8. Chapter 3
The Fire We Feed
Evin
H is hands rested loosely on her hips, and they moved to the rhythm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Their eyes met, and each time, a hot shiver shot through her body. It felt like the party was nothing more than background noise to what was really happening between them.
Suddenly, Milka appeared beside them, her smile wide and knowing.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need Evin for a sec," she called over the music, lightly tugging Evin’s arm. "Girl break."
Evin looked at Bas, whose grip on her hips loosened hesitantly. His eyes flickered for a second before he put on a light, almost challenging smile.
"Don’t take too long."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be right back," Evin said, winking at him before letting Milka pull her away.
"I know the timing sucked, but I had to—He’s really into you," Milka whispered as they pushed their way through the crowd toward the bathro oms.
"You really think so?" The flashing lights dimmed as they neared the restroom area.
"Maybe it’ll finally work out. I hope it does, for your sake," Milka smiled at her friend.
"How’s it going with you? Don’t think I haven’t noticed what’s going on with you and Victor," Evin teased, playfully pinching her side.
Milka jerked away quickly, accidentally bumping into the line they were standing in.
It happened like a chain reaction—someone shoved Milka back, sending her stumbling into Evin. Like a domino, Evin lost her balance and tipped backward.
For a split second, she saw herself already hitting the ground.
But then—she didn’t.
She landed softly and was pulled upright just as quickly.
When Evin turned around, she saw a T-shirt she had already seen earlier that evening.
A broad smile met her gaze, and she let out a breath of relief. Ben grinned at her, his hands still on her shoulders. "That was some perfect timing, huh?"
Evin let out a small laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with confidence. "Yeah, otherwise, that would’ve ended badly for me."
"That would’ve been a shame," Ben replied, his gaze just a little more intense.
"You look too good to end up like that." His hands were still resting on her arms.
"Now you definitely owe me a drink," he said casually, stepping beside her.
"Oh, I thought you did that out of pure kindness?" Evin grinned, leaning slightly to the side. Ben nodded smoothly.
"Of course, but kindness also makes you thirsty."
She laughed, shaking off the slight awkwardness, then stepped back, slipping out of his hold.
"Wh ere have you been hiding all night?" she asked with a crooked grin.
"Waiting for you to finally give me a little bit of your time," he said, almost playfully—but with a hint of something real.
Milka stood a few steps ahead, waving frantically at Evin, but before she could join her friend, Ben stepped closer again, placing a hand on her hip, making her pause.
"So, what are we doing about that drink you owe me?"
His gaze grew more intense, and a slight tingling spread through Evin’s body.
"Right now?" she asked, grinning, even though she could feel the situation shifting in a direction she hadn’t planned for.
Her eyes briefly searched for Milka, who had already disappeared into the bathroom. Behind her, she felt the light pressure of Ben’s hand, as if he were subtly guiding her toward a quieter spot.
Before Evin could react, he subtly guided her into a narrow hallway near the bathrooms, where the party noise was muffled.
"I think we can postpone that drink," he said, his face mere inches from hers. "I have something better in mind right now."
Evin was about to respond, to make it clear she wasn’t interested in whatever he was implying, when she suddenly caught movement from the corner of her eye.
Her breath hitched as she spotted Bas at the end of the hallway, his gaze unbearably intense.
He had seen everything.
Ben’s fingers skimmed almost casually over her arm. "You seem nervous. Everything okay?" he asked with a soft smile, leaning in even closer.
With his arms crossed, Bas stood against the wall, watching them directly.
His jaw tightened, and though he didn’t speak, his expression said everything. A brief twitch in his jaw gave away all the words he wasn’t saying.
Slowly, he started walking toward them, his steps controlled and deliberate. He paused briefly in front of Evin, letting his gaze flick from Ben to her .
"That was fast."
His voice was steady, and the tension between them was impossible to miss.
"So they were right after all." His words sounded as if he was trying to convince himself that he didn’t care. His eyes pierced through her, his breathing shallow but controlled, his facade still unshaken.
Evin opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Bas leaned in closer, his voice dropping just enough so only she could hear him.
"Are you playing games with me, Evin? After what just happened?"
Ben, who couldn’t ignore the tension between them, stepped in. "Hey, man, we were just talking. No need to overreact."
Bas briefly tore his gaze away from Evin to glance at Ben before turning back to her.
"Talking…" he repeated quietly, but his tone was razor-sharp. A slow, dismissive once-over swept over Evin.
"Is that what you’re looking for, Evin? Just talking?"
The fire in his eyes was impossible to ignore, but Bas struggled to keep his composure as his heart pounded and his jealousy fought to break through the icy exterior.
Bas stood still, his expression unreadable. His face hardened, his jaw muscles tensing beneath the surface as he looked at her like he could shatter her in that moment.
"You know what?" His voice was low, dark. "I thought I was different to you."
Ben shifted further back, and Evin felt her heart race.
"Bas, it’s not what you think—"
But before she could finish, Bas lifted a hand, silencing her. A bitter laugh escaped him—short and sharp.
"What a fucking joke."
He turned slightly, as if he were about to leave, then hesitated, looking at her over his shoulder.
"You really did it, Evin. Congratulations."
His words dripped like poison, each syllable slow and deliberate.
"Ha ve fun with your little toy." He motioned toward Ben, who still stood there, confused.
