Chapter 2 - Colliding Hearts by Delaila Adams
Chapter 2
Eden’s POV
I found myself gaping up into an intense pair of blue eyes, my mouth slightly open. My gaze drifted down to a chiseled jawline, roughened with a hint of stubble. He looked like he’d been crafted by some divine hand, the kind of handsome that stops you in your tracks. His dark hair, nearly black, was styled in a way that was both messy and effortlessly alluring. Realizing I’d been staring way too long, I watched him smirk, snapping me out of my trance.
“Uh, sorry,” I muttered, trying to pull back a bit, though his strong grip didn’t let me get very far. Over his shoulder, I saw Sadie’s eyes practically sparkling as she watched us.
“No worries,” he replied in a deep voice that sent a shiver down my spine. “Dance with me,” he said—not so much asking as telling.
“I—” I began, but he didn’t wait for my answer. With one hand, he took my drink and set it on the bar, then reached down to grab my hand, pulling me gently but firmly toward the dance floor. I glanced at Sadie for a lifeline, but she only shot me an encouraging thumbs-up before I was led into the crowd and pressed against a solid chest. Of course, just then, the DJ put on a slow song. Perfect timing, I thought, rolling my eyes internally. We swayed together for a few moments before I finally found my voice.
“So, what’s your name?” I managed to ask, looking up at him. Even in heels, he towered over me, and there was something oddly familiar about his face.
“Gavin. And you?”
A voice inside me couldn’t help but ask why I was flirting with a complete stranger I’d just bumped into. But as I looked up at him, feeling the solid strength of his shoulders beneath my fingertips, I found myself entranced. We moved in sync to the beat, my eyes skimming over his form. He had a magnetic presence that commanded attention, and his aura practically shouted confidence and wealth. It was no wonder people made way for him as he passed. I knew this wasn’t the kind of guy you’d want to cross paths with in a dark alley.
“You look stunning in that dress,” he said, his gaze sliding over me, making a flush spread across my cheeks. I quickly lowered my gaze to his chest, focusing on the rhythm of our dance.
“So, what brings you here?” I asked, finally finding my voice again.
“Looking for you,” he replied, raising an eyebrow with a playful grin. I rolled my eyes at the cheesy line.
“You might want to work on those pickup lines—they’re not exactly your strong suit,” I teased, chuckling. It wasn’t hard to imagine he had no trouble with women, but I hoped he had better moves than these.
“Oh, you think so?” he asked, eyes gleaming with mischief. “I think they work just fine.”
I smirked back, “Yeah, keep it up—you’ll have women falling for you in no time.”
“Who says they don’t already?” he quipped, the cockiness in his voice undeniable. I couldn’t help but notice his smirk—the way one corner of his mouth tilted up. There was something about that expression that felt strangely familiar. Maybe he was the type who smirked more than he smiled, but I imagined an actual smile would make him look even more irresistible.
“So, why are you here?” he asked, catching me off guard as I studied him.
“Oh, you know, just scoping out the hottest guys in town,” I deadpanned. He raised a brow, clearly intrigued.
“Hottest guys, huh?”
“Yep.” I scanned the crowd before nodding toward a man across the room with oversized glasses and a receding hairline. “Like that guy over there—pure perfection,” I said, barely containing my laughter.
I looked back at Gavin’s face and nearly burst out laughing; he was glaring at the poor guy with narrowed eyes, his jaw clenched. I felt a bit guilty and leaned over, tapping him on the shoulder.
“Relax; the poor guy’s going to think he’s in trouble,” I teased, giving him a playful smack on the back of the head. He spun to look at me, his expression half-amused, half-shocked.
“Did you just… hit me?” he asked, looking genuinely taken aback. It was as though no one had ever dared do such a thing before.
“Yep. You deserved it,” I replied, shrugging. We swayed together in silence, ignoring the fast-paced music playing around us, lost in our own world.
As the song changed again, I snapped back to reality, realizing it was probably time for me to go. I tried to pull back, but it was harder than I thought; his warmth was something I wasn’t quite ready to let go of. Still, with a determined effort, I managed to put some space between us.
“Well, thanks for the dance—or, uh, dances,” I said, stepping out of his arms.
“You’re leaving?” he asked, his hand reaching for my waist again, but I stepped back further.
“Yeah, I should be going.”
“It’s barely eight o’clock.”
Wait, it had been three hours already? The realization made me falter, but I held my ground. “I’ve got plans,” I said, although those plans mainly involved pajamas, pizza, and a quiet evening alone. He studied me, and for a moment, I almost reconsidered. But I knew better. “It was nice meeting you. Maybe work on those lines?” I grinned before turning away, forcing myself to walk back to Sadie.
I found her chatting up a tall, good-looking guy and gave an apologetic smile as I interrupted. “Hey, sorry to barge in, but could I steal you for a second?” Sadie nodded, and I pulled her a few feet away. “I’m heading out.”
“What? But weren’t you just dancing with that gorgeous guy who almost made you spill your drink?” she asked, sounding a bit indignant.
“It was fun, but I’ve got a headache coming on. You stay, though.”
“No way. I’ll come home with you,” she insisted.
I shook my head, smiling. “No, seriously, stay. You looked like you were having a great time. I’ll grab a cab and meet you back at home.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Fine, but don’t blame me if something happens!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Just promise you won’t drink too much and get home at a reasonable time.”
