YOUR DEMEANOUR

Chapter 25: Firm Feelings

As Averyn watched Calliax leave, a mixture of frustration and curiosity swirled within her. She couldn't shake off the feeling of annoyance at his flirtatious remarks, yet there was an undeniable intrigue that lingered in her mind.

*"What was that all about?"* she thought to herself, furrowing her brows in confusion. *"Why does he have to be so... infuriatingly charming?"*

She sighed, brushing off the encounter as nothing more than a brief interruption to her peaceful night by the beach. But deep down, there was a nagging curiosity, a spark of interest that she couldn't quite extinguish.

*"Focus, Averyn,"* she chided herself mentally. *"There are more important things to worry about than a flirtatious colonel."*

With a determined nod, she pushed aside her thoughts of Calliax and turned her attention back to the calming rhythm of the ocean waves, letting their soothing sounds wash away any lingering traces of uncertainty.

Despite her efforts to dismiss him from her mind, Averyn found herself mulling over Calliax's sudden appearance and flirtatious demeanor. His charm, though infuriating, had left an impression on her, igniting a curiosity about the enigmatic colonel.

*"What was he doing here, of all places?"* she wondered, her mind drifting back to their brief conversation. *"And why approach me in such a way? Was it just a game to him, or did he have some ulterior motive?"*

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Calliax than met the eye. His presence felt like a puzzle, one she couldn't quite solve. But despite her reservations, there was an undeniable attraction, a magnetic pull that drew her attention back to him.

*"Perhaps there's more to him than his flirtatious facade,"* she mused, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty. *"Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Either way, I'll have to keep my guard up around him."*

With a determined nod, Averyn pushed aside her lingering thoughts of the colonel and focused on the calming serenity of the night sky above, hoping to find solace in the gentle embrace of the ocean breeze.

As Calliax walked away from Averyn, he couldn't shake the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind. The encounter had left him feeling both exhilarated and unnerved, a dangerous combination that sent a thrill coursing through his veins.

In the privacy of his own thoughts, he berated himself for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. He prided himself on his self-control, his ability to remain stoic and unyielding in the face of adversity. And yet, there was something about Averyn that stirred a long-dormant fire within him, igniting a fierce passion that he struggled to contain.

As he replayed their conversation in his mind, he couldn't help but feel a surge of possessiveness grip his heart. The way she had looked at him, the fire in her eyes as she stood her ground against him—it was intoxicating, exhilarating, and utterly maddening all at once.

But beneath the facade of control, there lurked a deep-seated vulnerability, a fear of losing himself to the overpowering emotions that threatened to consume him. He knew he had to tread carefully, to maintain the illusion of detachment even as his heart clamored for something more.