AsLaz- The Mysterious Cabin

11. The final choice

The rest of the morning was a tug-of-war between focus and flirtation. Asi and Alaz settled down at the makeshift workspace they had set up in the cabin's living area, their laptops and notebooks spread out across the small table. Despite their best efforts to concentrate on finalizing their project, the air was thick with unspoken tension, every brush of their hands or shared glance stoking the embers of desire that had been left smoldering since dawn.

Alaz tried to dive into the data, his eyes scanning through the details on the screen, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Asi—the way she had straddled him, the bite that had left a mark on his lip, the teasing glint in her eyes when she had left him wanting. He caught himself staring at her more than once, his gaze following the curve of her neck, the way her curls framed her face, and the way her lips pursed in concentration as she worked.

Asi was no better. Every time she caught Alaz looking at her, she felt a flutter in her chest, a mix of exhilaration and defiance. She wanted to see how far she could push him, how long he could resist before he snapped. It was a dangerous game, but she was enjoying every moment of it.

By the time afternoon arrived, they had made some progress on the project, but it was slow-going. Asi's patience was wearing thin, and she decided to break the monotony by taking matters into her own hands—quite literally. She leaned over to grab a book from the other side of the table, making sure to brush her arm against Alaz's, her lips curling into a smile when she felt him tense.

"You're doing that on purpose," he said, his voice low, as he glanced up at her.

"Doing what?" Asi asked, feigning innocence as she settled back into her seat, her eyes not meeting his. "I'm just trying to get some work done. Maybe you should try it."

Alaz narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. He reached over, gently tilting her chin so she had to look at him. "You're a terrible liar," he said, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. "And it's driving me insane."

For a moment, Asi's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding as his touch sent a shiver through her. But she wasn't about to let him have the upper hand. "Good," she whispered, her lips parting slightly under his thumb. "I like driving you insane."

Alaz's eyes darkened, and he leaned in closer, his mouth hovering just inches from hers. "You really don't know what you're getting yourself into, do you?" he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. "Keep pushing me, Asi. I dare you."

Asi could feel the pull between them, the irresistible urge to close the distance and give in to the kiss that had been hanging in the air all morning. But instead, she pulled back with a smirk, grabbing the book she had been pretending to reach for and flipping it open. "Not now, Alaz. We have a project to finish, remember?"

He groaned, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. "You're killing me, Rebellious Girl," he said, shaking his head. "But fine. Let's get this over with."

They managed to focus for another couple of hours, making steady progress as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky. Asi found herself surprisingly impressed by Alaz's insights and contributions. Despite his playful nature, he had a sharp mind and a knack for problem-solving. It made her see him in a new light, and she had to remind herself not to get too distracted by his clever remarks and occasional flirtatious jabs.

By the time they were wrapping up for the day, the sun was setting, casting a warm, orange glow across the cabin. Asi stretched, feeling the tension in her muscles ease as she got up from the table. "I think we've done enough for today," she said, running a hand through her hair. "We can finish up tomorrow morning."

Alaz watched her, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Does that mean you're finally going to let me kiss you?" he asked, getting up and walking over to her, his movements slow and deliberate.