Chapter 73
73
~Elara’s POV
The moment I stepped into the studio, I found him leaning against the wall.
Darlon.
His arms were folded loosely across his chest, like he’d been waiting a while. His eyes softened the second he saw me.
“For work p>
He shook his head, taking a slow step closer.
“No. For you p>
Something in my chest tightened and loosened at the same time. I didn’t know what to do with that feeling, so I looked away for a second.
“You could have gone home, you know,” I murmured.
He smiled gently. “I didn’t want to p>
And just like that… whatever stress I had in my body, it just melted a little.
He locked the door behind us, and he pulled me into his arms like he had been holding the urge for hours. I didn’t even fight it. My head rested against his chest naturally, as that spot existed for me alone.
“I missed you,” he whispered into my hair.
My fingers curled lightly into his shirt. “You saw me a few hours ago p>
“I know.” He pulled back just enough to look at me. “But I still missed you p>
That simple truth hit harder than it should have.
He guided us to the couch, and we sank into it together, his arm around my shoulders, my hand resting lightly on his chest. We weren’t talking. Not really. Just… breathing the same space, sharing the same warmth, holding onto each other like the outside world didn’t need to exist for a little while.
After a quiet minute, he tilted his head down to look at me.
“Elara p>
“Hmm p>
“Let’s go somewhere p>
“Where p>
“A cinema p>
I laughed softly. “Right now p>
“Right now,” he said, nodding slowly, as if he had already decided to ask. “You’ve been working non-stop. Your eyes look tired. Your shoulders are tense. I think you need a break. And I want to spend time with you outside work p>
I stared at him for a moment, trying not to blush. “Okay. Sure p>
His smile was soft, almost boyish, and it made something warm spark inside me.
“Good,” he said, brushing his thumb along my arm. “Let’s go p>
The drive to the cinema felt strangely peaceful. The sky outside was dark, quiet, and the city lights flickered like gentle stars. I leaned my head against the window, letting myself relax for the first time in days.
When we arrived, I blinked twice.
The entire cinema lobby was empty.
Completely empty.
I turned to him slowly. “Darlon… don’t tell me p>
He gave me the most innocent expression. “What p>
“You rented out the whole place p>
“I didn’t want anyone disturbing you p>
I covered my face with my hand, shaking my head. “This is too much p>
“It’s not,” he said softly, taking my hand away so he could hold it. “If it makes you comfortable, it’s worth it p>
I didn’t trust myself to respond to that. Not properly. So instead, I squeezed his hand lightly and followed him inside.
The theatre itself felt huge and quiet, with only the lights from the screen glowing softly. We sat somewhere in the middle, far from the front, not too high. Perfect spot.
I took a handful of popcorn immediately, needing something to do with my hands. He watched me, amused.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, leaning back. “You’re just… cute p>
I nearly choked on a kernel. “Please don’t say things like that casually p>
He laughed quietly, his shoulder brushing mine. “Alright p>
The movie started, but honestly, we were barely watching it. Half the time, he whispered comments in my ear, and I tried not to laugh too loudly. The other half, we were throwing popcorn at each other like children.
“You missed,” I whispered after he flicked one, and it fell on his own lap.
He pretended to look offended. “That was a warm-up p>
“So you’re practicing to lose better p>
He threw another piece. It bounced off my hair.
I gasped. “Darlon p>
He laughed. A real laugh. One that echoed a little in the empty cinema. It made my chest feel weirdly full.
I scooped a handful of popcorn and tried to dump it on him, but he caught my wrist halfway and gently pulled me closer.
My breath caught.
His face was close.
Closer than play, closer than teasing, close enough that the air between us changed into something slower and warmer.
He didn’t kiss me.
Not yet.
He just looked at me like he was memorizing something.
“Elara,” he murmured, voice low. “I’m glad you agreed to come p>
“Me too,” I whispered.
He let go of my wrist, but somehow I stayed leaning into him. Eventually, he pulled me under his arm again, and I rested my head on his shoulder.
We watched the rest of the movie like that. Quiet. Comfortable. Warm. His thumb was tracing lazy patterns against my arm now and then, making my whole body soften in a way I didn’t want to think too hard about.
When the credits rolled, neither of us moved.
“We should go,” I said softly.
“Mhm,” he replied, tightening his arm around me instead.
I smiled. “That’s not going p>
He sighed dramatically. “Five more minutes p>
“Three p>
“Four p>
“Fine p>
We stayed four.
And honestly p>
It felt like the safest four minutes I’d had in a long time.
I stayed curled against him for a moment longer, listening to the quiet hum of the credits rolling. His breathing was steady, warm against my ear. I didn’t really want to move, but my mind wandered to the next day, to work, to everything waiting for me… and to him.
I lifted my head slowly.
“Darlon p>
He hummed lazily, like he was already halfway gone in comfort. “Yes p>
I hesitated, chewing on the inside of my cheek. It felt silly to ask. Or maybe bold. I wasn’t sure. My heart thudded anyway.
“Can you… Come to my office again tomorrow?” I asked softly. “I mean, not for work. Just because. I… liked having you there p>
His eyes opened fully at that, and he looked at me like I had just handed him something he didn’t even know he wanted.
“You want me to come p>
I nodded once, a little shy. “Yes p>
He didn’t even wait a second.
“I’ll be there,” he said immediately, almost too fast.
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. “Okay. Good p>
“And Elara p>
“Hmm p>
His hand moved up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, slow and gentle.
“If you want to see me, you don’t have to ask. Just tell me, and I’m already there p>
My cheeks warmed. I looked down at my hands, trying to steady myself before I said the next thing tugging at my mind.
“And… maybe,” I muttered quietly, “we could go on another date tomorrow? After work p>
He didn’t even blink.
“Yes p>
I laughed a little. “You didn’t even think about it p>
“I didn’t need to.” His voice dipped slightly, soft but sure. “Any chance to spend time with you… I’m taking it p>
My throat tightened in a good way. “So… that’s a yes p>
“That’s a definite p>
He leaned in, brushing his lips against my forehead in a tender, lingering kiss that made my eyes close on their own. His voice was soft when he spoke again.
“Let’s go home p>
I nodded, and this time, when we stood up and left the empty cinema, his hand found mine easily.