THE QUIET HOUSE

___

The Sterling estate was vast — too large for Ariana to feel comfortable in. Every room was pristine, each space immaculately designed to reflect Theon’s quiet wealth. The house had a coldness to it, like it was more a museum than a home, filled with priceless art and rare antiques, but little warmth.

It was the second day after the wedding. Ariana had spent the morning wandering through the halls, trying to get familiar with the house, the surroundings, and the man she now shared a life with.

Theon had been quiet. It was in his nature, she assumed, and his silence was something that both unsettled and intrigued her. He didn’t hover around her, but he was always there when she needed him. His presence was like a steady hum in the background — not demanding attention, yet unmissable.

Ariana wasn’t used to this kind of quiet. Her home, though modest, had always been filled with the chatter of family, the clinking of dishes, the sound of television in the background. Here, it was different. A silence that spoke volumes.

She hadn’t expected to feel it so soon — the pull. It was subtle, creeping into her mind at moments when she was least prepared for it. It wasn’t like the passionate, fiery love stories in the movies. No, this was something else. Something quiet. Something steady.

She had caught herself staring at Theon more than once. Not because he was particularly handsome — though he was, in his own understated way. His dark hair, his sharp jawline, and the way his dark blue eyes seemed to pierce through the silence like they were reading her thoughts. But it was more than that. There was a quiet magnetism to him, an energy she couldn’t quite place.

This was a man who didn’t chase attention, who didn’t demand anything from others. It was that self-assuredness that intrigued her. He wasn’t rushing anything with her. He seemed to know that love — real love — took time.

Later that evening, after dinner, Ariana sat down in the living room with a glass of wine, looking out at the distant city lights. Theon had offered to join her, and though she wasn’t sure why, she had said yes.

He sat down across from her, a few feet of space between them, but it didn’t feel like distance. The quiet tension between them was palpable, almost thick in the air. It wasn’t awkward. It was… something else. Something that made her heart beat faster when he wasn’t even looking at her.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Theon finally broke the silence, his voice soft but direct. “You don’t have to feel pressured, Ariana. I don’t expect anything from you.”

She glanced at him, her pulse quickening as she caught the earnestness in his eyes. He wasn’t just saying that. He truly meant it.

“I know,” she whispered, her fingers tightening around her glass. “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel.”

“You don’t have to figure that out now,” he replied calmly. “Take your time. But I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

Ariana looked down at her wine, trying to steady her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what was happening between them — this strange bond that wasn’t friendship, but wasn’t yet love. It wasn’t anything she’d ever expected.

But there was something in the air. A shift. A subtle energy.

Theon’s gaze lingered on her, and Ariana felt an unexpected warmth spread through her chest. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, especially not from someone as self-possessed as him. His stare wasn’t invasive, though. It was patient. Respectful. As if he were waiting for something… but not rushing her to provide it.

Suddenly, the space between them felt smaller. Ariana’s breath hitched when she saw him move slightly closer, his body language relaxed but intent. He reached for his glass, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest of moments.

Her heart skipped a beat.

It was a simple touch. A brush of skin. But it was enough to make something inside her stir, a heat she didn’t know was there. She met his gaze again, her breath catching in her throat. There was something about the way he looked at her, as though he could see through the layers she had built around herself.

“I’m not rushing you,” Theon said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But I want you to know that I’m here. For you.”

Ariana swallowed, trying to push away the sudden rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Her entire body seemed to hum with a feeling she couldn’t describe. She could feel the chemistry between them, like a silent current beneath the surface.

It was there, in the small moments. In the way he said her name, in the gentle touch of his hand against hers, in the way he respected her space even when he was so close. It wasn’t love yet. But it was something more than just mere attraction. Something deeper. Something that neither of them had expected to happen.

She didn’t know what would happen next, or if she was ready for whatever this was between them. But in that moment, with Theon sitting across from her, his eyes steady and calm, Ariana felt a flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, there was something worth exploring here.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***