Crimson Bonds

The Pull

When I wake again, the room is quiet, save for the soft murmur of voices nearby. The warmth of Dante's arms is still wrapped around me, grounding me in the moment. My mind feels clearer now, but that doesn't stop the strange, simmering tension that lingers inside me. The memories of earlier flash through my mind—Nikolai's kiss, the way I feel drawn to Dante and Lila—and a familiar heat creeps back into my body.

I stir slightly, blinking against the dim light, and the quiet hum of the room settles over me like a blanket. Dante's steady presence behind me is comforting, but I can still feel the confusion swirling in my chest, like I'm on the edge of something I don't quite understand. I don't know what this is between the four of us, but I can't deny how deeply connected I feel to each of them.

I shift in Dante's lap, my movements catching his attention as his arms tighten gently around me. "You're awake," he murmurs, his voice low and warm, that familiar rumble sending a shiver down my spine.

"Yeah," I breathe out, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. But as I sit up slightly, I'm met with a pair of familiar mischievous eyes—Nikolai. He's sitting closer to the edge of the bed now, leaning casually but with that signature intensity behind his gaze. His presence alone is enough to make my pulse quicken, and I suddenly become very aware of how close we all are.

"You sleep too much, sweetheart," Nikolai teases, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. The touch is light, playful, but it sends warmth curling through me all the same.

I give him a small smile, trying to ignore the way his fingers linger against my cheek. "Maybe because I'm trying to avoid your teasing," I shoot back, though my voice lacks its usual edge.

Nikolai's grin widens, clearly enjoying my flustered state. "Can't avoid me forever," he murmurs, his hand now resting on my shoulder, his thumb brushing lightly against the fabric of my shirt.

I swallow, trying to focus on his words, but my mind is still spinning with the events of earlier. The kiss. The connection. The way I feel drawn not just to Nikolai, but to Dante and Lila, too. I can't shake it, and I don't know what to do with it.

Lila, as if sensing my turmoil, stands up from where she's been sitting by the window. She moves gracefully to the bed, sitting beside me with that quiet, calm energy she always seems to have. Her presence soothes me, even as the warmth inside me flares again at her closeness.

Her hand rests lightly on my arm, and I can't help but glance at her. She's watching me with those understanding eyes, the ones that make me feel like she sees right through me. And maybe she does—she can read my thoughts after all. I flush, remembering that she already knows about my growing desire for her and for Dante.

"Olivia," Lila says softly, her voice gentle. "I know this is all confusing for you."

That's an understatement. I feel like I'm caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to figure out what any of it means. What is happening between us? Is it just the bond we share, or is it something deeper? Something more?

Nikolai, ever the one to lighten the mood, chuckles softly, his hand sliding down to my waist in a way that feels both casual and deliberate. "You think too much," he says, his voice teasing but affectionate. "Just let yourself feel it."

I want to laugh, to push back against his playful words, but the truth is, I don't know how to stop thinking. My mind is racing with a thousand questions—questions I don't have answers to. I don't know what this connection is between us, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the feelings that keep pulling at me.

I glance at Lila again, my gaze lingering on her calm expression, and the pull toward her grows stronger. It's not just attraction. It's more than that. It's the quiet strength she exudes, the way she seems to ground me even in my most chaotic moments. I want to reach out to her, to touch her, to feel the same connection I felt earlier when we kissed. The thought makes my heart race.

But then there's Dante. His steady presence behind me, his arms still wrapped protectively around me—it makes me feel safe in a way I hadn't expected. I want him too. I want to feel that intensity again, the one that sparked when we kissed. And yet, I can't seem to figure out how to handle all of it at once. How can I want all three of them this way?

I shift in Dante's arms, trying to gather my thoughts, but it's no use. Nikolai's touch on my waist is grounding me just as much as it's setting me on fire, and Lila's soft gaze is drawing me in, making me want to close the gap between us.

"I don't know what's happening," I admit softly, my voice shaky. "Between all of us."

Lila's hand tightens gently on my arm, and she smiles at me in that knowing way, as if she understands exactly what I'm feeling. "It's okay, Olivia. You don't have to figure it all out right now."

Nikolai's grin softens, and he leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Just go with it, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice low. "Let yourself feel what you're feeling."

His words send a shiver down my spine, and I bite my lip, unsure of what to say. It's like my body and mind are at war with each other—one wanting to pull back, the other wanting to dive in headfirst.

But then I glance at Lila again, and I can't deny it anymore. I want her. I want to reach out and feel that connection with her, just as much as I want Nikolai's touch and Dante's steady hold. It isn't just physical desire—it's more than that. It's the bond between us, the way our lives have become so tangled together that I can't separate one from the other.

Slowly, tentatively, I reach for Lila, my heart racing as I close the distance between us. She doesn't move, doesn't push or pull, just watches me with those calm, understanding eyes. When our hands finally touch, a quiet spark shoots through me, like the bond between us is coming to life again.

Lila smiles softly, her hand gently squeezing mine. "You don't have to rush anything," she says quietly. "We're here to protect you, no matter what."

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. I don't know what to say, but I know one thing for certain: I'm not alone in this. Whatever is happening between us, whatever this bond means, I'm not in it alone.

And for now, that's enough.