Across The Hall

My lack of social skills makes people uncomfortable, But Mateo isn't.

Two days had passed since I last saw Mateo. His words, his intense gaze, the raw hunger in his voice, they all haunted me, echoing in my mind like a dark lullaby. I found myself seeking solace in the small chapel of the hospital, a place where I could be alone with my thoughts, my fears, my desires. But today, I felt restless, my heart pounding with an unknown urgency, so I decided to explore the hospital, away from the familiar corridors of the ICU.

I wonder if my family is doing okay without me. Or that the stepfather actually changed. I never actually had a childhood. My childhood had been a blur of packing and unpacking, shuttling between my mom's house and my dad's. Joint custody had meant a life split in two, with no real sense of home. It had been hard to form lasting friendships when I was always on the move. I had been the perpetual new kid, never quite fitting in. I had been the kid with the suitcase, always ready to go, always prepared for the next change. I was tired of feeling like a visitor in my own life. I wanted roots, not routes. But that isn't happening anymore, I'm stuck with Noah and now I want to feel like that kid too.

I'm not free.

I found myself standing in front of an elevator, its doors open, inviting me in. I hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, pressing the button for a random floor. As the doors began to close, a hand shot out, stopping them. I gasped, startled, as Mateo stepped into the elevator, his eyes locked onto mine.

The doors slid shut behind him, sealing us off from the world. The air in the elevator was suddenly thick, charged with an electricity that made my skin prickle and my breath hitch. He didn't say a word, just stood there, his gaze roaming over me, taking in every inch of me. I could feel it, like a caress, intimate and intense.

Why does he have to be here with me?

The elevator seemed to shrink as Mateo stood before me, his presence commanding and impossible to ignore. He was tall, so very tall, towering over me like a titan from Attack On Titan. I had to crane my neck to meet his gaze, and even then, he seemed to loom large, his broad shoulders and muscular frame filling the small space. I loved it, loved how small and feminine he made me feel, loved the sense of security and dominance that radiated from him.

His scent was intoxicating, a heady mix of musk and leather, with a hint of something dark and dangerous. It was the kind of scent that made you want to lean in, to bury your nose in the crook of his neck and inhale deeply. I found myself doing just that, my eyes half-closed as I absorbed his essence, letting it fill my lungs, my senses, my very being.

I side-eyed him, stealing glances at his chiseled profile, his sharp jawline, the way his blonde hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. He was hot, there was no denying it.

His eyes were fixed on me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I could feel it, like a physical touch, sliding over my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. It was as if he was trying to memorize every inch of me, every curve, every line. I shivered, my breath hitching as his gaze lingered on my lips, my neck, my breasts.

I loved the way he looked at me, with such raw hunger and desire. It made me feel alive, wanted, seen. I had never felt this way before, never experienced this kind of intense, all-consuming attraction. It was terrifying, exhilarating, addictive. I wanted more, more of his gaze, more of his scent, more of him. I wanted to drown in him, to lose myself in his darkness, his heat, his passion. I wanted him to consume me, body and soul.

Stop it, Hazel.

"Hazel," he finally said, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. "What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "I... I was just exploring," I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper.

He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I could see the hunger in them, the raw desire that made my heart pound and my body ache. "You shouldn't be wandering around alone," he said, his voice a soft murmur, like velvet against my skin.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I'm not alone," I said, my voice barely audible. "You're here."

A slow smile spread across his face, a smile that was both predatory and seductive. He took another step closer, his body just inches away from mine. I could feel his heat, his scent enveloping me, a mix of musk and danger that was intoxicating.

"And what if I'm the one you should be afraid of?" he murmured, his voice a dark whisper.

I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his. I saw the darkness in them, the wild, untamed beast that lurked beneath the surface. But I also saw something else, something that called to me, that drew me in. I should have been afraid, but I wasn't. Instead, I felt alive, my body humming with a desire I had never known before.

"I'm not afraid of you, Mateo," I said, my voice steady, my eyes never leaving his.

He reached out, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing against my lips. His touch was gentle, yet possessive, a promise of more. "You should be, little lamb," he said, his voice a soft growl. "Because I want to devour you."

The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open behind him. But neither of us moved, our eyes locked, our bodies just inches apart. The world outside the elevator faded away, leaving just the two of us, lost in a moment that was both terrifying and exhilarating. I knew I was playing with fire, but I didn't care. For the first time in my life, I wanted to burn.

The elevator doors began to close again, cocooning us in our own private world, but Mateo didn't move. His hand was still on my cheek, his thumb gently tracing my lips, sending waves of heat coursing through my body. I could feel his breath on my face, could see the rise and fall of his chest, could hear the pounding of my own heart echoing in my ears.

"Mateo," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Don't we both have partners?"

A dark shadow passed over his face, his eyes flashing with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher. Anger? Pain? Desire? It was a potent mix, a storm brewing in those deep, intense eyes.

"Is that what you want, Hazel?" he asked, his voice a low rumble, like distant thunder. "To talk about them? To pretend that this isn't happening?"

His hand slid from my cheek, down my neck, his fingers wrapping gently around the base of my throat. It was a dominant gesture, a claim, but it didn't scare me. Instead, it sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine, a throb of desire pulsing between my legs.

"Because I can pretend, if that's what you want," he continued, his voice a soft murmur, his lips brushing against my ear. "I can pretend that I don't want to pin you against this wall and claim your mouth. I can pretend that I don't want to run my hands over every inch of your body, that I don't want to taste you, to feel you, to make you scream my name."

His words were like a match, igniting a fire within me. I could feel the heat spreading, consuming me, burning away any rational thought. I knew this was wrong, that we were both playing with fire, but I couldn't stop. I didn't want to stop.

"I don't want to pretend," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "But I can't... we can't..."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Can't what, little lamb?" he asked, his voice a soft challenge.

"We can't hurt them," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "We can't betray them."

Mateo's eyes darkened, his grip on my throat tightening slightly before he released me, his hand falling away. He stepped back, the space between us suddenly feeling like a chasm.

"You're right," he said, his voice cold, distant. "We can't."

The elevator dinged again, the doors sliding open, revealing the bustling hospital corridor. The noise, the people, the reality of our situation came crashing back, shattering the intense, intimate moment we had shared.

Mateo stepped out, not looking back at me. "Goodbye, Hazel," he said, his voice a harsh dismissal.

I stood there, frozen, as the doors slid shut, sealing me off from him, from the fire that had burned so brightly between us. I leaned back against the wall, my body shaking, my heart aching. I had done the right thing, hadn't I? I had stopped us from crossing a line, from hurting the people we cared about. So why did it feel so wrong? Why did it feel like I had just made the biggest mistake of my life?