Chapter 14.2 Bondfire

“A work document,” Kalmin replied, not looking up from the pages. “I don’t have time to explain.” He set the folder aside and picked up another binder, his brow furrowing as he scanned it. He muttered to himself.
Nuri noticed how tense his shoulders were, muscles straining under his shirt. It wasn’t just the paperwork; there was something else gnawing at him, something just beneath the surface. The tension between them—between her—had become an unspoken thing. She couldn’t pinpoint it, but it was there, hanging in the spaces between their words.
“What do you do for work?” she asked, her voice quieter, unsure how to broach the subject without unraveling everything.
Kalmin glanced at her, eyes narrowing. “I’m an attorney,” he said after a moment, the words carrying more weight than she’d expected.
An attorney. Nuri blinked, staring at him in surprise. “An attorney?” Her voice was incredulous. ‘You?’
Kalmin chuckled, a low sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. Surprised?”
She didn’t answer, instead watching him closely as she ate. There was something about him that made everything feel so much more intense, his mere presence pulling at her in ways that left her breathless.
When breakfast was finished, he stood, gathering the plates with practiced ease. “We need to go,” he said, his voice low. The command in it was impossible to ignore.
Her heart skipped a beat as she grabbed her coat, slipping it on as she followed him out the door. His presence was suffocating and enticing in ways that made her pulse quicken. They walked side by side, the space between them almost unbearable as her thoughts tangled with questions and desires she wasn’t ready to face.
A few minutes into the drive toward the campus, Kalmin glanced over at her, his brow furrowing slightly. “Did you bring your documents?” His voice was softer now, quieter, but still commanding.
Her stomach dropped. No. “Uh…” she stammered, mind racing.
Kalmin cursed under his breath, irritation flashing in his eyes as he scanned the traffic ahead. “We’ll have to go back. I can’t get you enrolled without them.” He made a sharp turn, maneuvering around the oncoming cars.
As they headed back toward the house, Nuri’s heart pounded harder. Something was shifting in the air—something that made the tension feel suffocating. It wasn’t just the inconvenience of forgetting her documents. It was him. Kalmin was unpredictable, and each moment with him seemed to set her nerves on edge in ways she didn’t understand. She knew, deep down, that it was only going to get worse.
“Damn it, Nuri. I didn’t think I’d have to tell you to bring your transcripts and birth certificate,” Kalmin muttered, scowling as his fingers drummed impatiently on the steering wheel. His eyes flicked to the clock. “This is going to take too long. I won’t make it to the pack house in time.”

“If we go back, I can grab them. It’ll only take a second,” Nuri offered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“That’s a second I don’t have,” Kalmin shot back, his tone sharper than necessary. “You’ll have to stay home.” The words stung more than Nuri had anticipated. He didn’t even glance at her as he spoke, his voice final. “It wasn’t a suggestion.”

Nuri sighed quietly, gripping the door handle as Kalmin accelerated, the car surging forward with a sudden force. A weight settled over her chest, heavy and suffocating. The day had barely started, and already it felt like she was failing somehow. She hadn’t slept well the night before, her mind a blur of questions, and now this. How could I forget that?

'Did you forget about the kiss too?' Tempest’s voice teased, bright and mischievous, cutting through the fog of Nuri’s thoughts.

'He didn’t say anything about it,' Nuri thought back, glancing at Kalmin, who was too focused on the road to notice. His jaw was set, a slight furrow between his brows.
'Should I bring it up?' Nuri mused, half-amused by the idea.

'No,' Tempest responded firmly. 'If he wanted to talk about it, he would have. Let’s just wait and see.' She considered bringing up the kiss that came before, at the restaurant, but decided it was better Nuri didn’t think about that right now.

'She’s staring at you,' Rian’s voice broke through the banter, sharp and observant.

“I know,” Kalmin muttered under his breath, realizing too late that his words had slipped out loud. He shot a glance at Nuri, her eyebrow raised in silent confusion. “That was for Rian,” he added quickly, defensively.

'Don’t take her back home, Kalmin. Bring her to work with you,' Rian pushed, his irritation seeping into every syllable.

'Why in the hell would I do that?' Kalmin retorted, his frustration mounting. He shook his head, clearly agitated.

'When is your fresh start supposed to begin if you won’t try?' Rian’s voice rang out, challenging and sharp. 'You promised both of us.'

Kalmin gritted his teeth, forcing the anger down. 'I’ll keep my promise. In my own time.' His jaw tightened, and he took a slow, measured breath, trying to steady himself. The tension with Rian was reaching its peak, making everything feel even more complicated than it should.

'Take her to work with you,' Rian repeated, his words now carrying an edge more dangerous than before.

'Stop it,' Kalmin snapped, his voice low, strained. 'You can’t push us together by force.'

'Care to test that theory?' Rian’s voice slid into Kalmin’s mind, full of challenge.

“Is that a threat, Rian?” Kalmin’s voice was sharp as he spoke aloud, his eyes flashing with an intensity that hadn’t been there a moment ago. He glanced at Nuri, her curiosity obvious. “Answer me. Are you threatening me?”

Kalmin let out a bitter laugh when Rian fell silent, the tension thick and palpable. 'I cannot believe you would do this to me, after everything we’ve been through.'

Nuri, sensing the shift in Kalmin’s mood, placed a hand gently on his shoulder. “Are you okay?” Her voice was soft, though she knew it was a question without a simple answer.

“I’m fine,” Kalmin muttered, his voice flat as he glanced at his phone, then cursed under his breath. He slammed his hand against the wheel, making another sharp U-turn. "Hear me, Rian, this isn’t because you demanded it."