Rising Beyond the Odds

Distraction in the Midst of Desire

The days after that night with Jace blurred into a whirlwind of emotions and late-night thoughts. Every time she closed her eyes, Ava could feel the lingering sensation of his lips on hers, the way his arms felt wrapped around her. It wasn't supposed to go this way-not with everything she had on her plate.

Ava had always prided herself on staying focused, on not letting anything distract her from the goals she had set so long ago. But now, every time she sat down to work, every time she tried to dive back into her research, her thoughts kept drifting back to Jace. To the way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered, to the way his touch sent shivers down her spine.

It was getting harder to concentrate at the office too. The spark between them had ignited into something neither of them could ignore. It was as if every glance across the room, every accidental brush of his hand against hers, pulled her deeper into something she wasn't sure she could control.

That Thursday, the tension finally reached its breaking point.

Ava had stayed late at the office, trying to catch up on a project she had fallen behind on thanks to her restless nights. The office was quiet now, most people having already left for the day, leaving just the sound of her fingers tapping on the keyboard. She was close to finishing, but the numbers weren't adding up. Her frustration was mounting.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

She didn't even have to look up to know who it was. Jace had a way of moving that was both relaxed and purposeful at the same time. He stopped beside her desk, leaning against the wall with that familiar smirk on his face.

"Still working?" he asked softly.

Ava didn't answer right away. She wanted to stay mad, frustrated at the way her thoughts kept getting tangled in him. But when she finally glanced up, her breath caught in her throat. Jace had loosened his tie, and there was something darker, more intense, in his gaze.

"I have to finish this," she said, trying to focus, though her voice wavered.

Jace didn't respond right away. He took a step closer, his presence filling the space between them. Ava could feel the heat radiating off him, the way the air seemed to thicken when he was near.

"You know," he said, his voice low, "you don't always have to be in control."

Ava's heart raced. She knew what he meant. She could feel it too-how tightly she was holding on to everything, her job, her responsibilities, her family. But Jace... he made her want to let go, even if it was just for a little while.

She stood up from her desk, her resolve crumbling as he reached for her. His hands found her waist, pulling her toward him, and before she could even think, his lips were on hers again. The kiss was hungry, desperate, filled with the tension they had both been trying to ignore. Ava's hands gripped the front of his shirt as if holding on for dear life.

"I can't... Jace, I have to-" Ava started to pull away, her voice breathless, but Jace cut her off.

"Shh," he whispered, his lips brushing the side of her neck. "Just this once. Just let go, Ava."

Ava's mind spun. She knew she should stop this. She knew she had deadlines, responsibilities, goals. But when Jace's hands slid down her back, pressing her closer against him, her resistance crumbled completely. The office around them disappeared. There was no project, no deadlines, just the heat of the moment and the electric pull between them.

His hands roamed over her, exploring every curve, every inch of skin beneath her blouse. Ava's breath came in shallow gasps as Jace's mouth traveled lower, trailing kisses along her collarbone, down to the edge of her shirt. His fingers worked deftly at the buttons, and in an instant, her shirt was discarded, leaving her vulnerable in the dim office light.

Ava knew this was reckless. She knew it was the kind of distraction she had spent her whole life avoiding, but in that moment, with Jace's hands on her skin and his lips driving her mad, it didn't matter. She needed this. She needed him.

"God, you're beautiful," Jace murmured, his breath hot against her skin.

Ava's head tilted back as his mouth found hers again, more demanding this time. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she gave in completely, letting the heat and desire consume her. His hands slid beneath the waistband of her skirt, and for a moment, Ava forgot everything-her responsibilities, her goals, her carefully laid plans.

But it wasn't long before reality came crashing back.

As they stood there, tangled in each other, a sharp beep echoed from Ava's desk. Her phone buzzed with a notification-a reminder for a late-night meeting she had scheduled with a potential investor. A reminder of the world she had almost lost sight of.

Ava pulled away abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. The fog of desire began to lift, leaving her with a stark realization. What was she doing? She had come so far, worked so hard to stay on track, and now she was risking it all.

Jace frowned slightly, his brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"

Ava shook her head, trying to steady her breath as she reached for her shirt, hastily buttoning it up. "I can't. I can't do this, Jace. Not right now. Not like this."

Jace's expression softened, but there was a hint of frustration in his eyes. "Ava, it's okay to want something for yourself."

She shook her head again, more firmly this time. "No, you don't get it. I'm this close to something big, and I can't afford to lose focus. Not now."

Jace ran a hand through his hair, stepping back, giving her space. "I get it. But you can't just keep pushing yourself like this. At some point, you have to let yourself feel something other than pressure."

Ava bit her lip, her mind racing. She wanted Jace-there was no denying that. But she wanted success more. She had sacrificed too much to let a moment of passion derail her. She had bigger dreams, dreams that didn't leave room for distraction.

"I need to go," Ava said, grabbing her things. "I have a meeting."

Jace didn't say anything as she hurried toward the elevator, but she could feel his gaze on her, feel the tension lingering between them, unresolved. Ava's heart ached as she walked away, but she couldn't turn back. Not now.

As the elevator doors closed behind her, Ava took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She had made the right choice, she told herself. This was just a temporary distraction. She would focus on her meeting, on her future, and everything else would fall into place.

But deep down, Ava knew it wasn't that simple. Her attraction to Jace was powerful, consuming in a way she hadn't expected. And no matter how hard she tried to push it aside, it wasn't going away.

For now, she would have to find a way to balance the fire burning inside her with the ambition driving her forward. Because one thing was clear: success wouldn't come easy, and neither would love.