The yacht ride back to the private dock was quiet, filled with the gentle lapping of water against the hull and the soft hum of the engine. Claire leaned against Xander’s chest, his arms wrapped securely around her as they stood on the upper deck. The city lights sparkled in the distance, but her world had narrowed to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear and the warmth of his body against hers.
Tonight had been perfect — the romantic dinner under the stars, the slow dancing on the deck, the deep conversations about their future. The mate bond between them felt alive, humming with a golden intensity that made every touch, every shared breath, feel sacred.
When they finally docked and stepped into the waiting car, the air between them had shifted. The quiet contentment from the yac
