The atmosphere around her seemed to come to a static halt as his hands slid around her waist; the feel of his fingers against her skin made her nerves ignite in a way she desperately didn\'t want them to. "Asmeria." The name seemed to glide off his tongue, his voice warm with desire. "Why are you hesitant to be close to me? Are you afraid to be near me?" The pad of his thumb brushed against her cheek and her trembling blue eyes stared up at him, vulnerable and anxious. "Are you afraid to touch me, Asmeria?" he asked, his hand now meeting with her shoulder as he gently slid the strap of her dress off. "Is it that you are afraid to feel me against you?" Her dress dropped to the ground and her breath hitched as she felt his rough hands glide against her naked body. His lips, now dangerously close to her lips, parted as he asked, "Or… are afraid to fall in love with me, Asmeria?" A shiver ran down her spine and she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. Yet, she pushed him away from her, "I\'m scared to love you again for the second time. I don\'t want to be hurt again—you\'re dangerous, Thorian." "B–but, I can\'t seem to resist you." she looked up at him again, "I still want you, Thorian. Badly."