Hidden Flames..

Chapter 28

Two days had passed since the secret tension between Ethan and Lily had been simmering under the surface. One evening, as the sky darkened and the city lights began to twinkle, Ethan found himself standing outside Lily's house, his bike idling beneath him. He pulled out his phone and sent her a message.

Ethan: *"Come outside. I'm waiting."*

Lily's phone buzzed almost immediately. She squinted at the message, confused. She walked over to her window, pulling it open. Outside, there he was, leaning casually against his motorcycle, a helmet in his hand. The cool evening breeze ruffled his hair, and he was dressed in casual, dark clothes that made him look effortlessly handsome.

Lily: *"What? Why?"*

Ethan, with a mischievous grin, looked up at her. "Come on, Lil. You know you want to." Lily groaned inwardly. *Not now, not tonight.*

Ethan's voice drifted up to her, the teasing tone unmistakable. "You're coming, or I'll come up there and drag you down myself."

Lily froze. "No, no, wait! I'll come."

With a resigned sigh, she quickly got dressed for a bike ride, changed into a comfortable jacket, and snuck downstairs, careful not to make too much noise. She slipped out the front door and onto the porch, where Ethan was waiting, the bike gleaming under the streetlights.

Ethan handed her the helmet, a silent command in his eyes. Without hesitation, she took it and slipped it on. He gestured toward the bike, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as he did so, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.

"Get on," he said, his voice low and sure.

Lily hesitated for just a moment, her heart pounding, before she swung her leg over the bike and settled behind him. Ethan revved the engine, and with a nod, they took off into the night, the cool wind whipping around them, their shared silence speaking volumes.

The city passed by in a blur of lights and shadows, but Ethan steered them off the main roads, up winding paths that led to a secluded spot. He slowed the bike as they neared the edge of a high hill. They stopped, and Lily got off, looking out at the breathtaking view.

The city sprawled below them, glowing like a constellation of lights. The moon hung low and full, casting its silvery light over everything, while the soft rustling of the trees and the distant hum of the city created a peaceful, almost surreal atmosphere.

Ethan stood beside her, his hand brushing against her arm, the proximity sending a pulse of heat through her.

"You like it here?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost like a secret shared between them. Lily nodded, her eyes still on the horizon, but she could feel the heat of his gaze on her. "It's beautiful... I didn't know this place existed."

Ethan smirked, stepping a little closer. "I guess I'm full of surprises." His voice dropped a little, and his words hung in the air like a challenge. "You still sure you can keep up with me, Lil?" She turned her head slightly, catching the teasing glint in his eyes. "I can handle myself."

"Oh, I know you can," he said with a small, confident smile. "But I wonder how well you'll handle this."

Before she could respond, Ethan moved closer, his breath warm on her cheek, and in one swift motion, he kissed her. It wasn't gentle, not like their previous exchanges—this kiss was hungry, urgent, as though they both knew this moment was too charged to ignore.

Lily's hands found his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt as she deepened the kiss, pressing closer. His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her in tighter, his lips moving against hers with an intensity she didn't know she could feel. Her heart raced, her entire body reacting to the electricity between them, as if the night itself had become an extension of their connection.

They pulled back just enough to breathe, their foreheads touching, sharing the same unsteady breath. Ethan's eyes were dark with desire, but there was something else there, something more vulnerable.

Lily, still reeling from the kiss, found herself unable to speak, her heart in her throat. But Ethan, with a quiet chuckle, whispered, "I think we're in trouble now, Lil."

Lily's lips curved into a small, teasing smile. "Maybe, but I don't really mind."

Ethan gazed at her for a long moment, the soft moonlight catching the glimmer of her eyes.

 "Neither do I," he said, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the night.

It wasn't just the kiss. It was everything between them—the weight of what they hadn't said, the truth of what they both knew was inevitable. And neither of them could back away from it now.