KIMANI
The moment Alaric pulled away from the kiss, my knees felt like they were made of warm jelly. His hands were still resting on my waist, steadying me as if he knew I might actually crumble if he let go too quickly.
His forehead rested lightly against mine.
“Go freshen up,” he said softly, his thumb brushing my waist before he finally released me. “Then come to the dining room.”
I nodded, still breathless. “O-okay.”
He gave me that look—soft, warm, almost tender—before he turned toward the hallway leading to the kitchen. For a man who was usually all power and calculation, he was surprisingly gentle with me. So much gentler than I ever expected the first day I met him.
I watched him disappear around the corner, then exhaled a shaky laugh and hurried upstairs.
My reflection in