Bas took a step forward, as if he were about to walk away, but then, suddenly, he turned back, closing the distance between them, too close, his eyes locking onto hers with a quiet, merciless intensity.
"Keep playing your games. But don’t ever come near me again."
His voice was rough, almost threatening, and without waiting for a response, he pushed through the crowd, not looking back once.
His anger wasn’t loud. It burned quietly, but deeply.
And it left marks.
___________
After Bas had left, Evin still stood there, frozen in place. But it felt as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
Why did it hurt so damn much to see him walk away like that? Why did he always have to come so close, only to drop her again?
The walls pounded dully, people laughed, but everything felt muffled, wrapped in cotton. She could feel her pulse rushing in her ears.
It was as if he had pulled the ground from under her feet—and yet she wasn’t sure if he had ever really been there at all. Her thoughts swirled, unable to settle.
What the hell just happened?
Evin’s heart was racing, Bas’s words still echoing in her head. She didn’t want to see him like that, not that hurt. But now it had happened.
How had things flipped so fast?
Before she could collect herself, Ben reappeared at her side, his eyes searching for an explanation.
“What… was that just now?” he asked, frowning. And just as Evin was about to take a breath, Milka appeared again, concern written all over her face.
“Evin, are you okay? What happened?” She glanced at Evin’s face, then in the direction Bas had disappeared. “Oh shit… I know what that means. I’m call ing Rico.”
Without another word, Milka wrapped her arm around Evin’s shoulders and pulled her along. She let Milka guide her, her legs feeling heavy, as if she were leaving something behind that she didn’t actually want to let go of.
The loud music faded as they left the club, the cool night air hitting them. It almost felt liberating.
Milka looked at her seriously as they sat down on a step outside. “Do you want to talk about it?” Evin shook her head, her gaze empty. “Not now.”
Milka sighed and nodded understandingly.
“Okay, but whatever it is, you’re coming home with me tonight. No being alone and overthinking, okay?” She shoved her phone into her pocket and stood up. “Let’s go.”
Evin nodded gratefully, her thoughts still lingering on the furious, wounded expression on Bas’s face.
How had it come to this? What had she done to him that made him react with so much coldness, so much hurt?
As they drove through the dark night, Evin pressed her forehead against the cool window, watching the streets blur past. Every flickering light, every dim glow of a streetlamp reminded her of the burning look Bas had given her before he walked away.
It was as if he had left a mark on her—a pain that settled deep in her chest, reminding her that she had touched something in him, something she hadn’t even realized was there. But now, she had ruined it.
__________
Sebastia n
B as stepped out of the club with quick strides, his hands clenched into fists.
The cold night air hit his face, but it was nothing compared to the ice that had settled in his chest. His heart was pounding, a dull thudding that followed him the entire way home.
He forced himself not to look back—not to search for her.
What the hell was she thinking?
He yanked the car door open, dropped into the seat, and slammed the door shut behind him.
His gaze fell to his hands—his knuckles white from clenching his fists too hard.
He didn’t want to react like this. He didn’t want her to have that kind of power over him.
But she knew exactly what she was doing.
She wanted to provoke him. She wanted to see how far she could push him. What else could it be?
He started the engine, drove aimlessly through the city, the lights smearing into blurry reflections on the windshield. His phone vibrated—a message from someone. He ignored it.
He couldn’t talk to anyone right now.
Why had he even let her get this close? He had known better.
He knew what she was—a game, a fucking mystery that kept him hooked even as he kept telling himself he didn’t care.
He had seen it too many times. The way she laughed, the way she tilted her head back as if the world around her didn’t exist. The way she spoke to someone as if that moment was just for them—as if she was fully present, while at the same time keeping all her doors open.
She knew exactly how to manipulate him.
And yet, he had given her that moment. Let her get close. Allowed her to humiliate him. A mistake.
He pressed down on the gas, feeling his adrenaline spike. But the anger was deceptive—it wasn’t just aimed at her.
Wasn’t it him who had let this happen?
He knew she had been flirting with Ben. But had she done it to hurt him—or was it just his own possessiveness making him lose his mind?
He came to an abrupt stop, right at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. The engine hummed softly, the city lights flickered behind him, the waves crashing against the rocks below.
Now he could breathe, let the night sink in. The wind, the sound of the surf. His heartbeat barely slowed.
He wanted her. Not because he was in love with her.
He wanted her because she was slipping through his fingers.
Because she didn’t do what he expected her to. Because she challenged him, because she pulled away just as he was about to reach her.
And he hated it.
Hate. Obsession. Control. Everything blurred together.
A bitter laugh escaped him—low, almost mocking. Maybe that was exactly her trick. Maybe she had already figured him out. Maybe she knew he would risk everything just to be near her—and that was exactly what made him predictable in her eyes.
His jaw tightened, his gaze turning steely.
This wasn’t a game she was going to win.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket, turned it between his fingers, then tapped on their chat. Nothing. No message.
His stare lingered on the empty screen. Seconds passed.
He hadn’t expected her to text him. Or had he?
With a sharp breath, he locked his phone and leaned back against the headrest. The urge to check again gnawed at him, but he ignored it. He had to stop letting her get to him.
So instead, he opened another chat.
Cat.
He hesitated, starring at his display. Then…
Bas
Where are you?
Are you still up?
He stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the send button, while the ocean kept crashing against the cliffs below.
Then, he pressed send.