The storm had caught the city off guard. Sheets of rain drummed against the streets, turning puddles into mirrors reflecting the gray sky. Maya Sharma ran through the downpour, clutching a basket of pastries, her apron soaked and her hair plastered to her face.
"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, slipping slightly on the wet pavement.
Suddenly, a strong hand steadied her. She looked up—Adrian Knight, umbrella now useless in the raging storm, had appeared beside her. His dark hair was damp, suit clinging slightly, but his eyes… his eyes were intense, fixed entirely on her.
"You're reckless," he said, his voice low, almost growling. "You could get hurt."
"I can handle it," Maya shot back, though her teeth chattered.
"Clearly not," Adrian murmured, his hand brushing hers as he reached to steady her again. The touch lingered, sparking electricity that neither could ignore.The rain around them fell like a curtain, isolating them from the world. Maya's breath hitched as Adrian's gaze softened, his usual controlled demeanor melting into something raw, real, and dangerously close.
"You shouldn't have to be alone in this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Maya's heart thumped wildly. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words stuck in her throat as Adrian leaned closer. Every step drew them nearer until there was no space left between them.
Their lips met suddenly, almost shockingly—soft at first, tentative, testing. Maya's hands found his shoulders instinctively, while Adrian's hands cupped her face, pulling her gently into the kiss.
Time seemed to stop. The storm, the city, the noise—everything faded except the rhythm of their hearts and the heat between them.
Maya's mind raced. Everything she had felt—annoyance, curiosity, tension, admiration—culminated in this one moment. She could feel Adrian's breath mingle with hers, the strength in his embrace, and the undeniable connection that had been building since their first confrontation in the café.When they finally pulled apart, rain dripping from their hair, their foreheads rested together. Both were breathless, hearts pounding.
"I… didn't expect…" Maya whispered, her voice trembling.
"Neither did I," Adrian admitted, his dark eyes glimmering with emotion. "But I've wanted this for a long time."
Maya blinked, overwhelmed, yet her lips curved into the tiniest smile. "Then… maybe it's a good thing the storm caught me."
Adrian chuckled softly, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. "The best things often happen in the middle of chaos."
From a distance, unnoticed, Veronica Hale watched from behind a cafe window across the street, her expression darkening. "So it begins," she murmured, her voice dripping with malice. "We'll see how long this lasts."
But for Maya and Adrian, nothing else mattered. The storm raged on, yet in that drenched, electric moment, they had found something undeniable: the spark between them had finally ignited.