Chapter 4: Pulling Strings

 

The days that followed were a blur for Lucas. He threw himself into his art, trying to drown out the persistent thoughts of Ethan that haunted his every waking moment. 

But no matter how much he painted, no matter how hard he tried to focus on his work, Ethan was there—in the back of his mind, in every brushstroke, in the heat that lingered in the pit of his stomach.

He hadn't seen or heard from Ethan since that night outside the gallery. But somehow, Lucas knew it wasn’t over. It was never going to be that simple. Ethan had left his mark, a presence that wouldn’t fade, and Lucas found himself caught in an invisible web, each thread tightening the longer he resisted.

It was late one evening when his phone buzzed with a text message. Lucas grabbed it from his worktable, glancing at the screen. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name.

Ethan.

A single message: Meet me.

No explanation. No location. No details. And yet, Lucas knew exactly what he meant. There was only one place they could meet.

Lucas found himself standing outside the gallery once again, the night air cold against his skin. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling inside him. Why had he come? What was he hoping to find?

He didn’t have time to answer his own questions because, in the next moment, Ethan appeared—emerging from the shadows as if he had been waiting all along. His dark suit blended seamlessly with the night, but his eyes, those piercing eyes, locked onto Lucas with an intensity that stole his breath.

"You came," Ethan said softly, his voice filled with a dark satisfaction.

Lucas swallowed hard, his throat dry. "What do you want from me?"

Ethan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he closed the distance between them with deliberate slowness, his presence overwhelming. The air around them felt charged, like an invisible thread connecting them, pulling them closer.

"I want you," Ethan whispered, his voice low and possessive. "All of you."

Lucas’s breath hitched as Ethan’s hand slid up his arm, the touch so gentle yet filled with an undercurrent of raw power. He felt his body respond instantly, every nerve alight with the sensation of Ethan’s fingers tracing his skin. There was no hiding from this. He could feel it—the pull, the way Ethan’s presence consumed him.

"Stop fighting it, Lucas," Ethan murmured, his lips dangerously close to Lucas’s ear. "You know you want this."

Lucas’s heart pounded in his chest, his pulse racing. Every logical thought screamed at him to walk away, to escape the grasp Ethan had on him, but his body betrayed him, leaning in closer, drawn to the intoxicating heat that radiated from Ethan.

"You think you can just—" Lucas began, but his words faltered as Ethan’s hand slid around his waist, pulling him flush against his body.

"I know I can," Ethan interrupted, his voice a dark, seductive whisper. "Because you want me to."

Lucas gasped as Ethan’s lips brushed against the side of his neck, a light, teasing touch that sent shivers down his spine. His body burned with need, the tension building to a point where it felt unbearable. He hated how much he wanted this—wanted him. Every inch of him ached for Ethan’s touch, for the release he knew only Ethan could give him.

And Ethan knew it too. His hands roamed lower, pulling Lucas tighter against him, his lips grazing his skin, tasting him, teasing him.

"You’re mine," Ethan breathed against Lucas’s neck, his words filled with a dangerous promise.

Lucas’s knees buckled, his body trembling under the weight of Ethan’s touch. He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. All that existed was the heat between them, the burning desire that consumed him from the inside out.

But just as Lucas was about to lose himself completely, Ethan pulled back, his lips curling into that familiar smirk.

"Not yet," Ethan whispered, his voice filled with cruel satisfaction. "Soon."

Before Lucas could react, Ethan was gone—vanishing into the night, leaving Lucas standing alone, his body trembling with frustration and unfulfilled desire.

• To Be Continued...