Restraint

His hand clamped down around her wrist and she felt herself shudder in response. The man was a monster. In spite of this, against all logic, she wanted him. The universe in some twisted display of humor, had seen fit to have him return her affections.

Perhaps affections was stretching it. There was after all, no emotional connection. They had nothing in common with each other save for their attraction to one another.

Still, desire in itself is a powerful and dangerous thing. She thought to herself.

His breath was hot on her skin as he leaned close and whispered, still keeping his hold on her.

'You shouldn't be here you know. You remember what happened last time...' His voice trailed off leaving her mind to fill in the blanks.

She did remember. All too well. The memory bubbled to the surface and she fought to push it back.

'How do you know that's not exactly why I'm here?' She whispered quietly.

She heard his sharp inhale and felt his grip slacken on her wrist. Had she wanted to, she could have easily slipped away right then. She wouldn't run. She wasn't some scared little girl. She was a woman and he was a man.

***

Her scent filled his nostrils, a perfume that was all her own. It was spicy yet floral with an undertone that he couldn't quite place. Beneath the delicate skin of her wrist he could feel her pulse working faster than normal. The affect he had on her still surprised him. How was it possible for someone so beautiful to feel the same way about him as he did about her?

He often wondered if she knew just how heady her desire was to him or if she simply thought of him as an unfeeling monster. He had to admit, he had played that part many times with her. He heard a small gasp as he finally released her wrist, breaking whatever spell had been hanging over them.

He could not allow anything to happen. Last time had been much too close.

His fingers had trailed along her throat while his other hand had snaked around her waist pulling her closer to him. He shook himself. He refused to think about it. He could not allow another lapse like that again.

'You should go.' He took a step back and tried to keep his voice neutral.

'But-'

'Now. before I do something we both regret.'

He saw the hurt in her eyes before she turned hurrying away quickly. It pained him but it was the right thing to do. One of them needed to show restraint. She would heal and she would move on to someone who deserved her. Someone less damaged who could love her the way she deserved.

For a short time he had fooled himself into thinking they could make things work. That they could find a way but he knew now that wasn't the case. However much it hurt, this was for the best.