Chapter 6 Chapter 6

"But??" Christian's eyes softened, a rare vulnerability breaking through his usual guarded expression. He bent closer, searching her face as if the answers he craved might be written in the depths of her eyes.

“Nevermind,” Lila said softly, blinking rapidly to push back the swirl of emotions threatening to spill over.

A heavy silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. Christian pulled out his car keys, pressing the unlock button. The soft click echoed in the quiet night, confirming the doors were open.

“Get in,” he ordered, his voice low and firm.

Lila slipped into the passenger seat without protest, her heart still racing from the moment they’d just shared. Christian started the engine, and the car roared to life, filling the space with a low rumble.

They drove in silence, the only sounds the hum of the tires on the road and the occasional distant noise from campus fading behind them.

After a few minutes, Christian turned off the main road, guiding the SUV down a narrower path toward the quiet frozen lake just beyond the campus grounds.

“Ouch!!” he muttered suddenly as the wheel jerked slightly in his hands. He corrected course, parked smoothly near the edge of the lake, and turned off the engine.

Without saying a word, he reached into the back seat and grabbed a thick blanket, unfolding it with careful movements.

He spread the blanket over the hood of the SUV, then offered Lila his hand to help her up. She took it, feeling the warmth of his palm against hers, and settled beside him.

They sat side by side under the soft glow of moonlight reflecting off the ice. The silence between them grew heavier, almost suffocating, until Lila could no longer bear it. Her chest tightened with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked, her voice carrying the intensity of everything she was feeling.

Christian stared at the moonlight dancing on the frozen surface, then slowly scanned the quiet surroundings. “Because this is the only place where no one is watching us,” he said quietly. “In a way, the contract doesn’t have any effect here.”

He shifted closer until their shoulders touched, sending a spark through her. He took a deep breath, as if gathering courage. “You’re getting under my skin, Miss Stones. I don’t do feelings. I don’t do romance, and I definitely don’t allow distractions of which you already know that.” He exhaled deeply, his voice dropping. “But now… you make me want to forget all of that. All the rules I set for myself.”

Lila’s heart dropped, a rush of warmth and disbelief flooding her. Her breath hitched. “I know you’re joking right now,” she whispered, half-hoping he’d laugh it off.

“What would be my gain if I did?” he asked, turning slightly toward her, his gaze steady and sincere.

“Uhm, maybe you should…” She closed her eyes for a brief second, then opened them quickly, needing to confirm this was real. “...should stop fighting it.”

Christian turned fully to her then. The moonlight highlighted his sharp facial features, casting gentle shadows that made him look almost ethereal. His eyes flickered with deep curiosity and something softer and more vulnerable.

“I told myself the kiss was a one-time mistake,” he said in a low voice, almost as if he were speaking to himself. “But every time I see you, Miss Stones, every time you look at me with those intense eyes and I look back, it makes it harder to remember the rules I made.”

Before she could respond, Christian cupped her face with one hand, his touch surprisingly gentle. He kissed her with deep affection, pouring into it all the conflict and longing he’d been holding back. His fingers threaded through her hair, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened.

Lila stopped pretending. Her body responded fully, matching his intensity as she kissed him back. She gripped the front of his hoodie tightly, as if afraid he might disappear.

For those heated moments, nothing else mattered. The ice king was melting, drawn helplessly to the quiet artist girl who had quietly upended his world.

Lila’s phone suddenly lit up with a random notification, its bright screen cutting through the intimacy and forcing them apart. They broke the kiss, both breathing heavily. Christian looked at her with heated intensity, then rested his forehead gently against hers, their breaths mingling in the cold night air.

Lila stared into his eyes, then let her gaze drift to his lips. They looked so pretty and inviting in the moonlight. Gently, she ran her hand along his chin, caressing the soft texture of his beard.

“You have beautiful eyes,” she murmured, her voice full of quiet wonder.

Christian gave her a small, almost shy smile. His lips trembled slightly, caught between the desire for more kisses and the words he wanted to say. “You have beautiful eyes, yeah,” he echoed, his voice warm with affection.

Lila’s lips curved into a soft smile. She leaned her body closer, craving more of his touch, more of this unexpected closeness.

“This is getting more dangerous, Lila,” he whispered, though his eyes still held that same warmth.

“I know,” she replied, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it.

Christian slowly pulled back, creating a small but painful distance between them. The warmth in his eyes faded as reality settled back in. He slid off the hood and took a few steps away, running his hands through his hair in clear frustration.

“No, I can’t do this right now,” he said, his voice rough with conflict.