Chasing Dreams

Crossing the Line (Chapter 12)

Sophia's POV:

The sun dipped low as I set up my living room for another "tutoring session" with Christian. The more time we spent together, the more the line between studying and something else blurred. We weren't just working on his grades anymore. Our chemistry had been undeniable from the start, but now it felt like we were both playing with fire, testing just how close we could get before everything ignited.

I shifted the textbooks on the coffee table, trying to steady my breathing as the anticipation built inside me. Each time we met, something simmered beneath the surface—innocent touches that lingered a second too long, looks that carried more weight than either of us would admit out loud.

I heard a knock on the door, my heart skipping a beat. He was here.

I opened the door to find Christian standing there, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. He looked good—really good. His hoodie clung to his muscular frame in a way that made it hard to focus on anything else, and the way his eyes roamed over me as I let him in made my pulse quicken.

"Ready for some more history?" I teased, trying to keep things light even though the air between us felt thick with tension.

Christian stepped inside, his eyes locking with mine. "I'm ready for whatever you've got."

There was something in his voice, a low edge that sent a thrill up my spine. We both knew we weren't just talking about the Renaissance anymore.

We settled onto the couch, much closer than we needed to be. My knee brushed against his, and I didn't move away. Neither did he. Instead, his arm casually stretched along the back of the couch, his fingers just grazing my shoulder.

"So... where did we leave off?" I asked, flipping open the textbook even though I could barely focus on the words.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my neck as he glanced at the page. "Somewhere between ancient Rome and now."

I laughed softly, my heart hammering in my chest. I could feel his body heat next to me, the space between us shrinking with every second. It was impossible to ignore how close we were, how every little movement seemed intentional now.

I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable, but all it did was bring me even closer to him. Our legs were practically touching now, and when I glanced up, I caught Christian watching me with a look that made my stomach flip.

"Sophia," he murmured, his voice lower than usual. "You're really good at this tutoring thing."

I smiled, feeling my cheeks warm. "Maybe you're just a good student."

"Maybe," he said softly, his hand brushing my shoulder again, this time more deliberate. He didn't pull away. "But I think I'm learning more than just history here."

The air between us crackled with something unspoken, something we had been skirting around for days. His fingers trailed down from my shoulder, grazing my arm lightly, sending a shiver through me.

I swallowed hard, the room suddenly feeling smaller, warmer. "Christian..."

He didn't say anything, just shifted closer until there was no space left between us. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into him gently but with a clear intent. My breath caught as his other hand moved to my thigh, resting there lightly, like he was testing the waters.

I could feel the tension building, a slow burn spreading through my body. My heart was racing, and I knew we were crossing a line we couldn't come back from.

His hand moved up slightly, his touch firm but careful. My pulse quickened as I felt his thumb brush over the fabric of my jeans, slow and deliberate. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and intense.

I should've stopped this. I should've said something, kept things professional, but instead, I leaned into him, my body betraying every logical thought in my mind. The pull between us was magnetic, impossible to resist.

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "You're making it hard to focus."

I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. "Maybe that's the point."

Before I could second-guess myself, I tilted my head toward him, meeting his lips in a slow, heated kiss. His hand tightened on my thigh, pulling me even closer as the kiss deepened, growing more urgent with every passing second.

It was like everything we'd been holding back finally broke free, and the fire that had been smoldering between us exploded into something neither of us could control.

His hands roamed over me, each touch sending sparks through my skin, and I found myself gripping his hoodie, pulling him closer. The kiss was intoxicating, stealing my breath and leaving me dizzy, but I didn't care. I didn't want to stop.

Christian's hand moved up my side, slipping beneath my shirt just enough to feel the heat of his touch against my skin. The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I gasped against his lips, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.

The look on his face—pure, raw desire—made my stomach flip.

"This... might not be the best way to study," I whispered, my voice shaky.

Christian smirked, his hand still resting on my waist, his fingers brushing the bare skin just above my hip. "Maybe... but I think we're learning something more important."

I couldn't help but laugh softly, my forehead resting against his as we caught our breath. The intensity between us hadn't faded—it had only gotten stronger—but I knew we had to slow down before things got too far.

But even as we sat there, trying to pull ourselves back from the edge, I knew there was no going back now.

We had crossed the line, and there was no telling where this would lead next.