Erik Logos wasn’t just some random attractive guy Ra bumped into; he was the kind of distraction that rearranged your entire universe. 

At six-foot-three, with an imposing frame that screamed raw masculinity, Erik had the body of a man who casually bench-pressed mountains but still rocked Armani suits like they were tailored by gods. With shoulders broad enough to block out the sun, long raven hair that patted his shoulders, deep-set emerald eyes that carried an unsettling intensity, and a jawline so sharp Ra was certain it could cut through cosmic fabric, Erik radiated pure, delicious danger wrapped in expensive fabric. 

And honestly? Ra wasn’t usually the type to drool over tailored suits and raw power, but there was something about Erik that made her forget her usual rules. He was the kind of man who made stability feel exciting, his broad shoulders promising safety, while the slow curl of his lips suggested chaos in the best possible ways. 

Today, they were seated at a trendy cafe, surrounded by people sipping matcha lattes and pretending not to stare. Ra stirred her chai latte absently, her eyes occasionally flicking up to catch Erik’s intense gaze pinning her to her chair. 

“So,” Erik finally said, his voice low, rich, and unbearably smooth, “are you going to tell me why you keep staring at me like I just stole your favorite crystal?” 

Ra’s eyes narrowed playfully, feigning innocence. “First of all, nobody touches my crystals. Secondly, maybe I’m just marveling at your…”—she waved vaguely at him—“whole thing you have going on.” 

Erik leaned in, the corners of his mouth quaking into a slow smirk that Ra both wanted to smack off and savor. “Define ‘thing.’” 

“Intense brooding. Immaculate suits. Muscles, I’m pretty sure have their gravitational field,” Ra quipped, feeling her heartbeat quicken under his scrutiny. 

“Interesting,” Erik responded, leaning forward slightly, the scent of sandalwood and power flooding her senses. “And yet, you haven’t run away.” 

Ra smirked, pretending to study her nails. “Maybe I’m immune to gravitational pull.” 18

“I highly doubt that,” Erik retorted softly, his eyes roaming her face as though he could read every secret she hid behind her carefully controlled expressions. “You don’t seem like the type to run from things that intrigue you.” 

“Oh, and you intrigue me?” Ra teased, raising an eyebrow. 

He held her gaze steadily, his eyes smoldering. “That’s an understatement.” 

Ra’s breath caught. She wanted to deflect with humor, but the sincerity in his tone cut straight through her usual defenses. “Careful, counselor,” she breathed, leaning closer, “I bite back.” 

A slow, devastating grin spread across Erik’s face. “Good. I prefer someone who can fight back.” 

She tried to hide the rush of heat that spread through her body, the undeniable pull she felt toward him, but she knew Erik saw it—sensed it. The silence between them stretched, charged with possibilities she wasn’t quite ready to explore. 

Eventually, Erik leaned back, breaking the spell. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trouble?” 

Ra smirked, regaining her composure. “Because you’re smarter than you look.” 

He laughed softly, the sound genuine and unexpectedly vulnerable. “Fair enough. But you should know, Ra, trouble never scares me.” 

Ra felt herself smile—a genuine, unguarded expression. “Oh, you say that now.” 

“I’ll say it again later if you’d like,” Erik challenged, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. 

Ra laughed, shaking her head. “Careful, Logos. Keep saying things like that, and you might just get exactly what you’re asking for.” 

He leaned back in his chair, the smirk now full-blown, eyes glittering with amusement and something deeper. “I’m counting on it.” 

Ra rolled her eyes, but inside, she felt the simmering tension rising, knowing that this wasn’t just playful banter. Erik was a puzzle wrapped in silk and steel, one she was dangerously close to trying to solve. 

Her phone buzzed suddenly, jolting them out of their charged cocoon. 19

Ra glanced at the screen, seeing Tyler’s name flash briefly. 

Erik’s eyebrow rose, the intensity momentarily replaced by curiosity. “Another admirer?” 

She laughed, shaking her head. “Just Tyler being Tyler. He probably wants details he has no business knowing.” 

“Ah,” Erik mused softly, nodding thoughtfully. “Should I be concerned?” 

“Only if you’re planning on becoming a problem,” Ra replied, smiling seductively in playful warning. 

Erik held her gaze, unflinching and daring. “I have a feeling we’re already past the ‘planning’ stage.” 

Ra’s heart thundered in her ears, the truth of his words hanging between them. 

She sighed softly, realizing she was already more invested than she had intended to be. “You’re trouble, Erik Logos.” 

“Then it seems we’re evenly matched,” he whispered, leaning back slowly as if savoring the final moments of their tension-filled encounter. 

As Ra stood up, preparing to leave, she felt his eyes trace every movement. She paused at the door, glancing back over her shoulder. 

“See you around, troublemaker,” she said with a sly grin. 

“I’m counting on it,” Erik replied, his voice echoing in her head long after the door swung shut behind her. 

Ra walked away, heart racing, mind spinning. This wasn’t just attraction; it was gravitational pull—intense, relentless, and undeniable. 

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to resist. 

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