Hamari & Eliana POV

  Hamari

  The silence held—longer than it should’ve.

  He wasn’t sure what to say next. Part of him didn’t want to say anything at all. Just stay there, in the calm. In her presence.

  But then it hit him.

  A bolt of pain—sharp, clean, alive.

  His shoulder seized suddenly, and his knees buckled under him. A gasp slipped out before he could catch it, and he dropped to the pavement.

  “Shit—” he hissed, clutching his arm.

  Before he could even process the fall, she was there.

  Eliana

  She didn’t think—she just moved.

  “Hamari!” she said, stumbling forward. Her heels clicked hard against the pavement as she dropped to his side, hands hovering. “Are you okay? Talk to me—hey—”

  “I’m good,” he gritted through clenched teeth, but his face betrayed him. His breath was shallow, jaw tense.

  She crouched beside him, one hand steadying his good arm, the other gently brushing his chest. “No, you’re not. Sit still. Just breathe, okay?”

  He nodded, closing his eyes.

  The pain quieted. Slowly. Bit by bit.

  And when he opened them again—she was there.

  Right there.

  Their faces just inches apart.

  Their eyes locked.

  Hamari

  She smelled like coconut.

  Soft. Sweet. Like summer and something safer than this parking lot. Something personal.

  His gaze roamed before he could stop it—from her lashes to the curve of her cheek, down to the line of her throat. And when his eyes drifted lower, his breath hitched.

  She was gorgeous.

  Even more up close. Not just beautiful—undeniable.

  And in that second, he wanted her.

  Not just physically. Not just in the shallow way people want what they see.

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  He wanted to know what her skin would feel like pressed against his chest.

  How she’d sound if she whispered something only for him.

  What it would mean to have her want him back.

  His hand moved—slow, respectful—toward her wrist.

  And then, he touched her.

  Just his good hand. Fingertips light but steady, resting softly on her arm.

  Eliana

  The moment his hand touched her skin, her whole body reacted.

  He wasn’t even trying to grab her. Just steady himself. But still—she felt it.

  The heat in his palm. The slight tremble under control. The weight of someone who’d spent years holding everything in.

  And underneath that—

  Desire.

  It pulsed through his fingers. She could feel it, quietly at first… then rising. Burning. Not loud or messy. But focused.

  Like she was the only thing it wanted.

  Her heartbeat picked up. She couldn’t help it. Her eyes flicked down to where his fingers pressed lightly into her arm — strong, steady, warm.

  His touch looked rigid, almost rough.

  But it was soft.

  That contrast — hard hands, gentle grip — made her chest flutter in ways she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  She didn’t move. Not yet.

  Because something in his eyes stopped her.

  They weren’t just looking.

  They were searching.

  She could see the want behind them, slow and rising. The pull. The craving. The restraint.

  She saw it—and it was all for her.

  That terrified her.

  That thrilled her.

  He leaned in.

  Eyes never leaving hers.

  Then a little more.

  His lips moved closer. Close enough to taste the air between them.

  And for a second—

  She almost let him.

  But then—

  She turned her head.

  Hamari

  His lips missed hers by barely an inch.

  He froze. “I—”

  “I’m not ready,” she said quickly, pulling back just a little—but not far. Her voice didn’t waver. “I don’t do that… not before I know someone. Not before a few dates. Before… trust.”

  He pulled his hand back immediately, afraid he’d crossed a line.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, breath low.

  But she wasn’t mad.

  Not even close.

  Eliana (continued, internal)

  Inside, she was fighting herself.

  Because God, he smelled good.

  That rich, clean sweat and something sharp. Masculine. Real. It hit her like gravity. Made her dizzy in the most unfair way. Like standing too close to something you know you shouldn’t touch—but can’t help needing to.

  Being near him again brought back a feeling she thought was gone — safety.

  It was faint. But it was still there.

  Weaker than before, but warm. Familiar.

  And she almost lost it when she saw the way his eyes locked on hers like nothing else mattered. Like she wasn’t just the most beautiful thing in the world—she was the only thing.

  It was addictive.

  And now that she was touching him — really touching him — she realized something else.

  His body was stronger than she imagined.

  Bigger. More defined.

  Her hand had settled across his chest without her realizing. His breath moved beneath it, slow and thick. His skin was solid, but beneath it… softness. Warmth.

  Something human beneath all the steel.

  She wanted to trace every edge. Learn every line. But she held herself still. Contained. Anchored.

  Because she was still scared.

  Still healing.

  Still figuring out how much of herself she was willing to give.

  So she stayed close… but didn’t cross.

  Not yet.

  Hamari

  He let out a long, quiet breath. Not frustration. Not disappointment.

  Just respect.

  He looked at her with care now. The wanting was still there—but the pace had changed.

  He adjusted slightly, still crouched beside her, still feeling the heat of her presence.

  Then, slowly, he reached for her hand.

  He brought it to his chest—right over his heart.

  Held it there.

  His gaze didn’t waver.

  “So hey,” he said, voice low but steady, like they were meeting for the first time.

  “My name’s Hamari Gabriel… and thanks for being here.”

  Then he smiled.

  Not the usual kind.

  Softer. Real.

  The kind that said he meant every word.

  And she felt it.

  Not just beneath her hand—

  But all the way through her.