The frosty air nipped at Reese's skin as she stepped out onto the balcony, the door clicking softly shut behind her. She wasn't escaping, not exactly—but the noise of the party had started to close in, and the quiet outside was a welcome reprieve. She took a deep breath, the sharpness of the winter night grounding her, and let it out slowly. The faint hum of conversation and music filtered through the door.

"I see I'm not the only one who needed some air."

The voice was smooth, confident, and far too close. Reese didn't need to turn to know who it was. She closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself, before glancing over her shoulder. Christian stood just inside the balcony door, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of scotch.

"Should I be surprised you followed me?" she asked, her tone clipped as she turned back toward the skyline.

Christian stepped out onto the balcony, letting the door shut softly behind him. "If you were, I'd start to question your intelligence."

She rolled her eyes, her grip tightening on the stem of her champagne glass. "Subtle as ever."

His chuckle was low, more felt than heard, as he moved to stand beside her at the railing. "Subtlety is overrated."

Reese stared out at the lights, refusing to look at him. "What do you want, Christian?"

"For starters?" he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "A real conversation."

She laughed softly, though there was no humor in it. "We've had plenty of those."

"Not like this." He leaned casually against the railing, his eyes on her. "Not without you deflecting to business every chance you get."

Reese turned to him then, her eyes flashing. "You don't get to do this. Not here, not now."

"Do what?" he asked, his tone calm. "Talk to you? That's all this is, Reese."

"You're trying to make this something it's not," she said sharply, her voice low but forceful. "You're trying to control the situation—."

His smirk faded, and for a moment, something darker flickered in his gaze. "You think that's what this is about? Control?"

"Isn't it?" she countered, meeting his eyes.

Christian tilted his head slightly, studying her. "I won't deny I like control. But this? You and me? It's not about that. It's about what we started and what I intend on finishing."

Her breath caught at the quiet intensity of his words, but she quickly masked it with a scoff. "There's nothing to finish. I told you I moved on."

Christian's lips twitched into the faintest smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Moved on. You keep mentioning that" his voice was amused.

Reese's breath hitched, but she held his gaze. "It's the truth. Whatever... potential there was between us, it's gone."

For a moment, Christian said nothing. He simply studied her, his piercing eyes searching hers as though trying to uncover the cracks beneath her facade. "If that's true," he said softly, "then why are you still standing here, talking to me?"

"You followed me out here" she shot back, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.

Christian stepped closer, his proximity setting her pulse racing. "You wanted me to follow you."

He closed the distance between them, his presence pressing against hers like a force she couldn't escape. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, a quiet storm of longing swirling in their depths. She could feel his breath, warm and steady, brushing against her skin, igniting a fire that warred with the voice in her head telling her to leave.

Walk away, she told herself.Walk away.

But her body betrayed her, rooted to the spot, her pulse pounding in her ears. Christian's movements were deliberate, unhurried, as though giving her every chance to stop him. Yet she didn't, couldn't, as his lips brushed hers in the gentlest of touches.

The kiss started slow, tentative, as if testing her resolve. She resisted at first, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. But then, as his lips molded perfectly against hers, the resistance melted away. A soft sigh escaped her, and before she knew it, she was kissing him back. Her lips parted instinctively as his tongue slid against hers in a rhythm that felt maddeningly familiar.

His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, and her body followed without question, melting into his. His touch was firm, yet it held a reverence that sent her heart racing even faster. She let herself fall deeper into the kiss for one fleeting, forbidden moment—until reality slammed into her like a tidal wave.

She broke the kiss abruptly, pulling away to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell as she stared up at him, frozen in the moment. His eyes held hers captive, pouring into her a mix of longing and lips tingled from his kiss, her mind a whirlwind of chaos, but neither of them moved.

She opened her mouth to say something—anything—but the door behind them creaked open, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Reese?" Collin's voice was warm, concerned. She turned quickly, her heart lurching as she saw him standing in the doorway, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Everything okay?"

"Of course," she said, forcing a smile. "Just needed some air."

Collin's eyes flicked to Christian, his expression unreadable, before returning to Reese. "I thought you might be cold. Do you want to head back in?"

Reese nodded quickly, stepping away from the railing. "Yes. Let's go."

As she moved toward the door behind Collin, she froze, her hand hovering over the door handle, before turning back to Christian. His eyes locked onto hers, and a faint triumphant smirk spread across his lips.