Caesar had been leaning in to kiss Cloe, the warmth and tenderness of the moment enveloping them both, when the shrill ring of his phone cut through the quiet. He froze, his heart lurching. Only a few people had access to his personal number, and whoever was calling at this hour had to be important. His body tensed as the intimate atmosphere shattered.
Cloe, still resting her face against his broad chest, kissed him softly, oblivious to the growing tension in Caesar’s body. Her affection grounded him for a moment, but the ringing continued, pulling him back to the present. His mind raced as he pulled his phone from his pocket to check the caller ID.
When Caesar saw the name on the screen, his heart nearly stopped. His face drained of color, his expression instantly shifting from calm to
