The glass was cold beneath her fingertips, but she relished the chill, the sharp contrast to the heat still running through her veins.

She looked out at the skyline—the towers, the streetlights, the shadows stretching like fingers. This was her domain. Every inch of this city was hers to control. But Finn...

Her fingers found the diamond pendant at her neck, her thumb tracing the edge. The cool stone slid between her fingers, a counterpoint to the fire she was feeling inside. She let out a slow breath. Did he feel it, too? That pull?

She chuckled softly, low and knowing.

“He won’t be able to stay away.”

The thought of Finn—his body, his mouth, his scent—shot through her. She could still taste him, feel the heat of their night together, the way he had moved beneath her, the way he had finally given in. That passion. That hunger. The way he had looked at her like she was everything he wanted, even if he didn’t understand it.

But now, he was gone.

Still, she wasn’t worried. Not yet. The game wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Eva turned away from the window, her body moving with quiet confidence, the room almost vibrating with her presence. She was in control. Always in control.

“I’ll be here,” she murmured to the empty room, her voice soft, but with a quiet power that lingered in the air. “Waiting for you to come back.”

Her smile deepened, turning predatory. Her eyes gleamed with an intensity that could’ve cut glass. He’ll come back. And when he does—she would have him exactly where she wanted him.

“I’ll give him a few days. Just enough time for him to think he’s free.” Her voice lowered, almost coaxing. “Let him savor that taste of freedom while it lasts.”

Her lips curled, the smile now a perfect mix of satisfaction and menace.

She walked toward the door, pausing just before she left the room.

“Have fun, Finn,” she whispered. “But it won’t last long. When you come back, you’ll be mine. All of you.”

Her heels clicked against the floor as she left, the sound echoing behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know that, deep down, Finn had already crossed the line. He would come back.

Eva felt a chill of satisfaction run through her. She was never wrong.