Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 212: With Ian, It Was Fire. With Ren, It Was Gravity

I was standing outside by the pool, staring at the water.

The lights from the house reflected off it.

It was beautiful. Calm and beautiful.

I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I exhaled. "Holy crap, I actually did it," I muttered.

I sang in front of Estrella’s elites. Literal business moguls.

And sohow, I didn’t pass out.

I rubbed my arms, trying to calm down. My heart was still beating.

Then I heard footsteps behind , like whoever it was wanted to make an entrance.

"Found you," Ian’s voice ca from behind, the kind of tone that made my stomach drop and flutter at the sa ti.

I didn’t turn. I could see his reflection in the water.... tall, broad-shouldered, tux slightly undone, loose tie. He looked like he’d just walked off a movie set.

"You looked unreal out there," he said, coming closer. "Like, the whole room stopped breathing when you opened your mouth."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my smile. "Well, I literally almost puked halfway through the second verse."

"Yeah, well," he leaned in a little, "if you puked, it would’ve been the hottest, most elegant puke ever perford."

I burst out laughing, smacking his arm. "You’re insane."

"I’m serious," he grinned. "You were...God, June, you were beautiful out there."

I tried to hide my smile. "You’re just saying that because I didn’t let you finish that dirty sentence earlier."

"Guilty," he said, smirking. "But also not wrong. He chuckled, stepping beside .

"They were staring. I was staring."

I rolled my eyes. "You always stare."

"Can you bla ?" he said softly.

And then....his gaze dipped.

Straight to my lips.

I looked away quickly. "Don’t."

"Don’t what?" he smirked.

"Don’t look at like that."

He tilted his head, grinning slightly. "Like what?"

"Like you’re..." I swallowed, "trying to start sothing."

"You’re shaking," he whispered.

I scoffed. "Because it’s cold."

"Right," he murmured, dropping his voice lower, "not because I’m this close."

I turned back toward the pool to hide my blush, but his reflection was still beside mine... tall, annoying, and perfect.

"Fine," I softened ny eyes. "Thanks... for being there."

He smiled.

"Always," he said quietly. "Even when you’re pretending not to need ."

"Ugh," I groaned, nudging him. "Stop being sweet, it’s ssing with my sarcasm."

For a second, neither of us said anything. The music from inside drifted out.... slow, romantic.

The kind of song people dance to when they forget the world.

He reached out again, his hand found my waist, pulling just a little closer. "You drive insane," he whispered.

"Good," I said, even though my voice shook.

He grinned, leaning closer until his lips were a breath away from mine.

"Careful," he murmured, "or I’ll start thinking you like .."

I smiled, flicking up to et his eyes. "Who says I don’t?"

That shut him up.... just for a second.

"Keep looking at like that," he whispered, "and I’m gonna forget we’re in public."

I raised a brow, fighting a smile. "You wouldn’t dare."

"Try ," he said.

I bit my lip to hide ny smile.

"God," he scratched the back of his head. "You have no idea what that lip bite does to . It turns on, I can’t have an erection in public. My dad is here."

My cheeks burned. "You’re one bad line away from getting shoved into that pool."

He laughed. "If that’s the only way you can get wet right now, I don’t mind."

I turned sharply. "Ian!"

He laughed quietly. "Relax, I’m kidding." Then he paused. "Mostly."

My face ward instantly. "You’re such a flirt."

I could feel the heat coming off him...the faint sll of his cologne, the mint on his breath.

He reached out, tracing his fingers along my arm. "You look insane tonight," he murmured. "You’re making it hard for to control myself. How about we go sowhere private."

I turned slightly.... big mistake, and his gaze dropped to my lips, then lower...my boobs.

His hand found my waist, thumb brushing my exposed skin.

"Are you always this horny and seductive?" I rolled my eyes, biting my lower lip.

"Whenever I’m with you. Co with ," he whispered. "Just for a bit."

"Ian..."

"Please." His tone shifted....not cocky anymore, just low, desperate. "Ten minutes. You and . No eyes, no noise. Just us."

For a second, I saw us reflected in the pool...him leaning close, looking up. My pulse, my breath, everything felt like it belonged to him.

He was dangerous. The kind of dangerous that made forget who I was supposed to be, what I was supposed to care about.

And I hated that I liked it.

I was right on the edge of saying yes when a voice cut through the mont.

"Ian!"

We both turned. Nari stood at the door, with her phone in one hand. "Dad’s looking for you. Now."

He cursed, then sighed. "Of course she’d show up right when things get good."

I smiled, trying not to laugh. "Go before she tells him you were corrupting his guests."

He grinned, brushing his thumb against my jaw before he pulled back. "This isn’t over," he said, then jogged off toward the house.

And just like that, he was gone.

The door slid shut behind him, and silence poured back in.

My heartbeat finally slowed.

I exhaled, staring back at the water. My skin still felt warm where his fingers had been.

But then, another familiar voice.

"Hey."

My chest tightened imdiately.

Ren.

He stood by the sliding door, with one hand in his pocket, watching like he was trying to read my whole soul.

"You were amazing out there," he said. "I knew you could do it."

"Thanks," I murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Still can’t believe I didn’t choke halfway through."

He smiled softly. "Nah. You didn’t just sing. You felt it. That’s rare."

His tone was so casual, but it hit deeper.

With Ian, it was fire.

With Ren, it was gravity.

He stepped closer, and I could sll him. My stomach twisted. But it wasn’t the sa rush I had with Ian.

With Ren, it was steadier, quieter.

With Ian, it was dangerous, seductive.

I tried to keep it light. "You sound like a music producer."

"Maybe," he said with a grin. "But I ant it. You’ve got sothing... special."

His soft eyes flicked over .

And my heartbeat stuttered again.

Before I could think, I blurted, "What about Jackie?"

He blinked. "What about her?"

"Yeah," I said quickly, pretending to look at the pool. "Your girlfriend."

"Oh." He scratched the back of his neck, smiling faintly. "We broke up. For good this ti. It’s been two weeks."

"Oh."

Just that.

But inside , sothing stupid, traitorous...lit up.

I bit my lip, forcing my face to stay neutral. But my chest felt too tight.

Shit.

Why was I happy about that?

I turned back to the pool, trying to cool the warmth spreading under my skin.

Ren was still watching , the corners of his mouth lifting a little.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said, voice lower now. "Just... you’ve got that look again."

"What look?"

"The one that makes people fall."

And my pulse exploded.

Is he flirting with ?