Page 205 of The Bittersweet Bond

Rediscovering Rhythm

Evin

The days following the party flew by. Evin’s world, which had felt like uncontrollable chaos for months, suddenly seemed to fall into place. It was as if she'd rediscovered her rhythm, carrying her through everyday life and making her stronger with each step.

Her training was better than ever. Each day when she tied her pointe shoes and stepped in front of the mirror, her movements became sharper, her leaps higher, and her lifts with Rafael finally smoother. And every time she left the theater, Bas was there. Always. With his crooked smile and a comment that either drove her crazy or made her heart beat faster.

"There's that frown again," he remarked one evening when she met him outside the ballet studio, his eyes deliberately scanning her face.

"What frown?" She frowned automatically.

"That one. Exactly that." He grinned with satisfaction at her annoyed stare. "Careful, you might stop looking attractive to me."

"If we ever reach that point, you should be careful I don't just go find the next hot guy," she replied dryly, though she couldn't stop the tiny smile playing at her lips.

Yet these moments, as lighthearted and carefree as they seemed, were surrounded by invisible walls—barriers they could only cross when his father wasn't home.

Those evenings they often spent together, sometimes at his place, sometimes at hers. Their conversations became deeper and more intimate. Evin shared her fears about the performance, and Bas, who was never short of words, just listened. Sometimes it wasn't what he said, but simply his presence that made everything feel okay.

One night, she carefully slipped into his house. The vast mansion felt almost intimidatingly empty, but she felt safe the moment she stepped into his room. Bas was already lying on his bed, as if he'd been waiting half the night for her.

“You’re late,” he said quietly, his gaze cool.

“It’s not that easy to sneak in here, you know?” She closed the door behind her, stepping closer as his eyes followed every move she made.

“Then let me show you exactly why it's worth the effort,” he replied softly.

She landed atop him, her laughter muffled as his lips immediately claimed hers. It wasn't a gentle, cautious kiss—it was wild, hungry, as if he hadn't kissed her all week. He rolled her beneath him, his hands firm against her sides, his body pinning her in place as he explored her neck with heated kisses.

The way he looked at her made her pulse race—dark, hungry, possessive, as if in his mind she was already completely his.

“You know I’m fucking crazy about you, right?” His voice was raw, deep, vibrating in the space between them. She could only nod, unable to find words.

"Yeah," she whispered quietly, still withholding the words that burned on her lips. Somehow she felt Bas enjoyed this dance of suggestion and uncertainty, and he consistently confirmed her suspicions.

He kissed her again, hot and demanding, his tongue parting her lips as his hands pressed firmly into her sides. His weight pinned her in place, leaving her feeling helpless beneath him.

For a fleeting moment, old memories surfaced—memories of a time she'd been defenseless, held down by someone else. Evin quickly pushed those voices aside; she refused to let them control her.

Still, there was this fleeting thought, this quiet realization: against a truly determined man, she'd stand no chance. But this… this was different. Bas was different. His weight wasn't a threat—it was safety. His proximity didn't signify danger but protection.

Yet, deep down, there was another voice—a voice she'd begun to acknowledge. It wasn't fearful; rather, it was drawn to the darkness within Bas, to the dominance in his touch, and to the thrill of completely surrendering. It was exactly this shadow that enticed her, lured her in, pulling her willingly into its orbit—a dangerous, tempting fascination.

She enjoyed this darkness, the superiority in his touch, the sense of surrendering entirely to him. It was this shadow that attracted her, tempting her into his embrace.

His lips traveled down her neck, leaving hot trails of fire across her skin. She gasped as he gently bit at the sensitive spot above her collarbone—just enough pain to excite her, but never too much.

“You drive me insane,” he murmured against her skin, his hands following the curve of her waist, gripping tighter as though ensuring she couldn't escape. “Every moment without you makes me feel like I'm losing my fucking mind.”

His words were raw, almost desperate, but there was a powerful, controlled authority in his voice that sent shivers down her spine. His hand slid upward suddenly, wrapping lightly around her throat—not hard, just firm enough to make her feel utterly vulnerable, utterly his. Heat spread like wildfire through her body, igniting every nerve ending.

“I’m not imagining this, am I?” he murmured, his thumb gently stroking the delicate skin of her throat.

Evin was about to speak—but chose silence instead. Instead, she closed her eyes, surrendering fully to the sensation, to the way his grip made her feel exposed and safe at once.

His hand stayed there, exerting just enough pressure to heighten her sense of vulnerability, as his other hand firmly gripped her hip, pulling her even closer.

"Do you love me?" he whispered softly against her lips, his words both commanding and gentle at once.

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