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Charcoal Confessions

1 chapters

~3 min read

The charcoal dust on his fingers was the same shade as the shadows under her eyes in the sketch—a portrait so intimate, Aria knew her brother’s best friend had been watching her in ways he never should.

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MEET THE CHARACTERS

Aria Bennett

Aria, 22, has the kind of quiet beauty that sneaks up on you—soft brown hair that falls in waves around her shoulders, hazel eyes that hold too much feeling, and a slender frame that moves with a dancer's grace. She's spent years watching Silas from the edges of rooms, her heart a secret she keeps folded tight, and the discovery in his study leaves her breathless, caught between hope and fear.

Silas Kane

Silas, 28, is all sharp angles and restrained intensity—dark hair swept back from a forehead that's often furrowed in thought, storm-gray eyes that miss nothing, and hands that are both callused from work and delicate with charcoal. As her brother's best friend, he's always maintained a careful distance from Aria, but the hidden sketch reveals a longing he's mastered in person, his art betraying what his silence never has.

Liam Bennett

Liam, 23, is Aria's older brother, with the same warm brown eyes but a sunnier disposition, his build athletic from years of rugby and his laugh easy and infectious. He's fiercely protective of his sister and utterly oblivious to the tension between her and Silas, his presence a constant reminder of the line that shouldn't be crossed.

EXPLORE CHAPTERS

Hidden Portrait

Aria pushed open the study door to return a borrowed book, the scent of old paper and charcoal filling her lungs. Silas stood frozen at his easel, a stick of charcoal slipping from his fingers. On the paper was her face—not as she saw herself, but with eyes full of a yearning she’d only dreamed of. 'It’s not what you think,' he said, his voice rough. She stepped closer, her heart hammering against her ribs. 'Then what is it, Silas?' she whispered, her gaze locked on the drawing that laid his soul bare.

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