Shifting Gears || cl16/ln4

Gear Five

At the terrace

"I could ask you the same thing, DeVille." Charles' cold voice echoed through the terrace as he started to approach me. I rolled my eyes, turning back to the barrier. Leaning against the barrier beside me, he also looked into the distance. There had been a moment of silence between us, both of us not exchanging a single word as we were looking at the city lights. He was the last person I expected to be here. "I couldn't sleep..." he admitted, not taking his eyes off the view. My gaze slowly shifted toward him, taking in his features under the moonlight. His hair was messy and his jaw was sharp. His blue eyes sparkled under the moonlight, catching my attention. "I can see you staring, DeVille." He remarked in a cold tone still not taking his eyes away from the view. I quickly averted my eyes back toward the city lights, feeling a little bit embarrassed. He let out a chuckle.

"Why do you hate me so much?" I asked softly. His gaze met mine, staring right into my eyes. "Because I can't stand you." I looked back at him. "Why?" I whispered. His lips formed a light smirk. "Some things are better left unanswered, DeVille." He spoke with a hint of mystery. The cityscape sprawled before us and the cool night breeze wrapped around our conversation. I couldn't help but press further. "So it's that simple?" His eyes held a mixture of emotions, finally breaking the eye contact and returning his gaze back towards the city view. "Nothing between us is simple," he muttered. A gust of wind ruffled his hair. I sensed an unspoken tension, many emotions hidden beneath the surface. "Then why are you still here?" slipped out of my lips, the question lingering in the air. Charles exhaled slowly, his cold gaze fixed back on me. Suddenly, he caged me in between the barrier, leaving no space to escape. His face was inches from mine and I felt my heart jumping out.

"Why are you still here, Leclerc?" I repeated my voice barely above a whisper. Charles maintained his close proximity, his lips curving back into a smirk. "Perhaps I enjoy unraveling a mystery, that is you, DeVille." My pulse quickened. I couldn't help but feel a strange curiosity. "And what if there is nothing to unravel?" I challenged, my breath catching as his gaze intensified. He started to lean in, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "Oh, there is always something, and I intend to find out," he whispered, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine, just like earlier today at the pit-lane.

The air crackled with tension as I struggled to maintain self-control. "You are playing a dangerous game, Leclerc." I warned but my words didn't seem to affect him. Charles put a strain of my hair behind my ear. "Danger can be thrilling, DeVille," he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that left me breathless.

I felt a magnetic force, an undeniable force drawing us closer, as his lips hovered near mine. An endless mix of emotions swirled inside of me - uncertainty, confusion, desire and an unspoken connection that defied logic. "What do you want from me, Leclerc?" I asked quietly, my voice being a mix of confrontation and curiosity. He studied me for a moment, his gaze piercing through me.

"I want to unravel the mystery, piece by piece," he replied, his tone a low murmur. It was a dangerous encounter between attraction and resistance, the unknown appeal of what could be. Charles suddenly pulled away, the magnetic pull still lingering. "Goodnight, DeVille," he whispered smirking, leaving me standing against the barriers. The night held its secrets, as Charles walked back into the hotel. I tried to gain back control of my breathing, my face burning from the close encounter.

What the fuck did just happen?

———

After calming down, I slowly made my way back to go into my hotel room. My head still spinning, I pressed the button to my floor. Arriving in front of my room, I opened the door and closed it carefully, leaning back against it. My head was still spinning and full of question marks. I could still feel Charles' presence. The way his eyes looked at mine, the way he whispered into my ear, the way his lips almost touched mine. I hate him, he is playing with my mind. I slowly approached my bed and laid down. I had to sleep now. I had to forget about him and his mind games. After closing my eyes, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

———
Sorry for the short chapter!
To be continued... 🏎️