"You know he won't come for me, he never does," a soft voice murmurs.
Footsteps echo across the floor as a dark figure walks around a desk, getting closer to the young woman on the couch. As he approaches, his familiar face becomes more visible.
Jason Pierce, the head of the city's underworld, or Hades as his followers like to call him.
"Astrid," he says in a soothing voice, his deep rumble filling the room. He crouches in front of the brunette and gently cups her face in his hand. "Why do you let him choose this city over you?"
"That's his job, Jace. My life isn't worth the hundreds of other lives in this city," she replies in a whisper.
"That's bullshit!" Jason roars, standing up and walking towards the desk. He smashes his fist on it in frustration. "In Seth's eyes, the citizens of this damn city should be insignificant compared to you."
"Their lives are just as important as mine. His job is to protect the city."
"Seth is also your fiancé. You should be the most important person in his life! You should be his first choice!" Jason's voice grows louder with each sentence.
"Why does it matter, Jason?" Astrid sighs.
"If Alice or some random person were about to be shot, who would you save?" he inquires.
"Alice, of course. She is my sister in everything but blood," she replies swiftly.
"That is my point. Seth chooses others without any consideration for your life. But you choose Alice without a second thought."
"Because I'm selfish. I love Alice. I would do the same for Seth, Alex, and Caleb too. Hell, I would do it for you!"
"Exactly! You would. So why won't he?" Jason asks.
"Are you trying to say Seth doesn't love me?"
Jason is silent for a few moments. Then he finally looks at her and answers, "Yes."
Astrid stands and crosses her arms over her chest, her face darkening with anger. "How dare you! He has obligations to the city. He doesn't have to choose me. Compared to the other citizens in this city I'm..."
"Just as, if not more important then those damn people," Jason's voice echoes through the room, making Astrid flinch back onto the couch, her expression shocked.
His face softens as he looks at her and crouches in front of her again. His blue eyes peer into her green ones. "God, Astrid, you are so much more important. If I were Seth, I would choose to let this world burn if it meant that you would be okay."
Astrid's eyes dart away from his face as they fill with tears. "Why is this so important to you, Jason?"
Jason grips her chin to make her look at him, then answers, "Because I love you, Astrid." Her eyes widen in surprise, and he shifts to cup the side of her face again as he stares at her. "I would do anything to keep you safe. And if you were to die, I would burn the world with me as I join you."
Astrid's heart pounds in her chest as a wave of anticipation washes over her. The air between her and Jason crackles with electric tension, their eyes locked in a magnetic gaze that neither can break away from. Every nerve in her body is alive, begging for the connection she craves.
Their mouths crash against each other, their lips molding together in a fervent dance. Astrid's hands instinctively find their way to Jason's hair, her fingers tangling in the soft, black strands as she pulls him closer. She can feel the slight stubble on his jawline, adding an intoxicating roughness to their embrace.
He swipes his tongue over her bottom lip, asking for her to open, and she does so immediately. Their tongues intertwine, exploring and tasting one another. Astrid can feel the heat of Jason's breath against her skin, his hands gripping her waist possessively. The intensity of their kiss deepens, their bodies pressed against each other in delicious ways.
As their lips continue to collide, Astrid's fingers tighten their grip on Jason's hair, pulling him even closer. A low moan escapes her throat, a mixture of pleasure and want. The sensation of his hands tracing the contours of her back sends shivers down her spine, heightening the intensity of every nerve in Astrid's body.
Their movements become more desperate, a frenzy of desire and passion. Lips and tongues clash with an almost primal hunger, leaving them both breathless and intoxicated by the taste of each other. Astrid can feel the electricity coursing through her veins, her body alive with an insatiable need for Jason.
Breaking away slightly, she looks into Jason's eyes, and as she whispers, her voice a breathless and tender murmur, she confesses her love for him.
"And I love you too, Jason," she says, her voice filled with a mix of longing and vulnerability.
Jason's eyes widen with affection as he smiles warmly, his grip on Astrid tightening as he takes in her words. Their foreheads touching, they bask in the warmth of their shared emotions.