Page 77 of The Bittersweet Bond

What is he even doing here?

So there he was, serious, wearing that faintly possessive look—like he had the right to care. Did he actually think she was drunk?Ridiculous. Her head was perfectly clear—she had ballet training the next morning, something he obviously knew nothing about.

She sipped the water slowly, her eyes locked on his, enjoying the faint tingle his presence sent through her. It was strange how he could still feel so close, even though she’d done everything to move past him. And now, here he was, so nonchalantly inserting himself into her space, stirring emotions she’d tried to bury. Yet, no matter how much it unsettled her, a quiet thrill curled in her chest.

The hint of a playful challenge glimmered in her smile as she set the glass down. “Happy?” she asked softly, her tone laced with a subtle irony. A spark danced in her eyes, betraying how much she relished unbalancing him—just a little. But before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked back to Sergej, who waited patiently as if Bas’s arrival had done nothing to rattle her composure.

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Sebastian

Before Bas could think twice, his hand wrapped around her wrist, the rapid pulsebeneath his fingers betraying her calm exterior. “Don’t go,” he said, his voice harder than he intended—almost possessive.

Evin turned to him, her eyes sharp, searching for answers in his expression, which only fueled his frustration. “Why not?” Her voice was calm, but provocatively so.

Something dark and fiery ignited inside him. “Because I said so,” he shot back, his gaze unwavering, his grip firm. “Who is he? And what do you want with him?”

She scoffed softly, that mocking glint in her eyes nearly driving him over the edge. “Since when do you care?”

He pulled her closer, so close he could catch the faint scent of her perfume and feel the slight tremor in her hand beneath his grip.

"Since always.“ His voice was quieter than he intended, surprising even himself with its rawness.

But then she yanked her wrist free with a sharp, deliberate motion that sent him stumbling a step forward. She stood her ground, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance.

“You should have shown it long ago.”

Her words struck harder than he expected, leaving a cold ache in his chest. He wanted to say something, to stop her, but before he could react, she turned away. For a fleeting moment, she glanced back at him over her shoulder, her expression unreadable, before walking resolutely toward that bastard.

Frustration and anger flared within him, a helplessness that made it hard to breathe.

How much clearer could he be?

Did she really not see that every move he made for her made him feel like a fool?

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Evin

Evin carefully slipped out of bed, her heart still pounding from the past hour. Sergej’s breathing was steady as he slept deeply. Silently, she gathered her clothes, piece by piece, careful not to make any noise.

Inside, conflicting emotions raged. The thrill of the moment and an abrupt sense of uncertainty cast a shadow over the experience. Sergej’s untamed nature had drawn her in, the fire in his eyes, the unmistakable desire.

Sergej’s presence had a force to it, something that left no room for hesitation. His touch wasn’t gentle, nor was it searching—it was claiming, relentless in its intent. The hunger in his gaze pinned her in place before she had even made a choice, and the heat rolling off him made refusal feel like an afterthought, something irrelevant in the face of what he had already decided.

There was no tenderness, no patience, only the silent expectation that she would match his intensity.

And somehow, she did.

The way he devoured her with his eyes, the unspoken demand in every move he made—it dragged her along before she could think, before she could even consider stepping back.

From the second the door to his apartment had shut, Sergej had kissed her. Evin had initially resisted, pressing her hands firmly against his chest.

“Wait, wait…” she had whispered, her voice unsure.

But Sergej hadn’t stopped.

Instead, his grip had tightened—a delicate balance between frustration and yearning. His lips had hovered dangerously close to hers, his breath warm against her skin. “Evin, one moment you want this, the next you don’t… you’re driving me crazy,” he murmured, his fingers trailing down her arm, sending a rush of heat through her.

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