Bound by Honor *2ND DRAFT*

XIV

October 1

Estella POV

The city glowed through the wide glass windows, streaks of gold and violet cutting through the evening haze. The office was quiet now — everyone else had gone home hours ago. It was just me, the soft hum of the computer, and Malakai.

He stood near the window, sleeves rolled up, tie loose, the last bit of sunset catching on the sharp line of his jaw. His presence filled the room — calm, confident, magnetic in that effortless way only he could manage.

I finished typing the last few notes from the meeting and leaned back in my chair. When I glanced up, he was watching me again, that half-smile tugging at his lips."You've been staring for five minutes," I said, raising a brow.He didn't even pretend to deny it. "Can you blame me, gorgeous?"I snorted softly, though warmth immediately crept up my neck.

"You really need new hobbies."He chuckled, crossing the space between us. "I've got one. Watching you pretend you're not blushing."I rolled my eyes, but I could feel the heat blooming across my cheeks — even on my dark skin, it gave me away.

"You're seeing things," I said, standing to stack my papers, pretending to be busy.He leaned closer, voice dropping. "I see everything when it comes to you."That did not help my composure. "Careful, Romeo," I said quickly, trying to mask the flustered edge in my tone, "you're starting to sound like a man in a romance novel."He laughed, the sound low and warm. "And what if I am?""Then you need better dialogue," I quipped, but my smile betrayed me.

He reached out and caught my hand before I could move away. His thumb brushed over my knuckles — slow, deliberate — and my breath hitched."You did incredible today," he said, eyes locked on mine. "Every person in that room respected you. You held it together like it was nothing."I shook my head, half-laughing, and let my fingers lace with his.

"Maybe I just had a good teacher."He smiled at that, shaking his head. "Don't give me that credit, baby. You've been a force since day one."I looked down, half-smiling. "You always say that like you didn't build all this with me."He tilted his head, studying me. "Maybe. But you're the heart of it, Estella Morreti. You're the reason it means something."

The sound of my last name — his last name — on his tongue always did something strange to me. It was grounding, like the final note of a melody that had been hanging in the air too long."You always know what to say, don't you?" I said softly. "You rehearse this stuff?"He smirked. "Only every night before bed."I laughed, the tension breaking just enough for me to breathe again.

"You're ridiculous.""Maybe," he said, voice gentler now, "but I mean it. You've been running on fumes for weeks. You don't have to keep pushing like the world will fall apart if you rest."I leaned back against the desk, arms crossed loosely. "Old habits die hard.""Then let me help you break them." His tone wasn't a request. It was a quiet promise.

I hesitated, glancing at him. "Why do you always do that?""Do what?""Look at me like I'm the only thing in the room."He took a slow step closer, his gaze steady. "Because, baby, when you're here, you are."I froze — flustered all over again. "That's not fair," I muttered, half-laughing. "You can't just say stuff like that. My brain stops working."

He grinned, clearly amused. "Then I'll take responsibility for that.""Mhmm." I shook my head, though I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips. "You just like watching me get flustered.""I do," he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

He stepped in close, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. His hand found my waist, thumb circling the soft fabric there, grounding me. I found myself leaning into him, my own hands coming to rest on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart."You know, if you keep talking like that, HR might have a field day," I teased, my voice a little breathless.

He laughed quietly, his forehead dropping to mine. "Good thing we own the company, huh?"That pulled a genuine laugh from me — soft, unguarded. His nose brushed mine, and for a moment the entire city felt like it had faded away, leaving just the two of us suspended in golden light.

My breath caught, but there was no fear in it — just the warmth of being seen, of being known. I let my fingers trace the line of his jaw, memorizing him all over again."I used to think needing someone meant I was weak. That leaning on anyone meant I couldn't handle my own life."He didn't interrupt — just watched me, listening like every word mattered.

His thumb traced slow, soothing circles against my lower back."But with you," I said, meeting his eyes, "it doesn't feel like weakness. It feels like... breathing."He exhaled softly, thumb brushing against my cheek. "That's all I ever wanted, baby. For you to breathe easy again."I smiled, small but real. "You make it sound simple.""It is simple," he said, his smile returning. "You don't have to carry it all by yourself anymore."

I pressed my forehead to his, closing my eyes. For a moment, we just stood there, the city spinning on without us. His hands framed my waist, holding me steady, and I let myself lean fully into him, his heartbeat steady and real beneath my palms. My chest tightened, and I looked down before the tears could form.

"You always know what to say," I whispered."That's because I pay attention." He tilted my chin up gently. "You don't have to tell me when you're overwhelmed. I see it. You get quiet. You hold your pen tighter. You stop meeting my eyes."My lips parted slightly. "You notice all that?""Every time." He smiled faintly.

"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever studied."That earned him a quiet laugh and another blush I couldn't fight. "You're too smooth, Kai."He grinned. "Only for you."He dipped his head, pressing a slow kiss to my forehead. I let my eyes close, sinking into the warmth of his arms. The world outside could wait — the chaos, the deadlines, the expectations. Right now, all that mattered was his steady warmth and the simple truth that, for the first time in a long time, I wasn't standing alone.