“Sure thing, Mom,” she teased with a smirk. “Thanks, though! I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
I hugged her, said my goodbyes, and headed for the door.
Outside, I breathed in the cool night air, shivering a little but grateful for the quiet. One of the bouncers hailed a cab for me, and I slipped inside, offering a quick thank-you before giving the driver my address. As the car rolled forward, I found myself staring out the window, my thoughts drifting to Gavin. His image filled my mind, and I couldn’t shake the sense that I’d seen him somewhere before. Even though we’d just met, he lingered in my thoughts in a way that surprised me.
When the cab stopped, I got out, only to realize too late that I wasn’t in front of my building. As the cab pulled away, I found myself standing on a deserted, dimly lit street. I glanced around, anxiety bubbling up. I knew I couldn’t stay here, so I began retracing my steps, my heels clicking against the pavement as I tried to stay calm.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the voices or footsteps until it was too late. Turning around, I found myself face-to-face with a group of five men, each with an intimidating, unwelcoming look. I instinctively took a step back, only to see them advancing on me, step by step.
“Well, well, what do we have here? Lost, are you?” one of the men taunted as he moved closer. My throat tightened, and no words would come out. Fear had taken root in my chest, my eyes wide with panic. Why didn’t I just stay at the club? Why hadn’t I been more careful when the cab driver dropped me off? I’d heard enough warnings about walking alone in New York at night, but they hadn’t seemed so real until now.
As the group closed in, my mind raced, and a nervous thought flared up—I’m way too young for this to be it! Normally, people in this situation might pray or think of loved ones, maybe reflect on how their families would mourn them. Not me. My thoughts drifted to my parents, who probably wouldn’t care at all. They might even celebrate if I disappeared. It was strange and a little sad that they were the first people to come to mind, but it only fueled my sense of isolation. I was snapped back to reality when the men’s voices grew louder in front of me, and fear froze me to the spot.
One of the men, clearly the leader, said something I couldn’t quite hear. My body felt paralyzed, my mind overwhelmed by the understanding that this was real, and I was utterly defenseless. The slap landed before I even registered the movement, my head snapping to the side. I staggered, bringing my hand to my stinging cheek, disoriented by the pain. Just then, the sound of screeching tires filled the air, and bright headlights cut through the dark. We all turned to see a car coming to a stop nearby.
The men paused, squinting against the headlights as a tall figure stepped out of the car. My heart leapt when I heard a voice I recognized—Gavin? Without thinking, I bolted toward him, sprinting past him as he stood by the open door. Not hesitating, I threw myself into the backseat of his car. Realizing what I was doing, he quickly slid in after me and barked for the driver to go. The car took off before Gavin even had a chance to close the door completely. As we sped away, I looked back through the rear window to see the men fading into the distance, giving up the chase. Relief washed over me, and I sank into the luxurious leather seat, letting out a heavy sigh.
After a few minutes, the car pulled into a parking garage. I wasn’t exactly sure where we were, but I felt oddly safe. Gavin stepped out first and waited for me to join him. I stumbled out, his hand gently pressing against my lower back as he guided me toward the elevator.
The silence between us on the elevator ride was thick and uncomfortable. My cheek throbbed, my whole body felt drained, and all I wanted was to curl up and let this nightmare dissolve. Finally, the elevator doors opened, and I followed Gavin down a quiet hallway. He entered a code at a door, then gestured for me to go inside. I stepped past him, and my mouth dropped as I took in the sheer size of his space.
This wasn’t an apartment—it was practically a palace. The place was massive, more like a high-end penthouse than anything I’d ever seen. I tried to take it all in as Gavin led me to a bathroom.
“Where are we?” I managed to ask, watching him rummage through the bathroom cabinets.
“My place,” he replied casually. “Hop up on the counter.”
I wanted to ask why but decided to follow his instructions without questioning.
“An apartment? Feels more like a penthouse,” I murmured, marveling at the lavish bathroom with its granite countertops, dual sinks, and dark wood cabinetry. The entire place screamed luxury. Gavin only shrugged in response, focusing on gathering supplies. He stepped between my knees, gently parting them to stand close as he leaned in to examine my face. My pulse quickened as I tried to keep my composure.
“This might sting a bit,” he warned, bringing a cotton ball to my cheek. “You’ve got a small cut on your lip.” His voice softened as he dabbed at the wound, and I clenched my jaw, determined not to flinch. But a quick flash of pain caused me to wince, releasing my lip from between my teeth. Gavin continued to clean the area gently, inspecting my face for any other injuries.
“Gavin, I’m okay. Really,” I said, his meticulous attention making me self-conscious. He hesitated, then tossed the cotton ball into the nearby trash, though his gaze lingered on my cheek.
“Does it hurt much?” he asked, his eyes dark with concern.
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, meeting his intense gaze. “It’s just a little bruise. I can handle it.” A playful smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks, by the way.”
His blue eyes met mine, and my heart fluttered unexpectedly. I hadn’t quite processed how he’d found me in the alley, but I felt a surge of gratitude—and something else I couldn’t quite identify. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, feeling the heat of his gaze settle over me like a blanket. For some reason, he felt familiar, like someone I’d known far longer than a single night.
Time seemed to slow as he leaned in, his lips just inches away. My gaze dropped to his mouth, drawn to him like a magnet, and without thinking, I closed the distance, pressing my lips to his in a soft, electric kiss.
"Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to make a purchase."
